Buddhist Crisis

Following the 1954 Geneva Conference, Ngo Dinh Diem – a Vietnamese Roman Catholic and passionate anti-Communist, assumed leadership in Saigon after the 1955 referendum. As a member of Vietnamese Catholic minority, Diem relied deeply on the loyalty and support... Continue reading

Vietnam War Weapons

U.S. and Allies Weapons Infantry Weapon / M16 Until early 1960s, M14 was still the primary infantry weapon in Vietnam. Although accurate and powerful with its 7.62mm ammunition, M14 was heavy and unwieldy. Using 7.62mm cartridge, M14 was also... Continue reading

Gulf of Tonkin Incident

Background After taking office, President Lyndon Johnson became more concerned about the capability of Saigon government in handling the Viet Cong guerillas. In early 1964, he decided to increase military aid to South Vietnam and created more pressure on... Continue reading

Vietnam POWs

On August 5, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson ordered Operation “Pierce Arrow” – the first U.S. air operation against North Vietnam in response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. The operation’s major objectives were to destroy several North Vietnamese torpedo... Continue reading

My Lai Massacre

My Lai Massacre was the mass murder of as many as 500 unarmed civilians, in which most of them were women, children, infants, and elderly people, in My Lai, South Vietnam on March 16, 1968 during the Vietnam War.... Continue reading