The Vietnam War lasted through six presidents, 50,000 dead American

Soldiers and 25 years of battle. In 1945 Vietnamese nationalist declared

independence from France. In 1954 France surrenders 10,000. Vietnam

splits, North and South. American's thought that Vietnam was thought to be

the gateway for China and Soviet Union. South Vietnam was thought to be

vulnerable to attack from these countries. Ho Chi Minh wants to unify

Vietnam. Eisenhower felt that South Vietnam was essential to western

Security. John F. Kennedy wants to prevent South Vietnam from becoming

communist.

In 1962 Guerrilla control spreads across Vietnam. 25,000 American

Advisors where sent over to show the South Vietnamese how to use

American weapons. These troops where sent to Saigon. They where often

drawn into battle by the North Vietnamese (Viet Cong). The troops were no

match for the Viet Cong. The rebellion was lead by 8,000 Southern born

communists. 1963, American troops totaled 35,000.

The South Vietnam President was a nationalist and a devoted Catholic,

in a nation of Buddhists. In 1963 seven Buddhist Monks committed suicide

by setting themselves on fire. They did this to protest South Vietnam

President's repressive rule. These suicide monks got the nickname The

Human Torches. Ambassador Henry Capatlarge remembers going into the

Oval Office and hearing JFK saying; "Look at that, look at what things have

come to". He was staring at a picture of the Human Torches. CIA chief in

Saigon supported the South Vietnam president. Some people wanted to

change the Saigon government.

Intense debate was started in the U.S. government. Secretary of State

Dean Russ informed Ambassador Large, in Saigon. Large told CIA agent

Lussen Ciaen, "My instructions were that I was to inform General Mien that

the US government would not thwart there cool. I convey this.

On November 1, 1963 Diem palace guards fought back but was

overthrown by the Generals men and Diem and his brother were found

murdered in the morning. JFK was distraught. He was assassinated three

weeks later. Lyndon Johnson took over as president. JFK had planned to

remove troops in Vietnam, according to historians. Defense Attorney Robert

McNamara supports a strong stand in Vietnam. North Vietnamese infiltrate

the Ho Chi Minh trail. In 1964 Hanoi increased infiltration. Johnson sends

Military chief to direct military policy. General Maxwell D. Taylor became

Ambassador, he thought it was only for a year.

August 4, 1964 two US Destroyers patrolled off the North Vietnam

coast, in the Gulf of Tonkin. South Vietnamese have been attacking this

coast for weeks. The destroyers came under attack. Johnson retaliates

against the North Vietnam. On August 5, Johnson informs the public "We

knew that the hostile actions against the US ship on the high seas of the Gulf

of Tonkin, Have today required me to order the military forces of the US to

take action and refire." Bombers hit oil and supply depots. After Johnson

asks congress for congressional approval to conduct war without declaring

it. Congress approved overwhelmingly. Johnson feels this will end the war

in six months.

The North Vietnamese except sacrifice. Entire communities move

underground. The North Vietnamese were supplied by Russia. The

Communist respond by taking the war to South Vietnam's cities. October

1964, US plans to increase bombing. Viet Cong attacks at air bases in South

Vietnam. Johnson decides to send in ground combat troops.

March 8, 1965 3,500 marines land in Denang. There objective was to

defend the air bases. Congress processed a request for 90,000 troops to be

sent over to South Vietnam. Approved, and 90,000 troops were sent with

conventional weapons.

North Vietnam declares a full war. The Viet Cong had complete

immobilization of man power. All forces was used for survival in the North

and Victory in the South. The Ho Chi Mahn is used for a life line for the

North. The Ho Chi Mahn trail is seen by the US, as being a key to end the

war, by shutting it down. The US relies on a war at a distance. Viet Cong

defense is to strong for a ground strike. Bombing increases the cost to a

billion dollars a year. America loses 500 planes over the trail. The American

High Command claims success but Viet Cong infiltration increases. The trail

was never shutdown. The trail was not one stationary trail, it consisted of

many smaller trails, that lead to different places.

The Prime Minister of South Vietnam was a great admirer of America.

He receives seven billion dollars in aide from the US. The aide only reaches

the black market, because of many political officials resented American

influence. The troops had there own broadcasting station. The broadcasts

consisted of daily updates on the weather back in the states.

North Vietnam matches the number of troops, that we had. The tactic

search and destroy arouses controversy. The US units, the AirForce units,

and the South Vietnamese units would patrol in the jungle till they found the

main force units of the Viet Cong and destroy them. Troops searched

villages and some where set on fire. The Viet Cong executed 37,000 people.

The villages were used as base camps by the Viet Cong. Destroying them

was essential. Troops would go into one village and find nothing, go into

another- nothing, then they would find a village used by the Viet Cong as a

base camp. One time a seven year old was used to lure soldiers into one

ambush. The Viet Cong were rarely seen unless dead.

The Viet Cong relied on booby traps, land mines. The Bouncing Betty

was the most commonly used, all the land mines were homemade. If you

stepped on it and picked up your foot a grenade type device would shoot up

waist high and exploded taking out you legs of the unfortunate soldier. The

troops had to encounter the B.B.'s while searching for a handful of Viet

Cong who had become experts in Guerrilla Warfare.

By 1968 the war had drawn in a half a million soldiers. The war was

judged by the kill ratio, which was often exaggerated. The number of body

count continues to rise, so does the Viet Cong infiltration. US tries larger

operations. Helicopters become a key in tactics. The helicopters supplied

mobile firepower, 1,000's of gunships were brought in by helicopters. The

helicopters became very vulnerable to attack. 5,000 were lost fighting the

war.

America becomes impatient. Quarter of a million South Vietnam

troops dies. Belief of little help from South Vietnam, leads to protest in

America. Troops see this to and ask, "What the hell is going on here?"

America demands help from the South Vietnamese. They claim the US

directs the war by itself. Prime Minister agrees with that statement. Johnson

loses support because of the way he handles the war. This leads to heavy

criticism. The men burn there draft cards in America. World Heavy Weight

Champion Muhammad Ali refuses the draft. "I would rather face machine

gun fire than detect from the teaches of the all mighty god, and the Nation of

Islam."

1967, 50,000 demonstrators lead by David Dillanger, he found out that

entire villages were being wiped out, schools, churches, and hospitals

included. "The only thing the war is going to stop if there is war in the

streets of America. People see that there is going to be a war in the streets of

America. Then they are going to stop dropping bombs on Vietnam, 10,000

miles away, and tend the war in America." Jerry Ruben.

November 1967, Johnson orders bombing to within five miles of

Hanoi. He dines that the war in the south is going badly. Johnson tries to tell

America what they like.

North Vietnam plans a bold offense to shatter Americans hope from

ending the war. January 20, 1968 North Vietnam launches main attack.

They occupy the American Embassy in Saigon. 100 cities and towns

assaulted by 80,000 Viet Cong. American troops must fight in the cities.

Television flashes home images of pain and doubt. This was the first war

fought without news censorship. Protest intensifies in America. The new

secretary of state doesn't support the war in Vietnam. He suggests we get out

of Vietnam. Johnson withdraws half of the bombings. Johnson does not

seek reelection.

In 1969, Nixon is elected. He wants peace, the protests increase in

America. Defense Secretary Melvin Lead wants to Vietnamese the war and

deamericanese it. September 1969, Ho Chi Mahn dies. He was a peace

leader.

In 1970, North Vietnam receives four billion dollars from the

communists. North Vietnamese troops withdraw from South Vietnam.

Nixon tries bombing the border. He also tries invading Cambodia. The

operation fails. The Viet Cong get away and leave little supplies. Kent State

University, Ohio, student demonstrators were opened fire on, killing four.

In 1971 Daniel Webster releases critical papers on the war. Henry

Kissinger, ordered by Nixon to begin secret peace talks with North Vietnam

to stop the war, North Vietnam refuses. Nixon orders heavy bombing by

B-52's. Viet Cong crosses the border into South Vietnam, but was stopped

by heavy bombing. Nixon orders heavy bombing closer to the capital.

Bombs reach the industrial suburbs of Hanoi. Nixon tries to force a peace

agreement before the November election. Kissinger says that peace is at

hand, a week before the election. Nixon wins election by the greatest

number of popular votes. For the first time B-52's bomb Hanoi for 11 days

over Christmas, in 1972. 2400 Greenich means time 1973 a cease fire is

called. The American troops leave, 50 are left behind. America cuts back

aide, in December 1974. Ford declares the war over as far as America is

concerned. We did our part.