Vietnam War. Background of U.S. Involvement –Vietnam has strategic location in South East Asia –U.S. concerned communists preparing to take over entire

Vietnam War Vietnam War

Vietnam War Vietnam War • Background of U.S. Involvement

– Vietnam has strategic location in South East Asia– U.S. concerned communists preparing to take over

entire country– History of confronting Soviets and WINNING

• Berlin, Korea, Cuba…– Presidents Truman, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon

• Background of U.S. Involvement– Vietnam has strategic location in South East Asia– U.S. concerned communists preparing to take over

entire country– History of confronting Soviets and WINNING

• Berlin, Korea, Cuba…– Presidents Truman, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon

Vietnam War Vietnam War • Origins of the War

– France controlled entire region before 1950, ~100 years– Ho Chi Minh led Vietnamese against Japanese

• Divided soon after WWII• Wanted independent country, all Vietnam, not half• Began war against French, 1947• U.S. paid 80% of French cost for war by 1953• France had little support from South Vietnamese

people because they didn’t support independence• French defeated in South in 1954• Geneva Accords divided Vietnam into north and south• Continued insurgency by North Vietnam against

South

• Origins of the War– France controlled entire region before 1950, ~100 years– Ho Chi Minh led Vietnamese against Japanese

• Divided soon after WWII• Wanted independent country, all Vietnam, not half• Began war against French, 1947• U.S. paid 80% of French cost for war by 1953• France had little support from South Vietnamese

people because they didn’t support independence• French defeated in South in 1954• Geneva Accords divided Vietnam into north and south• Continued insurgency by North Vietnam against

South

Vietnam War Vietnam War • Geneva Accords of 1954

– Vietnam divided at 17th parallel– Citizens on both sides free to choose where they wanted

to live for period of 300 days– ~1M leave North for South; ~70K leave South for North

• Many Catholics, minority takes over South government

– Refugee problem and cadres of fighters sympathetic to reunification of Vietnam

– U.S. concerned, called meeting to provide collective security of region

• Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) – U.S., Great Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand,

Philippines, Pakistan and Thailand– U.S. acted unilaterally

• Geneva Accords of 1954– Vietnam divided at 17th parallel– Citizens on both sides free to choose where they wanted

to live for period of 300 days– ~1M leave North for South; ~70K leave South for North

• Many Catholics, minority takes over South government

– Refugee problem and cadres of fighters sympathetic to reunification of Vietnam

– U.S. concerned, called meeting to provide collective security of region

• Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) – U.S., Great Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand,

Philippines, Pakistan and Thailand– U.S. acted unilaterally

Vietnam War Vietnam War • U.S. Advisory and Combat Roles Escalate (1954 – 1973)

– 1950, 35 military advisors to aid French– 1960-1963, increased 900 to 15,000 military advisors– 1964, Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

• *North Vietnamese torpedo boats “attack” U.S. destroyers in Gulf of Tonkin, Aug 2…Congress authorizes President to “take all necessary measures” to win*, 7 Aug

– 1964, U.S. planes begin combat missions in South– 1965, 184,000 military advisors committed to combat– 1966, B-52s bomb Demilitarized Zone, between halves– 1968, now 525,000 troops, bombing of North Vietnam

stops and Paris peace talks begin– 1970, U.S. troops into Cambodia to destroy sanctuaries– 1971, Congress bars use of combat troops in Laos and

Cambodia, but not air power– 1972, mining North Vietnamese ports and heavy

bombing– 1973, offensive air operations halted in North, Peace

pacts signed in Paris, U.S. troops leave

• U.S. Advisory and Combat Roles Escalate (1954 – 1973)– 1950, 35 military advisors to aid French– 1960-1963, increased 900 to 15,000 military advisors– 1964, Gulf of Tonkin Resolution


– 1964, U.S. planes begin combat missions in South– 1965, 184,000 military advisors committed to combat– 1966, B-52s bomb Demilitarized Zone, between halves– 1968, now 525,000 troops, bombing of North Vietnam

stops and Paris peace talks begin– 1970, U.S. troops into Cambodia to destroy sanctuaries– 1971, Congress bars use of combat troops in Laos and

Cambodia, but not air power– 1972, mining North Vietnamese ports and heavy

bombing– 1973, offensive air operations halted in North, Peace

pacts signed in Paris, U.S. troops leave

Vietnam War Vietnam War • U.S. Advisory and Combat Roles Escalate (1954 – 1973)

– 1950, 35 military advisors to aid French– 1960-1963, increased 900 to 15,000 military advisors– 1964, Gulf of Tonkin Resolution


– 1964, U.S. planes begin combat missions in South– 1965, 184,000 military advisors committed to combat– 1966, B-52s bomb Demilitarized Zone, between halves– 1968, 525,000 troops, bombing of North Vietnam stops and Paris

peace talks begin– 1970, U.S. troops into Cambodia to destroy sanctuaries– 1971, Congress bars use of combat troops in Laos and Cambodia, but

not air power– 1972, mining North Vietnamese ports and heavy bombing– 1973, offensive air operations halted in North, Peace

pacts signed in Paris, U.S. troops leave– 1973-1974, frequent violations of cease-fire agreement– 1974, full scale war resumes, over by April

• U.S. Advisory and Combat Roles Escalate (1954 – 1973)– 1950, 35 military advisors to aid French– 1960-1963, increased 900 to 15,000 military advisors– 1964, Gulf of Tonkin Resolution


– 1964, U.S. planes begin combat missions in South– 1965, 184,000 military advisors committed to combat– 1966, B-52s bomb Demilitarized Zone, between halves– 1968, 525,000 troops, bombing of North Vietnam stops and Paris

peace talks begin– 1970, U.S. troops into Cambodia to destroy sanctuaries– 1971, Congress bars use of combat troops in Laos and Cambodia, but

not air power– 1972, mining North Vietnamese ports and heavy bombing– 1973, offensive air operations halted in North, Peace

pacts signed in Paris, U.S. troops leave– 1973-1974, frequent violations of cease-fire agreement– 1974, full scale war resumes, over by April

Vietnam War Vietnam War • U.S. Advisory and Support Roles (1954 – 1964)

– Air Power vs Guerilla Warfare• Tactical training, no experience with this type of warfare• Testing/developing counterinsurgency tactics and

techniques• Flying combat missions with VNAF crewmember in back

seat• Flexibility/mobility of air power to compensate for weak

government fighting insurgency• Air Force vs. Army disagree on how war should be

conducted– Mobile artillery, fire support (Army) or

fire support and interdiction (Air Force)– Navy wanted participate, but not centralized control

• Ground war, so tactical air power should be under ground commander control

• Never really resolved• Not resolved until Gulf War, 1991

– Army wins, but each service keeps air component

• U.S. Advisory and Support Roles (1954 – 1964)– Air Power vs Guerilla Warfare

• Tactical training, no experience with this type of warfare• Testing/developing counterinsurgency tactics and

techniques• Flying combat missions with VNAF crewmember in back

seat• Flexibility/mobility of air power to compensate for weak

government fighting insurgency• Air Force vs. Army disagree on how war should be

conducted– Mobile artillery, fire support (Army) or

fire support and interdiction (Air Force)– Navy wanted participate, but not centralized control

• Ground war, so tactical air power should be under ground commander control

• Never really resolved• Not resolved until Gulf War, 1991

– Army wins, but each service keeps air component

Vietnam War Vietnam War • Military Objectives and Strategy

– Improve ground operations• Close air support, reconnaissance and air transport

– Air campaign against North Vietnam• Limits on strategic targets, targets selected in White House

– Calm fear of people and restore government control• Food, warnings on planned air strikes, info on government

programs– Begin peace negotiations

• Military Objectives and Strategy– Improve ground operations

• Close air support, reconnaissance and air transport– Air campaign against North Vietnam

• Limits on strategic targets, targets selected in White House– Calm fear of people and restore government control

• Food, warnings on planned air strikes, info on government programs

– Begin peace negotiations

Vietnam War Vietnam War • Military Technology and Techniques

– Helicopters• Basic transportation, medical evacuation, supplies• Armed w/ machine guns, rocket launchers, grenade

launchers• Noisy, relatively fragile and quite slow, ~5,000 lost

– Automatic Rifles• M-16, 8.4 lbs loaded

– Light amplification devices, seismic listening devices, defoliants (agent orange)

– Fire Power• Cluster bombs, smart bombs, Gatling guns (6,000 per

minute)• 10,000 artillery shells each day, 8M tons of bombs (WWII x

4)– Air Power

• Gunships, electronic jamming, anti-radiation missiles– Computers

• Logistics, planning and control (munitions, supplies, troops)• Enabled analysis of data and with space age

communications enabled Pentagon and White House to micro manage war

• Military Technology and Techniques– Helicopters

• Basic transportation, medical evacuation, supplies• Armed w/ machine guns, rocket launchers, grenade

launchers• Noisy, relatively fragile and quite slow, ~5,000 lost

– Automatic Rifles• M-16, 8.4 lbs loaded

– Light amplification devices, seismic listening devices, defoliants (agent orange)

– Fire Power• Cluster bombs, smart bombs, Gatling guns (6,000 per

minute)• 10,000 artillery shells each day, 8M tons of bombs (WWII x

4)– Air Power

• Gunships, electronic jamming, anti-radiation missiles– Computers

• Logistics, planning and control (munitions, supplies, troops)• Enabled analysis of data and with space age

communications enabled Pentagon and White House to micro manage war

Vietnam War Vietnam War • Military Technology and Techniques

– Traditional Weapons

• Vietcong– Terror, intimidation, infiltration, drugs, etc.– Punji stakes, booby traps

• Military Technology and Techniques– Traditional Weapons

• Vietcong– Terror, intimidation, infiltration, drugs, etc.– Punji stakes, booby traps

Military ConductThe United States in Vietnam (1965 – 1973)


– Air War in the North, 1965• Limitations on sortie rates, targets, tactics and bomb loads

– Off-limits: 2 major industrial/port cities, 30 mile strip along China border

– Reduce risk of USSR confrontation and civilian casualties– Ground War in the South, 1965 – 1967

• South Vietnamese army loosing battalion a month and one district capital every week

• No “battle-lines”, no easy way to distinguish friend from foe, no clear indicators of success, confusing war in alien environment among and against incomprehensible culture

• Most never exposed to enemy fire, but could be killed at any time by stray mortar round, hidden explosive, or lone sniper

• AMERICA WATCHED WAR EACH NIGHT ON TV!!!• Daily “headcounts” were measure of victory

– Air War in the North, 1965• Limitations on sortie rates, targets, tactics and bomb loads

– Off-limits: 2 major industrial/port cities, 30 mile strip along China border

– Reduce risk of USSR confrontation and civilian casualties– Ground War in the South, 1965 – 1967

• South Vietnamese army loosing battalion a month and one district capital every week

• No “battle-lines”, no easy way to distinguish friend from foe, no clear indicators of success, confusing war in alien environment among and against incomprehensible culture

• Most never exposed to enemy fire, but could be killed at any time by stray mortar round, hidden explosive, or lone sniper

• AMERICA WATCHED WAR EACH NIGHT ON TV!!!• Daily “headcounts” were measure of victory

– The Tet Offensive• President Johnson urged General Westmoreland to help convince

unsupportive public that the U.S. was winning• But, increasing casualties and skepticism that strategy was

clearly not producing victory• North began new series of attacks, Jan 1968 (Lunar New Year)

– More activity in border areas and Khe Sanh (major U.S. base)– Then, attacks on most district capitals and Saigon

• Attacks failed, but shocked U.S. public opinion– “Confirmed” fears that U.S. could not win war (sound

familiar?)– 1,000 U.S. dead in 1 month– 40,000 North Vietnamese dead in month, but no one noticed

• South Vietnamese military situation improved

– The Tet Offensive• President Johnson urged General Westmoreland to help convince

unsupportive public that the U.S. was winning• But, increasing casualties and skepticism that strategy was

clearly not producing victory• North began new series of attacks, Jan 1968 (Lunar New Year)

– More activity in border areas and Khe Sanh (major U.S. base)– Then, attacks on most district capitals and Saigon

• Attacks failed, but shocked U.S. public opinion– “Confirmed” fears that U.S. could not win war (sound

familiar?)– 1,000 U.S. dead in 1 month– 40,000 North Vietnamese dead in month, but no one noticed

• South Vietnamese military situation improved


– Situation in 1968-1969• Every engagement with enemy resulted in large losses for

North• Nixon elected President• Peace talks begin, but North not serious, talks go nowhere

while fighting continues• Vietnamization

– Turn control of war back to South Vietnamese– Buildup required– Gradual withdrawal of U.S. ground troops– Increased use of air power to protect remaining troops

– Situation in 1968-1969• Every engagement with enemy resulted in large losses for

North• Nixon elected President• Peace talks begin, but North not serious, talks go nowhere

while fighting continues• Vietnamization

– Turn control of war back to South Vietnamese– Buildup required– Gradual withdrawal of U.S. ground troops– Increased use of air power to protect remaining troops


– Laos and Cambodia• Very weak central governments with little control of

countryside• North Vietnamese use both for “safe” highway to transport

supplies, troops…sometimes by vehicle, bicycles, foot• Air strikes• Ground forces into Cambodia, 1970• Ground forces into Laos, 1971

– Resumed Bombing of the North• North Vietnam try conventional invasion across DMZ, 1972• Defeated because of massive use of U.S. airpower• Bombing of North resumed, mining ports and rail lines from

China• Bombing would continue until North began serious peace talks• Oct 1972, North makes serious offer, bombing halted, North

again delays while they repair and resupply logistics network• Bombing resumed, Hanoi targeted, railroads, port facilities, oil

production, warehouses, storage facilities, electric generating plants…U.S. estimate of 1 year to repair

– Laos and Cambodia• Very weak central governments with little control of

countryside• North Vietnamese use both for “safe” highway to transport

supplies, troops…sometimes by vehicle, bicycles, foot• Air strikes• Ground forces into Cambodia, 1970• Ground forces into Laos, 1971

– Resumed Bombing of the North• North Vietnam try conventional invasion across DMZ, 1972• Defeated because of massive use of U.S. airpower• Bombing of North resumed, mining ports and rail lines from

China• Bombing would continue until North began serious peace talks• Oct 1972, North makes serious offer, bombing halted, North

again delays while they repair and resupply logistics network• Bombing resumed, Hanoi targeted, railroads, port facilities, oil

production, warehouses, storage facilities, electric generating plants…U.S. estimate of 1 year to repair


Military Conduct Military Conduct • Peace Treaty and U.S. Withdrawal

– Peace Treaty signed, Jan 1973– 60 days to remove all U.S. and allied troops– All POWs were to be released and fullest possible

accounting for MIAs– No new military equipment, 1 for 1 replacement only– U.S. to provide all economic and military assistance

allowed by treaty– After return of POWs and withdrawal, communists

resumed war as before• Communist Takeover

– 2nd Conventional invasion, 1975– U.S. air support, no longer available– North wins, Cambodia and Laos too

• Peace Treaty and U.S. Withdrawal– Peace Treaty signed, Jan 1973– 60 days to remove all U.S. and allied troops– All POWs were to be released and fullest possible

accounting for MIAs– No new military equipment, 1 for 1 replacement only– U.S. to provide all economic and military assistance

allowed by treaty– After return of POWs and withdrawal, communists

resumed war as before• Communist Takeover

– 2nd Conventional invasion, 1975– U.S. air support, no longer available– North wins, Cambodia and Laos too

Military Conduct Military Conduct • Results

– Opposition to draft, draft ended– Congressional concern over Presidential conduct, 1973

• War Powers Act vs Gulf of Tonkin Resolution• Reduced military budget• Fewest number in military since before Korea

– Communism still active• Angola, Ethiopia, Afganistan

– Military buildup begins, late 1970s, to counter threat

• Results– Opposition to draft, draft ended– Congressional concern over Presidential conduct, 1973

• War Powers Act vs Gulf of Tonkin Resolution• Reduced military budget• Fewest number in military since before Korea

– Communism still active• Angola, Ethiopia, Afganistan

– Military buildup begins, late 1970s, to counter threat

• Developments in Flight– New categories of aircraft; electronic warfare and

gunships– Remotely piloted vehicles, UAVs– Helicopters

• Developments in Flight– New categories of aircraft; electronic warfare and

gunships– Remotely piloted vehicles, UAVs– Helicopters

The Aftermath of the War The Aftermath of the War

Lessons Learned Lessons Learned • Analysis of U.S. Involvement in Vietnam• General Lessons Learned

– U.S. can’t defeat insurgency in another country, only government and people in that country can

– Force is only of limited value in fighting an internal revolt

– Those responsible for entering war should not only think about how to jump in, but also how to get out

– Know your enemy– Gradual use of air power is ineffective– In a democracy, Congressional and popular support for a

limited war is as important as in full scale war, but may be harder to get because of less agreement over the perceived threat to vital national interests

– How many of these apply to Iraq?

• Analysis of U.S. Involvement in Vietnam• General Lessons Learned

– U.S. can’t defeat insurgency in another country, only government and people in that country can

– Force is only of limited value in fighting an internal revolt

– Those responsible for entering war should not only think about how to jump in, but also how to get out

– Know your enemy– Gradual use of air power is ineffective– In a democracy, Congressional and popular support for a

limited war is as important as in full scale war, but may be harder to get because of less agreement over the perceived threat to vital national interests

– How many of these apply to Iraq?

• Cuban Missile Crisis• Lessons Learned• Vietnam War • Military Conduct• The Aftermath of the War• Lessons Learned

• Cuban Missile Crisis• Lessons Learned• Vietnam War • Military Conduct• The Aftermath of the War• Lessons Learned

Conclusion Conclusion

Documents

Vietnam War. Background of U.S. Involvement –Vietnam has strategic location in South East Asia –U.S. concerned communists preparing to take over entire