8.TT.1.2

The 1960's were a very turbulent time for America, We go into a war, lost a president, and had lot of civil unrest. This is my project about the military aspect of the 60's.

Shot down by a soviet surface to air missile on the morning of May 1st, 1960, C.I.A. Pilot Francis Gary Powers had been on a top secret mission, to fly over and photograph denied territory from his U-2 spy plane deep inside Russia. His fate and that of the entire U-2 program remained a mystery for days. Anxious to avoid a surprise nuclear attack, President Eisenhower was growing increasingly nervous over rapid Soviet technological achievements. Urged on by his Technological Capabilities Panel,Eisenhower could not wait another 5 or 6 years for another the advent of photographic spy satellites to settle the “bomber gap” and other national security issues. In late 54, Eisenhower approved project AQUATONE, a plan for the C.I.A. To develop and deploy a long range spy plane capable of flying beyond Soviet anti air threats. Developed but Lockheed the U-2 was in service by 56.

In 1961 Kennedy agreed that America should finance an increase in size of the South Vietnamese army from 150000 to 170000. he also agreed that an extra 1000 U.S advisers should be sent to South Vietnam to help train the South Vietnam Army. Both of these decisions were not made public as they broke the agreements made at the 1954 Geneva Agreement's. It was during Kennedy's presidency that the “strategic hamlet” program was introduced. It failed. Instead of rounding up communists it drove them to the north. Kennedy became convinced Diem could never unite Vietnam. He had him overthrown in 63, Kennedy would be assassinated 3 weeks later.

Americas first combat mission against the Vietcong took place on Jan. 12, 1962. The first mission was called operation chopper, because it was the first time the U.S had used helicopters as a strategic weapons. In Dec.1961, a month before the actual battle, 82 American helicopters were stationed in Saigon to prepare for the operation. When the day came to make a move, over 1000 south Vietnamese paratroopers were transported in helicopters to a Vietcong stronghold ten miles away. The Vietcong were not expecting a U.S attack, caught off guard, the Vietcong were defeated. The paratroopers were also able to steal a long sought after underground radio transmitter. Despite the victory the Vietcong now learned how to combat U.S air assaults.

Ap Bac was a village in the Mekong delta about 30 miles southwest of Saigon. The battle began to develop in Dec.1962. Three Vietcong companies built defensive positions along a mile long canal connecting Ap Bac with Ap Tan Thoi. The Vietcong hid behind trees, grass, and shrubs with clear view of the surrounding rice patties. The Army of the Republic of Vietnam 7th division attacked the position. Although they outnumbered the Vietcong ten to one, they were defeated. The battle would the show U.S had a lot of learning to do to fight in South East Asia.

Gulf of Tonkin. On august 2, 1964, the USS Maddox was conducting a “de soto patrol” referring to espionage mission. The purpose of this mission was to collect intelligence on radar and coastal defenses of north Vietnam. It was this day that the North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked the USS Maddox. The USS Ticonderoga sent attack aircraft to repel the North Vietnamese attackers and sunk one boat while damaging the other vessels. This is what led to the escalation of U.S involvement in Vietnam and became the point where the U.S made a large commitment to Vietnam.

Rolling Thunder. Operation Rolling Thunder was a frequently interrupted bombing campaign that began February 24, 1965, and lasted until the end of October 1968. During this period U.S Air Force and Navy aircraft engaged in a bombing campaign designed to destroy Ho Chi Minhs ambition to take over South Vietnam. The operation began primarily as a diplomatic symbol to impress Hanoi with Americas determination. Essentially a warning that violence would escalate until Ho Chi Minh “blinked” and secondly it was intended to bolster the sagging morale of the South Vietnamese. The Johnson administration also imposed strict limits on what could be targeted for China and the Soviet Union were seen as defenders of communism who might intervene if the North Vietnamese faced defeat. Consequently the administration tried to punish the North without provoking the two nations believed to be its defenders.

Operation Crimp. Operation Crimp was the largest operation of the war with more than 8000 troops deployed. The goal of Operation Crimp was to capture the Vietcong headquarters believed to be located in Saigon. However American forces failed to locate a significant Vietcong base. Australians were the first down the tunnels in Vietnam and general Williamson had up until Operation Crimp a great distaste for sending troops down the tunnels, preferring to use smoke, tear gas, and explosives to run the Vietnamese out. During the battle, word of how Australians combated the tunnels quickly spread to American forces who were also encountering tunnels. Do to the amount of intelligence gathered from the operation, tunnel teams were established and American force throughout Vietnam received instructions to clear tunnels before destroying them.

Junction City. This offensive, the largest of the war to date, was designed to disrupt insurgent operations near Saigon, and had as its primary targets, the Thanh Diem forest reserve and Iron Triangle, a 60 sq. mile area of jungle believed to contain communists base camps and supply dumps. During the course of the operation, U.S Infantrymen discovered and destroyed a massive tunnel system in the Iron Triangle, apparently a headquarters for guerrilla raids and terrorist attacks on Saigon. The operation ended with 711 enemy combatants killed and 488 captured. Allied losses were 83 killed and 345 wounded. The operation lasted 18 days.

Khe Sanh. Lasting 77 days, the siege of Khe Sanh saw American and South Vietnamese forces suffer 703 killed, 2,642 wounded, and 7 missing. PAVN losses are not known with accuracy but are estimated at between 10,000-15,000 dead and wounded. Following the battle, Lownds' men were relieved and Westmoreland ordered the base occupied until he left Vietnam in June. His successor, General Creighton Abrams, not believing that retaining Khe Sanh was necessary, ordered the base destroyed and abandoned later that month. This decision earned the ire of the American press who questioned why Khe Sanh had to be defended in January but was no longer needed in July. Abrams response was that military situation no longer dictated that it be held. To this day, it is unclear whether PAVN leadership in Hanoi intended to fight a decisive battle at Khe Sanh or if operations in the area were meant to distract Westmoreland in the weeks before the Tet Offensive.

Viet Cong forces launch a new offensive with attacks on 150 cities, towns, and bases, including Da Nang and Hue. The heaviest attacks were aimed at the area adjacent to the Cambodian border northwest of Saigon; an estimated 2,000 Communists attacked Tay Ninh, Quan Loi, Loc Ninh, and An Loc. Further north, North Vietnamese commandos fought their way into the U.S First Marine Division headquarters in Da Nang. They were eventually driven out by the Marines, who killed 40 Communist soldiers, sustaining five killed and 23 wounded in the process.

That is my project of the 1960's. I hope you enjoyed.



The 1960's Austin Butts March 6th, 2012 Reids Social Studies Class   Robinson, Gary. "The Cold War Museum." //Cold War Museum//. The Cold War Museum. Web. 15 Mar. 2012. <[]>.

"John F Kennedy and Vietnam." //History Learning Site//. History Learning Site. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. .

Parker, Phillip M. "1962-Operation Chopper." //Wiki Spaces//. Timeslines, 29 Nov. 2010. Web. 20 Mar. 2012 "Battle of Ap Bac (1963)." //VietnamWar.net//. VietnamWar.net. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. <[]>.

"The Gulf of Tonkin Incident." //Gulf of Tonkin Incident: 1964//. Tim Kim, 17 Dec. 1999. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. .

"Military." //Operation Rolling Thunder//. Air Force History Support Office. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. .

"Primary Sources Archive." //The Patriot Files//. The Patriot Files. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. <[]>.  "Heavy Battle Rages during Operation Junction City." //History.com//. A&E Television Networks. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. <[|http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/heavy-battle-rages-during-operation-][|junction-city]>.  "THE BATTLE OF KHE SANH, 1968." //Jean and Alexander Heard Library//. Vanderbelt Edu. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. . Support EasyBib!  "The History Place - Vietnam War 1969-1975." //The History Place//. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. .