The Vietnam and Korean Wars
by Rit NosotroComparative Essay
Compare the ideologies and consequences of the US involvement in the Vietnam and Korean conflicts.
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Summary:
The decision to engage in war in Vietnam and Korea had its ideological root in the Truman Doctrine which found clear expression in MacNamara's so called "Domino Theory". America reasoned that if first Korea and then Vietnam fell to communists, many other nations in proximity would be at risk. The US refused to have a policy of appeasement which had allowed Hitler to fortify Germany leading to WWII. In both Vietnam and Korea, America fought the forces of communism to keep nations free from Soviet control. This was the goal throughout the presidential administrations of Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson. Although both wars were fought for the same reasons, the nature and circumstances of each war were quite different.
Many similarities exist between the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The main reason America fought each of these wars was to keep independent nations from succumbing to communist control. If America allowed soviets to take Korea and Vietnam, other parts of Asia would be at stake. Each case demonstrates a battle between democracy and communism. As one Vietnam veteran said, "the Korean and Vietnam Wars were fought against an ideology, not an individual you can point your finger at." Ho Chi Minh began as a nationalist fighter and only turned to communism in order to support his aims.
Another similarity between Vietnam and Korea is that each of these nations became split between the communist north and democratic south. North Korea and North Vietnam were connected to communist China and received supplies, ammunition, and support from them. South Korea and South Vietnam on the other hand, favored democracy. The United States gave weapons, supplies, and military advisors to South Korea and South Vietnam, which soon led to troops actually fighting in each of these wars. Another common characteristic is that both wars ended in negotiations. Neither side won out right like they did in World War II. In Korea, a cease-fire was called and a demilitarized zone was made between the two hostile borders. In Vietnam, under the Paris peace treaty, both sides agreed to a cease fire and America agreed to pull out all military personnel, while North Vietnam agreed to release all American POWs. Although communist North Vietnam quickly violated this treaty and attacked South Vietnam after the US pulled out, both the Korean and Vietnam wars ended in some concessions for both sides. This demonstrates the cold war stale mate between the Soviet Union and the United States. Each side feared the other but neither side achieved a decisive victory.
Another factor, although often overlooked, is that both leaders of the democratic countries were Christians. Both Dien Bien Phu of South Vietnam and Syngman Rhee of South Korea followed Christ. Perhaps this did not have a great impact on the countries while at war, but it has certainly had a huge impact now. Korea is now a hub of Christianity. Nearly 25% of it's population professes to be Christian and it sends out more missionaries per capita than any other country. Pastor Paul Yonggi Cho in South Korea has the largest Christian church in the world. In contrast to South Korea where Christianity flourishes, Christians in Vietnam are relatively few in number. They have had to deal with an oppressive communist government which outlawed Christianity altogether. However, Christians are gaining support in Vietnam due to a less oppressive government.
The Vietnam and Korean wars also differ in many aspects. The fundamental difference between the two wars was in the outcome. The United States and other democratic nations protected South Korea from the communists, while it lost to them in South Vietnam. Much of this had to do with the way in which each of these wars were fought. In Korea, communists tried to defeat the US with sheer numbers. North Korea could not defend themselves effectively, so China sent more than a million troops. General Douglas MacArthur wanted to expand the war into China. Each side fought most of their battles on open ground. This gave America the strategic advantage because of its superior air power and more technologically advanced weapons. Battles tended to be quick and fierce, resulting in an effective campaign for the Americans that drove the communists back to the original line of division. Vietnam on the other hand, resorted to guerilla warfare given its smaller fighting force and environment. The Vietnamese had previously built some underground tunnels in their resistance movements against the Japanese and then the French. They expanded on this network of tunnels and made a huge network stretching more than 250 kilometers. Most of these tunnels were invincible from American air attacks and were sometimes built right under US military stations. For months, Americans could not figure out how enemy fire came right into their camp. Finally, when the military realized the problem, they went into the network of tunnels, but often got lost, ambushed or ran into booby traps. Another reason why America lost Vietnam and not Korea, was that the Vietnamese turned the war into a "people's war". The Chinese mainly fought the US in Korea without much popular support from the people. In Vietnam, however, everyone joined the war effort. One motto of the communist Vietnamese was, "If the truck is struck, tear down the walls of your house." Americans had no way of telling between neutral civilians and Viet Cong supporters. This is one of the main reasons why America could not defeat the Viet Cong.
The difference in the fighting methods of each war gave rise to sharp differences in casualties. 54,000 American soldiers died in Korea and the war ended within three years. In Vietnam, however, 58,000 soldiers perished over a course of ten years. The Korean War was characterized by short bursts of fighting whereas Vietnam tended to be long and drawn out. Because of the psychological impact of this, their was an enormous difference between how the veterans of both wars were received back in the USA. The timing and ideological justifications for the wars also contributed to the differing moral support the US troops received.
Vietnam and Korea differed greatly during the wars, but their distinctions have grown even farther apart. Even the differences between North Korea and South Korea are huge. Vietnam has finally gotten its economy on track again after discarding communism. South Koreans enjoy abundance and a flourishing economy. North Koreans starve every day. It is easy to conclude from these examples that communism fails to provide prosperity for the people. Almost every county in the world has abandoned communism because its failure to produce social and economic success.
Quick Quiz:
1. What was one of the main reasons America entered the Vietnam and Korean
Wars?
a) So it could gain more territory in Asia
b) Because it wanted to pick a fight with the Soviets
c) Because of the Domino Theory that said if a nation fell to communism, others
would follow
d) So it could spread Christianity
2. Which of the following is true of the Korean War?
a) The Korean War ended in a stalemate with the communists getting North Korea
and the United States freeing South Korea
b) The Korean War was actually fought in Japan but is called the Korean War
because of all the Korean soldiers that fought
c) Ho Chi Minh was a main figure in the North Korean army
3. All the following are true of the Vietnam War EXCEPT
a) North Vietnam was communist while South Vietnam was supported by the United
States
b) The Vietnamese attacked the United States on open ground and tried to win
with sheer numbers
c) The Vietnamese used guerilla warfare and fought a long, drawn-out war
4. The main difference between the Vietnam and Korean War was
a) Their relationship with France following the wars
b) The populations of Christians in each country leading to the war
c) The United States protected South Korea while it lost Vietnam
d) The United States protected South Vietnam while it lost Korea
answers:
1c, 2a, 3b, 4c
Endnotes:
Robert McNamara, US Secretary of Defense, Episode 11, interviews, http://edhition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/11/interviews/mcnamara/
Baron's How to Prepare for the AP World History Advanced Placement Examination Ch 28, the Cold War and New Bibopar Order, pg 392-393, 395-396
History Place, The Vietnam War January 27, 1973
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/vietnam/index-1969.html
Frank E. Smitha, The Korean War
http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch24kor.html
Richard Verner Berling, Comparing one war to another, November 19, 1991
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r102:S19NO1-969:
Ike Hachimonji, The Korean War
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/8548/ikeswar.htm
Wanda Anderson, Waltrip High School, Korean and Vietnam - Different Wars, Same
Policies
http://www.uh.edu/hti/cu/2003/v02/01.pdf
Essays on Air and Space Power Volume II, Air Power in the Vietnam War, Pg 47-50
Additional information about <http://hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/comp/cw29vietnamkorea.htm>
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