Problems faced by the USA in Vietnam

What age were 60% of soldiers killed?

17-21

What percentage of officer deaths were caused by own troops?

3%

How many incidents of desertion were there? what did the USA do to prevent this?

500 000- The USA introduced the policy of giving troops a 1-year contract

what were the 3 main problems faced by the USA?

Low morale and inexperience, Vietnam's neighbours, 'Hearts and Minds'

What were the USA never officially able to do?

enter the states

What were the Viet Cong able to do?

retreat to neighboring countries to reinforce their losses and get new equipment

When did this issue come to an end?

The My Lai massacre (1968)

What were the majority of soldiers?

People with poor immigrant backgrounds because they couldn't afford the draft like the well educated

What was their evidence of?

Tension between soldiers and officers- 'frogging' (Killing officers)

What did politics mean?

The USA couldn't send their forces into NV or neighbouring countries

What did the large number of civilian casualties lead to?

The Vietnamese supporting the VC

What did the soldiers know little about?

Their reasons for fighting- they didn't care for democracy/communism and wanted to go home

What was the USA's problem?

Their tactics were bases on mass killing

What happened after 1967?

Things got worse-many troops were young and hadn't fought before

What did Lyndon B Johnson speak about?

the importance of winning 'hearts and minds' in Vietnam

What did the VC use these states for?

to supply forces along the Ho Chi Minh trail

True or false- The neighbours were sympathetic towards the Viet Cong

true

What were US troops like in the early stages of war?

volunteers who had fought before-morale was good