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Vietnam War: Background, US Involvement, Battles, and Casualties

Explore the history of the Vietnam War, from Vietnam's struggle for independence to the US involvement, major battles, and the staggering number of casualties. Learn about key events like the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, the Tet Offensive, the My Lai massacre, and the fall of Saigon.

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Vietnam War: Background, US Involvement, Battles, and Casualties

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  1. Vietnam 1954-1975

  2. French Colony since 1883 • Ho Chi Minh- 1941: organized resistance movement “League for the Independence Of Vietnam • 1945- Vietnam declares its independence Background to US involvement

  3. 1946- US backs French- Truman refuse to help Minh due to ties to Communist Party • Domino Theory would influence policy toward Vietnam • May 1954- French surrender Background continued

  4. Divides Vietnam at the 17th Parallel • US backs Ngo Dinh Diem in the south (Eisenhower) • JFK supported Domino Theory, deepens US involvement Geneva Conference

  5. Geneva Conference

  6. December 1960- 900 US military advisors in South Vietnam • JFK sends 16,000+ more, authorizes US military to engage in direct combat • US deaths 1961- 14 • US deaths 1963- 500

  7. November 1963- Ngo Dinh Diem overthrown, murdered • November 1963- JFK assassinated

  8. The Tonkin Gulf Resolution- 1964: Congress gives the President authority to take “all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against forces of the United States” The war escalates

  9. Claims of an attack on US Destroyer Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin (unprovoked) prompted resolution • The war starts for real

  10. US institutes a military draft • By April 1965- 13,700 were drafted. • Draft was based on date of birth- month/day

  11. Napalm- a jellies gasoline mixture used as a firebomb- dropped from the air • Agent Orange- chemical weapon used to destroy Vietcong food supply weapons

  12. Carpet bombing- Operation Rolling Thunder • Ground war- search and destroy • Victory would be measured by kill ratio instead of ground gained Military strategy

  13. 1965- 200,000 sent to Vietnam • Battle of Ia Drang Valley • 1966- B-52s bomb North Vietnam • 1967- Operation Cedar Falls- The Iron Triangle of Vietcong tunnels discovered • McNamara admits bombing raids failed Battles- timeline overview

  14. 1968: • Tet Offensive • Battle for Hue • My Lai village massacre by US troops • US begins peace talks

  15. POW’s

  16. 1969 • Operation Breakfast- Nixon authorizes covert bombing of Cambodia to destroy supply routes • Ho Chi Minh dies • My Lai massacre reported

  17. 1970 • Nixon extends war to Cambodia • Kent State shootings

  18. 1971 • Pentagon Paper published in NY Times • 1972 • US heavily bombs North Vietnam • Kissinger contines peace talks

  19. 1973 • Cease-fire agreement signed in Paris • Remaining US troops withdrawal • 1975- Saigon falls

  20. 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam Era (5 August 1965-7 May 1975) • 7,484 women served in Vietnam, of whom 6,250 or 83.5% were nurses.Casualties: 58,156 (including men formerly classified as MIA MIA: 2,338POW: 766, of whom 114 died in captivity • Women Who Died In Vietnam: • All were nurses* 2nd Lt. Carol Ann Elizabeth Drazba* 2nd Lt. Elizabeth Ann Jones Both were 22 years old.* Capt. Eleanor Grace Alexander* 1st Lt. Hedwig Diane Orlowski* 2nd Lt. Pamela Dorothy Donovan • * 1st Lt. Sharon Ann Lane • Lt. Col. Annie Ruth Graham • Capt. Mary Therese Klinker Statistics

  21. Return home

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