Vietnam WarVietnam War

Military HistoryMilitary History

American Role American Role 1945-541945-54

ObserverObserver Gave French aid against VietminhGave French aid against Vietminh

– Part of strategy to fight communismPart of strategy to fight communism– By 1954—US pays 80% of costBy 1954—US pays 80% of cost

French ask for assistance-US refusesFrench ask for assistance-US refuses

Geneva AgreementGeneva Agreement

19541954 Laos and Cambodia made independentLaos and Cambodia made independent Vietnam dividedVietnam divided

– Elections in 2 yearsElections in 2 years– North under control of Ho Chi MinhNorth under control of Ho Chi Minh– South—DiemSouth—Diem

South refuses to hold elections in 1956South refuses to hold elections in 1956

Problems with SouthProblems with South

Never a “true nation”—artificial constructNever a “true nation”—artificial construct Diem sets up dictatorshipDiem sets up dictatorship

– Attacks enemiesAttacks enemies– Catholic minority given favored positionsCatholic minority given favored positions

Never has support of people in SouthNever has support of people in South– Insurgency starts—initially not control by NorthInsurgency starts—initially not control by North

US sends in advisorsUS sends in advisors

Advisor StageAdvisor Stage

Initially advise ARVN to fight “American Initially advise ARVN to fight “American style”style”

President Kennedy sends LBJ to investigate President Kennedy sends LBJ to investigate situation in Vietnam. situation in Vietnam.

Sends in more “advisors”Sends in more “advisors”– Up to 16,000 helping the VietnameseUp to 16,000 helping the Vietnamese

Massive influx of technologyMassive influx of technology– Helicopters, tanks, aircraftHelicopters, tanks, aircraft

John Paul VannJohn Paul Vann

Advisor in 1962Advisor in 1962 Counter-insurgency skillsCounter-insurgency skills Becomes frustrated with ARVNBecomes frustrated with ARVN Battle of Ap BacBattle of Ap Bac

– Lack of assertiveness of ARVNLack of assertiveness of ARVN– Reply on artillery and firepowerReply on artillery and firepower– Allow enemy to escapeAllow enemy to escape

Vann attempts to report problemsVann attempts to report problems– Ignored—leadership only reports successIgnored—leadership only reports success– Goes to Press—NY TimesGoes to Press—NY Times

Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964)Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964)

US Navy doing surveillance of NorthUS Navy doing surveillance of North Same time secret CIA missions in NorthSame time secret CIA missions in North N. Vietnam does not realize differenceN. Vietnam does not realize difference Attack USS MaddoxAttack USS Maddox 3 days later—repeat attack3 days later—repeat attack

– Many question if attack really happenedMany question if attack really happened

American ResponseAmerican Response

Turning PointTurning Point Johnson not completely honest with publicJohnson not completely honest with public G of T resolution written, waiting for right G of T resolution written, waiting for right

momentmoment Mistake-- obtain Declaration of War?Mistake-- obtain Declaration of War?

AmericanizationAmericanization

Limited WarLimited War– Limited manpowerLimited manpower– Limited goalsLimited goals

Allow S. Vietnam to exist without communist Allow S. Vietnam to exist without communist interventionintervention

Probably impossible to accomplishProbably impossible to accomplish

War of AttritionWar of Attrition– Kill more than enemy can fieldKill more than enemy can field– Bodycounts importantBodycounts important

Westmoreland asks for more troopsWestmoreland asks for more troops American public told that victory is closeAmerican public told that victory is close

Air WarAir War

Rolling Thunder—drop more tonnage than Rolling Thunder—drop more tonnage than WWIIWWII– More in South than NorthMore in South than North– GradualismGradualism– Controlled in WashingtonControlled in Washington– Hanoi, Haiphong harbor, Chinese border off Hanoi, Haiphong harbor, Chinese border off

limitslimits Problem-few suitable targets for strategic Problem-few suitable targets for strategic

bombingbombing

Different Result?Different Result?

JCS drew up list of 94 targets in 1965JCS drew up list of 94 targets in 1965– Claimed it would knock North out of the war in 2 Claimed it would knock North out of the war in 2

weeks.weeks.– Most targets were on off-limits listMost targets were on off-limits list

Change in Air WarChange in Air War

Late in War--Negotiation strategyLate in War--Negotiation strategy– Linebacker ILinebacker I

Force NV to negotiateForce NV to negotiate

– Linebacker IILinebacker II Break negotiations impasseBreak negotiations impasse

Most restraints removedMost restraints removed Very effective—high losses of B-52sVery effective—high losses of B-52s

Naval Role Naval Role

Significant Role 1965-68Significant Role 1965-68 Fire support—use of carriers and battleshipsFire support—use of carriers and battleships Interdiction of suppliesInterdiction of supplies

– Operation Market TimeOperation Market Time Stop coastline resupply of VCStop coastline resupply of VC

Riverine WarfareRiverine Warfare– Control the rivers—Mekong RiverControl the rivers—Mekong River– Generally successfulGenerally successful

Tet OffensiveTet Offensive

Turning Point of warTurning Point of war Seemingly impossible major attackSeemingly impossible major attack Hit urban areasHit urban areas

– Crushed—VC basically destroyed as forceCrushed—VC basically destroyed as force Politically- US defeat, NV victoryPolitically- US defeat, NV victory

– Role of media-Walter CronkiteRole of media-Walter Cronkite Johnson begins to have doubtsJohnson begins to have doubts

– Halts bombing, stops troop increasesHalts bombing, stops troop increases

My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre

Attack by American troops on unarmed Attack by American troops on unarmed women and childrenwomen and children– Area of known heavy VC activity-”pinkville”Area of known heavy VC activity-”pinkville”– Charlie Company recently lost popular Srgt.Charlie Company recently lost popular Srgt.

Killed over 400 VietnameseKilled over 400 Vietnamese Cover-up –revealed by Cover-up –revealed by NY TimesNY Times Came to be a symbol of American actions in Came to be a symbol of American actions in

VietnamVietnam– Blow to military credibilityBlow to military credibility

Change in policyChange in policy

Westmoreland asks for 200,000 more troopsWestmoreland asks for 200,000 more troops Johnson’s advisors start to tell him the war Johnson’s advisors start to tell him the war

is unwinnable. is unwinnable. – Recommend disengagementRecommend disengagement

Johnson leaves big issues for Nixon to Johnson leaves big issues for Nixon to resolve in 1969resolve in 1969

Nixon claims to have “secret plan”Nixon claims to have “secret plan”

Failed American StrategyFailed American Strategy

Depended heavily on search and destroy Depended heavily on search and destroy missionsmissions

Depended on sophisticated surveillance and Depended on sophisticated surveillance and heavily armed patrols to locate enemyheavily armed patrols to locate enemy

Then destroy with airstikes, artillery and air Then destroy with airstikes, artillery and air cavalrycavalry

Need for repeated sweepsNeed for repeated sweeps Hard to identify enemy—high civilian lossesHard to identify enemy—high civilian losses

VietnamizationVietnamization

US slowly withdrawsUS slowly withdraws– Turns over equipment to ARVNTurns over equipment to ARVN

Nixon Administration decides to walk awayNixon Administration decides to walk away Negotiations with North VietnameseNegotiations with North Vietnamese

Secret War in CambodiaSecret War in Cambodia

Nixon began to bomb communist bases in neutral Nixon began to bomb communist bases in neutral Cambodia.Cambodia.

April, 1972 American and Vietnamese forces April, 1972 American and Vietnamese forces invade Cambodiainvade Cambodia

Hope to cut North Vietnamese supply linesHope to cut North Vietnamese supply lines Failed to achieve its goalFailed to achieve its goal

– Destabilizes the Cambodian governmentDestabilizes the Cambodian government

Massive protest in America—appears to be Massive protest in America—appears to be expansion of warexpansion of war

End is nearEnd is near

1972-NV launches major offensive1972-NV launches major offensive– Smashes SV forcesSmashes SV forces– US bombs North-nothing elseUS bombs North-nothing else

Early in 1973, negotiated settlement Early in 1973, negotiated settlement reachedreached– SV government in placeSV government in place– Allowed VC and NVA in control of parts of SouthAllowed VC and NVA in control of parts of South

EndEnd

January 1973-last American combat soldier January 1973-last American combat soldier leaves Southleaves South

March 1975-North launches another March 1975-North launches another offensiveoffensive– US fails to helpUS fails to help– North winsNorth wins

Cost of WarCost of War

Military, social and political disasterMilitary, social and political disaster 58,000 Americans killed58,000 Americans killed 3-4 million Vietnamese3-4 million Vietnamese Cost of war estimated at $100 billionCost of war estimated at $100 billion Nonmonetary costs much higherNonmonetary costs much higher

– Undermined confidence in American institutionsUndermined confidence in American institutions