Big Question 5 - How did the Tet Offensive and My Lai Massacre harm the USA's war effort in Vietnam?

Question 1

When was the My Lai Massacre?

Answer 1

March, 1968

Question 2

What company was responsible for the My Lai Massacre?

Answer 2

Charlie Company

Question 3

What were Charlie Company’s orders?

Answer 3

Search and Destroy - Burn the village and kill any VC soldiers

Question 4

What had intelligence reports claimed would be at My Lai?

Answer 4

A VC headquarters with up to 200 VC combatants on site

Question 5

How many hours did the search and destroy mission at My Lai take?

Answer 5

4 hours

Question 6

How many civilians were murdered at My Lai?

Answer 6

300-400

Question 7

What group of people mainly comprised those murders?

Answer 7

Women and children

Question 8

What were soldiers also reported to have done?

Answer 8

Tortured and raped civilians before murdering them

Question 9

How many weapons were found during the raid of My Lai?

Answer 9

3

Question 10

What was My Lai then known as to US soldiers?

Answer 10

Pinkville

Question 11

Which US Army helicopter pilot landed between soldiers and fleeing civilians?

Answer 11

Hugh Thompson

Question 12

How many VC were found in My Lai?

Answer 12

None

Question 13

How was the incident reported by the military at the time?

Answer 13

A success with all but 20 of the dead recorded as VC soldiers

Question 14

How many months later was a letter documenting the events at My Lai sent to American politicians?

Answer 14

12 months

Question 15

How many politicians received a letter documenting the events at My Lai?

Answer 15

30

Question 16

Who wrote the letter documenting the events at My Lai?

Answer 16

Ronald Ridenhour

Question 17

Which magazine first published photographs of the My Lai Massacre?

Answer 17

Life Magazine

Question 18

Who was charged in relation to My Lai?

Answer 18

Lieutenant Calley

Question 19

In which month was Lt Calley charged with the murder of 109 civilians?

Answer 19

September, 1969

Question 20

How many civilians was Lt Calley eventually found guilty of murdering?

Answer 20

22

Question 21

In which month was Calley found guilty and sentenced?

Answer 21

March, 1971 and August, 1971

Question 22

To what was Lt Calley sentenced?

Answer 22

20 years hard labour

Question 23

How many years did Lt Calley actually serve?

Answer 23

3 years (released in November, 1974)

Question 24

When did huge protests occur in Washington D.C as a result of My Lai?

Answer 24

November, 1969

Question 25

How many people attended the protests about My Lai?

Answer 25

700,000

Question 26

Why was the My Lai Massacre protest especially significant?

Answer 26

It was the largest political protest in American history

Question 27

In what years was confidence in the Vietnam War high in the USA?

Answer 27

1965 - 1967

Question 28

On what date was the Tet Offensive launched?

Answer 28

31st January, 1968

Question 29

During what celebration was the Tet Offensive launched?

Answer 29

Tet - Vietnamese New Year

Question 30

Why was the timing of the Tet Offensive on a holiday significant?

Answer 30

US forces were significantly scaled back as many were on leave during what was supposed to be a temporary ceasefire

Question 31

How many targets were attacked during the Tet Offensive?

Answer 31

100

Question 32

Which embassy was temporarily captured by VC forces?

Answer 32

The US embassy of Saigon (the capital of South Vietnam)

Question 33

How many VC soldiers attacked Saigon?

Answer 33

4500

Question 34

For how many days was Saigon held by VC forces?

Answer 34

2 days

Question 35

What VC plan completely failed, prematurely ending the Tet Offensive?

Answer 35

South Vietnamese civilians did not rise up and aid the communists as had been expected

Question 36

How many casualties did the VC suffer as part of the Tet Offensive?

Answer 36

10,000

Question 37

How many US troops were in Vietnam at the time of the Tet Offensive?

Answer 37

500,000

Question 38

How much was the USA spending on the Vietnam War in 1968?

Answer 38

$20 billion / year

Question 39

Which ancient city was destroyed during the Tet Offensive?

Answer 39

Huế

Question 40

Which CBS journalist was very influential during the Vietnam War?

Answer 40

Walter Cronkite

Question 41

What did Walter Cronkite say about the Tet Offensive?

Answer 41

"What the hell is going on? I thought we were winning this war!"

Question 42

What did President Johnson conclude after the Tet Offensive?

Answer 42

That the Vietnam War could not be won militarily

Question 43

Where did peace talks begin as a result of President Johnson's changing policy on Vietnam?

Answer 43

Paris

Question 44

In which month did peace talks begin in Paris?

Answer 44

March, 1968

Question 45

What did President Johnson choose not to do that shocked many at the time?

Answer 45

Not to run for re-election