end-of course survey course instructor opinion survey (cios) thank a teacher form
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End-Of Course Survey
Course Instructor Opinion Survey (CIOS)
Thank a Teacher
Form
Thoughts on Papers
A+ = 98%A = 95%A- = 92%
B+ = 88%B = 85%B- = 82%
Etc.
Thoughts on Papers
RTFG! Read the Full Guidance!
If you can’t write …and are offered the option of telegraphic format …
TAKE IT!
Capitalization: Congress president
Vietnam: Peace With Honor
Lesson Objectives
• Understand the goals, provisions and consequences of President Nixon's Vietnamization policy.
• Describe the efforts of President Nixon to change global strategic alignments and the implications of his initiatives.
• Describe and analyze changes in the military situation in Vietnam from 1969 to 1973.
• Describe and assess the impact of US political developments from 1969 through 1975.
Major Issues
What was the impact of the Cambodian Incursion on the US domestic situation?
What was Vietnamization?
What was Lam Son 719?
• How did Lam Son 719 reflect on the Vietnamization effort?
• Specifically, how did Congress react to the Cambodian incursion?
What were the results of the Easter (Spring) Offensive of 1972?
What action did the US take as a result of the Easter (Spring) Offensive of 1972?
What was Linebacker II and what was its objective?
Troop Levels
Vietnam War Casualties
Buildup In Vietnam
Why was our buildup in Vietnam so slow?
Gradual escalation?
Vietnam: 1964 - 1968
Gulf War: Aug 1990 - Jan-Mar 1991
Lack of infrastructure?
Probably a little of each!
Fear of Soviet or Chinese intervention?
Strategy of Revolutionary War
1954-1965: Phase I (guerrilla warfare)
• 1961-1965: Heated Politburo debate on transition
1965-1967: Phase II (guerrilla & conventional warfare)
• Increased large unit actions (Ia Drang, Khe Sanh)
Tactical Victory
1968 (early): Phase III (Tet Offensive) (conventional warfare)
• Military disaster (VC destroyed)
• “General Uprising” did not occur• Strategic victory for the Communists none the less
, Strategic Defeat
Tet 68 for U.S
Richard M. Nixon
January 20, 1969
Vietnamization
During 1968 presidential campaign, Nixon pledged to have a secret plan for ending the Vietnam War
Initiated a plan to increase the size and effectiveness of South Vietnamese forces while drawing down size of US military role in that country.
Vietnamization
President Nixon gave major speech on Vietnamization policy November 3, 1969
Text Video 32:24 Silent MajorityVietnamization begins 14:00
Troop Levels
Vietnam War Casualties
Vietnam War Casualties
Cambodian Incursion29 April - 22 July 1970
Cambodian Incursion29 April - 22 July 1970
Results:Casualties: US: 338 KIA ARVN: 809 KIA
NVA: 12,000+ KIA (estimated)
Huge stocks of NVA weapons, ammo, food captured
US Domestic:
Widespread protest in US, particularly on college campuses
Congress took first action to limit US involvement in SEA
• Cooper-Church Amendment
Kent State MassacreMay 4, 1970
( 1:18 )
Congress and the WarUse of Budget to Restrict Operations in SEA
Cooper-Church Amendment (1970)
• Sponsored by Sen. John Cooper (R-KY) & Sen. Frank Church (S-ID)
• Reaction to US-led invasion of Cambodia (April 1970)
• Prohibited use of US troops in Cambodia after June 30, 1970
• Approved by Senate 58-37 on June 30, 1970, after troops US withdrew
• House approved watered-down version December 1970
Significance:
First time Congress had restricted the deployment of US troops in wartime
US Strategy in Vietnam
JCS Proposal 1965
• Build a Korean-war style defensive line across DMZ
• Conduct operations into Laos to permanently cut supply lines (Ho Chi Minh Trail)
• Proposed by Westmoreland in 1967, again in 1968
• Never approved or rejected by LBJ, SecDef
Summers
Review
In 1971, President Nixon approved the plan
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Lam Son 719
Before one draws any comparisons between the Laos operations and airmobile operations conducted by the U. S. Army, it must be realized that LAMSON 719 was a very special operation in which strict rules governed U. S. military operations across the Laotian border.
Lieutenant General John J. Tolson, USAAirmobility 1961-1971, p. 236Vietnam Studies series, CMH Pub 90-4Washington: Department of the Army, 1989
8 February - 25 March 1971
Attempt to cut Ho Chi Minh Trail
While the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces could operate freely on the ground and in the air within Laos, U. S. Forces were restricted to air operations under specific rules of engagement and were prohibited from fighting on the ground.
Lam Son 719Logistics
Lam Son 7198 February - 25 March 1971
Objective: Tchepone & Base Area 604
Concept of Operations:
US provided:
• logistic support to border,
• air support in Laos
Lam Son 7198 February - 25 March 1971
Results:Casualties: US: 215 KIA ARVN: 1,500-3,500 KIA *
NVA: 2,000 KIA (estimated)
Some NVA weapons, ammo, food captured
* ARVN reports vary
ARVN did not perform well in face of stiff NVA resistance
• Poor planning and execution by ARVN leadership
Generally regarded as indicating a failure of Vietnamization
Update on Vietnam
Address - April 1971
Part 2 - 10:39
Easter (Spring) OffensiveMarch 30 - October 22, 1972
Easter (Spring) OffensiveMarch 30 - October 22, 1972
Easter (Spring) OffensiveMarch 30 - October 22, 1972
ARVN performed reasonably well with US air support
DRV gained valuable space inside RVN for future offensives
Major conventional invasion on three fronts:• Across DMZ • Central Highlands
• West of Saigon
• Also gained bargaining chip in negotiations
Nixon began planning for Linebacker II
Nixon initiated Operation Linebacker (May 9 - October 23, 1972)• Bombing of North Vietnamese logistics targets
• Sustained bombing of North Vietnamese strategic targets
Paris Peace AccordsJanuary 23, 1973
Henry Kissinger (left) and Le Duc Tho initial agreement
Paris Peace AccordsJanuary 23, 1973
Major Provisions:
US troops would leave Vietnam by 1973
North Vietnamese troops would remain in South
South Vietnamese government would remain
Congress and the WarUse of Budget to Restrict Operations in SEA
Case-Church Amendment (1973)
• After Paris Peace Accords (Jan 1973), Nixon hinted at US intervention if North Vietnam attacked South
• Introduced by Senators Clifford Case (R‐NJ) & Frank Church (D‐ID)
• Prohibited U.S. military activity in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia after August 15, 1973 without Congressional approval.
• Passed by Senate 64-26, House 278-124 (June 1973)
Significance:
Essentially ended US military activity in Southeast Asia
Nixon ResignsAugust 9, 1974
President Gerald Ford
US Drawdown
( 58:19 )
Final Offensive
DRV planned final offensive for 1976
Probing Attacks
Final Offensive
DRV planned final offensive for 1976
Encouraged, DVR ordered additional probes in 1975
The Final Days - 1975
Final Offensive
DRV planned final offensive for 1976
Encouraged, DVR ordered additional probes in 1975
DRV politburo again astonished by speed of success
• Ordered push to Pleiku and on to coast
RVN President Thieu ordered strategic retreat• Gave up northern provinces to protect Saigon and south
ARVN retreat turned into a rout
The Final Days - 1975
Hué FellMarch 25
Da Nang FellMarch 30
II Corps FellApril 2
Pleiku AbandonedMarch 16
Last Flight From DanangMarch 29, 1975
( 4:59 )
US Evacuation of Saigon
Early plans had identified:• 8,000 US and third country citizens for evacuation
• Number of potential South Vietnamese evacuees never determined
• • Estimate: 17,000 US employee + 6 family members = > ~120,000 evacuees
Late March 1975: Evacuations by commercial aircraft began
• Last fixed-wing transport (C-130) left Tan San Nhut airport 29 April
• • Later estimates went as high as 200,000!
Contingency plans always existed for evacuation of US citizens• Also included “At risk” Vietnamese citizens
• • “At Risk” = US employees and agents
Operation Frequent WindApril 29-30, 1975
Final helicopter evacuation of US citizens and others
Pickup points at Tan San Nhut airport and US Embassy
• Air America (CIA-run airline) also committed 24 helicopters
US Marine helicopters operated from off-shore ships • USAF helicopters from Thailand shuttled to ships
Operation Frequent WindApril 29-30, 1975
Helicopter operations from Saigon progressed smoothly
Operation Frequent WindApril 29-30, 1975
April 30, 1975 - 7:53 AM
Last US Marine helicopter lifted off the roof of the US Embassy
Evacuation of Saigon
Iconic image: “Evacuation from the U.S. Embassy roof”
U.S. Embassy - Saigon
1972
Evacuation of Saigon
Pittman Apartment building used by CIA staff
(top of elevator shaft - not a heliport)Story
Operation Frequent WindApril 29-30, 1975
Meanwhile, as South Vietnam forces crumbled …
…scores of VNAF officers commandeered aircraft and headed to Thailand or the US fleet offshore.
Created desk space problem on aircraft carrier USS Midway
Scenes Ditching
Operation Frequent Wind
VNAF Major Ly Buang, wife, five children arrive on USS Midway
Operation Frequent Wind
USS Midway after stop in Thailand to retrieve fixed wing aircraft
Major Ly Buang’s O-1 aircraft
Fall of SaigonApril 30, 1975
( 6:06 )
What went wrong in Vietnam?
Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.
-- George Santyana (1863-1952), 1905
Vietnam: Lessons Learned
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