Thomas D. D Block

THE VIETNAM WAR

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All you can read about the Vietnam War

WRITEN AND EDITED BY THOMAS DOWNEY

SUBTOPICS INCLUDE...

- VIETNAM WAR ORIGINS - VIET-CONG - IMPORTANT FIGURES

MRS. HOLLAND’S D BLOCK ENGLISH CLASS

- THE TET OFFENSIVE

ISSUE NUMBER 1,975 SPECIAL EDITION! FOR 10 CENTS ON MONDAY MORNINGS!

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Soldiers running from a recent bombing

VIETNAM WAR ORIGINS

A young soldier walking toWards base

This iconic memorial shows the people who lost their lives in Vietnam and can be found in Washington D.C.

“‘My father used to call all soldiers angel Warriors,’ he said. ‘Because usually they get boys to fight Wars.

Most of them to young to vote.’ ‘How old are you?’ I asked. ‘23’ he said. ‘Why aren’t you retired?’”

The Vietnam War was a bloody War fought between Communism and

sent some advisors to Vietnam. But on November 22, 1963 that all changed

democratic Americans fighting for the protection of South Vietnam in 1955-1975 In 1945 and the Second World War has just ended and millions of American Soldiers just risked their lives for there country. Now, Americans faced another problem, Communism. Ho Chi Minh attempted to declare independence from France. The French refused because Ho Chi Minh believed in Communism and America is fighting the

when J.F.K. was famously assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. After

Heading quote from “Fallen Angles”

U.S.S.R. in the Cold War. The French fought in Vietnam but

with the Vietnam War. But as troops were sent to Vietnam, Americans were worried, confused and scared. The citizens of America were faced with the Cold War, Space Race, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the J.F.K. assassination and now american solders will have to go back to War from WWII and Korea to fight

America, under the lead of John. F. Kennedy, didn’t fight, but still

VIETNAM WAR ORIGIN TIME-LINE

this, Lyndon B. Johnson went to office and sent troops to Vietnam and this was the official start of American involvement

in the Vietnam War. And they don’t know what they are dealing with...

VIETNAM LOOKS TOWARDS COMMUNISM

VIETNAM SPLITS!

FRANCE TAKES CONTROL

AMERICA JOINS THE MIX...

After World War II, Ho Chi Minh wanted independence from France, to practice Communism with the Russians.

After Communism had taken over North Vietnam, South Vietnam remained the same which caused the spit.

When Ho Chi Minh and Communism split Vietnam it ended colonialism for France. So the French wished to regain control.

In 1965, 70,000 U.S. advisors were sent to Vietnam and thats when the Americans involvement really began.

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THE VIETCONG

America has now entered one of the most famous American Wars but do they know who they’re dealing with...

Vietcong Introduction

underground. But the Vietcong had many

The Vietcong were a group of terrorists

mines, booby traps and genius battle

designed by Ho Chi Minh. They are most famous for their tenacious fighting and the Tet Offensive. The Vietcong were the strategic soldiers of the Vietnam War. They hid in a series of complex tunnels as seen on the right. They were mischievous, clever and communist. This

other tricks up their sleeves. Such as Land strategies. Yes, the Vietcong had their battle plan all mapped out and America wasn’t sure what just hit them.

Vietcong Impacts on the War The Vietcong had serious impacts on

wasn’t good for President Johnson. He wasn’t

the Vietnam War without them, Communism

aWare of the strategies Ho Chi Minh and the

wouldn’t spread to neighboring countries,

Vietcong were pulling off. The U.S. were not

the American troops wouldn’t have another

accustomed to this and they weren’t able to

group of Communists to face along with

adapt from their conventional Warfare tactics

North Vietnam. Without the Vietcong’s

unlike WWII and Korea. So slowly, but surely the

strategies and bloodthirsty attitude, the Tet

American troops started getting weaker and

Offensive would never have occurred.

weaker. Soldiers got injured and sent home, and the Vietcong still remain hidden

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This is a map of the series of tunnels and traps the Vietcong used underground.

IMPORTANT FIGURES

Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh

the Vietcong would use unconventional

Ho Chi Minh was the leader of North Vietnam and led Vietnam in Communism

Richard Nixon

which inspired Dwight D. Eisenhower's

After famously losing the 1960

idea of the Domino Theory. The Domino

election to J.F.K., Richard Nixon became

Theory is that a political event, such as

president following Johnson. He couldn’t

Communism, takes hold in one country, it

have had a better time to restore his

will cause similar events in neighboring

reputation than in the Vietnam War. His

countries, like falling dominos. This is

strategy to win the War was to launch a

exactly what happened in Vietnam, Laos

bombing campaign of North Vietnam. But

and Cambodia. Anyway, back to Minh.

to his dismay his plan to bomb Vietnam as

Minh was the leader of Vietnam during the

much as possible didn’t work at all, in fact

War, he led the Vietcong and outsmarted 2

it made Ho Chi Minh and North Vietnam

U.S. presidents during the War and that is

angrier. And as Communism spread to

why he is responsible for being victorious

Laos and Cambodia, Richard Nixon sent

and making Vietnam a Communist state.

troops to Laos and Cambodia which

Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36th President and was Vice President to JFK. He went into office following JFK’s assassination. He brought the U.S. army to Vietnam to fight but, little did he know that

Lyndon Johnson

tactics and wear down our army.

Soldiers being sent by LBJ to fight off the Vietcong

Richard Nixon

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wasn’t a place where Americans were allowed to go. So, Richard Nixon couldn’t cover that up, (Just like Watergate) and he started losing support for the War.

THE VIETNAM WAR HAS TAKEN A DIRTY TURN. VIETCONG AND COMMUNISM SPREADS AND BEGIN WHAT WAS A HOLIDAY INTO A NIGHTMARE The Tet Offensive was one of the most vicious things in the Vietnam War and effected thousands of lives...

On January 31st, 1968 the Vietcong organized over 100 attacks on towns and cities in South Vietnam.

The Communist planned this rebellion to encourage South Vietnam to join Communism and to for America to hold back on their bombing attacks. While troops tried to stop the attack Americans watched in horror on live television. Despite Americas power, North Vietnam came with a strategic victory and began turning point in the War.

IMPACTS OF THE Tet OFFENSIVE Although Tet didn’t inspire Southern Vietnamese, it did achieve success in strategy and combat and because of this, the U.S. grew even weaker then before and the was a big advantage for Communism and North

The damage caused by the Tet Offensive

Vietnam.

Remembering the Vietnam War The Vietnam War has taken a place in

Dear Mom,

history and a place in thousands of

Life here in Vietnam is really

peoples hearts. It will be remembered for

tough. I’m having trouble dealing with

our loses and its history. We are very

the loss of one of my best friends,

The Tet Offensive In motion

fortunate that the people of the 21st

Johnson. Can you give some advice?

The Tet Offensive was brought to

century don’t have to face the countless

life on January 31st, 1968 as Vietcong forces attacked the first 13 cities.

Suddenly the Vietcong started attacks

Love Richie

problems the people of that time did. We should always remember this time and keep it at the bottom of our hearts.

military bases, businesses, government buildings. The Vietcong

Dear Richie, I think that it is nice you care for him, but there are a lot of other problems that you are facing.

used the element of surprise to their advantage and spread out all of their

Thousands of soldiers die in battle and we should remember them. But focus

attacks as seen on the top right.

on other things I miss you.

Love Mom,

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[5]

Work Sited Rice, Earle. The Tet Offensive. San Diego: Lucent, 1996. Print.

Myers, Walter Dean. Fallen Angels. New York: Scholastic, 1988. Print.

"Vietnam War History." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.

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Lexicon Organizer ​

The Vietnam W

Choose 20 words from your bookmark that BEST REFLECT the historical time period in which your book take ORGANIZE the words in ​ALPHABETICAL ORDER​!!!

Word

Part of Speech (noun, verb, adj)

Definition (in context with the story)

Sentence from book & Page #

How is this w meaningful to time period of y book? Explai

1. Alpha

Noun

The first letter of the military alphabet

“We had reached ​Alpha Company in the boonies and were sitting in the commanding officers’ hooch.” Page 32

This helps show ho people talked at th time.

2.Appendicitis

Noun

A serious medical condition where the appendix feels pain

“I thought I was having an attack of appendicitis.”Page 88

These were some medical problems people had in Vietn

3. Artillery

Noun

large caliber guns used in warfare on land.

“If you hunt a squirrel with a rifle, what do you hunt a bear with? Artillery.” 49

This is what people called guns at the t

4.Boonie

Noun

Short for boondocks

“We headed towards the boonies."

This is what the outlands were calle

5. Bravo

Noun

The second letter in the military alphabet (In this case.)

“Sergeant Wolcott from Bravo Company was sergeant of the guard, and he came to give us a pep talk.” 70

This is how soldier talked at the time.

6.Comrade

Noun

A companion during a time of war.

“We looked around and we couldn’t find any other comrades.” 178

This is what friends were called in warf

[7]

Lexicon Organizer ​

The Vietn

Choose 20 words from your bookmark that BEST REFLECT the historical time period in which your ORGANIZE the words in ​ALPHABETICAL ORDER​!!!

7. Cigarette

Noun

A cylinder of paper with finely cut tobacco rolled for smoking.

“‘Then he asked me for a cigarette It shows and we was sitting there smoking

did and w like back

when the captain came in.” Page 47

8. Communist

Noun

A person that believes in the principles of communism

“We were supposed to pass it It shows around that anybody who was a struggle communist and wanted to change would be on our side.”

9. The domino theory

Noun

The idea that if a political event happens in one country the neighboring countries will do the same.

“Lobel said something about the domino theory, how if Vietnam fell to the Communists then the rest of Asia might fall as well.”

Page 77

10. Harlem

Noun

A place in New York “‘New York,’ I said. ‘Harlem.’”

This is w soldiers c my book.

11. Hooch

Noun

A shelter

“We had reached Alpha Company in the boonies and were sitting in the commanding officers’ ​hooch​.” Page 32

This is w called ba shelters i

12. Latrine

Noun

A toilet used in

“We found some shade,

This is w

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This is w Vietnam commun and Cam because neighbor

Lexicon Organizer ​

The V

Choose 20 words from your bookmark that BEST REFLECT the historical time period in which ORGANIZE the words in ​ALPHABETICAL ORDER​!!!

camps

dropped our gear, and Jenkins and Johnson went looking for a latrine.” Page 30

calle

That diffe weap

13. Magazines

Noun

A chamber of which bullets are kept in a gun.

“Once they saw him, they put down their ​magazines ​and gathered around him.” Page 45

14. Medic

Noun

Short for medical doctor.

“He got up right away to look for Peop a medic.” Page 88 med

15. NVA

NOun

North Vietnam soldier

“We saw a dead NVA soldier lying on the ground.” PAge 183

This were

16. Poncho

Noun

A special type of rain jacket

“It started raining again and I needed my poncho.”

It rai Vietn soldi ponc

17. Rice Paddy

Noun

A field of which rich can be grown

“We were on flat ground going along a row of rice paddies.”

Page 39

This cultu

18. R.P.G.

Noun

Rocket Propelled Grenade.

“We looked around and got out This our R.P.Gs.” what as w

19. Sergeant

Noun

A noncommissioned ‘“Don’t think about anything,’ officer in war Sergeant Simpson had said.’”

193

This millit

20. Vietcong

Noun

A communist soldier ‘“Have you seen any Vietcong,’

Thes

[9]

Lexicon Organizer ​

The Vietnam W

Choose 20 words from your bookmark that BEST REFLECT the historical time period in which your book ta ORGANIZE the words in ​ALPHABETICAL ORDER​!!! fighting for Vietnam. I asked.” page 9

[10]

the U.S. fought a