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Vietnam War, (1954-75), a protracted conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and its allies in South Vietnam, known as the Viet Cong, against the government of South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. Called the "American War" in Vietnam (or, in full, the "War Against the Americans to Save the Nation"), the war was also part of a larger regional conflict ( see Indochina wars) and a manifestation of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies.

At the heart of the conflict was the desire of North Vietnam, which had defeated the French colonial administration of Vietnam in 1954, to unify the entire country under a single communist regime modeled after those of the Soviet Union and China. The South Vietnamese government, on the other hand, fought to preserve a Vietnam more closely aligned with the West. U.S. military advisers, present in small numbers throughout the 1950s, were introduced on a large scale beginning in 1961, and active combat units were introduced in 1965. By 1969 more than 500,000 U.S. military personnel were stationed in Vietnam. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union and China poured weapons, supplies, and advisers into the North, which in turn provided support, political direction, and regular combat troops for the campaign in the South. The costs and casualties of the growing war proved too much for the United States to bear, and U.S. combat units were withdrawn by 1973. In 1975 South Vietnam fell to a full-scale invasion by the North.

The human costs of the long conflict were harsh for all involved. Not until 1995 did Vietnam release its official estimate of war dead: as many as 2 million civilians on both sides and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. The U.S. military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died in the war. In 1982 the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., inscribed with the names of 57,939 members of U.S. armed forces who had died or were missing as a result of the war. Over the following years, additions to the list have brought the total past 58,200. (At least 100 names on the memorial are those of servicemen who were actually Canadian citizens.) Among other countries that fought for South Vietnam on a smaller scale, South Korea suffered more than 4,000 dead, Thailand about 350, Australia more than 500, and New Zealand some three dozen.

Vietnam emerged from the war as a potent military power within Southeast Asia, but its agriculture, business, and industry were disrupted, large parts of its countryside were scarred by bombs and defoliation and laced with land mines, and its cities and towns were heavily damaged. A mass exodus in 1975 of people loyal to the South Vietnamese cause was followed by another wave in 1978 of " boat people," refugees fleeing the economic restructuring imposed by the communist regime. Meanwhile, the United States, its military demoralized and its civilian electorate deeply divided, began a process of coming to terms with defeat in what had been its longest and most controversial war. The two countries finally resumed formal diplomatic relations in 1995.

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Vietnam War | Facts, Summary, Years, Timeline, Casualties, Combatants, & Facts

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Vietnam War (1954-75), conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam and its allies in South Vietnam, the Viet Cong, against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. It was part of a larger regional conflict as well as a manifestation of the Cold War.

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Website with more info about the Vietnam War 

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Website with more info about the Vietnam War 

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The Vietnam War was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States.

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This is the Resistance symbol that was being used to encourage people to not enlist in the war. This symbol created the "Resist the Draft" movement.

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During the war, the peace symbol started to be a major symbol that was being brought up.The symbol itself was used as a protest to the war and that there should be peace everywhere.

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Poetry Reading - Larry Kerschner, Vietnam Veteran

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Bob Kerrey played an important part in the Vietnam War because he was named as a SEAL Officer. He was given the Medal of Honor for the acts he did while involved in the war. During the war, Kerrey was critically wounded, and by him staying alive, he was able to be awarded for that.

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Oliver Stone was also one of the more recognizable people that was involved in the war. Oliver actually fought in the war and was give 2 purple hearts and also a bronze start. Purple hearts are awards that are given if you survive being wounded while fighting in war. Also, bronze stars are given to those who did heroic acts while in the war. After the war, Oliver went into film school where he made a movie about his experience in the war itself called, "Platoon"

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John McCain played a big role as being a POW. A POW is a shorter term for Prisoner of War. During the war, his aircraft was shot down and he was taken as a prisoner. He was beaten and questioned him to get information about Americas plan. He was then set free after many years of being captured but wouldn't leave unless him and all the other POWs were allowed to be free also. He was a POW for 5.5 years until he was free.

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Weyand was the 25th Commander Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. He was known for tactical strategies. He was a former intelligence officer which gave him a better chance to predict what the Vietnamese were going to do. He was awarded the National Honor of Vietnam first class.

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This was the President at the time who also played a role in the Vietnam War. He was known for Independence and forming an alliance with America to defeat the Vietnamese.

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President Eisenhower was the first to send the troops to Vietnam to start the war.