Letter from a Soldier in Vietnam
1. In the letter, Lieutenant Kempner describes a plant. What does the plant look like?
On his patrol through the jungle Kempter saw a flower that was soft and red and had no thorns on it.
2. What does this plant represent to Kempner?
Kempner explains that the flower represents Vietnam because Vietnam is a country filled with plants with thorns that cut as well as guns and death but even in the middle of that there is still one beautiful flower, just like there is still some beautiful thoughts of hope for peace even if the flower might one day die.
3. Based on your reading of this letter, what qualities or traits do you think might have helped Kempner cope with the trials of war in Vietnam?
From my reading it seems Kempner has the trait of finding hope and beauty even in horrible and hopeless times. This trait is one that would help sustain him in his time in Vietnam where everything was so dark, dangerous, and seemingly hopeless.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Chapter 30 Section 2
U.S Involvement and Escalation
1. What did each of the fallowing play in the decision to escalate U.S. military involvement in Vietnam?
Lyndon B. Johnson- Was determined to contain communism in Vietnam but opposed sending American troops to fight in Vietnam, though he eventually did.
Robert McNamara- The Secretary of Defense who worked closely with the president to help reach the conclusion to start sending troops to Vietnam.
Dean Rusk- The Secretary of State who worked closely with the president to help reach the conclusion to start sending troops to Vietnam.
William Westmoreland- A American commander in South Vietnam who requested more American troops because he was greatly unimpressed with the fighting ability of the South Vietnamese Army.
U.S. Congress- Granted President Johnson war powers such as the desicion to send troops off to Vietnam
American Public Opinion- Did not want to see the spread of communism.
U.S. Military Strategies result in a bloody stalemate.
1. What military advantages did the Americans have over the Vietcong?
They lacked the high power weaponry that the american forces had and the number of forces and supplies.
2. What military advantages did the Vietcong have over the Americans?
They had many useful advantages such as effective hit and run tactics, a better knowledge of the land and the juggle, and they had the advantage of secrecy because they cold disguise themselves as civilians and attack troops. They also had several underground tunnels that not only protected against air attacks but connected towns.
3. What military strategies did the Americans use against the Vietcong?
They used the strategies such as setting up land mines everywhere to explode in the jungle, and strategy of trying to prevent the Vietcong from gaining the support of the south and rural populations. Ironically these strategies usually ended up backfiring and hurting the U.S. troops.
4. What military strategy did the Vietcong use against the Americans?
The Vietcong used the strategy of setting there own traps in the jungles for the American troops to fall into. Also they had more motivation then just military struggle, they were fighting for there existence, and this kept them fighting defiantly.
What role did each of the fallowing play in this(negative)change of public support?
1. The U.S. Economy- As the war dragged on the economy began to suffer as the inflation rate tripled and there were tax increases to help fund the war.
2. Television- People were exposed to war in a way they had never previously experienced before due to many new media outlets such as the television. People were able to see Americans being carried of in body bags.
3. The Fulbright hearings- Fulbright, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, organized televised committee meetings asking for answers about the war, this fueled the publics growing doubt.
1. What did each of the fallowing play in the decision to escalate U.S. military involvement in Vietnam?
Lyndon B. Johnson- Was determined to contain communism in Vietnam but opposed sending American troops to fight in Vietnam, though he eventually did.
Robert McNamara- The Secretary of Defense who worked closely with the president to help reach the conclusion to start sending troops to Vietnam.
Dean Rusk- The Secretary of State who worked closely with the president to help reach the conclusion to start sending troops to Vietnam.
William Westmoreland- A American commander in South Vietnam who requested more American troops because he was greatly unimpressed with the fighting ability of the South Vietnamese Army.
U.S. Congress- Granted President Johnson war powers such as the desicion to send troops off to Vietnam
American Public Opinion- Did not want to see the spread of communism.
U.S. Military Strategies result in a bloody stalemate.
1. What military advantages did the Americans have over the Vietcong?
They lacked the high power weaponry that the american forces had and the number of forces and supplies.
2. What military advantages did the Vietcong have over the Americans?
They had many useful advantages such as effective hit and run tactics, a better knowledge of the land and the juggle, and they had the advantage of secrecy because they cold disguise themselves as civilians and attack troops. They also had several underground tunnels that not only protected against air attacks but connected towns.
3. What military strategies did the Americans use against the Vietcong?
They used the strategies such as setting up land mines everywhere to explode in the jungle, and strategy of trying to prevent the Vietcong from gaining the support of the south and rural populations. Ironically these strategies usually ended up backfiring and hurting the U.S. troops.
4. What military strategy did the Vietcong use against the Americans?
The Vietcong used the strategy of setting there own traps in the jungles for the American troops to fall into. Also they had more motivation then just military struggle, they were fighting for there existence, and this kept them fighting defiantly.
What role did each of the fallowing play in this(negative)change of public support?
1. The U.S. Economy- As the war dragged on the economy began to suffer as the inflation rate tripled and there were tax increases to help fund the war.
2. Television- People were exposed to war in a way they had never previously experienced before due to many new media outlets such as the television. People were able to see Americans being carried of in body bags.
3. The Fulbright hearings- Fulbright, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, organized televised committee meetings asking for answers about the war, this fueled the publics growing doubt.
Chapter 30 Section 1
Moving Toward conflict
1. What did the Vietminh declare as its main goal?
Vietminh declared that its main goal was to win Vietnam's independence from foreign rule.
2. What Did Ho Chi Minh declare after Japan was forced out?
He declared that after Japan had been forced out that Vietnam was and independent nation.
3. How did Ho Chi Minh respond to the return of the French?
The return of French troops saw southern part of Vietnam back under there control, Ho Chi Minh vowed that there troops would fight from the north to liberate the south.
4. Whom did the U.S support?
The US sent its support and aid to the French.
5. What aid did the U.S provide?
The U.S. spent nearly one billion dollars over four years aiding Frances war efforts.
6. Why did the U.S. get involved in the struggle?
To stop communism from spreading.
7. What did Eisenhower compare to a row of dominoes?
He compared the countries of the brink of becoming communist nation as dominoes ready to fall because only one countries needs to become a communist nation for the rest to quickly fallow suit.
8. What did this victory cause the French to do?
After the Vietminh defeated French troops at the outpost at Dien Bien Phu, they were forced to surrender.
9. How did Geneva Accords Change Vietnam?
Several countries gathered together after Frances surrender to create a peace agreement. The Geneva Accords temporarily divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel. North Vietnam was controlled by the communists and South Vietnam was given to the control of anticommunist nationalists.
10. Who cancled the Vietnamese elections? Why?
Ngo Dinh Diem, a strong anti communist leader, canceled the elections against Ho Chi Mihn with the support of the united states. They supported him and the canceling of the elections because of the popularity that Ho Chi Minh had gained for himself and his communist party.
11. What authority did the Tonkin Gulf Resolution grant to the U.S. president?
The united stated adopted the Tonkin Gulf Resolution which gave the president, Johnson, broad military powers in Vietnam.
12. What did Operation Rolling Thunder do in North Vietnam?
The first sustained bombing of North Vietnam.
Explain the importance of the HO Chi Minh Trial to the Vietnam war?
This trial allowed to Ho Chi Minh to transfer arms to his support groups, these groups lead fighting and attacks that lead to an extreme weakening in South Vietnam.
1. What did the Vietminh declare as its main goal?
Vietminh declared that its main goal was to win Vietnam's independence from foreign rule.
2. What Did Ho Chi Minh declare after Japan was forced out?
He declared that after Japan had been forced out that Vietnam was and independent nation.
3. How did Ho Chi Minh respond to the return of the French?
The return of French troops saw southern part of Vietnam back under there control, Ho Chi Minh vowed that there troops would fight from the north to liberate the south.
4. Whom did the U.S support?
The US sent its support and aid to the French.
5. What aid did the U.S provide?
The U.S. spent nearly one billion dollars over four years aiding Frances war efforts.
6. Why did the U.S. get involved in the struggle?
To stop communism from spreading.
7. What did Eisenhower compare to a row of dominoes?
He compared the countries of the brink of becoming communist nation as dominoes ready to fall because only one countries needs to become a communist nation for the rest to quickly fallow suit.
8. What did this victory cause the French to do?
After the Vietminh defeated French troops at the outpost at Dien Bien Phu, they were forced to surrender.
9. How did Geneva Accords Change Vietnam?
Several countries gathered together after Frances surrender to create a peace agreement. The Geneva Accords temporarily divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel. North Vietnam was controlled by the communists and South Vietnam was given to the control of anticommunist nationalists.
10. Who cancled the Vietnamese elections? Why?
Ngo Dinh Diem, a strong anti communist leader, canceled the elections against Ho Chi Mihn with the support of the united states. They supported him and the canceling of the elections because of the popularity that Ho Chi Minh had gained for himself and his communist party.
11. What authority did the Tonkin Gulf Resolution grant to the U.S. president?
The united stated adopted the Tonkin Gulf Resolution which gave the president, Johnson, broad military powers in Vietnam.
12. What did Operation Rolling Thunder do in North Vietnam?
The first sustained bombing of North Vietnam.
Explain the importance of the HO Chi Minh Trial to the Vietnam war?
This trial allowed to Ho Chi Minh to transfer arms to his support groups, these groups lead fighting and attacks that lead to an extreme weakening in South Vietnam.
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