BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The country of Vietnam gained their independence from the French in 1945, which divided the country at the 17th parallel. The communist North Vietnamese, ran by Ho Chi Minh, worried the US so Truman sent over a small military group to combat them. The South, controlled by the anti communist Ngo Dinh Diem, created the Republic of Vietnam in 1955 after not signing the Geneva Accords. Quickly following that, Diem shutdown the elections and caused the North Vietnamese to try and overthrow the government.
Following that, the North Vietnamese created the National Liberation Front, that gained the countries support to overthrow Diem. Kennedy supplied Diem with military staff and money until he and his brother Nhu were assassinated.
In 1964, Lyndon Johnson wanted to maintain the same foreign policy of containment, but the North Vietnamese “attack” on August second of the USS Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin made that very difficult. This brought along the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave the president power to use military force in Vietnam without asking Congress.
Bombing began in 1965 of North Vietnam. The fighting took place mostly in North Vietnam, but the Tet Offensive in 1968 brought the fight to South Vietnam. The offensive was an attempt to foment rebellion among the South Vietnamese population and encourage the United States to scale back its involvement in the Vietnam War. In 1968, there was the Mai Lai massacre, where the US attacked and killed 500 Vietnamese civilians. This was part of the search and destroy program for the US military.
When Nixon became president, he gradually began to reduce the amount of American soldiers on the ground of Vietnam. It was reduced from 549,000 in 1969 to 69,000 in 1972, in an effort to place more burden on the south vietnamese soldiers instead of the US ones. In 1970, Congress repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution giving them more power over what to do in Vietnam.
While the general US public thought that the military was decreasing its amount of soldiers in Vietnam, the Pentagon Papers proved otherwise. The United States government was secretly sending more troops over and increasing American involvement in Vietnam. This was a stepping stone for US citizens opinions on the war, while many were already opposed to it, this exacerbated the dislike of the war. With pressure coming from all around, the president had no choice but to end direct involvement of the US military in Vietnam, he did so by signing the Paris Peace Accords in 1973.
Following that, the North Vietnamese created the National Liberation Front, that gained the countries support to overthrow Diem. Kennedy supplied Diem with military staff and money until he and his brother Nhu were assassinated.
In 1964, Lyndon Johnson wanted to maintain the same foreign policy of containment, but the North Vietnamese “attack” on August second of the USS Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin made that very difficult. This brought along the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave the president power to use military force in Vietnam without asking Congress.
Bombing began in 1965 of North Vietnam. The fighting took place mostly in North Vietnam, but the Tet Offensive in 1968 brought the fight to South Vietnam. The offensive was an attempt to foment rebellion among the South Vietnamese population and encourage the United States to scale back its involvement in the Vietnam War. In 1968, there was the Mai Lai massacre, where the US attacked and killed 500 Vietnamese civilians. This was part of the search and destroy program for the US military.
When Nixon became president, he gradually began to reduce the amount of American soldiers on the ground of Vietnam. It was reduced from 549,000 in 1969 to 69,000 in 1972, in an effort to place more burden on the south vietnamese soldiers instead of the US ones. In 1970, Congress repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution giving them more power over what to do in Vietnam.
While the general US public thought that the military was decreasing its amount of soldiers in Vietnam, the Pentagon Papers proved otherwise. The United States government was secretly sending more troops over and increasing American involvement in Vietnam. This was a stepping stone for US citizens opinions on the war, while many were already opposed to it, this exacerbated the dislike of the war. With pressure coming from all around, the president had no choice but to end direct involvement of the US military in Vietnam, he did so by signing the Paris Peace Accords in 1973.
HISTORICAL CONTEXTUALIZATION
The Vietnam war was a major part of the US during this time period, however during this time civil rights was also challenged, the cold war was also taking place, and in addition the second Red Scare was occuring. During this time the vietnam war was inlined with civil rights protests and the idea of Black Power was being spread throughout the US. In the eyes of many african americans, they felt that if they defended democracy by fighting and serving in the vietnam war. This would lead to the equality of rights for blacks and that if they defended democracy the US would become eradicated of segregation and inequality. This idea of being able to achieve equality motivated many black leaders to rise, for example Frederick Douglas. Mr.Douglas relayed this idea however this didn’t change much schools, jobs, society were still segregated. The Vietnam war for some blacks provided an escape because they wouldn’t have to endure poor social conditions and employment problems in Vietnam. Because everyone was fighting and surviving in Vietnam and not worrying about color, race etc. In addition you had 100 percent job security because you were a soldier. But for some African Americans they felt it was unfair due to their race and color being drafted more often to the war rather than whites. So they felt they were being forced to serve for the whites and how it resembled slavery in the symbol of serving your master.
The Vietnam war was a fight against communism. During this time period the Cold war had also been going on for a couple of years. The cold war was a fight between the US and Soviet Union to see basically who was more advanced and had better government, smarter people, better weapons etc. The vietnam war relayed the principles of the cold war, and the idea that communism was the devils food. The ideals of the Cold war, fighting communism reflects the ideals of the vietnam war identically. The cold war affected the US involvement in the Vietnam war also because money was being poured out for both wars to be won. Although the Cold war wasn’t a physical fight, lots of money for space research, weapon creation etc. was being used. And on the other spectrum in the brutal physical vietnam war, lots of money was being used for soldiers, food, weapons, etc. In addition, a main societal event taking place during this time was the second red scare. Meaning the people and the US were being frightened that communism would take over the US due to the cold war influences and the vietnam war effects. Many became aware of this and it sort of startled the government so they put in all the money and even went into debt to fend of communism from entering the US.
The Vietnam war was a fight against communism. During this time period the Cold war had also been going on for a couple of years. The cold war was a fight between the US and Soviet Union to see basically who was more advanced and had better government, smarter people, better weapons etc. The vietnam war relayed the principles of the cold war, and the idea that communism was the devils food. The ideals of the Cold war, fighting communism reflects the ideals of the vietnam war identically. The cold war affected the US involvement in the Vietnam war also because money was being poured out for both wars to be won. Although the Cold war wasn’t a physical fight, lots of money for space research, weapon creation etc. was being used. And on the other spectrum in the brutal physical vietnam war, lots of money was being used for soldiers, food, weapons, etc. In addition, a main societal event taking place during this time was the second red scare. Meaning the people and the US were being frightened that communism would take over the US due to the cold war influences and the vietnam war effects. Many became aware of this and it sort of startled the government so they put in all the money and even went into debt to fend of communism from entering the US.
WHO IS JEFFREY KANNER?
Jeffrey Kanner is a current member of the NC Vietnam Veterans and served in the 1st Marine Division at Chu-Lai and Da Nang, Vietnam from Dec. 1966-Dec. 1967. He was the company driver of his division, as he was the only one who was in possession of a military license. We had the pleasure to interview him and listen to his insight of his experience in war.
ESSENTIAL HISTORICAL QUESTIONS
What were the Vietnam veterans’ point of view on the political atmosphere when they came home?
Each Vietnam veteran had a different opinion on the political atmosphere when they came home from Vietnam. However, a majority of veterans especially those that were drafted believed that the government had made the wrong decision to get involved in Vietnam. Many Americans believed that soldiers involved in Vietnam were killing innocent people and that they are the reason for the conflict in Vietnam. As a result many American soldiers that fought in the Vietnam War would not speak about their involvement in the years following their service. It was only years later that the American public understood that the American soldiers were only carrying out orders. Additionally, many soldiers wanted the war to end as soon as possible as every veteran knew someone that was killed in the conflict.
What kind of cultural atmosphere was developed in Vietnam?
For many veterans when they went to Vietnam they experienced a culture shock as Vietnamese culture was radically different than American culture. Soldiers had to gradually learn the customs like to never to pat a Vietnamese on the head because that was seen as an offending gesture. For many American soldiers they never completely integrated into living in Vietnam and developed their own western culture in Vietnam. Vietnam veterans also developed various cultural adaptations and traditions. For example many American soldiers put an ace of spades on the back of their helmet as it was believed that the Vietnamese believe that was a sign of death.
How do Vietnam veterans remember the war today?
Each Vietnam veterans remembers the war differently but they each remember it in a specific way. Some veterans, especially those that were drafted, remember the Vietnam war as an unnecessary conflict for Americans to get involved in. Others however remember the war as conflict that showed them the realities of life as many soldiers were very young. Overall, Vietnam veterans remember the war as a large part of their lives and find it important to show younger generations the conflicts that they faced in Vietnam.
WORKS CITED
Gallagher, Brendan. “The Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement.” Public Memorials in American Life,
www.americansc.org.uk/Online/Vietnam_Civil_Rights.htm.
History.com Staff. “Vietnam War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history.
Pearson, Steve. “What Happened in 1966 Important News and Events, Key Technology and Popular Culture.” The People History,
www.thepeoplehistory.com/1966.html.
“Sample Interview Questions For Veterans - Project Kit (Veterans History Project, Library of Congess).” Apple Computers: This Month in Business History
(Business Reference Services, Library of Congress), Victor, www.loc.gov/vets/questions.html.
“The Antiwar Movement.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/us/55d.asp.
“What Was the Impact of the Vietnam War?” The Vietnam War, 7 Apr. 2016, thevietnamwar.info/vietnam-war-impact/.
www.americansc.org.uk/Online/Vietnam_Civil_Rights.htm.
History.com Staff. “Vietnam War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009, www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history.
Pearson, Steve. “What Happened in 1966 Important News and Events, Key Technology and Popular Culture.” The People History,
www.thepeoplehistory.com/1966.html.
“Sample Interview Questions For Veterans - Project Kit (Veterans History Project, Library of Congess).” Apple Computers: This Month in Business History
(Business Reference Services, Library of Congress), Victor, www.loc.gov/vets/questions.html.
“The Antiwar Movement.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/us/55d.asp.
“What Was the Impact of the Vietnam War?” The Vietnam War, 7 Apr. 2016, thevietnamwar.info/vietnam-war-impact/.