AMERICA’S LONGEST WARAMERICA’S LONGEST WAR

I. Why did the U.S. send troops to Vietnam?I. Why did the U.S. send troops to Vietnam?

A. A. Ho Chi MinhHo Chi Minh defeated the French in 1954 defeated the French in 1954 and Vietnam was split into North and South.and Vietnam was split into North and South.

B. North Vietnam was led by B. North Vietnam was led by Communist Ho Communist Ho Chi Minh-Chi Minh- South Vietnam was led by U.S. South Vietnam was led by U.S. backed backed Diem.Diem.

C. Many South Vietnamese opposed U.S. C. Many South Vietnamese opposed U.S. backed Diem.backed Diem.

D. D. VietcongVietcong were South Vietnamese guerrillas were South Vietnamese guerrillas who were backed by the North and fought who were backed by the North and fought against the South’s governmentagainst the South’s government

E. President John F. Kennedy believed in the E. President John F. Kennedy believed in the Domino TheoryDomino Theory, the idea that if one Southeast , the idea that if one Southeast Asian country fell to communism, the rest Asian country fell to communism, the rest would also, like a row of dominos.would also, like a row of dominos.

F. In 1961, he sent military advisors to help Diem fight the Vietcong

G. 1963- Lyndon Johnson became President and sent G. 1963- Lyndon Johnson became President and sent more aid to South Vietnammore aid to South Vietnam

H. 1964- H. 1964- Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin Resolution- after a U.S. ship is - after a U.S. ship is attacked, Congress passed this which allowed President attacked, Congress passed this which allowed President Johnson to take “all necessary measures” to prevent Johnson to take “all necessary measures” to prevent another attackanother attack

I. Thus, the war escalated and by 1968 there were over I. Thus, the war escalated and by 1968 there were over 500,000 troops fighting in the Vietnam War.500,000 troops fighting in the Vietnam War.

J. American soldiers faced many hardships J. American soldiers faced many hardships fighting a “fighting a “guerilla warguerilla war” in jungle terrain, ” in jungle terrain, going on going on search and destroysearch and destroy missions. missions.

Troops of the 1st Air Cavalry Division check houses while patrolling an area Troops of the 1st Air Cavalry Division check houses while patrolling an area 25 miles (40 km) north of Qui Nhon as part of Operation Thayer, October 25 miles (40 km) north of Qui Nhon as part of Operation Thayer, October 1966. The mission was designed to clear out a mountain range where two 1966. The mission was designed to clear out a mountain range where two battalions of North Vietnamese were believed to be preparing for an battalions of North Vietnamese were believed to be preparing for an attack on an airstrip.attack on an airstrip.

In Long Khanh province, Vietnam, R. Richter of the 4th In Long Khanh province, Vietnam, R. Richter of the 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, left, Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, left, and Sgt. Daniel E. Spencer await the helicopter that will and Sgt. Daniel E. Spencer await the helicopter that will airlift their dead comrade, 1966airlift their dead comrade, 1966

Swampy TerrainSwampy Terrain

Soldiers carry a wounded comrade to safety, 1969 Soldiers carry a wounded comrade to safety, 1969

Search-and-clear operation- Who is who?Search-and-clear operation- Who is who?A Marine from 1st Battalion, 3rd A Marine from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, moves a Viet Cong suspect , moves a Viet Cong suspect

to the rear during a search-and-clear operation by the battalion 15 to the rear during a search-and-clear operation by the battalion 15 miles (24 km) west of Danang air base, August 1965miles (24 km) west of Danang air base, August 1965

Traversing the jungleTraversing the jungle During Operation Hastings, Marines of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment During Operation Hastings, Marines of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment

take to the water as they move to join other elements of their battalion in Dong Ha, take to the water as they move to join other elements of their battalion in Dong Ha, Vietnam, July 1966Vietnam, July 1966

Burning campBurning camp A Viet Cong base camp burns as Pfc. Raymond Rumpa of St. Paul, Minnesota, walks A Viet Cong base camp burns as Pfc. Raymond Rumpa of St. Paul, Minnesota, walks

away with his 45-pound 90mm rifle in My Tho, Vietnam, April 1968away with his 45-pound 90mm rifle in My Tho, Vietnam, April 1968

Helped by Helped by buddiesbuddies

Waiting for evacuationWaiting for evacuationTwo wounded American soldiers await airlift to base hospital to treat Two wounded American soldiers await airlift to base hospital to treat

injuries suffered in injuries suffered in battle

TET OFFENSIVE- 1968TET OFFENSIVE- 1968

K. 1968- Richard Nixon is elected President- K. 1968- Richard Nixon is elected President- promises to end the warpromises to end the war

L. 1973- Cease-fire is reachedL. 1973- Cease-fire is reached

M. 1974- Last U.S. troops leave VietnamM. 1974- Last U.S. troops leave Vietnam

N. 1975- South Vietnam falls to North Vietnamese N. 1975- South Vietnam falls to North Vietnamese communist forcescommunist forces

The Vietnam War was one of the most painful The Vietnam War was one of the most painful periods in American History. Some questions to periods in American History. Some questions to ponder for today and tomorrow:ponder for today and tomorrow:

1. What strategy did the United States adopt in Vietnam?1. What strategy did the United States adopt in Vietnam?

2. In what ways did the United States underestimate its adversaries and 2. In what ways did the United States underestimate its adversaries and overestimate its own strengths?overestimate its own strengths?

3. Do you think a different strategy would have been more successful?3. Do you think a different strategy would have been more successful?

4. What would victory in Vietnam have required, or was victory not a realistic 4. What would victory in Vietnam have required, or was victory not a realistic objective? objective?

The Lessons of VietnamThe Lessons of VietnamAfter the end of Persian Gulf War in 1991, Colin Powell, then chairman of After the end of Persian Gulf War in 1991, Colin Powell, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, outlined his vision for efficient and decisive the Joint Chiefs of Staff, outlined his vision for efficient and decisive military action. His plan is now referred to as the Powell Doctrine. An military action. His plan is now referred to as the Powell Doctrine. An earlier version of the Powell Doctrine was articulated by President Ronald earlier version of the Powell Doctrine was articulated by President Ronald Reagan's Defense Secretary, Casper Weinberger, in 1984.Reagan's Defense Secretary, Casper Weinberger, in 1984.Weinberger argued that the United States should only commit troops to Weinberger argued that the United States should only commit troops to combat after six tests had been met:combat after six tests had been met:

1. Is A Vital U.S. Interest At Stake?1. Is A Vital U.S. Interest At Stake?Before the United States goes to war, there must a clear risk to Before the United States goes to war, there must a clear risk to

national securitynational security 2. Will We Commit Sufficient Resources To Win?2. Will We Commit Sufficient Resources To Win?

Force, when used, should be overwhelming and disproportionate to the Force, when used, should be overwhelming and disproportionate to the force force used by the enemy.used by the enemy.

3. Are Our Objectives Clearly Defined?3. Are Our Objectives Clearly Defined?In Powell’s words: "We owe it to the men and women who go in harm's way In Powell’s words: "We owe it to the men and women who go in harm's way to make sure that this is always the case and that their lives are not to make sure that this is always the case and that their lives are not

squandered for unclear purposes." In addition, there must be a clear exit squandered for unclear purposes." In addition, there must be a clear exit strategy from the conflict in which the military is engaged.strategy from the conflict in which the military is engaged.

4. Will We Sustain the Commitment?4. Will We Sustain the Commitment?Is the government prepared to sustain the effort if things go wrong.Is the government prepared to sustain the effort if things go wrong.

5. Is There A Reasonable Expectation that the Public and Congress Will 5. Is There A Reasonable Expectation that the Public and Congress Will Support the Operation?Support the Operation?

There must be strong support for the campaign by the general public.There must be strong support for the campaign by the general public. 6. Have we exhausted our other options?6. Have we exhausted our other options?

Military action should be used only as a last resort.Military action should be used only as a last resort.

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