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 ? ordersAvenge 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 ?