South Vietnams President

Ngo Dinh Diem 

  The Vietnam War was a failure by France to suppress nationalist forces in Indochina as it struggled to restore colonial domain after the World War 2. Led by Ho Chi Minh,  Vietnam had gained there independence from France in the year of 1954. On May 7, 1954 Vietnam forces occupied French command post at Dien Bien Phu the commander ordered troops to cease fire. The battle lasted 55 days, 3,000 French troops were killed, 8,000 wounded. The Viet Minh suffered worse with 8,000 dead and 12,000 wounded, but the Vietnamese victory shattered Frances resole to carry  on the war. Vietnam is divided into a north and a South. The North was the communist country and Led by Ho Chi Minh and the South was the anti-communist country and led by Ngo Dinh Diem.

North Vietnams President

Ho Chi Minh

U.S. President

Dwight D. Eisenhower

    The involvement of the United States was to stop the spread of communist in Southeast Asia. To accomplish this the United States helped South Vietnam, Also called the Republic of Vietnam. The United States sent an army of over 500,000 men. The U.S. involvement had began during the administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961) Which had sent U.S. Military groups to South Vietnam. Their numbers had increased as the military position in Saigon became weaker. In 1957 the communist  rebels- Viet Cong- had began a campaign of terrorism is South Vietnam. The North's goal was to overthrow the anti-communist government in South Vietnam.
    John F. Kennedy (1961-1963) had decided to commit American troops to South Vietnam, 4,000 troops were sent in 1962. After JFK was assassinated, the vice President London B. Johnson had served the last 14 months of JFK's term. In January 1965 Johnson was elected for his own full term.

U.S. President

John F. Kennedy

    

U.S. President

London B. Johnson

 Under President London B. Johnson (1963-1968) the US Inter Vertion mushroomed both the military and politically, General William C. Westmoreland's strategy of search and destroy would force the communist to expand supplies and make the logistics establishment in the North Vietnam all the more vulnerable to bombing. On August 4 captain of U.S.S. Maddox reported that his vessel had been fired at. American jets bombed 2 naval bases and destroyed a major oil facility. 2 U.S. planes were downed in the attack. Then on April 7, 1965 the U.S. offers the North Vietnam some economic aid for peace, the offer was rejected. 2 weeks later the American combat strength in Vietnam more than 60,000 troops. By the end of 1966 forces in Vietnam reached 385,000 men, plus 60,000 sailors stationed offshore.

U.S. General

William C. Westmorland
    The helicopter became a prime hover of artillery giving them increase mobility. The helicopter and its rapid fire often spelled the difference between victory and defeat. when General Creighton Abrahams took over command in the spring of 1968 the focus on ground operations turned to " Strategic hamlets" with population security as its goal.
    In 1965 U.S. air strikes were ordered against North Vietnam. By late 1965, such air strikes had became part and parcel to daily activities of those stationed in Vietnam. U.S. forces didn't attack some targets for the fear of Chinese retaliation. By spring of the later year some 50,000 Chinese troops served in North Vietnam. By April 24, 1967, American attacks on the North Vietnamese on airfields began, and the damaged runways and installations.  By the end of the year all but 1 of Miss bases had been hit.

Date

Total Personnel

December 31,1960

 900
December 31,1961 3,200
December 31,1962 11,500
December 31,1963 16,300
December 31,1964 23,300
December 31,1965 184,300
December 31,1966 425,300
December 31,1967 485,600
December 31,1968 536,100
December 31,1969 474,400
December 31,1970 335,800
June 9, 7971 250,900
    In  March 1965 first American ground troops arrived in south Vietnam. By  July, 125,000 Americans were fighting in Vietnam. In December U.S. halted air attacks to see if the North Vietnamese would negotiate an end to fighting the war. They refused, Ho Chi Minh' for peace was firm. In 1966 Johnson renewed bombing attack and increased the number of troops that were sent into North Vietnam. He condemned those who opposed his politics: he said " The American people still stand united every soldier is brought home safely. They will stand united until the people of  South Vietnam can choose their own government."
    Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974) was elected a claim that he had a "secret plan" for honorably disengaging American troops, which succeeded initially only in intensifying the conflict. This last phase of American involvement in the South Vietnam was carried out under broad policy called Vietnamization. It's main goal was to create strong, large self-reliant South Vietnamese military force.

U.S. President

Richard Nixon
    By April 1969 U.S. combat deaths in Vietnam had exceeded 33, 629 men killed in the Korean War.  Then on June 8, 1969 Nixon met with Southern Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thien on the Midway Island in the pacific, and announced that 25,000 U.S. troops will be withdrawn immediately.  August 9, 1974 Nixon resigns, leaving South Vietnam without it's strongest advocate. March 25, 1975 Hue, South Vietnams third largest city falls to the North Vietnamese Army.
    By Spring of 1972 the Vietnam War was at  low ebb.  After the invasion of Cambodia in May 1970, there was little fighting in South Vietnam.  To help build up the South Vietnams military the pentagon ordered a rush deliveries of some $2 billion worth of military Equipment, including over 600 aircrafts which gave South Vietnam ethic 4th largest air force in the world with over 2,000 aircrafts, and the 5th largest navy (with 1,500 ships) , and the 4th largest army in the world (with 1.1 million troops).

    U.S. Women in Vietnam
    Although the Pentagon Sources estimate that 1,234 military women other than nurses had served throughout the war, the exact number is really unknown.  The women served in various positions, such as personnel, administrative, logi communications, finance, intelligence, operators, advisors, public inform military justice, flight controllers, and in a myriad of other duties.
    The first Womens Army corps (WAC) person to serve in Vietnam was Major Anne Marie Doering (1962 to 1963).  The daughter of a French engineer, she was born and raised in Haiphorg and she spoke fluent Vietnamese.  She had been assigned to the military Assistance Group (M.A.A.G.) in Saigon as a plans officer.
    Originally, the Army had fought sending women other than nurses into Vietnam COL Shirley R. Heinze had waged a winning battle with the top Brass. Major Audrey Fisher was the first W.A.C. officer assigned to Headquarters U.S. Army Vietnam with the Office of Adjutant General.
     January 12, 1967 the first war enlisted to serve at Headquarters U.S. Army Vietnam (U.S.A.R.V.), Tan Son Mhut.  Six months later, along with the entire U.S. Army Vietnam commands the de tachment moved to Long Binh, approximately 27 miles northeast of Saigon. By early 1970, more than 130 enlisted W.A.C's, 30 Arny officers, and 5 Army warrant officers were serving throughout Vietnam.
   The first member of the Army Medical Specialist Corps (M.A.C.V.) to serve in Vietnam  was a physical therapist who had volunteered for Vietnam Major Barbara Gray had been assigned to the 17th  Field Hospital. in Saigon, March 1966.
    Between March 1966 and February 1973, 33 Female Army physical therapists served in South Vietnam.  The last Army dietitian and the last physical therapist to serve in Vietnam, both being women, left Saigon for home on February 1973.
 

 

Bibliography