Questions for the “Experience of War”

First Indochina war 1945-1954

  1. What strategy and tactics were used by the French to subdue the Viet Minh
  2. What strategy and tactics were used by the North Vietnamese?
  3. What role did the peasants play and how were they recruited?
  4. To what degree did the strategy and tactics of either side meet with success? Failure? Why?
  5. What were the attitudes of the French forces sent to Vietnam? French military leadership?
  6. What were the attitudes of the Vietnamese?
  7. What were the consequences of this war on the participants?
  8. Why did the communists in the North decide to resume the war in the South?

1954-1964 Students might be able to use excerpts from documents

  1. What challenges did the US Advisors (Special Forces) face in Vietnam?
  2. What was the official mission of the Advisors?
  3. Was there a “hidden agenda” in the advisor program?
  4. What interactions took place between the American Special Forces and the peasants?
  5. What role did ARVN forces play during this advisory period?
  6. How were the Viet Cong perceived during this time period (1954-1964)? What was their perception of the ARVN forces, of the Americans, of the North Vietnamese leadership, South?
  7. What training , instruction and/or preparation was undertaken by each of the parties involved?
  8. What role did the South Vietnamese leadership play in decisions regarding their future?
  9. What strategy and tactics were used by each of the sides to achieve their goals?
  10. How did each side determine its success or failure. What options were available or considered by each side in dealing with Vietnam at this point? (1964)
  11. What was the function and use of the Ho Chi Minh Trail?
  12. Describe the use of NLF combat villages, NLF troops and tunnel defenses.
  13. What was the role of women in the Vietnam conflict?
  14. Evaluate the chance of success in the Johnson administrations war policy?


Period of Escalation: 1964-1969

  1. What were the difficulties of combat?
  2. What was the comraderie among soldiers
  3. Describe the atmosphere of war.
  4. From excerpts of the various fighting groups, Vietnamese, North, South, VC, American, ARVN describe the situation for the soldier as a victim of war, as a survivor?
  5. What strategies were used in warfare by the foot-soldiers?
  6. What is the attraction or thrill of war?
  7. How does the actual experience of war stand up to the Hollywood version of war?
  8. Explain the rationale behind the physical and mental training of a soldier. What methods were used by the military to recruit soldiers for war?
  9. Describe what was involved in getting recruits conditioned for military service?
  10. What were the physical and mental requirements for military service?
  11. What influence did the following have on Vietnam during the Kennedy era? : General Maxwell Taylor, General Paul Harkness, Green Beret, Robert Mc Namara, General Giap?
  12. What was the purpose of the OPLAN34A operations and the Desoto Patrols?
  13. Who were the Viet Cong? Who were the NLF?
  14. Explain and evaluate Diem’s Strategic Hamlet Program. What was it’s purpose and what role did it play in winning the hearts and minds of the people in the countryside?
  15. Identify the event that unfolded at the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley when American combat forces first took on the NLF. What use was made of helicopters? What strategy and tactics did the NLF use?
  16. What were the intended and unintended consequences of these decisions for either side?
  17. What is a limited war?
  18. What were the objectives of the air war in Vietnam. What were the intended and unintended consequences of this strategy?
  19. What is the military tactic of “gradualism” as defined by the Joint Chiefs of staff?
  20. What was the economic cost of the air war?
  21. How did the North Vietnamese respond to the air war?
  22. What were the fundamental flaws in the use of an air war on a basically agricultural economy ?
  23. Evaluate the ground troops strategy of attrition. Describe a search and destroy mission.
    What were the consequences intended and unintended of this tactic?
  24. What logistical backup did Westmoreland devise to support his military buildup in Vietnam? What
    was the adequacy of it?
  25. Evaluate Westmoreland’s need for an increase in troop strength?
  26. What impact did the TET Offensive have on US military strategy?
  27. How were the communist forces able to mobilize the Tet Offensive?
  28. What was the purpose of constructing a base at Khe Sanh?
  29. Why was so much value given to the Battle at Khe Sanh?
  30. Identify the weaponry used in Vietnam? Explain their specific purpose as well as their effectiveness.

Going to War, What was it like? What were experiences like in the front and the rear, how did they differ? What were the experiences of civilians, Vietnamese and other? How was race and racial conflict in the U.S. experienced in Vietnam? What was the after war experience of veterans? U.S. and Vietnamese?