11/29/12The Vietnam War*America’s longest war – an undeclared war that nobody won.1982: survey by Veterans’ Administration showed that 82% of former American soldiers who engaged in heavy combat in Vietnam believed it was lost because they were not allowed to win66% displayed a willingness to fight again under fewer limitationsGeneral William Westmoreland-Denounced American media for alleged distortions that turned the people against the war-Wanted a war of attrition where superior American firepower would wipe out the enemyMilitary officers reported that American reporters in Vietnam exaggerated events that poisoned the public and turned them against the war. They believed that America should not wage a war if they were not going to support its soldiers.Social Consequences of War-Increased men’s enrollment in college-African Americans-11% of U.S. population-23% of war fatalities-Dropped to 14% by 1969-Less likely to support the war than whites-Youngest soldier to die in Vietnam was a 16-year-old Black Marine from Brooklyn-Average age of the soldier serving in Vietnam: 19-Body Count – number of Viet Cong killed-Mylai Massacre, 1968-300-500 unarmed citizens were murdered in March-More atrocities like this probably took place but were never revealed-Many soldiers were sent to Vietnam as individuals instead of units so there was a lack of camaraderie-Race relations-Became increasingly brittle-Use of drugs so widespread – 1/3 of the troops addicted to opium or heroin-Fragging-Use of fragmentation grenades to ensure no evidence was left-Soldiers used this to kill superiors or fellows-Home Front-College campuses became the center of growing opposition to the war-Teach-ins-Hawks: Americans had to win the war to…-Save Southeast Asia from Communism-Preserve the nation’s prestige-Protect the lives of American soldiers-Doves (prominent minority)-Included Tom Hayden and actress Jane Fonda, folk singer Joan Baez, editorialist Walter Lippmann, Senator J. William Fulbright, and Dr. Benjamin Spock-Muhammad Ali refused to be inducted into the Army on religious grounds-Burning draft cards-Defied federal law-Kent State-May 1970: National Guard shot into crowd of protesters, killing 3 students and wounding 9 -Jackson State-May 1970: antiwar protesters seized a women’s dorm, police opened fire, killed 6 students and wounded a dozen othersThe Vietnam Vet-Many consider themselves to be members of a displaced generation-Portrayals of Vietnam Vets in the media are two-dimensional -Thousands exposed to Agent Orange, which may have afflicted them with cancer or other disorders-PTSD: panic, rage, anxiety, alcoholism, divorceVietnam MemorialNovember
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