When or if did the vietnam conflic or era be considerd a War or did it ?

Answer 1

The Vietnam "war" was never a declared war, therefore: conflict, hostile action, etc. Many of us who were there sincerely believe that no matter what the label is, when the bullets start flying it is a war. I call it a war. I killed more of them than they did of me.

Answer 2

There are two uses of the term, one legal and one casual.

The legal definition applies when a formal declaration of war is made by Congress. Absent the formal declaration, there is no legal war (for purposes of federal statute). Congress has not declared a formal war since WW2. So, by the legal definition, Vietnam was not a war.

However, the term "war" is also used casually to mean any extended conflict where US (or other) forces are engaged. So, by that usage, yes Vietname was a war.

The problem is, too many people confuse the terms, and incorrectly believe that just because the US is in an extended conflict, then they are legally at war and all the legal rules and statutory provisions for wartime status automatically apply.

That's roughly like treating someone who is hired as a judge at the local county fair, the same as a judge who presides over criminal trials, and thinking that the county fair judge has the same legal authority as the criminal judge.

Answer 3

Gulf Of Tonkin Resolution. In late July and early August, 1964, two American destroyers, the Maddox and Turner Joy were "attacked" by North Vietnamese patrol boats about eight miles off shore in the Gulf Of Tonkin. President Johnson asked Congress to pass the Gulf Of Tonkin Resolution, which although was not a declaration of war, gave him the authority to ramp up the troops levels in the conflict. Given this authority, we went from a few thousand troops in Vietnam to over 100,000 by the end of 1965. Naval, Air, Marines and Army. In effect, that was benchmark for our heavy involvement in Vietnam. The Gulf Of Tonkin incident has always been suspect as a "non-incident", or a minor one. Or a made-up one so LBJ could muster authority to get us involved. The Pentagon Papers revealed inconsistancies in the incident. Although War was never declared, it certainly was one, with over 58,000 American deaths.

UPDATE: I Can't understand how someone can give me thumbs down on my answer, which is historically correct and answers the question.

Answer 4

There was war in 70s

Answer 5

We had advisers in Nam back in 1961, but it wasn't declared a war until August of 1964.

Answer 6

Officially it was a police action, but under LBJ we had full involvement in one side of a civil war.

Answer 7

We called it a war. Let's see...Bullets fly....men/women die....Yea!! It's a war as of 1962.