Vietnam war 1963-1975 Flashcards
What happened at the Gulf of Togkin?
Minor incident involving a US destroyer vessel which was spying on the North Vietnamese
Limited retaliation by North Vietnamese
Exaggerated by US so that the US could declare war on Vietnam legitimately through congress
What attack by the Vietcong galvanised public opinion and gave the US a legitimate reason to attack Northern Vietnam?
Pleiku
What was Pleiku?
6-7th February 1965
10 aircraft destroyed and 8 US commanders killed
over 100 wounded US soldiers
What was My Lai?
A Search and Destroy mission
What went wrong at My Lai?
Soldiers forced to kill people they knew were innocent from senior commands. They killed many women and children. Also, the soldiers were probably drunk and high due to having to drink alcohol because of the contaminated water supply, and smoking due to hunger. Therefore, they acted immorally without realising.
What was the impact of My Lai?
Journalists photographed the dead women and children
Showed on news in the US
Public opinion turned against Vietnam War
Without public support the war of attrition failed
Who was involved in the Tet Offensive?
Attack by the VC on January 31st 1968 on all major cities and towns in South Vietnam
During Lunar New Year celebrations (ceasefire time)
80000 VC involved
What was the immediate impact of the Tet Offensive?
US and ARVN initially on back foot - unprepared
But US and ARVN eventually won
Huge VC loss - 30000 VC died
However media reported at first that US had lost
Impact of media on the Tet Offensive?
Media reported that US had lost
Walter Cronkite - “What the hell is going on? i thought we were winning the war!”
Loss in confidence of military who said US was winning the war on the news
Long term effects of the Tet Offensive?
Loss in confidence of US military - less volunteers
Control of US embassy by the VC in Saigon embarrassing
Politicians believed in media - Westmoreland’s request of 200000 more troops rejected
Resultantly the war of attrition failed
