Vietnamizing War

If U.S. was involved, how could it fail
How could it leave everything behind

1969 - 1/3 of forces defending Saigon gov't were U.S. soldiers (500,000)

Soldier stories
Conflicting bronze star/cross of gallantry U.S soldier killed enemy but not ARVN
We always won, we were always successful

6x more bombs dropped on SVN than communist North

3,000,000 refugees created by destruction
Video said destruction was deliberate
But not supported by U.S. officer in Tet video/Hue

Most U.S. soldiers served in support units

U.S. financed war overheated Vietnamese economy
1967-9 - U.S. in Vietnam - easy to make money
U.S. paid better than SV gov't
Money easily corrupted everyone
Blackmarketeering vs. "a transaction"

Societal problems caused by U.S. presence in Vietnam for extended period of time.

1971 report - drug problem in Vietnam was a military problem

1969 - 9,000 Americans killed
Nixon planned to Vietnamize the war
U.S. troop deaths dropped by 1/2 in 1970

Anti-war sentiments imported in newest recruits
"fragging"
Private hitting a captain story
Racial polarization in Vietnam was extreme
Even Vietnamese accepted it
Closer they got to combat, the better they got along

300,000 troops cut in just 2 years
Thieu stifled the opposition in 1971 election
PRG - peoples revolutionary government
(not N. Vietnamese, but southerners)

Pacification - identify subversives
CIA started the Phoenix Program
17,000 people turned themselves in (wanted posters)
communist groups neutralized in Can Tho
NV communists later admitted the program's effectiveness
Reports of abuses persisted

20,000 names were found dead - killed in military action (not all assassinated)
People were wrongfully killed (admitted)

Vietnam deluged with propaganda

1972 NVA advanced across 17th parallel

Quang Tri surrendered
Nixon mined Haiphong Harbor and resumed bombing of NV

Equip, Amer bombing, improved ARVN blunted the advance and made the difference

Counterattack - air support U.S. - ground war ARVN

1972 - 40,000 ARVN died - heaviest fighting of the war
Spring offensive week - no U.S. deaths
War had been Vietnamized

Ceasefire just before U.S. election 1972
Thieu would not agree
U.S. troop withdrawal and $ withdrawal hurt SV ability to fight war