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Administration

• DoDMERB Physical• Thursdays – See SSgt Sutton until you sign

Form 16 saying you have an approved physical…GOT IT!!!

• GOALS ON INDEX CARD

• CHECK DET EMAIL TWICE A DAY; RETURN PHONE CALLS; GET YOUR PAPERWORK DONE!

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Airpower Through the

Cold WarPart II

Overview

National Security Act of 1947Berlin AirliftCurtis LeMayKorean ConflictCuban Missile CrisisVietnamRebuilding the Air and Space Force

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SAMPLES OF BEHAVIOR

• 1. Identify the significance of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, August 1964

• 2. State the purpose of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)

• 7. Identify the “graduated response” strategy the United States adopted in Vietnam between 1965 and 1968.

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The War in Southeast Asia General Causes

• A regional power vacuum existed in Southeast after WW II

• South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia were politically unstable

• North Vietnam wanted to reunite North and South Vietnam under communist rule

• America wanted to prevent the spread of communism, by force if necessary

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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution August 1964

• Passed by Congress 5 August 1964• Radically altered the War in Southeast Asia• Empowered President Johnson to:

• “To take all necessary steps to repel armed attack against US forces”

• “To take all necessary steps, including force, to assist S Vietnam and any member of SEATO”

• Committed US to fight for S Vietnam

Lyndon Baines Johnson, born on Aug. 27, 1908, was selected by John F. Kennedy as the Vice Presidential running mate in 1960. Together they won the 1960 Presidential election. He became the 36th president of the United States when John F. Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963. He was a staunch believer in the use of military force to help achieve the country's foreign policy objectives and escalated American involvement in the Vietnam War.

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US Build-Up1965 to 1968

• March 1965 -- US Marines and Army arrive• Rolling Thunder bombing campaign began

• By 1969, US troop strength reached 543,000 (500,000 supported the war from other Asian countries and Pacific bases)

• US became heavily involved in fighting a guerrilla war - we were not prepared• 30 Jan 1968 – North Vietnam launched Tet

Offensive

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Events Surrounding the Paris Peace Talks

• Talks began in 1968 but achieved nothing

- North Vietnam knew time was on its side• US units continued to withdraw from Vietnam

- By 1972, 200,000 US troops had left• March 1972 - North Vietnam launched Easter Offensive

against South Vietnam

- Attack repelled by US air power (Linebacker I)

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Events Surrounding the Paris Peace Talks (Cont)

• Talks resumed following the Easter Offensive; again little movement occurred

• Late 1972, Nixon ordered massive bombing of North Vietnam (Linebacker II)

• Linebacker II forced the North to negotiate in earnest• Peace Accords signed 27 Jan 1973

• Called for US to withdraw all units by Mar 1973

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The Fall of South Vietnam

• Between 1973 and 1975, North Vietnam continued to build strength in violation of Peace Accords

• Nixon was preoccupied with the Watergate scandal

• US Congress tired of Vietnam and refused to help

• Feb 1975, North Vietnam launched the Ho Chi Minh campaign against South Vietnam• South Vietnam was easily defeated without US air

support• Laos and Cambodia fell quickly thereafter

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Vietnam Video

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Next Week’s LessonChapter 15

Capt Gray: Wednesday Col Chandler: Thursday