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Vietnam War Pictures. 1- Climate/Terrain of Vietnam. Humid, tropical climate Many Americans not used to this Viet Cong are used to it Huge advantage to opposition. 2- Viet Cong Soldiers. Blended in with rest of Vietnamese people Included children, women, etc.
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1- Climate/Terrain of Vietnam • Humid, tropical climate • Many Americans not used to this • Viet Cong are used to it • Huge advantage to opposition
2- Viet Cong Soldiers • Blended in with rest of Vietnamese people • Included children, women, etc. • Supported unification of Vietnam under communism
3- Viet Cong guerilla warfare • Used extensive tunnel system to move throughout different parts of Vietnam • Known for use of land mines • Definition- the use of hit-and run tactics by small, mobile groups of irregular forces operating in territory controlled by ahostile,regular force
4- American Soldiers • Young, innocent recent high school/college graduates • Initially excited for fighting • Many questioned why there were fighting the war
5- B-52s and Saturation bombing • U.S. armed forces most destructive way of fighting • Saturation- concentrated in one place • Often killed as many innocent civilians as enemy soldiers
6- Agent Orange • Used as herbicidal warfare • Deadly gas often dropped in densely forested areas • Manufactured for U.S. armed forces by private chemical companies • Killed thousands, over 3 million people allegedly affected, livestock and crops affected as well • Many still affected today • Now illegal
7- Napalm • Gel-like substance that is very flammable • Used as bombs for United States • Dropped throughout Vietnam
8- Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • North Vietnam allegedly sank the U.S.S. Maddox- August 4, 1964 • LBJ supported resolution to start American involvement in Vietnam War • Resolution- August 7, 1964 • Almost unanimously agreed
9- Tet Offensive • 1US losses more than 1100, ARVN 2300 • More than 12, 500 civilians killed • Devastating Effect on American public opinion – 78 percent of Americans said no progress was being made; 26 percent approved Johnson’s handling of the war • Increase in the credibility gap – Tet seemed to show LBJ’s progress offensive was an exaggeration, to some a lie – Kennedy speech
10- My Lai Massacre • On March 16, 1968, the men of Charlie Company, 11th Brigade, America Division entered the village of My Lai. “This is what you’ve been waiting for--search and destroy-- and you’ve got it,” said their superior officers. • “Lieutenant Calley, for his part, was said to have rounded up a group of the villagers, ordered them into a ditch, and mowed them down in a blast of machine gun fire” • It took more than a year for the shocking story of the My Lai massacre to reach the news stands. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWchy6ykNnQ
11- Vietnamization • Process of removing soldiers out of Vietnam • Remove American troops but continue to train South Vietnam • Hopefully they can win war • Took place from 1969-1973 • Nixon did this because • Military advisors said that SV soldiers were ready • Pressure from American public
12- U.S. Bombing of Cambodia • Fear of the domino theory • Viet Cong and North Vietnamese bases there • Since Vietnamization, we still need to help out • Nearly 500,000 civilian casualties from bombs • Cambodia ultimately fell to a communist regime • PR nightmare for Nixon!