The Gulf of Tonkin incident

On August 1st, 1964, North Vietnamese forces American destroyer USS Maddox. With the help of the American aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga, they fended off the North Vietnamese forces. On August 4th, the American ships were in the same area and launched an attack at all North Vietnam targets on their radar, claiming they were fired at first. There was no attack and the incident was later blamed on "freak weather conditions."









http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/vietnamwar/p/gulfoftonkin.htm

Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969) was the president and prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. He was also a teacher and a sailor before he became such a powerful figure. He established a communist government in Vietnam. he was one of the founders of the French Communist Party. He fought for independence and unity of Vietnam. After he died, the capital city, Saigon, was renamed to Ho Chi Minh City in his honor.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/VNhochiminh.htm

The Tet Offensive

The Tet Offensive was meant to catch the US off guard and to drive the US out of Vietnam. This offensive was thought to drive the US out because of all the anti-war protests in the United States. This offensive was going to be carried out by fighting on two fronts, by doing this the Vietnamese thought they could spread the US military out so much they would fold causing them to give up one of the cities they had captured. The Tet Offensive was viewed as a turning point in the war. The offensive was said to cause the president to realize that he would need to send more men and more resources over if they were going to completely defeat the Vietnamese. Since there had been many anti-war protests in America this was not really possible.

More info: http://countrystudies.us/vietnam/29.htm

MLK "Beyond Vietnam" speech

Martin King gave this speech declaring that the war acts on Vietnam was a mistake. He does not support President Johnson and he also disapproves on violence. He feels that war will turn into communism. http://antiwar.com/orig/bromwich.php?articleid=12844

The Ho Chi Minh Trail

The Ho Chi Minh Trail was secret a series of roadways, waterways, and truck routes connecting North Vietnam to South Vietnam for safe travel with war supplies and aid. It also connected with neighboring countries of Laos and Cambodia for extra support. The trail was named after a Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh.

Two facts about the Ho Chi Minh:
1. Over ten percent of the casualties of soldiers being transported on this roadway were cases of Malaria.
2. Vietnamese Soldiers were transported from the North to the South on this road. Sometimes, as many as 20,000 a month.

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1875.html

The My Lai Massacre

The My Lai Massacre was one of the most known and infamous events of the Vietnam war. On the day of March, 16 1968 the Charlie Company, led by Second Lieutenant William Calley, entered the village of My Lai and started shooting at anyone that they saw, including children, women, and the elderly. The men of the Charlie Company saw no weapons and met no resistance when they entered the village. About 105 men opted out of the killing spree and when a man said he would not kill a group of people, Calley took his weapon and shot the people. The death toll was around 504 villagers. Years later what had happened got out. Calley was sentenced to life in prison but he was released in 1967.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/trenches/my_lai.html

Battle of Khe Sanh

The battle of Khe Sanh was from about January 1968 until April 1968 and was during the Vietnam War. There was a build up of Peolple's Army of North Vietnam in the area around Khe Sanh. The big decision during this war was whether to abandon Khe Sanh or to reinforce it; the General elected tom reinforce it. There were many troops sent it to help reinforce it. Khe Sanh won the battle with 703 killed and 2,643 wounded, while PAVN is estimated to have lost about 10,000 to 15,000 dead and wounded. Later that month General Creighton Abrams said that the base was not necessary and ordered it to be destroyed. http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/vietnamwar/p/khesanh.htm