Guerrilla Warfare in Guerrilla Warfare in VietnamVietnam

By: Tyler SylvesterBy: Tyler Sylvester

Works CitedBorklund, C. W. "Westmoreland, William C." Military Leaders Since World War

II, American Profiles. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1992. (Updated 2005.) American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?

Malcolm X. "'The Ballot or the Bullet' Speech." In Breitman, George, ed. Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements. New York: Merit Publishers, 1965. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp

"Johnson, Lyndon B." In Pach, Chester. The Johnson Years, Presidential Profiles. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp

Morgan Reynolds, Inc. "John Kerry: Senator From Massachusetts." John Kerry: Senator From Massachusetts (2005): 8-37. History Reference Center. Web. 10 June 2012.

Martin, Harold H. "Fighting An Unseen Enemy." Saturday Evening Post 235.42 (1962): 14. History Reference Center. Web. 10 June 2012.

Moseley, Cassandra. "Guerrilla Veterans In Post-War Zimbabwe: Symbolic And Violent Politics, 1980-1987 (Book)." International Journal Of African Historical Studies 37.1 (2004): 156-158. History Reference Center. Web. 10 June 2012.

Thesis StatementThesis Statement The Vietcong used man types of warfare to The Vietcong used man types of warfare to

overcome the US during the Vietnam War.overcome the US during the Vietnam War. One of the primary tactics was the use of One of the primary tactics was the use of

Guerrilla warfare. This was the sneaky type of Guerrilla warfare. This was the sneaky type of warfare that allowed the VC to creep up on the warfare that allowed the VC to creep up on the American troops.American troops.

The Vietcong had a hug home field advantage in The Vietcong had a hug home field advantage in the Vietnam war. They knew the ins and outs of the Vietnam war. They knew the ins and outs of the jungle. They were able to hide in the trees the jungle. They were able to hide in the trees and under ground. and under ground.

Over all the use of Guerrilla warfare in this war Over all the use of Guerrilla warfare in this war ultimately “won” the ware for the Vietcong.ultimately “won” the ware for the Vietcong.

When talking about the problems in Vietnam, When talking about the problems in Vietnam, Malcolm X says," So they engage him in guerrilla Malcolm X says," So they engage him in guerrilla warfare. That's not his style. You've got to have warfare. That's not his style. You've got to have heart to be a guerrilla warrior, and he hasn't got heart to be a guerrilla warrior, and he hasn't got any heart. I'm telling you now.” (Malcolm X)any heart. I'm telling you now.” (Malcolm X)

Malcolm X is trying to say that the Vietcong are Malcolm X is trying to say that the Vietcong are fighting for something. They have the heart to fighting for something. They have the heart to fight against the US. The US doesn’t have any fight against the US. The US doesn’t have any determination to fight against the VC though. determination to fight against the VC though. Guerrilla warfare wasn’t America’s way to fight a Guerrilla warfare wasn’t America’s way to fight a war. They weren’t ready for the force of the war. They weren’t ready for the force of the Guerrillas in Vietnam.Guerrillas in Vietnam.

This graph represents the This graph represents the rising death toll for the US rising death toll for the US in Vietnam compared to in Vietnam compared to Iraq.Iraq.

These wars were both These wars were both guerrilla fighting styles.guerrilla fighting styles.

Iraq was an urban type of Iraq was an urban type of guerrilla fighting guerrilla fighting

Vietnam was in the jungle Vietnam was in the jungle and gave the VC a more and gave the VC a more effective Guerrilla style.effective Guerrilla style.

The graph shows that the The graph shows that the US was really effected by US was really effected by the VC than the people the VC than the people fighting in Iraq.fighting in Iraq.

• William Westmoreland wanted to develop a way to overcome the guerrillas fighting in Vietnam. They wanted to initiate small groups that would allow them to conquer the Vietcong. This was known as “anti-guerrilla counterinsurgency” (Borklund)

JungleJungle

As you can see in As you can see in the picture there the picture there were many were many different hiding different hiding places for the places for the Vietcong.Vietcong.

They liked to hide They liked to hide in trees and in trees and ambush ambush unsuspecting US unsuspecting US troops. troops.

After Lyndon B. Johnson relieved Westmoreland of his duties he listened to many powerful voices in the US government of that time. It was soon after he heard there statements he began to initiate the steps in taking troops out of Vietnam. Johnson knew that the war had to be ended for the sake of America. (Chester)

ClaymoresClaymores Claymores were used Claymores were used

on the US side as well on the US side as well as the side of the as the side of the Vietcong.Vietcong.

They planted these They planted these and other types of and other types of land mines to kill US land mines to kill US troops walking troops walking through the junglethrough the jungle

These killed many These killed many Americans. Still Americans. Still proving that the proving that the guerrilla tactics were guerrilla tactics were successful.successful.

Spider HolesSpider Holes The Vietcong developed The Vietcong developed

a very precise a very precise underground tunnel underground tunnel system .system .

They usually sat in these They usually sat in these “Spider Holes” and “Spider Holes” and jumped up at jumped up at unsuspecting US unsuspecting US soldiers. soldiers.

This was one part of the This was one part of the guerrilla tactics the VC guerrilla tactics the VC used in the war.used in the war.

Huge advantage over US Huge advantage over US soldiers.soldiers.

As Malcolm X continues with his As Malcolm X continues with his speech he points out, “…modern speech he points out, “…modern warfare today won't work. This is the warfare today won't work. This is the day of the guerrilla.” (Malcolm X) day of the guerrilla.” (Malcolm X) Malcolm X is saying that Americas Malcolm X is saying that Americas way of fighting won’t win any war way of fighting won’t win any war because it is the age of the guerrilla because it is the age of the guerrilla tactic. This would hold true because tactic. This would hold true because the VC “won” the Vietnam war. the VC “won” the Vietnam war.

CamouflageCamouflage

Camouflage helped the VC blend into Camouflage helped the VC blend into the surrounding environment. the surrounding environment.

The US troops never actually saw The US troops never actually saw them so they weren’t expecting the them so they weren’t expecting the planned out attacks.planned out attacks.

VC hid when they knew US troops VC hid when they knew US troops were coming. They attacked then.were coming. They attacked then.

Malcolm X keeps on siding with the Malcolm X keeps on siding with the Guerrilla warfare in this statement he Guerrilla warfare in this statement he says, “Nowhere on this earth does says, “Nowhere on this earth does the white man win in a guerrilla the white man win in a guerrilla warfare.” (Malcolm X) He is trying to warfare.” (Malcolm X) He is trying to say that any person fighting against say that any person fighting against a type of guerrilla warfare will never a type of guerrilla warfare will never win. The “white man” will always lose win. The “white man” will always lose according to Malcolm X.according to Malcolm X.

In 1967 there were more US deaths In 1967 there were more US deaths than in 1965 and 1966 combined. than in 1965 and 1966 combined. The US death toll was still rising. The The US death toll was still rising. The guerrilla warfare was working for the guerrilla warfare was working for the Vietcong. (Reynolds) Vietcong. (Reynolds)

Spears and Poisoned ArrowsSpears and Poisoned Arrows

The Vietcong used The Vietcong used Punji sticks to kill Punji sticks to kill enemies. enemies.

The punji sticks The punji sticks were covered with were covered with fecal matter that fecal matter that poisoned the US poisoned the US soldiers.soldiers.

This still a part of This still a part of the guerrilla the guerrilla tactics.tactics.

In an article written by Harold H. In an article written by Harold H. Martin he says, “He speaks the same Martin he says, “He speaks the same language and wears the same black language and wears the same black calico trousers and the same conical calico trousers and the same conical straw hat. By night he is a prowling straw hat. By night he is a prowling killer…” (Martin)The US soldiers killer…” (Martin)The US soldiers couldn’t tell the difference between couldn’t tell the difference between the north and south Vietnamese. The the north and south Vietnamese. The guerrilla warfare allowed them to guerrilla warfare allowed them to blend in with the crowd.blend in with the crowd.

The guerrillas had a huge effect on The guerrillas had a huge effect on the new regime for Vietnam. They the new regime for Vietnam. They posed as threats and hope for the posed as threats and hope for the Vietnam public. Resulting in the end Vietnam public. Resulting in the end of multiple power in Vietnam.of multiple power in Vietnam.