The Vietnam War Was A Brutal Conflict - 1666 Words

The Vietnam War was a brutal internal conflict between North and South Vietnam over the North s attempt to spread communism. Taking place between 1961 and 1975, it became America s second longest war. This battle destroyed countless villages, farmlands, forests, and neighboring countries of Vietnam. It took the lives of about two million Vietnamese soldiers and civilians, and over fifty-eight thousand American soldiers. In an effort to cease the spread of communism, many American troops were sent over by President John F. Kennedy to aid the South Vietnamese army. The U.S. provided South Vietnam and neighboring Southeast Asian countries with military supplies, combat troops, and economic aid. The controversy of U.S. participation in†¦show more content†¦This war was becoming less about Vietnam, and more about American honor. Consequently, time and lives were being taken away because America wanted to do the right thing. During this era, drafting was crucial. A total of 648,500 of men were drafted into the Vietnam War. Most soldiers who were drafted came from unwealthy, working-class families and only had a high school education. According to Christian Appy in Working-Class War, most of the Americans who fought in Vietnam were powerless, working-class teenagers sent to fight an undeclared war by presidents for whom they were not even eligible to vote (Draft). Their opportunities to improve themselves and their lifestyles were thrown out the window because of the draft. Families struggled emotionally as their loved ones were being taken away from them. They were sending their husbands, sons, and brothers to fight for a war that was not theirs to fight. It was said that the South Vietnamese army was not effective as U.S. troops. Veteran Lieutenant Federick Downs Jr. stated, He had faith that his country could win the war, but he found the South Vietnamese army to be lazy and ineffective. Maybe the people in Nam are worth saving, but their army isn t worth shit, he wrote in his memoir (Roark 861). This made it harder for people to support the war. How could they send their men to help a country that could not help themselves? Even with the amount of aid provided by the States, there was still no progressShow MoreRelatedHow Do Foreign Affairs During Vietnam Justify Public Or Private Tactical Behavior?1633 Words   |  7 Pagesquestion: To what degree is torture valuable? How do foreign affairs in Vietnam justify public or private tactical behavior. T.S. Eliot: â€Å"There is no such thing as a Lost Cause, because there is no such thing as a Gained Cause.† Growth and power come paired with conflict and danger. The United States must use interrogation to ensure the safety of its citizens. A history of torture to get information is prominent between many nations, however the use of such interrogation is often kept private fromRead MoreThe Vietnam War1737 Words   |  7 PagesThe purpose of the Vietnam War, was to end the awful spread of communism. As Ho Chi Minh (North Vietnam’s communist president) fought to which spread North Vietnam’s political uses to Southern Vietnam. With this, the American Military Advisors sought to believe that a fall of Southern Vietnam to communist hands, would then lead to a total takeover of neighboring nations to fall under communism. The effect of the neighboring nations falling, was known as the â€Å"Domino Effect†. It all began when TheRead MoreThe Cold War Times : A Theory Of Containment1073 Words   |  5 PagesQuestion 1: During cold war times, the US’ had a theory of containment. 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Young men and women, mostlyRead MoreThe Vietnam War : A Very Interesting Topic1188 Words   |  5 PagesThe Vietnam War is a very interesting topic. Even today, it’s legacy still goes on. The Vietnam War has greatly impacted not only Vietnam, but also the rest of the world — the West in particular. The reason for conflict in Vietnam could be described as â€Å"the straw that broke the camel’s back†. Since the late 19th century, French had been colonizing Vietnam as part of their quest to take over Indochina for its vast amount of resources. 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Due to the aftermath of World War II, countries around the world experienced massive independent movements whose objective was to eliminate colonization and form new independent nations. The process of decolonization was separated by three different approaches: civil war, negotiated independence