Vietnam: Part I A Chronology of Events

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Vietnam Part IA Chronology of Events
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The War in Southeast Asia Background

• Americas most unpopular war
• Americas longest and most expensive war
• The best technical war money could buy
• America hardly ever lost a tactical battle
• A war America did not win

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The War in Southeast AsiaBackground

• Often called the Vietnam War
• Americans flew from bases in Thailand, Laos,
  Guam, and South Vietnam
• Troops from Thailand, Australia, New Zealand,
  South Korea, and Philippines fought with the U.S.
  and South Vietnam
• China and the Soviet Union heavily supported
  North Vietnam

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The War in Southeast AsiaGeneral 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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The French Era 1940 to 1954

• Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia were originally a
  French colony -- 19th century
• Japanese occupied SEA at start of WW II
• Opposed by guerrilla force led by Ho Chi Minh
• U.S. backed Ho Chi Minhs efforts to oust Japan
• At end of WW II, Ho declared Vietnam an
  independent nation
• Allies ignored Ho and divided Vietnam at the 16th
  parallel -- Potsdam Conference

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The War in Southeast AsiaThe French Era (Cont)

• French returned to fill power vacuum after WW II,
  U.S. supports French, but not happy
• Fighting between France and Vietminh began in
  1946
• France was defeated at Dien Bien Phu by General
  Vo Nguyen Giap -- 7 May 1954
• Requested U.S. air support -- nuclear if
  necessary -- didnt get it
• France withdrew from Indochina--for good

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Geneva Accords - July 1954

• Officially ended France-Vietminh struggle
• U.S. and South Vietnam didnt sign Accords
• Divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel
• Separated by a demilitarized zone (DMZ)
• Partition was to be temporary
• Elections were planned in 1956 -- didnt occur
• President Diem (South Vietnam) feared Ho Chi Minh
  of North Vietnam would win

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Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)

• Initiated by the U.S. in Sept 1954 to prevent
  spread of communism -- Domino Theory
• Member nations were U.S., Great Britain, France,
  Australia, New Zealand, Thailand Philippines, and
  Pakistan
• Didnt require participants to support each other
  with military force
• Politically justified U.S. actions in S Vietnam

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U.S. Involvement - 1955 to 1964

• U.S. reluctantly moved to fill power vacuum
• April 1955--US agrees to advise S Vietnam
• Green Berets arrive Oct 1959 -- to train only
• 1959 -- North Vietnam increased actions to unify
  North and South
• US increased action to prevent a North victory
• Aug 64 -- N Vietnamese gunboats attack 2 U.S.
  destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin

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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution -Aug 64

• Passed by Congress 5 Aug 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 U.S. to fight for S Vietnam

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U.S. Build-up -- 1965 to 1968

• March 1965 U.S. Marine and Army arrive
• Rolling Thunderbombing campaign begun
• By 1969, U.S. troop strength reached 543,000
  (500,000 supported the war from other Asian
  countries and Pacific bases)
• U.S. became heavily involved in fighting a
  guerrilla war-- they were not prepared
• 30 Jan 68 -- North launched Tet Offensive

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Tet Offensive of 1968The Beginning of the End

• North attacked 12 U.S. bases and Embassy
• Objective -- Shatter the Souths army and cause a
  civilian revolt -- Neither happened
• A tactical failure -- a huge strategic success
• American confidence in war effort plummeted
• Opposition to the war increased significantly
• After Tet, U.S. objective was to get out, quickly
  and gracefully

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VietnamizationThe U.S. Withdrawal

• Nov 1968 -Nixon elected on promise to end the war
  in Southeast Asia
• Nixons Vietnamization program was to return the
  war to the South Vietnamese
• U.S. to provide advice, training and material
• Returned U.S. and S Vietnam to pre-1965 roles
• U.S. forces began withdrawing in June 1969
• U.S. morale dropped / winning no longer a goal

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Events Surrounding the Paris Peace Talks

• Talks began in 68 but achieved nothing
• North Vietnam knew time was on their side
• U.S. units continued to withdraw
• By 1972, 200,000 U.S. troops had left Vietnam
• Mar 72-- North launched its Easter Offensive
  against South Vietnam
• Attack repelled by U.S. air power (Linebacker I)

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Events Surrounding the Paris Peace Talks (Cont)

• Talks resumed following the Easter Offensive
  --again little movement
• 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 U.S. to withdraw all units by Mar 73

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The Fall of South Vietnam

• Between 1973 and 1975, North continued to build
  strength in violation of Peace Accords
• Nixon preoccupied with Watergate
• U.S. Congress tired of Vietnam and refused to
  help
• Feb 75, North launched the Ho Chi Minh campaign
  against the South
• South easily defeated without U.S. air support
• Laos and Cambodia fell quickly thereafter

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The War in Southeast AsiaCosts to the U.S.

• 58,135 Americans killed, 153,000 wounded, 2500
  missing in action
• 141 billion spent
• 6.3 million tons of bombs dropped (12 times more
  than Korea, 2 times more than WW II)
• 2,257 aircraft lost (3.1 billion value)
• 5.2 million combat sorties flown

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The War in SoutheastAsia Results

• U.S. reluctance to enter military conflicts that
  dont directly threaten national interests
• Congressional restriction on Presidents ability
  to commit U.S. military forces
• Lessened public opinion of the government and the
  military
• The all-volunteer military force
• Increased emphasis on military resources,
  training and weapons