No war is easy for those who fight it and each conflict brings its own challenges. The Vietnamese Communists, or Vietcong, were the military branch of the National Liberation Front (NLF), and were commanded by the Central Office for South Vietnam, which was located near the. "After we had returned to the base, fellow platoon members talked about their killings in vivid detail, as if they were some sort of heroic tales.". "So the easiest way was to kill everyone.". She was shot in the waist. The war also had a significant impact on American society, with young people particularly feeling alienated from their elders. Guerrilla warfare was used by small groups of armed soldiers against a much hefty army with had superior force and firepower. Vietnam War soldiers endured many hardships and faced many problems. Brother Nam assured readers that herbicides were safe. After the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule in 1976, the Viet Cong disbanded. U.S. Army Lt. William Calley Jr. was later convicted of personally murdering 22 Vietnamese civilians. You have them all out Lil, and get a nice set, The Viet Cong ultimately succeeded in uniting Vietnam under communist rule through their success in the war of attrition against the U.S. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. The war began in the 1960s and did not end until the early 1970s, and its effects are still felt today. | 1 The dangerous quantity of residual dioxin in the earth thwarts the normal growth of crops and trees, while continuing to poison the food chain. Each villager in a NLF area had to dig three feet of tunnel a day. What is the Antarctic Treaty System of 1959? The Vietnam War started as a conflict between Vietnam and France, which had colonized parts of Southeast Asia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Starting in 1958, the Viet Cong started engaging in guerrilla warfare against South Vietnamese forces. Tunnels were not to be treated as mere shelters. It also is generally considered to be one of the greatest Vietnam War documentaries ever made. The Viet Cong represented the irregular forces who used guerrilla warfare in Vietnam during the war. Base kitchens were always near the surface, with long, carved-out chimneys designed to diffuse cooking smoke and release it some distance away. In the end, South Korean troops formed the third-largest contingent in the coalition forces, after the U.S. and Great Britain. The war also led to an increase in taxes, as well as inflation.2 Some historians believe that the financial cost of the war helped contribute to the economic problems that America experienced in the 1970s. There were store rooms for weapons anad rice, and there was sometimes a hospital or forward aid station. All rights reserved. France's Leadership & Tactics in the First Indochina War. With the most advanced efforts of the U.S., these primitive tactics still proved effective in combat. The Viet Cong sometimes referred to themselves as an arm of the National Liberation Front in order to present themselves as nationalists, rather than insurgents. 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The Vietnam War was a long, costly and controversial conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. In all, at least 45,000 Vietnamese men and women are said to have died defending the Cu Chi tunnels over the course of the Vietnam War. These tactics enabled the Viet Cong to successfully engage in combat with their better-equipped U.S. counterparts. I feel like its a lifeline. Your time is important. flashcard set. They fought a hit-and-run guerrilla war against inexperienced American soldiers, many of . Mortars were also available in large numbers and had the advantage of being very easy to transport. They were training grounds, logistics centers and headquarters. The United States eventually entered the conflict to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia in response to the tensions of the Cold War. Initial U.S. involvement in the Vietnam conflict consisted of monetary support and military advisors. Guerrilla warfare often involves the use of small, highly mobile forces with the ability to conceal themselves in remote areas not easily accessed by regular military forces. In heavily bombed areas, people spent much of their life underground, and the Cu Chi tunnels grew to house entire underground villages, in effect, with living quarters, kitchens, ordnance factories, hospitals and bomb shelters. The Vietnam War was a major factor in the decline of the American economy. America's entry into the Vietnam War initially represented part of a broader foreign policy strategy to limit the spread of communism in developing nations. In the new book Invisible Armies, author Max Boot traces the role of guerrilla warfare through history, starting in the Roman Empire all the way up to Afghanistan. Through the experience and Impact of Vietnam war clearly shows that major wars are not without their major consequences this shown through the consequences such as communism taking over the country, the displacement of people (loss of love ones, building bombed) and use of agent orange (a tactical used by the US which release and herbicide called dioxin). It is unlikely that the U.S. will admit liability for the horrors Agent Orange unleashed in Vietnam. A key part of Ryu's testimony in court involved what he heard after the massacre from his fellow marines. The Viet Minh, by contrast, was the anti-colonialist movement that led to Vietnam's independence from France. Unlike the main troops, who saw themselves as professional soldiers, local Vietcong groups tended to be far less confident. May 1, 1983. That was a terrifying situation. This was often accomplished by the placement of soldiers disguised as civilians near villages occupied by American forces. More than 40 years on, the impact on their health has been staggering. Less than a month after this attack, U.S. troops massacred more than 500 unarmed civilians in the hamlet of My Lai, the worst known U.S. atrocity of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was a turning point in American history, marking a shift in the countrys attitude towards its role in the world. They also used a range of effective Soviet and Chinese light and medium machine guns, and infrequently, heavy machine guns. Students who find writing to be a difficult task. In January 1966, some 8,000 U.S. and Australian troops attempted to sweep the Cu Chi district in a large-scale program of attacks dubbed Operation Crimp. Vietnams natural defenses were also debilitated. Traditionally, Guerrilla Warfare was fought by a small number of armed combatants against a much large army with far superior numbers and firepower. This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before, Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts. hide caption, Former marine Ryu Jin-sung testified about hearing fellow platoon members discuss killing "in vivid detail, as if they were some sort of heroic tales," he says. Ngo Dinh Diem Biography, Timeline & Vietnam War | Who Was Ngo Dinh Diem? Guerrilla warfare is thought by many to be a circumstance of the latter half of the twentieth century. "A part of me doubted whether I did the right thing for the country and for our society," he says, "whether what I did was something to be proud of or whether I should've just kept my mouth shut. The American people have upheld the memories of these two historical events for more than one and a half decades. American troops were challenged by guerrilla warfare due to the methods of attack, including ambushes and soldiers disguised as civilians, the locations of battles and the type of weapons used. Critics of the Vietnam War say it was fought without any plan, any goal, or any strategy. Quora - A place to share knowledge and better understand the world Viet Cong (VC), in full Viet Nam Cong San, English Vietnamese Communists, the guerrilla force that, with the support of the North Vietnamese Army, fought against South Vietnam (late 1950s-1975) and the United States (early 1960s-1973). Former marine Ryu Jin-sung testified about hearing fellow platoon members discuss killing "in vivid detail, as if they were some sort of heroic tales," he says. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. The Vietnam War was a long, costly armed conflict that pitted the communist regime of North Vietnam and its southern allies, known as the Viet Cong, against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. The Vietnam War was the longest war in which the United States fought. Other reasons for the United State's entry into the conflict included the threat of Cold War tensions with China and the Soviet Union, as well as a desire to improve America's political credibility in global affairs. What Was the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization? This initial phase of the war lasted from 1945 to 1954, until the defeat of French forces at Dien Bien Phu. Long term effects were caused by dioxin was cancer prostate, bladder cancer, in fertility and possible diabetes. succeed. This allowed the Viet Cong to use the terrain and surprise tactics to gain an upper hand against American forces. The Tet Offensive in Vietnam | What was the Tet Offensive? In addition, the war sparked debate about the role of the military in a democracy and about the proper use of U.S. power in international relations. U.S. Marines were also in the area, and some entered Phong Nhi some four hours after the South Koreans, where they photographed dead and wounded villagers. After bombing attacks and the defoliation of rice fields and surrounding jungle areas with powerful herbicides, U.S. tanks and bulldozers moved in to sweep the tunnels, driving out several thousand residents, many of them civilian refugees. Explore the use of guerrilla warfare in the Vietnam War, learning about guerrilla combat weaponry, guerilla combat methods, and how the war was fought. This dispersion of Agent Orange over a vast area of central and south Vietnam poisoned the soil, river systems, lakes and rice paddies of Vietnam, enabling toxic chemicals to enter the food chain. The war resulted in high inflation, high taxes, and high interest rates. Understand who the Viet Cong were and why they chose to fight a guerrilla war. Her case was championed by South Korean civic groups, lawyers and journalists who broke the story of the village massacre in 1999. In guerrilla warfare, he says, distinguishing combatants from innocents is always hard. They were fighting bases capable of providing continuous support for troops. North Vietnamese and VC troops slipped back within months of the sweep, and in early 1968 they would use the tunnels as a stronghold in their assault against Saigon during the Tet Offensive. The anti-war movement was strong and vocal, with many young people taking part in protests against the war. After B-52 bombers dropped a large amount . As a result, flooding has gotten worse in numerous watershed areas. Some of these vulnerable areas also happen to be very poor and, these days, home to a large number of Agent Orange victims. By clicking Continue, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. Home Essay Samples War Guerrilla Warfare Guerrilla Warfare the Nature of War in Vietnam. Park says these troops can be viewed as victims mobilized by their government but also as perpetrators. He tells Steve Inskeep the . More than 3 million people (including 58,000 Americans) were killed in the Vietnam War, and more than 10,000 Americans were wounded. The peace treaty negotiated between Vietnam and France led to the independence of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. It also showed them that their government was not always honest with them. A simplified example of this more sophisticated organizational type, which was used by revolutionary forces during the Vietnam War, is shown below. The Tet Offensive in Vietnam | What was the Tet Offensive? In the first generation, the impacts were mostly visible in high rates of various forms of cancer among both U.S. soldiers and Vietnam residents. South Korea's experience in Vietnam emerged as part of the public debate 20 years ago, when Seoul decided to dispatch troops to the U.S.-led war in Iraq. flashcard set. Guerrilla Warfare was written in 1937 as a guide for the communists in China to wage a war against the Japanese. The class action case was dismissed in 2005 by a district court in Brooklyn, New York. The Viet Cong's surprise attacks were often carried out by ambushing American soldiers and then escaping before being captured. The Viet Cong represented an insurgent force that developed in South Vietnam. But in terms of mastery of the battlefield as well as the support of the community in the Vietnam war, it is a positive factor and excellence in the fight against the Americans . The war also brought home to Americans the reality of the dangers of communism, which led to a more aggressive stance against communism around the world. The court ruled in favor of a Vietnamese woman who had sued South Korea's government over a massacre committed by South Korean soldiers in her village 55 years ago. U.S. Army Operations in Vietnam R.W. In peace negotiations at Geneva, the decision was reached to divide Vietnam into northern and southern halves. . Finally, the war led to an increase in skepticism of government officials and institutions, which continues to this day. More than 3 million people were killed in the Vietnam War, and more than half of them were Vietnamese civilians.1. We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. The natural habitat of such rare species as tigers, elephants, bears and leopards were distorted, in many cases beyond repair. In parts of central and southern Vietnam that were already exposed to environmental hazards such as frequent typhoons and flooding in low-lying areas and droughts and water scarcity in the highlands and Mekong Delta, herbicide spraying led to nutrient loss in the soil. U.S. propaganda about Agent Orange was so effective, it fooled American troops into thinking it was safe, too. The U.S. and Vietnam are also undertaking a joint remediation program to deal with dioxin-contaminated soil and water. More than 3 million people (including 58,000 Americans) were killed in the war, and more than 10 million Vietnamese were wounded. Allegedly, chemical manufacturers had informed the U.S. military that Agent Orange was toxic, but spraying went forward anyway. Create your account. Its abundantly clear now that this is false. hide caption. The Cold War (1950-1973): Help and Review, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, The Viet Cong's Use of Guerrilla Warfare in the Vietnam War. He's been attacked for his testimony. Some entrances were even built under canals or streams. The war resulted in much death; innocent civilians and young Americans were killed. An error occurred trying to load this video. It was created to allow guerrilla fighters to move from one location to another undetected by American troops. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. This is a severe skin disease with acne scratches mainly on the face and upper body. The war also had a profound impact on American society. Some of the Viet Cong leaders include: After the end of the Vietnam War and with the reunification of North and South Vietnam, the Viet Cong disbanded and ceased their activities in 1976. The Vietnam War was a costly and devastating conflict that lasted for more than a decade. 2022 Jul 07 [cited 2023 Apr 18]. Local forces also designed primitive weapons, some designed to frighten intruders, but others were extremely dangerous. However, the Vietnam War showed them that their government was capable of making mistakes. Not until 1995 did Vietnam release its official estimate of war dead: as many as 2 million civilians on both sides and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. The Viet Cong relied upon the use of guerrilla tactics when fighting American military forces. Agent orange was a mission to release dioxin which is an herbicide meant to defoliate all plant life, crops. The Viet Cong received their main supply of weapons from China during the Vietnam War. Communists in China to wage a War against the Japanese habitat of such species. Program to deal with dioxin-contaminated soil and water institutions, which was used by groups... 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