American Difficulties during the Vietnam War

There were many reasons why the American forces in Vietnam couldn’t deal with the Viet cong and North Vietnamese soldiers. The reasons included the determination of the North Vietnamese to continue the war, their refusal to ally with the United States, and tensions between the two countries. American troops suffered psychologically from the Vietnam War’s prolonged duration, and many Americans began to oppose it publicly. Vietnam needed new strategies and the current military strategy was not effective. Too many American troops were in danger.

The war brought out tensions between South Vietnamese officials and Americans. In the first years of war, South Vietnam’s government was inept, leading to tensions between the two countries. The United States attempted training the Army of South Vietnam on how to defend itself against the VietCong and North. The South Vietnamese were already fighting the North for some time and it was difficult to give them advice about military tactics. The program sent officers and soldiers to the Pacific schools. The U.S. also established military training camps for South Vietnamese soldiers, which would teach infantry tactics and officer training. The United States provided equipment and aid to the Civil Guard and Self Defense Corps, which would prove invaluable in fighting the Viet Cong. Even though the United States was supporting South Vietnam militarily it was a mess. The central government, as well as the local governments in rural regions, were completely disconnected from one another. Despite the fact there are more people living in the countryside than in the urban areas, the central administration has ignored them all. South Vietnamese officials rejected attempts to assist rural areas. The Viet Cong was able to recruit soldiers through propaganda, focusing on small villages and towns. The Vietnam War proved difficult for Americans because North Vietnam was not willing to stop the war effort. Both the South Vietnamese and American armies were engaged in a war against attrition. They were determined to kill as many enemy soldiers possible. It was secondary for the US and South Vietnamese armies to win territory. This is why the casualties at the end were so high. North Vietnamese troops and Viet Cong received supplies from China and the Soviet Union. Since the American troops did not focus on holding positions, they were able easily to recover any territory lost. The communist government of North Vietnam was completely focused on the war effort and used intimidation to gain support. Americans continued bombing North Vietnam’s major cities, fueling animosity with outsiders and North Vietnamese. The communists also plan to wage war on South Vietnam. This will fuel hatred and prolong the war.

Soldiers’ mental and psychological health were also important factors in how they performed their duties during wartime. Soldiers knew when they would be returning home after they had completed their tour. During World War II, most soldiers wanted to live until they received their leave. This was fine for the soldier as an individual, but it made it difficult for them to work together and focus. Soldiers become more cautious and less willing to engage in combat after their first combat experience. As their tour came to an end they became more focused upon their own survival and attempted to limit the impact of combat. North Vietnam used villages and townsfolk to traps and protect them as the war progressed. Some of these innocent civilians joined the Viet Cong/Northern Army. Americans started to distrust civilians after communist forces used them. Later on, soldiers began questioning why they were fighting for Korea. They began questioning the government on their whereabouts and their belief that the government was winning the war. The Vietnam War saw a rise in drug abuse. Vietnam War veterans were particularly susceptible to drug addiction, especially heroin. Heroin was readily available in South Vietnam. It could also be used to relieve stress. Many veterans quit using drugs after the war. Others continued to do so in order not to think about Vietnam. These soldiers, who struggled to reintegrate in society after their service, were not treated as PTSD was still not known.

The government’s support of the Vietnamese forces was affected by public opposition. The Vietnam War was broadcast to the general public at that time. They were shocked at the events in Vietnam. Many people were asking questions about the motives behind the war and suggesting that the government was targeting citizens rather than combatants. The public was against sending more troops to wars they didn’t believe justified. Protests erupted all over the United States. President Johnson stopped North Vietnam’s bombings and said he would seek peace. Nixon withdrew some Vietnamese troops, but intensified bombings of airliners and increased bombings. South Vietnam also gained control over Vietnam’s military operations. The U.S. troops retreated from the war. However, many of the remaining soldiers were unhappy about their conditions and the lack of government support. Many thousands of American soldiers left the army and were later discharged. At least 100,000 Americans were charged with having evaded the draft to join war.

American ground forces were deployed in Vietnam to defeat enemy units, to liberate any occupied territory, as well as to defend and secure the newly gained territory. While the American troops were successful in achieving these objectives, the secure-and-defend objective was overlooked. American forces had a war on attrition in mind, meaning they wanted to inflict the greatest number of casualties on their enemy. This strategy was deemed the best by American leaders to drive the North out of war and end the insurgency in South. This strategy had a downside. It would make the South Vietnamese army less important and will result in a significant increase in American casualties. The South Vietnamese refused to fight the Americans when the Americans used this strategy. The war was not fought for just cause. The United States initially only provided aid and supplies for South Vietnam. They didn’t intend to join war. They were not planning to join the war at first.

Overall, America was not able to win the Vietnam War. America and South Vietnam did not have the best of allies. Public support was low and the government wasn’t focused on the war. The conflict was not moving forward due to the American strategy for attrition and North Vietnamese determination.

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