Triumph Forsaken The Vietnam War 1954 1965: An In-depth Analysis of the Forgotten Chapter

The Origins of the Vietnam War

The Vietnam War is a chapter in history that not only witnessed tremendous suffering and loss of life but also sparked intense debates and controversies. It began in the year 1954 and lasted until 1975, with the United States heavily involved in the conflict from 1965 to 1973. In this article, we will focus specifically on the period between 1954 and 1965, commonly referred to as the "Triumph Forsaken" era.

Background: The Geneva Accords

In 1954, the Geneva Conference brought together several world powers to determine the future of Vietnam. The negotiations resulted in the division of Vietnam into two separate regions: the communist North led by Ho Chi Minh's Viet Minh, and the non-communist South led by Ngo Dinh Diem.

Triumph Forsaken: The Vietnam War, 1954–1965

by Mark Moyar (Illustrated Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3556 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	550 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Hardcover	:	172 pages
Item Weight	:	14.7 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.14 x 0.44 x 9.21 inches

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Under the accords, a nationwide election was to be held in 1956 to reunify Vietnam under a single government. However, this election never took place due to concerns that Ho Chi Minh would win based on his popularity.

The United States Enters the Scene

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the United States gradually increased its involvement in Vietnam. The fear of communism spreading across Southeast Asia, known as the "domino theory," drove much of American foreign policy at the time.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower provided economic and military assistance to South Vietnam, but it was President John F. Kennedy who dramatically increased American involvement. Under the Kennedy administration, military advisers were sent to train South Vietnamese forces to battle the communist insurgency.

The Escalation of the Conflict

The situation in Vietnam rapidly deteriorated, and by 1965, the United States found itself fully engaged in the war. American troops were being deployed in large numbers to combat the Viet Cong, a communist guerrilla force operating in South Vietnam.

The controversial Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964, where the USS Maddox was allegedly attacked by North Vietnamese boats, provided the justification for increased American military intervention. This event led to the passing of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which granted President Lyndon B. Johnson the authority to escalate the conflict further.

The "Triumph Forsaken" Era

The term "Triumph Forsaken" refers to the period between 1954 and 1965 when the Vietnam War took shape and escalated into a full-scale American involvement. Many historians argue that this era was characterized by a series of mistakes, misjudgments, and policy failures on the part of the United States.

One of the key factors contributing to this view was the U.S. government's support for the South Vietnamese regime of Ngo Dinh Diem, which was corrupt and increasingly oppressive. This support alienated large segments of the South Vietnamese population, who began to sympathize with the communist forces.

Another significant aspect of the "Triumph Forsaken" era was the lack of understanding of Vietnamese history, culture, and nationalism by American policymakers. The U.S. attempted to implement Western-style democratic reforms in a country with a deeply rooted history of resistance against foreign occupiers.

Moreover, the American military's reliance on conventional tactics and firepower proved ineffective against the Viet Cong's guerrilla warfare tactics. The "search-and-destroy" missions often resulted in the killing of innocent civilians, causing further alienation and resentment among the Vietnamese population.

: Lessons Learned

The "Triumph Forsaken" era represents a critical chapter in the Vietnam War's history where the United States made significant mistakes and failed to achieve its desired outcomes. It serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding local history, culture, and the consequences of blindly supporting repressive regimes.

As we reflect on this forgotten chapter, it is crucial to learn from these mistakes and approach international conflicts with a more nuanced understanding of the complexities involved. By doing so, we can hope to avoid the devastating consequences that befell both the American and Vietnamese people during the Vietnam War.

Triumph Forsaken: The Vietnam War, 1954–1965

by Mark Moyar (Illustrated Edition, Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3556 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	550 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Hardcover	:	172 pages
Item Weight	:	14.7 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.14 x 0.44 x 9.21 inches

FREE

Drawing on a wealth of new evidence from all sides, Triumph Forsaken, first published in 2007, overturns most of the historical orthodoxy on the Vietnam War. Through the analysis of international perceptions and power, it shows that South Vietnam was a vital interest of the United States. The book provides many insights into the overthrow of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem in 1963 and demonstrates that the coup negated the South Vietnamese government's tremendous, and hitherto unappreciated, military and political gains between 1954 and 1963. After Diem's assassination, President Lyndon Johnson had at his disposal several aggressive policy options that could have enabled South Vietnam to continue the war without a massive US troop infusion, but he ruled out these options because of faulty assumptions and inadequate intelligence, making such an infusion the only means of saving the country.