What year did the Vietnam war occur?

Answer 1

There is no easy answer to this, as the conflict in Vietnam took place in different stages over several decades.

US involvement began in Vietnam as far back as 1941 when the OSS, a forerunner of the American CIA and various military intelligence agencies, provided support for Nguyen Sinh Cung, who had earlier taken the name Ho Chi Minh, in a guerrilla incursions against the Japanese and assisted in the recover of downed American pilots.

At the end of WW2, the country of Vietnam was divided by the Allies along the 16th parallel; the Chinese taking control of the north, and the British the south. France demanded the return of formerly held colonial interests in Southeast Asia. With the landing of the British in 1945, French prisoners of war were released and ravaged Saigon. American Lt. Col. A. Peter Dewey is mistakenly killed by Viet Minh in the violent exchange. In response to the violence, 35,000 French troops are transported to Saigon to restore order and French control. The Chinese agree in early 1946 to release control of the north to France in exchange for consessions. By mid-1946 the French declare an independently controlled French state in South Vietnam and call it the Republic of Chochinchina. The French enter Hanoi in the north and push Ho Chi Minh and his Viet Minh into hiding in the jungles. With the end of 1946, Ho retaliates, sending 30,000 Viet Minh against French troops. Vietnamese General Vo Ngyuen Giap vows to give the French the war they want.

Conflict continues sporadically but violently through 1950 when China and the Soviet Union formerly recognize Ho's Democratic Republic of Vietnam as the legitimate government of the combined nation of north and south Vietnam. The Chinese begin sending support in the form of equipment and advisers to aid Ho and General Giap. The US and allied forces refuse to recognize the DRV as legitimate and throw support behind Bao Dai, the puppet leader installed by the French in South Vietnam. Conflict in Korea begins to heat up as Truman responds to fear of the spread of communism and Soviet influence in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. In July, President Truman grants $15 million in financial support to the French in Indo-China. Truman sends US military advisers to assist French forces in South Vietnam along with military equipment and munitions. By 1954 US support rises to $3 billion.

The Korean Conflict ends in July 1953 with the establishment of the DMZ along the 38th parallel, newly inaugurated President Eisenhower dramatically increases military aid to the French in South Vietnam (approximately 80% of all military supplies), and General Giap begins mounting his attack against the French that will lead to their defeat at Dien Bien Phu. The French air base at Dien Bien Phu falls to Giap's troops, and France surrenders to Ho and begins withdrawal from Vietnam in May 1954. The Geneva Accords establishes a demilitarized zone at the 17th parallel, granting the north to Ho Chi Minh and the DRV, the south to Bao Dai. In January 1955 the south receives its first direct shipment of support and advisers from the US. Dai and newly installed Prime Minister Diem establish the Army of South Vietnam. US advisers begin training and supply of South Vietnamese troops. The last French soldier leaves Vietnam April 28, 1956.

In 1957 the Soviet Union proposes a permanent division of North and South Vietnam, and separate inclusion of both in the United Nations. The US refuses to agree to this, maintaining the sovereignty of the south.

Frustrated with the lack of progress to reunite the north and south motivates Ho to reignite violence and the Second Indo China War wages from 1957 through 1961 against the government of South Vietnam.

After a visit by Vice President Johnson in May 1961, President Kennedy orders 400 Green Berets to report as special advisers to the forces of South Vietnam in matters of counter-insurgency and guerrilla warfare. The role of the Green Berets expands to include the establishment of the CIDG (Civilian Irregular Defense Groups) who attempt to stop incursions by North Vietnamese troops.

In October 1961 in response to reports from his military advisers, Kennedy increases the troop strength in Vietnam to 8000. November 1963 President Kennedy is assassinated and Lyndon Johnson in sworn in. By Christmas Eve 1964 US troops in Vietnam grows to 23,000. Johnson is elected to the office of President and takes office in 1965. Operation Rolling Thunder begins and 100 US bombers begin attacking targets in North Vietnam in continuous attacks. On March 8, 1965 3500 US Marines Land at China Beach to defend the air base at Da Nang, joining the 23,000 advisers as the first US combat troops in country. In April, Johnson orders an increase of 20,000 support personnel in South Vietnam. In May, Johnson increases troop strengths again by ordering in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 3500 combat troops. July Johnson orders an increase to 125,000 troops, made up of forty-four battalions. By year end, troop levels in Vietnam reach 184,000.

By 1967 US troop levels in Vietnam reach 389,000. Casuality levels rise to 5008 killed, and 30,093 wounded. Congress authorizes war support of $4.5 billion. Johnson increases troop strengths from 475,000 to 520,000. Johnson halts Rolling Thunder in 1968 with hopes of restarting peace talks; the US loses 922 planes and crews in 302,380 sorties. By the end of 1968 the number of US troops in Vietnam holds at 495,000 and 30,000 KIA.

In January 1969, Richard Nixon becomes the 37th US President. Five US Presidents have been involved in the conflict in Vietnam. By April 1969 troop levels top out at 539,000, casualties reach 33,641.

By July of 1969 Nixon begins withdrawing troops with the recall of 800 9th Infantry soldiers. In September, Nixon orders reductions of 35,000 troops and reduces the draft. By December, Nixon orders home another 50,000 troops. He promises the withdrawal of 150,000 in 1970, and troops strengths fall to 156,300 by the end of 1971. Troop reductions continue, and on April 8, 1975 at 8:34 AM the last US soldier, a US Embassy Marine leaves Vietnam.

Additional information:At the Treaty of Geneva i n 1954, Indo-China was divided into Laos, Cambodia, North Vietnam and South Vietnam, although it was agreed to hold elections in 1956 to unify the two parts of Vietnam.

Ngo Dinh Diem, the ruler of South Vietnam, refused to hold elections.

Ho Chi Minh was a communist, who was supported by China. In 1960, he set up the National Liberation Front (NLF) in South Vietnam, which started a guerrilla war to take over South Vietnam from Diem and his American backers.

The Americans called the NLF guerrillas the Vietcong, and supported Diem with military advisers and money.

Diem's government was made up of rich Christian landowners. It was corrupt and unpopular and persecuted the poor Buddhist peasants. By 1963, most of South Vietnam's rural areas were under Vietcong control - the ARVN (South Vietnamese army) could not defeat them.

In 1963, there was a military coup, Diem was assassinated, and a military government was put in South Vietnam.

In August 1964, sailors on the American warship USS Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin were attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats. The US Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, allowing the American President Lyndon B. Johnson to take direct military action in retaliation.

In February 1965, the Vietcong attacked American air bases and killed American soldiers. President Johnson declared war against North Vietnam. Theories for US involvement:1. Containment: China had fallen to communism in 1949, and America had fought in Korea in 1950-53 to contain the spread of communism.
The US president, Lyndon B. Johnson, said: "I am not going to be the president who saw South-East Asia go the way China went."

2. Domino theory: Americans believed that, if South Vietnam fell, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand - and then Burma and India - would follow.
President Johnson said: "If you let a bully come into your garden, the next day he'll be in your porch, and the day after that he'll rape your wife."

3. ARVN's weakness: It was obvious the South Vietnamese could not resist communist infiltration by the Vietcong without help.

In 1963, the American commander reported that the ARVN - the South Vietnamese army - were "ill-equipped local militia who more often than not were killed asleep in their defensive positions".

US advisers believed that good government and an efficient, large-scale war would defeat the Vietcong.

4. The US was attacked: The North Vietnamese had attacked the USS Maddox in August 1964, and then killed US soldiers in February 1965.

Johnson became convinced that action in South Vietnam alone would never win the war: "We are swatting flies when we should be going after the manure pile."

Answer 2

1959-1975. However, the major U.S. military involvement was from 1965 to 1973.