Fighting The War - Reading Quiz

Question 0

Saturation bombing

Answer 0

The dropping of a large concentration of bombs over a certain area.

Question 1

Land mine

Answer 1

An explosive device planted in the ground.

Question 2

Fragmentation bombs

Answer 2

A type of comb that, upon explosion, causes pieces of it’s thick metal casings to be thrown in all directions.

Question 3

Agent Orange

Answer 3

An herbicide used as a chemical weapon during Vietnam War to kill vegetation and expose enemy hiding places.

Question 4

Napalm

Answer 4

When dropped from airplanes, this jellylike substance splattered and burned uncontrollably; stuck to people’s bodies and seared off their flesh.

Question 5

Escalation

Answer 5

Expansion of the war.

Question 6

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Answer 6

A supply route that passed through Laos and Cambodia.

Question 7

Hawks

Answer 7

Those who supported the war.

Question 8

Doves

Answer 8

Those who opposed the war.

Question 9

Tet Offensive

Answer 9

1968 attack by Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces throughout South Vietnam.

Question 10

James Webb

Answer 10

Served as role platoon and company commander in An Hoa Basin near Da Nang

Question 11

Advantages of Americans when arriving in Vietnam

Answer 11

Superior arms and supplies

Question 12

Viet Cong advantages in Vietnam

Answer 12

Familiar with swamps and jungles; could find protection across border in Cambodia and Laos; could often count on support of local population.

Question 13

Americans trying to defend?

Answer 13

Freedom of southern Vietnamese

Question 14

Kit Bowen

Answer 14

First infantry division

Question 15

Ron Kovic

Answer 15

Marine from Long Island; worried about communist threat. 1) accidentally killed U.S. Corporal; 2) shot at shadowy figured in village hut only to learn his unit had killed and wounded innocent children; 3) and sniper’s bullet entered his spine and paralyzed from chest down (wrote about in book Born on the Fourth of July

Question 16

Guerrilla warfare attacks?

Answer 16

Working in smell groups to launch sneak attacks and practice sabotage.

Question 17

Punji trap?

Answer 17

Camouflaged pit filled with razor sharp stakes that were sometimes poisoned.

Question 18

B-52

Answer 18

Introduced by Americans; smashed roads and heavy bridges in both Vietnam; could drop explosives over large areas.

Question 19

Election winner of 1954?

Answer 19

Johnson

Question 20

Nguyen Cao Ky

Answer 20

Leader in task of propping up south Vietnamese govt.

Question 21

Viet Cong attack Pleiku Attack

Answer 21

Killed 8 Americans; injured 126; Johnson responded by authorizing bombing of north Vietnam

Question 22

General William Westmoreland

Answer 22

Commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam

Question 23

War goal?

Answer 23

Not conquer north Vietnam. Just enforce enemy to stop fighting. War = stalemate

Question 24

Operation Rolling Thunder

Answer 24

Relentless bombing campaign that continued for almost three years. Failed to stop Viet Cong

Question 25

Senator J. William Fulbright

Answer 25

Democrat and leading dove; questioned expansion of war; Senate of Foreign Relations Committee

Question 26

Dean Rusk

Answer 26

Secretary of State; defended american involvement in Vietnam

Question 27

George Kennan

Answer 27

Helped draft U.S. foreign policy after WWII; opposed involvement in Vietnam

Question 28

Nguyen Van Thieu

Answer 28

Succeeded Ky as president of south Vietnam; he and Ky were more effective than Diem had been, but remained authoritarian

Question 29

Tet

Answer 29

Vietnamese New Year; climax (turning point) Viet Cong and North Vietnamese launched major offensive

Question 30

South Vietnamese capital

Answer 30

Saigon

Question 31

William L. Calley, Jr.

Answer 31

Lieutenant. In charge of of clearing out village of My Lai (because of massacre)

Question 32

Massacre at My Lai

Answer 32

Hugh Thompson= pilot who helped villagers (told Lawrence Colburn to aim machine guns at Americans to shot villagers; testified against Calley’s conduct

Calley - served time (reduced 20 years; let out three years earlier on good behavior

Question 33

Tet Offensive (perspective of Viet Cong)

Answer 33

Heavy losses, but won psychological victory.