Key Figures and Events of the Vietnam War

William Westmoreland

U.S. Army general who commanded American forces during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1968. He advocated for increased troop presence and a war of attrition against North Vietnam.

Vo Nguyen Giap

North Vietnamese general and military strategist who led the Viet Minh and North Vietnamese Army. He played a key role in victories against both the French and the U.S.

Lyndon B Johnson

36th President of the United States (1963-1969), who escalated U.S. involvement in Vietnam through the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and launched Great Society programs.

Richard Nixon

37th President of the United States (1969-1974), known for his Vietnamization policy to withdraw U.S. troops, and later resigned due to the Watergate scandal.

Robert McNamara

U.S. Secretary of Defense (1961-1968), a key architect of Vietnam War strategy. Later questioned his role in the war and advocated for reevaluating U.S. foreign policy.

Gerald Ford

38th President of the United States (1974-1977), who took office after Nixon's resignation and oversaw the final withdrawal of American personnel from Vietnam.

Clark Clifford

U.S. Secretary of Defense (1968-1969), who advised Lyndon B. Johnson to seek a negotiated settlement in Vietnam rather than continuing escalation.

Robert Kennedy

U.S. Senator and former Attorney General, who was a strong critic of the Vietnam War and ran for president in 1968 before being assassinated.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

1964 congressional resolution that allowed President Johnson to expand U.S. military operations in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war.

USS Maddox

U.S. Navy destroyer involved in the Gulf of Tonkin incident, an event that led to increased U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Domino Theory

Cold War belief that if one country fell to communism, neighboring nations would also fall, used to justify U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Tet (Refers to the Tet Offensive)

(1968), a major North Vietnamese and Viet Cong attack during the Vietnam War that weakened U.S. public support for the war.

New Left

A political movement in the 1960s and 1970s advocating for civil rights, opposition to the Vietnam War, and progressive social change.

Rolling Thunder

A U.S. bombing campaign (1965-1968).

Students for A Democratic Society

A student activist group opposing the Vietnam War.

Free Speech Movement

A 1960s protest movement promoting free expression, often tied to anti-war activism.

Walter Cronkite

A CBS news anchor whose criticism of the Vietnam War influenced public opinion.

Jane Fonda

An actress and activist known for her controversial opposition to the Vietnam War.

John Wayne

A Hollywood actor and strong supporter of U.S. military actions.

Bob Dylan

A famous musician whose songs became anthems of the anti-war movement.

Hawk

A person who supports military intervention, often advocating for war.

Dove

A person who opposes military conflict and seeks peace.

M-16 A 1 Assault Rifle

The standard-issue rifle for U.S. troops during the Vietnam War.

Napalm

A flammable gel-based weapon used by the U.S. to destroy enemy positions.

Agent Orange

A toxic herbicide used to destroy forests, later linked to severe health issues.

Hearts and Minds

A strategy to win over Vietnamese civilians to support U.S. intervention.

Viet Cong

Communist guerrilla fighters who opposed U.S. and South Vietnamese forces.

National Liberation Front

The political arm of the Viet Cong, fighting for reunification under communism.

Tunnel System

Vast underground networks used by the Viet Cong for hiding, transport, and warfare.

Saigon

The capital of South Vietnam, captured in 1975 to end the war.

Nguyễn Văn Thiệu

President of South Vietnam (1965-1975), backed by the U.S.

Dương Văn Minh

The last president of South Vietnam, surrendered to North Vietnam in 1975.

ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam)

- The military forces of South Vietnam, supported by the U.S.

NVA (North Vietnamese Army)

The official army of North Vietnam, fought against U.S. and South Vietnamese forces.

MACV (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam)

The U.S. command overseeing military operations in Vietnam.

LZ

A designated spot for helicopter landings.

Huey's

UH-1 helicopters, widely used by the U.S. for troop transport and combat.

Guerrilla Warfare

Hit-and-run tactics used by the Viet Cong, making traditional warfare difficult for U.S. forces.

My Lai

A massacre of Vietnamese civilians (1968) by U.S. troops, causing global outrage.

LT. William Calley

The U.S. Army officer convicted for his role in the My Lai Massacre.

Operation Menu

Secret bombing campaign (1969-1970) against Cambodia.

Ho Chi Minh Trail

A supply route used by North Vietnam to transport troops and weapons.

Ho Chi Minh

Leader of North Vietnam, driving the communist movement.

Vietnamization

Nixon's strategy of gradually withdrawing U.S. troops and shifting responsibility to South Vietnamese forces.

Watergate

A political scandal leading to President Nixon's resignation in 1974.

Pentagon Papers

Classified government documents revealing deception in the Vietnam War.

Operation Frequent Wind

The final U.S. evacuation from Saigon (1975), marking the war's end.