Vietnam War?

Question

Can someone give me a very short description of why we went to Vietnam and what happened in a nutshell please?

I know theres a lot to say, sorry. Please don't give me any anti-war answers/complaints. I'm not asking for personal opinions, more so of personal knowledge on the topic please.

Thanks

Sorry if this is in the wrong section, i looked for a history category in education, but couldn't find one.

Answer 1

Communism was spreading throughout the world at a very rapid rate. It started out initially in just Russia and didn't really spread that much until after WWII. The Soviets got the atomic bomb. Eastern Europe and China became communist. It had entered our hemisphere in Cuba. Their was ever-increasing tension over the aggressive Communist growth. The arms race had begun. Their were subversive infiltrators within the U.S. Southeast Asia was beginning to go. Communism was a hardening block whose trend beginning to encompass the entire world.

Basically, Vietnam was the last straw. We made a commitment not to let one more nation fall to communism. Unfortunately, ridiculous rules of engagement tied our hands and a series of degenerate social movements changed our society and we lost the will to fight. 50,000 U.S lives later we still let Communism win, thanks to hippies and traitors like Jane Fonda.

Answer 2

You want it in a "nutshell"? "CindyKim" gave it to you. The next two respondents are FULL OF their opinions, stuffed in between some facts, thereby discoloring the entire story. But to "tell (you) what happened" beyond "CindyKim" 's answer is to get entangled into a million facts which can skew the story one way or another. It was a very difficult time since the media and democrats distorted the facts incredibly, and did interfere with carrying out the war to it's briefest and most effective / efficient end, so, to "tell (you) what happened" in this brief format of Yahoo Answers is truly impossble without spinning the story as the democrats and liberals did back then. It'll take a lot of reading from a multitude of sources, and living in that time period, as I did, would help, but relying on our answers or the infamous wikpedia will totally distort the picture and you'll never ever see the entire picture. God Bless you.

Answer 3

1946-Ho Chi Minh declares VietNam and independent country.
President Truman does not recognize that government and supports the French rebuilding Indochina. US provides funds to supply French Troops.
1954-UN divides VietNam
French do what they do best and give up.
1955-1964 US advisers grow to several thousand.
Surrounding countries worry of the Domino Theory
1964-First US combat troops arrive. 9th MEB (Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Feb. The Armies 173rd AB arrives in May.
By 1967 S.Korean, US, ARVN,Australian and New Zealand combat troops along with USAF, USN and AFVN have virtually destroyed the Norths ability to fight.
Gen. Giap plans the TET 1968 offensive. Fighting last 40 days. NVA and VC are decimated. VC are now known and slaughtered by S. Vietnamesee. S. Vietnames volunteer for the Army by the thousands to fight the North.
Walter Cronkite declares the US ARVN win a loss.
Public support declines. War protests grow.
Richard Nixon is elected President.
1973-The last troops leave VietNam
1974-US Congress cuts off funding to S.VietNam.
1970-1974 Russia and China help N.VietNam rebuild their military. N. VietNam invades. President Fords request to respond as the cease fire calls for. US Congress does not authorize the use of US military.
1975-Many are killed, placed in prison, property taken, women raped etc etc.
1978-present. Vietnamese do what they have to do to escape.
1998 I meet Helen. (Dai)

Answer 4

We entered the theater (Viet Nam) for political purpose. We were handicapped by having to defend armed hostility from North Viet Nam forces while our forces were micro-managed by two President-Commander and Chiefs who were poorly advised.

Viet Nam was not classified as a war, therefore, the rules of engagement prevented military rule and judgement regarding the military command and control having carte blanche ordering of/for agression against targets which supported our opponents forces and cause.

Public opinon, based on and the result of distorted media reporting, resulted in magnifying desent at home against the conflict in Viet Nam as well as being a major cause for disharmony within the ranks of our forces.

Ignorance is a virus that can destroy an army, even a nation, and we live in a time where the powers that be feed on that ignorance for their survival. The biggest problem we face, as a nation, is ignorance, and it will be our downfall.

Answer 5

I think it was the French/Vietnamese government in the South got sickeningly decadent but Europe and America got pulled into propping them up. Anyway, the North rebelled and started local communism which did catch on with the people although alot of the Vietnamese just liked the Americans. I am 53 and watched the war live on TV growing up but since I was a child then, I am not totally sure of my facts in this matter.
I know for sure though, that the communism was local, and not Russian or Chinese. Hope this helps you.

Answer 6

America fought in Vietnam to stop the spreading of communism to other countries.

Answer 7

as part of our support for our french allies from world war two we sent in advisors and observers to monitor their war with the vietminh communists when they lost we stepped in from the partition to seek to secure freedom for the catholics and other religious folkes and supportted the south and then we sent in cia ans advisors like the marines to train them and then after a set of agressions on both sides we amped up to the point of having 3/4 of asmillion folks there and no end in sight nixon and others tired of the antiwar movement promised to get us out we arrived officially in 1959 and left in 1975 i missed being called up by one year then joined the airbourne in 1977 as a volunteer

Answer 8

Wayne C and CL B have correctly told the facts.
(Both are completely and utterly correct)

Answer 9

I am sure there are many books in the library that can help you