Weapons & Battles

1. Weapons & Battles Vietnam War

2. ARVN and NVA • Army of the Republic of Vietnam • South Vietnam • They are the ally of the US • North Vietnam Army • Enemy for US & ARVN

3. Vietcong • Also known as Charlie, Chuck, VC, Victor Charlie, or Black Pajamas due to what they wore • Rebels in the South who help the North • Enemy to US and ARVN

4. Weapons of the Vietcong Spiked Mud Ball/ Bamboo Whip • Punji Pits Side Closing Trap Bear Trap Crossbows

5. Weapons of the Vietcong Explosives • Daisy Chains • Trip Wire Trap • Bouncing Betty Anti-Aircraft • Claymore Mine on its back

6. Tunnels

7. US Tactics • Herbicides: Agent Orange, Blue, Purple -Kill Vegetation • Helicopters

8. DaNang & Ia Drang Valley • Major air strip for US and ARVN • Where we landed Marines during the 1965 escalation of the war • IaDrang Valley-1st battle “search & destroy” -US air strikes “Operation Rolling Thunder” -VC uses close battle -Sets stage strategy of war

9. Ho Chi Minh Trail • Supply trail that ran through neighboring Laos & Cambodia to get supplies from North to Vietcong in South • Complicated trails, foot &truck paths, river transport and mazes • Ex: October 1967 480 trucks by Dec. 6315-They are preparing for Tet

10. Tet Offensive • Lunar New Year • Suppose to be a truce for 2 days so ARVN go home to celebrate • Westmoreland knows it is not a good idea since there is build up on Ho Chi Minh Trail • Jan 31, 1968-Sept. 1968 • Surprise attack by NVA & Vietcong to invade over 100 key cities including Saigon -wanted to take the countryside of the south -have South start uprising against Am./ARVN • At 1st Americans winning • *Turning point-60% Americans see Tet as the American defeat

11. Khe Shan • Marine base • Part of Tet • 77 day standoff • Had an airstrip built 1962 • Left the base on 7/5/68 • Will eventually reopen in 1971 to invade Laos & abandoned again 1972

12. A Tough Question • You are a 21 yr old Officer with 4 wounded men. The medivac reports they can only take 2 now. Which do you send? • 19 yr old bad head wound • Married 25 year old bad stomach wound • Leg wound • Shoulder wound

13. My Lai Massacre • Hamlet • March 16, 1968 • 350-500 killed (unsure) • Charlie Company given orders to search for VC who may have retreated during Tet • Unclear if there were orders given to kill anyone • Thompson flies over in helicopter and tells them to stop

14. My Lai Massacre • Lt Calley convicted March 1970 and serves 4 ½ months until released by Nixon • The Captain Medina & 26 platoon members never convicted • Changed American opinion of the war

15. Vietnamization 1969-1973 • After Tet in 1968 under President Nixon • Policy of training and increases supplies to South Vietnam Army while reducing the number of American troops in Vietnam • We begin withdrawing • 1969-480,000 • 1970-280,000 • 1971-140,000 • End 1972-30,000 • January 1973 we sign agreement to fully withdraw Without telling the public, Nixon ordered the invasion of Laos & Cambodia in 1970…

16. Fall of Saigon • NVA captured capital Saigon April 30, 1975 • Renamed Ho Chi Minh City • “Frequent Winds” begin to evacuate tens of thousands of Americans & South Vietnamese • Largest helicopter evacuation in history • Vietnam unites under communism

17. Women • Approx. 7500 women served in the military primarily as nurses • Over 30,000 women would be in Vietnam, through Red Cross, Salvation Army and entertainment through USO

18. Casualties • 58,193/ 8 women • 1,484 NJ • Average age of deaths 23 • 25% draftees-2/3 were Volunteer • 86% White/Hispanic (88% those served) • 12.5% Black (11% those served) • 1.2% Other (1% those served)

19. Casualties • 76% lower/middle class • 75% Income above Poverty • 23% Fathers had professional jobs • 79% had high school diplomas or higher