Truman Doctrine During The Vietnam War

Keeley Stout Professor Smoot April 29, 2016 HIS 109 2-3:15
During the Cold War, the Truman Doctrine became the United State foreign policy. It promised aid to countries fighting against communist regimes. The Vietnam Conflict rose out of a commitment to nation building and a desire to contain communism. All the presidents from Truman to Nixon felt as if communism threatened American interests. In March of 1965, President Johnson sent close to a million troops to mediate the civil war happening in Vietnam. This was known as Operation Rolling Thunder. The United States sided with South Vietnam in fighting against the communist backed North Vietnam. The Vietnam War consisted of several battles within Vietnam and the surrounding area of Laos and Cambodia. The battles further included air raids over North Vietnam. The Battle of Ap Bac is the first major battle followed by the Tet Offensive, the Fall of Saigon and ended with the Battle of Xuan Loc.
January 1963, marked the first major battle of the Vietnam; The Battle of Ap Bac.
The commander for the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) was Army Lt. Colonel John Paul Vann. His military philosophy was to search and destroy the enemy. That was difficult against the Viet Cong; they were excellent at hiding and attacking while remaining unseen. Colonel Vann's plan was very complicated and rice patties that were tough to navigate characterized the landscape of the area. Despite being a small-scale battle it taught American servicemen how difficult it would be to fight a war involving guerilla tactics. The Vietcong used strategies such as digging in behind a row of trees and shrubs, hiding from view, and attacking from that position. The loss of lives on both sides was minor. However, it was apparent that the Viet Cong was more than the South Vietnamese could handle, even with American
aid.
In January 1968, the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army attacked American bases, Saigon and several other towns. The battles that resulted from these attacks are known as the Tet Offensive. The purpose of the attacks was to knock out both military and civilian control centers in South Vietnam and to cripple the Saigon government, which would have immediately ended the war. The Battle of Saigon and the Battle of Hue were two battles of Tet Offense, resulting in large loss of life. The Battle of the Hue consisted of intense combat, lasting approximately twenty-six days. Despite the heavy causalities the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong suffered, there was no military victory for the United States. The Tet Offense ultimately resulted in American disapproval of the war. Without any military victory, the war seemed meaningless to the American people. The news coverage of the war further promoted disapproval of American involvement in Vietnam. The Fall of Saigon in 1975 marked the end of the war for the United States. At this point, winning the war seemed hopeless.
April 9, 1975 marked the final battle of the Vietnam War. The Battle of Xuan Loc lasted twelve days. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) nine divisions took Saigon from three directions. With over 1,500 troops they fought the 18th ARVN Division. Ruining the town of Xuan Loc and making their population almost nonexistent as result of NVA’s forceful entry. ARVN held well against the NVA for two weeks but in the end were defeated from their thriving fight. The Vietnam War ended when Nixon ordered the withdrawal of troops in 1973. Despite American efforts, the war was a total loss. Vietnam was unified under Communism after the fall of Saigon. Conflict and violence continued to plague Vietnam for several years later. Further, the Vietnam War had lasting effects on American society. However, Cold War policies of containing communism will prosiest until the late 1980’s under President Ronald Regan.