Vietnam+War+Abroad

// Vietnam // // __How It Started__ // Viet Minh (Nationalist Vietnamese Organization of both Communist and Non-Communist Parties) wanted freedom from French rule after WWII. Since the French had been run out of 'Nam by the Japanese, the leader of the Viet Minh, Ho Chi Minh, declared it's freedom on September 2, 1945. The Viet Minh waged war on what was left of the French army, which eventually surrendered on May 7, 1954 after the siege of Dien Bien Phu (French Military Outpost.) At the 1954 Geneva Conference, the French wouldn't leave until there was a fair deal for their country i.e economic profits. Although the U.S had let the Viet Minh take Dien Bien Phu, they would not let Communism engulf all of Vietnam. Not wanting to start a war with the United States, China and the S.U. the terms of the treaty were revised on July 20, 1954. This stated that the Viet Minh would control and govern northern Vietnam, and a democratic group, aided by the U.S. would control and govern southern Vietnam. This separation was designed to last two years, ending with the reunification of the two Vietnams. This did not come to pass however because the U.S. kept delaying the election to decide the country's final political choice...which would surely be communism if the U.S. didn't intervene and build their own political parties' strength. Tension build and neither side was satisfied with the Geneva Conference. Believing that the Cuban missile crisis would lead to communist infiltration of neighboring countries, the U.S. started to fear that Democratic South Vietnam didn't posses the ability to defend itself. The U.S. decided to intervene.





The Tonkin Incidents: * * * * *

-First Incident-

-Second Incident-
 * August 2, 1964 the USS Maddox was attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin

-Resolution-
 * Two days after the first incident, the USS Maddox and the Turner Joy were reportedly attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats


 * Passed on August 7, 1964 H.J RES 1145 gave the president the ability to "take all necessary steps including armed force" to stop the communists from taking South Vietnam

//__Life Of A Soldier__// U.S. soldiers in Vietnam always had to be on alert. To search out and destroy guerrilla campaigns hidden in the jungle, marine platoons searched for days, weeks, or even months on end; leaving very little time for sleep. Always on the move, marines constantly found or were surprised by hidden enemy fortresses or camps. For example a platoon might be walking through quite section of woods and suddenly come under heavy fire. Some would run, but not many because all saw each other as brothers, and wouldn't leave a brother behind. The Vietnamese would launch mortar attacks with other heavy artillery while charging the platoon. In most cases overwhelming odds faced the marines who somehow overcame the number of Vietcong, probably due to their superior fire power and training. Private Reuben Morales, from California, was just 19 when his platoon was ambushed by a guerrilla unit. " The first guy hit was the point man. Then they hit a corpsman and then a private on the right flank. The radio was hit and we couldn't call the company. When someone tried to run he was hit." "And I saw three others, all face down. I guess they were dead." Morales and the other survivor crawled to the helicopter but then had to run and cover because the 'copters fuel line was shot and was about to explode. Two out of 13 men died in that one ambush and Morales' was not the only platoon to be essentially wiped out. Marines lost family everyday and night for about 15 years fighting in Vietnam. To them it was just a bunch of guys fighting some asians, it was their family fighting together for their country, for their freedom.



Often from such stressful situations and the brutality of all of the killing, a lot of soldiers returned to the U.S. severely mentally impaired. One such cause of these ailments was Agent Orange. Agent Orange was a chemical used from 1962 until 1969. It was desiegned to strip the jungles bate and expose and Vietcong lurking in the jungles. This would not only force the enemy to fight face to face but it would also reduce the risk of surprise guerrilla attacks and lessen U.S. ground troop casualties. In the 1970's several 'Nam Vets started reporting Agent Orange related illnesses including: skin and liver diseases and cancer of the lungs, stomachs, and muscles. In addition to physical complications, Agent Orange is also believed to cause severe mental problems. In combination with the killing, Vietnam veterans came home disillusioned and soon started having nightmares about their pasts. The war was not over for them, nor will it ever be.

// **__Tet Offensive: The battle of Hue City__** //

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On January 31, 1968 Communist forces dropped bombs and sent troops to take Hue City from allied forces. This was the headquarters for a major allied organization. Inside the Imperial city lay the citadel and HQ for the ARVN and MACV both allied organizations against the Communists. Marines were sent to recapture the city and save the two remaining rebel posts, one lead by Brigadier General Ngo Quang Truong. By dawn most of the city was under communist control. Company A 1/1st Marines were the first sent to retake the city. Right on their heels were the 2/5th marines for reinforcement, and to wrap it all up the 1/1st and 2/5th joined up with the M-48s of the 3rd Marine Tank Battalion to drive out the V.C. (Vietcong.) At first the troops had trouble adapting to the urban setting instead of the jungle fighting they were so accustomed too.



Februrary 3, Lieutenant Colonel Ernest C. Cheatham who commanded the 2/5th, took control of companies F, G, and H(!) to clear the city of the V.C. There would be 11 blocks of intense urban fighting the three companies would have to endure to re-take the city. Their first objective was the Treasury, which ended up taking around a whole day to secure. It only took 81 mm mortars and CS gas to clear the place out! :D The 2/5th seized the Cercle Sportif, Hue University Library, and Hue Hospital. In one of the bloodiest battles of Vietnam, the 2/5th captured the Thua Thien province capitol building.This was the beginning of the end for the V.C.

I believe it took around 3 months for the marines to take Hue city back into allied control but it was well worth it!

__//Significance://__

**-Vietnam created immense tension between the U.S. and Soviet Union ** **-Life as a soldier wasn't difficult...it was physically, mentally, and emotionally tortuous. Most soldiers didn't come back whether they were killed or just plain gone in the head.The communist soldiers were mostly Viet Cong, not soviet or Chinese troops which was unfair to the U.S. ** **-Hue city as well as a number of other major battles may have proven America's military and strategic strength over the Norther Communistic Vietnamese, but that didn't mean anything when it came to the outcome of the war. This took back ground from the soviets which if you add it all up made victory for the communists nigh impossible. **

__Works Cited__

Caputo, Philip. //10,000 days of thunder: a history of the Vietnam War//. New York, NY: Atheneum, 2005. 6-28. Print.

Esper, George, and Associated Press. //The Eyewitness history of the Vietnam war, 1961-1975//. 1st. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1983. 66-67 & 71-72. Print.

Personal Site by Ron Mangilit: http://www.hotel2-5usmc67-68.com/index.html. Web Page.

Pimlott, John. //Vietnam Decisive Battles//. London, PA: Barnes & Noble Books, 1999. 130-137. Print.