Vietnam war Flashcards
To learn it
What really happened with the US destroyer?
The USA exaggerated the effects of the ship, saying it was badly damaged when it wasn’t.
Who were the Vietcong?
They disguised themselves as civilians and can be men or women, however they are not the regular army.
What really happened at My Lai?
Soldiers followed orders whether they liked it or not and they killed all men, women and children without thinking.
Why did the My Lai massacre happen?
Because US soldiers were trained to follow orders, it was a ‘kill or be killed’ situation. They thought the killing was commonplace.
Why were the USA weak?
New recruits made mistakes, bad tactics, lost troops as bait, didn’t care what happened to their own men.
What was Agent Orange?
A rainbow herbicide that destroys leaves and undergrowth in an attempt to destroy their food and communities
What was Napalm?
Napalm was a jelly-like substance made from petrol and soaps, which stuck to you and burned through your skin..
What was Search and Destroy?
Helicopters carried troops in surprise attacks. Very brutal.
What was Hearts and Minds?
Where they bribed the Vietnamese with schools, health clinics to try and win them over.
What was Guerilla Warfare?
This is what the Vietcong used, where they would use sneaky tactics e.g. ambushing or surprising the enemy when they don’t know.
What year was My Lai revealed to the public?
1969
Why were the Vietcong’s tunnels a problem?
Fake tunnels, booby traps, trap doors.
Which President increased involvement?
President Johnson
What was the main reason America got involved in Vietnam?
Because of their fear of communism, they couldn’t risk more countries falling to the domino effect, using the Golf of Tonkin incident as an excuse.
What year did the Buddhist Monk set himself on fire?
1963
