His125 Week4

Vietnam War

Darren Fuentes

His/135

January 16, 2011

Susanna Muzzin

For 19 years and 180 days (November 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975) America was involved in some extent in the Vietnam conflict. Starting with President Eisenhower’s financial aid to French troops and his support of the self proclaimed leader of the South Vietnamese Government President Ngo Dinh Diem (Davidson, 2006).The Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon in 1975, At last the end of the most unpopular war in history; the unwinnable war was over.

To think of one war being more popular than another is a morbid concept; however, if there ever was an unpopular war Vietnam was it. The reasons for Americas loathing of this war start with its conception when President Eisenhower relayed heavily on the draft to support the military escalation in Vietnam (Draft, n.d.). The average age of the American solder during World War II was 26; in Vietnam, because of the draft, 19 was the average age (Davidson, 2006). As more and more American boys were ripped from their families to fight and possibly die the war became increasingly unpopular at home.

Also contributing to the wars unpopularity was the financial burden. War costs along with President Johnson’s “Great Society” programs contributed to a rising inflation (Davidson, 2006). “From 1965 to 1970 inflation jumped from about 2 percent to around 4 percent” (Davidson, 2006, p.895). For many Americans the war effort was not worth the financial burden and an impending recession.

Not only did the war lose popularity amongst American citizens but also among American soldiers. As the war continued more soldiers were losing their lives, American solders felt as if the war were un-winnable, and it was becoming increasing harder to tell allied Vietnam forces from the Vietcong (Davidson, 2006). American soldiers would often take their frustrations out on the innocent. In what could be called a...