Military Leaders
By: Gabby D.
The role of the American commander in South Vietnam belonged to General William Westmoreland. While in control, Westmoreland demanded that more U.S citizens should be drafted to fight in the war. By 1967, there were about 500,000 troops fighting in the Vietnam War.
As a leader, Westmoreland did not doubt the U.S military power and felt confident. He stated that the Army of the Republic of Vietnam "cannot stand up to his pressure without substantial U.S combat support on the ground" and that "the only possible response is the aggressive deployment of U.S troops".
Westmoreland retired in 1972 but the Vietnam War still followed him throughout the following years. Being accused of deceiving the U.S government about Vietnam's size and strength, Westmoreland was faced with anger of the public and to this day, his actions are still looked at to be controversial.
As a leader, Westmoreland did not doubt the U.S military power and felt confident. He stated that the Army of the Republic of Vietnam "cannot stand up to his pressure without substantial U.S combat support on the ground" and that "the only possible response is the aggressive deployment of U.S troops".
Westmoreland retired in 1972 but the Vietnam War still followed him throughout the following years. Being accused of deceiving the U.S government about Vietnam's size and strength, Westmoreland was faced with anger of the public and to this day, his actions are still looked at to be controversial.
Edward G. Lansdale played an important role of keeping Vietcong, a Communist opposition group in the South, under control. He worked to prevent Vietcong from winning gaining support of South Vietnam's rural population. He did this by creating the U.S Army Special Forces, who adopted the name "Green Beets", to help prevent this from happening.
Towards the end of the war, another major military leader included Henry Kissinger who worked as the National Security Adviser for Nixon. They devised a plan to end America's involvement in Vietnam which became known as Vietnamization.
Towards the end of the war, another major military leader included Henry Kissinger who worked as the National Security Adviser for Nixon. They devised a plan to end America's involvement in Vietnam which became known as Vietnamization.
One major Vietnamese military leader was Ho Chi Minh. First beginning as a leader of the Indochinese Communist Party, Ho Chi Minh became included himself in the troubles of Vietnam after being condemned to death after leading numerous rebellious revolts against French control. While in Vietnam, he established Vietminh, an organization that worked to gain Vietnam's independence from foreign rule. After Japan was defeated by the Allies and was forced to retract all ruling of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh realized the possibility of actually becoming independent and on September 2, 1945, he declared Vietnam as an independent nation. Even after his death, Ho Chi Minh remained popular. In 1975, The North Vietnamese Army conquered South Vietnam and declared that the name of the capital should be changed from Saigon to Ho Chi Minh CIty.