REMEMBER VIETNAM - Page 1
The Vietnam War was the longest military conflict
in U.S. history. It was the most unpopular war in which Americans
ever fought. The toll in suffering, turmoil, and sorrow can
never be tabulated. For the more than two million American
Veterans of the war, the wounds will never heal. The war took
the lives of over 58,000 of our best men, with over a quarter
million wounded. The cost of the war? 150 billion dollars.
How did this all happen? The French were fighting
the Viet Minh. The U.S. supplied 300,000 small arms and spent
more than one billion dollars in support of the French military
effort. The Viet Minh was receiving support from the Soviet
Union and China. The idea of the French winning the war was
always in doubt. On May 7, 1954, the Viet Minh handed the
French a stunning military defeat at Dien Bien Phu.
JFK became President and sent 500 “Advisors”
to Vietnam. It is uncertain what he thought they could accomplish.
By 1962 the number had increased to over 12,000. With guerrilla
activity increasing, JFK increased the number once again to
16,300. The numbers on both sides escalated and by 1964 the
guerrillas had over 100,000 men. Then came the bombing campaign.
3500 marines were committed, and soon escalated to over 200,000.
The controversial General Westmoreland takes the full blame
for his incompetence in underestimating the enemy, predicting
victory by 1967. Westmoreland increased the troop commitment
to 553,000 by 1969. He requested 200,000 more troops, but
the Tet Offensive defused any plans the U.S. had of winning
the war.
AMERICAN SOLDIER BURNS VIETCONG
VILLAGE - Ctsy,Wikipedia
U.S. SOLDIER HUNTS VIETCONG - Ctsy,Wikipedia
Meanwhile, back in the States, the entire nation
revolted against the ever escalating war as we invaded Cambodia.
In 1971 Australia and New Zealand withdrew their soldiers.
The U.S. reduced to 196,700, with plans to withdraw another
45,000.Our country was consuming large amounts of drugs, race
relations grew tense, and U.S. soldiers were disobeying orders
and there was an increase of murder of unpopular officers.
Vietnamese civilians - Ctsy,Wikipedia
North Vietnamese soldiers launched a dramatic
attack on U.S. troops, taking city after city. The Americans
were clearly on the run. Chaos, unrest, and panic ensued as
there was a hysterical scramble to get out of Vietnam as the
fall of Saigon was near. On April 23, President Gerald Ford
declared an end to the Vietnam War.
General Westmoreland’s incompetent leadership
was credited as the major cause of failure.
AGENT ORANGE POSTER
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