The Vietnam War (also known as the Second Indochina War or the Vietnam Conflict) took place from 1959 to April 30, 1975. The Vietnam War was fought between the communist Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), supported by its communist allies, and the US-supported Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).

The Vietcong, the lightly-armed South Vietnamese communist insurgency, largely fought a guerilla war against anti-communist forces in the region. The North Vietnamese Army engaged in a more conventional war, at times committing large-sized units into battle. U.S. and South Vietnamese forces relied on air superiority and overwhelming firepower to conduct search-and-destroy operations, involving ground forces, artillery and air strikes. The United States and South Vietnam also conducted clandestine operations throughout the war using special operations units and Central Intelligence Agency operatives.

The United States entered the war to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam (as part of a wider strategy of containment during the Cold War), beginning with military advisory missions in the early 1960s and escalating to full warfare with the deployment of combat units from 1965 onward. By 1973, almost all U.S. troops had left the theater and in 1975, communist forces assumed control of South Vietnam. North and South Vietnam were reunified shortly thereafter.

The war, and the failure of the United States to achieve its objective, had a major impact on U.S. politics, culture and foreign relations. Americans were deeply divided over the U.S. government’s justification for the war and conduct during the war. Opposition to the Vietnam War formed the basis for the counterculture youth movement of the 1960s.

The Vietnam War exacted a huge human cost as well. In addition to approximately 58,000 U.S. soldiers killed, 3 to 4 million Vietnamese from both sides, and 1.5 to 2 million Laotians and Cambodians lost their lives.

Vietnam War resources:

Vietnam Veterans Home Page

     www.vietvet.org/

Vietnam Veterans Memorial 

     thewall-usa.com/

Vets With A Mission - History of the Vietnam War www.vwam.com/vets/hisintro.html

Vietnam Veterans of America

      http://www.vva.org/

  Vietnam War Stories  

 http://www.war-stories.com/aspprotect/ws-nav-index-menu.asp

 Contact Us to order our catalog of Vietnam War photos.

A26686 Casket of U.S Vietnam unknown soldier in procession enroute to Arlington Cemetery for burial in the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, May 30, 1984

A26686A  Sailor saluting casket of U.S Vietnam unknown soldier in procession enroute to Arlington Cemetery for burial in the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, May 30, 1984