Vietnam War 1964-1973 Early History • Chinese refer to area as Nam Viet • 111 B.C to 939 A.D – China ruled over Vietnam and the Vietnamese constantly fought their rule • 939 A.D to 1887 – semi-independence from China and allowed for Vietnamese culture to grow French enter the picture – Why? • Hoping to secure land and sea bases from Europe to Asia • Competing with British for colonial possessions • Trying to convert area to Catholicism • French signed treaty in 1887 creating Indochina WWII • Vietnamese resist Japanese control over the area • Office of Strategic Services (OSS) works with Ho Chi Minh to rescue downed allied pilots • War ends and Ho issues Declaration of Independence and at the same time French reassert control First Indochina War 1945 - 1954 • Truman has a choice? • • - Ho Chi Minh -French rule as colonial power French use fear of communism saying that if they lost Indochina then they would be too weak and their government would fall to French Communist party 1952, US supplied 1/3 of French military budget Siege of Dien Bien Phu Siege • French want to create a fortress and battle enemy in one of attrition • Viet Minh bring in 40,000 additional troops around Dien Bien Phu and put it to a siege • Lasts from March 1954 to May 1954 when the French surrendered • French- 3,000 killed and Viet Minh – 8,000 killed Why they lost? They are French Monsoon weather did not allow ofr successful supply drops Too far from supply base Viet Minh held the high ground Did not bomb Viet Minh positions with significant aircraft The Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) • Ngo Dinh Diem – worked with the US as Prime Minister of South Vietnam His policies would alienate many South Vietnam people • Duong Van Minh - military General of the South Vietnamese army (ARVN) Diem’s policies • Sought harsh methods to root out communists at the village and city level • Tru Gian – Viet Minh organization devoted to political assassinations -1959, 1,000 assassinations - ignored the corrupt and inefficient officials Ho Chi Minh’s trouble • a poorly executed plan nearly resulted in famine • The five-year plan failed Overall Goal of Ho - wants to unite North and South into one communist country and expel US – use NVA and VC Eisenhower and Vietnam • Sent military equipment and financial aid to • • • France 1955 set up Military Assistance advisory Croup – Vietnam (MAAGV) worked as military advisors in training ARVN – capped at 342 Tried to work with French in the South unitl they left in 1956 Domino theory increases US interests in Vietnam Eisenhower and Vietnam • Sent Ed Lansdale to • support Diem and counter coups against him State Department representative Collins does not support Diem Eisenhower and Vietnam • By end of of 2nd term • Eisenhower increased military advisors to 700 Also sent more military men in civilian clothes to get around cap on foreign military troops in Vietnam Kennedy and Vietnam • 1960 campaign vowed to be strong on communism • Kennedy believed in exporting democracy and capitalism to stop spread of communism • Knowing this Diem screams “Communists!” and gets more aid from Kennedy Increasing aid • Diem request enough • • aid for a 270,000 men ARVN force Increased VC activity leads to Diem’s call for US combat troops Kennedy sends General Taylor and Walt Rostow Two policies to choose from • Increase military • advisors and support units of pilots and helicopters Also, send 8,000 combat soldiers to help with humanitarian relief • Send six divisions • numbering 200,000 soldiers to Vietnam Shows commitment to Vietnam Counterinsurgency Green Berets Winning the “hearts and minds” • Building schools • Providing medical • • • assistance Improving irrigation and roads Protecting Vietnamese peasants from the Viet Cong Colin Powell was an advisor during these years • VC -taxing them -Drafting their young men into service -Terrorizing them Assassination of Diem • Ruled as a virtual dictator • Gave preference to Catholics in government positions, and giving land • Hamlet programs were a disaster • Banned the display of Buddhist flags (90% of country was Buddhist) Kennedy and the Vietnam war • Increased advisors from 700 to 16,000 • Ordered withdrawal of 1,000 advisors • Diem coup created revolving door governments and great instability