Section 1B: Flashcards
(7 cards)
Buddhist Uprisings:
Buddhist Affairs:
70% of the population was Buddist
Catholic minority was dominating the government
When the Bhuddists put up flags to celebrate the birthday of Buddha
They were torn down, and riots started
Because of this, 8 people were shot
Monks:
The Monks, in protest, put gasoline on their robes and set themselves on fire.
Many people first became aware of Vietnam because of the burning Monk
Tensions between the US and Saigon got worse and worse
He cuts the phone lines of many buddhists and takes them away
Henry Cabot Lodges goes to Vietnam
Diem’s Overthrow:
The overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem, the president of South Vietnam, occurred in a military coup on November 1, 1963. Diem and his brother, Ngô Đình Nhu, were assassinated the following day. The coup, led by General Dương Văn Minh, was a direct result of growing discontent within the South Vietnamese military and a weakening of US support for Diem’s government.
Gulf of Tonkin and the aftermath:
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, a series of naval engagements in the Gulf of Tonkin in August 1964, escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Following reported attacks on U.S. destroyers, President Johnson secured the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which authorized the president to take necessary measures to defend U.S. interests in Southeast Asia. This effectively gave Johnson a “blank check” to escalate the conflict, leading to a massive increase in U.S. military presence and a prolonged war.
Search and Destroy:
In the Vietnam War, “search and destroy” missions were a common tactic where US forces would enter enemy-held areas to locate and destroy communist units. These operations, often involving large detachments of troops, aimed to engage enemy forces in direct combat.
Key aspects of search and destroy missions:
Ho Chi Minh Trail:
The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a network of mountain and jungle paths and trails used by North Vietnam to infiltrate troops and supplies into South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos during the Vietnam War. It served as a critical supply route for North Vietnamese forces, enabling them to effectively support their operations in the South,
La Drang Valley:
The Battle of Ia Drang Valley, a crucial early engagement of the Vietnam War, pitted U.S. forces against the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN). It began with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) deploying to the Ia Drang Valley to establish landing zones. The battle at Landing Zone X-Ray, the first major clash between U.S. and PAVN troops, lasted 40 hours and involved heavy fighting. A subsequent ambush at Landing Zone Albany further intensified the conflict. The battle resulted in significant casualties on both sides and marked a turning point in the Vietnam War, demonstrating the capabilities of both U.S. air mobility and the resilience of PAVN forces.
Napalm and Agent Orange:
Napalm is a flammable liquid used as a weapon, while Agent Orange is a herbicide used for defoliation and crop destruction. Both were used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War, but they served different purposes and have different effects.
