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The Cold War - Vietnam

The Cold War - Vietnam. March 2009. M.A.D.?. What is Indochina?. Vietnam: Background. France had ruled Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) as a colony before WWII WWII: Japan takes over Important in leading to Japan v. US in WWII

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The Cold War - Vietnam

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  1. The Cold War - Vietnam March 2009

  2. M.A.D.?

  3. What is Indochina?

  4. Vietnam: Background • France had ruled Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) as a colony before WWII • WWII: Japan takes over • Important in leading to Japan v. US in WWII • After WWII (1945): Fr. tries to regain control but each country gains independence by 1954

  5. Just for fun • Go to www.google.com and type in “French Military Victories” and hit the button that says “I’m feeling lucky.”

  6. Vietnam: Division • 1954: Geneva Conference: V. divided into: • (1) Communist-controlled North V. under HoChi Minh • (2) Pro-western South Vietnam • Division supposed to end with national elections in 1956. Elections did not take place b/c S.V. knew Communists would win. • Communist Viet Cong guerillas will gain control of much of S.V. over several yrs.

  7. UNCLE HO

  8. Ho Chi Minh mausoleum

  9. Guess which city is the home of the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum!

  10. Vietnam Maps

  11. Vietnam: Domino Theory • U.S. belief that if one SE Asian country fell to Communism, the rest would soon follow.

  12. Legitimate or crazy?

  13. Vietnam: US Involvement • “Domino Theory” led to gradual US involvement supporting S.V. • 1964: Tonkin Gulf Resolution: Congress authorizes military action in SE Asia. • US Presidents: • Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969) • Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974) • Prior to Vietnam, what was the U.S.’ record in wars?

  14. Vietnam: US soldiers http://www.sss.gov/lotter1.htm • Pre-1969, draft according to age • 1969: Lottery for draft by b’day • Combat soldiers avg. age • WWII: 26 • Vietnam: 22 • “Tour of Duty:” Those enlisted &/or drafted required to serve just one year & then come home. Potential Problems?

  15. Vietnam: Fighting • Superpower vs. Small “Third World” nation • Communist expansion or independence? • Viet Cong used “unconventional warfare” • Avoid direct fighting, prolong war to demoralize enemy, etc. • Turning Point: Tet Offensive (Jan. 1968) • Tet: Vietnamese New Year • N.V. launched major attack but did not capture any major cities • ***US public now perceived US as losing & began to question US objectives in V.***

  16. Vietnam: Anti-War • This photo shows a SV executing what appears to be a defenseless Viet Cong prisoner. In fact, the prisoner had just killed 8 SV. Photo by Eddie Adams, 1968

  17. Eddie Adams • The general killed the Viet Cong; I killed the general with my camera. Still photographs are the most powerful weapon in the world. People believe them; but photographs do lie, even without manipulation. They are only half-truths. ... What the photograph didn't say was, 'What would you do if you were the general at that time and place on that hot day, and you caught the so-called bad guy after he blew away one, two or three American people?

  18. Eddie Adams • "I would have rather been known more for the series of photographs I shot of 48 Vietnamese refugees who managed to sail to Thailand in a 30-foot boat, only to be towed back to the open seas by Thai marines.”

  19. Tet Offensive Map

  20. My Lai http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/trenches/my_lai.html

  21. Vietnam: US gets out • After Tet, US protests led to gradual removal of troops in area w/ policy of “de-escalation” (later “Vietnamization”) • Bombings intensified w/ Nixon • 1973: All sides agree to ceasefire but fighting continued • 1975: Viet Cong defeats SV • 1976: Vietnam unified as one Communist country, Saigon becomes Ho Chi Minh City

  22. Vietnam: Results • 400,000+ SV died • 900,000+ NV & VC died • 58,000 Americans died • 10 million (about ½ of pop.) became refugees • http://www.archives.gov/research/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics.html#age

  23. Agent Orange • http://flickr.com/search/?q=agent+orange+victim

  24. Agent Orange: Not Just in Vietnam http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4649452.stm ROK $62 million

  25. Vietnam: Some effects in US • 2 Things US will try to avoid in future: • Fighting w/o a clear EXIT STRATEGY*** • US casualties*** *** = “Let me explain!”

  26. “Big Mo” of the Montgomery (AL) Biscuits

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