Saturday, September 21, 2019

"OUR LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE IS OVER" - 45th Anniversary

(I meant to publish this last August but forgot.  We shouldn't forget the Vietnam war.)

The "official dates of the Vietnam War are 1954 to 1975, but combat troops were introduced into Vietnam in 1961 and removed in 1973.*

In May 1961: Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson visits South Vietnam and offers military and economic aid to Diem. By the end of the year, the U.S. military presence in Vietnam will reach 3,200 men (although combat units will not be deployed until 1965).**

Estimates of total deaths due to the Vietnam war, range between one million and three million people of which 58,318 were U.S. troops killed in action and 153,303 wounded in action.***  The worst year for killed in action was 1968.

* https://www.britannica.com/event/Vietnam-War
** https://www.shmoop.com/vietnam-war/timeline.html
*** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War_casualties

A brief history of the Vietnam War:
Gulf of Tonkin incident August 2, 1964
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Congressional August 7, 1964
Tet offensive started January 30,1968
Last ground troops leave Vietnam August 11, 1972
   but thousands of airmen. advisers and support personnel remain
The draft was stopped on January 27, 1973.
Vietnam cease-fire announced January 27, 1973
End of Vietnam war announced March 29, 1973
Ford "Our long national nightmare is over" August 9, 1974
Evacuation from rooftop helicopter April 29, 1975

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