Vietnam Conflict

The Vietnam conflict

Part of French Indochina, Vietnam was occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Ironically, America's first involvement in the region was in support of a Vietnamese patriot named Ho Chi Minh, the leader of a small nationalist movement which had been waging a campaign against the Japanese since 1941. At the end of the War, Ho and his "Viet Minh" movement actively resisted France's attempt to regain control of Vietnam, and turned to the Soviet Union and Communist China for assistance.

While the United States did not initially support French return to power, the collapse of the Chinese Nationalist government in 1949 and the outbreak of the Korean War in June, 1950 solidified American resolve to contain communism and prevent worldwide aggression. As a result, President Truman stepped up assistance to France and stationed a small assistance and advisory group in Saigon in September 1950.

Successive military defeats over the next four years eroded the French will to carry on the war, even though by 1954 the United States was bearing about 75% of its financial cost. The Viet Minh ultimately defeated the French in May of that year, but were denied their goal of a united, communist Vietnam. An international conference in Geneva partitioned Vietnam at the 17th parallel and the Eisenhower administration agreed to provide direct U.S. military assistance to the South. American military commitment to South Vietnam was expanded by President's Kennedy and Johnson, as their war with North Vietnam intensified.

In August 1964, North Vietnamese patrol boats attacked U.S. Navy ships in international waters off the coast of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin. Congress responded by passing a joint resolution which "Americanized" the war by authorizing the President to "take all necessary measures" to safeguard the troops and prevent aggression.

The Illinois National Guard became involved in the Vietnam Conflict in April 1968, when the 126th Supply and Service Company was called to support the build up of United States forces. The Quincy, Illinois unit which consisted of 200 members was capable of operating a supply and service facility in direct support of approximately 8,000 soldiers.

In May, the 126th left Illinois to begin its training at Fort Carson, Colorado. It deployed to Vietnam in September and was assigned to the 23rd Supply and Transportation Battalion, with responsibility for providing logistical support to soldiers near Chu Lai and Da Nang. It supported 111 units, processing an average