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The Sixties: Post Vietnam

This guide covers the decade 1960 - 1970

Afterward

Once the US left, the North defeated the South, and the Vietnamese rebuilt their country, the US virtually the country we had once been so deeply involved with. Due to the work of two veterans of the War, one a Republican, John McCain, one a Democrat, John Kerry, and others, the US finally restored relationships. And today Vietnam is considered an American ally. Since the end of the War, thousands of American veterans have returned to that country. Many have established friendships with former foes, knowing that they have more in common with each other than differences.

Events

  • 1975. Vietnam is unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
  • 1975, Vietnamese Premier Pham Van Dong invites US to normalize relations with Vietnam.
  • 1975-1979. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia.
  • 1975-1995. Mass migration from Vietnam, many by boat.
  • 1975. US begins trade embargo on Vietnam.
  • 1977. President Carter pardons all Vietnam War draft evaders.
  • 1977. President Carter dispatches a mission to Vietnam to begin normalization process.
  • 1978-1989. 10 year war between Vietnam and Cambodia.
  • 1979. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund formed to raise money for a Memorial.
  • 1981. Maya Lin's submission of "The Wall" is chosen.
  • 1984. The Memorial accepted by the President of the United States.
  • 1984. An additional statue of "Three Soldiers" was added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
  • 1994. US trade enbargo lifted, thanks to the efforts of Sen. John McCain and Sen. John Kerry, Vietnam veterans.
  • 1997. US and Vietnam relations resumed.
  • 2006. Declassified documents further confirmed atrocities by US troops in Vietnam.
  • 2010. Six names added to The Wall for a total of 58, 272 service people.
  • 2017. Ken Burns' The Vietnam War appears on PBS.

Sources: The Vietnam War: An intimate History by Ward, Burns & Novick and US Dept. of State website.

Lessons from Vietnam

  • Lesson #1: Empathize with your enemy.
  • Lesson #2: Rationality alone will not save us.
  • Lesson #3: There’s something beyond one’s self.
  • Lesson #4: Maximize efficiency.
  • Lesson #5: Proportionality should be a guideline in war.
  • Lesson #6: Get the Data.
  • Lesson #7: Belief and seeing are both often wrong.
  • Lesson #8: Be prepared to reexamine your reasoning.
  • Lesson #9: In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil.
  • Lesson #10: Never say never.
  • Lesson #11: You can’t change human nature.

Source: "The Fog of War" film.

Maya Lin & the Wall

THE WALL

Photograph: A section of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with a rose in front of the Wall.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, DC
Sept. 7, 2009 
Author Ethan K San Francisco

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was designed by Maya Lin and dedicated on November 13, 1982. 58,318 Americans, who died during the Vietnam War, are currently listed on the Wall.

Movies

  • Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
  • Coming Home (1978)
  • Distant Thunder (1988)
  • Heaven and Earth (1993)
  • Jacknife (1989)

Additional Resources

  • Murray, S. (2005). Dk Eyewitness Books: Vietnam War. New York: DK Publishing.
  • Ward, G. C., Burns, K., & Novick, L. (2017). The Vietnam War an intimate history. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.