Oral+History+Research

**Interview subject** - John Dwyer (Henry's uncle)(ARMY), Gurdial Chadha (Kern's grandfather)(HOMEFRONT)
 * Topic ** - The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War lasted more than a decade and it was one of the most traumatic periods in history. It cost massive destruction in Southeast Asia. U.S. was very ambiguous and it had different opinions about the war. At the end, the U.S. role in the war proved to be costly as thousands of lives were sacrificed. America's reputation was diminished as the defender of democracy and freedom.

Originally, the French moved into Indochina (Vietnam) to capitalize on trade. The French colonized Indochina despite a quickly Nationalist Movement called the Viet Minh. The U.S. disapproved of French's colonization at first but then changed it minds due to Soviet activity. Meanwhile, the Viet Minh threatened to topple the French government right after World War II and usher in a communist regime. The U.S. assisted the French in an attempt to fight communism. On September 2 1945, Ho Chi Minh declared independence from France. The tensions between the Viet Minh and France were growing. The war soon officially started since talks between the Viet Minh and France were fruitless. However, the French campaign went badly and France agreed to gradually surrender. The country was split into the North and South regions by the Geneva Accords along the 17th Parallel. Open elections were held as a result to unify the country.

Ngo Dinh Diem was elected as the southern ruler in Vietnam. The U.S. wanted to make Southern Vietnam an democratic, strong country. Soon, political intrigue and instability dominated the South Vietnamese government as civil strife escalated. The relationship between North Vietnam and the U.S. soon dwindled. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) attacked the USS //Maddox// in the Gulf of Tonkin on the North Vietnamese Coast. The U.S. launched air strikes against Vietnam in response. However, the issue was settled with the [|Tonkin Gulf Resolution]. The U.S. was very close to endorsing full participation in the war. **In 1965, the U.S. made a blockbuster decision to to commit ground forces to Vietnam. War was officially on in Vietnam again. The American military establishment in South Vietnam grew larger and more pervasive with each passing year. In January 1968, the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) launched an attack known as the Tet Offensive. It was the largest battle in the war! The NVA communists attacked five (5) of six (6) major cities. The U.S. rallied and pushed the Communists back to the NVA. However, the damage was done. American protests against the war on the home front were becoming louder with every month that the war dragged on. In 1969. the U.S. began to retreat their troops back to the U.S. There were many domestic issues in the U.S. such as the Watergate Scandal and there was unrest. The U.S. didn't respond to the NVA attacks and they signed the [|Paris Peace Accord]. The Accord ended all U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The South Vietnamese Government was angry. The SVA stated, If the Americans do not want to support us anymore, let them go, get out! Let them forget their humanitarian promises! Eventually, the South Vietnamese government surrendered on April 30, 1975. ** The Vietnam War was a failure for the U.S. Many lives were sacrificed in order to prevent the spread of communism. However, communism spread as the U.S. failed to protect the South Vietnamese Army. U.S. President Richard Nixon stated, "The forces of totalitarianism and anarchy will threaten free nations and free institutions throughout the world." Nixon's statement was true. In the home front, people were dissatisfied with the war. Soldiers were booed at home and disgraced. It will always be regarded in American History as the worst war.

"Battlefield Vietnam." __American History.__ 2009. PBS. 23 May 2009 <[] >.

Garcia, Jesus, Donna Ogle, Frederick Risinger, Joyce Stevos, and Winthrop Jordan. __Creating America__. 1. Evanston, Illinois: McDougal Littel, 2002. (835-849)

"Richard Nixon: quote on the Vietnam War." __American History__. 2009. ABC-CLIO. 23 May 2009 <[|http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com] >.

Robinson. Douglas. "March in Vietnam Protest," //The New York Times //  27 Mar 1966. Web. 24 May 2009. <[|http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html.res=scp=3&sq=vietnam+war+protesters] >.

"Vietnam War." __American History__. 2009. ABC-CLIO. 23 May 2009 <[|http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com] >.

**Figures and Numbers**

**U.S. Army Strength**


 * ** Year ** || ** Strength ** ||
 * 1960 || 800 ||
 * 1961 || 2,100 ||
 * 1962 || 7,900 ||
 * 1963 || 10,100 ||
 * 1964 || 14,700 ||
 * 1965 || 116,800 ||
 * 1966 || 239,400 ||
 * 1967 || 319,500 ||
 * 1968 || **359,800** ||
 * 1969 || 338,300 ||
 * 1970 || 254,800 ||
 * 1971 || 141,200 ||
 * 1972 || 16,100 ||

This chart shows the U.S. army strength. There was 359, 800 men in 1968. Then, the U.S. strength in Vietnam generally decreased. It allowed the NVA to eventually take over South Vietnam in 1975.

"Vietnam War: U.S. Army Strength, 1960-1972." American History. 2009. ABC-CLIO. 23 May 2009 <[|http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com]>

Cavalry Squadrons || 0 || 3 || 9 || 11 || 12 || 10 || 5 || 0 || Artillery Battalions || 1 || 15 || 28 || 34 || 33 || 20 || 9 || 0 || Air Cavalry Troops || 16 || 62 || 90 || 127 || 142 || 135 || 100 || 40 || This picture shows the U.S. Army Units in the Vietnam War.
 * Vietnam: US Army Units**
 * **Unit type** || **1965** || **1966** || **1967** || **1968** || **1969** || **1970** || **1971** || **1972** ||
 * Divisions || 0 || 3 || 5 || 7 || 7 || 5 || 2 || 0 ||
 * Infantry Battalions || 2 || 32 || 57 || 79 || 81 || 61 || 28 || 2 ||
 * TankBattalions/
 * Direct Support
 * General Support Artillery Battalions || 0 || 8 || 18 || 23 || 26 || 25 || 16 || 0 ||
 * Combat Engineer Battalions || 0 || 10 || 16 || 19 || 20 || 14 || 7 || 0 ||
 * Construction Engineer Battalions || 2 || 6 || 14 || 15 || 14 || 14 || 13 || 0 ||
 * Signal Battalions || 1 || 9 || 26 || 26 || 28 || 23 || 16 || 2 ||
 * Aviation Companies/
 * Special Forces Detachments || 76 || 93 || 98 || 88 || 79 || 60 || 7 || 1 ||

"Vietnam War: U.S. Army Units." American History. 2009. ABC-CLIO. 23 May 2009 <[|http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com]>.


 * Media **


 * Ho Chi Minh's Route**


 * || [[image:http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Images/DBImages/2764/276456.gif caption="Map Title: Vietnam War: Ho Chi Minh Campaign" link="javascript:;"]] ||
 * Map Title: Vietnam War: Ho Chi Minh Campaign ||  ||
 * Map Title: Vietnam War: Ho Chi Minh Campaign ||  ||

This depicts the route that Ho Chi Minh took. It shows the various offensives that the Communists engaged in. The Communists were much more offensive than the U.S.

"[] l" 


 * Vietnam War: Tet Offensive**


 * || [[image:http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Images/DBImages/2764/276458.gif caption="Map Title: Vietnam War: Tet Offensive" link="javascript:;"]] ||
 * Map Title: Vietnam War: Tet Offensive ||  ||
 * Map Title: Vietnam War: Tet Offensive ||  ||

This is a caption of the Tet Offensive. The Communists attacked most of Southern Vietnam. ** "[[[[]categoryid=28&searchtext=vietnam+war&type=simple&option=all&entryid=276458&issublink=true&fromsearch=false]] ] " **

**Communists Strategy in Vietnam**  "[] "  The National Archives explain the policy of Communism.