Vietnam

Background – Ho Chi Minh leads Viet Minh to independence until his death in ’69; Brits pull out in ’46, French takeover … US aids France but they’re defeated at Dien Bien Phu in ’54.

Cease Fire – leads to seperation at 17^th parallel with democratic south, communist N and elections scheduled (don’t happen)

Op Rolling Thunder – Airstrikes into Vietnam from CVs (“Yankee Station”); policy makers limit and choose targets

Escalation – intro of Soviet built SAMs in ‘67

1968 – Bombing halts, Johnson refuses to serve more time as President

Stopping Soviet Supplies – US planes mine Haiphon Harbor

Operation Linebacker – Under Nixon, USN’s roles: 1) Bombardment; 2) Cutter, Minesweeper, DD Surface, close-in blockade; 3) PCF Littoral Craft fast, swift boats à rivers, inland, shallow coastal

Mobile Riverine Forces (Brown Water Navy) – Army men on shallow draft USN vessels

Op Game Warden – Interdict Viet Cong traffic; Ho Chi Minh Trail; PBR patrols worked w/Hueys, Seawolves

Monitors – flamethrower vessels à found 1M rounds of ammo, grenades etc (big cache) in Mekong Delta; otherwise might have been 2^nd Tet Offensive

Operation Frequent Wind – Airborne Evac 130k NV; largest ever