Write at least a five-sentence paragraph for each question listed below.

The journals will be

loosely graded on depth, clarity, and accuracy. (25 points)

 What are the main themes of this module's material

Main themes of this module are the beginnings of the war in which the Johnson
Administration manipulated the American public into believing it had been attacked by
Vietnam. This transitions into the continual escalation of force up to the point at which
Marines, followed later by army forces, transitioned from the initial security mission forces
and how that mission evolved.1 After securing initial areas and pushing land forces out into
the jungle to pursue the enemy, we also see an increase of offensive air operations at this
time in the war. This is also when the transition of many military personnel from volunteers
that had been serving to the influx of draftees.

 What are some significant continuities or changes you have seen in this period?

Initially the Marines had come into Vietnam to serve as a protection force to the airfield.
After they landed, commanders began to push as far as 50 miles inland and began fighting a
jungle war that was very ruthless and savage. After many skirmishes with the enemy their
forces would be decimated but regroup and in time re-attack the American forces because
they were stopped from perusing the enemy. “…and this was the 3rd time we had run up
against the 22nd NVA Regiment, and every time we ran up against them, why we would tear
em’ [sic] up, and they would fall back into the mountains, and 6 months later they’d [sic]
come back completely refurbished, a new regiment; and we’d have to go through this drill
again.” This type of war is exhausting and can often wear down even some of the most
seasoned of veterans, and as we can begin to see at this point in the war, it does.”1

 What was the most surprising thing you learned in this section of the course?

President Johnson blatantly used the Gulf of Tonkin incident to falsely engage the United
States into the Vietnam war. On the 7th August the Tonkin Resolution was passed by the
congress which essentially opened a war with Vietnam without declaring it to the American
public. This way of congressional approval the military was also given a war budget with no
limit.2 By doing this Johnson ensured that we would become more involved in what would
be one of the bloodiest conflicts in American history. After twisting facts to manipulate what
had happened, President Johnson collected American support to begin a war in which the
U.S. had not yet actually been attacked.4

 Provide a thesis (argument) for this module’s material.

The U.S. Marines could have finished the war in the early years if President Johnson, and his
cabinet, would have worried less of what public sediment was and instead reinforced the
 initial landing party of Marines. After landing in Vietnam and providing security to the
airfields, the Marines began pursing farther into the jungle, but would have to come back to
firebases at the end of missions surrendering the land they had taken that same day. Walt
Rostow was a staunch supporter of sending overwhelming numbers of personnel and
supplies to overwhelm the North Vietnamese in a massive wave. A move this size would
show the North Vietnamese that “we are prepared to face down any form of escalation.”3
Advocating a move like this stunned John McNamara, The Secretary of Defense, and even
some of the more seasoned Generals who wanted to keep the war as under wraps as
possible.3 During this time the counterinsurgency against the North Vietnamese was
wavering and needed the backing of American forces.5

 Discuss how the two primary documents you selected (and read) can be used to prove an
element (or elements) of the narrative discussed this module.

The first document that I found that was incredibly useful was a publication to Naval History
Magazine that covers the level of deception that President Johnson and his staff went to in
order to provoke the Vietnam conflict into an outright war. It also speaks to the deliberate
levels at which the Johnson Administration went to in order to lie to the American public and
drum up support under false pretenses.

The second, and one I will use again, is the Presidential Recording Digital Edition. This
article as well as the first give further proof that there were conspiracies to further the
Vietnam War under false pretexts. Reading this material helps me see how unorganized and
ill prepared any of these people were while trying to escalate this war.

1. Hoyt,Austin, & Pearson, A. (1983). Vietnam A television history: America takes charge 4/11.
Boston, MA: WGBH-TV.
2. Karnow, Stanley. Vietnam, A History. Penguin Books, 1997. (p. 412)
3. Karnow, Stanley. Vietnam, A History. Penguin Books, 1997. (p. 421)
4. Paterson, P. (2008). The Truth about Tonkin | Naval History Magazine February 2008 volume
22, number 1.22
5. Selverstone,Marc. (2014). Lyndon B. Johnson and The Vietnam War