tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40183638384073246862024-03-05T15:50:22.135-08:00Vietnam WarVietnam WarPeace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-12000027017838741452010-11-28T05:37:00.000-08:002010-11-28T05:44:02.745-08:00List of Vietnam War Weapons and Equipment<div style="text-align: justify;"><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Weapons_of_the_ARVN.2C_US.2C_South_Korean.2C_Australian.2C_and_New_Zealand">Weapons of the ARVN, US, South Korean, Australian, and New Zealand</span></h2> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Chemical_weapons">Chemical weapons</span></h3> <p>In 1961 and 62 the Kennedy administration authorized the use of chemicals to destroy vegetation and food crops in South Vietnam. Between 1961 and 1967 the US Air Force sprayed 12 million US gallons of concentrated herbicides, mainly Agent Orange (a dioxin) over 6 million acres (24,000 km²) of foliage, trees and food crops, affecting an estimated 13% of South Vietnam's land. In the year 1965, 42% of the herbicide used was allocated to food crops. The herbicide use was also intended to drive civilians into RVN-controlled areas.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> In 1997, an article published by the Wall Street Journal reported that up to half a million children were born with dioxin related deformities, and that the birth defects in South Vietnam were fourfold those in the North. The use of Agent Orange may have been contrary to international rules of war at the time. It is also of note that the most likely victims of such an assault would be small children. A 1967 study by the Agronomy Section of the Japanese Science Council concluded that 3.8 million acres (15,000 km²) of land had been destroyed, killing 1000 civilians and 13,000 livestock.</p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Small_arms">Small arms</span></h3> <p>1. * M6 bayonet</p> <ul><li>M7 bayonet</li><li>KA-BAR (USMC)</li><li>KCB70 bayonet (Limited use with Stoner 63 rifle only)</li></ul> <p>2. Pistols & Revolvers</p> <ul><li>FNH Browning H-P Mk III pistol - used by Australian and New Zealand forces</li><li>Smith & Wesson Mark 22 Mod.0 "Hush Puppy" - Suppressed pistol used by SEALs, among others</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Colt M1911A1</span> pistol and its variants</li><li>Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless Carried by General Officers</li><li>Colt Commander</li><li>Smith & Wesson Model 15 (USAF M-15) carried by USAF SPs (Security Police Units)</li><li>Smith & Wesson Model 12</li><li>M1917 revolver</li><li>High Standard HDM</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Walther PPK</span> with suppressor</li><li>Ruger MK II with suppressor (Navy SEALs)</li></ul> <p>3. Shoulder arms</p> <ul><li>L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR) - Used by Australian and New Zealand soldiers in Vietnam</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Springfield M1903</span> limited use </li><li>M1 Garand limited use</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">M1 Carbine</span></li><li><span class="mw-redirect">M2 Carbine</span></li><li>M14 rifle</li><li>XM16E1 and M16A1 Early issue M-16 had problems replaced by M16A1. After 1968 were issued to special forces and then infantry a year or two later.</li><li>XM177E2</li><li>M1A1 Thompson</li><li>M3 Greasegun</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Swedish K</span></li><li>Smith & Wesson M76</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Madsen M/50</span></li><li>Beretta M12</li><li>MAC-10</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">MP40</span> (CIDG)</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">UZI</span> (SOG recon teams)</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Owen Gun</span> (Australian submachine gun)</li><li>F1 submachine gun (Australian, replaced <span class="mw-redirect">Owen Gun</span>)</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">L2A1</span> a copy of the British sterling used by the <span class="mw-redirect">SASR</span> for prisoner extraction also used with Silencer</li><li>T223 which is a copy of the Heckler & Koch HK33 Assault Rifle under license by <span class="mw-redirect">Harrington & Richardson</span> used in small numbers by Navy SEAL teams</li><li>Winchester Model 1912 pump-action shotgun</li><li>Ithaca 37 pump-action shotgun</li><li>Remington 870 pump-action shotgun</li><li>Remington 11-48 semi-automatic shotgun <ul><li>The shotguns were used as an individual weapon during jungle patrol; infantry units were authorized a shotgun by TO & E (Table of Organization & Equipment). Shotguns were not general issue to all infantrymen, but were select issue, such as one per squad, etc.</li></ul> </li></ul> <p>4. Sniper Rifles</p> <ul><li>Winchester Model 70 bolt-action sniper rifles - used by <span class="mw-redirect">U.S. Marine Corps</span> snipers</li><li>M-40 sniper rifle - used by <span class="mw-redirect">U.S. Marine Corps</span> snipers* M21 Sniper Weapon System (or XM21 in test phase) - an accurized version of M-14</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Springfield M1903</span>A4 sniper rifle</li><li>M1 Garand M1C and M1D sniper variants</li></ul> <p>5. Machine guns</p> <ul><li>L2A1AR Full auto machine gun version of the L1A1 SLR used by ANZAC forces</li><li>Stoner M63a Commando & Mark 23 Mod.0 - used by <span class="mw-redirect">U.S. Navy SEALs</span> and tested by <span class="mw-redirect">Force Recon</span></li><li>M60 machine gun GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun)</li><li>M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle, known as BAR</li><li>M1917 Browning machine gun .30cal heavy machine gun</li><li>Browning M1919-A6 medium machine gun</li><li>Browning M2HB .50cal Heavy Machine Gun</li></ul> <p>6. Grenades and Mines</p> <ul><li>Mark 2 Fragmentation Hand/Rifle Grenade</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Claymore M18A1</span> is an anti-personnel mine</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">M61 Fragmentation Hand Grenade</span></li><li><span class="new">WP M34 grenade White Phosphorus Hand Grenade</span> is a smoke grenade that uses white phosphorus, which, when in contact with air ignites and creates white smoke. The white phosphorus was also a useful way to dislodge the Viet Cong from tunnels or other enclosed spaces as the burning white phosphorus absorbs oxygen, causing the victims to suffocate or suffer serious burns.</li><li><span class="new">M18 grenade Smoke Hand Grenade</span></li></ul> <p>7. Grenade Launcher</p> <ul><li>M79 grenade launcher</li><li>M203 grenade launcher used late in the war by special forces.</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">China Lake NATIC</span> a pump-action grenade launcher - used by <span class="mw-redirect">U.S. Navy SEALs</span></li><li>XM148 grenade launcher</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Mk.19 Automatic Grenade Launcher</span></li></ul> <p>8. Flamethrower</p> <ul><li>M2 flamethrower</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Infantry_support_weapons">Infantry support weapons</span></h3> <ul><li>M18 recoilless rifle 57-mm,</li><li>M20 recoilless rifle 75-mm</li><li>M67 recoilless rifle 90 mm</li><li>M40 recoilless rifle 106-mm</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">M19 Mortar</span> 60 mm</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">M29 Mortar</span> 81 mm</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">4.2 inch mortar</span> 107 mm commonly referred to as the "four deuce"</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">M20 Super Bazooka</span> used mainly by <span class="mw-redirect">U.S. Marine Corps</span> before introduction of M72 LAW</li><li>M72 LAW Light Anti-Tank Weapon</li><li>FIM-43 Redeye <span class="mw-redirect">MANPADS (Man-Portable Air-Defence System)</span></li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Artillery">Artillery</span></h3> <ul><li>75mm Pack Howitzer M1</li><li>105 mm Howitzer M102</li><li>105 mm Howitzer M2A1</li><li>L5 (Aust) Pack Howitzer 105-mm</li><li>M109 155 mm self-propelled howitzer</li><li>M107 Self-Propelled Gun 175 mm gun</li><li>M110 8-inch self-propelled howitzer</li></ul> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Artillery_ammunition">Artillery ammunition</span></h4> <ul><li>Beehive rounds</li><li>White phosphorus (marking round) "Willy Peter"</li><li>HE, general purpose (High Explosive)</li><li>Canister</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Combat_aircraft">Combat aircraft</span></h3> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-1 Skyraider</span> ground attack aircraft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-37 Dragonfly</span> ground attack aircraft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-5 Freedom Fighter</span> fighter used in strike aircraft role</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-4 Skyhawk</span> carrier borne multirole strike aircraft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-6 Intruder</span> carrier borne all weather multirole strike aircraft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-7 Corsair II</span> carrier borne multirole strike aircraft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">AH-1 Cobra</span> attack helicopter</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">AC-47 Spooky</span> gunship (four) with the <span class="mw-redirect">1st Air Cavalry Division</span></li><li>AC-130 "Spectre" Gunship</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">AC-119G "Shadow"</span> Gunship</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">AC-119K "Stinger"</span> Gunship</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">B-52 Stratofortress</span> heavy bomber</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">B-57 Canberra</span> medium bombers - used by the <span class="mw-redirect">U.S. Air Force</span></li><li>Canberra B.20 Royal Australian Air Force medium bomber</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-4 Phantom II</span> carrier and land based fighter-bomber</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-8 Crusader</span> carrier borne fighter-bomber</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-105 Thunderchief</span> fighter-bomber</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-100 Super Sabre</span> fighter-bomber</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-101 Voodoo</span> (RF-101) fighter-bomber/reconnaissance plane</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-102 Delta Dagger</span> fighter</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-104 Starfighter</span> fighter</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-111 Aardvark</span> medium bomber</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">OH-6 Cayuse</span> Transport/ Observation helicopter</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">OH-58 Kiowa</span> Transport/ Observation helicopter</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">OV-10 Bronco</span>, light attack/observation aircraft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">UH-1</span> "Huey" gunship role (various models)</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Support_aircraft">Support aircraft</span></h3> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-123 Provider</span> tactical cargo aircraft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-130 Hercules</span> tactical cargo aircraft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-141 Starlifter</span> strategic cargo aircraft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">UH-1 Iroquois</span> helicopters in several configurations</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">CH-47 Chinook</span> medium lift helicopter</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-5 Galaxy</span> strategic lift cargo aircraft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-7 Caribou</span> tactical cargo aircraft - used by the <span class="mw-redirect">U.S. Air Force</span> and the Royal Australian Air Force</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">CH-46 Sea Knight</span> rescue helicopter</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">H-2 Seasprite</span> helicopter</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">H-3 Sea King</span> rescue and recovery helicopter</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">UH-34 Seahorse</span> Transport/Cargo helicopter</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">CH-53 Sea Stallion</span> medium lift helicopter</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">CH-54 Skycrane</span> heavy lift helicopter</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">H-43 Huskie</span> Transport/cargo helicopter</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">O-1 Bird Dog</span>, observation aircraft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">O-2 Skymaster</span>, observation aircraft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">OV-1 Mohawk</span> battlefield surveillance and light strike aircraft</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Aircraft_Ordnance">Aircraft Ordnance</span></h3> <ul><li>GBUs</li><li>CBUs</li><li>BLU-82 Daisy cutter</li><li>Napalm</li><li>Bomb, 250 lb, 500 lb, 750 lb, 1000 lb, HE (high explosive), general purpose</li><li>Rocket, aerial, HE (High Explosive), 2.75 inch</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Aircraft_weapons">Aircraft weapons</span></h3> <ul><li>M61 Vulcan, 20 mm (aircraft mount)</li><li>Minigun, 7.62 mm (aircraft and helicopter mount)</li><li>M197 Gatling gun, 20 mm</li><li>M60 machine gun, 7.62mm (helicopter mount)</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Vehicles">Vehicles</span></h3> <ul><li>M38A1 1/4 ton jeep</li><li>Ford M151 MUTT 1/4 ton Military Utility Tactical Truck (jeep)</li><li>Dodge M37, 3/4 ton (pick-up truck)</li><li>Kaiser Jeep M715 1 1/4 (Pickup Truck)</li><li>Truck, cargo/troops, 2 1/2 ton (deuce and a half)</li><li>Truck, cargo/troops, 5 ton</li><li>M520 Goer Truck, Cargo, 8-ton, 4x4</li><li>Land Rover short and long wheelbase Australian and New Zealand forces.</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Armoured_fighting_vehicles">Armoured fighting vehicles</span></h3> <p><b>Tanks</b></p> <ul><li>M41 Walker Bulldog light tank Used by South Vietnamese Army [ARVN]</li><li>M48 Patton medium tank</li><li>M551 Sheridan airborne reconnaissance assault vehicle, currently referred to as a light tank</li><li>Centurion main battle tank - used by the Australian Army</li><li>Sherman m4a3-m4a6 variants medium tank used in small numbers refitted with 76mm - used by American Army/Marines</li></ul> <p><b>Army and USMC vehicles</b></p> <ul><li>M113 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier)</li><li><span class="new">M113 ACAV</span> Armoured Cavalry Assault Vehicle</li><li>M8 Greyhound,used only by (<span class="mw-redirect">ARVN</span>)</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">LVTP5</span> Landing Craft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">M50 Ontos</span></li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Cadillac Gage V-100 Commando</span></li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Mark I PBRs</span> (Patrol Boat River)</li><li>LARC-LX</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">BARC</span></li><li><span class="new">AMTRAC</span>'S, amphibious tractors, US Marine Corps</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">M-114</span> Reconnaissance vehicle</li><li>M42 Duster (M-41 light tank hull, with a naval twin 40 mm mounted on an open turret)</li></ul> <p><b>Naval craft</b></p> <ul><li>Monitor, heavily gunned riverine craft</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Swift Boat</span>, (PCF) Patrol Craft Fast</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">ASPB</span>, Assault Support Patrol Boat, (known as Alpha boats)</li><li>PBR, Patrol Boat River, (all fiberglass boats, propelled by twin water jets)</li></ul> <p>Gunship Vehicles (commonly cargo), armed with automatic weapons.</p> <ul><li>Gun trucks, 2 1/2 ton (deuce an a half), and 5 ton cargo trucks with quad .50 cal machine guns mounted in the back</li><li>M16 Halftracks with quad .50 cal machine guns in the back</li><li>Gun jeeps, 1/4 tons with mounted M-60 machineguns</li><li>Land Rover, short and long wheelbase, with single and twin M60 machineguns. Aust. and NZ forces</li></ul> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Weapons_of_the_PAVN.2FNLF">Weapons of the PAVN/NLF</span></h2> <p>NVA (North Vietnamese Army) and the Southern communist guerrillas NLF, or Viet Cong as they were commonly referred to during the war, largely used standard Warsaw Pact weapons. Weapons used by the North Vietnamese also included Chinese Communist variants, which were referred to as CHICOM's by the US military. This distinction was in recognition of Taiwan (Nationalist China), a US ally.</p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Artillery_2">Artillery</span></h3> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">ZPU-4</span> quad 14.5 mm anti-aircraft machine gun</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">ZU-23</span> quad 23 mm anti-aircraft cannon</li><li>M1939 37 mm anti-aircraft gun</li><li>S-60 57 mm anti-aircraft gun</li><li>82 mm, 107 mm, and 120 mm mortars</li><li>122 mm Katyusha rockets</li><li>122 mm guns</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Aircraft">Aircraft</span></h3> <ul><li>MiG-21 jet fighter</li><li>MiG-19 jet fighter, used in limited numbers</li><li>MiG-17 jet fighter</li><li>MiG-15 jet fighter, used in limited numbers</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">An-2</span> aircraft</li><li>Mi-4 helicopter</li><li>Mi-8 helicopter</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Small_arms_2">Small arms</span></h3> <ul><li>AK-47 and AKM assault rifles (from the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries)</li><li>Type 56 assault rifle (from the People's Republic of China)</li><li>SKS semi-automatic carbine, also known as Simonov</li><li>Vz. 58 assault rifle</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">SVD-63</span> semi-automatic marksman rifle, also known as the "Dragunov" sniper rifle</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Mosin-Nagant</span> bolt-action rifles and carbines (from the Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact countries, and the People's Republic of China)</li><li>Mauser Kar98k bolt-action rifle (many of the Mausers used by the VPA and the NLF were from rifles captured from the French during the First Indochina War and rifles provided to them by the Soviets as military aid)</li><li>Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle (captured by the Soviets during <span class="mw-redirect">World War Two</span> and provided to the VPA and the NLF as military aid)</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Tokarev TT-33</span> handgun</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Makarov PM</span> handgun</li><li>Nagant M1895 revolver</li><li>Stechkin APS machine pistol</li><li>Mauser C96 handgun</li><li>CZ 52 handgun</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Type 14 8 mm Nambu Pistol</span> Pistol (Captured From The Japanese) Used By North Vietnamese officers</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">K-50M</span> submachine gun</li><li>PPSh-41 submachine gun (both Soviet and Chinese versions)</li><li>MAT-49 submachine gun</li><li>Sa vz. 23 submachine gun</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Skorpion vz. 61</span> submachine gun</li><li>RPD light machine gun</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Degtyarev DP</span> light machine gun</li><li>RPK light machine gun</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">MG-34</span> light machine gun (captured by the Soviets during <span class="mw-redirect">World War Two</span> and provided to the VPA and the NLF as military aid)</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">MG-42</span> light machine gun (captured by the Soviets during <span class="mw-redirect">World War Two</span> and provided to the VPA ans the NLF as military aid)</li><li>Uk vz. 59 general purpose machine gun</li><li>DShK heavy machine gun</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">MP40</span> submachine gun (captured by the Soviets during <span class="mw-redirect">World War Two</span> and provided to the VPA and the NLF as military aid)</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">PPS-43</span> submachine gun</li><li>Arisaka rifles (Captured from Japanese)</li><li>F1 grenade</li><li>RG-42 grenade</li><li>RGD-5 grenade</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Infantry_support_weapons_2">Infantry support weapons</span></h3> <ul><li>RPG-2 (rocket-propelled grenades)</li><li>RPG-7</li><li>Type 69 RPG</li><li>82-PM-41 mortar</li><li>B-10 recoilless rifle</li><li>B-11 recoilless rifle</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Flamethrowers">Flamethrowers</span></h3> <ul><li>LPO-50 Flamethrower (Limited Use)</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Vehicles_2">Vehicles</span></h3> <ul><li>PT-76 amphibious tank</li><li>BTR-50 APC</li><li>BMP-1 APC</li><li>ZSU-23-4 anti-aircraft self-propelled systems</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">T-34/85</span> medium tank, used in limited numbers</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">T-55</span> main battle tanks</li><li>ZSU-57-2 anti-aircraft self-propelled system, fielded in limited numbers.</li><li>BTR-60 APC</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Bicycles</span></li></ul> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Substitute_standard_weapons_used_by_irregular_forces">Substitute standard weapons used by irregular forces</span></h2> <h3><span class="editsection">[edit]</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Small_arms_3">Small arms</span></h3> <ul><li>Arisaka bolt-action rifles</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">M1 Garand rifle</span>, semi-automatic</li><li>M1 carbines, semi-automatic</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Springfield M1903</span> bolt-action rifles</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">MAS-36</span> bolt-action rifles</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">MAS-49</span> semi-automatic rifles</li><li>MAT-49 submachine gun and local variants</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">MP40</span> submachine guns</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">PPS-43</span> submachine gun and local variants</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Swedish K</span> submachine guns</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Mosin-Nagant</span> bolt-action rifles and carbines</li><li>Mauser Karabiner 98k bolt-action rifles</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Type 99 light machine gun</span> Used occasionally by the Viet Cong</li><li>Nambu semi-automatic pistol</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">Colt M1911A1</span> Semi-Automatic Pistol</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Hand_combat_weapons">Hand combat weapons</span></h3> <ul><li>M6 bayonet U.S. Used on M-14</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">M1 Bayonet</span> U.S. and ARVN Used on M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, and M-14</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">M7 Bayonet</span> U.S. Use with the M-16</li><li>Other types of knives, <span class="mw-redirect">bayonets</span>, and <span class="mw-redirect">blades</span>.</li></ul> <p>A wide variety of anti-personnel landmines and booby traps were used in the Vietnam war, including punji stakes.</p></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-39868760577824712562010-11-25T12:03:00.000-08:002010-11-25T12:10:42.296-08:00Aircraft Losses During the Vietnam War<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIMGTEA_C9_fUMdk3nBTaCoYtTEyP85I3UfHnVDvtUK9o7IvijEoYdhrqGWehxLzjY_ocHuasMfWoX07h9thAjyfCg-gq3mO4jTzXMnscF7VHgY9HhgD9rLNQszgo8brp7F-I11s2a0zG/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIMGTEA_C9_fUMdk3nBTaCoYtTEyP85I3UfHnVDvtUK9o7IvijEoYdhrqGWehxLzjY_ocHuasMfWoX07h9thAjyfCg-gq3mO4jTzXMnscF7VHgY9HhgD9rLNQszgo8brp7F-I11s2a0zG/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543582269921400370" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">There were a great many <b>aircraft losses during the Vietnam War</b>. Hundreds of U.S. fixed-wing aircraft were lost to ground fire of antiaircraft artillery (AAA), surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and fighter interceptors (<span class="mw-redirect">MiG</span>)s. The great majority of U.S. combat losses in all areas of Southeast Asia were to AAA. The Royal Australian Air Force also flew combat and airlift missions in South Vietnam, as did the <span class="mw-redirect">Republic of Vietnam</span>. Among fixed-wing aircraft, more F-4 Phantoms were lost than any other type in service with any nation.<br /><br /><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="United_States_aircraft">United States aircraft</span></h2> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="United_States_Air_Force">United States Air Force</span></h3> <p>All told, the U.S. Air Force flew 5.25 million sorties over South Vietnam, North Vietnam, northern and southern Laos, and Cambodia, losing 2,251 aircraft: 1,737 to hostile action, and 514 to operational causes. 110 of the losses were helicopters and the rest fixed-wing. A ratio of roughly 0.4 losses per 1,000 sorties compared favorably with a 2.0 rate in Korea and the 9.7 figure during World War II.<sup id="cite_ref-schlight_0-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p><b>Sources for USAF figures:</b></p> <dl><dd>USAF Operations Report, Nov. 30, 1973<sup id="cite_ref-seaf4loss_1-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></dd><dd>Campbell, John M. and Hill, Michael. <i>Roll Call: Thud</i>. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1996. <span class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 0-7643-0062-8</span>.</dd><dd>Hobson, Chris. <i>Vietnam Air Losses, USAF, USN, USMC, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia 1961–1973</i>. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2001. <span class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 1-85780-115-6</span>.</dd></dl> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="USAF_fixed-wing">USAF fixed-wing</span></h4> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-1 Skyraider</span>-- --191 total, 150 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>–First loss A-1E 52-132465 (1st Air Commando Squadron, 34th TG) shot down during the night of 28–29 August 1964 near <span class="mw-redirect">Bien Hoa</span>, SVN</dd><dd>–Final loss A-1H 52-139738 (1st Special Operations Squadron, 56th Special Operations Wing) which was shot down 28 September 1972 (pilot was rescued by an Air America helicopter).</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-7D Corsair II</span>-- --6 total, 4 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>–First loss 71–0310 (353d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 354th TFW) on 2 December 1972 shot down on a CSAR mission in Laos (Capt Anthony Shine KIA).</dd><dd>–71-0312 (353d TFS) mid-air collision with an <span class="mw-redirect">FAC</span> <span class="mw-redirect">O-1 Bird Dog</span> in Laos on 24 December 1972, (Capt Charles Riess PoW)</dd><dd>-71-0316 (355th TFS) operational loss (non-combat) crash in Thailand on 11 January 1973 (Pilot Rescued)</dd><dd>-70-0949 (354th TFW) shot down Laos on 17 February 1973 (Maj J J Gallagher Rescued)</dd><dd>-71-0305 (3rd TFS, 388th TFW) shot down in Cambodia on 4 May 1973 (1Lt T L Dickens Rescued)</dd><dd>-Final loss 70–0945 (354th TFW) shot down in Cambodia on 25 May 1973 (Capt Jeremiah Costello KIA)</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-26 Invader</span>-- --22 total</li></ul> <dl><dd>–First loss B-26B 44-35530 (Detachment 2A, 1st ACG) shot down in IV CTZ on the night of 4–5 November 1962 killing the 3 crew.</dd><dd>–Final loss A-26A 64-17646 (609th SOS, 56th SOW) lost over Laos on the night of 7–8 July 1969 killing both crewmen.</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-37 Dragonfly</span>-- --22 total</li></ul> <dl><dd>–First loss 1967; final loss 1972</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">AC-47 Spooky</span>-- --19 total, 12 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>–First loss 1965, final loss 1969</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">AC-119 Shadow/Stinger</span>-- --6 total, 2 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>–First loss AC-119G 52-5907 (Det.1, 17th SOS, 14th SOW) which crashed on take-off from <span class="mw-redirect">Tan Son Nhut</span>, SVN on 11 October 1969 killing 6 of the 10 crewmen.</dd><dd>–Final loss 1971</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">AC-130 Spectre</span>-- --6 total, all combat.</li></ul> <dl><dd>–First loss AC-130A 54-1629 (16th SOS, 8th TFW) hit by 37mm AAA over Laos and crash-landed at <span class="mw-redirect">Ubon RTAFB</span>, 2 crewmen died (one died of injuries before reaching Ubon) but 11 others survived.</dd><dd>–Final loss 1972</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">B-52 Stratofortress</span>-- --31 total, 17 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First losses were operational (non-combat) mid-air collision 2 B-52F 57-0047 and 57-0179 (441st Bomb Squadron, 320th Bomb Wing), 18 June 1965, South China Sea during air refueling orbit, 8 of 12 crewmen killed</dd><dd>-Final loss B-52D 55-0056 (307th Bomb Wing Provisional) to SAM 4 January 1973, crew rescued from Gulf of Tonkin</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">B-57 Canberra</span>-- --56 total, 38 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss 1964, final loss 1970</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-5A Galaxy</span>-- --1 total, 0 in combat. Crashed while attempting emergency landing at <span class="mw-redirect">Tan Son Nhut AB</span> 4 April 1975, as part of Operation Babylift. Five of the 8 US Military women killed during the Vietnam War, were aboard this airplane.</li></ul> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-7 Caribou</span>-- --19 total, 9 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First lost C-7B 62-4161 (459th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 483d Tactical Airlift Wing) which was hit by a US 155mm shell on 3 August 1967 in SVN killing the 3 crewmen. Note: there were two fatal crashes during Operation Red Leaf transition training of USAF crews in Army CV-2's, on 4 and 28 October 1966<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></sup>.</dd><dd>-Final loss was C-7B 62-12584 (483d TAW) which crashed in SVN on 13 January 1971, all 4 crewmen survived.</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-47 Skytrain</span>-- --21 total</li></ul> <dl><dd>-A C-47 was very first USAF aircraft lost in the SEA conflict, C-47B 44-76330 (315th Air Division) on TDY at <span class="mw-redirect">Vientiane, Laos</span> which was shot down by the Pathet Lao on 23 March 1961 killing 7 of the 8 crewmen. The sole survivor, US Army Maj. Lawrence Bailey was captured and held until August 1962.</dd><dd>-Final loss EC-47Q 43-48636 (361st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, 56th SOW) shot down in Laos on the night of 04/5 4–5 February 1973 killing all 8 crewmen.</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-123 Provider</span>-- --53 total, 21 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss was C-123B 56-4370 attached to the 464th TAW which came down on an Operation Ranch Hand (defoliation) training flight between Bien Hoa and Vung Tau, SVN on 2 February 1962</dd><dd>-Final loss 1971</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-130 Hercules</span>-- --55 total, 34 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss was C-130A 57-0475 (817th Troop Carrier Squadron, 6315th Operations Group) on 24 April 1965, a <span class="new">Blind Bat</span> flareship that crashed into high ground near Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, attempting to land in bad weather with a heavy load, two engine failures, and low fuel, killing all six crewmen. This was the 14th recorded loss of a C-130 to all causes.</dd><dd>-Final loss C-130E 72-1297 (314th TAW) destroyed by rocket fire at Tan Son Nhut AB on 28 April 1975.</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-141 Starlifter</span>-- --2 total, 0 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-C-141A 65-9407 (62d Military Airlift Wing) destroyed in a night runway collision with a USMC A-6 at <span class="mw-redirect">Danang</span>, SVN on 23 March 1967 killing 5 of the 6 crewmen.</dd><dd>-C-141A 66-0127 (4th Military Airlift Squadron, 62d MAW) crashed soon after take-off from Cam Ranh Bay, SVN on 13 April 1967 killing 6 of the 8 man crew.</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">E/RB-66 Destroyer</span> --14 total</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss was RB-66B 53-0452 (Det 1, 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 6250th Combat Support Group) which crashed 22–23 October 1965 west of Pleiku, SVN killing the crew.</dd><dd>-Final loss EB-66B 42nd TEWS, 388th TFS lost to engine failure on Dec. 23, 1972 during Operation Linebacker II. 3 crewmen were KIA.</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">EC-121 BatCat</span>-- --2 total, 0 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-EC-121R 67-24193 (554th Reconnaissance Squadron, 553d RW) crashed 25 April 1969 on take-off in a thunderstorm from <span class="mw-redirect">Korat RTAFB</span>, killing all 18 crewmen.</dd><dd>-EC-121R 67-21495 (554th RS) crashed on approach to Korat RTAFB on 6 September 1969, 4 of the 16 men were killed.</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-4 Phantom II</span>-- --445 total, 382 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss was operational (non-combat), F-4C 64-0674 (45TH TFS, 15th TFW) which ran out of fuel after strike in SVN on 9 June 1965; first combat loss F-4C 64-0685 (45th TFS, 15th TFW) shot down Ta Chan, NW NVN on 20 June 1965. 9 of the losses were parked aircraft struck by rockets.</dd><dd>-Final loss 1973</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-5 Freedom Fighter</span>-- --9 total</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss 1965, final loss 1967</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-100 Super Sabre</span>-- --243 total, 198 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss 1964, final loss 1971</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-102 Delta Dagger</span>-- --14 total, 7 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss 1964, final loss 1967. 4 of the combat losses were parked aircraft</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-104 Starfighter</span>-- --14 total, 9 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss 1965, final loss 1967</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-105D Thunderchief</span>-- --335 total, 283 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss 62–4371 (36th TFS, 6441st TFW) written off from battle damage over Laos 14 August 1964, at Korat, Thailand</dd><dd>-Final loss 61–0153 (44th TFS, 355th TFW) shot down Laos 23 September 1970, pilot Capt. J. W. Newhouse rescued</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-105F/G Thunderchief: "Wild Weasel," "Ryan's Raiders," "Combat Martin"</span>-- --47 total, 37 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss EF-105F 63-8286 (13th TFS, 388th TFW) shot down by AAA RP-6 July 1966, Maj. Roosevelt Hestle and Capt. Charles Morgan KIA</dd><dd>-Last loss F-105G 63-8359 (Det.1 561st TFS, 388th TFW) shot down by SAM 16 November 1972, RP-3, crew rescued</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-111A "Aardvark"</span>-- --11 total, 6 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss mission-related TFR failure, 66-0022 (428th TFS 474th TFW, Project Combat Lancer), 28 March 1968, Maj. H.E. Mccann and Capt. D.L. Graham MIA</dd><dd>-Final loss 67–0111 (474th TFW) mid-air collision over Cambodia, 16 June 1973, both crewmen rescued</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">HU-16 Albatross</span>-- --4 total, 2 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-51-5287 to unk cause 19 June 1965</dd><dd>-51-0058 to unk cause 3 July 1965</dd><dd>-51-0071 (33d ARRS) shot down by AAA 14 March 1966, two crewmen killed</dd><dd>-51-7145 (37th ARRS) disappeared 18 October 1966, 7 crewmen KIA-BNR</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">KB-50 Superfortress tanker</span>-- --1 total, 0 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-Only loss KB-50J 48-0065 (421st Air Refueling Squadron Detachment) at <span class="mw-redirect">Takhli RTAFB</span> which crashed in Thailand on 14 October 1964, all 6 crewmen survived.</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">KC-135 Stratotanker</span>-- --3 total, 0 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-Two crashes in 1968, one 1969, all operational (non-combat)</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">O-1 Bird Dog</span>-- --172 total, 122 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss 1963, final loss 1972</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">O-2 Skymaster</span>-- --104 total, 82 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss 1967, final loss 1972</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">OV-10 Bronco</span>-- --63 total, 47 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>First loss 1968, final loss 1973</dd></dl> <ul><li>QU-22 Pave Eagle-- --8 lost, 7 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss YQU-22A 68-10531 (554th RS, 553d RW) crashed due to engine failure on 11 June 1969</dd><dd>-Final loss QU-22B 70-1546 (554th RS) on 25 August 1972, pilot killed.</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">RF-4C Phantom II</span>-- --83 total, 76 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss 1966, final loss 1972</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">RF-101 Voodoo</span>-- --39 total, 33 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss 1964, final loss 1968</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">SR-71A Blackbird</span>-- --2 total, 0 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-64-17969 (Det OL-8, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing) suffered engine failure over Thailand on 10 May 1970, both crewmen ejected safely</dd><dd>-64-17978 (Det OL-KA, 9th SRW) crashed on landing at Kadena, Okinawa on 20 July 1972, both crewmen survived</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">T-28 Trojan</span>-- --23 total</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss 1962, final loss 1968</dd></dl> <ul><li>U-2C "Dragon Lady"-- --1 total, 0 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-Only loss 56–6690 (349th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron 100th SRW) which crashed on 8 October 1966 near Bien Hoa, SVN, Maj. Leo J Stewart ejected and was rescued.</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">U-3B Blue Canoe</span>-- --1 total, 1 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-Only loss 60–6058, destroyed on the ground during a VC attack on Tan Son Nhut, SVN on 14 June 1968.</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">U-6A Beaver</span>-- --1 total, 0 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>Only loss 51-15565 (432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing) which crashed in Thailand 28 December 1966, both crewmen survived.</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">U-10D Courier</span>-- --1 total, 1 combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-63-13102 (5th SOS, 14th SOW) shot down 14 August 1969 near Bien Hoa killing 1/Lt Roger Brown.</dd></dl> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="USAF_rotary-wing">USAF rotary-wing</span></h4> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">CH/HH-3 Jolly Green Giant</span>-- --34 total, 25 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss CH-3E 63-9685 (38th ARRS) to AAA North Vietnam on 6 November 1965, three crewmen POW, one rescued</dd><dd>-Last loss HH-3E 65-12785 (37th ARRS) 21 November 1970, combat-assaulted inside Son Tay POW camp (Operation Ivory Coast) and deliberately destroyed by U.S. Special Forces</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">HH-43B Pedro</span>-- --13 lost, 8 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss 63–9713 (38th ARRS) damaged by fire 2 June 1965, crew rescued and aircraft destroyed to prevent its capture</dd><dd>-Final loss 60–0282 (38th ARRS) crashed Cam Ranh Bay 7 August 1969, crew rescued</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">CH/HH-53 Super Jolly</span>-- --27 total, 17 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss HH-53C 66-14430 (40th ARRS) in Laos, damaged by gunfire 18 January 1969 crew rescued and aircraft destroyed by bombing to prevent capture</dd><dd>-Last losses four CH-53's (68-10925, −10926, −10927, 70–1627 all from 21st SOS, 56th SOW) to AAA on 15 May 1975, Koh Tang, Kampuchea, (Mayaguez incident final aircraft losses of Vietnam War)</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">UH-1 Iroquois</span>-- --36 total</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="United_States_Navy">United States Navy</span></h3> <p>Twenty-one aircraft carriers conducted 86 war cruises and operated 9,178 total days on the line in the Gulf of Tonkin. 530 aircraft were lost in combat and 329 more to operational causes. Resulting in the deaths of 377 naval aviators, with 64 airmen reported missing and 179 taken <span class="mw-redirect">prisoner-of-war</span>.</p> <p><b>Sources for USN carrier-based figures:</b></p> <ul><li>Francillon, René. <i>Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club: US Carrier Operations off Vietnam</i>, Naval Institute Press (1988) <span class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 0-87021-696-1</span></li></ul> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="USN_fixed-wing_carrier-based">USN fixed-wing carrier-based</span></h4> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-1 Skyraider</span> --65 total, 48 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss A-1H 139760 (VA-45, USS <i>Constellation</i>), to AAA 5 August 1964, Lt.j.g. R. C. Sather KIA (Body recovered in 1985)</dd><dd>-Final loss A-1H 134499 (VA-25, USS <i>Coral Sea</i>), to MIG 14 February 1968, Lt.j.g. J. P. Dunn MIA</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-3 Skywarrior</span> --7 total, 2 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss A-3B 142250 (VAH-4, USS <i>Hancock</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 22 December 1964, 3 rescued, 1 killed</dd><dd>-Final loss A-3B 144627 (VAH-4, USS <i>Kitty Hawk</i>), AAA 8 March 1967, 3 crewmen KIA</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-4 Skyhawk</span> --282 total, 195 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss A-4C 149578 (VA-144, USS <i>Constellation</i>), AAA 5 August 1964, Lt.j.g. Everett Alvarez POW (second longest held prisoner)</dd><dd>-Final loss A-4F 155021 (VA-212, USS <i>Hancock</i>), AAA 6 September 1972, pilot rescued</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-6 Intruder</span> --62 total, 51 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss A-6A 151584 (VA-75, USS <i>Independence</i>), own bomb detonation Laos 14 July 1965, crew rescued</dd><dd>-Final loss A-6A 157007 (VA-35, USS <i>America</i>), AAA South Vietnam 24 January 1973, crew rescued</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-7 Corsair</span> --100 total, 55 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss A-7A 153239 (VA-147, USS <i>Ranger</i>), SAM North Vietnam 22 December 1967, LCdr J.M. Hickerson POW</dd><dd>-Final loss A-7E 156837 (VA-147, USS <i>Constellation</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 29 January 1973, pilot missing</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-1 Trader</span> --4 total, 0 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-C-1A 146047 (VR-21, USS <i>Independence</i>), non-combat 30 August 1965, 7 passengers and crew rescued</dd><dd>-C-1A 136784 (VR-21, USS <i>Independence</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 12 September 1965, 9 passengers and crew rescued, 1 killed</dd><dd>-C-1A 146054 (Carrier Air Wing 11, <i>Kitty Hawk</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 16 January 1968, 7 passengers and crew rescued, 3 killed</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-2 Greyhound</span> --1 total, 0 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-Sole loss C-2A 155120 (VRC-50, USS <i>Ranger</i>), Gulf of Tonkin crash 15 December 1970, 9 passengers and crew killed</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">E-1 Tracer</span> --3 total, 0 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss E-1B 148918 (VAW-12, USS <i>Independence</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 22 September 1965, crew rescued</dd><dd>-Final loss E-1B 148132 (VAW-111, <span class="mw-redirect">USS <i>Oriskany</i></span>), operational loss (non-combat) 8 October 1967, 5 crewmen killed</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">E-2 Hawkeye</span> --2 total, 0 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-E-2A 151711 (VAW-116, USS <i>Coral Sea</i>), 8 April 1970, 5 crewmen killed</dd><dd>-E-2B 151719 (VAW-115, USS <i>Midway</i>), 11 June 1971, 5 crewmen missing</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">EKA-3 Skywarrior</span>-- --2 lost, 0 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-EKA-3B 142400 (VAQ-132, USS <i>America</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 4 July 1970, 3 rescued</dd><dd>-EKA-3B 142634 (VAQ-130, USS <i>Ranger</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 21 January 1973, 3 crewmen killed</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">EA-1 Skyraider</span> --4 total, 1 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss EA-1E 139603 (VAW-111, USS <i>Yorktown</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 15 April 1965, crew rescued</dd><dd>-Final loss EA-1F 132543 (VAW-13, <span class="mw-redirect">USS <i>Franklin D Roosevelt</i></span>), operational loss (non-combat) 10 September 1966, crew rescued</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-4 Phantom</span> --138 total, 75 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss F-4B 151412 (VA-142, USS <i>Constellation</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 13 November 1964, crew rescued</dd><dd>-Last combat loss (also last USN combat loss of war) F-4J 155768 (VF-143, USS <i>Enterprise</i>), AAA South Vietnam 27 January 1973, Cdr H.H. Hall and Lcdr P.A. Keintzer POW</dd><dd>-Final loss F-4J 158361 (VF-21, USS <i>Ranger</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 29 January 1973, crew killed</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-8 Crusader</span> --118 total, 57 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss F-8D (VF-111, USS <i>Kitty Hawk</i>), to AAA over Laos 7 June 1964, LCdr C.D. Lynn rescued</dd><dd>-Final loss (operational) F-8J 150887 (VF-191, <span class="mw-redirect">USS <i>Oriskany</i></span>) 26 November 1972, pilot rescued</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">KA-3 Skywarrior</span>- --2 lost, 0 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-KA-3B 142658 (VAH-4, <span class="mw-redirect">USS <i>Oriskany</i></span>), operational loss (non-combat) 28 July 1967, 1 crewmen rescued, 2 killed</dd><dd>-KA-3B 138943 (VAH-10, USS <i>Coral Sea</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 17 February 1969, 3 crewmen killed</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">RA-5 Vigilante</span> --27 total, 18 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss RA-5C 149306 (RVAH-5, USS <i>Ranger</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 9 December 1965, 2 crewmen killed</dd><dd>-Final loss RA-5C 156633 (RVAH-13, USS <i>Enterprise</i>), to MIG North Vietnam 28 December 1972, Lcdr A.H. Agnew POW, Lt. M.F. Haifley KIA</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">RF-8 Crusader</span> --29 total, 19 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss RF-8A (Det. C VFP-63, USS <i>Kitty Hawk</i>), 6 June 1964, to AAA in Laos, Lt. C. F. Klusmann POW</dd><dd>-Final loss RF-8G 144608 (VFP-63, <span class="mw-redirect">USS <i>Oriskany</i></span>), operational loss (non-combat) 13 December 1972, pilot rescued</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">S-2 Tracker</span> --4 total, 2 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss S-2D 149252 (VS-35, USS <i>Hornet</i>), unk combat loss 21 January 1966, 4 crewmen MIA</dd><dd>-S-2E 152351 (VS-21, USS <i>Kearsarge</i>, combat loss 11 October 1966, 4 crewmen KIA</dd><dd>-S-2E (VS-23, USS <i>Yorktown</i>), unk combat loss 17 March 1968, 4 crewmen KIA</dd><dd>-Final loss US-2C 133371 (VC-5, USS <i>Hornet</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 27 September 1967, crew rescued</dd></dl> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="USN_fixed-wing_shore-based">USN fixed-wing shore-based</span></h4> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-47 Skytrain</span> (1)</li></ul> <ul><li>OV-10 Bronco (7)</li></ul> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">P-2 Neptune</span> (4)</li></ul> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">P-3 Orion</span> (2)</li></ul> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="USN_rotary-wing">USN rotary-wing</span></h4> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">SH-2/UH-2 Sea Sprite</span>-- --12 lost, 0 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss UH-2A 149751 (HC-1, USS <i>Hancock</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 10 January 1966, 4 crewmen rescued</dd><dd>-Final loss UH-2C 149767 (HC-1, USS <i>Bon Homme Richard</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 10 August 1969, 4 crewmen rescued</dd></dl> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">SH-3 Sea King</span>-- --20 lost, 8 in combat</li></ul> <dl><dd>-First loss SH-3A 148993 (HS-2, USS <i>Hornet</i>), AAA North Vietnam 13 November 1965, 4 crewmen rescued</dd><dd>-Final loss SH-3D 156494 (HS-7, USS <i>Saratoga</i>), operational loss (non-combat) 31 December 1972, crew rescued</dd></dl> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="United_States_Marine_Corps">United States Marine Corps</span></h3> <p>U.S. Marine Corps aircraft lost in combat included 193 fixed-wing and 270 rotary wing aircraft.</p> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="USMC_fixed-wing">USMC fixed-wing</span></h4> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-4 Skyhawk</span> --81 lost</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">A-6 Intruder</span> --25 lost</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-117 Skytrain</span> --2 lost</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">EA-6 Prowler</span> --2 lost</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">EF-10 Skynight</span> --5 lost</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-4 Phantom</span> --95 lost, 72 combat</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">F-8 Crusader</span> --21 lost</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">KC-130 Hercules</span> --4 lost</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">O-1 Bird Dog</span> --7 lost</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">OV-10 Bronco</span> --10 lost</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">RF-4 Phantom</span> --4 lost</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">RF-8 Crusader</span> --1 lost</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">TA-4 Skyhawk</span> --10 lost</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">TF-9 Cougar</span> --1 lost</li></ul> <p>Source for F-4 losses is <span class="external text">Phantom with U.S. Marine Corps (Joe Baugher)</span>, others are unsourced</p> <h4><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="USMC_rotary-wing">USMC rotary-wing</span></h4> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">AH-1 Cobra</span> – 7</li><li>HUS-1 – 75</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">UH-1E Huey</span> – 69</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">CH-37 Mojave</span> – 1</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">CH-46D Sea Knight</span> – 109</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">CH-53 Sea Stallion</span> – 9<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="United_States_Army">United States Army</span></h3> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="USA_fixed-wing">USA fixed-wing</span></h4> <dl><dd>OV-1A Mohawk – 3 lost</dd><dd>OV-1B Mohawk – 2 lost</dd><dd>0–1 Bird Dog – 297 lost</dd></dl> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="USA_rotary-wing">USA rotary-wing</span></h4> <p>5,086<sup id="cite_ref-roush_4-0" class="reference"><span></span></sup></p> <dl><dd>1 205 was destroyed (Air America)</dd><dd>270 <span class="mw-redirect">AH-1</span>G were destroyed</dd><dd>1 BELL was destroyed</dd><dd>14 <span class="mw-redirect">CH-21</span>C were destroyed</dd><dd>2 <span class="mw-redirect">CH-34</span> were destroyed</dd><dd>1 <span class="mw-redirect">CH-37</span>B was destroyed</dd><dd>1 CH-37C was destroyed</dd><dd>83 <span class="mw-redirect">CH-47</span>A were destroyed</dd><dd>20 CH-47B were destroyed</dd><dd>29 CH-47C were destroyed</dd><dd>9 <span class="mw-redirect">CH-54</span>A were destroyed</dd><dd>3 <span class="mw-redirect">H-13D</span> were destroyed</dd><dd>2 H-37A were destroyed</dd><dd>147 OH-13S were destroyed</dd><dd>93 <span class="mw-redirect">OH-23</span>G were destroyed</dd><dd>45 <span class="mw-redirect">OH-58</span>A were destroyed</dd><dd>842 OH-6A were destroyed</dd><dd>60 <span class="mw-redirect">UH-1</span> were destroyed</dd><dd>1 UH-1A was destroyed</dd><dd>357 UH-1B were destroyed</dd><dd>365 UH-1C were destroyed</dd><dd>886 UH-1D were destroyed</dd><dd>90 UH-1E were destroyed</dd><dd>18 UH-1F were destroyed</dd><dd>1313 UH-1H were destroyed</dd><dd>176 <span class="mw-redirect">UH-34</span>D were destroyed</dd></dl> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Republic_of_Vietnam_aircraft">Republic of Vietnam aircraft</span></h2> <ul><li>A-1 Skyraider</li></ul> <ul><li>A-37A/B Dragonfly</li></ul> <ul><li>AC-47</li></ul> <ul><li>AC-119G/K Stinger – served Mar'72 –</li></ul> <ul><li>B-57 Canberra</li></ul> <ul><li>C-7A Caribou – served late'71 – mid'74 (grounded due to budget cuts)</li></ul> <ul><li>C-47 Skytrain</li></ul> <ul><li>C-119 Flying Boxcar – served Mar'68 –</li></ul> <ul><li>C-123K Provider – served May'73 – 1973 only (replaced by C-130A) 10 lost, 4 to ground fire</li></ul> <ul><li>C-130A Hercules – 2 combat losses</li></ul> <ul><li>F-5A/B/C Freedom Fighter</li></ul> <ul><li>F-5E Tiger II</li></ul> <ul><li>U/H-1D/H Iroquois (helicopter)</li></ul> <ul><li>C/UH-34C/D/G Choctaw (helicopter)</li></ul> <ul><li>CH-47A Chinook (helicopter)</li></ul> <ul><li>O-1 Bird Dog</li></ul> <ul><li>O-2A Skymaster – served 1970 – mid'74 (grounded due to budget cuts)</li></ul> <ul><li>T-28 Trojan</li></ul> <ul><li>T-37 Tweety Bird (trainer)</li></ul> <ul><li>T-41D Mescalero (trainer)</li></ul> <ul><li>U-6A Beaver</li></ul> <ul><li>U-17A/B Skywagon</li></ul> <p>VNAF a/c details sourced from "Flying Dragon – The South Vietnamese Air Force" Robert C. Milikesh, Schiffer Military History , 2005</p> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Royal_Australian_Air_Force">Royal Australian Air Force</span></h2> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Fixed_wing">Fixed wing</span></h3> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">C-7 Caribou</span> --3 total, 1 in combat</li></ul> <p>All from No. 35 Squadron RAAF.</p> <dl><dd>-No 293 was destroyed by mortar fire while taxiing at That Son (near the Cambodian border) on 29 March 1970<sup id="cite_ref-airforce.gov.au_5-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup>.</dd></dl> <ul><li>English Electric Canberra --2 total, 2 in combat</li></ul> <p>Both from No. 2 Squadron RAAF</p> <dl><dd>-First loss Serial No. A84-231 disappeared on 3 November 1970 on a night bombing mission in the northern 1st Corps Tactical Zone region of South Vietnam after dropping its bombs near Da Nang. Pilot Officer Robert Charles Carver (24) and Flying Officer Michael Patrick John Herbert (24), were both MIA until 30 July 2009 when their remains were positively identified<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup>.</dd><dd>-Final loss on 14 March 1971 shot down by a SAM. Wing Commander F.J.L. Downing and Flight Lieutenant A.J. Pinches were both rescued<sup id="cite_ref-airforce.gov.au_5-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup>.</dd></dl> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Rotary_wing">Rotary wing</span></h3> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">UH-1</span> – 6 total</li></ul> <p>All from No. 9 Squadron RAAF<sup id="cite_ref-airforce.gov.au_5-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup>.</p> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="North_Vietnamese_aircraft">North Vietnamese aircraft</span></h2><span class="mw-headline" id="North_Vietnamese_aircraft_2"></span> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Fixed-wing_losses_.28air_to_air_combat_only.29">Fixed-wing losses (air to air combat only)</span></h3> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">An-2</span> 4 claimed</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">MiG-17 Fresco</span> 110</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">MiG-19 Farmer</span> 10</li><li><span class="mw-redirect">MiG-21 Fishbed</span> 90</li></ul><span class="mw-headline" id="People.27s_Republic_of_China_aircraft_.28Communist_China.29">People's Republic of China aircraft (Communist China)</span> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Fixed-wing_losses_.28air_to_air_combat_only.29_2">Fixed-wing losses (air to air combat only)</span></h3> <ul><li><span class="mw-redirect">MiG-17 Fresco</span> 3 claimed</li></ul><br /></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-90940013537847687952010-11-22T10:06:00.000-08:002010-11-24T07:42:38.190-08:00Vietnam War Timeline<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline</span> 1955 -1975<br /><br /><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1954</b><br /></p><p>French are defeated at Dien Bien Phu after the United States refuses to send air support. The Geneva accords are signed by French and Vietminh, establishing the International Control Commission, deciding that the 17th parallel will be the temporary dividing line between the two, and creating plans for a free election in Vietnam no later than July 1956. Ngo Dinh Diem gains power in South Vietnam. United States sends technical and financial aid in expectation of social and land reform. <span class="mw-redirect">SEATO</span> formed by Pakistan, Thailand, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, France, United Kingdom, and United States. South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia join later. The nations agree to consult regarding military affairs; the commitment is not as strict or as binding as that required by NATO.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1960</b><br /></p><p>Political opposition in South Vietnam goes underground. Sporadic terrorism occurs; <span class="mw-redirect">NLF</span> ask for, and obtain, help from North Vietnam.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1960</b><br /></p><p>NLF conduct a campaign to assassinate village chiefs appointed by Diem.</p> <p><b>1961</b><br /></p><p>John F. Kennedy sends 1,364 American advisors to South Vietnam. Still no land reform. An operation of U.S. military pilots and planes were ordered to bomb targets in South Vietnam. The operation is cancelled moments before takeoff.</p> <p><b>1962</b><br /></p><p>The number of U.S. advisers increases to 9865. U.S. pilots are clandestinely bombing North Vietnam in an attempt to destabilize the Ho Chi Minh government. "The U.S. did not want to harm relations with Diem, and he was the last political stronghold in Vietnam facing the communists. This 'fact' is debatable..."</p> <p><b>1963</b><br /></p><p>15,500 Americans in Vietnam. Diem is losing his grip on the Buddhist revolutionaries. Kennedy agrees with South Vietnamese generals to remove Diem. With the CIA's conveying Kennedy's approval, Diem is assassinated in a <span class="mw-redirect">military coup</span> and succeeded by a series of military commanders. John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas. He had reconsidered the Vietnam strategy —hundreds of soldiers were on route to the US at the time of his assassination.</p> <p><b>1964</b><br /></p><p>Situation in South Vietnam deteriorates rapidly. In August, <span class="mw-redirect">Gulf of Tonkin Incident</span> occurs. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed by the United States Congress gives Lyndon B. Johnson a free hand to protect American forces in Vietnam, the pretext for deepening the U.S. military commitment. Publicly, Johnson had taken a mild position during his election campaign regarding the Vietnam issue, but privately agrees to proceed with the escalated Vietnam policy, now seemingly an entrenched policy.</p> <p><b>1965</b><br /></p><p>In February, the United States begins to bomb North Vietnam on a steady basis after the Pleiku attacks. In March, Marines land at Da Nang to begin full scale U.S. military action. In May, a 6-day bombing pause occurs. In August, 125,000 American troops are in Vietnam. In December, American bombing pauses again, with no apparent reaction from the Vietnamese.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1966</b><br /></p><p>400,000 American troops are now in Vietnam. In September, South Vietnam elects Thieu and Ky under their new constitution. One of Thieu's first acts after being put in power is to arrest the leader of his opposition.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1967</b><br /></p><p>500,000 American troops in Vietnam. U.S. conducts <i><span class="mw-redirect">demonstration election</span></i> and claims Saigon government is legitimate based on voter turnout.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1968</b> <span class="mw-redirect"><br /></span></p><p><span class="mw-redirect">Tet offensive</span> occurs. The <span class="mw-redirect">US Embassy, Saigon</span> is occupied for a short while. On March 12, the state of New Hampshire gives strong support to Eugene McCarthy, running on a campaign to end the war. On March 16, 1968, U.S. Army troops murder 347 civilians in My Lai. News of the massacre does not reach the U.S. public until November, 1969. On March 31, Lyndon Johnson calls for a partial bombing halt, and announces "I will not seek or accept my party's nomination for President of the United States." In April, the United States and North Vietnam begin talks in Paris. In October, Johnson halts all bombing north of the 17th parallel. Four-way talks begin.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1969</b><br /></p><p>In March, Richard Nixon announces secret talks have been taking place. As of April, 33,000 American troops have been killed in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Secret bombings in Cambodia begin. On November 15, there is a massive peace demonstration in Washington. Seymour Hersh breaks the <span class="mw-redirect">My Lai massacre</span> story. The Anti-war movement gained steam upon the evidence of <span class="mw-redirect">atrocities</span> by U.S. forces. The first draft lottery is instituted since World War II.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1970</b><br /></p><p>President Nixon announces during a TV address, the withdrawal of 150,000 troops over the next 12 months. However, most people believe this not to be true and that it is merely a tactic to stop the massive anti-war movement. President Nixon sends US forces into Cambodia, causing widespread war protest in the streets, and plunging Congress into a session-long debate over Congressional war powers. Four Kent Statecollege students were shot to death by Ohio National Guardsmen during an anti-war protest on the campus. This led to mass protests on campuses and city streets.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1971</b><br /></p><p>As of February, approx. 325,000 American troops remain in Vietnam. South Vietnam invades Laos with support from the U.S. About 45,000 American soldiers have died in Vietnam thus far.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1972</b><br /></p><p>In October, Nixon and Henry Kissinger announces that "peace is at hand", with an agreement to end the war. In December, the U.S. begins to bomb North Vietnam again, with the famous <span class="mw-redirect">Christmas day raids</span>. Demonstrations in the U.S. begin anew.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1973</b><br /></p><p>U.S. involvement in Vietnam finally ends. Kissinger wins Nobel Peace Prize. The U.S. lost about 50,000 soldiers in Vietnam, and suffered more than 300,000 wounded. Later estimates put the figure of Vietnamese deaths up to nearly 5 million, 4 million <span class="mw-redirect">civilians</span> killed. The war cost nearly 150 billion U.S. dollars.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1975</b><br /></p><p>On April 30, <span class="mw-redirect">Saigon</span> falls to North Vietnam and becomes Ho Chi Minh City. President Gerald Ford, in the days shortly preceding the collapse of Saigon, asked for $750 million from Congress to help the U.S. ally.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1975</b><br /></p><p>Conflict begins right after the fall of Saigon between the Communist governments of Vietnam and Cambodia, culminating in the Vietnamese invasion and subsequent occupation of Cambodia and the removal of the Khmer Rouge regime from power.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War Timeline </span><b>1975</b><br /></p><p>Since 1975 as many as 1.5 million people have fled Vietnam, many in unseaworthy boats risking storms and pirates to reach an uncertain haven. Perhaps 500,000 of them died at sea.</p><br /></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-4154423189970981362010-11-19T03:42:00.000-08:002010-11-19T03:47:11.814-08:00Vietnam War in Movies (Film)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtV62DksZ4-nIZ1tENKYI_Z_F-l8bd9qGhC-vrg-BHy9Vqxe7T7Ac_LthXyjGHo2dlpTB-K4EmZy9ewBXxw0hNcc1BfNsl66j25EmCqFX4O74c3RMqwgl7xsaZ0JrMj8VP-Gk2KLjE9Yjn/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtV62DksZ4-nIZ1tENKYI_Z_F-l8bd9qGhC-vrg-BHy9Vqxe7T7Ac_LthXyjGHo2dlpTB-K4EmZy9ewBXxw0hNcc1BfNsl66j25EmCqFX4O74c3RMqwgl7xsaZ0JrMj8VP-Gk2KLjE9Yjn/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541225970172338642" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>The <b>Vietnam War</b> has been the subject of many films. One of the first major films based on the Vietnam War was John Wayne's <i>The Green Berets</i> (1968). Further cinematic representations were released during the 1970s and 1980s, including Michael Cimino's <i>The Deer Hunter</i> (1978), Francis Ford Coppola's <i>Apocalypse Now</i> (1979), Oliver Stone's <i>Platoon</i> (1986), based on his service in the <span class="mw-redirect">U.S. Military</span> during the Vietnam War, and Stanley Kubrick's <i>Full Metal Jacket</i> (1987), among others.</p> <p>Other films in this genre include films that deal more with the issues veterans face at home after returning from the war. Films of this type include <i>Heroes</i> (the first postwar film to be released), <i>Combat Shock</i> (1986), <i>First Blood</i> (1982), <i>The War at Home</i> (1979), <i>Taxi Driver</i> (1976) <i>Born on the Fourth of July</i> (1989), <i>Dead Presidents</i> (1995), and <i>Music Within</i> (2007).</p><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Post-war_films">Post-war films</span></h2>After the Vietnam War ended in 1975, there was an increase in films that were more "raw", containing actual battle footage. A FilmReference.com article noted that filmmakers "appeared more confident to put Vietnam combat on screen for the first time" during that era.<sup id="cite_ref-american_cinema_0-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> These post-war film representations have generally been more realistic and <span class="extiw">gritty</span>, such as <i>The Deer Hunter</i> (1978) and <i>Apocalypse Now</i> (1979).<sup id="cite_ref-american_cinema_0-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> <p>The musical <i>Miss Saigon</i> focuses on the end of the war and its aftermath. In cinema, noted films that have shaped the popular conception of the war include <i>Apocalypse Now</i>, <i>Platoon</i>, <i>The Deer Hunter</i>, <i>Hamburger Hill</i>, <i><span class="mw-redirect">Forrest Gump</span></i>, <i>Full Metal Jacket</i>, <i>Good Morning, Vietnam</i>, <i>Born on the Fourth of July</i>, and the <i>Rambo</i> films. It was represented on television by the series <i>Tour of Duty</i>.</p> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="List">List of Vietnam War Movies<br /></span></h2> <table id="sortable_table_id_0" class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <th class="unsortable">Year</th> <th width="130">Country<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War_in_film#" class="sortheader"><span class="sortarrow"></span></a></th> <th width="200">Title<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War_in_film#" class="sortheader"><span class="sortarrow"></span></a></th> <th class="unsortable">Director</th> <th class="unsortable">Events depicted</th> </tr> <tr> <td>1958</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>The Quiet American</i></td> <td>Joseph L. Mankiewicz</td> <td>First Indochina War</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1959</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="North Vietnam" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Flag_of_North_Vietnam.svg/22px-Flag_of_North_Vietnam.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /></span> North Vietnam</td> <td><i><span class="extiw">Chung một dòng sông</span></i></td> <td><span class="new">Nguyễn Hồng Nghi</span>, <span class="new">Phạm Hiếu Dân</span></td> <td>About the partition of Vietnam following the Geneva Conference</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1964</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>A Yank in Viet-Nam</i> <sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></td> <td>Marshall Thompson</td> <td>A USMC pilot is shot down, but meets a female guerrilla</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1965</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/22px-Flag_of_France.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /> </span>France<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Flag_of_Spain_1945_1977.svg/22px-Flag_of_Spain_1945_1977.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /> </span>Spain</td> <td><i>The 317th Platoon</i></td> <td>Pierre Schoendoerffer</td> <td>First Indochina War</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1965</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Motorpsycho</i></td> <td>Russ Meyer</td> <td>A US motorcycle gang is led by a disturbed vet</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1966</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>To the Shores of Hell</i></td> <td>Will Zens</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1968</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>The Green Berets</i></td> <td>John Wayne,<br />Ray Kellogg</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1971</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="South Vietnam" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Flag_of_South_Vietnam.svg/22px-Flag_of_South_Vietnam.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /></span> South Vietnam</td> <td><i><span class="extiw">Người tình không chân dung</span></i></td> <td><span class="new">Hoàng Vĩnh Lộc</span></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1972</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="North Vietnam" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Flag_of_North_Vietnam.svg/22px-Flag_of_North_Vietnam.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /></span> North Vietnam</td> <td><i><span class="extiw">Vĩ tuyến 17 ngày và đêm</span></i></td> <td>Hải Ninh</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1974</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="North Vietnam" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Flag_of_North_Vietnam.svg/22px-Flag_of_North_Vietnam.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /></span> North Vietnam</td> <td><i><span class="extiw">Em bé Hà Nội</span></i></td> <td>Hải Ninh</td> <td>Operation Linebacker II</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1977</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Heroes</i></td> <td>Jeremy Kagan</td> <td>Veteran</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1977</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Flag_of_Hong_Kong_1959.svg/22px-Flag_of_Hong_Kong_1959.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /> </span>Hong Kong<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>The Boys in Company C</i></td> <td>Sidney J. Furie</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1978</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Coming Home</i></td> <td>Hal Ashby</td> <td>Disabled veteran</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1978</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United Kingdom" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> UK</td> <td><i>The Deer Hunter</i></td> <td>Michael Cimino</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1978</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Go Tell the Spartans</i></td> <td>Ted Post</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1978</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i><span class="new">My Husband is Missing</span></i></td> <td><span class="new">Richard Michaels</span></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1979</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Apocalypse Now</i></td> <td>Francis Ford Coppola</td> <td>A special forces officer is called in to locate and kill a special forces colonel who has allegedly gone insane.</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1979</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Vietnam" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Flag_of_Vietnam.svg/22px-Flag_of_Vietnam.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /></span> Vietnam</td> <td><i><span class="extiw">Cánh đồng hoang</span></i></td> <td><span class="new">Nguyễn Hồng Sến</span></td> <td>American bombing</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1979</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Australia" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Flag_of_Australia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> Australia</td> <td><i>The Odd Angry Shot</i></td> <td><span class="new">Tom Jeffrey</span></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1980</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>The Exterminator</i></td> <td>James Glickenhaus</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1980</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_Italy.svg/22px-Flag_of_Italy.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /> </span>Italy</td> <td><i>The Last Hunter</i></td> <td>Antonio Margheriti</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1981</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United Kingdom" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> UK</td> <td><i>How Sleep the Brave</i></td> <td>Lyndon James Swift</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1982</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>First Blood</i></td> <td>Ted Kotcheff</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1982</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Hong Kong" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Flag_of_Hong_Kong_1959.svg/22px-Flag_of_Hong_Kong_1959.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> Hong Kong</td> <td><i>Boat People</i></td> <td>Ann Hui</td> <td>The Fall of Saigon and its aftermath</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1982</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Vietnam" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Flag_of_Vietnam.svg/22px-Flag_of_Vietnam.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /></span> Vietnam</td> <td><i><span class="extiw">Ván bài lật ngửa</span></i></td> <td>Lê Hoàng Hoa</td> <td>Biopic of the North Vietnamese spy Pham Ngoc Thao</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1983</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Uncommon Valor</i></td> <td>Ted Kotcheff</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1984</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United Kingdom" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> UK</td> <td><i>The Killing Fields</i></td> <td>Roland Joffé</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1984</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Missing in Action</i></td> <td>Joseph Zito</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1985</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Missing in Action 2: The Beginning</i></td> <td>Lance Hool</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1985</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Flag_of_Vietnam.svg/22px-Flag_of_Vietnam.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /> </span>Vietnam<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /> </span>USSR</td> <td><i><span class="new">Koordinaty smerti</span></i> <sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup><br />(<i>Target for Death</i>)</td> <td>Samvel Gasparov,<br /><span class="new">Suan Tian Nguyen</span></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1986</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Combat Shock</i></td> <td>Buddy Giovinazzo</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1986</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United Kingdom" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> UK<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Platoon</i></td> <td>Oliver Stone</td> <td>A new recruit's service in a platoon of soldiers patrolling the Cambodian border</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1987</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United Kingdom" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> UK<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Full Metal Jacket</i></td> <td>Stanley Kubrick</td> <td><span class="mw-redirect">Battle of Hue</span></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1987</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Good Morning, Vietnam</i></td> <td>Barry Levinson</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1987</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Hamburger Hill</i></td> <td>John Irvin</td> <td>The battle for Hill 937 in Ashau Valley</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1987</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>The Hanoi Hilton</i></td> <td>Lionel Chetwynd</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1987</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_Italy.svg/22px-Flag_of_Italy.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /> </span>Italy<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /> </span>Philippines</td> <td><i><span class="new">Phantom Soldiers</span></i> <sup id="cite_ref-IMDb_3-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></td> <td>Irvin Johnson</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1988</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Bat*21</i></td> <td>Peter Markle</td> <td>Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton's experience of survival while MIA</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1988</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Braddock: Missing in Action III</i></td> <td>Aaron Norris</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1988</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Platoon Leader</i></td> <td>Aaron Norris</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1988</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Off Limits</i></td> <td>Christopher Crowe</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1988</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i><span class="new">Operation Warzone</span></i></td> <td><span class="new">David A. Prior</span></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1989</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Jacknife</i></td> <td><span class="mw-redirect">David Jones</span></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1989</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Casualties of War</i></td> <td>Brian De Palma</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1989</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Born on the Fourth of July</i></td> <td>Oliver Stone</td> <td>Ron Kovic becomes paralysed during battle</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1989</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>The Expendables</i></td> <td>Cirio H. Santiago</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1989</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>84C MoPic</i></td> <td>Patrick Sheane Duncan</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1989</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i><span class="new">The Iron Triangle</span></i></td> <td><span class="new">Eric Weston</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1989</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Australia" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Flag_of_Australia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> Australia<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /> </span>Philippines</td> <td><i>The Siege of Firebase Gloria</i></td> <td>Brian Trenchard-Smith</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1990</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Air America</i></td> <td>Roger Spottiswoode</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1990</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Jacob's Ladder</i></td> <td>Adrian Lyne</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1990</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="People's Republic of China" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /></span> China</td> <td><i>Bullet in the Head</i></td> <td>John Woo</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1991</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Flight of the Intruder</i></td> <td>John Milius</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1992</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/22px-Flag_of_France.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /> </span>France</td> <td><i>Diên Biên Phu</i></td> <td>Pierre Schoendoerffer</td> <td>The 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu in the First Indochina War</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1992</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Flag_of_South_Korea.svg/22px-Flag_of_South_Korea.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /> </span>South Korea</td> <td><i>White Badge</i></td> <td><span class="new">Jeong Ji-yeong</span></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1992</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Flag_of_South_Korea.svg/22px-Flag_of_South_Korea.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /> </span>South Korea</td> <td><i>White Badge</i></td> <td>Jeong Ji-yeong</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1993</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="France" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/22px-Flag_of_France.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /></span> France</td> <td><i>Heaven & Earth</i></td> <td>Oliver Stone</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1994</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Forrest Gump</i></td> <td>Robert Zemeckis</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1995</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Operation Dumbo Drop</i></td> <td>Simon Wincer</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1995</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Dead Presidents</i></td> <td><span class="mw-redirect">Albert Hughes</span></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1998</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>A Bright Shining Lie</i></td> <td>Terry George</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2000</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Germany" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="13" width="22" /></span> Germany</td> <td><i>Tigerland</i></td> <td>Joel Schumacher</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2001</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Canada" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Flag_of_Canada.svg/22px-Flag_of_Canada.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> Canada<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i><span class="mw-redirect">Under Heavy Fire</span></i></td> <td>Sidney J. Furie</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2002</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United Kingdom" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> UK<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Australia" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Flag_of_Australia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> Australia<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="France" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/22px-Flag_of_France.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /></span> France<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Germany" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="13" width="22" /></span> Germany</td> <td><i>The Quiet American</i></td> <td>Phillip Noyce</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2002</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Path to War</i></td> <td>John Frankenheimer</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2002</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Germany" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="13" width="22" /></span> Germany</td> <td><i>We Were Soldiers</i></td> <td>Randall Wallace</td> <td>Battle of Ia Drang</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2003</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Vietnam" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Flag_of_Vietnam.svg/22px-Flag_of_Vietnam.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /></span> Vietnam</td> <td><i><span class="extiw">Hà Nội 12 ngày đêm</span></i></td> <td><span class="new">Bùi Đình Hạc</span></td> <td>Operation Linebacker II</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2005</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Vietnam" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Flag_of_Vietnam.svg/22px-Flag_of_Vietnam.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /></span> Vietnam</td> <td><i>Sống trong sợ hãi</i> (<i>Living in Fear</i>)</td> <td><span class="new">Bùi Thạc Chuyên</span></td> <td>South Vietnamese soldier being mistreated by communist brother-in-law after the war</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2006</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Canada" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Flag_of_Canada.svg/22px-Flag_of_Canada.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> Canada</td> <td><i>The Veteran</i></td> <td>Sidney J. Furie</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2006</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Rescue Dawn</i></td> <td>Werner Herzog</td> <td>Dieter Dengler's experience as a POW</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2007</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Canada" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Flag_of_Canada.svg/22px-Flag_of_Canada.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> Canada<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA<br /><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Germany" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="13" width="22" /></span> Germany</td> <td><i>1968 Tunnel Rats</i></td> <td>Uwe Boll</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2007</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Across the Universe</i></td> <td>Julie Taymor</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2007</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Journey from the Fall</i></td> <td>Ham Tran</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2008</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Tropic Thunder</i></td> <td>Ben Stiller</td> <td><br /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <h3><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Documentary_film_list">Documentary of Vietnam War film list</span></h3> <table id="sortable_table_id_1" class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <th class="unsortable">Year</th> <th width="130">Country<span class="sortheader"><span class="sortarrow"></span></span></th> <th width="200">Title<span class="sortheader"><span class="sortarrow"></span></span></th> <th class="unsortable">Events depicted</th> </tr> <tr> <td>1964?</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="Canada" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Canadian_Red_Ensign.svg/22px-Canadian_Red_Ensign.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="11" width="22" /></span> Canada</td> <td><i><span class="new">Mills of the Gods</span></i></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1967</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/22px-Flag_of_France.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /> </span>France</td> <td><i>The Anderson Platoon</i></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1968</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /> </span>USA</td> <td><i>A Face of War</i></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1969</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>In the Year of the Pig</i></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1970</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i><span class="new">No Substitute for Victory</span></i></td> <td>Narrated by John Wayne</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1974</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>Hearts and Minds</i></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2004</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="United States" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="12" width="22" /></span> USA</td> <td><i>In the Shadow of the Blade</i></td> <td><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td>2005</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/22px-Flag_of_France.svg.png" class="thumbborder" height="15" width="22" /> </span>France <sup id="cite_ref-IMDb_3-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></td> <td><i>Enemy Image</i></td> <td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-77947249323199375052010-11-14T22:57:00.000-08:002010-11-14T23:10:49.869-08:00Vietnam War Casualties<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjgWoReCm0Chsl2R6nzDIX1tP6r284isHGlC7Iqly1yW4WxffaeutG4O7QU5whxitoicWj5dimmgZ-aO9eBDqKogCdZG-nfNseUmmlMgNk3yX50yhkKnAqmx8CYHez23Oc5Eg8Fty7XUj/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjgWoReCm0Chsl2R6nzDIX1tP6r284isHGlC7Iqly1yW4WxffaeutG4O7QU5whxitoicWj5dimmgZ-aO9eBDqKogCdZG-nfNseUmmlMgNk3yX50yhkKnAqmx8CYHez23Oc5Eg8Fty7XUj/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539669720858548946" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">The Vietnam War began in 1965 and did not end until 1975, two years after all US and allied personnel had withdrawn, when North Vietnamese forces finally conquered <span class="mw-redirect">Saigon</span>. During this period the war escalated from an insurgency in South Vietnam sponsored by the North Vietnamese government to direct military intervention in the south by North Vietnam, as well as the active participation of military forces of the United States and other countries. The war also spilled over into the surrounding countries of Cambodia and Laos. An exhaustive reckoning of the casualties incurred must include statistical information available for each theater of the conflict. The casualty figures below focus on Vietnam and exclude those in Cambodia and Laos. The Republic of Vietnam (commonly called South Vietnam) was where most of the fighting took place, and it accordingly suffered most from the war.<br /><br /><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Deaths_in_South_Vietnam">Deaths in South Vietnam</span></h2> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="ARVN_Deaths">ARVN Deaths</span></h3> <p>The Army of the Republic of Vietnam <span class="mw-redirect">ARVN</span> suffered 266,000 killed from 1959 through 1975. R.J. Rummel's range was 216,000 at the low end and 316,000 at the high end.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997_0-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> A PBS estimate was a quarter of a million men killed in action.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption>South Vietnamese military deaths<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></caption> <tbody><tr> <th>Year</th> <th>Regular</th> <th>RF/PF</th> <th>Para</th> <th>Total</th> </tr> <tr> <th>1966</th> <td>4,418</td> <td>7,535</td> <td>-</td> <td>11,953</td> </tr> <tr> <th>1967</th> <td>6,110</td> <td>6,606</td> <td>-</td> <td>12,716</td> </tr> <tr> <th>1968</th> <td>12,930</td> <td>11,393</td> <td>3,592</td> <td>27,915</td> </tr> <tr> <th>1969</th> <td>8,652</td> <td>10,286</td> <td>2,895</td> <td>21,833</td> </tr> <tr> <th>1970</th> <td>9,647</td> <td>11,738</td> <td>1,961</td> <td>23,346</td> </tr> <tr> <th>1971</th> <td>8,864</td> <td>13,118</td> <td>756</td> <td>22,738</td> </tr> <tr> <th>1972</th> <td colspan="2" align="center">38,697</td> <td>890</td> <td>39,587</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><i>RF/PF=Regional Force/Popular Force militia, Para=paramilitary forces</i></p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="North_Vietnamese_Deaths">North Vietnamese Deaths</span></h3> <p>According to the government in Hanoi, 1,100,000 <span class="mw-redirect">North Vietnamese Army</span> and Viet Cong military personnel were killed in the Vietnam War<sup id="cite_ref-Sheldon1995_3-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Rummel reviewed the many casualty data sets, and this number is in keeping with his mid-level estimate of 1,011,000 North Vietnamese combat deaths.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997_0-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> He further calculated a mid-level estimate of 251,000 Viet Cong military deaths.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997Line_83_4-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Thus, Viet Cong forces accounted for about 22% of the total communist military deaths. What percentage of the 849,000 North Vietnamese Regulars died in South Vietnam is unknown, but a reasonable assumption is that the vast majority occurred in South Vietnam. If 80% of the North Vietnamese casualties died in South Vietnam, this equals 680,000 men, plus 251,000 Viet Cong for a total 931,000 combat deaths.</p> <h4><span class="editsection"></span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Specific_Incidents">Specific Incidents</span></h4> <ul><li>1968 Tet Offensive Hanoi failed in its most ambitious goal of producing a general uprising and instead suffered more than 45,267 communist (mainly Viet Cong deaths)<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li></ul> <ul><li>1972 Easter Offensive sees 50,000 to 75,000 North Vietnamese Forces killed and losses of over 700 tanks. It was broken up by US air power.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Non-Uniformed.2FCivilian_Deaths_in_South_Vietnam">Non-Uniformed/Civilian Deaths in South Vietnam</span></h3> <p>The Viet Cong and upon occasion the North Vietnamese Regulars would often wear civilian clothes. Civilians could thus be mistaken for a being a supporter of one side or the other and be shot. They were also sometimes killed simply for being caught up in a battle. South Vietnam suffered the majority of an estimated<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997_0-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> 2,000,000 civilians killed this way<sup id="cite_ref-Sheldon1995_3-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Rummel's review of the various data led to a mid-level estimate of 843,000 civilian deaths in both North and South Vietnam. The detailed Figures are not complete, but the mid-level R.J. Rummel estimates are that around 391,000 South Vietnamese civilians died. Another 643,000 died as the Communist North Vietnamese consolidated power. Rummel's low-level estimate was 361,000 South Vietnamese civilians and his high-estimate was 720,000.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997Line_117_7-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Below is a loose outline of which forces caused these non-uniformed and civilian deaths. The Communist Vietnamese government in 1995 estimated that 2,000,000 Vietnamese civilians on both sides died in the conflict, but does not allocate these deaths between North and South Vietnam.<sup id="cite_ref-Sheldon1995_3-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Rummel estimated (apart from the post 1975 communist power consolidation) that a low-level of 486,000 civilians died; the mid-level was 843,000, with a high level at 1,200,000.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997Line_800_8-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Sheldon1995_3-3" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Deaths_Caused_by_North_Vietnamese_Forces">Deaths Caused by North Vietnamese Forces</span></h4> <p>North Vietnamese forces killed about 130,000 civilian and prisoners of war between 1957 and 1975. Rummel's summary has a mid-level estimate of 17,000 South Vietnamese civil servants killed by North Vietnamese forces (including the Viet Cong). In addition another 49,000 civilians were executed for various reasons.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997Lines_397_.26_406_.26_433_9-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> An additional 50,000 refuges were killed, as well as 1,260 civilians during the shelling of Saigon, plus another 2,800-6,000 civilians killed in the Massacre at Huế during the Tet Offensive.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997Lines_448.2C_454.2C_456_and_464_10-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> About 130 US <span class="mw-redirect">POWs</span> and 16,000 South Vietnamese <span class="mw-redirect">POWs</span> were executed by their communist captors.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997Lines_457_.26_459_11-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Deaths_Caused_by_South_Vietnamese_Forces">Deaths Caused by South Vietnamese Forces</span></h4> <p>The estimated total number of civilian and suspected communist deaths caused by South Vietnamese forces from 1955 to 1975 was 145,500.</p> <p>During the Diem Regime (1955–1963; during the first stages of US involvement)an estimated 80,000 persons died during forced relocations of 900,000 civilians. 275,000 civilian were taken prisoners, 4,000 prisoners were killed through ill-treatment, another 10,000 suspected communists were executed, 1,500 civilians died in shelling. Diem's total is around 95,500 civilian deaths, apart from the Viet Cong and other North Vietnamese forces his regime killed.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><span></span></sup></p> <p>From 1964 to 1975 an estimated 1,500 persons died during the forced relocations of some 1,200,000 civilians, another 5,000 prisoners will killed through ill-treatment and another 30,000 suspected communists were executed, and 6,000 civilians died in the more extensive shelling. In Qam Ham provence another 4,700 civilians were killed in 1969. This is another 50,000 deaths caused by the South Vietnamese forces, apart from North Vietnamese forces killed by the government of South Vietnam.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997Lines_540.2C_556.2C_563.2C_566.2C_569.2C_575_14-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Deaths_Caused_by_North_Vietnamese_Communist_Power_Consolidation">Deaths Caused by North Vietnamese Communist Power Consolidation</span></h4> <p>An estimated 95,000 civilians died in the communist re-education camps, another 500,000 were involved in forced labor projects, which killed 48,000 civilians. Another 100,000 were executed. Finally, 400,000 boat people died while trying to flee Vietnam. This is 643,000 killed during the consolidation of communist rule.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997Lines__673.2C_687.2C_698_and_749_15-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> This consolidation ended around 1984, although boat people deaths occurred through 1988. A similar high death toll occurred in North Vietnam during 1950s when the Communists consolidated power in that geographic region.</p> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Specific_incidents_2">Specific incidents</span></h4> <ul><li>A Newsweek journalist claimed an unnamed official told him that an estimated 5,000 civilians were killed by the American military in Operation Speedy Express.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li></ul> <ul><li>More than 25,000 South Vietnamese civilians were killed and almost a million become temporary refugees, with over 600,000 interned in South Vietnamese Government camps as a result of North Vietnam's 1972 Easter Offensive.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Deaths_in_North_Vietnam">Deaths in North Vietnam</span></h2> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Combat_Deaths">Combat Deaths</span></h3> <p>According to the Vietnamese government, 1,100,000 <span class="mw-redirect">North Vietnamese Army</span> and Viet Cong military personnel were killed during the Vietnam War<sup id="cite_ref-Sheldon1995_3-4" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> R.J. Rummel reviewed the many casualty data sets, this number is in keeping with his mid-level estimate of 1,011,000 North Vietnamese combat deaths.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997Line_102_18-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> He further calculated a mid-level estimate of 251,000 Viet Cong military deaths.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997Line_83_4-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Thus, Southern Forces (i.e.,Viet Cong) were around 22% of the total military deaths. What percentage of the remaining 849,000 North Vietnamese Regulars died in South Vietnam is unknown. The assumption is the vast majority of these deaths occurred in South Vietnam.</p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Civilian_Deaths">Civilian Deaths</span></h3> <p>R.J. Rummel's mid-level estimated that 65,000 North Vietnamese Civilians died from 1960-1975.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997Line_61_19-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Furthermore, he estimates that in the 1957 to 1975 period the North Vietnamese government executed around 50,000 North Vietnamise civilians (most were executed by the 1960).<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997Line_370-371_20-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The Vietnamese communist government in 1995 estimated that 2,000,000 Vietnamese civilians on both sides died in the conflict.<sup id="cite_ref-Sheldon1995_3-5" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Overall figures for North Vietnamese civilian dead range from 50,000<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997_0-3" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> to "several million."<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <h4><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Specific_Incidents_3">Specific Incidents</span></h4> <p>Complete statistics for the American bombings of North Vietnam are unavailable. As noted above estimates of total 1957 to 1975 North Vietnamese civilian deaths caused by American bombing range from Rummel's low estimate of 52,000, his mid-level estimate of 65,000, his high level estimate of 70,000.<sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTERummel1997_0-4" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> There is a separate <span class="mw-redirect">PBS</span> estimate that the 3.5 year Operation Rolling Thunder killed 182,000 civilians, with an additional 20,000 Chinese troops.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="United_States_Armed_Forces">United States Armed Forces</span></h2> <p>Casualties as of 5 August 2010:</p> <ul><li>58,267 KIA and other dead (including the missing)<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li><li>303,644 WIA (including 153,303 who required hospitalization and 150,341 who didn't)<sup id="cite_ref-24" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li><li>1,711 MIA<sup id="cite_ref-dtic.mil_25-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span></h3><h3><span class="editsection">Vietnam War Casualties</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="By_Service_Branch">By Service Branch</span></h3> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <th style="text-align: left; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Country</th> <th style="text-align: left; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Branch of service</th> <th style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Number serving Worldwide</th> <th style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Number serving Southeast Asia</th> <th style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Number serving South Vietnam</th> <th style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Killed</th> <th style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wounded</th> <th style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Missing</th> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left"><b><span class="mw-redirect">USA</span></b><sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">Army</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4,368,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2,276,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1,736,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">38,218</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">96,802</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">548 {A}</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">Marines</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">794,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">513,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">391,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">14,840</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">51,392</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">213 {B}</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">Navy</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1,842,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">229,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">174,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2,565</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4,178</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">369 {C}</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">Air Force</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1,740,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">385,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">293,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2,587</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1,021</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">549 {D}</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">Coast Guard</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">59</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">0 {E}</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">Civilians</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">19</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">32 {F}</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">Total</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">8,744,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3,403,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2,594,000</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">58,236</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">153,452</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1,711</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>Note: Footnote # 1 gives breakdown of Casualty by Branch of service as follows: Army 38,209; Marines 14,838; Navy 2,555; Air Force 2,584; Coast Guard 7. Total: 58,193. As of 12/1998<br />Note: DPMO website lists 1,711 broken down as of 5 August 2010<sup id="cite_ref-dtic.mil_25-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <ul><li>A) Note: DPMO reports 548 to be accounted for {278 KIA/BNR; 22 POWs died/not returned; 258 presumed dead}. PMSA reports 1 AWOL/deserter returned; 13 POWs died/returned; 171 remains returned; 17 escaped; 122 POWs returned.</li><li>B) Note: DPMO reports 213 are to be accounted for {130 KIA/BNR; 2 POW/NR; 81 presumed dead}. PMSA reports 1 AWOL/deserter returned; 7 POWs died/returned; 82 remains returned; 10 POWs escaped; 28 POWs returned.</li><li>C) Note: DPMO reports 369 to be accounted for {281 KIA/BNR; 88 presumed dead}. PMSA reports 2 escaped; 10 POWs died/remains returned; 161 remains/returned; 149 POWs returned.</li><li>D) Note: DPMO reports 549 to be accounted for {193 KIA/BNR; 5 POW/NR; 368 presumed dead}. PMSA also reports that of 784 POWs, 1 escaped; 15 POWs died/remains returned; 436 remains returned/recovered; 332 POWs returned.</li><li>E) Note: 1 MIA C.G. remains found 2002 and Identified 2005.<sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li><li>F) Note: DPMO reports 32 to be accounted for {4 KIA/BNR; 5 POW/NR; 11 MIA; 8 POWs; 6 presumed dead}. PMSA also reports 5 POWs escaped; 4 POWs died/remains returned; 15 remains returned; 54 POWs returned.</li></ul> <ul><li>Vietnam: original missing 1,981 of whom 661 are repatriated/identified and 1,310 missing with 594 classified as no further pursuit</li><li>Laos: original missing 575 of whom 240 are repatriated/identified and 335 missing with 23 classified as no further pursuit</li><li>Cambodia: original missing 85 of whom 31 are repatriated/identified and 59 missing with 5 classified as no further pursuit</li><li>China: original missing 10 of whom 3 are repatriated/identified and 7 are missing with 3 classified as no further pursuit</li><li>Note: as of May 2009 PMSA includes in each service branch of Vietnam Conflict fatalities "Country not listed": US Army 27; USMC 8; US Navy 17; Civilians 6.</li><li>As of 5 August 2010 DPMO reports 935 remains returned: 661 from Vietnam, 240 from Laos, 31 from Cambodia and 3 from China</li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span></h3><h3><span class="editsection">Vietnam War Casualties</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="By_Year">By Year</span></h3> <table class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <th style="text-align: left; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Country</th> <th style="text-align: left; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Year of Death</th> <th style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Number Killed</th> </tr> <tr style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <td align="left"><b><span class="mw-redirect">USA</span></b><sup id="cite_ref-28" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">1956–1964</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">401</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">1965</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1,863</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">1966</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6,143</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">1967</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">11,153</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">1968</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">16,592</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">1969</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">11,616</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">1970</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6,081</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">1971</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2,357</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">1972</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">641</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">1973</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">168</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">1974–1998</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1178</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <h3><span class="editsection">Vietnam War Casualties</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="By_Race_and_Ethnicity">By Race and Ethnicity</span></h3> <table class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <th style="text-align: left; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Race and Ethnicity</th> <th style="text-align: left; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Number Killed</th> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">White</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">47,041</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">Black</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7,241</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">Hispanics</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3,070</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">229</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">Native Americans</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">226</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">More than one Race or Unknown</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">204</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" align="left">Asians</td> <td style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">139</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <h3><span class="editsection">Vietnam War Casualties </span><span class="mw-headline" id="By_Enlistment">By Enlistment</span></h3> <table class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#cccccc"> <th style="text-align: left; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222);">Enlistment</th> <th style="text-align: left; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(176, 196, 222);">Number Killed</th> </tr> <tr> <td align="left">Volunteer</td> <td>40,484</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left">Draftees</td> <td>17,725</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="First_and_last_US_Casualties">First and last US Casualties in Vietnam War<br /></span></h3> <ul><li>{First casualties-1945; 1954; 1956, 1957; 1959}: <ul><li>26 September 1945 - OSS Lt. Col. A. Peter Dewey killed in Vietnam.</li><li>6 May 1954 - <span class="mw-redirect">CIA</span> pilot <span class="mw-redirect">James 'Earthquake McGoon' McGovern</span> and co-pilot Wallace Buford killed in Laos during the battle of Dien Bien Phu.</li><li>June 8, 1956 - The first official death in Vietnam is U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Richard B. Fitzgibbon, Jr. of Stoneham, MA who was killed by another U.S. airman.</li><li>21 October 1957 - Captain Harry Cramer killed in Vietnam.</li><li>8 July 1959 - Major Dale R. Buis and M/Sgt <span class="mw-redirect">Charles Ovnand</span> {Chester Melvin Ovnand} killed by sniper; first and second names listed on Vietnam Veterans Memorial.</li><li>22 December 1961 - SP4 James Thomas Davis, 3d Radio Research Unit (<span class="mw-redirect">Army Security Agency</span>), killed in an ambush in Vietnam, The Wall: Panel 01E - Row 004.</li></ul> </li><li>{Last casualties-1975}: <ul><li>29 April 1975 - US Marine Embassy Guards <span class="mw-redirect">McMahon and Judge</span> killed. {Corporal Charles McMahon & Lance Corporal Darwin L. Judge}</li><li>12–15 May 1975 — 15 US servicemen killed during the <span class="mw-redirect">Mayaguez Incident</span> and 3 MIAs killed later by the Khmer Rouge in Democratic Kampuchea.</li></ul> </li></ul> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Prisoners_of_War">Prisoners of War</span></h3> <ul><li>First POW seized <ul><li>December 26, 1961 - <span class="new">George F. Fryett</span> was the first seized POW, he was released in June 1962.</li></ul> </li><li>Last POW seized <ul><li>January 27, 1973 - <span class="new">Phillip A. Kientzler</span> was the last POW to be seized, he was released March 27, 1973.</li></ul> </li><li>Longest held POW <ul><li>8 years, 355 days - Floyd James Thompson was captured on March 26, 1964 and released March 16, 1973. Spent 10 days short of 9 years as a POW, he is the longest held POW of the Vietnam war and longest held POW in the United States history.</li></ul> </li><li>Second longest held POW <ul><li>8 years, 7 months - <span class="mw-redirect">Everett Alvarez Jr.</span> was captured on August 5, 1964 and released February 12, 1973.</li></ul> </li><li>Most famous POW John McCain <ul><li>Later to become <span class="mw-redirect">Senator</span> and Republican presidential candidate.</li></ul> </li><li>Last POW recorded <ul><li>Charles E. Shelton-pronounced dead in September 1994.</li></ul> </li></ul> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="South_Korea">South Korea </span><span class="mw-headline" id="Australia">Casualties in Vietnam War</span></h2> <ul><li>5,099 KIA</li><li>11,232 WIA</li><li>4 MIA<sup id="cite_ref-KOREA_29-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li></ul> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="North_Korea">North Korea </span><span class="mw-headline" id="Australia">Casualties in Vietnam War</span></h2> <p>According to Chinese soldiers stationed in Vietnam manning the anti-aircraft artillery next to that of the North Korean, several dozen North Korean anti-aircraft artillery crews were killed by American bombing.<sup class="Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from April 2010" style="white-space: nowrap;"><i><br /></i></sup></p> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="China">China </span><span class="mw-headline" id="Australia">Casualties in Vietnam War</span></h2> <p>1,446 KIA<sup class="Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from April 2009" style="white-space: nowrap;"></sup></p> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Soviet_Union">Soviet Union </span><span class="mw-headline" id="Australia">Casualties in Vietnam War</span></h2> <p>~16.<sup id="cite_ref-30" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War_casualties#cite_note-30"><span></span><span></span></a></sup></p> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Philippines">Philippines</span> <span class="mw-headline" id="Australia">Casualties in Vietnam War</span></h2> <ul><li>7 men KIA</li><li>2 men MIA</li></ul> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Thailand">Thailand </span><span class="mw-headline" id="Australia">Casualties in Vietnam War</span></h2> <ul><li>351 KIA<sup id="cite_ref-KOREA_29-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li><li>1,358 WIA</li></ul> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Australia">Australia Casualties in Vietnam War<br /></span></h2> <ul><li>426 KIA, 74 died of other causes<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li><li>2,940 WIA<sup id="cite_ref-KOREA_29-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li><li>6 MIA (All have been accounted for and have been repatriated)</li></ul> <h2><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="New_Zealand">New Zealand Casualties in Vietnam War<br /></span></h2> <ul><li>55 KIA + 2 Civilians</li><li>212 WIA<sup id="cite_ref-KOREA_29-3" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li></ul><br /></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-80818220557775463952010-11-11T21:48:00.000-08:002010-11-11T21:58:48.884-08:00Aftermath of Vietnam War<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkou4az5lrIkP5BDLM-n9kYnQ6K-Ry5Xi1P8xMqx_JZ8bQr4BcRLtj94TKPksJ7qVPzvG9lQIVFMnxRSkucKP1VzRfYd89Rzj1RM5CeYO7GZ9kSy-QOOgsYLvP_jiq3gblAeP7evfo8zC/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkou4az5lrIkP5BDLM-n9kYnQ6K-Ry5Xi1P8xMqx_JZ8bQr4BcRLtj94TKPksJ7qVPzvG9lQIVFMnxRSkucKP1VzRfYd89Rzj1RM5CeYO7GZ9kSy-QOOgsYLvP_jiq3gblAeP7evfo8zC/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538537951585933378" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Events_in_Southeast_Asia">Events in Southeast Asia after the Vietnam War<br /></span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aftermath of Vietnam War</span>: Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, fell to followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, commonly known as the Khmer Rouge, on 17 April 1975. Over the next four years, the Khmer Rouge enacted a genocidal policy that killed over one-fifth of all Cambodians, or more than a million people. After repeated border clashes in 1978, Vietnam invaded Democratic Kampuchea (Cambodia) and ousted the Khmer Rouge in the Cambodian–Vietnamese War.</p> <p>In response, China invaded Vietnam in 1979. The two countries fought a brief border war, known as the Third Indochina War or the Sino-Vietnamese War. From 1978 to 1979, some 450,000 ethnic Chinese left Vietnam by boat as refugees or were expelled across the land border with China.<sup id="cite_ref-216" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The Pathet Lao overthrew the royalist government of Laos in December 1975. They established the Lao People's Democratic Republic.<sup id="cite_ref-217" class="reference"><span>[</span>215<span>]</span></sup> From 1975 to 1996, the United States resettled some 250,000 Lao refugees from Thailand, including 130,000 Hmong.<sup id="cite_ref-218" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>More than 3 million people fled from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, many as "boat people". Most Asian countries were unwilling to accept refugees.<sup id="cite_ref-219" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Since 1975, an estimated 1.4 million refugees from Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries have been resettled to the United States,<sup id="cite_ref-220" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> while Canada, Australia, and France resettled over 500,000.<sup id="cite_ref-221" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Effect_on_the_United_States">Effect of Vietnam War on the United States</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aftermath of Vietnam War</span>: In the post-war era, Americans struggled to absorb the lessons of the military intervention. As General Maxwell Taylor, one of the principal architects of the war, noted "first, we didn't know ourselves. We thought that we were going into another Korean War, but this was a different country. Secondly, we didn't know our South Vietnamese allies... And we knew less about North Vietnam. Who was Ho Chi Minh? Nobody really knew. So, until we know the enemy and know our allies and know ourselves, we'd better keep out of this kind of dirty business. It's very dangerous."</p> <p>Some have suggested that "the responsibility for the ultimate failure of this policy [America's withdrawal from Vietnam] lies not with the men who fought, but with those in Congress..."<sup id="cite_ref-225" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Alternatively, the official history of the United States Army noted that "tactics have often seemed to exist apart from larger issues, strategies, and objectives. Yet in Vietnam the Army experienced tactical success and strategic failure. The Vietnam War legacy may be the lesson that unique historical, political, cultural, and social factors always impinge on the military. Success rests not only on military progress but on correctly analyzing the nature of the particular conflict, understanding the enemy's strategy, and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of allies. A new humility and a new sophistication may form the best parts of a complex heritage left to the Army by the long, bitter war in Vietnam."<sup id="cite_ref-226" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger wrote in a secret memo to President Gerald Ford that "in terms of military tactics, we cannot help draw the conclusion that our armed forces are not suited to this kind of war. Even the Special Forces who had been designed for it could not prevail."<sup id="cite_ref-227" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Even Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara concluded that "the achievement of a military victory by U.S. forces in Vietnam was indeed a dangerous illusion."<sup id="cite_ref-228" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Doubts surfaced as to the effectiveness of large-scale, sustained bombing. As Army Chief of Staff Harold Keith Johnson noted, "if anything came out of Vietnam, it was that air power couldn't do the job.<sup id="cite_ref-Buzzano_229-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Even General William Westmoreland admitted that the bombing had been ineffective. As he remarked, "I still doubt that the North Vietnamese would have relented."<sup id="cite_ref-Buzzano_229-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The inability to bomb Hanoi to the bargaining table also illustrated another U.S. miscalculation. The North's leadership was composed of hardened communists who had been fighting for independence for thirty years. They had successfully defeated the French, and their tenacity as both nationalists and communists was formidable. Ho Chi Minh is quoted as saying, "You can kill ten of my men for every one I kill of yours...But even at these odds you will lose and I will win."<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._17_230-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The Vietnam War called into question the U.S. Army doctrine. Marine Corps General Victor H. Krulak heavily criticized Westmoreland's attrition strategy, calling it "wasteful of American lives... with small likelihood of a successful outcome."<sup id="cite_ref-Buzzano_229-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> As well, doubts surfaced about the ability of the military to train foreign forces.</p> <p>Between 1965 and 1975, the United States spent $111 billion on the war ($686 billion in FY2008 dollars).<sup id="cite_ref-231" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> This resulted in a large federal budget deficit.</p> <p>More than 3 million Americans served in the Vietnam War. By war's end, 58,193 soldiers were killed, more than 150,000 were wounded, and at least 21,000 were permanently disabled.<sup id="cite_ref-232" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> 61% of the men killed were age 21 or younger. Of those killed in combat, 86.3% were white, 12.5% were black and 1.2% from other races.<sup id="cite_ref-233" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Approximately 830,000 Vietnam veterans suffered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. An estimated 125,000 Americans fled to Canada to avoid the Vietnam draft,<sup id="cite_ref-234" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> and approximately 50,000 American servicemen deserted.<sup id="cite_ref-235" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> In 1977, United States President Jimmy Carter granted a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all Vietnam-era Draft dodgers.<sup id="cite_ref-236" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The Vietnam War POW/MIA issue, concerning the fate of U.S. service personnel listed as missing in action, persisted for many years after the war's conclusion.</p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Chemical_defoliation">Chemical defoliation</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aftermath of Vietnam War</span>: One of the most controversial aspects of the U.S. military effort in Southeast Asia was the widespread use of chemical defoliants between 1961 and 1971. They were used to <span class="extiw">defoliate</span> large parts of the countryside. These chemicals continue to change the landscape, cause diseases and birth defects, and poison the food chain.</p> <p>Early in the American military effort it was decided that since the enemy were hiding their activities under triple-canopy jungle, a useful first step might be to defoliate certain areas. This was especially true of growth surrounding bases (both large and small) in what became known as Operation Ranch Hand. Corporations like Dow Chemical Company and Monsanto were given the task of developing herbicides for this purpose.</p> <p>The defoliants, which were distributed in drums marked with color-coded bands, included the "Rainbow Herbicides"—Agent Pink, Agent Green, Agent Purple, Agent Blue, Agent White, and, most famously, Agent Orange, which included dioxin as a by-product of its manufacture. About 12 million gallons (45,000,000 L) of Agent Orange were sprayed over Southeast Asia during the American involvement. A prime area of Ranch Hand operations was in the Mekong Delta, where the U.S. Navy patrol boats were vulnerable to attack from the undergrowth at the water's edge.</p> <p>In 1961 and 1962, the Kennedy administration authorized the use of chemicals to destroy rice crops. Between 1961 and 1967, the U.S. Air Force sprayed 20 million U.S. gallons (75,700,000 L) of concentrated herbicides over 6 million acres (24,000 km<sup>2</sup>) of crops and trees, affecting an estimated 13% of South Vietnam's land. In 1965, 42% of all herbicide was sprayed over food crops. Another purpose of herbicide use was to drive civilian populations into RVN-controlled areas.<sup id="cite_ref-238" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>As of 2006, the Vietnamese government estimates that there are over 4,000,000 victims of dioxin poisoning in Vietnam, although the United States government denies any conclusive scientific links between Agent Orange and the Vietnamese victims of dioxin poisoning. In some areas of southern Vietnam dioxin levels remain at over 100 times the accepted international standard.<sup id="cite_ref-239" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The U.S. Veterans Administration has listed prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, multiple myeloma, Diabetes mellitus type 2, <span class="mw-redirect">B-cell lymphomas</span>, soft tissue sarcoma, chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, peripheral neuropathy, and spina bifida in children of veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Although there has been much discussion over whether the use of these defoliants constituted a violation of the laws of war, the defoliants were not considered weapons, since exposure to them did not lead to immediate death or incapacitation.</p></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-59195511394578610922010-11-09T15:07:00.000-08:002010-11-09T15:09:37.037-08:00North Korea and Cuba in Vietnam War<div style="text-align: justify;"><h3><span class="mw-headline" id="North_Korea">North Korea</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">North Korea in Vietnam War</span>: As a result of a decision of the Korean Workers' Party in October 1966, in early 1967 North Korea sent a fighter squadron to North Vietnam to back up the North Vietnamese 921st and 923rd fighter squadrons defending Hanoi. They stayed through 1968, and 200 pilots were reported to have served.<sup id="cite_ref-201" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>In addition, at least two anti-aircraft artillery regiments were sent as well. North Korea also sent weapons, ammunition and two million sets of uniforms to their comrades in North Vietnam.<sup id="cite_ref-202" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Kim Il-sung is reported to have told his pilots to "fight in the war as if the Vietnamese sky were their own".<sup id="cite_ref-203" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Cuba">Cuba</span></h3> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cuba in Vietnam War</span>: The extent of manpower contributions to North Vietnam by the communist Republic of Cuba, under Fidel Castro, is still a matter of debate. Then and since, the communist Vietnamese and Cuban governments have not divulged any information on this matter. There are numerous reports by former U.S. prisoners of war that Cuban military personnel were present at North Vietnamese prison facilities during the war, and that they participated in torture activities, in what is known as the "Cuba Program".<sup id="cite_ref-204" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup><sup id="cite_ref-205" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup><sup id="cite_ref-206" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup><sup id="cite_ref-207" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup><sup id="cite_ref-208" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Witnesses to this include Senator John McCain, 2008 U.S. Presidential candidate and former Vietnam prisoner of war, according to his 1999 book Faith of My Fathers.<sup id="cite_ref-209" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> That there was at least a small contingent of Cuban military advisors present in North Vietnam during the war is without question. Some, notably Vietnam War POW/MIA issue advocates, claim evidence that Cuba's military and non-military involvement may have run into the "thousands" of personnel.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_war#cite_note-210"><span></span></a></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-218700846947198612010-11-05T05:11:00.000-07:002010-11-05T05:13:52.194-07:00Soviet Union in Vietnam War<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoZwXrTcYHlyRAL4DIaxTZIspiXbio8wfSbHIeb3-gD0vcYQTYrs8eL-HaZCvbmCg436fBy_ZfoGrtOjKuGOD7elGSwKPhjMdpBwVl15u4IzBpDYbEwDJmADcDeTGo56VQbXRmjntWKSq/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoZwXrTcYHlyRAL4DIaxTZIspiXbio8wfSbHIeb3-gD0vcYQTYrs8eL-HaZCvbmCg436fBy_ZfoGrtOjKuGOD7elGSwKPhjMdpBwVl15u4IzBpDYbEwDJmADcDeTGo56VQbXRmjntWKSq/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536037630424173874" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Soviet Union in Vietnam War</span>: Soviet ships in the South China Sea gave vital early warnings to NLF forces in South Vietnam. The Soviet intelligence ships would pick up American B-52 bombers flying from Okinawa and Guam. Their airspeed and direction would be noted and then relayed to COSVN headquarters. COSVN using airspeed and direction would calculate the bombing target and tell any assets to move "perpendicularly to the attack trajectory." These advance warning gave them time to move out of the way of the bombers and while the bombing runs caused extensive damage, because of the early warnings from 1968–1970 they didn't kill a single military or civilian leader in the headquarter complexes.</p> <p>During the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War</span>, The Soviet Union supplied North Vietnam with medical supplies, arms, tanks, planes, helicopters, artillery, anti-aircraft missiles and other military equipment. Soviet crews fired USSR-made surface-to-air missiles at the B-52 bombers, which were the first raiders shot down over Hanoi. Fewer than a dozen Soviet citizens lost their lives in this conflict. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russian officials acknowledged that the Soviet Union had stationed up to 3,000 troops in Vietnam during the war.<sup id="cite_ref-historicaltextarchive.com.Soviet_200-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> Some Russian sources give more specific numbers: the hardware donated by the USSR included 2 000 tanks, 7 000 artillery guns, over 5 000 anti-aircraft guns, 158 surface-to-air rocket launchers. Over the course of the war the Soviet money donated to the Vietnamese cause was equal to 2 million dollars a day. From July 1965 to the end of 1974, fighting in Vietnam was attended by some 6,500 officers and generals, as well as more than 4,500 soldiers and sergeants of the Soviet Armed Forces. In addition, military schools and academies of the USSR began training Vietnamese soldiers – more than 10 thousand people</div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-11808496307410683092010-11-01T13:15:00.000-07:002010-11-01T13:20:44.518-07:00Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeud9qaqcLtJAOQYR9IpZbJ_Id7U1q7IMBLUItjeU15eXM0DCih4rrI5UVIanIemOU5gczOfiYjZmmGRYJBPYyoucxRC7ZUUfKjfMRCnbQcp_JR5ceIE-DEHNEHj7OEQ3NdP3NuUcqC2ma/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeud9qaqcLtJAOQYR9IpZbJ_Id7U1q7IMBLUItjeU15eXM0DCih4rrI5UVIanIemOU5gczOfiYjZmmGRYJBPYyoucxRC7ZUUfKjfMRCnbQcp_JR5ceIE-DEHNEHj7OEQ3NdP3NuUcqC2ma/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534678807121463506" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p><b>Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War</b> began as a small commitment of 30 men in 1962, and increased over the following decade to a peak of 7,672 Australians deployed in South Vietnam or in support of Australian forces there.<sup id="cite_ref-GOV_1-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War</span> was the longest and most controversial war Australia has ever fought. Although initially enjoying broad support due to concerns about the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia, as Australia's military involvement increased a vocal anti-war movement developed. To a large extent this focused upon conscription, which had been an issue in Australia dating back to the First World War, however, considerable portions of society were opposed to the war on political and moral grounds.</p> <p>The withdrawal of Australia's forces from South Vietnam began in November 1970 when 8 RAR completed its tour of duty and was not replaced. A phased withdrawal followed, and by 11 January 1973 Australian involvement in hostilities in Vietnam had ceased. Nevertheless, Australian troops from the Australian Embassy Platoon remained deployed in the country until 1 July 1973,<sup id="cite_ref-GOV_1-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> and Australian forces were deployed briefly in April 1975, during the Fall of Saigon, to evacuate personnel from the Australian embassy.</p> Approximately 60,000 Australians served in the conflict; 521 were killed and more than 3,000 were wounded.<br /><br /><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Timeline">Australia in Vietnam War Timeline</span></h2> <table class="wikitable"><tbody><tr> <td>1950<sup class="Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from July 2009" style="white-space: nowrap;"></sup></td> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <ul><li>The Democratic Republic of Vietnam led by Ho Chi Minh is recognised by the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union, but Australia supports the French-backed State of Vietnam of Emperor Bảo Đại.</li></ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1957</td> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <ul><li>September—South Vietnam's President Ngo Dinh Diem visits Australia and Australia's Prime Minister, Robert Menzies reaffirms support.</li></ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1962</td> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <ul><li>24 May—The Minister for Defence, Athol Townley, announces the intention to send 30 army advisers to South Vietnam (SVN).</li><li>3 August—The first members of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam arrive in Vietnam.</li></ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1963</td> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <ul><li>1 June—Advisor, Sergeant William Hacking becomes the first Australian to die in Vietnam when his weapon accidentally discharges after being caught in vegetation.</li><li>2 November—Ngo Dinh Diem, South Vietnam's first President (1955–1963), and his brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu, are assassinated in a successful <span class="mw-redirect">CIA</span>-backed coup d'état led by General Duong Van Minh of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN).</li><li>22 November—Lyndon B. Johnson becomes US president after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Johnson announces that the US will continue support of South Vietnam. By the end of 1963, 15,000 US advisors are serving in Vietnam; the US gives $500m in aid to Vietnam that year.</li></ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1964</td> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <ul><li>8 June—Minister for Defence announces that the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam will be increased to 83 advisers and their role will be expanded.</li><li>6 July—Warrant Officer Class Two Kevin Conway, an AATV advisor, is killed in action, the first Australian battle casualty of the war.<sup id="cite_ref-AWMChronology_87-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li><li>14 August—Six Caribou aircraft are provided by the Royal Australian Air Force; RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam is later renamed No. 35 Squadron RAAF.<sup id="cite_ref-RAAF2004_88-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li><li>10 November—Selective conscription is introduced for 20-year-old males by ballot under the <span class="mw-redirect">National Service Act (1964)</span>.</li><li>18 December—In response to requests from the US President and South Vietnam Prime Minister for 200 additional advisers, the Australian Government offers to send ground troops to South Vietnam.</li></ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1965</td> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <ul><li>29 April—The Prime Minister announces the dispatch of an infantry battalion to South Vietnam, with an armoured personnel carrier (APC) troop, a signals troop and a logistic support company.</li><li>27 May—The 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment leaves for Vietnam on HMAS <i>Sydney</i>.</li><li>8 June—HMAS <i>Sydney</i> arrives at Vũng Tàu, South Vietnam, carrying the bulk of the Australian force.</li><li>8 November—1RAR fights one of the first set-piece engagements of the war between Australian forces and the Vietcong at the Battle of Gang Toi. Two servicemen, Private Richard Parker and Private Peter Gillson, are posted missing believed killed during the fighting. Their bodies are recovered more than forty years later, and returned to Australia for burial.</li><li>13 November—Warrant Officer Class Two <span class="mw-redirect">Kevin Arthur Wheatley</span> dies while defending a wounded comrade. He is posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry.</li></ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1966</td> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <ul><li>8–14 January—1RAR participates in Operation Crimp in the Ho Bo Woods as part of the first divisional-sized operation of the war, targeting an underground Viet Cong headquarters.</li><li>23–24 February—1RAR is involved in the Battle of Suoi Bong Trang, while providing protection to US engineers building a tactically important road in the vicinity of Tan Bihn, in central Binh Duong Province.</li><li>June—Prime Minister, Harold Holt visits the United States to discuss the war with US President Lyndon B. Johnson. Holt confirms the Australian government's full support for the United States' Vietnam policy, and in a speech on 30 June adopts the slogan 'All the way with LBJ'.</li><li>18 August—Battle of Long Tan, a decisive Australian victory is fought by D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. The Company earns a <span class="mw-redirect">US Presidential Unit Citation (Vietnam)</span>.</li><li>October—US President Johnson visits Australia. Demonstrators protest fiercely in the streets of Sydney and Melbourne.</li></ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1967</td> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <ul><li>7 April—Major Peter Badcoe dies leading his company against more powerful opposition. He is posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery, conspicuous gallantry and leadership on more than one occasion.</li><li>6 August—A Company, 7RAR was involved in heavy fighting in the eastern Hat Dich area during the Battle of Suoi Chau Pha. Australian casualties were heavy with five killed, one died of wounds and 19 wounded. A sweep of the area resulted in the recovery of only five dead Viet Cong, however drag marks and extensive blood trails indicated that they had suffered heavily, with perhaps another 33 killed or wounded in the contatct, while a further 200 casualties were estimated from artillery and mortar fire, as well as a number of airstrikes.<sup id="cite_ref-89" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li></ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1968</td> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <ul><li>30 January—Tet Offensive is launched by the <span class="mw-redirect">National Front for the Liberation of Vietnam, more commonly known as the Viet Cong</span>. The offensive lasts until 8 June 1969.</li><li>12 February—Prime Minister, John Gorton, announces that Australia will not increase its commitment to Vietnam.</li><li>May—The National Service Act is amended to impose a two-year civil gaol term for draft resisters.</li><li>13 May—Battle of Coral-Balmoral takes place and becomes the bloodiest engagement for Australians in Vietnam when 25 Australians are killed and nearly 100 wounded during 26 days of fighting in AO Surfers, north-east of Saigon. The operation lasts till 6 June 1968.<sup id="cite_ref-90" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li><li>14 October—John Zarb is the first person to be found guilty of having failed to comply with his call up notice during the Vietnam War. He is convicted in Melbourne and sentenced to two years gaol. He loses his appeal to the full High Court on 25 November 1968. He is released on compassionate grounds in August 1969 after serving 10 months and 7 days in <span class="mw-redirect">Pentridge Prison</span>.</li></ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1969</td> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <ul><li>6 May—In Kon Tum Province, Vietnam, Warrant Officer Class Two <span class="mw-redirect">Rayene Stewart Simpson</span> rescues a wounded fellow warrant officer and carries out an unsuccessful attack on a strong enemy position. On 11 May, he fights alone against heavy odds to cover the evacuation of a number of casualties. Simpson is later awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in the face of the enemy.</li><li>24 May—At Ben Het, Kon Tum Province in Vietnam, Warrant Officer Class Two Keith Payne shows outstanding courage and leadership in saving the lives of many of the soldiers under his command, leading his men to safety under most difficult circumstances after an attack by the enemy in superior strength. He is awarded the Victoria Cross.</li><li>6–8 June—Australian forces destroy a large communist force in heavy house-to-house fighting during the Battle of Binh Ba.</li><li>20 July—At a United States Marine non-commissioned officer's club, 7 km (4 mi) from Da Nang, a civilian pop entertainer, Cathy Wayne, becomes the first Australian woman killed during the Vietnam War.<sup id="cite_ref-ADB_91-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> US Marine Sergeant J. W. Killen is found guilty of her unpremeditated murder.<sup id="cite_ref-ADB_91-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li></ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1970</td> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <ul><li>8 May—First of the moratorium demonstrations: 200,000 march in Australian cities to call for an end to Australian involvement in the war. The largest turn out was in Melbourne where 70,000 people marched down Bourke Street, Melbourne.<sup id="cite_ref-92" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li><li>18 September—Second moratorium: 100,000 march in Australian cities; over 300 people were arrested.</li></ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1971</td> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <ul><li>7 June—Battle of Long Khanh takes place when 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment with <span class="mw-redirect">Centurion tanks</span> in support attack a heavily fortified base camp during Operation Overlord. Although the Australians capture the bunker system, and a second system located to the south, the bulk of the communist forces successfully withdraw.</li><li>30 June—Third and final large anti-war rally in Australia; 110,000 demonstrate in Australian cities.</li><li>18 August 1971—Prime Minister William McMahon announces that 1ATF would cease operations in South Vietnam in October, and would begin commencing a phased withdrawal after that.<sup id="cite_ref-Horner_2008.2C_p._233_58-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li><li>21 September—the Battle of Nui Le takes place in Phuoc Tuy province. A tactically inconclusive encounter between troops from the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and the NVA 33rd Regiment north of Nui Dat, it proved to be the last major battle fought by Australian forces in the war. Five Australians are killed and 30 wounded.<sup id="cite_ref-Odgers246_60-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li><li>16 October—Australian forces hand over control of the Australian base at Nui Dat to South Vietnamese forces.<sup id="cite_ref-Odgers247_61-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li><li>9 December—4 RAR, the last Australian infantry battalion in South Vietnam, sails for Australia on board HMAS <i>Sydney</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-Odgers247_61-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li></ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1972</td> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <ul><li>24 April—"The Michael Matteson Handcuff Incident"; about a thousand students at <span class="mw-redirect">Sydney University</span> free the draft resister, Michael Matteson, from the law.<sup id="cite_ref-IllawarraUnity_93-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li></ul> <ul><li>2 December—<span class="mw-redirect">Whitlam</span> Labor Government elected. Australia begins to finalise the withdrawal of its forces from Vietnam.</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Australia_during_the_Vietnam_War#cite_note-AWMVW-2"><span></span></a></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-27373289420383399662010-10-29T23:58:00.000-07:002010-10-30T00:01:55.849-07:00Republic of Korea Marine Corps in Vietnam War<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X8_YNUH3Vv0aFfAXCg4SquCcL2GVF40dK8PyL9nq5vs9g2beJoTf1E0ER3wDGGb7a9Z8-jwS7N7R7BygAn-rUaH95BdchgS2NgWz5jH4Fvr_i8k8cCYq_aaoCKLfwg1M0Z-aP-dEQFQM/s1600/a.png"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X8_YNUH3Vv0aFfAXCg4SquCcL2GVF40dK8PyL9nq5vs9g2beJoTf1E0ER3wDGGb7a9Z8-jwS7N7R7BygAn-rUaH95BdchgS2NgWz5jH4Fvr_i8k8cCYq_aaoCKLfwg1M0Z-aP-dEQFQM/s320/a.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533730701360520082" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>During the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War</span>, the ROKMC dispatched the <i>Cheongryeong</i> ('Blue Dragon') brigade to the Republic of Vietnam.</p> <p>At the request of the United States, President <span class="mw-redirect">Park Chung Hee</span> of the Republic of Korea agreed to send military units into Vietnam, despite opposition from both the Assembly and the public. In exchange, the United States agreed to provide additional military funds to Korea to modernize its armed forces, totaling about a billion dollars.</p> <p>The Republic of Korea Army units' Tactical Area of Responsibility were the southern half of the I Corps. The ROK Marine Corps units were deployed with the I Corps alongside <span class="mw-redirect">US Marines</span>.</p> <p>Under an arrangement with the USMC, air assets would be provided to the brigade and assigned the same priority for available aircraft as are American units. A team of experts from Subunit One, 1st ANGLICO was dispatched and charged with the mission of keeping an air umbrella over the Blue Dragon Brigade in and out of the field. A two man fire control team was assigned to each ROKMC infantry company at all times.</p> <p>Initially, the AK-47-equipped Vietcong and NVA outgunned Korean soldiers, since they were armed with World War II-era weaponry (M1 Garand and M1 carbine). However, they soon received more modern weapons from the United States military such as the M16 rifle.</p> <p>The three main units deployed to Vietnam were the Marine Corps’ (Blue Dragon) Brigade, <span class="mw-redirect">ROKA</span> Capital Division and the White Horse Division. Various ROK special forces units were also deployed.</p> <p>Most of the operations never exceeded battalion-size, but they also conducted divisional size operations. Before conducting missions, the South Korean marines laid out their plans much more carefully than their allies, with greater fire discipline, effective use of fire support, and better coordination of sub-units. They also had to their favor the distinguished combat leadership of the company and platoon commanders. During village searches, ROK soldiers would subject the settlement to a series of detailed sweeps while interrogating subjects on the spot. By comparison, American units tended to favor a single sweep followed by a removal of all civilians for screening. Such a painstaking approach certainly paid dividends in terms of weapons seizures and reduced VC activity in ROK areas. Koreans quickly learned pidgin Vietnamese language; for fear that most Vietnamese translators were spies for Vietcong and NVA. Koreans also had better field intelligence than their American counterparts. Koreans conducted counterinsurgency operations so well that American commanders felt that the Korean TAOR was the safest. This was further supported when Vietcong documents captured after the Tet Offensive warned their compatriots to never engage Koreans until full victory was certain. In fact, it was often that the NVA and Vietcong were ambushed by Koreans and not vice versa.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Apparently the ROK Marines were experts at locating enemy weapons caches. The official U.S. report on South Korean participation in Vietnam, entitled "Vietnam Studies: Allied Participation in Vietnam," states that "The enemy feared the Koreans both for their tactical innovations and for the soldiers' tenacity. It is of more than passing interest to note that there never was an American unit in Vietnam which was able to 'smell out' small arms like the Koreans. The Koreans might not suffer many casualties, might not get too many of the enemy on an operation, but when they brought in seventy-five or a hundred weapons, the Americans wondered where in the world they got them. They appeared to have a natural nose for picking up enemy weapons that were, as far as the enemy thought, securely cached away. Considered opinion was that it was good the Koreans were 'friendlies.'" <sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>One of the most notable operations during the Vietnam War was The Battle of Tra Binh Dong in which just under 300 marines successfully defended their base against over 2,400 Viet Cong. Another notable operation is <i>Operation Flying Tiger</i> in early January of 1966; here, the Koreans accounted for 192 Viet Cong killed as against only eleven Koreans.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The U.S. Army manual on Korean participation in Vietnam also states that "[t]he Koreans were thorough in their planning and deliberate in their execution of a plan. They usually surrounded an area by stealth and quick movement. While the count of enemy killed was probably no greater proportionately than that of similar US combat units, the thoroughness with which the Koreans searched any area they fought in was attested to by the fact that the Koreans usually came out with a much higher weaponry count than US troops engaged in similar actions." </p> <p>A total of 320,000 Koreans served in Vietnam, with a peak strength (of any given time) at around 48,000.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> About 4,000 were killed. The Korean forces in Vietnam were frequently able to amass a kill ratio of about 25:1 compared to the average American kill ratio of less than 9:1. The U.S Army manual on Korean participation in Vietnam states that" an analysis of an action by Capital Division forces during the period 23–29 January 1968 clearly illustrates the Korean technique. After contact with an enemy force near <span class="mw-redirect">Phu Cat</span>, the Koreans reacting swiftly...deployed six companies in an encircling maneuver and trapped the enemy force in their cordon. The Korean troops gradually tightened the circle, fighting the enemy during the day and maintaining their tight cordon at night, thus preventing the enemy's escape. At the conclusion of the sixth day of fighting, 278 NVA had been KIA with the loss of just 11 Koreans, a kill ratio of 25.3 to 1. Later in 1968 a Korean 9th Division operation titled <i>Baek Ma 9</i> (Korean for "white horse," after the White Horse Division) commenced on 11 October and ended on 4 November with 382 enemy soldiers killed and the NVA 7th Battalion, 18th Regiment, rendered ineffective. During this operation, on 25 October, the eighteenth anniversary of the Division, 204 of the enemy were killed without the loss of a single Korean soldier." <sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> The official U.S. military record on South Korean participation in the Vietnam war reads, "In summary, it appears that Korean operations in Vietnam were highly professional, well planned, and thoroughly executed; limited in size and scope, especially in view of assets made available; generally unilateral and within the Korean tactical area of responsibility; subject to domestic political considerations; and highly successful in terms of kill ratio."</div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-71260529761872442372010-10-14T05:52:00.001-07:002010-10-14T05:57:28.122-07:00People's Republic of China in Vietnam War<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSm1ZPDxCVIYoCoei88-OJpd8YSpxXJ4U7dsUuPJQVTNgVmdEW65zGU6X8ZI70pAuae33s6IoeAxHhDEHhrNSlFtD2hmImVzTu42z1Wwqbq5M7KTIJTZY-j24sJKkKiKhe2uwsW8BaXFP/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSm1ZPDxCVIYoCoei88-OJpd8YSpxXJ4U7dsUuPJQVTNgVmdEW65zGU6X8ZI70pAuae33s6IoeAxHhDEHhrNSlFtD2hmImVzTu42z1Wwqbq5M7KTIJTZY-j24sJKkKiKhe2uwsW8BaXFP/s320/a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527885068325051410" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>In 1950, the People's Republic of China extended diplomatic recognition to the Viet Minh's Democratic Republic of Vietnam and sent weapons, as well as military advisors led by Luo Guibo to assist the Viet Minh in its war with the French. The first draft of the 1954 Geneva Accords was negotiated by French Prime Minister Pierre Mendès France and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai who, fearing U.S. intervention, urged the Viet Minh to accept a partition at the 17th parallel.<sup id="cite_ref-194" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>China's ability to aid the Viet Minh declined when Soviet aid to China was reduced following the end of the Korean War in 1953. Moreover, a divided Vietnam posed less of a threat to China. China provided material and technical support to the Vietnamese communists worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Chinese-supplied rice allowed North Vietnam to pull military-age men from the paddies and imposed a universal draft beginning in 1960.</p> <p>In the summer of 1962, Mao Zedong agreed to supply Hanoi with 90,000 rifles and guns free of charge. Starting in 1965, China sent anti-aircraft units and engineering battalions to North Vietnam to repair the damage caused by American bombing, rebuild roads and railroads, and to perform other engineering works. This freed North Vietnamese army units for combat in the South.</p> <p>Sino-Soviet relations soured after the Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia in August 1968. In October, the Chinese demanded North Vietnam cut relations with Moscow, but Hanoi refused.<sup id="cite_ref-195" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The Chinese began to withdraw in November 1968 in preparation for a clash with the Soviets, which occurred at Zhenbao Island in March 1969. The Chinese also began financing the Khmer Rouge as a counterweight to the Vietnamese communists at this time. China's withdrawal from Vietnam was completed in July 1970.<sup id="cite_ref-Li_p._206_196-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The Khmer Rouge launched ferocious raids into Vietnam in 1975–1978. Vietnam responded with an invasion that toppled the Khmer Rouge. In response, China launched a brief, punitive invasion of Vietnam in 1979.</p></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-16602212444518505492010-10-07T22:11:00.000-07:002010-10-07T22:14:19.637-07:00Fall of Saigon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtydSlz-adrAZLvX_G47tWsyJP8gmdLYn5CJf_Blg0lYyAlFTICCZd0CQeJ0bkTR2uvZRorJxjY1WiZkA8lAh1Ggy8789h1MkuKrE2PH7ZQeYUuT3qXXBU6RKzJDIKwROesUBE8THv0t05/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtydSlz-adrAZLvX_G47tWsyJP8gmdLYn5CJf_Blg0lYyAlFTICCZd0CQeJ0bkTR2uvZRorJxjY1WiZkA8lAh1Ggy8789h1MkuKrE2PH7ZQeYUuT3qXXBU6RKzJDIKwROesUBE8THv0t05/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525539217837384066" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>The <b>Fall of Saigon</b> was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the <span class="mw-redirect">North Vietnamese Army</span> on April 30, 1975. The event marked the end of the Vietnam War and the start of a transition period leading to the formal reunification of Vietnam under communist rule.</p> <p>North Vietnamese forces under the command of the Senior General Văn Tiến Dũng began their final attack on Saigon, which was commanded by General Nguyen Van Toan on April 29, with a heavy artillery bombardment. By the afternoon of the next day, North Vietnamese troops had occupied the important points within the city and raised their flag over the South Vietnamese presidential palace. South Vietnam capitulated shortly after. The city was renamed Ho Chi Minh City, after communist leader Ho Chi Minh. The fall of the city was preceded by the evacuation of almost all the American civilian and military personnel in Saigon, along with tens of thousands of South Vietnamese civilians associated with the southern regime. The evacuation culminated in Operation Frequent Wind, which was the largest helicopter evacuation in history.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> In addition to the flight of refugees, the end of the war and institution of new rules by the communists contributed to a decline in the population of the city.</p><p>Chaos, unrest, and panic broke out as hysterical South Vietnamese officials and civilians scrambled to leave Saigon. Martial law was declared. American helicopters began evacuating South Vietnamese, U.S., and foreign nationals from various parts of the city and from the U.S. embassy compound. Operation Frequent Wind had been delayed until the last possible moment, because of U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin's belief that Saigon could be held and that a political settlement could be reached.</p> <p>Schlesinger announced early in the morning of 29 April 1975 the evacuation from <span class="mw-redirect">Saigon</span> by helicopter of the last U.S. diplomatic, military, and civilian personnel. Frequent Wind was arguably the largest helicopter evacuation in history. It began on 29 April, in an atmosphere of desperation, as hysterical crowds of Vietnamese vied for limited space. Martin pleaded with Washington to dispatch $700 million in emergency aid to bolster the regime and help it mobilize fresh military reserves. But American public opinion had soured on this conflict.</p> <p>In the United States, South Vietnam was perceived as doomed. President Gerald Ford had given a televised speech on 23 April, declaring an end to the Vietnam War and all U.S. aid. Frequent Wind continued around the clock, as North Vietnamese tanks breached defenses on the outskirts of Saigon. In the early morning hours of 30 April, the last <span class="mw-redirect">U.S. Marines</span> evacuated the embassy by helicopter, as civilians swamped the perimeter and poured into the grounds. Many of them had been employed by the Americans and were left to their fate.</p> <p>On 30 April 1975, VPA troops overcame all resistance, quickly capturing key buildings and installations. A tank crashed through the gates of the Independence Palace, and at 11:30 a.m. local time the NLF flag was raised above it. President Duong Van Minh, who had succeeded Huong two days earlier, surrendered.</p> The Communists had attained their goal, but the cost of victory was high. By war's end, the Vietnamese had been fighting foreign involvement or occupation (primarily by the French, Chinese, Japanese, British, and American governments) for 116 years.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War#cite_note-tucker29-193"><span></span></a></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-45712657782585545742010-09-28T00:12:00.000-07:002010-09-28T00:13:59.796-07:00Final North Vietnamese offensive<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdBt1N9IXmBHQMUBu9UOUlXVSZaIOqcFYq0iNifAAvrg4tkraioZa_19DA0Suw4bJlZW4KUNyES1xS_gYM96BEOw3hW1D5lOiJWF1bERacmQtWe5okdoJFj7HYnnxTX9STpk3t6sHnE-Z/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdBt1N9IXmBHQMUBu9UOUlXVSZaIOqcFYq0iNifAAvrg4tkraioZa_19DA0Suw4bJlZW4KUNyES1xS_gYM96BEOw3hW1D5lOiJWF1bERacmQtWe5okdoJFj7HYnnxTX9STpk3t6sHnE-Z/s320/a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521859205185655954" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>With the northern half of the country under their control, the Politburo ordered General Dung to launch the final offensive against Saigon. The operational plan for the Ho Chi Minh Campaign called for the capture of Saigon before 1 May. Hanoi wished to avoid the coming monsoon and prevent any redeployment of ARVN forces defending the capital. Northern forces, their morale boosted by their recent victories, rolled on, taking Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, and Da Lat.</p> <p>On 7 April, three North Vietnamese divisions attacked Xuan Loc, 40 miles (64 km) east of Saigon. The North Vietnamese met fierce resistance at Xuan Loc from the ARVN 18th Division, who were outnumbered six to one. For two bloody weeks, severe fighting raged as the ARVN defenders made a last stand to try to block the North Vietnamese advance. By 21 April, however, the exhausted garrison were ordered to withdraw towards Saigon.</p> <p>An embittered and tearful President Thieu resigned on the same day, declaring that the United States had betrayed South Vietnam. In a scathing attack, he suggested U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger had tricked him into signing the Paris peace agreement two years ago, promising military aid that failed to materialise.</p> <blockquote class="templatequote"> <div>At the time of the peace agreement the United States agreed to replace equipment on a one-by-one basis.But the United States did not keep its word. Is an American's word reliable these days? The United States did not keep its promise to help us fight for freedom and it was in the same fight that the United States lost 50,000 of its young men.<sup id="cite_ref-192" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></div> </blockquote> <p>Having transferred power to Tran Van Huong, he left for Taiwan on 25 April. At the same time, North Vietnamese tanks had reached <span class="mw-redirect">Bien Hoa</span> and turned toward Saigon, brushing aside isolated ARVN units along the way.</p> <p>By the end of April, the Army of the Republic of South Vietnam had collapsed on all fronts. Thousand of refugees streamed southward, ahead of the main communist onslaught. On 27 April 100,000 North Vietnamese troops encircled Saigon. The city was defended by about 30,000 ARVN troops. To hasten a collapse and foment panic, the VPA shelled the airport and forced its closure. With the air exit closed, large numbers of civilians found that they had no way out.</p></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-43619128743581865242010-09-26T15:11:00.000-07:002010-09-26T15:12:28.526-07:00Campaign 275<div style="text-align: justify;"><p>On 10 March 1975, General Dung launched <span style="font-weight: bold;">Campaign 275</span>, a limited offensive into the Central Highlands, supported by tanks and heavy artillery. The target was <span class="mw-redirect">Ban Me Thuot</span>, in <span class="mw-redirect">Daklak Province</span>. If the town could be taken, the provincial capital of Pleiku and the road to the coast would be exposed for a planned campaign in 1976. The ARVN proved incapable of resisting the onslaught, and its forces collapsed on 11 March. Once again, Hanoi was surprised by the speed of their success. Dung now urged the Politburo to allow him to seize Pleiku immediately and then turn his attention to Kon Tum. He argued that with two months of good weather remaining until the onset of the monsoon, it would be irresponsible to not take advantage of the situation.</p> <p>President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, a former general, was fearful that his forces would be cut off in the north by the attacking communists; Thieu ordered a retreat. The president declared this to be a "lighten the top and keep the bottom" strategy. But in what appeared to be a repeat of Operation Lam Son 719, the withdrawal soon turned into a bloody rout. While the bulk of ARVN forces attempted to flee, isolated units fought desperately. ARVN General Phu abandoned Pleiku and Kon Tum and retreated toward the coast, in what became known as the "column of tears".</p> <p>As the ARVN tried to disengage from the enemy, refugees mixed in with the line of retreat. The poor condition of roads and bridges, damaged by years of conflict and neglect, slowed Phu's column. As the North Vietnamese forces approached, panic set in. Often abandoned by the officers, the soldiers and civilians were shelled incessantly. The retreat degenerated into a desperate scramble for the coast. By 1 April the "column of tears" was all but annihilated.</p> <p>On 20 March, Thieu reversed himself and ordered Huế, Vietnam's third-largest city, be held at all costs, and then changed his policy several times. Thieu's contradictory orders confused and demoralized his officer corps. As the North Vietnamese launched their attack, panic set in, and ARVN resistance withered. On 22 March, the VPA opened the siege of Huế. Civilians flooded the airport and the docks hoping for any mode of escape. Some even swam out to sea to reach boats and barges anchored offshore. In the confusion, routed ARVN soldiers fired on civilians to make way for their retreat.</p> <p>On 31 March, after a three-day battle, Huế fell. As resistance in Huế collapsed, North Vietnamese rockets rained down on Da Nang and its airport. By 28 March, 35,000 VPA troops were poised to attack the suburbs. By 30 March 100,000 leaderless ARVN troops surrendered as the VPA marched victoriously through Da Nang. With the fall of the city, the defense of the Central Highlands and Northern provinces came to an end.</p></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-22415761226094798012010-09-23T05:07:00.000-07:002010-09-23T07:24:36.663-07:00Summary of Vietnam War<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYRGyjGdD_68XG70nUaJpxJ8Xpy2r7zhjY4GtTSUlDNrf29m3eF_6erMInHtR7uWf4YTH3EK-2bzsE53duKDcKUfHqDB8oAeKdevatmhoi7naDHx45W5i6Pnd0aSKEIwbPp-92j8OrAwx/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYRGyjGdD_68XG70nUaJpxJ8Xpy2r7zhjY4GtTSUlDNrf29m3eF_6erMInHtR7uWf4YTH3EK-2bzsE53duKDcKUfHqDB8oAeKdevatmhoi7naDHx45W5i6Pnd0aSKEIwbPp-92j8OrAwx/s320/a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520114739817604786" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Vietnam War summary</span> <span id="result_box" class=""><span style="" title="">aims to enable readers to find out the brief history of Vietnam war. </span><span style="" title="">It may be quite helpful.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The summary of Vietnam War</span>:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Date</span><br /></span></span>1 November 1955<sup id="cite_ref-start_date_0-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> – 15 May 1975<span style="display: none;"> (<span class="dtend">1975-05-15</span>)</span> (<span style="display: none;">&0000000000000019000000</span>19 years, <span style="display: none;">&0000000000000195000000</span>195 days)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Belligerents</span><br />Anti Communist: United States, South Vietnam, South Korea, Australia, Philippines, New Zealand, Thailand, Khmer Republic, Republic of Laos, Republic of China (Taiwan), Germany<br /><br />Communist: North Vietnam, Vietcong, Soviet Union, North Korea, People's Republic of China, Khmer Rogue, Pathet Lao.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Military Forces</span><br />Anti Communist:<br /><ul><li>South Vietnam: 850,000</li><li> United States: 536,100</li><li> Free World Forces: 65,000</li><li> South Korea: 312,853,</li><li> Australia: 49,968 (1962–1973)</li><li> Thailand, Philippines: 10,450</li><li> New Zealand: 3,890 (1964–1973)</li></ul><br />Communist:<br /><ul><li>North Vietnam: 340,000</li><li> PRC: 170,000 (1969)</li><li> Soviet Union: 3,000</li><li> North Korea: 300</li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Causes</span><br />The causes of the Vietnam War trace their roots back to the end of World War II. A French colony, Indochina (Vietnam, Laos, & Cambodia) had been occupied by the Japanese during the war.<br /><br />In 1941, a Vietnamese nationalist movement, the Viet Minh, was formed by Ho Chi Minh to resist the occupiers. A communist, Ho Chi Minh waged a guerilla war against the Japanese with the support of the United States. Near the end of the war, the Japanese began to promote Vietnamese nationalism and ultimately granted the country nominal independence. <p>Following the Japanese defeat, the French returned to take possession of their colony. Their entrance into Vietnam was only permitted by the Viet Minh after assurances had been given that the country would gain independence as part of the French Union. Discussions broke down between the two parties and in December 1946, the French shelled the city of Haiphong and forcibly reentered the capital, Hanoi.</p> <p>These actions began a conflict between the French and the Viet Minh known as the First Indochina War. The war was ultimately settled by the Geneva Accords of 1954, which temporarily partitioned the country at the 17th parallel, with the Viet Minh in control of the north and a non-communist state to be formed in the south under Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem. This division was to last until 1956, when national elections would be held to decide the future of the nation.</p><p>The United States had little interest in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, however as it became clear that the post-World War II world would be dominated by the US and its allies and the Soviet Union and theirs, isolating communist movements took an increased importance.<br /></p> <p>In 1950, to combat the spread of Communism, the United States began supplying the French military in Vietnam with advisors and funding its efforts against the “red” Viet Minh. These efforts continued in 1956, when advisors were provided to train the army of the new Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). Despite their best efforts, the quality of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was to remain consistently poor throughout its existence.</p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Americanization</span><br />On 2 August 1964, the USS <i>Maddox</i>, on an intelligence mission along North Vietnam's coast, allegedly fired upon and damaged several torpedo boats that had been stalking it in the Gulf of Tonkin. Following this attack, Congress passed the Southeast Asia Resolution which allowed President Lyndon Johnson to conduct military operations in the region without a declaration of war. On March 2, 1965, US aircraft began bombing targets in Vietnam and the first troops arrived. Commanded by General William Westmoreland, US troops won victories over Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces around Chu Lai and in the Ia Drang Valley that summer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ground War</span><br />On 8 March 1965, 3,500 <span class="mw-redirect">United States Marines</span> were dispatched to South Vietnam. This marked the beginning of the American ground war. U.S. public opinion overwhelmingly supported the deployment. The Marines' assignment was defensive. The initial deployment of 3,500 in March was increased to nearly 200,000 by December.<span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Test Offensive</span><br /></span>The <b>Tet Offensive</b> was a military campaign during the Vietnam War that began on January 31, 1968. Forces of the National Liberation Front for South Vietnam (NLF, or Viet Cong), and the <span class="mw-redirect">People's Army of Vietnam</span> (the North Vietnamese army), fought against the forces of the <span class="mw-redirect">Republic of Vietnam</span> (South Vietnam), the United States, and their allies. The purpose of the offensive was to strike military and civilian command and control centers throughout South Vietnam and to spark a general uprising among the population that would then topple the <span class="mw-redirect">Saigon</span> government, thus ending the war in a single blow.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnamization</span><br />Severe communist losses during the Tet Offensive allowed U.S. President <span class="mw-redirect">Richard M. Nixon</span> to begin troop withdrawals. His plan, called the Nixon Doctrine, was to build up the ARVN, so that they could take over the defense of South Vietnam. The policy became known as "Vietnamization". Vietnamization had much in common with the policies of the Kennedy administration. One important difference, however, remained. While Kennedy insisted that the South Vietnamese fight the war themselves, he attempted to limit the scope of the conflict.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">End of The War</span><br />The United States began drastically reducing their troop support in South Vietnam during the final years of "Vietnamization". Many U.S. troops were removed from the region, and on 5 March 1971, the United States returned the <span class="mw-redirect">5th Special Forces Group</span>, which was the first American unit deployed to South Vietnam, to its former base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. By March of that year, American combat troops had left the country. After a brief period of peace, North Vietnam recommenced hostilities in late 1974. Pushing through ARVN forces with ease, they captured the Saigon on April 30, 1975, forcing South Vietnam’s surrender and reuniting the country. On 10 March 1975, General Dung launched Campaign 275, a limited offensive into the Central Highlands, supported by tanks and heavy artillery. The target was <span class="mw-redirect">Ban Me Thuot</span>, in <span class="mw-redirect">Daklak Province</span>. If the town could be taken, the provincial capital of Pleiku and the road to the coast would be exposed for a planned campaign in 1976.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aftermath</span><br />Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, fell to followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, commonly known as the Khmer Rouge, on 17 April 1975. Over the next four years, the Khmer Rouge enacted a genocidal policy that killed over one-fifth of all Cambodians, or more than a million people.<sup id="cite_ref-216" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> After repeated border clashes in 1978, Vietnam invaded Democratic Kampuchea (Cambodia) and ousted the Khmer Rouge in the Cambodian–Vietnamese War.<br /><br />In the post-war era, Americans struggled to absorb the lessons of the military intervention.<sup id="cite_ref-222" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> As General <span class="mw-redirect">Maxwell Taylor</span>, one of the principal architects of the war, noted "first, we didn't know ourselves. We thought that we were going into another Korean War, but this was a different country. Secondly, we didn't know our South Vietnamese allies... And we knew less about North Vietnam. Who was Ho Chi Minh? Nobody really knew. So, until we know the enemy and know our allies and know ourselves, we'd better keep out of this kind of dirty business. It's very dangerous."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Casualties</span><br />United States: 58,119 killed, 153,303 wounded, 1,948 missing in action<br />South Vietnam: 230,000 killed and 1,169,763 wounded (estimated)<br />North Vietnam: 1,100,000 killed in action (estimated) and an unknown number of wounded<br /></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-77479947615459567262010-09-18T15:41:00.000-07:002010-09-18T15:50:40.036-07:00US Military Forces Withdrew from South Vietnam<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMs1Yr17mXnmpfigbN6RfR3i9xlaEFeQLr_dXNfLLley9P6Q2V_2QAB0PW6CxC-4j0fCnYotg3BDOG4jMd3933Xq-hdg-d8sqaep85z7M15Rhb5ztwFLQHV9v8p02Wbj7UdL4ehin0fwyr/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMs1Yr17mXnmpfigbN6RfR3i9xlaEFeQLr_dXNfLLley9P6Q2V_2QAB0PW6CxC-4j0fCnYotg3BDOG4jMd3933Xq-hdg-d8sqaep85z7M15Rhb5ztwFLQHV9v8p02Wbj7UdL4ehin0fwyr/s320/a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518389705284834498" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>The United States began drastically reducing their troop support in South Vietnam during the final years of "Vietnamization". Many U.S. troops were removed from the region, and on March 5, 1971, the United States returned the <span class="mw-redirect">5th Special Forces Group</span>, which was the first American unit deployed to South Vietnam, to its former base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.<sup id="cite_ref-Stanton_p._240_182-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup><sup id="cite_ref-184" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Under the <span class="mw-redirect">Paris Peace Accord</span>, between North Vietnamese Foreign Minister <span class="mw-redirect">Lê Ðức Thọ</span> and U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and reluctantly signed by South Vietnamese President Thiệu, U.S. military forces withdrew from South Vietnam and prisoners were exchanged. North Vietnam was allowed to continue supplying communist troops in the South, but only to the extent of replacing materials that were consumed. Later that year the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Kissinger and Thọ, but the Vietnamese negotiator declined it saying that a true peace did not yet exist.</p> <p>The communist leaders had expected that the ceasefire terms would favor their side. But Saigon, bolstered by a surge of U.S. aid received just before the ceasefire went into effect, began to roll back the Vietcong.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_pp._672-74_185-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The communists responded with a new strategy hammered out in a series of meetings in Hanoi in March 1973, according to the memoirs of <span class="mw-redirect">Trần Văn Trà</span>.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_pp._672-74_185-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>As the Vietcong's top commander, Trà participated in several of these meetings.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_pp._672-74_185-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> With U.S. bombings suspended, work on the Ho Chi Minh Trail and other logistical structures could proceed unimpeded.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_pp._672-74_185-3" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Logistics would be upgraded until the North was in a position to launch a massive invasion of the South, projected for the 1975–1976 dry season.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_pp._672-74_185-4" class="reference"><span></span></sup> Trà calculated that this date would be Hanoi's last opportunity to strike before Saigon's army could be fully trained.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_pp._672-74_185-5" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Although McGovern himself was not elected U.S. president, the November 1972 election did return a Democratic majority to both houses of Congress under McGovern's "Come home America" campaign theme. On March 15, 1973, U.S. President Richard Nixon implied that the United States would intervene militarily if the communist side violated the ceasefire.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_pp._670-72_186-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Public and congressional reaction to Nixon's trial balloon was unfavorable and in April Nixon appointed Graham Martin as U.S. ambassador to Vietnam. Martin was a second stringer compared to previous U.S. ambassadors and his appointment was an early signal that Washington had given up on Vietnam.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_pp._670-72_186-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> During his confirmation hearings in June 1973, Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger stated that he would recommend resumption of U.S. bombing in North Vietnam if North Vietnam launched a major offensive against South Vietnam. On June 4, 1973, the U.S. Senate passed the <span class="mw-redirect">Case-Church Amendment</span> to prohibit such intervention.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_pp._670-72_186-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The oil price shock of October 1973 caused significant damage to the South Vietnamese economy. The Vietcong resumed offensive operations when dry season began and by January 1974 it had recaptured the territory it lost during the previous dry season. After two clashes that left 55 South Vietnamese soldiers dead, President Thiệu announced on January 4 that the war had restarted and that the Paris Peace Accord was no longer in effect. There had been over 25,000 South Vietnamese casualties during the ceasefire period.<sup id="cite_ref-187" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Gerald Ford took over as U.S. president on August 9, 1974 after President Nixon resigned due to the Watergate scandal. At this time, Congress cut financial aid to South Vietnam from $1 billion a year to $700 million. The U.S. midterm elections in 1974 brought in a new Congress dominated by Democrats who were even more determined to confront the president on the war. Congress immediately voted in restrictions on funding and military activities to be phased in through 1975 and to culminate in a total cutoff of funding in 1976.</p> <p>The success of the 1973–1974 dry season offensive inspired Trà to return to Hanoi in October 1974 and plead for a larger offensive in the next dry season. This time, Trà could travel on a drivable highway with regular fueling stops, a vast change from the days when the Ho Chi Minh Trail was a dangerous mountain trek.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._676_188-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Giáp, the North Vietnamese defense minister, was reluctant to approve Trà's plan. A larger offensive might provoke a U.S. reaction and interfere with the big push planned for 1976. Trà appealed over Giáp's head to first secretary Lê Duẩn, who approved of the operation.</p> <p>Trà's plan called for a limited offensive from Cambodia into Phuoc Long Province. The strike was designed to solve local logistical problems, gauge the reaction of South Vietnamese forces, and determine whether U.S. would return to the fray.</p> <p>On December 13, 1974, North Vietnamese forces attacked Route 14 in Phuoc Long Province. Phuoc Binh, the provincial capital, fell on January 6, 1975. Ford desperately asked Congress for funds to assist and re-supply the South before it was overrun. Congress refused. The fall of Phuoc Binh and the lack of an American response left the South Vietnamese elite demoralized.</p> <p>The speed of this success led the Politburo to reassess its strategy. It was decided that operations in the Central Highlands would be turned over to General Văn Tiến Dũng and that Pleiku should be seized, if possible. Before he left for the South, Dũng was addressed by Lê Duẩn: "Never have we had military and political conditions so perfect or a strategic advantage as great as we have now."<sup id="cite_ref-189" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>At the start of 1975, the South Vietnamese had three times as much artillery and twice the number of tanks and armoured cars as the opposition. They also had 1,400 aircraft and a two-to-one numerical superiority in combat troops over their Communist enemies.<sup id="cite_ref-190" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> However, the rising oil prices meant that much of this could not be used. They faced a well-organized, highly determined and well-funded North Vietnam. Much of the North's material and financial support came from the communist bloc. Within South Vietnam, there was increasing chaos. Their abandonment by the American military had compromised an economy dependent on U.S. financial support and the presence of a large number of U.S. troops. South Vietnam suffered from the global recession that followed the Arab oil embargo.</p></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-22916298599004284492010-09-12T03:31:00.000-07:002010-09-12T03:34:37.628-07:00Vietnam War Opposition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6yiL2BJPP0iYSGz8N16k3trg99iyBtgNuGVuFKoqSQ2gOY-UPyfT8iE2DXmhumkYMddluh6zA9FAM51cN9Du3f5x2OToAVCiGjf4EDGKEU-x-prg5P-53YHDvX7hIAjitUGi3e6vAtY9/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6yiL2BJPP0iYSGz8N16k3trg99iyBtgNuGVuFKoqSQ2gOY-UPyfT8iE2DXmhumkYMddluh6zA9FAM51cN9Du3f5x2OToAVCiGjf4EDGKEU-x-prg5P-53YHDvX7hIAjitUGi3e6vAtY9/s320/a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515973531218561090" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>Some advocates within the peace movement advocated a unilateral withdrawal of U.S. forces from Vietnam. One reason given for the withdrawal is that it would contribute to a lessening of tensions in the region and thus less human bloodshed. Early opposition to U.S. involvement in Vietnam was centered around the Geneva conference of 1954. American support of Diem in refusing elections was thought to be thwarting the very democracy that America claimed to be supporting. John Kennedy, while Senator, opposed involvement in Vietnam.<sup id="cite_ref-USvietAnalysis_129-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Opposition to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War</span> tended to unite groups opposed to U.S. anti-communism, imperialism and colonialism and, for those involved with the New Left such as the Catholic Worker Movement, capitalism itself. Others, such as Stephen Spiro opposed the war based on the theory of Just War. Some wanted to show solidarity with the people of Vietnam, such as Norman Morrison emulating the actions of Thích Quảng Đức. Some critics of U.S. withdrawal predicted that it would not contribute to peace but rather vastly increase bloodshed. These critics advocated U.S. forces remain until all threats from the Viet Cong and <span class="mw-redirect">North Vietnamese Army</span> had been eliminated. Advocates of U.S. withdrawal were generally known as "doves", and they called their opponents "hawks", following nomenclature dating back to the War of 1812.</p> <p>High-profile opposition to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam War</span> turned to street protests in an effort to turn U.S. political opinion. On October 15, 1969, the <span class="mw-redirect">Vietnam Moratorium</span> attracted millions of Americans.<sup id="cite_ref-179" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The fatal shooting of four anti-war protesters at Kent State University led to nation-wide university protests.<sup id="cite_ref-180" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Riots broke out at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.<sup id="cite_ref-181" class="reference"><span></span></sup></p> <p>After explosive news reports of American <span class="mw-redirect">military abuses</span>, such as the 1968 My Lai Massacre, brought new attention and support to the anti-war movement, some veterans joined Vietnam Veterans Against the War.</p> <p>Anti-war protests ended with the final withdrawal of troops after the Paris Peace Accords were signed in 1973. South Vietnam was left to defend itself alone when the fighting resumed. Many South Vietnamese fled to the United States in one of the largest war refugee migrations in history.</p></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-45396973468098390092010-08-31T12:40:00.000-07:002010-09-18T15:52:20.660-07:001972 Election and Paris Peace Accords<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFZi1XN1cmQAtTF10E_Gc_SX9pgL4Z7WLsfti80OPaXWRB73jOALmJgdMwzp0zcPX4jDLLqoaOLYEAW64YtcVdR0yV8AsVZ842cqPMtz4FrW7QcxE7qLhfyl5nGhgxGeZk1NegKfo_ese/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFZi1XN1cmQAtTF10E_Gc_SX9pgL4Z7WLsfti80OPaXWRB73jOALmJgdMwzp0zcPX4jDLLqoaOLYEAW64YtcVdR0yV8AsVZ842cqPMtz4FrW7QcxE7qLhfyl5nGhgxGeZk1NegKfo_ese/s320/a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511661646295961506" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>The war was the central issue of the 1972 presidential election. Nixon's opponent, George McGovern, campaigned on a platform of withdrawal from Vietnam. Nixon's National Security Adviser, Henry Kissinger, continued secret negotiations with North Vietnam's <span class="mw-redirect">Le Duc Tho</span>. In October 1972, they reached an agreement.</p> <p>However, South Vietnamese President Thieu demanded massive changes to the peace accord. When North Vietnam went public with the agreement's details, the Nixon administration claimed that the North was attempting to embarrass the President. The negotiations became deadlocked. Hanoi demanded new changes.</p> <p>To show his support for South Vietnam and force Hanoi back to the negotiating table, Nixon ordered Operation Linebacker II, a massive bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong 18–29 December 1972. The offensive destroyed much of the remaining economic and industrial capacity of North Vietnam. Simultaneously Nixon pressured Thieu to accept the terms of the agreement, threatening to conclude a bilateral peace deal and cut off American aid.</p> <p>On January 15, 1973, Nixon announced the suspension of offensive action against North Vietnam. The Paris Peace Accords on "Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam" were signed on January 27, 1973, officially ending direct U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. A cease-fire was declared across North and South Vietnam. U.S. <span class="mw-redirect">POWs</span> were released. The agreement guaranteed the territorial integrity of Vietnam and, like the Geneva Conference of 1954, called for national elections in the North and South. The Paris Peace Accords stipulated a sixty-day period for the total withdrawal of U.S. forces. "This article", noted Peter Church, "proved... to be the only one of the Paris Agreements which was fully carried out."<sup id="cite_ref-178" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-78485794855861622912010-08-31T12:35:00.000-07:002010-09-18T15:52:37.034-07:00Operation Menu: the secret bombing of Cambodia and Laos<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnlc5vBPlER53D_lm8uaNBZPiet_QYlshb2d94idNjuYWMNHSyl2VPFFoazDY7AzWEYWulvx7eFml6e518rpkzY_4Y6zOXD0QxKIJj1EziTMkVbMefneBUKPqnV35BtDudt1CcbGZJxcc/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnlc5vBPlER53D_lm8uaNBZPiet_QYlshb2d94idNjuYWMNHSyl2VPFFoazDY7AzWEYWulvx7eFml6e518rpkzY_4Y6zOXD0QxKIJj1EziTMkVbMefneBUKPqnV35BtDudt1CcbGZJxcc/s320/a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511660683339849858" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>Prince Norodom Sihanouk had proclaimed Cambodia neutral since 1955,<sup id="cite_ref-172" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> but the communists used Cambodian soil as a base and Sihanouk tolerated their presence, because he wished to avoid being drawn into a wider regional conflict. Under pressure from Washington, however, he changed this policy in 1969. The Vietnamese communists were no longer welcome. President Nixon took the opportunity to launch a massive secret bombing campaign, called Operation Menu, against their sanctuaries along the Cambodia/Vietnam border.</p> <p>This violated a long succession of pronouncements from Washington supporting Cambodian neutrality. Richard Nixon wrote to Prince Sihanouk in April 1969 assuring him that the United States respected "the sovereignty, neutrality and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia."<sup id="cite_ref-173" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> In 1970, Prince <span class="mw-redirect">Sihanouk was deposed</span> by his pro-American prime minister Lon Nol. The country's borders were closed, while U.S. forces and ARVN launched <span class="mw-redirect">incursions into Cambodia</span> to attack VPA/NLF bases and buy time for South Vietnam.</p> <p>The invasion of Cambodia sparked nationwide U.S. protests. Four students were killed by National Guardsmen at Kent State University during a protest in Ohio, which provoked public outrage in the United States. The reaction to the incident by the Nixon administration was seen as callous and indifferent, providing additional impetus for the anti-war movement.<sup id="cite_ref-174" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>In 1971 the Pentagon Papers were leaked to <i>The New York Times</i>. The top-secret history of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, commissioned by the Department of Defense, detailed a long series of public deceptions. The <span class="mw-redirect">Supreme Court</span> ruled that its publication was legal.<sup id="cite_ref-eJournal.USA_175-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The ARVN launched Operation Lam Son 719 in February 1971, aimed at cutting the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos.<sup id="cite_ref-laos35k_103-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The ostensibly neutral Laos had long been the scene of a secret war. After meeting resistance, ARVN forces retreated in a confused rout. They fled along roads littered with their own dead. When they ran out of fuel, soldiers abandoned their vehicles and attempted to barge their way on to American helicopters sent to evacuate the wounded. Many ARVN soldiers clung to helicopter skids in a desperate attempt to save themselves. U.S. aircraft had to destroy abandoned equipment, including tanks, to prevent them from falling into enemy hands. Half of the invading ARVN troops were either captured or killed. The operation was a fiasco and represented a clear failure of Vietnamization. As Karnow noted "the blunders were monumental. The (South Vietnamese) government's top officers had been tutored by the Americans for ten or fifteen years, many at training schools in the United States, yet they had learned little."<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_pp._644-645_176-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>In 1971 Australia and New Zealand withdrew their soldiers. The U.S. troop count was further reduced to 196,700, with a deadline to remove another 45,000 troops by February 1972. As peace protests spread across the United States, disillusionment and ill-discipline grew in the ranks.<sup id="cite_ref-177" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Vietnamization was again tested by the Easter Offensive of 1972, a massive conventional invasion of South Vietnam. The VPA and NLF quickly overran the northern provinces and in coordination with other forces attacked from Cambodia, threatening to cut the country in half. U.S. troop withdrawals continued. But American airpower came to the rescue with Operation Linebacker, and the offensive was halted. However, it became clear that without American airpower South Vietnam could not survive. The last remaining American ground troops were withdrawn in August.</p></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-30302477369851983552010-08-31T12:32:00.000-07:002010-09-18T15:52:50.877-07:00Nixon Doctrine / Vietnamization 1969–1972<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWq3u1Y982zTBDjgyQ6J_2KdRXKrn-vS8BaFhOueY0LYDwjei6t_v3d9ztOehcAplN7_wbZ3HwlsHzU8X39y-unsn5FoS3a7_SpuwrdxE7BBvM7jvb-sqZRCh8BBw3ZEAaYddhyaHEiUb/s1600/Energy-Quest_Logo.png"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWq3u1Y982zTBDjgyQ6J_2KdRXKrn-vS8BaFhOueY0LYDwjei6t_v3d9ztOehcAplN7_wbZ3HwlsHzU8X39y-unsn5FoS3a7_SpuwrdxE7BBvM7jvb-sqZRCh8BBw3ZEAaYddhyaHEiUb/s320/Energy-Quest_Logo.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511659782640815042" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>Severe communist losses during the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tet Offensive</span> allowed U.S. President <span class="mw-redirect">Richard M. Nixon</span> to begin troop withdrawals. His plan, called the Nixon Doctrine, was to build up the ARVN, so that they could take over the defense of South Vietnam. The policy became known as <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Vietnamization"</span>. Vietnamization had much in common with the policies of the Kennedy administration. One important difference, however, remained. While Kennedy insisted that the South Vietnamese fight the war themselves, he attempted to limit the scope of the conflict.</p> <p>Nixon said in an announcement, "I am tonight announcing plans for the withdrawal of an additional 150,000 American troops to be completed during the spring of next year. This will bring a total reduction of 265,500 men in our armed forces in Vietnam below the level that existed when we took office 15 months ago."<sup id="cite_ref-upi1970_167-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>On October 10, 1969, Nixon ordered a squadron of 18 <span class="mw-redirect">B-52s</span> loaded with nuclear weapons to race to the border of Soviet airspace to convince the Soviet Union that he was capable of anything to end the Vietnam War.</p> <p>Nixon also pursued negotiations. Theater commander Creighton Abrams shifted to smaller operations, aimed at communist logistics, with better use of firepower and more cooperation with the ARVN. Nixon also began to pursue détente with the Soviet Union and rapprochement with the People's Republic of China. This policy helped to decrease global tensions. Détente led to nuclear arms reduction on the part of both superpowers. But Nixon was disappointed that the PRC and the Soviet Union continued to supply the North Vietnamese with aid. In September 1969, Ho Chi Minh died at age seventy-nine.<sup id="cite_ref-168" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The anti-war movement was gaining strength in the United States. Nixon appealed to the "silent majority" of Americans to support the war. But revelations of the My Lai Massacre, in which a U.S. Army platoon raped and killed civilians, and the 1969 "<span class="mw-redirect">Green Beret Affair</span>" where eight Special Forces soldiers, including the 5th Special Forces Group Commander were arrested for the murder<sup id="cite_ref-169" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> of a suspected double agent<sup id="cite_ref-170" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> provoked national and international outrage.</p> <p>The civilian cost of the war was again questioned when U.S. forces concluded operation <span class="mw-redirect">Speedy Express</span> with a claimed bodycount of 10,889 Communist guerillas with only 40 U.S. losses; Kevin Buckley writing in <i>Newsweek</i> estimated that perhaps 5,000 of the Vietnamese dead were civilians.<sup id="cite_ref-171" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> Beginning in 1970, American troops were being taken away from border areas where much more killing took place, and instead put along the coast and interior, which is one reason why casualties in 1970 were less than half of 1969's totals.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_war#cite_note-upi1970-167"><span></span></a></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-75473410495461587382010-08-31T12:26:00.000-07:002010-09-18T15:53:12.723-07:00Tet Offensive<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTyNSK4mnYNV4ZISsYmlgkji1FlFWunCd11CgqKVGQz35dM-bgmA-2oWysrzEoE3Hd5cOrhAexXswJ16DATH9ymJ9d-GQcvI9T0yWuV5sPS1iIxO6gldY2xr4pillqxBw7FNPeWTJELTP/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTyNSK4mnYNV4ZISsYmlgkji1FlFWunCd11CgqKVGQz35dM-bgmA-2oWysrzEoE3Hd5cOrhAexXswJ16DATH9ymJ9d-GQcvI9T0yWuV5sPS1iIxO6gldY2xr4pillqxBw7FNPeWTJELTP/s320/a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511658576153419266" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>Having lured General Westmoreland's forces into the hinterland at Khe Sanh in Quảng Trị Province,<sup id="cite_ref-154" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> in January 1968, the NVA and NLF broke the truce that had traditionally accompanied the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday. They launched the surprise Tet Offensive in the hope of sparking a national uprising. Over 100 cities were attacked, with assaults on General Westmoreland's headquarters and the <span class="mw-redirect">U.S. Embassy, Saigon</span>.</p> <p>Although the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces were initially taken aback by the scale of the urban offensive, they responded quickly and effectively, decimating the ranks of the NLF. In the former capital city of Huế, the combined NLF and <span class="mw-redirect">NVA</span> troops captured the Imperial Citadel and much of the city, which led to the Battle of Huế. Throughout the offensive, the American forces employed massive firepower; in Huế where the battle was the fiercest, that firepower left 80% of the city in ruins.<sup id="cite_ref-155" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> During the interim between the capture of the Citadel and end of the "Battle of Huế", the communist insurgent occupying forces massacred several thousand unarmed Huế civilians (estimates vary up to a high of 6,000). After the war, North Vietnamese officials acknowledged that the Tet Offensive had, indeed, caused grave damage to NLF forces. But the offensive had another, unintended consequence.</p> <p>General Westmoreland had become the public face of the war. He was featured on the cover of <i>Time</i> magazine three times and was named 1965's Man of the Year.<sup id="cite_ref-Time_156-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> <i>Time</i> described him as "the sinewy personification of the American fighting man (who) directed the historic buildup, drew up the battle plans, and infused the men under him with his own idealistic view of U.S. aims and responsibilities."<sup id="cite_ref-Time_156-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>In November 1967 Westmoreland spearheaded a public relations drive for the Johnson administration to bolster flagging public support.<sup id="cite_ref-Witz_157-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> In a speech before the National Press Club he said that a point in the war had been reached "where the end comes into view."<sup id="cite_ref-158" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Thus, the public was shocked and confused when Westmoreland's predictions were trumped by Tet.<sup id="cite_ref-Witz_157-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The American media, which had been largely supportive of U.S. efforts, rounded on the Johnson administration for what had become an increasing credibility gap. Despite its military failure, the Tet Offensive became a political victory and ended the career of President Lyndon B. Johnson, who declined to run for re-election. Johnson's approval rating slumped from 48 to 36 percent.<sup id="cite_ref-Witz_157-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>As James Witz noted, Tet "contradicted the claims of progress... made by the Johnson administration and the military."<sup id="cite_ref-Witz_157-3" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The Tet Offensive was the turning point in America's involvement in the Vietnam War. It had a profound impact on domestic support for the conflict. The offensive constituted an <span class="mw-redirect">intelligence failure</span> on the scale of Pearl Harbor.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._556_150-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup><sup id="cite_ref-159" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Journalist Peter Arnett quoted an unnamed officer, saying of Bến Tre (laid to rubble by U.S. firepower)<sup id="cite_ref-160" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> that "it became necessary to destroy the village in order to save it" (though the authenticity of this quote is disputed).<sup id="cite_ref-161" class="reference"><span>[</span>160<span>]</span></sup> According to one source, this quote was attributed to Major Booris of 9th Infantry Division.<sup id="cite_ref-162" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Westmoreland became Chief of Staff of the Army in March, just as all resistance was finally subdued. The move was technically a promotion. However, his position had become untenable because of the offensive and because his request for 200,000 additional troops had been leaked to the media. Westmoreland was succeeded by his deputy Creighton Abrams, a commander less inclined to public media pronouncements.<sup id="cite_ref-163" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>On May 10, 1968, despite low expectations, peace talks began between the United States and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Negotiations stagnated for five months, until Johnson gave orders to halt the bombing of North Vietnam. The Democratic candidate, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, was running against Republican former vice president Richard Nixon.</p> <p>As historian Robert Dallek writes, "Lyndon Johnson's escalation of the war in Vietnam divided Americans into warring camps... cost 30,000 American lives by the time he left office, (and) destroyed Johnson's presidency."<sup id="cite_ref-164" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> His refusal to send more U.S. troops to Vietnam was seen as Johnson's admission that the war was lost.<sup id="cite_ref-Command_Magazine_Issue_18.2C_page_15_165-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> It can be seen that the refusal was a tacit admission that the war could not be won by escalation, at least not at a cost acceptable to the American people.<sup id="cite_ref-Command_Magazine_Issue_18.2C_page_15_165-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> As Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara noted, "the dangerous illusion of victory by the United States was therefore dead."<sup id="cite_ref-166" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-66390609961788616872010-08-31T12:20:00.000-07:002010-09-18T15:53:30.457-07:00Escalation And Ground War<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbroxh0MNTb3tglJkP0h9IjmRUYZ-EXInSLEJAJW2RK5oG6ODh5gawEiuYsMX-IFYVXOQBDO5rB4lqHnO-wkbg1QNf3BA3ypNBd78CR_Yna_DM3l3TW8x9S3bFuTDSpLjidWhRxIV0ELM/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbroxh0MNTb3tglJkP0h9IjmRUYZ-EXInSLEJAJW2RK5oG6ODh5gawEiuYsMX-IFYVXOQBDO5rB4lqHnO-wkbg1QNf3BA3ypNBd78CR_Yna_DM3l3TW8x9S3bFuTDSpLjidWhRxIV0ELM/s320/a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511657538355468882" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>After several attacks upon them, it was decided that <span class="mw-redirect">U.S. Air Force</span> bases needed more protection. The South Vietnamese military seemed incapable of providing security. On March 8, 1965, 3,500 <span class="mw-redirect">United States Marines</span> were dispatched to South Vietnam. This marked the beginning of the American ground war. U.S. public opinion overwhelmingly supported the deployment.<sup id="cite_ref-136" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>In a statement similar to that made to the French almost two decades earlier, Ho Chi Minh warned that if the Americans "want to make war for twenty years then we shall make war for twenty years. If they want to make peace, we shall make peace and invite them to afternoon tea."<sup id="cite_ref-137" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> As former First Deputy Foreign Minister Tran Quang Co has noted, the primary goal of the war was to reunify Vietnam and secure its independence. The policy of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) was not to topple other non-communist governments in South East Asia.<sup id="cite_ref-138" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The Marines' assignment was defensive. The initial deployment of 3,500 in March was increased to nearly 200,000 by December.<sup id="cite_ref-McNamara_349_139-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The U.S. military had long been schooled in offensive warfare. Regardless of political policies, U.S. commanders were institutionally and psychologically unsuited to a defensive mission.<sup id="cite_ref-McNamara_349_139-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> In December, Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces suffered heavy losses at the <span class="mw-redirect">Battle of Binh Gia</span>,<sup id="cite_ref-140" class="reference"><span>[</span>139<span>]</span></sup> in a battle that both sides viewed as a watershed. Previously communist forces had utilized hit-and-run guerrilla tactics, however at Binh Gia they had successfully defeated a strong ARVN force in conventional warfare.<sup id="cite_ref-141" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Tellingly, South Vietnamese forces were again defeated in June, at the <span class="mw-redirect">Battle of Dong Xoai</span>.<sup id="cite_ref-142" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Desertion rates were increasing, and morale plummeted. General William Westmoreland informed Admiral U.S. Grant Sharp, Jr., commander of U.S. Pacific forces, that the situation was critical.<sup id="cite_ref-McNamara_349_139-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> He said, "I am convinced that U.S. troops with their energy, mobility, and firepower can successfully take the fight to the NLF [National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam]."<sup id="cite_ref-143" class="reference"><span></span></sup> With this recommendation, Westmoreland was advocating an aggressive departure from America's defensive posture and the sidelining of the South Vietnamese. By ignoring ARVN units, the U.S. commitment became open-ended.<sup id="cite_ref-144" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Westmoreland outlined a three-point plan to win the war:</p> <ul><li>Phase 1. Commitment of U.S. (and other free world) forces necessary to halt the losing trend by the end of 1965.</li><li>Phase 2. U.S. and allied forces mount major offensive actions to seize the initiative to destroy guerrilla and organized enemy forces. This phase would end when the enemy had been worn down, thrown on the defensive, and driven back from major populated areas.</li><li>Phase 3. If the enemy persisted, a period of twelve to eighteen months following Phase 2 would be required for the final destruction of enemy forces remaining in remote base areas.<sup id="cite_ref-145" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></li></ul> <p>The plan was approved by Johnson and marked a profound departure from the previous administration's insistence that the government of South Vietnam was responsible for defeating the guerrillas. Westmoreland predicted victory by the end of 1967.<sup id="cite_ref-146" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Johnson did not, however, communicate this change in strategy to the media. Instead he emphasized continuity.<sup id="cite_ref-147" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The change in U.S. policy depended on matching the North Vietnamese and the NLF in a contest of attrition and morale. The opponents were locked in a cycle of escalation.<sup id="cite_ref-McNamara_353_148-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The idea that the government of South Vietnam could manage its own affairs was shelved.<sup id="cite_ref-McNamara_353_148-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The one-year tour of duty deprived units of experienced leadership. As one observer noted "we were not in Vietnam for 10 years, but for one year 10 times."<sup id="cite_ref-Courtwright_p._210_134-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> As a result, training programs were shortened.</p> <p>South Vietnam was inundated with manufactured goods. As Stanley Karnow writes, "the main PX [Post Exchange], located in the Saigon suburb of <span class="mw-redirect">Cholon</span>, was only slightly smaller than the New York Bloomingdale's."<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._453_149-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The American buildup transformed the economy and had a profound impact on South Vietnamese society. A huge surge in corruption was witnessed.</p> <p>Washington encouraged its <span class="mw-redirect">SEATO</span> allies to contribute troops. Australia, New Zealand, the <span class="mw-redirect">Republic of Korea</span>, Thailand, and the Philippines<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._556_150-0" class="reference"><span>[</span>149<span>]</span></sup> all agreed to send troops. Major allies, however, notably NATO nations Canada and the United Kingdom, declined Washington's troop requests.<sup id="cite_ref-151" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The U.S. and its allies mounted complex operations, such as operations <span class="mw-redirect">Masher</span>, Attleboro, Cedar Falls, and Junction City. However, the communist insurgents remained elusive and demonstrated great tactical flexibility.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the political situation in South Vietnam began to stabilize with the coming to power of Prime Minister Air Marshal <span class="mw-redirect">Nguyen Cao Ky</span> and figurehead Chief of State, General Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, in mid 1965 at the head of a military junta. This ended a series of coups that had happened more than once a year. In 1967, Thieu became president with Ky as his deputy, after rigged elections. Although they were nominally a civilian government, Ky was supposed to maintain real power through a behind-the-scenes military body. However, Thieu outmanoevred and sidelined Ky by filling the ranks with generals from his faction. Thieu was also accused of murdering Ky loyalists through contrived military accidents. Thieu, mistrustful and indecisive, remained president until 1975, having won a one-man election in 1971.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._706_152-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The Johnson administration employed a "policy of minimum candor"<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._18_153-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> in its dealings with the media. Military information officers sought to manage media coverage by emphasizing stories that portrayed progress in the war. Over time, this policy damaged the public trust in official pronouncements. As the media's coverage of the war and that of the Pentagon diverged, a so-called credibility gap developed.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._18_153-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-35995870258341385012010-08-28T10:42:00.000-07:002010-09-18T15:53:45.711-07:00Lyndon B. Johnson expands the war 1963–1969<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cV-sVngLKNI0wmwQ8qdDSznMvU5oTlA2nQGRj1mUDgaQGGmLMoQVYkC3ZJQczCDPz0VtSm8MsK3ZLZdKRN2_nt29dWCoeG9cmNc9XLcPWqSmv12mI1hK-G04Np3ghlOYQZaegZOQf09X/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cV-sVngLKNI0wmwQ8qdDSznMvU5oTlA2nQGRj1mUDgaQGGmLMoQVYkC3ZJQczCDPz0VtSm8MsK3ZLZdKRN2_nt29dWCoeG9cmNc9XLcPWqSmv12mI1hK-G04Np3ghlOYQZaegZOQf09X/s320/a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510518423010854434" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ), as he took over the presidency after the death of Kennedy, initially did not consider Vietnam a priority and was more concerned with his "Great Society" and progressive social programs. Presidential aide Jack Valenti recalls, "Vietnam at the time was no bigger than a man's fist on the horizon. We hardly discussed it because it was not worth discussing."<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_pp._336-339_115-0" class="reference"><span></span></sup><sup id="cite_ref-116" class="reference"><span></span></sup></p> <p>On November 24, 1963, Johnson said, "the battle against communism... must be joined... with strength and determination."<sup id="cite_ref-117" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The pledge came at a time when Vietnam was deteriorating, especially in places like the Mekong Delta, because of the recent coup against Diem.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._339_118-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Johnson had reversed Kennedy's disengagement policy from Vietnam in withdrawing 1,000 troops by the end of 1963 (NSAM 263 on Oct. 11),<sup id="cite_ref-119" class="reference"><span>[</span>118<span>]</span></sup> with his own NSAM 273 (Nov. 26)<sup id="cite_ref-120" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> to expand the war.</p> <p>The military revolutionary council, meeting in lieu of a strong South Vietnamese leader, was made up of 12 members headed by General Duong Van Minh—whom Stanley Karnow, a journalist on the ground, later recalled as "a model of lethargy."<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._340_121-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Lodge, frustrated by the end of the year, cabled home about Minh: "Will he be strong enough to get on top of things?" His regime was overthrown in January 1964 by General Nguyen Khanh.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._341_122-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> However, there was persistent instability in the military as several coups—not all successful—occurred in a short space of time.</p> <p>On August 2, 1964, the USS <i>Maddox</i>, on an intelligence mission along North Vietnam's coast, allegedly fired upon and damaged several torpedo boats that had been stalking it in the Gulf of Tonkin.<sup id="cite_ref-Osborn_pp._84-85_123-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>A second attack was reported two days later on the USS <i>Turner Joy</i> and <i>Maddox</i> in the same area. The circumstances of the attack were murky. Lyndon Johnson commented to Undersecretary of State George Ball that "those sailors out there may have been shooting at flying fish."<sup id="cite_ref-124" class="reference"><span></span></sup></p> <p>The second attack led to retaliatory air strikes, prompted Congress to approve the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, and gave the president power to conduct military operations in Southeast Asia without declaring war. In the same month, Johnson pledged that he was not "... committing American boys to fighting a war that I think ought to be fought by the boys of Asia to help protect their own land."<sup id="cite_ref-Palmer_125-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>An undated NSA publication declassified in 2005, however, revealed that there was no attack on August 4.<sup id="cite_ref-nytimes.com.2005.10.31_126-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> It had already been called into question long before this. "The Gulf of Tonkin incident", writes Louise Gerdes, "is an oft-cited example of the way in which Johnson misled the American people to gain support for his foreign policy in Vietnam."<sup id="cite_ref-127" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> George C. Herring argues, however, that McNamara and the Pentagon "did not knowingly lie about the alleged attacks, but they were obviously in a mood to retaliate and they seem to have selected from the evidence available to them those parts that confirmed what they wanted to believe."<sup id="cite_ref-128" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>"From a strength of approximately 5,000 at the start of 1959 the Viet Cong's ranks grew to about 100,000 at the end of 1964...Between 1961 and 1964 the Army's strength rose from about 850,000 to nearly a million men."<sup id="cite_ref-Demma_109-1" class="reference"><span>[</span>108<span>]</span></sup> The numbers for U.S. troops deployed to Vietnam during the same period were quite different; 2,000 in 1961, rising rapidly to 16,500 in 1964.<sup id="cite_ref-USvietAnalysis_129-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The National Security Council recommended a three-stage escalation of the bombing of North Vietnam. On March 2, 1965, following an attack on a U.S. Marine barracks at Pleiku,<sup id="cite_ref-DennisSimon_130-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Operation Flaming Dart, Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Arc Light commenced.<sup id="cite_ref-131" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The bombing campaign, which ultimately lasted three years, was intended to force North Vietnam to cease its support for the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (NLF) by threatening to destroy North Vietnam's air defenses and industrial infrastructure. As well, it was aimed at bolstering the morale of the South Vietnamese.<sup id="cite_ref-Tilford_89_132-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Between March 1965 and November 1968, "Rolling Thunder" deluged the north with a million tons of missiles, rockets and bombs.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._468_133-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> Bombing was not restricted to North Vietnam. Other aerial campaigns, such as Operation Commando Hunt, targeted different parts of the NLF and Vietnam People's Army (VPA) infrastructure. These included the <span class="mw-redirect">Ho Chi Minh Trail</span>, which ran through Laos and Cambodia. The objective of forcing North Vietnam to stop its support for the NLF, however, was never reached. As one officer noted "this is a political war and it calls for discriminate killing. The best weapon... would be a knife... The worst is an airplane."<sup id="cite_ref-Courtwright_p._210_134-0" class="reference"><span>[</span>133<span>]</span></sup> The Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Curtis LeMay, however, had long advocated saturation bombing in Vietnam and wrote of the Communists that "we're going to bomb them back into the Stone Age".</div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-60455011592395575512010-08-28T10:36:00.000-07:002010-09-18T15:54:07.112-07:00During John F. Kennedy's Administration 1961–1963<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykGH_j_tR8N37waSi14IGL3vpQcXF-fTrTjsON_vRn9VXvruYM55yBtlvjvDzXpoAZFP_h1pPPp-3U4SmG2ABs88DxdVDhAeLQ7hNFfGzNLjSBSO3xVdCwyUbp0zSZP2H5owp7e-2ri6q/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykGH_j_tR8N37waSi14IGL3vpQcXF-fTrTjsON_vRn9VXvruYM55yBtlvjvDzXpoAZFP_h1pPPp-3U4SmG2ABs88DxdVDhAeLQ7hNFfGzNLjSBSO3xVdCwyUbp0zSZP2H5owp7e-2ri6q/s320/a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510517397018777778" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>When John F. Kennedy won the 1960 U.S. presidential election, one major issue Kennedy raised was whether the Soviet space and missile programs had surpassed those of the United States. As Kennedy took over, despite warnings from Eisenhower about Laos and Vietnam, Europe and Latin America "loomed larger than Asia on his sights."<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._264_93-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> In his inaugural address, Kennedy made the ambitious pledge to "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty."<sup id="cite_ref-94" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>In June 1961, John F. Kennedy bitterly disagreed with Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev when they met in Vienna over key U.S.-Soviet issues. The legacy of the Korean War created the idea of a limited war.</p> <p>Although Kennedy stressed long-range missile parity with the Soviets, he was also interested in using special forces for counterinsurgency warfare in Third World countries threatened by communist insurgencies. Although they were originally intended for use behind front lines after a conventional invasion of Europe, Kennedy believed that the guerrilla tactics employed by special forces such as the Green Berets would be effective in a "brush fire" war in Vietnam.</p> <p>The Kennedy administration remained essentially committed to the Cold War foreign policy inherited from the Truman and Eisenhower administrations. In 1961, the USA had 50,000 troops based in Korea, and Kennedy faced a three-part crisis—the failure of the <span class="mw-redirect">Bay of Pigs invasion</span>, the construction of the Berlin Wall, and a negotiated settlement between the pro-Western government of Laos and the Pathet Lao communist movement<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._265_95-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> These made Kennedy believe that another failure on the part of the United States to gain control and stop communist expansion would fatally damage U.S. credibility with its allies and his own reputation. Kennedy determined to "draw a line in the sand" and prevent a communist victory in Vietnam, saying, "Now we have a problem making our power credible and Vietnam looks like the place", to James Reston of <i>The New York Times</i> immediately after meeting Khrushchev in Vienna.<sup id="cite_ref-96" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup><sup id="cite_ref-97" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>In May 1961, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson visited Saigon and enthusiastically declared Diem the "Winston Churchill of Asia."<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._267_98-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Asked why he had made the comment, Johnson replied, "Diem's the only boy we got out there."<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._230_80-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Johnson assured Diem of more aid in molding a fighting force that could resist the communists.</p> <p>Kennedy's policy toward South Vietnam rested on the assumption that Diem and his forces must ultimately defeat the guerrillas on their own. He was against the deployment of American combat troops and observed that "to introduce U.S. forces in large numbers there today, while it might have an initially favorable military impact, would almost certainly lead to adverse political and, in the long run, adverse military consequences."<sup id="cite_ref-99" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The quality of the South Vietnamese military, however, remained poor. Bad leadership, corruption, and political promotions all played a part in emasculating the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). The frequency of guerrilla attacks rose as the insurgency gathered steam. While Hanoi's support for the NLF played a role, South Vietnamese governmental incompetence was at the core of the crisis.<sup id="cite_ref-100" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Kennedy advisers <span class="mw-redirect">Maxwell Taylor</span> and <span class="mw-redirect">Walt Rostow</span> recommended that U.S. troops be sent to South Vietnam disguised as flood relief workers. Kennedy rejected the idea but increased military assistance yet again. In April 1962, John Kenneth Galbraith warned Kennedy of the "danger we shall replace the French as a colonial force in the area and bleed as the French did."<sup id="cite_ref-101" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> By 1963, there were 16,000 American military personnel in South Vietnam, up from Eisenhower's 900 advisors.<sup id="cite_ref-102" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>The Strategic Hamlet Program had been initiated in 1961. This joint U.S.-South Vietnamese program attempted to resettle the rural population into fortified camps. The aim was to isolate the population from the insurgents, provide education and health care, and strengthen the government's hold over the countryside. The Strategic Hamlets, however, were quickly infiltrated by the guerrillas. The peasants resented being uprooted from their ancestral villages. In part, this was because Colonel Pham Ngoc Thao, a Diem favourite who was instrumental in running the program, was in fact a communist agent who used his Catholicism to gain influential posts and damage the ROV from the inside.</p> <p>The government refused to undertake land reform, which left farmers paying high rents to a few wealthy landlords. Corruption dogged the program and intensified opposition.</p> <p>On July 23, 1962, fourteen nations, including the People's Republic of China, South Vietnam, the Soviet Union, North Vietnam and the United States, signed an agreement promising the neutrality of Laos.<sup id="cite_ref-laos35k_103-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Coup_and_assassinations">Coup and assassinations</span></h3>The inept performance of the South Vietnamese army was exemplified by failed actions such as the Battle of Ap Bac on January 2, 1963, in which a small band of Viet Cong beat off a much larger and better equipped South Vietnamese force, many of whose officers seemed reluctant even to engage in combat.<sup id="cite_ref-104" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The ARVN were led in that battle by Diem's most trusted General Huynh Van Cao, commander of the IV Corps, and a Catholic who had been promoted due to religion and fidelity rather than skill, and whose main job was to preserve his forces to stave off coups; Cao had earlier vomited during a communist attack. Some policymakers in Washington began to conclude that Diem was incapable of defeating the communists and might even make a deal with Ho Chi Minh. He seemed concerned only with fending off coups, and had become more paranoid after attempts in 1960, 1962, which he partly attributed to U.S. encouragement. As Robert F. Kennedy noted, "Diem wouldn't make even the slightest concessions. He was difficult to reason with."<sup id="cite_ref-105" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> <p>Discontent with Diem's policies exploded following the <span class="mw-redirect">Huế Vesak shootings</span> of majority Buddhists who were protesting against the ban on the Buddhist flag on <span class="mw-redirect">Vesak</span>, the Buddha's birthday. This resulted in mass protests against discriminatory policies that gave privileges to the Catholic Church and its adherents. Diem's elder brother <span class="mw-redirect">Ngo Dinh Thuc</span> was the Archbishop of Huế and aggressively blurred the separation between church and state. Thuc's anniversary celebrations shortly before Vesak had been bankrolled by the government and Vatican flags were displayed prominently. There had also been reports of Buddhist pagodas being demolished by Catholic paramilitaries throughout Diem's rule. Diem refused to make concessions to the Buddhist majority or take responsibility for the deaths. On August 21, 1963, the <span class="mw-redirect">ARVN Special Forces</span> of Colonel Le Quang Tung, loyal to Diem's younger brother Ngo Dinh Nhu, raided pagodas across Vietnam, causing widespread damage and destruction and leaving a death toll estimated to range into the hundreds.</p> <p>U.S. officials began discussing the possibility of a regime change during the middle of 1963. The United States Department of State was generally in favor of encouraging a <span class="mw-redirect">coup</span>, while the Defense Department favored Diem.</p> <p>Chief among the proposed changes was the removal of Diem's younger brother Nhu, who controlled the secret police and special forces was seen as the man behind the Buddhist repression and more generally the architect of the Ngo family's rule. This proposal was conveyed to the U.S. embassy in Saigon in Cable 243.</p> <p>The <span class="mw-redirect">CIA</span> was in contact with generals planning to remove Diem. They were told that the United States would not oppose such a move nor punish the generals by cutting off aid. President Diem was overthrown and executed, along with his brother, on November 2, 1963. When he was informed, Maxwell Taylor remembered that Kennedy "rushed from the room with a look of shock and dismay on his face."<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._326_106-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> He had not approved Diem's murder. The U.S. ambassador to South Vietnam, Henry Cabot Lodge, invited the coup leaders to the embassy and congratulated them. Ambassador Lodge informed Kennedy that "the prospects now are for a shorter war".<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._327_107-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Following the coup, chaos ensued. Hanoi took advantage of the situation and increased its support for the guerrillas. South Vietnam entered a period of extreme political instability, as one military government toppled another in quick succession. Increasingly, each new regime was viewed as a puppet of the Americans; whatever the failings of Diem, his credentials as a nationalist (as Robert McNamara later reflected) had been impeccable.<sup id="cite_ref-108" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>U.S military advisers were embedded at every level of the South Vietnamese armed forces. They were, however, almost completely ignorant of the political nature of the insurgency. The insurgency was a political power struggle, in which military engagements were not the main goal.<sup id="cite_ref-Demma_109-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The Kennedy administration sought to refocus U.S. efforts on pacification and "winning over the hearts and minds" of the population. The military leadership in Washington, however, was hostile to any role for U.S. advisers other than conventional troop training.<sup id="cite_ref-110" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> General <span class="mw-redirect">Paul Harkins</span>, the commander of U.S. forces in South Vietnam, confidently predicted victory by Christmas 1963.<sup id="cite_ref-111" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The CIA was less optimistic, however, warning that "the Viet Cong by and large retain de facto control of much of the countryside and have steadily increased the overall intensity of the effort".<sup id="cite_ref-112" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> Paramilitary officers from the CIA's Special Activities Division trained and led Hmong tribesmen in Laos and into Vietnam. The indigenous forces numbered in the tens of thousands and they conducted direct action missions, led by paramilitary officers, against the Communist Pathet Lao forces and their North Vietnamese supporters.<sup id="cite_ref-113" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The CIA also ran the Phoenix Program and participation <span class="mw-redirect">MAC-V SOG</span> (Studies and Observations Group), which was originally named the Special Operations Group, but was changed for cover purposes.<span></span></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018363838407324686.post-54688123087078060012010-08-28T10:33:00.000-07:002010-09-18T15:54:21.445-07:00Diem Era, 1955–1963<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaGTxK0mQGeMzFKxKVUe6DRpG5k_YU_IcMqjOhyo3TSyHe-SiDjJNFVj_5LGvgPH4MzFe3IVQM-jd_SKW80aFPYuUVdTgULABIWaxM7GD8KPeiEbTlQH8vkiApQ-bArhsbiA3p71h624x/s1600/a.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaGTxK0mQGeMzFKxKVUe6DRpG5k_YU_IcMqjOhyo3TSyHe-SiDjJNFVj_5LGvgPH4MzFe3IVQM-jd_SKW80aFPYuUVdTgULABIWaxM7GD8KPeiEbTlQH8vkiApQ-bArhsbiA3p71h624x/s320/a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510515778591005906" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p>The <span class="mw-redirect">Domino Theory</span>, which argued that if one country fell to communist forces, then all of the surrounding countries would follow, was first proposed as policy by the Eisenhower administration.<sup id="cite_ref-75" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> It was, and is still, commonly hypothesized that it applied to Vietnam. John F. Kennedy, then a U.S. senator, said in a speech to the American Friends of Vietnam: "Burma, Thailand, India, Japan, the Philippines and obviously Laos and Cambodia are among those whose security would be threatened if the <span class="mw-redirect">Red Tide</span> of Communism overflowed into Vietnam."<sup id="cite_ref-76" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Rule">Rule</span></h3> <p>A devout <span class="mw-redirect">Roman Catholic</span>, Diem was fervently anti-communist, nationalist and socially conservative. Historian Luu Doan Huynh notes, however, that "Diem represented narrow and extremist nationalism coupled with autocracy and nepotism."<sup id="cite_ref-77" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> As a wealthy Catholic, Diem was viewed by many ordinary Vietnamese as part of the elite who had helped the French rule Vietnam; Diem had been interior minister in the colonial government. The majority of Vietnamese people were Buddhist, and were alarmed by actions such as his dedication of the country to the Virgin Mary.</p> <p>Beginning in the summer of 1955, he launched the "Denounce the Communists" campaign, during which communists and other anti-government elements were arrested, imprisoned, tortured, or executed. Diem instituted a policy of death penalty against any activity deemed communist in August 1956.<sup id="cite_ref-78" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Opponents were labeled Viet Cong ("Vietnamese communist") by the regime to degrade their nationalist credentials. As a measure of the level of political repression, about 12,000 suspected opponents of Diem were killed in the years 1955–1957 and by the end of 1958 an estimated 40,000 political prisoners had been jailed.<sup id="cite_ref-79" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>In May, Diem undertook a ten-day state visit to the United States. President Eisenhower pledged his continued support. A parade in New York City was held in his honor. Although Diem was openly praised, in private Secretary of State John Foster Dulles conceded that he had been selected because there were no better alternatives.<sup id="cite_ref-Karnow_p._230_80-0" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Robert McNamara wrote that the new American patrons were almost completely ignorant of Vietnamese culture. They knew little of the language or long history of the country.<sup id="cite_ref-McNamara_377_46-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> There was a tendency to assign American motives to Vietnamese actions, and Diem warned that it was an illusion to believe that blindly copying Western methods would solve Vietnamese problems.<sup id="cite_ref-McNamara_377_46-2" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <h3><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline" id="Insurgency_in_the_South.2C_1956.E2.80.931960">Insurgency in the South, 1956–1960</span></h3> <p>The Sino-Soviet split led to a reduction in the influence of the PRC, which had insisted in 1954 that the Viet Minh accept a division of the country. <span class="mw-redirect">Trường Chinh</span>, North Vietnam's pro-PRC party first secretary, was demoted and Hanoi authorized communists in South Vietnam to begin a low level insurgency in December 1956.<sup id="cite_ref-autogenerated1_18-1" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> This insurgency in the south had begun in response to Diem's Denunciation of Communists campaign, in which thousands of local Viet Minh cadres and supporters had been executed or sent to concentration camps, and was in violation of the Northern Communist party line, which had enjoined them not to start an insurrection, but rather engage in a political campaign, agitating for a free all-Vietnam election in accordance with the Geneva accords.<sup id="cite_ref-81" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Ho Chi Minh stated, "Do not engage in military operations; that will lead to defeat. Do not take land from a peasant. Emphasize nationalism rather than communism. Do not antagonize anyone if you can avoid it. Be selective in your violence. If an assassination is necessary, use a knife, not a rifle or grenade. It is too easy to kill innocent bystanders with guns and bombs, and accidental killing of the innocent bystanders will alienate peasants from the revolution. Once an assassination has taken place, make sure peasants know why the killing occurred." This strategy was referred to as "armed propaganda."<sup id="cite_ref-82" class="reference"><span></span></sup></p> <p>Soon afterward, Lê Duẩn, a communist leader who had been working in the South, returned to Hanoi to accept the position of acting first secretary, effectively replacing Trường. Duẩn urged a military line and advocated increased assistance to the insurgency. Four hundred government officials were <span class="mw-redirect">assassinated</span> in 1957 alone, and the violence gradually increased. While the terror was originally aimed at local government officials, it soon broadened to include other symbols of the <i>status quo</i>, such as schoolteachers,<sup id="cite_ref-83" class="reference"><span></span></sup><sup id="cite_ref-84" class="reference"><span></span></sup> health workers,<sup id="cite_ref-85" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> and agricultural officials.<sup id="cite_ref-86" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> Village chiefs were Diem appointees from outside the villages and were hated by the peasantry for their corruption and abuse.)<sup id="cite_ref-87" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> According to one estimate, 20 percent of South Vietnam's village chiefs had been assassinated by the insurgents by 1958.<sup id="cite_ref-88" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> (The insurgency sought to completely destroy government control in South Vietnam's rural villages and replace it with a shadow government.<sup id="cite_ref-89" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>In January 1959, the North's Central Committee issued a secret resolution authorizing an "armed struggle". This authorized the southern communists to begin large-scale operations against the South Vietnamese military. North Vietnam supplied troops and supplies in earnest, and the infiltration of men and weapons from the north began along the <span class="mw-redirect">Ho Chi Minh Trail</span>. In May, South Vietnam enacted Law 10/59, which made political violence punishable by death and property confiscation.<sup id="cite_ref-90" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup></p> <p>Observing the increasing unpopularity of the Diem regime, on December 12, 1960, Hanoi authorized the creation of the <span class="mw-redirect">National Liberation Front</span> as a common front controlled by the communist party in the South.</p> <p>Successive American administrations, as Robert McNamara and others have noted, overestimated the control that Hanoi had over the NLF.<sup id="cite_ref-McNamara_377_46-3" class="reference"><span>[</span>45<span>]</span></sup> Diem's paranoia, repression, and incompetence progressively angered large segments of the population of South Vietnam.<sup id="cite_ref-91" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> According to a November 1960 report by the head of the U.S. military advisory team, Lieutenant General Lionel C. McGarr, a "significant part" of the population in the south supported the communists.<sup id="cite_ref-92" class="reference"><span></span><span></span></sup> The communists thus had a degree of popular support for their campaign to bring down Diem and reunify the country.</p></div>Peace Keeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14874022469012069282noreply@blogger.com