Cold War Confrontations and Conflicts - The Vietnam War

Question 1

What was the Vietnam War?

Answer 1

The Vietnam War was a lengthy conflict which began in 1954, after Vietnam was divided into two. North Vietnam wanted to reunite the country under communism while South Vietnam, assisted by the USA, fought to keep this from happening.

Question 2

When did the Vietnam War happen?

Answer 2

Officially the Vietnam War began in 1955 and ended in 1975. However, some events prior to 1955 are important in order to understand how the war developed.

Question 3

What were the key phases in the Vietnam War?

Answer 3

• The 1st phase of the conflict was between 1945 and 1954. The Vietminh fought to drive French imperial rule from Vietnam. This ended with the signing of the Geneva Accords and Vietnam being split into 2 countries. This period is called the First Indochina War.
• The 2nd phase, between 1957 and 1963, saw the leader of South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem, fight a bitter civil war against the Vietcong which was supported by Ho Chi Minh’s government in the north. This ended with Diem being assassinated just weeks before the American president, John F Kennedy, was assassinated in November 1963.
• The 3rd phase, from 1964 to 1968, saw a huge escalation in the conflict between America - which before 1964 had no direct military presence in the region - and North Vietnam. America was fighting the Vietcong directly in order to stop a communist takeover in the south.
• The 4th phase of the conflict, between 1969 and 1973, was defined by America’s desire to withdraw from Vietnam and its actions to bring US troops home. The last military personnel were withdrawn from the region in 1973.

Question 4

Who was involved in the Vietnam War?

Answer 4

• France - the roots of the conflict begin with its attempts to maintain rule in Vietnam after the Second World War.
• Ho Chi Minh’s Vietminh, which fought to remove all foreign influences from Vietnam. After the division of the country in 1954, under the Geneva Accords, Ho Chi Minh would become the leader of North Vietnam. Much of the war featured his battles with the Americans as he tried to take over South Vietnam and unite the two nations.
• The USA was involved in the conflict from July 1950, when it tried to assist the French against the Vietminh.
• Both China and the USSR were involved, supporting Ho Chi Minh from the start of conflict as he tried to drive out the French.
• South Vietnam was a new country created in 1954 under the Geneva Accords, and America’s presence there was a bid to stop a communist takeover.
• Cambodia and Laos were drawn into the conflict on occasions, due to shared borders with Vietnam.

Question 5

What was the role of France in the Vietnam War?

Answer 5

From 1945, the French had fought to keep control of its colonies in Indochina. In Vietnam, over 50,000 French soldiers had been killed as France fought against the Vietminh for 8 years.

Question 6

What was the background to the Vietnam War?

Answer 6

In 1954, a peace agreement was signed in Geneva between the French and the Vietnamese. Vietnam was divided into communist North Vietnam and US-backed South Vietnam. In 1960 a guerrilla organisation, the Vietcong, was formed in the south. Its aim was to overthrow Diem, the region’s leader, and unite the whole of Vietnam under communist rule.

Question 7

Why did the USA get involved in the Vietnam War?

Answer 7

The USA was concerned about the Domino Theory and could not allow South Vietnam to become communist. It became increasingly involved in supporting South Vietnam as part of its containment policy.

Question 8

How did the USA get involved in the Vietnam War?

Answer 8

• From 1950, the USA gave $1.6 billion dollars in aid to South Vietnam, and sent political advisers.
• From 1960, it began to send military advisers to train the South Vietnamese Army.
• From 1965, it sent American combat troops to Vietnam and became fully involved in the war.

Question 9

Which US presidents got involved in the Vietnam War?

Answer 9

• President Truman, who started sending military aid to the French to fight the Vietminh.
• President Eisenhower, who was the first to send military aid to the new South Vietnamese government in January 1955.
• President Kennedy, who began increasing the number of US military advisors sent to Vietnam to train the ARVN - the South Vietnamese army.
• President Johnson, who committed the first US boots on the ground to Vietnam in March 1965.
• President Nixon, who led the withdrawal of all American troops from Vietnam.

Question 10

Why did people protest against the Vietnam War?

Answer 10

One of the defining features of the Vietnam War was the anti-war movement that developed in the USA. Protesters objected to many aspects, including the cost, the rising number of deaths, atrocities committed by US soldiers, and the draft system.

Question 11

How did people protest against the Vietnam War?

Answer 11

Protests included mass rallies, sit-ins, and the burning of draft cards.

Question 12

How did the Vietnam War affect the Cold War?

Answer 12

• It was a humiliating defeat for the USA. The world’s greatest superpower had been beaten by a small, under-equipped, yet committed guerrilla army. It influenced US involvement in future conflicts.
• It was a failure of the containment policy, as Vietnam was now united under communist leadership. Laos and Cambodia followed suit in 1975.
• Ironically, it helped lead to greater cooperation between the superpowers, as the USA sought the Soviet Union’s help in ending the war.

Question 13

What was the cost of the Vietnam War?

Answer 13

The Vietnam War cost much more than anticipated - a total of $167 billion.

Question 14

What were the reasons for the Vietnam War being unwinnable?

Answer 14

• North Vietnam was determined to withstand the USA.
• The US military struggled to defeat the Vietcong’s guerrilla tactics.
• The war had to stay within limits if the USA was to avoid confrontation with China or the USSR.
• The Americans knew little about the country.
• Vietnamese peasants were alienated by American policy, and the tactics used by the US military.
• Vietnam had a history of opposing conquering countries, such as France and Japan.
• The USA was unable to close the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which was used to supply the Vietcong.
• American soldiers were unused to jungle warfare, while the Vietnamese were experts.
• The South Vietnamese government had been unstable ever since the death of Diem in 1963.

Question 15

What did France rule in Asia before the Second World War?

Answer 15

In the 1700s, during the age of empire building, France took control of significant parts of southeast Asia. This area was known as French Indochina.

Question 16

Where did France rule in Asia before the Second World War?

Answer 16

France ruled French Indochina, which included Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Question 17

Why did France extend its rule in Asia before the Second World War?

Answer 17

• Much of the area, especially Vietnam, was rich in raw materials such as coal and zinc. France could sell these resources globally.
• Areas such as Vietnam had a large number of peasant farms France could use for agriculture.
• They could export goods made in France to sell to the colonies in southeast Asia.

Question 18

What was the impact of the Second World War on France’s rule in Asia?

Answer 18

• Japan occupied French Indochina and took important raw materials from Vietnam, including spices, metals, coal and rice. Japan plundered so much that 2,000,000 Vietnamese had died of starvation by 1945.
• The war led to the development of a strong resistance group called the Vietminh, who wanted to remove all foreign rule from Vietnam.
• At the end of the Second World War the Vietminh declared Vietnam’s independence, and this led to bitter war with France.

Question 19

What was the Vietminh?

Answer 19

The Vietminh was a Vietnamese resistance group. It was founded in 1941 during Japanese occupation in the Second World War.

Question 20

What was Truman’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 20

America’s extensive involvement in Vietnam begun under the presidency of Harry Truman, who supported France to maintain rule in the region.

Question 21

When did President Truman get involved in Vietnam?

Answer 21

President Truman first became involved in Vietnam in July 1950, when he sent France $15 million in military aid to help them fight against the Vietminh.

Question 22

Why did President Truman get involved in Vietnam?

Answer 22

Under the Truman Doctrine, President Truman committed to assist any country under threat of a communist takeover. At the time the USA was fighting a war in Korea through the proxy of a UN task force. Truman became concerned the French would be defeated by the communist Vietminh and communism would then spread throughout Asia.

Question 23

What was the significance of President Truman’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 23

President Truman’s role in Vietnam was significant due to the obligation it created to the region. Once he committed support to Vietnam this continued under each consecutive president. While each had doubts about further committing the USA, neither did they want to be the president who lost Vietnam to communism.

Question 24

What was President Dwight Eisenhower’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 24

Eisenhower was one of 5 US Presidents to get involved in Vietnam. While he did not want to commit actual US boots on the ground, ie soldiers, he wanted to support the ARVN and contain communism in Vietnam.

Question 25

Eisenhower was one of 5 US Presidents to get involved in Vietnam. While he did not want to commit actual US boots on the ground, ie soldiers, he wanted to support the ARVN and contain communism in Vietnam.

Answer 25

Eisenhower was involved in Vietnam throughout much of his presidency. In July 1953 he took steps to end the fighting in Korea, but in January 1955 he sent the first shipment of military support to Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam.

Question 26

Why did Eisenhower get involved in Vietnam?

Answer 26

• It was Eisenhower who first coined the term ‘Domino Theory’. He was incredibly concerned about the spread of communism in Asia.
• He was further convinced of the need for greater involvement when China and the USSR backed Ho Chi Minh’s communist North Vietnam.
• He saw Vietnam as an escalation of the Cold War.
• There was growing support from the American public for increasing involvement in Vietnam due to the Red Scare, or fear of communism.

Question 27

What influenced Eisenhower’s policy in Vietnam?

Answer 27

Whilst Eisenhower wanted to prevent the spread of communism in Asia, equally he did not want to spend too much money on military overseas rather than investing in domestic policies at home.

Question 28

What were the key events in Eisenhower’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 28

• Eisenhower refused to aid the French at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, which resulted in France’s defeat by the Vietminh and surrender in the war.
• He played a role in negotiating the Geneva Accords in 1954.
• In January 1955 he sent the first shipment of aid to the newly created South Vietnam.
• He allowed South Vietnam to join SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation). The organisation’s purpose was to coordinate efforts to stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. It was created in September 1954.
• He began sending military advisors to train the ARVN in 1954.
• In 1954 he sent CIA spies to Saigon, in South Vietnam, to gather intelligence.
• He did not follow the agreements made at the Geneva conference by allowing Diem to hold elections in South Vietnam in 1956.
• He gave Diem’s regime money, supplies and military equipment to fight the National Liberation Front in the civil war.
• He tried to encourage Diem to carry out land reform in South Vietnam to boost his popularity amongst the South Vietnamese people.

Question 29

What was the significance of Eisenhower’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 29

Eisenhower’s involvement in Vietnam was significant because it marked a turning point in US policy. While he did not commit troops to fighting in Vietnam, he did become more involved - making it difficult to pull back.

Question 30

What was the Domino Theory?

Answer 30

The Domino Theory said that if one country fell under communist influence, the surrounding nations in that region would also fall - like a line of dominos.

Question 31

What was the impact of the Domino Theory on the USA?

Answer 31

It led to something called the Red Scare, a paranoia about communism. This led to an increase in public support for greater involvement in Vietnam.

Question 32

What was Diem’s government?

Answer 32

In 1954 Ngo Dinh Diem became Prime Minister of a US-backed government in the Republic of Vietnam, or South Vietnam. Many reports show Diem’s government used violence and nepotism to rule the country.

Question 33

Why was Diem’s government chosen by the USA to govern South Vietnam?

Answer 33

Diem was chosen by the USA because he was anti-communist. He had studied in America and the US authorities thought they could control him. America believed he was the best chance of containing communism in North Vietnam and stopping its spread throughout south east Asia.

Question 34

What problems were there with Diem’s government?

Answer 34

• Diem did not follow the advice given by America, and many of his decisions upset the USA.
• He gave peasants’ land to powerful families and important jobs to his friends and family.
• He implemented unfair taxes.
• Those who opposed Diem’s government were imprisoned and some were even murdered.

Question 35

What did Diem’s government do to break the Geneva agreement?

Answer 35

A key agreement at Geneva was the holding of an election for the whole of Vietnam by July 1956. However, Diem held his own election in South Vietnam in October 1955. Anyone who disagreed with it was arrested.

Question 36

What did Diem’s government do in the elections?

Answer 36

• Dai’s name was printed on a green background on the ballot paper, while Diem’s name had a red background. The colour red is associated with good luck in Vietnam.
• People who looked as if they would vote for Dai were intimidated.
• Diem inflated the percentage of those who had voted for him to 98 per cent.

Question 37

Who opposed Diem’s government in South Vietnam?

Answer 37

• The National Liberation Front, a political movement comprising different groups brought together by Ho Chi Minh.
• Members of the Buddhist religion.

Question 38

Why did the National Liberation Front oppose Diem’s government?

Answer 38

The National Liberation Front wanted to unite North and South Vietnam, and replace Diem’s government with one that was representative of all groups in South Vietnam, not just the Catholics favoured by Diem.

Question 39

How did the National Liberation Front oppose Diem’s government?

Answer 39

The National Liberation Front used violence. It targeted members of the government and hundreds of people were murdered. Ho Chi Minh told the NLF to target the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN).

Question 40

Why did Buddhists oppose Diem’s government?

Answer 40

• Diem was a Catholic and favoured Catholics in society. He often gave them important positions in government.
• The majority of Vietnamese people were Buddhists, but Diem adopted anti-Buddhist policies.
• Buddhists had to have permission from the government to worship.
• 9 Buddhists, 8 of whom were children, were killed when troops shot them for flying the official Buddhist flag during a celebration.

Question 41

How did Buddhists oppose Diem’s government?

Answer 41

Buddhists opposed Diem’s government using methods such as hunger strikes, mass rallies, and gaining support from the foreign press. In one protest a monk called Thich Quang Duc burned himself alive, while monks and nuns handed out flyers that urged Diem’s regime to show kindness to other religious groups.

Question 42

What were the consequences of opposition to Diem’s government?

Answer 42

Diem’s corrupt and brutal regime led many of his opponents to believe a revolution was the only way to change things, and civil war broke out in South Vietnam in 1957.

Question 43

What was the civil war in South Vietnam?

Answer 43

In 1957, after growing opposition to Diem’s government in South Vietnam, people left their homes and moved into the jungle to form armed resistance groups.

Question 44

When did the civil war in South Vietnam happen?

Answer 44

The civil war in South Vietnam broke out in 1957, and ended with the murder of Diem in November 1963.

Question 45

Where did the civil war in South Vietnam happen?

Answer 45

The civil war was fought across South Vietnam, with much of the fighting taking place in the jungle. Supply lines for the NFL ran along the borders of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. This became known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and it was an important part of the war.

Question 46

Who was involved in the civil war in South Vietnam?

Answer 46

The civil war in South Vietnam was fought between Diem and the ARVN (South Vietnamese Army), supported by the USA, against the National Liberation Front, which was funded by Ho Chi Minh in North Vietnam.

Question 47

Why was there a civil war in South Vietnam?

Answer 47

The civil war broke out as an attempt to overthrow Diem’s regime, due to its brutality and corruption. Many South Vietnamese people saw the government as cruel; Madame Nhu, the First Lady of South Vietnam, celebrated when the Buddhist Quang Duc set himself on fire and called it a ‘barbecue’.

Question 48

What role did the USA play in the civil war in South Vietnam?

Answer 48

• The USA gave the ARNV weapons, fighter jets, and helicopters.
• It gave $1.6 billion of financial aid to South Vietnam in the 1950s.
• It sent advisers to train ARVN soldiers on how to fight the NLF.
• It used propaganda to try and turn people against communism. It said the Vietminh and the Chinese were killing civilians in South Vietnam, including those who opposed communism in the north.

Question 49

How did the civil war in South Vietnam end?

Answer 49

By 1961 the USA realised how unpopular Diem was, and withdrew its support. With no protection, Diem fell victim to a coup. He was captured by ARVN generals on 1st November, 1963, and shot the next day.

Question 50

What was President Kennedy’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 50

John F Kennedy was reluctant to commit US troops to Vietnam, and instead wanted to send military advisors and financial aid to support the ARVN in its fight against communism.

Question 51

When was Kennedy involved in Vietnam?

Answer 51

Kennedy inherited Eisenhower’s legacy in Vietnam, so was involved from the start of his presidency in 1961 until his assassination in 1963.

Question 52

Why did Kennedy get involved in Vietnam?

Answer 52

• He was very interested in foreign policy.
• Kennedy was committed to Eisenhower’s ‘Domino Theory’ and the policy of containment. In 1947 he had voted in favour of the Truman Doctrine.
• When Kennedy took office in 1961 the Cold War was accelerating, with tensions rising between the USA and the USSR.

Question 53

What influenced Kennedy’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 53

Kennedy had an extensive domestic programme to deal with at home, and wanted to avoid the financial burden of large-scale military support in Vietnam.

Question 54

What were the key events in Kennedy’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 54

• He sent approximately 16,000 military experts to train the ARVN. This was more than Eisenhower committed during his presidency.
• Kennedy was conscious of public opinion and kept the increased US presence in Vietnam a secret.
• By the end of 1961 the ARVN had increased from 150,000 to 170,000 troops, as a result of funding from Kennedy.
• He sanctioned the coup by the ARVN to remove Diem from power. Diem was murdered on 1st November, 1963, just weeks before Kennedy was assassinated.
• He sent 300 US helicopter pilots to South Vietnam, under orders not to engage with the enemy. However, it became increasingly difficult not to as the Vietcong shot at them.
• He endorsed the Strategic Hamlet programme in Vietnam.

Question 55

What was the significance of Kennedy’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 55

Kennedy’s involvement in Vietnam was significant as he increased the USA’s commitment to the region. Building on Eisenhower’s interventions, it would make it very difficult for the next president to scale back.

Question 56

What was the Vietcong?

Answer 56

The Vietcong (VC) was made up of over a dozen different political and religious groups based in South Vietnam. They opposed the South Vietnamese government, both politically and militarily.

Question 57

When was the Vietcong established?

Answer 57

The Vietcong was established on 20th December, 1960.

Question 58

Who was the leader of the Vietcong?

Answer 58

The leader of the Vietcong was Hua Tho. Although he was non-communist, so were many members of the organisation.

Question 59

Why was the Vietcong established?

Answer 59

• There was much anger and frustration at Diem’s failure to hold the elections agreed at the Geneva Conference, which would have meant a united Vietnam.
• Frustration pushed some people to violence, and groups of South Vietnamese people intended to use terror tactics to force elections or overthrow Diem’s regime.
• The violence resulted in many members of Diem’s government being murdered. He hit back by sending the ARVN into the jungle to hunt down rebel forces. A report produced by Ho Chi Minh’s advisor, Le Duan, commented that Diem’s policy was proving successful, and therefore the rebel forces in South Vietnam had to become more organised.

Question 60

What was Ho Chi Minh’s involvement with the Vietcong?

Answer 60

Le Duan’s report convinced Ho Chi Minh that he needed to help the resistance fighters in the south if they were to be successful. He persuaded different armed groups who opposed Diem to come together in one organisation - the National Liberation Front, or the Vietcong, as it was called by the ARVN and US advisers.

Question 61

What were the aims of the Vietcong?

Answer 61

• It wanted to overthrow Diem and establish a new government that represented all groups in South Vietnamese society.
• It was committed to the reunification of Vietnam, independent of all foreign influence.
• It was committed to the redistribution of wealth and restoration of peasants’ rights.

Question 62

Who supported the Vietcong?

Answer 62

• Domestic support for the Vietcong was vast. As well as communists, and nationalists who wanted reunification, it appealed to the middle classes, teachers, doctors, and also peasants and workers.
• Internationally, the Vietcong was supported by North Vietnam, China and the USSR.

Question 63

How was the Vietcong supported by the North?

Answer 63

The North developed various supply routes to help the Vietcong, including the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Question 64

How did the Vietcong fight?

Answer 64

• Their aim was not to destroy, but to wear down.
• They fought in cells of 8-10 soldiers.
• They blended into the population, making it difficult for Diem’s forces to find them.
• They picked their battles, attacking at night and only fighting if they outnumbered enemy soldiers.

Question 65

What was the difference between the Vietcong and the Vietminh?

Answer 65

The Vietminh was the anti-Japanese and anti-French force created in the 1940s to drive out foreign colonialists. After the division of Vietnam, its members resided in the north. The Vietcong was created in the 1950s to fight Diem’s regime in the south, and was used as North Vietnam’s vehicle for creating chaos across the south.

Question 66

What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail which was used by the Vietcong?

Answer 66

• It was a supply route from North to South Vietnam.
• It was a series of parallel roads that ran along the Vietnamese border, often through thick jungle.
• The route went from North Vietnam, through Laos and Cambodia, to South Vietnam.
• It was used to send supplies, troops and weapons to the Vietcong.

Question 67

What did the Vietcong do to gain help and support?

Answer 67

• They used violence and intimidation to control villages.
• They created a political group called the National Liberation Front (NLF). It spread communist ideas among the villages, and encouraged people to help the Vietcong.

Question 68

How did President Kennedy try to defeat the Vietcong?

Answer 68

President Kennedy sent an extra 16,000 advisers to South Vietnam, to train the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) to fight the Vietcong. They were called ‘advisers’ rather than troops, because he wanted to avoid full-scale war.

Question 69

What were President Kennedy’s motives towards the Vietcong?

Answer 69

President Kennedy wanted to stop communism and destroy the Vietcong.

Question 70

Why did President Kennedy fail to defeat the Vietcong?

Answer 70

• Efforts by US troops to train villagers to fight the Vietcong were unsuccessful because the Americans could not speak Vietnamese.
• The US troops were unable to stop the Vietcong visiting the villages at night, once they had left.
• The USA supported the ARVN, which was regarded as part of Diem’s corrupt government.

Question 71

Why did the USA see the Vietcong as a threat?

Answer 71

• Although the ARVN had five times as many troops, it was too concerned over who should lead rather than pulling together to defeat the Vietcong.
• China supported the Vietcong by using the Ho Chi Minh Trail to send $100 million in aid to South Vietnam.
• The South Vietnamese government was seen as the USA’s puppet and remained unpopular.
• The introduction of reforms, and the use of propaganda, meant the Vietcong gained local support.
• The number of attacks by the Vietcong increased and were focused on US military targets.

Question 72

What was President Johnson’s response to the Vietcong threat?

Answer 72

After President Kennedy was assassinated, President Johnson increased the number of US advisers in South Vietnam to 20,000. He wanted to avoid US involvement in an escalating war by ensuring the establishment of a democratic and popular government that would oppose communism.

Question 73

How did the Vietcong react to US intervention?

Answer 73

• The amount of supplies brought along the Ho Chi Minh Trail was increased.
• It increased the number of guerrilla attacks, from 50 in September, 1961, to 150 in October.

Question 74

Why did the Vietcong become more dangerous to the USA?

Answer 74

• Increasing tensions with the Americans had pushed the Vietcong to use more violent methods.
• America was increasing supplies, troops and operations in South Vietnam.
• However, the South Vietnamese were still unable to hold elections.

Question 75

What was President Johnson’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 75

Johnson’s intentions for Vietnam mirrored that of his predecessors, Eisenhower and Kennedy. He did not want to commit combat troops. However, under Johnson’s leadership, the USA’s involvement greatly increased and it is often for his role in Vietnam that Johnson is best remembered.

Question 76

Why did President Johnson get involved in Vietnam?

Answer 76

• Like many American presidents of the Cold War era, he firmly believed in Eisenhower’s Domino Theory and was anxious about the spread of communism in Asia.
• Johnson began his time in office following in Kennedy’s footsteps, and was only willing to commit military advisers to South Vietnam. However, his advisers wanted him to become more involved.
• Historian Arthur Schlesinger argued that Johnson (as well as Kennedy) escalated involvement because of what he called the ‘quagmire theory’. A quagmire is a soft boggy area of land that gives way underfoot; Schlesinger argued this was how Johnson’s actions in Vietnam could be viewed.
• Other historians have argued that Johnson did not want to be seen as the president that ‘lost’ Vietnam to communists, as Truman had ‘lost’ China. Johnson did not want the Democrats to be seen as ‘soft on communism’.

Question 77

What influenced Johnson’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 77

• Johnson had to win an election in 1964. He did not want to alienate the electorate, and believed a more peaceful appoach to the situation in Vietnam would win him public support.
• Many presidents of the Cold War era had to balance the economic costs of domestic and foreign policy. Johnson wanted to create a ‘Great Society’ that was fair to everyone in America, and such an ambitious domestic programme would require extensive funding. He was worried about the cost of further involvement in Vietnam.

Question 78

Why did Johnson’s advisers want him to get more involved in Vietnam?

Answer 78

His advisers, including US Secretary of Defence Robert McNamara, did not think the ARVN could defeat the Vietcong. However, he believed if North Vietnam was attacked, Ho Chi Minh would stop helping the organisation.

Question 79

What were the key events in Johnson’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 79

• He approved Operation Plan 34A in August 1964.
• On 2nd August, 1964, North Vietnam attacked the USS Maddox which was stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin.
• On 4th August, 1964, Johnson launched a retaliatory act on North Vietnam. This became known as the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.
• On 7th August, 1964, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed.
• In February 1965 the Vietcong attacked Camp Holloway, a US helicopter base in South Vietnam.
• On 13th February, 1965, the USA launched Operation Rolling Thunder.
• By the end of 1965 there were 200,000 US combat troops in Vietnam, increased from 3,500 at the beginning of the year. Many see this as the start of the conflict.
• By 1967, Johnson’s administration was spending $30 billion a year on the war in Vietnam.
• In October 1967, over 100,000 people protested at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington against America’s involvement in Vietnam.
  -On 30th January, 1968, the North Vietnamese army and the Vietcong launched a series of attacks. This became known as the Tet Offensive - a significant turning point in the war.
• On Saturday, 16th March, 1968, 80 soldiers from the US military’s ‘Charlie Company’ massacred over 300 innocent civilians in the village of My Lai in South Vietnam.

Question 80

What was the significance of Operation Plan 34A in Johnson’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 80

Operation Plan 34A involved sending South Vietnamese mercenaries into North Vietnam, and US naval ships into North Vietnamese waters in the Gulf of Tonkin. This marked a key turning point, as it was a huge increase in the USA’s involvement in the region, and it led to the Gulf of Tonkin incident.

Question 81

What was the significance of Johnson’s involvement in Vietnam?

Answer 81

• At first Johnson followed the pattern of presidents before him. He increased US presence in Vietnam, with military advisors and support for the ARVN. However, his role was significant because his policies sent US troops to the region.
• US Secretary of Defence Robert McNamara stated that, in 1963, the military did not anticipate being in Vietnam for long and expected the withdrawal of 16,000 military advisers by the end of 1965. However, by the end of that year, Johnson had committed 200,000 combat troops to the region.
• Johnson’s administration, and the president personally, faced mounting criticism from the American public about US involvement in Vietnam. The peace movement grew rapidly.

Question 82

What was Operation Rolling Thunder?

Answer 82

Operation Rolling Thunder was a mass bombing campaign on North Vietnam by the USA.

Question 83

When did Operation Rolling Thunder happen?

Answer 83

Operation Rolling Thunder began in February 1965. Although it was only supposed to go on for eight weeks, it lasted three years.

Question 84

Why did Operation Rolling Thunder happen?

Answer 84

• US bases in South Vietnam had suffered several attacks from the Vietcong, who were growing stronger thanks to supplies and support from North Vietnam.
• The trigger for the operation was the Vietcong attack on the US base, Camp Holloway, which killed 8 American soldiers and injured hundreds more.
• A bombing campaign was chosen because the US thought it would cost fewer lives than ground warfare.

Question 85

What was the aim of Operation Rolling Thunder?

Answer 85

The bombing campaign targeted government buildings, to break the North Vietnamese government’s morale and prompt an end to its support for the Vietcong.

Question 86

How did Operation Rolling Thunder change over time?

Answer 86

To begin with, cities such as Hanoi and Haiphong were not attacked as Johnson did not want to provoke the USSR and China by bombing civilians. However, this policy changed and the Americans switched to saturation, or carpet, bombing.

Question 87

How did the USSR respond to Operation Rolling Thunder?

Answer 87

Operation Rolling Thunder led to a change of Soviet policy over Vietnam. After witnessing the damage caused by US bombs, it started to supply North Vietnam with anti-aircraft missiles with which it could fight back.

Question 88

What was the significance of Operation Rolling Thunder?

Answer 88

Operation Rolling Thunder was significant as it was a huge escalation of US involvement in Vietnam.

Question 89

What tactics did the Vietcong use?

Answer 89

The US army was one of the largest, strongest, most advanced, and well-equipped armies in the world. In order to beat it, and the ARVN, the Vietcong had to use local jungle knowledge and guerrilla warfare to overcome their enemies’ technology and defeat them.

Question 90

What guerrilla warfare tactics were used by the Vietcong?

Answer 90

• Soldiers did not wear uniforms, so its members could hide in plain sight among peasants. It was very hard to tell them apart from ordinary civilians.
• It had no headquarters and operated in small, well-armed groups, making it difficult to find them.
• It repurposed US mines by digging them up and creating booby traps, adding bamboo spikes and crossbows.
• It followed the rule of retreating when the enemy attacked and attacking when the enemy retreated.
• It never attacked directly, instead picking off the enemy in ones and twos. Vietcong members were famous for disappearing quickly into tunnels before the enemy had a chance to react.
• It constantly attacked enemy camps.

Question 91

What was the aim of the Vietcong tactics of guerrilla warfare?

Answer 91

Guerrilla warfare aimed to create fear and break down the morale of the US forces.

Question 92

What did Ho Chi Minh say about the Vietcong tactics of guerrilla warfare?

Answer 92

• ‘We must not go in for large-scale battles and big victories, unless we are certain of success.’.
• ‘The aim of guerrilla warfare is to nibble at the enemy, harass him in such a way that he can neither eat nor sleep in peace, to allow him no rest, to wear him out physically and mentally.’.
• ‘Wherever the enemy goes, he should be attacked by our guerrillas, stumble on land mines, or be greeted by sniper fire.’

Question 93

What were the typical features of a guerrilla fighter that used Vietcong tactics?

Answer 93

• hey had extensive knowledge of the local jungle which helped them ambush the enemy.
• They wore everyday civilian clothes so US forces could not identify them.
• They usually carried Soviet AK-47 assault rifles. This was a simple weapon to use but very accurate, and it could weather the watery terrain of the jungle.
• They travelled light with small rations of rice, enabling them to move quickly through the jungle.
• They would have tools to make ‘punji sticks’, which they used to make booby traps.

Question 94

What was the Ho Chi Minh Trail that the Vietcong used in its tactics?

Answer 94

The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a 600-mile route of many roads running through the thick jungle of Laos and Cambodia, parallel to the length of Vietnam. Supplies were sent along it from North Vietnam and China to South Vietnam. At the height of the war, 60 tons of equipment a day and 20,000 soldiers a month were transported.

Question 95

What was important about the Ho Chi Minh Trail to Vietcong tactics?

Answer 95

The Ho Chi Minh trail was incredibly important. It meant North Vietnam could ensure fighters in the south received regular supplies of weapons, food, and soldiers.

Question 96

Why did the Vietcong tactic of using the Ho Chi Minh trail make it difficult for the enemy?

Answer 96

• The trail was well organised. By the end of the war, you could travel the route from North Vietnam to Saigon in six weeks. The trail was 15,000 km long, and both US forces and the ARVN found it hard to overcome the challenges it posed.
• The US tried bombing the trail. However, when one section was bombed, the Vietcong simply used a different section.

Question 97

What was the idea of ‘hanging on the belts’ of Americans as a tactic of the Vietcong?

Answer 97

The idea was that the Vietcong remained close to the enemy and engaged in close-quarter fighting. This helped them carry out surprise attacks and ambushes. As the Vietcong stayed so close it made bombing campaigns more difficult, as the Americans did not want to kill their own soldiers.

Question 98

How were the tunnels used as a tactic by the Vietcong?

Answer 98

The tunnel system allowed the Vietcong to move across South Vietnam without being seen, rather than risking being a target from the air. The tunnels were widely used as bases, ambush spots, and hospitals and also helped with the ‘hanging on the belts of Americans’ tactic.

Question 99

What were the key features of the tunnels the Vietcong used as a tactic?

Answer 99

• They were complicated systems that ran for over 300km beneath the Vietnamese jungle.
• They included kitchens, hospitals, sleeping quarters and meeting rooms, as well as storerooms for food, weapons, and explosives.
• They had various defence measures including hand-detonated mines at the surface, trap doors, air-raid shelters, booby traps, blast walls, false tunnels with booby traps, punji traps, tripwires, and remote smoke outlets.

Question 100

How was the organisation of the Vietcong part of its tactics?

Answer 100

The Vietcong was organised in small groups called cells. Fighters rarely saw anyone outside their cell, so they couldn’t betray the wider group if they were captured.

Question 101

How did the Vietcong use disguise as part of its tactics?

Answer 101

Vietcong fighters dressed as normal villagers, so US soldiers couldn’t tell them apart from civilians. This led to a lot of ordinary people losing their lives.

Question 102

What were the Vietcong’s tactics regarding the peasants?

Answer 102

• They rarely attacked peasants or their property.
• They seized land from the wealthy and redistributed it among the poor, providing food and supplies.
• However, they were known to kill those who refused to support them. Between 1966 and 1971, 27,000 civilians were killed by the Vietcong.
• They used propaganda to convince people they were beating the US Army. This included images of women and children, to show that everyone was helping to rid Vietnam of the Americans.

Question 103

What were the successes of the Vietcong’s tactics?

Answer 103

• The tactics aimed to ‘get inside the heads’ of American soldiers and scare them, which they did.
• As a result of their tactics, the Vietcong was able to use American weapons against them. In 1964, a report stated that 90 per cent of Vietcong weapons were US weapons that had been captured in ambushes.

Question 104

What were the failures of the Vietcong’s tactics?

Answer 104

• Many civilians were mistaken as Vietcong troops and killed.
• Not all Vietnamese people supported the actions of the Vietcong, as terror and intimidation was sometimes used to gain local support.
• The guerrilla attacks alone were not enough to get rid of the Americans from Vietnam.

Question 105

What tactics did the USA use in the Vietnam War to fight against the Vietcong?

Answer 105

The USA had one of the most feared armies in the world as it was well-trained and well-equipped. However, the USA’s military resources were no match for the Vietcong’s guerrilla warfare. The US had to alter its tactics against the Vietcong as the war progressed.

Question 106

What kind of soldiers did the USA send to combat the Vietcong’s tactics in Vietnam?

Answer 106

When the war started the USA sent experienced GIs, or general infantrymen, to fight against the Vietcong. However, as fatalities and casualties piled up they increasingly sent younger, less experienced troops.

Question 107

What was a GI, sent by the USA to combat Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?

Answer 107

American soldiers in the Second World War started calling themselves GIs, which stood for ‘general infantryman’. The nickname became popular during the conflict in Vietnam. GIs faced many challenges there, which hampered America’s ability to defeat the Vietcong and win the war.

Question 108

What were the typical features of a US soldier fighting against Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?

Answer 108

• By the end of the war, the average age of a GI was 19.
• Many of the soldiers were forced to fight in Vietnam as part of military conscription, known as the draft. Soldiers had to serve for a one-year period known as a ‘tour of duty’.
• Unlike the Vietcong, American GIs didn’t travel light. They carried ration packs, ammunition, spare uniform, and as much water as they could. No matter how much water they carried, it was never enough to quench the thirst caused by the climate of the Vietnamese jungle.
• The GIs’ uniforms often rotted in Vietnam’s hot, damp climate.
• GIs were often overzealous and made careless mistakes when out on patrol. They were often killed by the Vietcong’s booby traps.
• Many GIs came from urban cities in the USA. Many had never travelled before and were ill-prepared for the environment and culture of Vietnam.
• They carried smoke grenades, to let US helicopters know when and where to extract them from the jungle.
• They carried fragmentation, or frag, grenades. When they exploded these sprayed red-hot fragments. However, many GIs were themselves accidentally killed by them, as the grenades often got caught on jungle plants.
• Unlike the Soviet AK-47 rifles used by the Vietcong, the MI6 rifles carried by American GIs often jammed near water and mud, which was not ideal in Vietnamese jungle terrain.
• GIs wore boots with drainage holes to let the water out, and reinforced soles to combat the punji traps.

Question 109

What methods did the USA use to combat Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?

Answer 109

• ‘Search and destroy’, in which the US troops would enter Vietcong territory, search out the enemy, and destroy them.
• Bombing campaigns, such as Operation Rolling Thunder.
  -The use of explosive technology, such as pineapple bombs.
• The use of chemical warfare, including napalm and Agent Orange.
• The USA fought a war of attrition.
• The use of helicopters.

Question 110

What was the ‘search and destroy’ tactic used by the USA to fight against the Vietcong in Vietnam?

Answer 110

• Bases were built that stretched all along the South Vietnamese coast and border, to launch ‘search and destroy’ missions into the jungle.
• American forces searched villages for the Vietcong. When they found the enemy they burned down the entire village, which destroyed the Vietcong base and served as a warning to other villages not to harbour the guerrillas.
• This tactic soon earned the name ‘zippo raids’, as Zippo cigarette lighters were used to set fire to the thatched roofs of village houses.

Question 111

What was Operation Cedar Falls in the USA’s fight against Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?

Answer 111

Operation Cedar Falls was an example of ‘search and destroy’. In 1967, 750 Vietcong were killed. Despite early successes, the guerrillas soon returned. The level of violence created 4 million refugees, which increased the unpopularity of the South Vietnamese and USA.

Question 112

Why was the USA’s tactic of ‘search and destroy’ a failure fighting against Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?

Answer 112

• US soldiers were simply not cut out to cope with the Vietcong’s guerrilla tactics.
• America’s superior technology of heavy weapons and aircraft were better suited to open combat, but the Vietcong did not engage with that method of fighting.
• As US troops searched for the enemy they were taken by surprise and attacked. The Vietcong fighters would disappear back into the jungle before the Americans could respond.
• Young and inexperienced GIs could not tell the difference between Vietcong soldiers and innocent villagers, and killed many ordinary civilians.

Question 113

How did the USA use Operation Rolling Thunder to fight against Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?

Answer 113

• B-52 bombers dropped millions of tonnes of explosives.
• It targeted the Ho Chi Minh Trail and industrial targets but not Hanoi, the capital of North Vietnam. As the campaign progressed, targets also included towns and cities in South Vietnam, and Vietcong bases in Laos and Cambodia.
• It cost the USA $4 billion, and killed 90,000 people.
• President Johnson wanted to bomb the Vietcong into submission.

Question 114

Why did the tactics used by the USA in Operation Rolling Thunder fail against the Vietcong in Vietnam?

Answer 114

• Supplies continued to get through to the Vietcong via the extensive tunnel system and the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
• Destroying industry didn’t have an effect, as China and the USSR were sending military supplies to North Vietnam.

Question 115

How did the USA use ‘pineapple bombs’ to fight against Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?

Answer 115

The USA developed a new weapon called the ‘pineapple bomb’, which exploded in the air and released 500 smaller bombs that caused huge damage. It was developed to maim rather than kill, so when someone was wounded, others would help - taking their attention away from the battle.

Question 116

How did the USA use chemical weapons to fight against Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?

Answer 116

• Agent Orange, a toxic weed killer used to destroy the jungle so the Ho Chi Minh trail could be seen from the air.
• Agent Blue, a weed killer used to destroy crops so the Vietcong would have no food.
• Napalm, a combustible chemical used to destroy the jungle.

Question 117

What were the problems with the USA’s use of chemical weapons to fight against Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?

Answer 117

The use of chemical weapons was inhumane. Agent Orange and Agent Blue led to people developing cancer and caused birth defects in newborns. Napalm burned through victims’ skin, muscle and bone.

Question 118

How did the USA use attrition warfare against the Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?

Answer 118

The US tactic of attrition meant focusing on killing as many Vietnamese soldiers as possible. It is estimated that around 1 million North Vietnamese and Vietcong soldiers died, compared to 55,000 Americans. However, this tactic did not bring success for the US.

Question 119

How did the USA use helicopters to fight against the Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?

Answer 119

• They were used to bring troops to a battle zone quickly, over difficult terrain.
• They supported ground troops during ‘search and destroy’ missions.
• They were used to evacuate wounded soldiers.

Question 120

What was the draft system for the Vietnam War?

Answer 120

Any man aged over 18 could be drafted into compulsory military service. Most were under 26, and the average was 19 years of age.

Question 121

What training did people who were drafted into the Vietnam War receive?

Answer 121

Draftees received only basic training before being sent to fight in Vietnam.

Question 122

What was the response to the draft system in the Vietnam War?

Answer 122

Many people felt the draft was unfair, that the draftees were too young, and that a lack of proper training increased the chances of them dying.

Question 123

What was the lottery system of the draft in the Vietnam War?

Answer 123

In 1969, to try and make the system fairer, the government turned the draft into a random lottery system. Men aged from 25 to 31 were included, adding a further 26 million potential soldiers. Out of 2.6 million men who fought in Vietnam, 650,000 were draftees.

Question 124

Was anyone exempt from the draft in the Vietnam War?

Answer 124

• The physically and mentally unfit.
• University students.
• Some government and industrial workers.
• Only sons, or those who could prove being drafted would create hardship for their families.

Question 125

How many men were made exempt from the draft in the Vietnam War?

Answer 125

In total, 15 million men were made exempt from the draft.

Question 126

What were the views of conscientious objectors on the draft for the Vietnam War?

Answer 126

Men could become conscientious objectors (COs) and refuse military service on the grounds of their religious or moral beliefs.

Question 127

What work did conscientious objectors do as part of the draft system in the Vietnam War?

Answer 127

Conscientious objectors were required to undertake war work, such as working in weapons factories. There were around 17,000 COs in total, although almost 20 times as many men applied for exemption.

Question 128

How did people avoid the draft in the Vietnam War?

Answer 128

Men living or working abroad could avoid the draft, but this option was only really available to the wealthy. Some 50,000 men went into hiding or left America illegally instead.

Question 129

Why was the draft system unfair in the Vietnam War?

Answer 129

• Middle-class white men were often able to avoid the draft as they could afford to go to university or move abroad.
• Those with influential contacts could also dodge the draft.
• A disproportionate number of poor people, and those belonging to black and ethnic minorities, were therefore called up.

Question 130

How many people refused to obey the draft for the Vietnam War?

Answer 130

9,000 men were prosecuted for refusing to be drafted.

Question 131

What was the significance of the draft system in the Vietnam War?

Answer 131

The significance of the draft system to the Vietnam War was its impact on the growing peace movement. Many people saw the system as unfair and engaged in protests.

Question 132

What happened during the Tet Offensive?

Answer 132

The Tet Offensive was a significant turning point in the Vietnam War. The US government had told the public it was doing well in its fight against the Vietcong and would soon be able to bring the war to an end. However, just months later, the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong launched a series of major attacks in South Vietnam.

Question 133

When did the Tet Offensive start?

Answer 133

The Tet Offensive started on 30th January, 1968. There was supposed to a ceasefire to allow for celebrations in honour of Tet, a Vietnamese holiday celebrating the lunar new year.

Question 134

Where did the Tet Offensive happen?

Answer 134

Hundreds of towns, cities and military bases were attacked during the Tet Offensive, along with General Westmoreland’s base and the US embassy building, both in Saigon.

Question 135

What was General Westmoreland’s role in the Tet Offensive?

Answer 135

General Westmoreland was the commander of the US Army in Vietnam. He played a key role in the Tet Offensive as the attacks caught him off guard. Months earlier he had presented the view to Congress that the war was going well. He said: ‘We will prevail in Vietnam over the communist aggressor.’.

Question 136

Why did the Tet Offensive happen?

Answer 136

• The Vietcong and North Vietnamese government hoped it would win them support from the South Vietnamese against the Americans, inspiring them to get rid of the current government and force the Americans from the country.
• They hoped a decisive victory against the Americans would attract media attention in the USA, weakening support from the war from its citizens.

Question 137

What were the key events in the Tet Offensive?

Answer 137

• In the build up to the Tet Offensive the Vietcong carried out smaller attacks, away from important cities, to draw US troops. Around 50,000 American GIs were sent to defend these areas.
• On 30th January, 84,000 Vietcong and North Vietnamese soldiers launched a number of attacks across Vietnam.
• The Americans were on the back foot to begin with. However, they recovered and quickly recaptured the towns, cities and bases taken by the enemy during the attacks.
• The American embassy in Saigon was retaken by US paratroopers within hours.
• The communist forces were defeated in the Tet Offensive. 50,000 North Vietnamese troops and 10,000 Vietcong soldiers were killed.

Question 138

What were the failures of the Tet Offensive for the Vietcong?

Answer 138

Militarily, the Tet Offensive was a defeat for the Vietcong and North Vietnam. They lost thousands of soldiers, and the USA re-took all cities, towns and bases.

Question 139

What were the successes of the Tet Offensive for the Vietcong?

Answer 139

• They had shown they could strike at any moment, and could take key cities and bases.
• The events were shown across US television, and the public saw the chaos and destruction. Americans now came to realise that, despite the clear advantage American military should have had, they were proving to be no match to the Vietcong’s guerrilla tactics.
• The American public started to turn against President Johnson and the USA’s involvement in the Vietnam War. This was one of the Vietcong’s aims.

Question 140

What were the results of the Tet Offensive?

Answer 140

• The Americans began to question their involvement in Vietnam. They had been told, months before, that the end of the war was close. The Tet Offensive showed them that this was not true.
• The USA had spent vast sums of money, and many people had lost loved ones in the jungle of Vietnam, but the Vietcong were able to strike a blow at the US embassy and showed no signs of letting up. It became clear to the US public that the war was not going to be over soon.
• In March 1968, President Johnson told the US public that he would not be running in the next presidential election.
• In June 1968, General Westmoreland was replaced by General Creighton Abrams. It was clear that Johnson was not happy with Westmoreland when he requested 200,000 more troops, and he turned down the request.
• The Tet Offensive had woken people up to the fact that the USA was now spending $30 billion a year fighting the Vietcong, and 300 Americans were being killed every week in Vietnam.
• The Tet Offensive had also killed many civilians and destroyed many cities, further weakening support for the war.

Question 141

What was the My Lai Massacre?

Answer 141

American troops went to the village of My Lai to search for Vietcong. The American troops killed and abused over 500 women, children and old men.

Question 142

When did the My Lai Massacre happen?

Answer 142

The My Lai Massacre happened on 16th March, 1968, not long after the Tet Offensive began.

Question 143

Where did the My Lai Massacre happen?

Answer 143

The massacre happened in a village called My Lai, in the Quang Ngai region of South Vietnam.

Question 144

Who was involved in the My Lai Massacre?

Answer 144

Approximately 80 US soldiers from Charlie Company, a unit of the army’s 11th Infantry Brigade, took part in the massacre.

Question 145

Why did the My Lai Massacre happen?

Answer 145

• Charlie Company was sent on a search and destroy mission, following reports of a base of 200 Vietcong fighters in the area of My Lai. Reports suggested locals were giving them food, shelter and weapons, so Charlie Company was sent to burn all crops, livestock and food.
• Charlie Company had lost 5 soldiers in the Tet Offensive. Although the unit had never directly fought the Vietcong, it had experienced the organisation’s guerrilla warfare while on patrol. It is thought the war had taken a psychological toll on the soldiers.

Question 146

What were the key events in the My Lai Massacre?

Answer 146

• At 7:30am on 16th March, 1968, 9 American helicopters landed near the village of My Lai. It was a Saturday, and it was expected all the villagers would be at the market.
• Upon landing, the soldiers started shooting at any house they thought might contain Vietcong soldiers.
• Grenades were used to destroy houses, crops and livestock.
• Some villagers tried to escape but the US forces shot or stabbed them. This was completely unwarranted; none of the villagers had retaliated and most of those present were women and children.
• There were also several reports of Charlie Company troops torturing and raping civilians.
• No Vietcong soldiers were found, and only a few weapons were recovered.
• Charlie Company returned to base and said 22 civilians were killed by accident, and the remaining dead were Vietcong.

Question 147

How was the My Lai Massacre covered up?

Answer 147

• The government announced the troops had killed 128 Vietcong fighters and destroyed their base.
• However, some soldiers and local inhabitants reported what had really happened.
• The army attempted a cover-up, but one soldier, Ronald Ridenhour, made his eye-witness account public. He wrote more than 30 letters to politicians and military officials, saying ‘something rather dark and bloody’ had happened in My Lai a year earlier.
• General Westmoreland received one of Ridenhour’s letters. Although he didn’t believe it, he ordered an inquiry. The army later admitted to 20 accidental civilian deaths.

Question 148

What happened when the My Lai Massacre was investigated?

Answer 148

Two inquiries were held into the events of the My Lai Massacre, one by the government and the other by the army.

Question 149

What did the government’s investigation conclude about the My Lai Massacre?

Answer 149

• It interviewed 398 witnesses and the weight of evidence indicated Charlie Company had massacred approximately 347 unarmed civilians.
• All those involved in the torture, rape, murder and cover up of the massacre should be punished.

Question 150

What did the army’s investigation into the My Lai Massacre conclude?

Answer 150

• There were significant failures in the leadership and discipline of the soldiers.
• The soldiers were not experienced enough to carry out the roles they had been assigned to.
• The psychological trauma experienced by the men of Charlie Company created a desire for revenge against the Vietnamese.
• 25 men should be prosecuted for the massacre, either because of their participation or their involvement in the cover up.

Question 151

How many were prosecuted because of their role in the My Lai Massacre?

Answer 151

Although the army said 25 men should be prosecuted, and some did face murder charges, only Lieutenant William Calley was prosecuted.

Question 152

Who was Lieutenant Calley in the My Lai Massacre?

Answer 152

Lieutenant William Calley was one of the soldiers in charge of Charlie Company on the day of the massacre. He was responsible for the murder of 109 civilians at My Lai.

Question 153

What was the public’s response to the My Lai Massacre?

Answer 153

Newspaper reports surfaced in November 1970 that claimed more than 500 civilians had been murdered in the massacre. On 5th December, pictures taken by an army photographer were shown on television, prompting a massive outcry.

Question 154

What were the consequences of the My Lai Massacre?

Answer 154

• It greatly strengthened the growing peace movement. People were repulsed by the atrocities committed by Charlie Company and questioned the morality of the USA’s involvement in Vietnam.
• Due to the cover up of the massacre, people distrusted the government and the army. They did not believe they were being told the full truth about the war.
• The massacre led to further investigations and, in 1971, it was found over a third of US troops were addicted to drugs. It was clear morale was at an all-time low.