US involvement in the Vietnam War - Essay Example

There are factors that are not clear on the reasons why the United s decided to involve in Vietnam War. In most narratives, a thousand of the people of Vietnam became prisoners. A fairly consistent POW profile has emerged from the narratives of the witnesses. Though the number of people from Vietnam was less than the others, for instance, the captives are not mentioned. The Americans referred to them as the fourth Allied P.O.W Wing since those from Vietnam and Thailand were few and deserved a place within the wing, the POW from Southern Asia remained invisible in the situation. In another situation, POWs who returned home during the war were mainly second class citizen. They returned home after being released by their captors. Among those who returned, 95 were paroled with some commenting on their captivity but a good number have remained silent for the treatment they went through. From the silence it can be told that something was missing and that is what leads to the silence and due to the fact that statements were mandatory after release. Another instance more puzzling is lack of attention that was paid to the civilians and the servicemen who were found to have escaped from captivity. There was no reason given for not making follow ups on the reasons why they had escaped the captivity and the experiences that they went through that lead to their escape. There are still uncertainties on the efforts they used to escape or the assistance they had to make them escape. In operational homecoming, a psychologist by the name Hunter recalls that the number that was held in captivity was small as compared to the number that was released. The number that was held in Korea during World War II was much higher. The missing clue is on the place where the other numbers would have been transferred to or what they would have undergone. The interest of United States towards Vietnam intensified after the collapse of China Nationalist government in 1989. Therefore, it sought to use the same policy instruments that were being used to reduce the influence of the Soviets in Europe. This is through employing a collective security organization, providing the country with economic aid, and offering military assistance. It is not clear on the original aim of United States in involving in the way as the activities that they carried out were mainly side activities. The US government role in Vietnam was to offer the Vietnam government with much needed military help in order to enable it overcomes the guerrilla leaders who wanted to advance the communist agenda. In addition, the government wanted to create a country that was viable and one that upheld the democratic views. More investigations are to be put into place to ensure there is the right reason for the involvements there are options that the role of US in Vietnam was one of its foreign strategies to cement its dominance in other parts of the world. It can be argued that the fear the Soviet could gain ground in Vietnam Made the United states to intensify give aids towards Vietnam should be more looked into as there are controversies with the activities that took place in the first time United states got into the war. The Vietnam War was used by US to test its military strength and response of the Soviet Union on matters of national interest. However, after the eruption of war, the US government was unable to withdraw on time as the opposition groups in Vietnam responded vigorously. With the marine being unfamiliar with the local terrain, they suffered heavy casualties. Nevertheless, retreating from this war would have encouraged the Soviet that the US is weakening militarily, an aspect that would have created more space for Soviet insurgence. Authority that was given to United States to help in the war should be taken into consideration. The belief that John Kennedy had that US had a mandate of preventing the communist-led insurgencies from subverting and overthrowing the shaky new government of Vietnam is not confirmed. There is information that should be obtained to confirm the beliefs. President John F. Kennedy believed that the US has a mandate of preventing the communist-led insurgencies from subverting and overthrowing the shaky new government of Vietnam. Therefore, it offered itself to help Vietnam establish its authority in the land through strengthening its financial and military position in the country. However, this did not auger well with the Diem who tried to seek help from communist countries in order to reduce US insurgence. This led to eruption of war that was sparked by ideological differences. It is unclear the identities that are in becoming a POW. The option that the military have about POW combat status is however clear. They state that an army is that person who must oppose the enemy whether the person is in combat or when the soldier is in captive. There are many stories from POWs that support the fact that a soldier is that who must oppose the enemy even when they are at war. The title of defense department also states the same point. However the difference is that there are times where the captives had to be submissive to those that capture them. The difference in the view is that captivity is a termination of all sort of combat that was initially involved and this is replaced where the fight is circumscribed and the condition here is radically unequal. This involves commitment and there is no resume that is to be made for war. There were codes that were used in the war that a military main in action after a contract is that who should play the role assigned to death. However, for POWs there is always difficulty that lies in the time they are expected to do when they are prevented from dying. The decision not to be submissive is a good are the ones POWs are encouraged to do though they are with several consequences. The fight does not continue after the battle. This is to men that have been captured. The situation is only in instances when all the men have decided to fight back and be accountable for the risk of the choice. The Role of US in Vietnam was to reduce the influence of the Soviet Union in the land. In 1965, the US started air raids on the Northern parts of Vietnam. These were parts of Communist controlled areas that were supported by the Soviets. However, even after US massive military aid, heavy bombings, and an increase in the number of troops in the country, the US and South Vietnam was unable to defeat Viet Cong. The intimidation of Cong on US troops made the US restless, an aspect that made the president to decide that it is time to curb the indirect involvement of the Soviet Union in Vietnam. The difference that can be in this situation is that the US government was concerned that its military power was being tested and this could be a base for more attacks by the Soviet Union. Therefore, it intensified its role in the country in order to take over the political, social and economic activities in the country. This was however not clear in the actions as the government had no firm stand on the main role. Another instance is that explaining that those that can no longer inflict casualties’ must evade and that officers once in action must never surrender the commands that they are given. The code should be held by officer. The difference is that the confessions shows that most officers after some extent of injuries or difficulties they face forego and disrespect the commands they are given. The officers claim they have to disobey the orders in some situations so that they are able to save their lives. Conclusion In Vietnam, the time and place that a captive is strongly influences the duties that the person is to engage. For POWs who are held in jungle camps, where the conditions bring death as a certainty, if the captives stop fighting then the issue is beside the point. The confessions by soldiers show that it is always difficult to abide by the rules and the regulations once one is under pressure. Emphasis on command has also show differences in the codes and what the officers practice in the actions and the times they are in command. In instances whether a senior officers made a good or a poor job, there is no differences long as there is establishment of a command structure. Whether the officer does something silly or holds hands with the enemy, the officer is considered to still be in the law. This differs to the code stating that an officer should not take sides with the enemy the code shows that as long as people are to get and does wrong things, they remain okay. Bibliography Goldwater, Barry M, and Jack Casserly. Goldwater. New York: Doubleday, 1988. Howes, Craig. Voices Of The Vietnam Pows. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. Prados, John. The Hidden History Of The Vietnam War. Chicago: I.R. Dee, 1995. Walker, Samuel. In Defense Of American Liberties. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990. Yancey, Diane. The Vietnam War. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Read More