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Background on the war in Vietnam. Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried. Vietnam Under Attack. 111 BC Chinese Until 938 AD 1861- 1940 French 1940 - Japanese 1945 - China & Britain 1945-1954 French Partitioning. A Leader is Found. Ho Chi Minh lived in Moscow for 30 years
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Background on the war in Vietnam Tim O’Brien’sThe Things They Carried
Vietnam Under Attack • 111 BC Chinese • Until 938 AD • 1861- 1940 French • 1940 - Japanese • 1945 - China & Britain • 1945-1954 French • Partitioning
A Leader is Found • Ho Chi Minh lived in Moscow for 30 years • Founded the Indo Chinese Party (ICP) • The party was to encourage nationalism • ICP established a communist government in the 1940’s seeking national identity and independence
Why Communism? • Ho Chi Minh offers for his Marxist leadership: • National identity • Equality
VRA - Vietnam army in North VC - (Viet Cong) Guerrilla force fighting for the North in South Vietnam ARVN - South Vietnamese Army DMZ- the demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam AO - area of operations Important Terms
Why Did America Get Involved? • To stop the spread of communism • Democratic ideals • World police
Who is the Average American Soldier? • 19 years old • High school education • Politics more involved • Many enlisted because nothing else to do or for glory • Draft lasted 4 years • Basic training for 16 months • More minorities in heavy combat
Why Vietnamese Hard to Beat? • Strong sense of nationalism • Willingness to fight • All willing to fight • Strong motivation for independence • Indifference to enemy • Guerrilla warfare and American’s lack of identification of enemy • Jungle terrain and network of tunnels
Unfamiliar terrain and combat style. Enemy hard to identify. Orders given by officers not there. Inexperienced soldiers. Lack of leadership. Revolving door policy (officers coming and going). Body count meaningless! Why Did We Fail?
Back in the USA • Media distorted the facts to make us look like we were winning. • Media also showed grotesque images of war. • Public didn’t want us there. • Felt shame in the loss