Was the Vietnam war ever declared a war?

Question

Okay smarty, how do you do it?

Answer 1

It was called a "police action", an undeclared war.No difference in casualties, just semantics. Don't you just love politicians?

Answer 2

If your being "Technical" Vietnam was a "Conflict". What I did there was fight in a "WAR". In my opinion, 58,000 lives lost is a war, (56,000 K.I.A.,, 2000 M.I.A.) And for "anthonyinkc, SHAME-ON-YOU!" How dare You say that was an "Illegal war"? That was pretty much the attitude of every-draft-dodger of that era! That, and if there has not been another war declared since then, what do you call the 2 Gulf-War's, (Operation Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom) More "Illegal Activity"? Both were declared war's by the congress and senate unanimously! And "Arafin Ceper" your comment was pretty much the attitude of every-communist who ever walked the planet. And "Steve S." close, but no-cigar. Though that may have been close to the losses suffered by the military, The actual "Loss-Of-Life" ran well into the millions. just a hint at the numbers from WW-2, : 2 million Polish, 6 million Jewish, 22 million Russians, and the list goes on. We were not the only nation who suffered loss in that war. My mother was born in Poland, had 16 siblings. After the "Blizkreig" by Nazi Forces, there was only her, one sister and one brother left. It is estimated that of every householod in Poland during that time, 3 out of 5 were killed. That is either in the actual invasion, or the concentration-camps that followed. My mother miraculously survived with her 2 siblings in those camp's from the age of 8, to 15 yrs. old. after her liberation, she came to the U.S., and the rest is history. All that being said, There will never be an accurate number of lives lost during any of the wars we have fought in. We may have a guesstiment on military losses, but the actual number of lives-lost both military and civilian in any war can never be determined. So, to answer your question, the "Official" casualty-count for the Vietnam war was 58,000, (Give or take a couple of hundred). This number does not-include the countless thousands that were wounded. Hope this help's you. God-Bless-America, And Our Troop's! 1st. Sgt., 7th Special Forces, (Ret.) Vietnam, "67"-"70"

Answer 3

No. It was a police action.

The only wars the United States has declared are as follows:
War of 1812
Mexican-American War
Spanish-American War
WWI
WWII

The Revolutionary War is not a US declared war, as the US did not exist at the time. The Civil War was not a declared war. The Union positionwas that it was a rebellion within the country, although the Confederate states issued a declaration of war.

Answer 4

NO. The US were keen to aid France colonies in Indo-China to check the growing Chinese Communist threat (and also to counter the USSR strong influence in the Asiatic region) by providing military aid.

In 1950, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, referring to intelligence estimates, indicated to the Secretary of Defense their view that "the situation in Southeast Asia has deteriorated," and that, further, "without United States assistance, this deterioration will be accelerated." The Joint Chiefs of Staff went on to state that:
"In general, the basic conditions of political and economic stability in this area, as well as the military and internal security conditions, are unsatisfactory. These factors are closely interrelated, and it is probable that, from the long-term point of view, political and economic stability is the controlling factor. On the other hand, the military situation in some areas, particularly Indochina, is of pressing urgency."

With such a 'worrying' assessment, US involvement was inevitable supplanting the French as the main non-communist nation in the so-called "Vietnam War".

Answer 5

It was never declared as a war. It was a military police action.

As for the comment from Fanny saying it killed more people than WW1 and 2 combined is entirely false. Here are the fatalities for each of our wars since WW1:

WW1 - 53,402
WW2 - 291,577
Korea - 33,741
Viet Nam - 47,424
per year in US auto accidents - 40,000+

Answer 6

No, it wasn't.


In response to the death toll.

It is true the U.S. death toll (as on wikipedia) was a mere 58,209

The total death toll for both sides was well over 5 million. Estimations can put it a lot higher as well.

But Either way it was a tragic event.

Also, the CIA was caught smuggling drugs from Vietnam into America.

Answer 7

The correct designation of both the Korean "war" and the Viet-nam 'War" was United Nations police actions. (when I was laying in those rice paddies with 13 year old Viet-Cong kids shooting at me, it sure did feel like a "war". just like coming home and having college girls, with miniskirts up to their *** ,try to spit on me) I'm not bitter.

Answer 8

no. America acted criminally in failint to declare war

Answer 9

yes it was war between two Vietnam's and one stupid idiot foreign country tried to be smart and get it a** kick out

Answer 10

No, it was a police action all the way. We were supposed to be there to train the locals.