4. The start of US escalation of forces in 1965 (II)
- Created by: Alasdair
- Created on: 20-06-17 12:18
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- The start of US escalation of forces in 1965 (II)
- First ground troops in Vietnam
- The first Marines
- First 3500 Marines landed at Danang beach March 1965
- Cheered by pretty Vietnamese girls in a welcome arranged by US Navy
- Four weeks later, Johnson approved an increase of over 18,000 American support forces to keep his soldiers supplied and sent in more marines
- Privately, Johnson said he wanted to avoid 'publicity' and minimise any appearance of sudden change in policy
- In speech on 7 April, Johnson summed up reasons why US had to escalate its commitment to Vietnam:
- US needed to fight if it wanted to live securely in a free world
- Moscow and Beijing sought to conquer all of Asia and their NV puppet must be opposed
- Eisenhower and Kennedy had helped to build and defend South Vietnam
- abandonment would be dishonourable and cause other US allies to doubt America's world and credibility
- Appeasement could lead to third world war
- Support for Johnson
- Many accuse Johnson of waging war without declaration of war but he had considerable support
- When Congress granted $700 million for military operations in Vt in May 1965, Johnson told them this was no routine grant:
- It was a vote to continue opposing Communism in Vietnam
- The House of Representatives voted 408 to 7 in favour
- Senate 88 to 3 in favour
- As yet, majority of American journalists were also hawks
- Even those like Halberstam who later became bitterly anti-war
- When Vietnam is called 'Johnson's war', this support from Congress and the press at the time of massive escalation should be remembered.
- The first Marines
- 'Where are we going?'
- Continuing deterioration
- Johnson hoped arrival of US troops in Vietnam would help protect bomber bases and improve position of Saigon regime but situation continued to deteriorate
- June 1965: civilian government of Phan Huy Quat (Feb 1965 to June 1965) overthrown by military
- General Nyuven Van Thieu became head of state and Air Vice-Marshall Nguyen Cao Ky became PM (described by Johnson's adviser as 'bottom of the barrel')
- Ky
- Former commander of South Vietnamese air force
- A flamboyant figure
- Fond of purple jumpsuits
- Enjoyed pearl-handled revolvers, gambling and women
- Repeatedly asserted Vietnam needed men like Hitler
- Under the incompetent, corrupt leadership of unpopular Ky and Thieu, Saigon gov controlled less of SV and with decreasing effectiveness
- Continuing deterioration
- More American troops
- Thieu estimated VC controlled 75% of countryside by 1965
- As Taylor feared, more American troops poured in, less ARVN wanted to fight
- As usual, Westmoorland demanded more American troops to prevent SV's collapse and to protect American troops already there
- In cabinet meetings throughout July, Johnson expressed doubts about usefulness of sending more American troops
- However, on 28 July 1965 (at noon, when TV audiences were minimal), he anounced Westmoreland had requested more men:
- He said 750,000 troops in Vietnam would be increased by 125,000
- 'We will stand up in Vietnam'
- Congressional leaders had given their assent the day before
- During 1965, polls and White House mails showed that:
- 70% of nation backed Johnson
- 80% believed in domino theory
- 80% favoured sending American soldiers to stop South Vietnam falling
- 47% wanted Johnson to send even more troops
- Clearly, Johnson's Vietnam was supported by majority of Americans
- By Dec 1965, nearly 200,000 American troops faced Communist soldiers (rather than guerrillas)
- They gave a very good account of themselves
- e.g. In Oct 1965 US troops defeated NV regulars at Battle of Ia Drang
- They gave a very good account of themselves
- Doubts and further escalation
- Not everyone was sure further escalation was right answer
- Protests began in universities in March 1965
- Johnson's own doubts
- On hearing plane had been shot down, Johnson himself cried: 'Where are we going?"
- He confessed hawkish General Curtis LeMay 'scares the hell out of me'.
- Doubts in administration
- A Dec 1965 cabinet meeting showed doubts within administration
- George Ball thought situation was hopeless
- Taylor and CIA opposed sending more US troops
- McNamara considered military victory unlikely
- JCS disagreed over tactics:
- "Tell me this," said Johnson to JCS chairman, 'what will happen if we put 100,000 more men and then two, three years later, you tell me we need 500,000 more?...And what makes you think that Ho Chi Minh won't put in another 100 and match us every bit of the way'
- Johnson knew all dangers
- Doubtful America could win, but certain it could not get out without irreparable damage to his own and his country's position
- Despite their doubts about competence of Ky/Theiu regime:
- General Westmoreland, JCS and McNamra all agreed number of American troops in SV should be increased to 200,000 in second half of 1965
- McNamara did not claim this would bring victory but it would 'stave off defeat in the short-run and offer a good chance of producing a favourable settlement in the longer-run'
- There were 385,000 American troops in Vietnam by December 1966 and 535,000 by early 1968, while US planes bombed both North Vietnam from 1965 onwards
- Westmoreland initially believed that he could end Communist insurgency within six months, but his strategy of a war of attrition, using technology and firepower, failed to wear the enemy down
- Not everyone was sure further escalation was right answer
- First ground troops in Vietnam
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