Gulf of Tonkin Tet Offensive My Lai
Review American toll- Death, improved battlefield medicine, PTSD and suicide. Congressional Acts- Cutting off funds to war effort, War Powers Act which negated the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and limiting executive power. Last days of the Republic of Vietnam- Tragedy and US humiliation. The Wall- Reconciliation and public mourning.
Phoenix Project 1965-1972 CIA and Special Ops to attack and destroy the Viet Cong infrastructure. 81,000 neutralized ( imprisoned ) 25,000 killed. Suspects captured for interrogation. Those who resisted were killed. Accomplishment- Severely damaged Viet Cong political influence. Criticisms- Torture, personal revenge, killing civilians.
Gulf of Tonkin August 1964 US seeking intelligence regarding radar and defenses. ROV using commandos to obtain coastal information. US Navy monitoring communications. Limits of territorial waters not clearly defined. North Vietnam sends protest that Captain Herrick s Maddox in their waters. August 2-3 DRV patrol boats opened fire. No US casualties. Jets from the Ticonderoga sunk 1 boat and crippled 2.
Gulf of Tonkin August 3 -Turner Joy joins the Maddox. Sonar functioning erratic. Weather conditions distorting signals. Sonar blips suggested attacks. Both ships fired in all directions. No actual sightings. Herrick had doubts. Admiral Stockdale saw no other ships.
Gulf of Tonkin Response No eye witness correspondents yet reports US ships under continuous torpedo attack Aug.4- LBJ needed to show resolve. Despite uncertainty Ordered retaliatory air strikes. Everett Alvarez shot down. First POW to Hanoi Hilton
Gulf of Tonkin Response August 5 LBJ submits proposal to Take all measures to repel attacks and prevent further aggression. Approval unanimous except for Morse and Gruening. Mc Namera with doubts charged with justification. The second attack did not happen but was not deliberately faked.
The Tet Offensive- January 1968 Unduly optimistic assurances by Johnson. Westmoreland TV interviews in November. See the end coming into view 1789- a Tet offensive routed Chinese army. In prior Tet holidays both sides had suspended hostilities. DRV objectives: Demoralize RVN and spur uprising in South.
Tet Offensive- The Attacks 70,000 troops launched attacks on multiple sites primarily cities. Saigon- American Embassy and radio stations. Battles for Khe Sanh and Hue US a tactical victory ( 50,000 enemy killed) but strategic loss. Loss of confidence and credibility in Westmoreland and Johnson Administration.
Khe Sanh Jan.21- Attacked Marine base near DMZ to draw US troops north away from cities. Infiltration site from Laos. 2 month battle. 10,000 Communists killed. 500 Marines. Threat of a repeat of another Dienbienphu prevented by US air power.
Battle for Hue During Tet, Communist forces capture ancient capital. Government workers and military targeted. Estimated 3000 executed. City liberated February 24 in street to street fighting. 5000 Communists, 400 ARVN and 150 US killed.
Tet - Consequences Enhanced the Anti-war movement. US victory was a psychological defeat. Polls revealed support for war dropped from 40% to 26%. Cronkite- The war would end in a stalemate
My Lai- Setting Pinkville March 1968 Communist stronghold. Prior US loses in region. Expected resistance. Hot LZ Captain Medina? orders- Avenge comrades. Destroy village. Free-fire zone-no innocents in area
My Lai- The Massacre Elderly, women and children rounded up. Lt. Calley and Pvt. Medlo execute between 100-200. Some estimate near 500. Pilot Hugh Thompson tries to intervene. Saves many. Army photographer records on personal camera. Only 3 weapons recovered.
My Lai- Cover up Thompson reports to Colonel and chaplain. Only few interviewed, told to not to discuss. Cover up extends to Major General Koster. April 69 letter to Congress by Ronald Ridenhour Photos released to Life Magazine.
My Lai- Court Martial Capt. Medina- Denied ordering killing of civilians. Inconclusive testimony. No conviction. Pvt. Medlo- Admits killing on Calley orders. No longer in service. Lt. Calley- Just following orders Convicted sentenced to life. General Koster- demoted
My Lai- Aftermath Lt. William Calley paroled 1974. Many outraged. Others sympathetic. Calley A scapegoat, a cold blooded killer, a product of the Vietnam war culture, or a hero. Are self-righteous Americans really fundamentally different?