Increasing Involvement ,Withdrawal and Peace Deals-Specific examples

1950- Truman funding France- $100 million

1954- US funding reaches $2 billion

Dien Bien Phu April/May 1954- US fund 80% of cost. Eisenhower sends 200 US technicians in advisory role. Refuses to send in air power.

1955-Eisenhower sends 600 political and military advisiors and millions of dollars to support Diem.

1959- VC insurgency has begun. Eisenhower increases number of advisors to 1,500. 800 are military.Increase in funding...

1961- JFK immediatly increases advisors and aid.

Nov 1962-12,000 "advisors" taking a more active role-not public.Spraying defoliants, in combat positions and ARVN . Using US helicopters.

1963- 16,000 "advisors plus Green Berets.

March 1965-Operation Rolling Thunder. FIRST GROUND TROOPS SENT. 3,500 to protect Da Nang-US base.

July 1965-

125,000 US ground troops in Vietnam

Dec 1965-

200,000 Ground troops

Dec 1966-

385,000 Ground troops

Jan 1968- 535,000. US spending $30 billion per year at this point !!!

As of 1968 there are no "new" troops put into Vietnam, so numbers are gradually decreasing naturally as soldiers returned come after doing their tours of duty.

In addition, there are some significant troop withdrawals by President Nixon, from Sept 1969 onwards...

Sept 1969- WITHDRAWS 60,000 TROOPS

Spring1970- WITHDRAWS 150,000 TROOPS

June 1970- WITHDRAWS TROOPS FROM CAMBODIA.-response to public protest.

April/May 1969- Nixon and Kissinger negotiating with Hanoi- Thieu to remain in power in the South but the US will now pull out all troops at the same time as NVA

May 1971-nixon makes an offer to Hanoi- US troops out, Hanoi must not send any more troops/arms, ceasefire. Still demaning that Thieu remain in power. Hanoi refuses.

DETENTE COMING INTO PLAY...

October 1972- Nixon offers A Committe of National Reconcilliation- one third communist; South Vietnam;neutral. This is a move forward- offering communists a role in government-Thieu no longer staying in power. He becomes the main barrier to signing.

Paris Peace Treaty Jan 1973- Ceasefire in Vietnam; Powers exchanged; US remove all troops; NVA can stay but no more troops; Thieu remains at the head of the CRN, free elections in future, millions of $ aid promised to North Vietnam to rebuild(secret)