Vietnam War History Paper PDF

The Vietnam war was a multifaced conflict rooted in a clash of ideologies. Due to the unpredictable nature of the war, the USA found itself in a situation where it constantly needed to reevaluate its military strategies. The unpredictable nature of the war forced a reevaluation of strategy from the...

The Vietnam war was a multifaced conflict rooted in a clash of ideologies. Due to the unpredictable nature of the war, the USA found itself in a situation where it constantly needed to reevaluate its military strategies. The unpredictable nature of the war forced a reevaluation of strategy from the Americans. The first policy which was put in place in Vietnam was the policy of containment. They did this by the safe hamlet program, the program intended to isolate the Viet Cong from the local population. The primary goal of the Strategic Hamlet Program was to cut off the Viet Cong’s access to rural populations, which were a crucial source of recruits and supplies. The U.S. and South Vietnamese forces hoped to deny the Viet Cong the ability to operate freely in the countryside. They hoped that this would cause the Viet Cong to back off, which was not the case. in 1964, North Vietnam launched an attack on an American ship in the Gulf of Tonkin. This led to a more direct military support for the South Vietnamese army. The escalation policy was launched. More combat troops were deployed in Vietnam and President Johnson launched operation rolling thunder, a large- scale bombing campaign. The plan was to destroy the North Vietnamese economy and force them to stop helping guerilla fighters in the South. The bombs destroyed major military targets and thousands of lives were lost. Operation rolling thunder was intended to last eight weeks but lasted three years. However, there was no evidence the North was weakening, and the bombings only increased support for the Viet Cong. The unconventional nature of the war forced a reevaluation of strategy from the AMericans. America relied heavily on aircraft and modern military weapons. However, the military might of the USA was greatly imposed by the intense guerilla tactics carried out by the Vietnam. Guerrilla warfare, characterized by its unconventional, asymmetric tactics, posed significant challenges to the conventional military strategies of the United States. The guerillas used ambushes, hit and run tactics, underground tunnels and set up bamboo traps to inflict casualties on the American troops. Thier, their modern military were powerless against the guerilla tactics of the Viet cong. This forced a reevaluation of strategy from the Americans. U.S. troops underwent specialized training designed to prepare them for the unique challenges of jungle warfare. This training included learning how to navigate dense forests, detect and disarm hidden traps, and conduct small-unit patrols and ambushes. This included the adoption of search and destroy missions. The U.S. developed specialized units known as "Tunnel Rats." These soldiers were tasked with entering and clearing the tunnels, the work of the Tunnel Rats was extremely dangerous, as the tunnels were often booby-trapped but were essential for hunting the Viet Cong. The loss of life and decreasing support for the war forced the USA to rethink its strategy. It became clear that Americans could not win the war. As the deaths mounted and AMericans continued to leave for Southeast Asia, anti war protests broke out first out first in universities then in major cities. The Vietnam war was the first conflict to be extensively covered on television. Graphic images and reports of the war's brutality, such as My Lai massacred. An incident t which an American troop was patrolling the village of My Lai and in frustration because they were not able to locate the enemy, they rounded up unarmed children, women and the elderly, raped the women and forced them into ditches of open fire. The coverage of incidents such as this and the Tet offensive shocked the American public and turned many against the war. As the war became increasingly unpopular at home, morale among U.S. soldiers in Vietnam deteriorated. Soldiers often felt unsupported by the public and faced a growing sense of futility in their mission. Incidents of "fragging" (attacks on officers by their own troops) and drug use among soldiers reflected the widespread disillusionment. Public opposition to the war put immense pressure on politicians. Recognizing the need for an intervention, the United States embarked on a policy of Vietnamization under President Richard Nixon. The Nixon doctrine involved withdrawing the US troops and building up the south Vietnamese so they could take over the defense of south Vietnamize. In 1970 President Nixon began withdrawing troops from Vietnam. Vietnamization represented a significant change in strategy.. However, the policy faced numerous challenges. Despite extensive U.S. training and support, the South Vietnamize army struggled to match the capabilities of the Viet Cong and NVA, Additionally, the withdrawal of U.S. forces and reduced American air support left the South Vietnamese government increasingly vulnerable. The lack of cultural understanding contributed to frustration and demoralization among American troops, who often struggled to understand the complexities of the war and the behavior of both the enemy and the local population. Efforts to win the "hearts and minds" of the Vietnamese people were largely ineffective. Cultural insensitivity and misunderstanding of local needs and customs led to alienation rather than support. Programs like the Strategic Hamlet Program, intended to isolate the Viet Cong from the local population, disrupted traditional village life and were resented by the people they were meant to protect. Adding The Vietnamese have a great history of fighting off invaders and the USA was just another country in that long fight. The Viet Cong were determined and motivated because they were fighting for the unification of their country in comparison to the American soldiers who were yong and inexperienced with very little motivation