VietnamVietnam1954-19751954-1975

VietnamVietnam

The BeginningThe Beginning May 7, 1954 May 7, 1954

Vietnamese forces Vietnamese forces occupy the French occupy the French command post at command post at Dien Bien Phu and Dien Bien Phu and French cease fire.French cease fire. Battle lasted 55 Battle lasted 55

daysdays 3,000 French killed/ 3,000 French killed/

8,000 wounded8,000 wounded 8,000 Vietnamese 8,000 Vietnamese

killed/ 12,000 killed/ 12,000 woundedwounded

Shatters French Shatters French resolved to carry on resolved to carry on the war.the war.

French Forces at Dien Bien PhuFrench Forces at Dien Bien Phu

HO CHI MINHHO CHI MINH

““If we have to fight, weIf we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we will ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the end it kill one of yours, and in the end it will be will be youyou who tires of it.” who tires of it.”

July 1954 July 1954 Geneva ConferenceGeneva Conference Geneva Accords Signed by North and Geneva Accords Signed by North and

South Vietnamese and the French. South Vietnamese and the French. *U.S. refused to sign*U.S. refused to signAccord called for election for leader of Accord called for election for leader of unified Vietnamunified Vietnam

U.S. and South Vietnam did not want an U.S. and South Vietnam did not want an election election

The Viet Cong began to rebel against the The Viet Cong began to rebel against the S. Vietnamese S. Vietnamese

Headed by President Ngo Dinh Diem.Headed by President Ngo Dinh Diem.

Some Jargon To KnowSome Jargon To Know

VIET MINH/NVAVIET MINH/NVA: North Vietnamese : North Vietnamese Military (communist)Military (communist)

VIET CONGVIET CONG: South Vietnamese : South Vietnamese CommunistsCommunists

South VietnameseSouth Vietnamese: Side of the U.S. : Side of the U.S. Not CommunistNot Communist

Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail

1959 1959 North Vietnamese North Vietnamese

group 559 formed to group 559 formed to create supply route create supply route from North Vietnam from North Vietnam to Vietcong forces in to Vietcong forces in the south. the south.

It was along the It was along the Cambodian border Cambodian border and later becomes and later becomes the Ho Chi Minh Trail.the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

1960-19611960-1961

Eisenhower sends Eisenhower sends 675 Advisors to South 675 Advisors to South VietnamVietnam

Late 1961 Late 1961 JFK orders JFK orders more help for South more help for South VietnamVietnam New equipmentNew equipment 3,000 support 3,000 support

personal and military personal and military advisorsadvisors

Helicopters along with Helicopters along with 400 U.S. pilots400 U.S. pilots

19621962

January 12, 1962:January 12, 1962: Americans first combat Americans first combat missions against the missions against the VietcongVietcong

Early 1963:Early 1963: Operation Operation Ranch HandRanch Hand

*Agent Orange*Agent Orange January 2,1963:January 2,1963:Victory at Victory at

Ap BacAp BacRaised morale and drove Raised morale and drove recruitment for the Vietcongrecruitment for the Vietcong

November 1,1963:November 1,1963: South South Vietnamese generals Vietnamese generals overthrew Diemoverthrew Diem

*Diem and Brother killed the *Diem and Brother killed the next day.next day.

*U.S. backed the Coup*U.S. backed the Coup

Buddhist Monks in ProtestBuddhist Monks in Protest

Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin Resolution April 1964April 1964

Two U.S. Aircraft Carriers Two U.S. Aircraft Carriers arrive off Vietnamese coast arrive off Vietnamese coast

August 4, 1964August 4, 1964 U.S.S. Maddox attacked in U.S.S. Maddox attacked in

Gulf of TonkinGulf of Tonkin In retaliation: the U.S. In retaliation: the U.S.

bombs two naval bases bombs two naval bases and an oil facility.and an oil facility.

August 7,1964: August 7,1964: U.S. U.S. Congress passes the Congress passes the Gulf Gulf of Tonkin Resolutionof Tonkin Resolution

Gives power to President Gives power to President to take “All necessary to take “All necessary measures” and “To prevent measures” and “To prevent any further aggression.” any further aggression.”

1965-19661965-1966

February 13, 1965:February 13, 1965: President Johnson President Johnson authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder

March 6, 1965:March 6, 1965: President Johnson President Johnson sends U.S. Marines to Da Nang, South sends U.S. Marines to Da Nang, South Vietnam.Vietnam. Marines were 1st ground troops in the war.Marines were 1st ground troops in the war.

January 6, 1966 January 6, 1966 U.S. Forces launch U.S. Forces launch Operation CrimpOperation Crimp Deploying nearly 8,000 troopsDeploying nearly 8,000 troops Largest American Operation Largest American Operation

Marine combat troops land to Marine combat troops land to protect airbase at Da Nangprotect airbase at Da Nang

19651965

End of 1966End of 1966

American forces: American forces: 385,000385,000

60,000 Sailors off 60,000 Sailors off shoreshore

6,000 Americans killed 6,000 Americans killed 30,000 wounded30,000 wounded 61,000 Vietcong killed61,000 Vietcong killed Vietcong Troops Vietcong Troops

280,000280,000

19661966

U.S. uses chemical defoliants (Agent U.S. uses chemical defoliants (Agent Orange)Orange)

Air War Napalm AttacksAir War Napalm Attacks

19671967

April 24, 1967: April 24, 1967: American attacks on American attacks on North Vietnam’s Airfields beginNorth Vietnam’s Airfields begin

By end of year all but one has been hitBy end of year all but one has been hit May 1967: May 1967: Americans shoot down 26 Americans shoot down 26

NVA planesNVA planes Decreases pilot strength by halfDecreases pilot strength by half

Who is the Enemy????Who is the Enemy????

U.S. Troop Deployments U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnamin Vietnam

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968

U.S. Troops

Tet Offensive/ Khe SanhTet Offensive/ Khe Sanh

Tet Offensive BeginsTet Offensive Begins January 21, 1968January 21, 1968 Marine Base Marine Base

at Khe Sahn attackedat Khe Sahn attacked 18 Marines killed instantly18 Marines killed instantly Initial attack lasts 2 daysInitial attack lasts 2 days

January 30-31January 30-31stst Tet Offensiv Tet Offensiv

More than 100 cities ,towns, More than 100 cities ,towns, bases, and the US embassy bases, and the US embassy in Saigon are attackedin Saigon are attacked by by 67,000 North Vietnamese and 67,000 North Vietnamese and VietcongVietcong

37,000 Vietcong are killed37,000 Vietcong are killed 2,500 Americans are killed2,500 Americans are killed Serious blow to public Serious blow to public

support even though we support even though we destroyed VC and debilitated destroyed VC and debilitated North VietnameseNorth Vietnamese

Domestic U.S. Reaction: Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson AdministrationJohnson Administration

Seen as a defeat by mediaSeen as a defeat by media

Johnson’sJohnson’s popularity popularity dropped in dropped in 1968 from 1968 from 48% to 36%.48% to 36%.

My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre

March 16, 1968March 16, 1968 My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre U.S. Charlie Company kills aboutU.S. Charlie Company kills about

200 civilians200 civilians

The Beginning of the EndThe Beginning of the End April 8, 1968: April 8, 1968: U.S. Forces in Operation PegasusU.S. Forces in Operation Pegasus

Retake Route 9Retake Route 9 77 day battle77 day battle Biggest battle of the Vietnam WarBiggest battle of the Vietnam War

February 8, 1970February 8, 1970—Operation Lam Son 719—Operation Lam Son 719 S. Vietnamese Divisions drive into LaosS. Vietnamese Divisions drive into Laos

Walked into a trapWalked into a trap 9,000 S. Vietnamese killed or wounded9,000 S. Vietnamese killed or wounded More than 2/3 armored vehicles destroyMore than 2/3 armored vehicles destroy Hundreds of U.S. Helicopters and planes destroyedHundreds of U.S. Helicopters and planes destroyed

Led by colonel M. Gibson

19691969 Peace Talks in ParisPeace Talks in Paris Nixon orders secret Nixon orders secret

bombing of Cambodiabombing of Cambodia Nixon announces Nixon announces

withdrawal of 25,000 withdrawal of 25,000 troopstroops Troops down to Troops down to

139,000139,000 Policy of Policy of

““Vietnamization”Vietnamization” beginsbegins

Ho Chi Minh diesHo Chi Minh dies

19701970

National Security National Security Advisor Henry Advisor Henry Kissinger begins Kissinger begins secret negotiations secret negotiations with Le Duc Thowith Le Duc Tho

Another 150,000 Another 150,000 troops withdrawn by troops withdrawn by years endyears end

Troop strength falls to Troop strength falls to 280,000280,000

Summer 1971Summer 1971-Operation Ranch Hand Ends-Operation Ranch Hand Ends Sprayed 11 million gallons of AOSprayed 11 million gallons of AO Contains 240 lbs. of DioxinContains 240 lbs. of Dioxin 1/7 total area lay to waste1/7 total area lay to waste

December 13, 1972December 13, 1972 Paris Peace talks Breaks Paris Peace talks Breaks downdown

December 18, 1972December 18, 1972 Operation LinebackerOperation Linebacker Bombing of North VietnamBombing of North Vietnam Lasts for 12 daysLasts for 12 days 120 B-52’s120 B-52’s 20,000 tons of bombs20,000 tons of bombs 26 planes lost26 planes lost 93 airmen killed93 airmen killed

Peace TalksPeace Talks

January 8, 1973January 8, 1973—Paris —Paris Peace talks resume Peace talks resume

April 1 – All U.S. POWs April 1 – All U.S. POWs releasedreleased

January 27, 1973January 27, 1973 – – Cease-fire signedCease-fire signed

March 1973March 1973 – Last – Last American combat soldiers American combat soldiers leave but Military advisors leave but Military advisors and Marines stayand Marines stay

Protecting U.S. installationsProtecting U.S. installations

The FallThe Fall Over 3 million Americans served in warOver 3 million Americans served in war

Almost 58,000 deadAlmost 58,000 dead Over 1000 Missing In ActionOver 1000 Missing In Action 150,000 Americans seriously wounded150,000 Americans seriously wounded $150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending $150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending

April 29, 1975April 29, 1975 U.S. Begin Airlift out of SaigonU.S. Begin Airlift out of Saigon U.S. Marines and Air Force are usedU.S. Marines and Air Force are used From Carriers off shoreFrom Carriers off shore Took 18 hoursTook 18 hours Over 1,000 American CiviliansOver 1,000 American Civilians Nearly 7,000 S. Vietnamese RefugeesNearly 7,000 S. Vietnamese Refugees

April 30, 1975April 30, 1975-Two Marines killed at Saigon -Two Marines killed at Saigon Airport Airport Last Americans to die in Vietnam WarLast Americans to die in Vietnam War

At dawn the last Marines leave embassyAt dawn the last Marines leave embassy

The Fall of SaigonThe Fall of Saigon

The EndThe End North Vietnam North Vietnam

resumes war against resumes war against SouthSouth

South Vietnam South Vietnam collapses collapses

Saigon renamed Ho Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityChi Minh City

15 Years of War15 Years of War – – Nearly a million NVA Nearly a million NVA killed killed 1/4 of a million SVA 1/4 of a million SVA

soldiers killedsoldiers killed Hundreds of Hundreds of

thousands civilians thousands civilians killedkilled