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The War’s End

The War’s End. Just a Reminder. The Life of a GI Vietcong were everywhere and nowhere “We are the unwilling…working for the unqualified …to do the unnecessary…for the ungrateful.”. Hardships on Both Sides. For the US soldiers: 60 lb. pack Leeches and mosquitoes Jungle rot

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The War’s End

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  1. The War’s End

  2. Just a Reminder • The Life of a GI • Vietcong were everywhere and nowhere • “We are the unwilling…working for the unqualified …to do the unnecessary…for the ungrateful.”

  3. Hardships on Both Sides • For the US soldiers: • 60 lb. pack • Leeches and mosquitoes • Jungle rot • 10’ tall elephant grass • Booby traps, snipers, and tunnels • For the Vietnamese: • Everyone could be a VC • Effects of Napalm and Agent Orange • Death everywhere • VC target civilians to discourage dissent • Saturation bombing

  4. My Lai: US Self-Control Breaks • 16 March 1968 • Charlie Company, 11th Brigade lead by Lt. Calley entered My Lai, a place supposed to hold 250 VC • 175-400 men, women, and children rounded up and shot • Hugh Thompson – chopper pilot who lands between US troops and civilians

  5. Hue Massacre • 3,000-5,000 anti-communists gunned down by Vietcong • Other similar mass graves found in Vietnam

  6. Nixon Plans a Pullout • Peace with Honor a campaign pledge in 1968 • Nixon sent peace delegation to demand North’s communists out of S. Vietnam and return of POWs • National Security Advisor: Henry Kissinger

  7. The North Digs In • N. Vietnam demands coalition gov’t with VC in south • US rejects • Doves are impatient

  8. US Changes Tactics…Again • Nixon begins scale-back • VIETNAMIZATION – gradual withdraw of US forces as S. Vietnamese troops assumed more combat duty • Bombs Ho Chi Minh Trail in Cambodia to force N peace treaty

  9. Frustration Rules the Day • Nixon orders ground troops into Cambodia to deal with Communist Khmer Rouge and N. Vietnamese bases • Khmer Rouge • Led by Pol Pot • Organized the Cambodian genocide in an attempt to engineer the social structure • KSU and Hard Hat Riots

  10. The Pentagon Papers • 1971 – Daniel Ellsberg leaks secret history of Vietnam to NY Times • Shows gov’t cover-ups and lies • Anti-War movement gains ground, pressure on Nixon grows

  11. Public Outcry Ends the War • 2/3rds of US want out of Vietnam • Even if the communists win • Oct 1972 – US and North agree to peace talks • Nixon re-elected in a landslide

  12. Peace Negotiations • US and Vietnamese argue for five months over the size of the conference table

  13. Peace? • North won’t sign so Nixon unleashes another bombing and the North reconsiders the deal • Paris Peace Accords (1973) • VC legitimized • Northern soldiers stay out of South • S. gov’t stays in charge until an election

  14. Unification At Last • US out in 1973 the North waits until 1975 and then invades • US won’t aid S. Vietnam, even with the USSR aiding the North • Saigon falls

  15. The Results of Vietnam • 58,000 dead, 300,000 wounded • 2,000,000-3,000,000 dead Vietnamese • North send south population to die or be reeducated in camps • Communism spreads to Laos and Cambodia • Global doubt of the US resolve and power

  16. It was a big war… • Veterans treated terribly by anti-war supports • US confidence takes a hit • Even today, the threat of another Vietnam scares people (Iraq and Afghanistan)

  17. Long Term Impact • 26th Amendment – 18 year olds are allowed to vote • Nixon abolished the draft – switches the US to an all volunteer army • War Powers Act, 1973 • President must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying military • President must withdraw troops within 90 days (unless Congress approves) • POW/MIA issue • Disregard veterans because they are “baby killers”

  18. Some American POWs Return from “Hanoi Hilton”

  19. “If we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be you who tires of it.” - Ho Chi Minh

  20. The Vietnam Memorial

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