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Silent Majority

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Although the phrase “Silent Majority” came into use as early as in the late 19th century to depict “dead”,  it was not popularized until  the speech of U.S. President Richard Nixon to address the war in Vietnam to American... Continue reading

Vietnamese Re-education Camps

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Following the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, Vietnamese Communist government began to open hundreds of “re-education” camps throughout the country. Those camps, as Hanoi officially claimed, were places where individuals could “learn about the ways of the... Continue reading

Notable Vietnam Veterans

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By the end of the war in May 1975, more than 2.5 million American military personnel had served in Vietnam1. Most came home carrying a heavy impact from the war. More than 700,000 veterans suffered mental problems2. Some 250,000... Continue reading

Free Fire Zone

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Free fire zone was a common term used by the U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War. Its definition could be found in the Field Manual FM 6-20 as a specifically designated area in which any weapons or weapon systems... Continue reading

Punji Sticks

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In the early years of the Vietnam War,  the Viet Cong  – small and poor equipped guerrilla groups was at a serious disadvantage when facing modern American forces equipped with the most advanced weapons. However, the difficulties provoked their... Continue reading

Hanoi Jane

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Who is Hanoi Jane? Jane Fonda, a.k.a. Hanoi Jane, is an American actress, writer and political activist. In more than 50 years of her actress career, she has won two Academy Oscars, an Emmy Award, and three Golden Globes.... Continue reading

Vietnamese DMZ

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Establishment As a result of Geneva Conference in 1954, the French and Viet Minh came to an agreement to secure peace in Vietnam. All French forces in the North returned to the South while Viet Minh units in the South... Continue reading

Napalm in Vietnam War

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Development & Early Use During the World War I, gasoline was used in combat flamethrowers. However, the essential problem with gasoline was that it burned out too quickly to be effective. To increase its effectiveness, the U.S. Chemical Warfare... Continue reading

Ho Chi Minh Trail

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In 1959, The Lao Dong Party’s (Communist Party) Central Committee decided to increase support to the communist insurgency in South Vietnam. On the occasion of Ho Chi Minh’s birthday on May 19, 1959, Major General Nguyen Van Vinh instructed... Continue reading

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Vietnam Syndrome

Vietnam Syndrome, like other post-war syndromes, was first used in early 1970s to describe the physical and psychological symptoms... Continue reading