Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Subject
Subject Source: Library Of Congress Subject Headings
Scope Note: The Vietnam War between North Vietnam and South Vietnam lasted from approximately 1955 until 1975 and was fought with the goal of reunification. The North Vietnamese were aided financially and militarily by China and the Soviet Union, while South Vietnam was backed by the United States.Regular U.S. deployments began after the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident. However, U.S. involvement peaked in 1968 following the Tet Offensive, which was an attempt by North Vietnam forces to execute surprise attacks on military and civilian command and control centers throughout South Vietnam. The Tet Offensive triggered the decline of support from the U.S. public, eventually dovetailing into the anti-Vietnam War movement. In May 1968, peace talks began between the United States and North Vietnam in Paris, France.
Gradual withdrawal of U.S. ground forces began in 1973 as part of "Vietnamization," a policy of President Richard Nixon's that sought to end American involvement by providing equipment and training to the South Vietnamese with the goal of transferring fighting solely to their forces. Additionally, President Nixon suspended military offensives against North Vietnam and on January 15, 1973, direct U.S. involvement ended.
Despite all parties signing the Paris Peace Accords, fighting continued between North and South Vietnam but South Vietnam was not able to sustain its defense against North Vietnam. The Vietnam War ended in April 1975 when the North Vietnamese Army captured Saigon, the capital city of South Vietnam. The countries reunified the following year.
Source and Further Reading:
Stanley Karnow, Vietnam: a history, New York: Viking Press, 1983.
Found in 31 Collections and/or Records:
Hallman, Michael R. -- oral history interview, 2021 October 25
File
Interview Summary
Museum of Flight trustee Michael R. “Mike” Hallman is interviewed about his life and experiences in the computer, aviation, and nonprofit fields. He discusses his career with International Business Machines (IBM) during the 1960s through the late 1980s and his subsequent careers with Boeing Computer Services and Microsoft. He also discusses his involvement with The Museum of Flight as a trustee, interim CEO, and (along with his wife, Mary Kay) co-founder of the Museum’s Oral History...
Dates:
2021 October 25
Kam, Calvin H. -- oral history interview, 2018 April 29
File
Interview Summary
Vietnam War veteran Calvin H. Kam is interviewed about his military service as a helicopter pilot with the United States Army. He discusses his wartime experiences flying the Bell UH-1 Huey with the 240th Assault Helicopter Company and his postwar service with the Washington State National Guard Helicopter Division. He also touches on his later teaching career in Washington State. Topics discussed include his training and service history, his time stationed at Fire Base Bearcat (Vietnam),...
Dates:
2018 April 29
Mennella, Bruce -- oral history interview, 2020 January 28
File
Interview Summary
Vietnam War veteran Bruce Mennella is interviewed about his life and military service. He discusses his career with the United States Navy, focusing particularly on his time as an air intelligence office with Fighter Squadron VF-114 on board the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63). He also touches on his experiences growing up in Washington State during the 1950s and 1960s and on his post-military career managing a car dealership in Seattle.
Dates:
2020 January 28
Millet, Roman L. -- oral history interview, 2018 January 18
File
Interview Summary
Vietnam War veteran Roman L. Millett is interviewed about his 22-year career with the United States Army. He discusses his training and experiences as a helicopter pilot, including his wartime service with the 25th Light Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he flew the Bell AH-1G Cobra and the Hughes OH-6A Cayuse. He also describes other notable assignments from his career, such as his training at the U.S. Army Armor School and the Command and General Staff College, his various command...
Dates:
2018 January 18
Olsson, Thomas W. -- oral history interview, 2018 October 24
File
Identifier: OH_Olsson_Thomas
Interview Summary
Vietnam War veteran Thomas W. “Tom” Olsson is interviewed about his military service as a helicopter pilot with the United States Army. He discusses his combat tours in Southeast Asia flying the Bell AH-1 Cobra gunship and describes his later assignments as a flight instructor for the Cobra and the Hughes AH-64 Apache. He also touches on his post-military careers with Rockwell Collins and the Boeing Company and on his volunteer work at The Museum of Flight.
Dates:
2018 October 24
Part 1, 2017 June 08
File
Interview Summary
In this two-part oral history, Vietnam War veteran Jerry Coy is interviewed about his 40-year career in military and commercial aviation. In part one, he discusses his service in the United States Air Force from the 1960s to the 1980s. He describes his experiences as a forward air controller and McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II pilot during the Vietnam War and discusses his other assignments in the United States and abroad. Topics discussed include his personal background, his combat tours...
Dates:
2017 June 08
Platt, James H. -- oral history interview, 2018 May 04
File
Interview Summary
Vietnam War veteran James H. Platt is interviewed about his decade-spanning career with the United States Air Force. He discusses his training and experiences as a military pilot, including his wartime service in Southeast Asia piloting Sikorsky HH-3E helicopters, known as Jolly Green Giants, during air rescue missions. He also describes other notable assignments from his career, such as his support flights at the Eastern Test Range (Florida), his time as a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress...
Dates:
2018 May 04
Redmon, Bill -- oral history interview, 2018 March 27
File
Interview Summary
Naval aviator Bill Redmon is interviewed about his 27-year career with the United States Navy. He discusses his training and experiences as a pilot, landing signal officer, and commander and shares details about his combat tours during the Korean War and Vietnam War. He also discusses other notable assignments from his service and his experiences with various aircraft, including the Vought F4U Corsair, the Douglas A3D (A-3) Skywarrior, and the McDonnell F3H (F-3) Demon. The interview...
Dates:
2018 March 27
Scott, Donald L. -- oral history interview, 2018 March 08
File
Interview Summary
Vietnam War veteran Donald L. Scott is interviewed about his 27-year career with the United States Air Force. He discusses his training and experiences as a military pilot and shares details about his combat tours in Southeast Asia, where he flew the Republic F-105 Thunderchief. He also discusses other notable assignments from his service, such as standing nuclear alert in Okinawa and at various overseas air bases, test flying the F-105 at Nellis Air Force Base (Nevada), developing flight...
Dates:
2018 March 08
Shul, Brian -- oral history interview, 2017 August 06
File
Interview Summary
Vietnam War veteran Brian Shul is interviewed about his 20-year career with the United States Air Force. He discusses his training and experiences as a military pilot and shares details about his various aircraft assignments, including the North American T-28, the Vought A-7 Corsair II, the Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II, and the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. He also discusses the extensive burn injuries he sustained during his service in Southeast Asia, his long recovery, and his drive to return...
Dates:
2017 August 06
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