Vietnam War
Kristen Whitaker, Tristan Spencer
Definitions
Cold War- War between the U.S. and Soviet Union. No shots were fired, involved technological advances.
Containment- Policy that prevents the spread of communism
DMZ- The border barrier between North and South Korea.
Domino Theory- One country falls, and then the next, and the next ect.
Draft- Signing papers saying that you can be chosen to go to war in the time of need.
General William Westmoreland- Commanded the U.S Military Operations in the Vietnam War.
Ho Chi Minh- Communism Leader of North Vietnam
My Lai Massacre- The mass murder committed by the U.S soldiers on 347 and 504 unarmed civilians in South Vietnam.
National Liberation Front- political group in South Vietnam that fought against the U.S and South Vietnam because they were in favor of communism.
Ngo Dinh Diem- Non-Communist leader of South Vietnam
Pentagon Papers- The name given to a secret Department of Defense study done in Vietnam, about the military and political involvement. These papers were sent out the New York Times and given to the public.
Tet Offensive- Surprise attack organized by Viet Cong and launched against forces in 1969. The attack was against the military and civilian commands and control centers that were located throughout South Vietnam.
Viet Cong- Communist operation group in the South that opposed Diem and the U.S.
Events
1945- Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam an independent nation
1950- the U.S. gives massive support to France to reestablish its rule in Vietnam after WW2.
1954- Eisenhower explained the domino theory to the U.S.
May 1954- France and the U.S. surrendered to Vietnam.
July 1954- France, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, the U.S., China, Laos, and Cambodia met to hammer out a piece agreement. The Geneva Accords temporary divided Vietnam.
1956- an election is suppose to be held to determine if Vietnam will be communist or democratic.
1957- a Communist opposition group in the South, Vietcong, had begun attacks on the Diem government.
1965- First major U.S. combat units arrive in Vietnam.November 1, 1963- Diem was assassinated.
1968- Richard M. Nixon is elected president.
1969- U.S. troops begin their withdrawal from Vietnam.
1970- The draft is phased out.
1972- Richard M. Nixon is reelected.
1973- United States signs cease-fire with North Vietnam and vietcong.
1975- Communists capture Saigon; South Vietnam surrenders
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
President Lyndon B. Johnson announced to the public that U.S ships had been attacked by the North Vietnamese. Planes had been sent out on the attackers and President Johnson asked Congress to pass the Tonkin Gulf Resolution which stated that the President can take all necessary measures to fight back and use U.S forces to prevent any other aggression. President Johnson and later President Nixon used this Resoultuion for the U.S to be in Vietnam legally. This affected the U.S military because it allowed us to continue to be in Vietnam and help South Vientam during the war.
Oral history(Kristen)
Larry Quick grew up near Indianapolis in a little community called Big Springs. His Uncle was a F-86 pilot in Korea who Larry looked up too and wanted to be. When Larry went to college at Butler University he joined the ROTC and eventually went into the Air Force. Unfortunately he was not able to become a pilot because his vision was 20/40 and you have to have 20/20 vision to become a pilot so he went to Nav school to become a navigator. He was now listed into the military and had a specific job. In 1960 he entered the Vietnam war and started navigating drones and planes. The drones would receive and transmit information but they were top secret and he couldn’t share the information with anyone. Further on in his career he started teaching others who were in the program about drones and used airplanes to help the warfare in Vietnam.
Oral History(Tristan)
Songs
Masters of War
American Pie
It better end soon
Get together
For what its worth
People got to be free
Paint it, black
Put a little love in your heart
Sugar sugar
Picked the first 3 top songs because they demonstrate the hardships of the Vietnam war and what the soldiers had to go though.