VietnamizationWas the policy of Vietnamization to encourage the south vietnamese to

take control of the war? Or was it to cover up Nixon’s fear of losing?By Blaise Telemaque

Vietnamization

Vietnamization was a plan proposed by President Nixon to gradually remove U.S forces out of Vietnam (Toropov).

Encouraged the South Vietnamese to take more responsibility for the war (Lewis).

During the war’s prime, 2 million U.S troops and officials were serving in Vietnam (Cumo).

The presence of the U.S army was strongly felt by the North Vietnamese.

More troops were to be withdrew when the United States felt as if the South Vietnamese could handle the war on their own (Toropov).

Unfamiliar terrain served a disadvantage to United States soldiers.

“Vietnamization is a plan in which we will withdraw all of our forces from Vietnam on a schedule in accordance with our program, as the South Vietnamese become strong enough to defend their freedom.” – President Richard Nixon

A total of 540,000 troops were brought home from Vietnam within the first 4 years of the policy being used (Toropov).

“Let us understand: North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that.”-Richard M. Nixon, 1969

President Nixon is stating that as long as the United States are fighting, the war is very well ours.

“I'm not going to be the first American president to lose a war.”-Richard Nixon, Oct. 1969

Nixon felt as if the U.S retreated from Vietnam, it could not be counted as a loss because they weren’t there for its finish.

Showed Nixon’s hate of losing.

“After 5 years of Americans going into Vietnam, we are finally bringing men home. By December 15, over 60,000 men will have been withdrawn from South Vietnam including 20 percent of all of our combat forces.”- Richard Nixon

Vietnamization caused the already weak South Vietnamese, to be even weaker.

The United States was heavily supporting them by holding up their home fronts and organizing ambushes.

The North Vietnamese were overpowering the South Vietnamese army and the United States.

The unfamiliar terrain also hindered U.S soldiers, as they were not used to the dangerous environment that the Vietnamese lived around.

Items like these Punji Sticks hindered soldiers.

Punji sticks

These sticks were used to stab unaware soldiers.

They were often covered with feces to infect the wounds.

Basic training at United States army bases did not prepare soldiers for what they faced during the war in Vietnam.

Grassy flat lands was what was expected, but their opponent was underestimated.

This map shows how the country was divided during its civil war.

Works Cited

Cumo, Christopher. "Vietnam, Technology, and Life in the American Military: Modern World." Daily Life through History. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 10 June 2012.

Works Cited

Lewis, Adrian R. "Vietnam War." In Tucker, Spencer C., gen. ed. Encyclopedia of American Military History. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2003. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=EMHIII0284&SingleRecord=True (accessed June 10, 2012).

Works Cited

Toropov, Brandon. "Vietnamization." Encyclopedia of Cold War Politics. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2000. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE52&iPin=ECWP313&SingleRecord=True (accessed June 10, 2012).

Works Cited (Primary Source)

Nixon, Richard. "The Wars for Viet Nam." President Nixon's Speech on "Vietnamization," November 3, 1969. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2012. <http://vietnam.vassar.edu/overview/doc14.html>.