America takes over America takes over the Warthe War

1963-19651963-1965

Operation SunriseOperation Sunrise

►March, 1962March, 1962► AKA Strategic AKA Strategic

Hamlets: build local Hamlets: build local hamlets up to hamlets up to “protect” the “protect” the Vietnamese. Vietnamese.

►May 1962, Sec. of May 1962, Sec. of Defense McNamara: Defense McNamara: “we are winning the “we are winning the war” war”

►Nov. 24, 1963: LBJ: Nov. 24, 1963: LBJ: “We will not lose in “We will not lose in Vietnam” Vietnam”

►March 6, 1964: Sec. March 6, 1964: Sec. McNamara: “We will McNamara: “We will stay as long as it stay as long as it takes, we shall takes, we shall provide whatever provide whatever help is required to help is required to win the battle win the battle against the against the communist communist insurgents” insurgents”

► Aug. 1964: LBJ: “I Aug. 1964: LBJ: “I am not about to am not about to send American boys send American boys 9 or 10 thousand 9 or 10 thousand miles away from miles away from home to do what home to do what Asian boys ought to Asian boys ought to be doing for be doing for themselves. themselves.

Gulf of Tonkin IncidentGulf of Tonkin Incident

►Op Plan 34-A: CIA Op Plan 34-A: CIA operation to operation to antagonize the antagonize the North Vietnamese. North Vietnamese.

Aug 2-4, 1964Aug 2-4, 1964

► USS Maddox and USS Maddox and Turner Joy report Turner Joy report being “attacked” by being “attacked” by North Vietnamese North Vietnamese commandos in commandos in speed boats. speed boats.

Aug. 4, 1964 Aug. 4, 1964

► LBJ authorizes the LBJ authorizes the bombing of the bombing of the North in retaliation North in retaliation to the “incident” to the “incident”

Lt. Everett Alvarez Lt. Everett Alvarez

►Navy Pilot shot Navy Pilot shot down, 1down, 1stst American American POWPOW

Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin Resolution

► Aug. 7, 1964: In Aug. 7, 1964: In response to the response to the “incident” Congress “incident” Congress passes (435-0 and passes (435-0 and 98-2) the GTR. 98-2) the GTR.

► It was so broad, LBJ It was so broad, LBJ said it was like said it was like “grandma’s “grandma’s nightshirt” nightshirt”

November, 1964November, 1964

►LBJ elected to his own term in the LBJ elected to his own term in the White House. White House.

►Landslide victory over Barry Landslide victory over Barry Goldwater. Goldwater.

Ben HoaBen Hoa

►Nov. 1, 1964: VC attack American Nov. 1, 1964: VC attack American airbase near Ben Hoa, 5 Americans airbase near Ben Hoa, 5 Americans killed 100 wounded. killed 100 wounded.

PleikuPleiku

► February 6, 1965 - February 6, 1965 - VC guerrillas attack VC guerrillas attack the U.S. military the U.S. military compound at Pleiku compound at Pleiku in the Central in the Central Highlands, killing Highlands, killing eight Americans, eight Americans, wounding 126 and wounding 126 and destroying ten destroying ten aircraft.aircraft.

SaigonSaigon

►March 29, 1965 - VC March 29, 1965 - VC terrorists bomb the terrorists bomb the U.S. embassy in U.S. embassy in Saigon. Saigon.

Operation Rolling ThunderOperation Rolling Thunder

►March 2, 1965 - Operation Rolling March 2, 1965 - Operation Rolling Thunder begins as over 100 American Thunder begins as over 100 American fighter-bombers attack targets in fighter-bombers attack targets in North Vietnam. Scheduled to last eight North Vietnam. Scheduled to last eight weeks, Rolling Thunder will instead go weeks, Rolling Thunder will instead go on for three years.on for three years.

►The U.S. will fly 3 million sorties and The U.S. will fly 3 million sorties and drop nearly 8 million tons of bombsdrop nearly 8 million tons of bombs

►Four times the tonnage dropped Four times the tonnage dropped during all of World War II, in the during all of World War II, in the largest display of firepower in the largest display of firepower in the history of warfare. history of warfare.

Combat troopsCombat troops

►March 8, 1965 - The first U.S. combat March 8, 1965 - The first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam as 3500 troops arrive in Vietnam as 3500 Marines land at China Beach to defend Marines land at China Beach to defend the American air base at Da Nang. the American air base at Da Nang. They join 23,000 American military They join 23,000 American military advisors already in Vietnam advisors already in Vietnam

AttritionAttrition

►Our strategy: kill more of them, than Our strategy: kill more of them, than they kill of us. they kill of us.

►Kill ratio: 13 to 1Kill ratio: 13 to 1

Ia DrangIa Drang

►November 14-16 - The Battle of Ia Drang November 14-16 - The Battle of Ia Drang Valley marks the first major battle between Valley marks the first major battle between U.S. troops and NVA.U.S. troops and NVA.

► 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) respond to 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) respond to the NVA threat by using helicopters to fly the NVA threat by using helicopters to fly directly into the battle zone.directly into the battle zone.

► The two-day battle ends with NVA retreating The two-day battle ends with NVA retreating into the jungle. 79 Americans are killed and into the jungle. 79 Americans are killed and 121 wounded. NVA losses are estimated at 121 wounded. NVA losses are estimated at 2000.2000.

Dec. 1965Dec. 1965

► By year's end U.S. By year's end U.S. troop levels in troop levels in Vietnam reached Vietnam reached 184,300 184,300

► America has taken America has taken over the war. over the war.