The vietnam war

The Vietnam War -A History project- Nadine Gan, Grade 9 Part One. The Overview History ~ French Indochina ~ Vietnamisation ~ Epilogue Vietnam  was  a  part  of  the  French  colony,  Indo-­”China.  Then  at  September   1940,   the   Japanese   decided   to   invade   Vietnam   to   prevent   China   from   sending   supplies   through   French   Indo-­”China.   Having   invaded   by   France   and   Japan,   Vietnam   did   not   have   any   power   over   its   own   territory   and   added   with   the   famine   and   the   local   Vietnamese   suffering,   at   May 19, 1941, the  Vietnamese  formed  a  communist  resistance  organization,  Viet   Minh   or   NVA   (North   Vietnamese   Army)   that   was   led   by   the   infamous   Ho   Chi   Minh,   a   communist   himself.   A   few   months   passed   by   and   the   Chinese  agreed  to  leave  but  negotiations  between  France  and  Vietnam   broke   down   quickly   and   caused   a   war   that   lasted   almost   8   years.   This   war  was  called  The  First  Indo-­”China  War. The   Viet   Minh   that   claimed   to   have   500, 000   men,   fought   hard   against   the   French   for   independence.   Ho   Chi   Minh   attacked   the   French   by   Guerilla   Warfare,   where   they   attack   in   very   small   groups   so   that   they   would  be  able  to  hide  behind  the  trees  after  attacking  the  French  troops.   By  time,  the  Viet  Minh  grasped  victory  while  the  French  accepted  their   unsurprising  result,  a  loss.  This  sent  the  French  troops  home.   By   1949,   China   began   to   support   the   Viet   Minh.   USA   who   disagreed   to   let   French   troops   reinvade   Vietnam,   doubted   their   decision.   They   saw   Vietnam  as  a  threat  as  it  has  a  major  possibility  that  the  Viet  Minh  will   transform   Vietnam   into   their   nemesis,   a   communist   country.   They   had   to  follow  Truman  Doctrine,  helping  countries  that  are  under  the  control   of  communism  in  order  to  stop  the  spread  of  communism.  Response  of   the  USA  included  sending  back  the  troops  of  French  with  a  fee  of  $500   million   a   year   and   forming   a   non-­”communist   colony   in   the   south   of   Vietnam  that  was  led  by  Ngo  Dinh  Diem.   However,  a  humiliating  event  was  held  at  Dien  Bien  Phu.  French  troops   planned  to  stop  the  provision  of  supplies  for  their  neighbouring  country,   Laos.   With   this   blockade,   Laos   will   draw   the   Viet   Minh   a   confrontation   that   would   cripple   the   Viet   Minh.   However,   the   French   troops   weren’t   aware   of   the   heavy   artillery   the   Viet   Minh   owned   and   how   they   were   capable   of   moving   these   weapons   through   difficult   terrain.   With   their   capability,   the   Viet   Minh   surrounded   the   French   troops   and   besieged   them.   French   troops   were   defeated   again.   Though,   this   turn   of   event   caused  the  Geneva  Agreement  to  take  place  in  1954.  It  was  agreed  that   French   Indo-­”China   is   divided   into   Laos,   Cambodia,   South   Vietnam   and North  Vietnam.  However,  North  Vietnam  came  under  the  rule  of  Ho  Chi   Minh  and  South  Vietnam,  Ngo  Dinh  Diem.   It   was   also   agreed   that   elections   would   be   held   in   July   1956.   However,   Diem   cancelled   the   election   and   was   supported   by   US   because   they   knew  Ho  Chi  Minh  will  win  the  election  and  Vietnam  will  go  left  wing.   Ngo  ran  for  president  of  South  Vietnam  for  seven  years.  However  after  a   few  years,  US  noticed  Diem’s  presidency  was  not  going  well,  he  did  not   live  up  to  USA’s  expectancy,  to  defeat  the  communists  in  North  Vietnam,   being   given   the   huge   support   from   USA.   Kennedy,   who   was   the   president   of   USA   at   that   time   even   increased   the   numbers   of   advisor   from   100   to   1600   and   spent   nearly   $270   million   in   military   to   support   Diem   in   1960.   Attempts   were   made   by   Diem   in   1961,   he   organized   a   system   where   villagers   were   moved   into   defended   camps   to   “ save”   them  from  the  Viet  Cong  or  NLF  but  the  policy  did  not  work  because  the   peasants   did   not   believe   in   him   anymore   and   NLF   promised   them   to   have   more   land   once   South   Vietnam   become   a   communist.   In   1963,   Diem   ‘ s   government   caused   more   annoyance   towards   USA   for   clashing   with  local  Buddhist.  Diem  was  also  a  dictator  and  a  corrupt.  This  worried   the  USA,  as  they  believed  this  could  cause  the  South  Vietnamese  to  go   left   wing   too   especially   when   the   South   Vietnamese   didn’t   believe   in   Diem   anymore.   USA   should   have   learned   to   appoint   a   good   leader   to   prevent  another  country  being  led  by  a  corrupt  as  they  did  to  Cuba  (by   choosing   Batista).   Thus,   USA   supported   a   coup   to   overthrow   Ngo.   In   November  1963,  the  same  month  Kennedy  was  assassinated,  Diem  was   overthrown  and  eventually  assassinated  too.   The  following  year,  Viet  Cong  received  support  from  North  Vietnamese   forces.   They   marched   down   through   the   infamous   Ho   Chi   Minh   trail.   South   Vietnamese   was   doomed   to   communism.   USA’s   involvement   increased   rapidly   after   the   Gulf   of   Tonkin   incident   that   happened   in   August,   where   Americans   claimed   that   the   North   Vietnamese   attacked   their  two  ships,  Maddox  and  Turner  Joy  however  reports  claimed  that  it   started   as   a   major   misunderstanding   by   the   sonar   operators.   Nonetheless,   this   gave   the   Congress   a   resolution,   supporting   the   President  to  ‘ take  all  necessary  steps,  including  the  use  of  armed  force’   in  order  to  defend  South  Vietnam.  Lyndon  B  Johnson  replaced  Kennedy   and   was   a   much   more   aggressive   President.   Johnson   believed   in   the   Domino  Theory  and  so  he  stepped  up  America’s  involvement  in  the  war.   America  started  Operation  Rolling  Thunder  in  the  early  1965,  to  coerce   the   North   Vietnamese   into   abandoning   its   support   for   the   Southern   insurgency  or  by  reducing  the  infiltration  of  man  and  material  being  sent   to  the  South but  Johnson  didn’t  think  it  would  be  enough  and  so  he  sent   180. 000   American   troops   to   Vietnam.   By   the   next   three   years,   the number  of  US  troops  in  Vietnam  increased  to  540. 000  American  soldiers.   Unfortunately,  America’s  tactics  only  brought  little  success  as  their  wars   always   depended   on   technology   unlike   Vietnam’s   tactics.   Their   tactic   was   to   drop   massive   amounts   of   bombs   to   villages   and   use   of   Napalm,   a   chemical   gas   bomb   that   will   burn   people   right   to   the   bones   and   Agent   Orange.  Another  tactic  was  Search  and  Destroy,  where  American  troops   would  burn  down  the  whole  village  if  there  were  suspicions  of  Viet  Cong   presence.   Most  of  their  tactics  harmed  the  innocent  villagers  and  due  to   the   war   being   the   first   televised   war,   the   people   back   in   America   saw   how   innocent   families   being   burned   and   their   house   exploding.   The   tactics   of   the   Viet   Cong   overwhelmed   the   American   soldiers.   They   had   landmines  planted  here  and  there  causing  the  poor  American  soldiers  to   be  terrified  of  every  step  they  take.  Booby  traps  were  also  used  and  of   course  Guerilla  Warfare  was  applied  too.  These  clever  tactics  drove  the   American   troops   crazy   because   most   of   them   weren’t   professional;   some  were  even  only  16  or  17,  causing  their  morale  being  washed  up.   Unlike   the   American   soldiers,   the   Vietnamese   soldiers   were   better   fighters.   They   knew   their   battleground   and  were   very   fired   up   about   the   purpose   of   the   war,   standing   up   for   their   country   because   most   of   the   American  troops  were  clueless  of  what  they  were  fighting  for.  They  had   no  idea  why  they  were  sent  to  a  foreign  country  to  fight.  One  other  thing   that  the  American  troops  had  something  different  with  the  Vietnamese   was   that   the   Vietnamese   warriors   had   no   uniform   and   the   American   troops  had  a  hard  time  identifying  them  because  even  women  could  be   involved  in  the  war.  The  Vietnamese  never  gave  up  on  fighting  for  their   own  country;  they  kept  sending  supplies  through  the  Ho  Chi  Minh  Trail.   Even   though   the   North   Vietnamese   didn’t   have   the   best   guns,   they   mastered   their   warzone.   The   Vietnamese   even   had   a   tunnel   system   where   civilians   could   hide   and   live   underground   to   avoid   the   bombs   and   Napalm. After   3   years   of   an   exhausting   war,   in   January   1968,   North   Vietnam   decided   to   launch   a   massive   attack   on   the   heart   of   Saigon   at   the   time   of   Tet,  a  religious  festival.  They  believed  the  war  had  to  end  because  Ho  chi   Minh  was  dying.  Thus,  they  expected  a  revolution  to  take  place  after  the   attack   however   America   won   back   the   city.   The   Tet   Offensive   caused   North   Vietnam   an   enormous   loss   on   their   troops.   However,   the   media   portrayed  the  attack  as  a  failure  for  USA  because  photographs  showed   how   massive   the   attack   was   and   how   strong   the   North   Vietnamese   was.   Unfortunately,  America  required  more  troops  to  fight  against  the  North   Vietnamese  and  with  the  unpopularity  added  with  the  perspective  of  the   Americans  at  home  towards  the  attack,  sending  more  troops  to  Vietnam would   cause   the   Americans   to   rage   and   numbers   in   protests   would   increase.   Subsequently,  the  days  of  war  at  Vietnam  for  America  were  numbered.   Nixon,  who  was  the  present  President,  did  a  few  attempts  to  solve  the   crisis   in   the   best   way.   He   bluffed   and   threatened   a   major   attack   if   the   North   Vietnamese   wouldn’t   back   down   but   they   knew   Nixon   was   bluffing.   Nixon   even   asked   for   help   from   USSR   and   China   to   beat   the   North  Vietnamese  and  promised  to  assist  the  two  countries.  To  state  the   obvious,   Nixon   was   desperate   enough   to   ask   communist   countries   to   help   America,   a   capitalist   country   to   beat   down   a   communist   party.   Unsurprisingly,   USSR   and   China   see   no   point   on   helping   Nixon.   His   last   solution   was   called   “ Vietnamisation”   a. k. a   The   Nixon   Doctrine,   where   America   will   train   ARVN   to   go   against   North   Vietnamese   themselves.   However,   he   knows   it   will   not   be   a   legit   solution   because   one   of   the   reason  American  troops  were  sent  to  pull  triggers  in  Vietnam  was  due  to   ARVN’s  defeat  against  The  Viet  Cong  when  they  were  under  Diem’s  rule.   A   massacre   led   by   Lieutenant   Calley,   took   place   at   the   same   year,   the   Charlie   Company   raided   My   Lai   citizens   and   350   civilians   were   killed.   It   was   proved   that   all   the   civilians   who   were   killed   couldn’t   be   any   less   innocent.  The  My  Lai  Massacre  was  simply  a  revenge  done  by  American   troops  who  had  their  morale  washed  up  along  the  war.  They  put  all  their   frustration  out  on  the  My  Lai  civilians.  Evidence  proved  that  there  were   a  few  raped  victims.  This  massacre  horrified  the  Americans  at  home.   Two   years   later,   students   in   Kent   State,   Ohio   carried   out   a   big   protest.   1000   students   gathered   at   Kent   State   University.   The   demonstration   took  place  for  three  nights  however  on  the  third  night,  the  Army  Reserve   Officers  Training  Corps  was  burned  to  the  ground.  Then,  Martial  Law  was   declared.   The   massive   protest   was   held   because   they   disagreed   towards   Nixon’s   declaration   about   the   Cambodian   Campaign   and   were   supporting   the   Viet   Cong.   Some   were   even   waving   the   Viet   Cong   flag.   This   protest   was   different   than   the   others   because   4   students   were   shot   dead.   Some   believed   the   act   was   justified   as   students   hurdling   stones   at   them  surrounded  the  guardsmen  and  they  ran  out  of  tear  gas  too.  They   claimed  that  it  was  self-­”defense.  However,  there  were  no  warnings  given   and   reports   claimed   there   were   no   students   sniping   either.   General   Canterbury   confirmed   that   there   were   no   such   orders   giving   the   guardsmen  to  open  fire  but  he  also  stated  that  the  firing  was  inevitable   and   anything   could   have   happened.   Investigation   carried   out   even   though   the   Justice   Department   initially   declined   the   need   of   investigation.   Eventually,   8   out   of   28   guardsmen   were   indicted   but   the   charges  were  dismissed  due  to  lack  of  evidence.  Until  this  very  day  the body   to   blame   is   still   arguable.   Nevertheless,   all   parties   agreed   that   it   was  an  avoidable  tragedy.   The  Viet  Cong  launched  another  massive  attack  in  1972  but  they  realized   that   they   could   not   conquer   the   main   centre   of   population.   Both   sides   knew  victory  was  unreachable.  Therefore,  peace  talks  began.   The   Paris   Peace   Accords   brought   the   Governments   of   North   Vietnam,   South   Vietnam   and   the   United   States   signing   the   Agreement   of   Ending   the   War   and   Restoring   Peace   in   Vietnam   on   January   27,   1973.   By   the   next  two  months,  no  US  soldiers  were  in  Vietnam.   After  this  war,  Americans  had  lower  confidence  in  their  military.   Unfortunately   and   unsurprisingly,   Vietnamisation   failed   and   The   Viet   Cong  stayed  invincible.   At  the  year  of  1975,  South  Vietnam  falls  to  communism  and  the  fall  of   Saigon  was  another  epic  event  to  be  added  to  a  History  book. Part Two. The Significant Event My Lai Massacre On  the  16th  of  March  1968,  a  historical  controversy  took  place  in  one  of   the  village  in  Vietnam  and  it  was  called  the  My  Lai  Massacre.   My  Lai,  which  is  located  in  the  South  Vietnamese  district  of  Son  My.  An   area   blanketed   with   landmines,   causing   numerous   members   of   Charlie   Company  maimed  or  killed.  The  Charlie  Company  was  already  in  My  Lai   three  months  prior  but  the  North  Vietnamese  launched  a  major  attack  in   January   causing   a   lot   of   deaths   for   both   sides.   The   surviving   members   were   very   frustrated   and   furious   about   the   raging   war   and   the   tactics   the  Viet  Cong  used  on  them.  Unlike  the  Viet  Cong,  the  American  soldiers   especially  the  members  of  Charlie  Company,  were  unprofessional,  most   were   17.   They   had   no   experience   in   war   and   didn’t   expect   the   war   as   terrifying.  Some  people  believed  this  massacre  was  justified  because  the   soldiers   were   under   great   agitation   and   they   deserved   to   do   revenge  on   the   people   that   had   the   same   blood   as   those   who   killed   their   friends   right  in  front  of  their  eyes  with  such  an  unexpected  way.   “ This  is  what  you’ve  been  waiting  for   —  search  and  destroy  —  and  you’ve   got  it, ”  stated  by  Lieutenant  Calley,  their  leader.   The  Charlie  Company  did  their  own  version  of  Search  and  Destroy.   Calley  ordered  his  men  to  enter  the  village  firing  every  Vietnamese  they   see  despite  the  fact  that  there  was  no  opposing  firing.   Within   3   hours,   over   500   innocent   civilians   were   killed.   Families   were   shown   no   mercy,   women   were   gang   raped   then   killed,   old   men   were   bayotenned,  civilians  emerged  with  hands  held  high  were  murdered  as   well   and   even   babies   were   not   spared   a   life.   Some   victims   were   mutilated   with   the   signature   “ C   Company”   carved   onto   their   chest.   Though   a   few   members   of   the   Charlie   Company   did   not   enjoy   the   atrocity.   One   member   refused   to   pull   the   trigger   on   a   group   of   60   civilians  they  had  rounded  up  so  Lt.  Calley  took  over  and  blazed  his  gun   at  them.   A  few  hours  later,  news  about  the  massacre  reached  higher  authorities   and   ceasefire   was   ordered.   Reports   stated   that   504   bodies   were   found   and  only  one  American  soldier  was  injured  due  to  shooting  himself  when   he  was  cleaning  his  gun. However,  it  was  not  the  end.  Photographs  of  scattered  dead  bodies  and   some  mutilated  were  published,  showing  their  brutality  even  to  children   and  women.  Americans  at  home  were  dismayed  to  see  the  inhumanity   of  their  so-­”called  heroes.  The  war  became  even  unpopular. Part 3. The Leader Ho Chi Minh The   Vietnamese   communist   leader   was   born   in   Vietnam   in   1890.   His   father,   Nguyen   Sinh   was   a   teacher   employed   by   the   French.   His   father   taught  him  to  never  obey  the  rule  of  the  French.  Ho  and  his  sister  grew   up  to  be  a  patriotic  Vietnamese,  willing  to  fight  for  their  independence.   Ho’s   sister,   who   worked   with   the   French   Army,   was   imprisoned   for   life   as  she  was  caught  stealing  weapons  hoping  one  das  it  would  be  used  to   drive  the  French  out  of  Vietnam.  Ho  was  an  intelligent  man.  He  laid  low   and   was   a   sailor   for   a   short   period   of   time,   allowing   him   to   see   other   countries   that   were   part   of   the   French   Empire   and   witnessed   the   exploitation.   A   few   years   later   Ho   lived   in   China,   near   the   borders   of   Vietnam   and   there   he   helped   organize   exiled   nationalists   into   the   ‘ Vietnam  Revolutionary  League’.  This  was  the  start  of  his  leadership.   To  him  and  his  country’s  advantage,  in  1940  Japanese  invaded  Vietnam   and   France   decided   to   raise   the   white   flag   because   France   was   occupied   by   Germany   while   some   of   their   troops   were   against   Japanese   in   Vietnam.  This  gave  him  a  chance  to  finally  free  his  country.  A  new  army   was  born  and  it  was  called  Viet  Minh.  His  army  received  weapons  from   his   fellow   communist,   Soviet   Union   and   after   the   bombing   of   Pearl   Harbor  they  also  received  supplies  from  America.  Then  in  August  1945,   after   the   bombing   in   Nagasaki   and   Hiroshima,   Japan   decided   to   withdraw.   A   month   after   that,   Ho   announced   the   formation   of   the   Democratic  Republic  of  Vietnam.  However,  he  was  not  aware  that  in  the   Potsdam  Conference,  it  was  agreed  that  two  will  divide  Vietnam.  North   Vietnam   will   be   in   the   power   of   China   and   South   will   be   under   Britain.   After   World   War   2,   China  left   Vietnam   in   exchange   for   a   promise   from  France   that   she   would   give   up   her   rights   to   territory   in   China.   France   knew   Ho   Chi   Minh   declared   the   formation   of   Democratic   Republic   of   Vietnam   but   ignored   it.   What   France   did   not   know   as   that   the  Viet  Minh  have  been  training  to  fight  against  anybody  that  will  stop   Vietnam   from   getting   it’s   independence.   By   1953,   the   Viet   Minh   controlled   most   of   the   areas   in   the   Northern   part   of   Vietnam.   France   was  then  aware  of  the  potential  long-­”drawn  out  war  and  attempted  to   negotiate  with  Ho.  Unsurprisingly,  Ho  Chi  Minh  and  the  other  leaders  did   not   trust   France   and   continued   the   war.   The   following   year,   the   Viet   Minh   in   Dien   Bien   Phu   besieged   French   troops.   Eventually,   France   surrendered. After  the  battle  in  Dien  Bien  Phu,  it  was  decided  that  Ho  Chi  Minh  would   be   leader   of   North   Vietnam   in   the   Geneva   Peace   Talks   on   the   year   of   1954.   2   years   after   the   peace   talk,   the   meeting   decided   to   have   an   election  on  the  leader  of  the  whole  Vietnam  but  America  knew  better.   They  knew  the  winning  candidate  already,  Ho  Chi  Minh.  Therefore,  the   election  ended  before  it  even  begun.   Ho  Chi  Minh  led  the  Viet  Minh  or  NLF  to  battle  with  the  USA  troops.  He   had  personal  reasons  to  fight  for  his  country’s  independence.  His  father   had   his   life   made   by   the   French   and   his   sister   was   imprisoned   for   life   too.  He  took  this  war  personally  and  wanted  his  country’s  independence   for  so  long  because  patriotism  had  been  rooted  in  his  heart.  He  was  the   glue   for   the   unity   of   communist   Vietnamese.   Even   though   the   Viet   Cong   lost   more   troops   than   USA,   Ho   Chi   Minh   was   able   to   keep   the   fire   burning   in   the   heart   of   his   GI   Joes.   His   true   leadership,   added   with   America’s   atrocious   tactics   (Napalm   and   Agent   Orange)   they   used   against   the   innocent   Vietnamese,   pushed   the   Vietnamese   towards   communism.   He   was   one   of   the   best   examples   of   a   communist   and   so   the  peasants  of  Vietnam  believed  in  Ho  Chi  Minh  more  than  Diem.  USA   failed   to   win   the   hearts   and   minds   of   the   communist   Vietnamese   because  Ho  Chi  Minh  won  it  already.  The  peasants  refused  to  let  Diem   help   them,   they   believed   in   the   communists.   He   was   inspirational   to   the   people  and  was  worshipped  in  his  homeland.  He  was  their  hero.   Uncle  Ho  even  had  a  trail  named  after  him.  It  is  a  16  km  long  trail  that   crosses   Cambodia   and   Laos,   connecting   North   Vietnam   and   South   Vietnam.  It  was  built  to  carry  supplies  to  the  south  during  the  war.  There   were  alternative  roads,  the  trail  was  not  just  a  single  pathway,  and  it  was   a  network  that  had  more  than  one  entrances  and  exits.  Young  men  and   women   cycled   and   even   walked   through   the   trails   to   support   their   troops.  Under  the  trails  were  base  camps  for  the  Viet  Cong,  a  place  for   them  to  hide  and  rest.  Medical  treatment  was  even  provided  under  the   very   trail.   America   wasn’t   able   to   block   the   Ho   Chi   Minh   trail   with   ground  forces  as  the  countries  it  passed  through  were  officially  neutral,   even   carpet   bombing   didn’t   stop   the   North   Vietnamese   from   moving   hundreds  of  tons  of  war  supplies  per  day  down  to  the  south.   Tet   Offensive   was   in   a   way   dedicated   to   him.   The   North   Vietnamese   knew  Ho  Chi  Minh  was  dying  and  the  war  had  to  stop.   Even  though  Ho  Chi  Minh  passed  away  before  the  war  officially  ended,   his   dreams   did   not   leave   with   him   because   after   the   outraging   war,   Vietnam  stayed  independent  until  this  very  day  and  he  was  still  honored   by   the   Vietnamese   because   in   the   year   of   1975,   when   Saigon   falls   to   the   hands   of   communists,   it   had   a   new   name,   The   Ho   Chi   Minh   City. Part 4. The Creative Work The First TV War The  Vietnam  War  was  the  first  war  brought  into  America’s  living  rooms.   The  United  States  gave  vast  freedom  towards  the  media,  allowing  them   to  follow  the  troops  during  war.  This  freedom  was  said  to  be  one  of  the   reason  why  America  was  defeated.  At  first  the  media  was  interested  in   the   dramatization   in   the   war   that   would   make   great   profit   in   their   business.   Before   1967,   90%   of   the   evening   news   was   all   about   the   Vietnam   War   and   around   50   million   people   watched   television   news   each   night.   The   media   was   a   great   support   towards   the   war   and   the   military  too.  However,  gradually  the  videos  and  pictures  shown  on  their   television   screen   horrified   families,   especially   the   ones   that   had   their   relatives   conscripted   to   the   war.   There   were   no   censorships,   showing   the  atrocity  of  the  war.  With  the  terrifying  photographs,  the  war  turned   unpopular.   Interviewed   soldiers   started   expressing   their   frustrations   towards  the  journalists.   Support   began   to   decrease   in   the   fall   of   1967   and   sides   were   made   in   America  itself.  Some  claimed  themselves  as  the  Hawks,  the  pro-­”war  and   most  were  anti-­”war,  the  Doves  (mostly  students  who  believed  in  peace).   However,   The   Tet   Offensive   was   the   major   turning   point.   The   photographs   of   the   attack   portrayed   a   brutal   defeat   for   the   US,   giving   the   perception   that   US   was   unable   to   defeat   the   North   Vietnamese.   The   Tet   Offensive   was   the   first   time   North   Vietnamese   ever   launched   a   massive  attack  against  America.  They  had  to  because  Ho  Chi  Minh  was   dying   and   they   wanted   to   end   the   war   before   Ho   Chi   Minh   passes   away.   However,   the   truth   was   the   attack   caused   great   loss   on   the   North   Vietnamese   and   it   was   a   great   victory   towards   US.   Nonetheless,   they   needed   roughly   200, 000   more   troops   to   go   to   war   but   thanks   to   the   media   causing   the   war   to   be   unpopular,   the   Americans   would   never   agree   to   send   more   troops   to   pull   triggers   on   Vietnamese   who   are   mostly  innocent.   Since  Tet,  the  combat  scenes  were  more  graphic  and  the  news  featured   more   of   the   negative   side   of   the   American   troops.   Their   drug   use,   unprofessionalism,   racial   conflict   and   disobedience.   My   Lai   Massacre   worsened   the   situation.   The   whole   America   was   shell-­”shocked   of   what   their  so-­”called  heroes  had  become.  They  did  not  see  any  justification  on this   massacre   as   reports   claimed   the   people   attacked   were   innocent.   Without   the   report   it   was   obvious   that   none   of   them   were   a   member   of   the   Viet   Cong   because   the   photographs   showed   mutilated   bodies   of   children,   women   and   elderly.   Everybody   knew   it   was   simply   mad   American  troops  putting  out  their  anger.   With   the   war   televised,   the   savagery   of   the   war   was   brought   to   the   very   hearts  and  minds  of  Americans  at  home.