OH+Research

__**RESEARCH:**__

TOPIC: VIETNAM WAR SUBJECT: JOHN MINGO (GRANDPA)

The Beginning:

On May 7 1954, it all started. French command posts at Dien Bien Phu are forcefully occupied by the Vietnamese. The French commander then tells his troops to cease fire. This battle lasted 55 days and Vietnam crushed France. Truman was actually sent as an economic and military aid to France to help them keeps their colonies in Indochina. But now Ho Chi Mihn can spread communism all throughout Vietnam.Then during 1959 Group 559 in formed. Group 559 took supplies from north Vietnam to troops in south Vietnam. Truman was actually sent as an economic and military aid to France to help them keeps their colonies in Indochina.This then became known as the Ho CHi Minh Trail. In late 1961 President Kennedy orders that there is more help in supplying the troops in southern Vietnam. Kennedy supported the overthrow of Ngo Dihn Diem and doesn't want to look like he is being soft on communism. Kennedy keeps on sending military advisors to Vietnam.

Then on November 22, 1963 President Kennedy gets shot and killed. His vice president, Lyndon Johnson, then becomes president. On August 7, 1964 the US congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin. This resolution gives President Johnson the power to take whatever he sees necessary to defend southeast Asia. Then two days before the presidential election Vietcong mortars shell Bien Hoa Air Base. Four Americans are killed. Vietcong then continues to kill more and more Americans. President Johnson then authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder, which was a limited but long lasting bombing offensive. Lastly in 1965 the first marines landing in Vietnam happens. Now the US is really involved. According to the NY times, "the viet cong has been stepping up its offensive. In response, the US has increased its military support."

The War:

While the soldiers were at Vietnam protest began to rise at home. Many were protesting the war because they didn't want to be involved in another war. But in Vietnam the US were winning many battles. Then when Richard Nixon became president he ordered something called vietnamization. According to the NY times, "Richard M Nixon indicated here today that he favored extension of the Vietnamese hostilities to the communist- controlled north, and would strongly recommend such action upon his return to the US at the end of his present world tour." This meant U.S. soldiers would gradually transfer all combat operations to the South Vietnamese Army. U.S. troops would be withdrawn from Vietnam. Nixon also ordered a massive bombing of north Vietnam.

Sources Used:

__PROQUEST:__

"Nixon May Support Wider Vietnam War." //New York Times// (April 10, 1964): 16. Web. 30 May 2010. .

direct link

"US and Vietnam." //New York Times// (Feb 18, 1962): 2. Web. 30 May 2010. <http://hn.bigchalk.com/hnweb/hn/do/document?set=searchera&lastset=&rendition=x-article-image&start=1&inmylist=false&urn=urn%3Aproquest%3AUS%3BPQDOC%3BHNP%3BPQD%3BHNP%3BPROD%3Bx-article-image%3B113416405&pagemapurn=urn%3Aproquest%3AUS%3BPQDOC%3BHNP%3BPQD%3BHNP%3BPROD%3Bx-pagemap%3B113416405&pageimageurn=urn%3Aproquest%3AUS%3BPQDOC%3BHNP%3BPQD%3BHNP%3BPROD%3Bx-pcpage-image%3B113416405&mylisturn=urn:proquest:US;PQDOC;HNP;PQD;HNP;PROD;x-abstract;113416405&pdfurn=urn%3Aproquest%3AUS%3BPQDOC%3BHNP%3BPQD%3BHNP%3BPROD%3Bx-article-image%3B113416405&abstracturn=urn%3Aproquest%3AUS%3BPQDOC%3BHNP%3BPQD%3BHNP%3BPROD%3Bx-abstract%3B113416405&returnpage=document&doframe=1>.

direct link

__Other Sources:__

//Creating America

ABC-CLIO: @http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Eras/Display.aspx?categoryid=41&entryid=1187612&searchtext=ho+chi+minh&type=simple&option=all&filterid= //