Introduction
There were around 2.5 million American soldiers. Soldiers on both sides faced many difficulties and challenges during the Vietnam War – including climate, terrain, the complex political situation and unclear military objectives. Some Viet Cong soldiers were uniformed and highly trained, however, most were volunteers and reservist farmers who received only occasional training, if any at all. The Viet Cong used Chinese and Soviet-supplied weapons but also relied on makeshift explosives and booby traps. They utilised guerrilla tactics, such as complex tunnel systems. American soldiers, in comparison, were well equipped and given months of basic and specialist training before their deployment in Vietnam. Many US soldiers became disillusioned with the war, its complexities and its outcomes. This led to problems such as the ‘fragging’ of officers and the use of narcotics.
Task
When was the Vietnam War?
The commonly accepted dates for the Vietnam conflict are 1954 to 1975. Most of the military fighting occurred between 1957 and 1973. Because Congress never officially passed a vote to declare a war, the United States was never technically at war with North Vietnam.
Where was the Vietnam War fought?
The Vietnam War took place within the region of Southeast Asia east of Thailand and south of China formerly known as Indochina, which is now comprised of the countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Most of the fighting occurred within the country that was then known as South Vietnam, but the conflict spilled over into the neighboring countries of Laos and Cambodia to the west. Aerial bombing raids were also conducted over the area that was, at the time of the fighting, a separate country called North Vietnam.
What was the purpose of the Vietnam War?
The Vietnam War was fought to determine which political regime would gain control of the country and reunify it after French occupation. France backed Emperor Bao Dai in South Vietnam, while the majority of Vietnamese citizens supported Ho Chi Minh in the northern Democratic Republic of Vietnam. After the French defeat of 1954, the resultant treaty proposed a 1956 nationwide election to unify Vietnam. Instead, President Ngo Dinh Diem enlisted U.S. support to oppose Ho Chi Minh’s Communist agenda.
Why did the United States get involved in Vietnam?
The United States got involved in Vietnam to prevent the spread of communism throughout Southeast Asia. The domino theory, prevalent in the U.S. government, posited that if Vietnam became communist, it would lead to communist conquests of surrounding countries; victory in Vietnam was crucial to stopping the communist expansion.
What happened during the Vietnam War?
The Vietnam War was fought in an attempt to stem the communist rule of Vietnam; it did not succeed in its objectives despite the massive loss of life for both South and North Vietnamese and the United States, who stepped in to try and prevent Communist rule in the region. The Vietnam War formerly held the title of the longest war in U.S. history until the war in Afghanistan. Despite military intervention by the U.S., the North Vietnamese was able to overtake the South Vietnamese and the Vietnam War ended.
What was the Tet Offensive?
The Tet Offensive was a major military assault on South Vietnam by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops during the Vietnam War in 1968. Both South Vietnam and U.S. military forces suffered massive casualties, and the assault had severely detrimental effects on civilian support for the war in the United States.
What were the protests against the Vietnam War?
The protests against the Vietnam War were a series of demonstrations against American involvement in the conflict between North and South Vietnam. Protests were initially peaceful and included sit-ins or teach-ins or marches, but they eventually erupted into violence.
How many people died in the Vietnam War?
There were 1.4 million casualties during the Vietnam War. This number accounts for casualties on both sides of the conflict. Over 2 million soldiers of both sides were wounded in the war but not killed.
What are some popular Vietnam war stories?
Popular Vietnam war stories include the story of the Battle of Ia Drang and the story of Roy Benavidez risking his life to save his comrades in Cambodia. The book “We Were Soldiers Once…and Young: Ia Drang – The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam” is about the Battle of Ia Drang, while “Legend: The Incredible Story of Green Beret Sergeant Roy Benavidez’s Heroic Mission to Rescue a Special Forces Team Caught Behind Enemy Lines” is about Benavidez.
What were the consequences of the Vietnam War?
In addition to the untold consequences for military families due to the massive loss of 58,000 American lives during the conflict, the Vietnam War led to the end of the military draft in the United States, a reduction in the voting age to age 18, restriction of a sitting president’s ability to send military forces into combat, weakened and undermined morale among the U.S. military and caused damage to the American economy. In addition, the Vietnam War caused divisions in the Democratic Party and caused Americans to be suspicious of their government. Returning soldiers fared little better, with an estimated 700,000 Vietnam veterans suffering from the psychological after effects of war. The effects of Agent Orange also contributed to the death of thousands of U.S. soldiers who left this world way before their time. And yet others, remain disabled and continue to suffer today from those diseases attributed to the defoliant.
Conclusion
The Vietnam conflict impacted veterans in a variety of ways. Most combat soldiers witnessed violence and lost friends to the horrors of war. The dedication of eight new names to the Vietnam War Memorialon 28 May 2001 brought the American death toll to 58,226, a number that will continue to rise as the classified casualties of the covertwar in Laosand Cambodiacontinue to surface. Some American veterans bore emotional and physical injuries that they would carry for the rest of their lives. Most remained proud of their service and of the role of the United States in the conflict. During the war approximately twenty-seven million American men dealt with the draft; 11 percent of them served in some fashion in Vietnam. As a consequence of college deferments, most U.S. soldiersin Vietnam came from minority and working-class backgrounds. The average age of U.S. soldiers in Vietnam, nineteen, was three years lower than for American men during World War II and Korea.