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U.S. Army Paratroopers with 2Nd Battalion, 173Rd Airborne Brigade Hold Their Automatic Weapons Above Water As They Cross a River

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U.S. Army Paratroopers with 2Nd Battalion, 173Rd Airborne Brigade Hold Their Automatic Weapons Above Water As They Cross a River U.S. Army paratroopers with 2nd Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade hold their automatic weapons above water as they cross a river in the rain during a search for Viet Cong positions in the jungle area of Ben Cat, South Vietnam on Sept. 25, 1965. The paratroopers had been searching the area for 12 days with no enemy contact. The Soldier’s Experience ▪ “Manipulatable” draft ▪ Most soldiers lower to middle class (2x as likely to see combat) ▪ Wealthy received college deferments and desk jobs ▪ hot weather, jungle terrain, rice paddies, leeches ▪ Elusive enemy- guerilla warfare, traps, elaborate tunnels. Daily Life Video Fighting the War • Tropical climate → insects, pests → Unfamiliar Territory malaria • Rugged geography and soggy lowlands The Elusive Enemy: Viet Cong Leads to a War of Attrition Napalm ▪ Jelly-like substance that sticks and burns ▪ Dropped in form of bombs ▪ 8 million tons (more than 3x the amount in WWII) ▪ 1 bomb can incinerate 25 football fields Agent Orange Toxic chemical herbicide +20 million gallons used over forests and fields 50x stronger than normal agricultural herbicides 4.8 million deaths, continual birth defects today Later deemed in violation of the Geneva Contract Effects of Agent Orange Fighting the War Later in the Who was the US fighting against? war, the US • Viet Cong: Insurgents in the South who wanted to supported the overthrow the corrupt government of South ARVN, the Army Vietnam (supported by the North) of the Republic • North Vietnamese Army of Vietnam • The Viet-Cong and NVA knew the geography of Vietnam best. Play video, Cu Chi tunnels HISTORY.com Fighting the War Definition: A war of attrition is a military campaign designed to wear down the enemy’s strength. Unfamiliar Territory Search and destroy missions → The small groups of soldiers (platoons) seek Elusive insurgents and then call in for an aerial strike Enemy: Viet Cong Leads to a War of Attrition Land mines→ US combat soldiers became targets and many fell to land mines that blew up when stepped on Vietnam War Tactics Play video, Cu Chi tunnels Escalating the War ▪ Johnson fears the loss of public support if he pulls out of the war. ▪By the end of 1965 there were 184,000 combat troops “in country.” ▪By the end of 1967 485,000 ▪By the end of 1969 540,000 There were no dramatic national addresses in which the public was "called to war." In fact, the troop increases were typically announced at mid day with little or no fanfare. LBJ explicitly refused to put the nation on a war footing and argued, in his 1966 State of the Union message, that the country could have both "guns and butter." • Public opinion begins to change as it became clear that the war of attrition was not working • Leads to an enormous American death toll • Limited war or total war? • Did the US underestimate the enemy? • People of South Vietnam become divided The Living Room War: by 1967 most Americans still supported the war but a credibility gap was developing. What the President is Body counts and images saying…isn’t began to change public matching what the opinion. people are seeing. Hawks and Doves • America should unleash much of • America should withdraw its greater military force to win the from the war war • “loud” minority • “silent” majority With Vietnam, Americans lost trust in the government. Nixon and Vietnam Policy In office 1969-1974 “Vietnamization” Vietnam Foreign Policy How did the US get out of Vietnam? We can narrow Peace with Honor → hope to Solution: Vietnam down to two keep the American Peace with Honor conclusions. reputation intact Hope to achieve end of war with Paris Peace Talks Hey, North Vietnam – 1. We’re not going to we will stop bombing win. you, but withdraw 2. We can’t just cut your troops from the and run, either. South! President Sec. of State Nixon Kissinger Next Plan: Vietnamization: Nixon's policy of having the government of South Vietnam gradually take over the conduct of the war, especially ground combat Goals of Vietnamization • Self government • Self-defense • Self-development Legacy 58,000 American were killed and 365,000 were wounded. 1.5 million Vietnamese were killed. It would take about 70 Vietnam Memorials to fit the names of the Vietnamese that died. Legacy Vietnam remains communist to this day. Americans lost trust and confidence in their government and leaders. Significantly and drastically changed our foreign policy. Lessons Learned: - We need to put a greater emphasis on objectives (goals) - We need a clearer exit strategy.
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