WHO ARE WE FIGHTING AND WHAT ARE

WHO ARE WE FIGHTING? ? AND WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR? KENNEDY TAKES OVER 1960 “PAY ANY PRICE, BEAR ANY BURDEN” THE PEACE CORPS? ?

THE KENNEDY BRAIN TRUST THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST… • ROBERT MCNAMMARA SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHIZ KID! • WALT W. ROSTOW STATE DEPT. ECONOMIC GENIUS • GEORGE BALL STATE DEPT. AGAINST INVOLVEMENT IN VIETNAM • ROBERT KENEDY ATTORNEY GENERAL CLOSEST ADVISOR • DEAN RUSK SECRETARY OF STATE WAR HAWK • THE GREEN BERET !!!

KENNEDY’S FOREIGN POLICY CHALLENGES 1961 APRIL 17 TH 1961 AUGUST 1961— 1962 THE BAY OF PIGS FIASCO THE BERLIN IS CONSTRUCTED INDONESIA AND SUKARNO LAOTIAN CRISIS 1962 ---1963 THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS 1961— 1963 JAPAN AND THE PHILLIPINES 1961 ----1963 VIETNAM KENNEDY PROGRAMS PEACE CORPS ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS NEW PACIFIC COMMUNITY

H O L D I N G THE 1 9 6 3 BEACH HEAD 1961 3, 100 TROOPS 1963 16, 000 TROOPS LBJ TAKES OVER 1964 20, 000 TROOPS

LBJ WHO’S--- WHO 1964 ? ? ? DIEM IS DEAD ---- NGUYEN KHAN IS IN HO --- STILL HOLDING/ SQUABBLES ABOUND GIAP DEMOTED--- NGUYEN CHI THANH PROMOTED SINO—SOVIET RIFT ARVN--- STILL FIGHTING COMMIES WILLIAM WESTMORELAND --- TO THE RESCUE PLA OR VIETCONG? ? NLF? ? ? NVA? ? WHO ARE ALL THESE GUYS?

LBJ’S WAY OF THINKING…. • KENNEDY TO SOFT • HANDS ON APPROACH • CRUSH THE COMMIE BASTARDS • PREFERRED YES MEN TO ANALYSIS THE MCNAMARA REPORT 12/1963 REPLACES GENERAL HARKINS WITH WESTMORELAND “HARKIN’S WAS THE GUY WHO THOUGHT THE SNOWBALL COULD SURVIVE IN HELL!” REPLACES GENERAL MAX TAYLOR WITH EARL WHEELER

GENERAL WESTMORELAND TO THE RESCUE 1964 -68 • WEST POINT GRAD • WEST POINT SUPERINTEDENT • SERVED WWII • THOUGHT ARVN CORRUPT • CALLED FOR LARGE INCREASE IN TROOPS INTORDUCE SWEEP AND DESTROY MISSIONS AGAINST VIETCONG

THE GULF OF TONKIN INCIDENT A REASON FOR WAR? “ I AM NOT GOING TO BE THE PRESIDENT WHO SAW S. E. ASIA GO THE WAY OF CHINA. ” LBJ “ WE ARE NOT ABOUT TO SEND AMERICAN BOYS NINE OR TEN THOUSAND MILES AWAY FROM HOME TO DO WHAT ASIAN BOYS OUGHT TO BE DOING FOR THEMSELVES. ” LBJ

WHY NATIONS GO TO WAR POWER NATIONS OFTEN GOT TO WAR TO INCREASE THEIR POWER OR TO PREVENT THEIR ENEMIES FROM INCREASING THEIRS. SOME NATIONS DO THIS BY ATTACKING WEAKER NEIGHBORS; OTHERS FORM ALLIANCES WITH OTHER NATIONS TO BUILD STRENGTH. PRESTIGE THE DESIRE TO DEFEND OR ADVANCE A NATION’S PRESTIGE– THAT IS, A NATION’S STANDING IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD—IS A SECOND FACTOR THAT MAY LEAD TO WAR. PRINCIPLES SOME TIMES NATIONS GO TO WAR TO ENFORCE CHERISHED PRINCIPLES, SUCH AS ENSURING HUMAN RIGHTS OR THE RIGHTS OF VESSELS AT SEA. PROFIT NATIONS GO TO WAR FOR PROFIT, THAT IS, TO ADVANCE THEIR ECONOMIC INTERESTS BY PROTECTING INVESTMENTS, SECURING RAW MATERIALS, OR GAINING NEW MARKETS FOR THEIR EXPORTS. PROTECTION WHEN A NATION IS ATTACKED OR INVADED BY ANOTHER NATION, IT USUALLY WILL FIGHT TO PROTECT IT’S PEOPLE AND TERRITORY. READ THE HAND OUT AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

WHO FOUGHT IN THE WAR ? ? WHO ARE THE SOLDIERS WHO FIGHT THEIR NATION’S WARS ? FROM WHAT CITIES TOWNS AND VILLAGES DO THEY COME ? IMAGINE YOU ARE 18 AND GETTING READY TO GRADUATE? THE TIME IS THE SIXTIES. THE WAR IN VIETNAM IS GOING STRONG! HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR FUTURE? WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? DO YOU OWN A CAR? DO YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND? PLANS FOR MARRIAGE? GO TO COLLEGE? A TOUR OF DUTY IN THE MILITARY? WHAT DO YOU DO?

AMERICAN TROOP LEVELS 1959 --1973 YEAR TROOPS KIA 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 760 900 3, 205 11, 300 16, 300 23, 300 18, 4300 385, 300 485, 600 563, 100 475, 200 334, 600 156800 24200 50 0. . . 3, 078 6, 053 11, 058 16, 511 11, 527 6, 065 2, 304 561 300

PERSONEL … OF THE VIETNAM ERA 9, 087, 000 MILITARY PERSONNEL WERE ON ACTIVE DUTY 3, 403, 100 SERVED IN THE S. E. ASIA THEATRE 2, 594, 000 SERVED WITHIN THE BORDERS OF SOUTH VIETNAM 1. 6 MILLION SAW SOME TYPE OF COMBAT 7, 484 WOMEN SERVED IN VIETNAM 83. 5% WERE NURSES 58, 156 WERE KILLED IN ACTION INCLUDING 68 WOMEN 2, 388 MISSING IN ACTION 766 PRISONERS OF WAR 114 DIED IN CAPTIVITY

ETHNIC BACKGROUND… OF THE MEN WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM… • 88% WERE CAUCASIAN • 10. 6% WERE BLACK • 1. 0% OTHER RACES OF THE MEN KILLED IN ACTION IN VIETNAM… • 86. 8% WERE CAUCASIAN • 13. 5 % WERE BLACK • 1. 1% OTHER RACES

LIKELIHOOD OF VIETNAM-ERA SERVICE MILITARY SERVICE VIETNAM SERVICE COMBAT SERVICE (%) (%) LOW-INCOME 40 19 15 MIDDLE-INCOME 30 12 7 HIGH- INCOME 20 9 7 HIGH-SCHOOL DROOUTS 42 18 14 HIGH SCHOOL GRADS 45 21 17 COLLEGE GRADS 23 12 9

VIETNAM AND THE DRAFT……….

THE DRAFT… WHO WENT? WHO DIDN’T? …OF 26. 8 MILLION VIETNAM ERA DRAFT AGE -MEN • 15. 4 MILLION WERE DEFERRED, EXEMPTED OR DISQUALIFIED • 570, 000 COMMITTED DRAFT VIOLATIONS • 200, 000 THOUSAND TURNED OVER TO PROSECUTORS 1. 2. 3. 4. 8, 750 WERE CONVICTED 3, 250 WENT TO PRISON 3, 000 WENT INTO HIDING 100, 000 LEFT THE COUNTRY OH CANADA! 60% OF DRAFT ELIGIBLE MEN ESCAPED MILITARY SERVICE

HOW TO AVOID VIETNAM……. SELECTIVE SERVICE CLASSIFICATIONS-I-A AVAILABLE FOR MILITARY SERVICE I-A-O CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR/NON-COMBAT JOB I-C MEMBER OF ARMED SERVICES, PUBLIC HEALTH I-D MEMBER OF RESERVES/STUDENT IN TRAINING I-S HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT I-Y QUALIFIED FOR SERVICE ONLY IN EVENT OF WAR OR NT’L EMERGENCY I-W CONSCIENTIOUS OBJ. DOING CIV. WORK NAT’L HEALTH, SAFETY II-A DEFERRED BECAUSE OF CIVILIAN JOB II-C DEFERRED DUE AGRICULTURE JOB II-S DEFERRED BECAUSE OF STUDY III-A DEFERRED HAS A CHILD, OR EXTREME HARDSHIP IV-A REGISTRANT HAS COMPLETED SERVICE-SOLE SURVIVING SON IV-B OFFICIAL DEFERRED BY LAW IV-C ALIEN IV-D MINISTER OF RELIGION OR DIVINITY STUDENT IV-F REGISTRANT NOT QUALIFIED FOR MILITARY SERVICE V-A OVER THE AGE OF MILITARY SERVICE

HOW THEY KEPT FROM GOING… 172, 000 WERE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS A. HAD TO WORK FOR 2 YEARS B. LOW PAYING COMMUNITY-SERVICE JOBS C. OUTSIDE OF COMMUTING DISTANCE FROM HOME GO TO COLLEGE… ENROLLMENT UP 7% A. SHOW STEADY PROGRESS TOWARD ADEGREE B. CONTINUE ON TO GRAD SCHOOL C. FAIL AND IT IS BACK TO THE DRAFT GO INTO TEACHING, MEDICINE, OR THE MINISTRY HARDSHIP DEFERMENTS A. SOLE PROVIDER B. GET MARRIED AND HAVE KIDS GO IV-F -- GET A DOCTOR TO DECLARE YOU UNFIT JOIN THE NAVY, AIRFORCE OR COAST GUARD A. RESERVES B. NATIONAL GUARD

HOW THE WAR WAS FOUGHT THE WAR CONSISTED OF FIVE DISTINCT STAGES STAGE I 1961 -1964 COUNTERINSURGENCY STAGE II 1965 -1967 GROUND AIR COMBAT AND PACIFICATION STAGE III 1968 THE TET OFENSIVE STAGE IV 1969 -1973 VIETNAMIZATION AND U. S. DISENGAGEMENT STAGE V 1974 -1975 SOUTH VIETNAM WILL SINK OR SWIM ON IT’S OWN!

THE U. S. ENTERS COMBAT OUR ALLIES… THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ARMED FORCES 1965— 514, 000 MEN TO 1972– 1. 1 MILLION MEN 170, 000 ARVN KILLED IN ACTION A. UN-MOTIVATED B. CORRUPT C. BRUTAL D. OFTEN UNTRUSTWORTHY E. INFILTRATORS

THE POLITICS OF WAR…. THINGS HOLDING US BACK… 1. JOHNSON’S GREAT SOCIETY 2. PUBLIC OPINION/ ANOTHER ASIAN WAR 3. N. VIETNAM MUTUAL DEFENSE PACT/ WITH CHINA 4. U. S. COULD MANAGE WAR LONG ENOUGH TO ALLOW ARVN AND GOV. TO BUILD STRENGTH.

THE VIETCONG APPROACH VIETCONG LONG RANGE OBJECTIVES. . 1. WAGE A PROTRACTED WAR 2. SMALL ENGAGEMNETS 3. BOOBYTRAPS AND TERROR 4. HEARTS AND MINDS CAMPAIGN VIETCONG NVA

NON-EXPLOSIVE BOOBY TRAPS

NON-EXPLOSIVE BOOBY TRAPS

AMBUSH LAY-OUT

TIGER PIT

U. S. MILITARY STRATEGY 1965 -67 OBJECTIVE… WAR OF ATTRITION 3 STRATEGIES 1. U. S. ARMY AND MARINES CONDUCT SEARCH AND DESTROY MISSIONS / LARGE SCALE 2. U. S. TROOPS DESTROY VILLAGES OCCUPIED BY VIETCONG SYMPATHIZERS “FREE FIRE ZONES” 3. U. S. NAVY AND AIRFORCE WOULD CONDUCT EXTENSIVE BOMBING CAMPAIGN IN NORTH VIETNAM. 1. CUTOFF SUPPLIES TO SOUTH 2. HO CHI MINH TRAIL

TYPICAL GROUND MISSION 1966 “SEARCH AND DESTROY” INFANTRY “HUMP THE BOONIES” ENGAGE THE ENEMY CALL IN ARTILLERY—HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS FIGHTER-BOMBER AND AIRMOBILE REINFORCEMENTS GAUGE SUCCESS BY A BODY COUNT

ULTIMATE FAILURE… INFANTRY USED AS BAIT!!! A. SEARCH AND AVOID B. FRAGGING C. BODY COUNT PRESSURE D. USE OF NAPALM & AGENT ORANGE E. 4. 5 MILLION ACRES SPRAYED DID NOT WIN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEASANTS

AGENT ORANGE

THE AIR WAR 1965 -1967 OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER OBJECTIVES I. BREAK THE WILL OF THE N. VIETNAMESE II. TO SUPPORT VIETCONG IN THE SOUTH II. TO DESTROY VIETNAMS INDUSTRIAL BASE III. TO STOP THE FLOW OF MEN AND MATERIAL IV. TO THE SOUTH

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER 1965 -1967 1965 SORTIE– A SINGLE PLANE AND MISSION 1. 3, 600 IN APRIL TO 5, 500 BY THE END OF YEAR 2. 134 TARGETS BOMBED 3. SUSPENDED FROM DEC. 1965 -- JAN. 1966 BEGAN ATTACKING N. V. GAS-OIL AND LUBE FACILITIES 70% DESTROYED STUDY SHOWED NO IMPACT A. VIET CONG DID NOT NEED PETROL B. NO TANKS- PLANES- HELIOS C. LIVE OFF LAND TRAVEL LIGHT

OVERALL BOMBING EFFECTIVNESS 1965 25, 000 SORTIES 63, 000 TONS DROPPED 1966 79, 000 SORTIES 136, 000 TONS DROPPED 1967 108, 000 SORTIES 226, 000 TONS DROPPED LOST 2, 257 AIRCRAFT 2, 700 AIRMEN $10 U. S. SPENT FOR EVERY $1 DAMAGE TO N. V.

MY LAI MASSACRE 3/16/1968 On March 16, 1968 the angry and frustrated men of Charlie Company, 11 th Brigade, American Division entered the Vietnamese village of My Lai. "This is what you've been waiting for -- search and destroy – and you've got it, " said their superior officers. A short time later the killing began. The agitated troops, under the command of Lt. William Calley

MY LAI MASSACRE Poised for Conflict My Lai lay in the South Vietnamese district of Son My, a heavily mined area where the Vietcong were deeply entrenched. Numerous members of Charlie Company had been maimed or killed in the area during the preceding weeks. In the course of three hours more than 500 Vietnamese civilians were killed in cold blood at the hands of US troops.

MY LAI THE RESULTS--- CHAOS WHAT HUGH THOMPSON SAW—PILOT OF HELICOPTER GUNSHIP Women were gang raped; Vietnamese who had bowed to greet the Americans were beaten with fists and tortured, clubbed with rifle butts and stabbed with bayonets. Some victims were mutilated with the signature "C Company" carved into the chest. By late morning word had got back to higher authorities and a cease-fire was ordered. My Lai was in a state of carnage. Bodies were strewn through the village. The death toll totaled 504. Only one American was injured – a GI who had shot himself in the foot while clearing his pistol.

MY LAI BURNING

VICTIMS

MY LAI COVER-UP It took more than a year for the shocking story of the My Lai massacre to reach the news stands. Efforts had been made to cover up the atrocity from day one. Charlie Company's Captain Ernest Medina, who was on the ground at My Lai, realized that news of the events could cause trouble. Despite witnessing at least 100 bodies, when questioned by a superior close to the scene, he maintained that between 20 and 28 civilians had been killed by gunship and artillery fire. That was also the essence of a report submitted a month later by the commander of the 11 th Infantry Brigade, Col Oran K Henderson. 20 civilians had been killed inadvertently, he claimed.

THE COVER-UP UN-WINDS Ronald Ridenhour, a soldier with the 11 th Brigade soldier and also serving in Quang Ngai Province, was sharing a beer with members of Charlie Company when one of them started to boast of their exploits in My Lai. RIDENHOUR SENDS THE STORY TO 30 TOP OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON D. C. Evidence was amassed and the inquiry became a criminal investigation. Lt Calley, commander of the 1 st platoon at My Lai, was called back to the US as a potential suspect and in September of 1969 he was charged with 109 murders.

THE WHITE WASH BEGINS THE PEERS REPORT In late 1969 the grisly details of My Lai were unleashed on the public, following a report by the investigative journalist Seymour Hersh. The Peers inquiry recommended that charges should be brought against 28 officers and two non-commissioned officers involvedin the concealment of the massacre. But the prospect of prosecutions crumbled. Army lawyers decided only 14 officers should be charged. Only one came to court, and he was acquitted.

THE GROUND TROOPS—GUILTY? ? A similar pattern emerged in the prosecution of the ground troops who had done the killing at My Lai. The CID report said there was evidence to charge 30 soldiers with major crimes. 17 had left the army and charges against them were quietly dropped. Elsewhere charges were dismissed or the accused found 'not guilty'

LT. CALLEY FOUND GUILTY In the end, Charlie company's commanding officer, Lt Calley, was the only one to be convicted. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour. Within three days he was out of prison, pending appeal, on the personal instructions of President Richard Nixon. WILLIAM CALLEY He spent the next three years under house arrest at Fort Benning in Georgia. Freed on bail in 1974 his sentence was then cut to 10 years. Later that year he was paroled after completing one third of his sentence.

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