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War Expands in Vietnam

War Expands in Vietnam. 29-2. One American’s Story. Stan Goff sent to Vietnam Machine gunner Engaged Viet Cong Viet Cong to weak to face American firepower Guerilla warfare- surprise attacks by small bands of fighters Viet Cong were an elusive enemy. Direct Military Involvement Begins.

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War Expands in Vietnam

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  1. War Expands in Vietnam 29-2

  2. One American’s Story • Stan Goff sent to Vietnam • Machine gunner • Engaged Viet Cong • Viet Cong to weak to face American firepower • Guerilla warfare- surprise attacks by small bands of fighters • Viet Cong were an elusive enemy

  3. Direct Military Involvement Begins • South Vietnam was weak • Ineffective leadership • 1964- Viet Cong and the NVA forces controlled most of South Vietnamese countryside • United States subtle • General Minh- South Vietnamese Leader • General Nguyen Khanh- Leader in the NVA • General Khanh eventually overthrew General Minh

  4. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • Johnson planned to bomb North Vietnam in 1964 • Ho Chi Minh was negatively supporting North Vietnam • August 2, 1964- U.S. destroyer Maddox fired on by two North Vietnamese torpedo boats • Second possible attack reported • Johnson asked Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution • http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=47779540619101779#

  5. Johnson Sends Troops • March 1965- Bombing of North Vietnam began • Number of troops sent increased from 75,000 to 184,000 in 6 months • Escalation- policy of increasing military involvement • General William Westmoreland- commander of U.S. forces in South Vietnam • 536,000 U.S. forces sent by 1968 • Stiff domestic and international opposition provoked by American military efforts

  6. A Different Kind of War • 3000119115.GIF • United States was overconfident • Landscape frustrated soldiers • Chinese forces threatened United States • Unfamiliarity with land proved to be a disadvantage • Assumptions that had dominated US foreign and military policy since 1945 were brought into question

  7. U.S. Disadvantages • Young, inexperienced soldiers • Years of service required shortened • No frontline • Viet Cong and NVA blended with general population • Unpredictable attacks put in place • The entire nation became their enemy • http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Asia/Vietnam_War_US_Lost.html

  8. Guerilla Warfare • Style of fighting differed • Sudden, unexpected attacks put the United States on the defensive side • Viet Cong had advantage because they were fighting on their own land • U.S. was yet to explore and learn about the land • Land and climate frustrated American soldiers • Soldiers not used to Vietnamese landscape • Viet Cong stayed dedicated • Vietnamese never gave up • “They see the war entirely as one of defense of their country against the invading Americans, who, in turn, are seen merely as successors to the French.” ~ Prisoner from Viet Cong

  9. American Strategies • Offensive and defensive setups • Napalm- jellied gasoline that burns violently • Agent Orange- a chemical that kills plants and other greenery • Harmful chemicals destroyed Viet Cong hideouts and food supply • Villagers harmed • U.S. plan backfired • Agent Orange harms everyone who comes in contact with it • Search-and-destroy missions • Innocent villagers feared Americans and communists

  10. Tet: A Turning Point • 1967-war at stalemate • General Westmoreland stayed positive • North Vietnam believed they could not sustain on the defensive side much longer • Victory was essential before the death of North Vietnamese communist leader, Ho Chi Minh

  11. The Tet Surprise • January 30-31, 1968- Communists launch Tet offensive • Tet Offensive- surprise Communist attack on U.S. and North Vietnamese forces in 1968 • 85,000 soldiers sent to bomb cities and towns • 100 towns and cities bombed by Viet Cong and NVA soldiers • Attack on Tet, Vietnamese celebration of Lunar New Year • http://www.encyclomedia.com/video-tet_offensive.html

  12. The Tet Surprise (Contd.) • Soldiers dressed as citizens and bombed local places • Citizens and soldiers killed • Ended ineffective • No land gained • 45,00 soldiers lost • U.S. embassy in Saigon, South Vietnam’s capital, bombed • http://www.u-s-history.c om/pages/h1862.html

  13. U.S. Doubts Grow • U.S. stunned by Tet offensive • Tet offensive pierced General Westmoreland • “Credibility Gap” present • Tet offensive made U.S. citizens question U.S. government’s wisdom in entering war • U.S. citizens started protests against continuation of war • Peace talks between U.S. and Vietnam began in 1968

  14. Works Cited "Gulf of Tonkin." Bodies of Water. Web. 4 Apr. 2010. <http://911review.com/precedent/century/imgs/tonkin.jpg>. "Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Britannica.com)." Google Videos. Web. 04 Apr. 2010. <http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=47779540619101779#>. "Powerpoint Templates." Office Online Home Page - Microsoft Office Online. Web. 04 Apr. 2010. <http://office.microsoft.com/en- us/templates/TC300011911033.aspx?AxInstalled=1&c=0>.  "Tet Offensive." United States History. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. <http://www.u-s- history.com/pages/h1862.html>. "Tet Offensive Video Clips, Free Online Videos – Encyclomedia." Free Video Clips - Streaming Online Videos - EncycloMedia. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. <http://www.encyclomedia.com/video- tet_offensive.html>. "Tet Offensive." Vietnam War. Web. 4 Apr. 2010. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Tet- Offensive-Map.jpg>.

  15. Works Cited (Contd.) "Vietnam." Asian Countries. Web. 4 Apr. 2010. <http://www.mon- photo.com/Asia/Vietnam_1/vietnam.gif>. "Vietnam War." Military. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. <http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/vietnam.htm>. "Vietnam War." The Vietnam War. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. <http://www.vietnampix.com/end.htm>. "Vietnam War Videos, Photos, and Stories." Battles of War - War History Videos and Footage. Web. 05 Apr. 2010. <http://www.battlesofwar.com/Vietnam_War.php>. "Vietnam War." Vietnam War. Web. 4 Apr. 2010. <http://www.cubanology.com/Vietnam/images/vietnamTrenc hes.jpg >.

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