Why did our troops feel that they were fighting in Vietnam?

The U.S. entered the Vietnam War in an attempt to prevent the spread of communism, but foreign policy, economic interests, national fears, and geopolitical strategies also played major roles. Learn why a country that had been barely known to most Americans came to define an era.

How many South Vietnamese were killed after the war?

In 1995 Vietnam released its official estimate of the number of people killed during the Vietnam War: as many as 2,000,000 civilians on both sides and some 1,100,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. The U.S. military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died.

What was it like being an American soldier in Vietnam?

The American Soldier in Vietnam 1 The draft 2 A “working-class war” 3 The combat soldier’s experience in Vietnam 4 Hours of boredom and seconds of terror 5 U.S. soldiers’ feelings about the Vietnamese 6 Atrocities 7 Decline in U.S. morale and performance 8 Desertions, fraggings, and drug use 9 Strained race relations 10 Sources

How many American soldiers served in Vietnam during the war?

The American Soldier in Vietnam M ore than 2.5 million American men served in Vietnam during the war. Some of these men were career military officers.

What happened to the South Vietnamese after the Vietnam War?

Throughout March and April 1975, the North Vietnamese Army captured more and more Southern cities. South Vietnamese citizens began to flee in mass numbers. The fall of the second-largest city, Da Nang, sparked even more refugees to depart.

How did the Vietnam War affect the performance of American forces?

The tense atmosphere and frustrating nature of the war eventually caused a significant decline in the motivation and performance of American forces in Vietnam. Some American soldiers reacted to their situation by lashing out violently against the Vietnamese, while others took out their anger on U.S. military leaders.