Vietnam War
From 1965 to 1975
Vietnam War
As the fighting between the Viet Cong and the South Vietnamese continued, the U.S. continued to send additional advisers to South Vietnam. When the North Vietnamese fired directly upon two U.S. ships in international waters on August 2 and 4, 1964 (known as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident), Congress responded with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. This resolution gave the President the authority to escalate U.S. involvement in Vietnam. President Lyndon Johnson used that authority to order the first U.S. ground troops to Vietnam in March 1965.
Vietnam War Facts & Information
In total over 2.7 million American soldiers served on active duty in the Vietnam War between 1964 and 1975 with 58,220 killed and 75,000 disabled. Over half the American soldiers killed were under 21 years.
The media openly reported that African American soldiers were used as cannon fodder in the war, but death rates in African American soldiers were no higher than that of any other ethnicity. Official reports prove these media reports to be inaccurate.
Media reports also states the suicide rates in Vietnam veterans is higher than any group, upon investigation this has also found not to be the case.
Works Cited
"Vietnam War Facts." The Finer Times: War, Crime and History Resource. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2013.
"Vietnam War." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
"Vietnam War." About.com 20th Century History. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Apr. 2013.