A Devastating War That Divided America

Dangerous chemical agents that affected countless lives. Millions of civilian casualties. A nation divided. The Vietnam War contained unspeakable tragedies and we’re here to travel back in history as we recount some of the saddest ones. 

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1. Agent Orange

U.S. troops initially used a chemical called Agent Orange as part of their defoliant campaign. It turned out to be far more dangerous than a herbicide, however, with Vietnam civilians and U.S. soldiers suffering cancers and birth defects for years afterward.  

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2. It Was Incredibly Costly

Wars cost incredible amounts of money and lives, but the Vietnam War was particularly expensive. The Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon administrations estimated a nearly $200 billion bill (or $1 trillion today). 

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3. Women Were Targeted

As is often the case with war, Vietnamese women were prime targets for unspeakable acts. From attacking them in droves to taking their honor, they faced all sorts of discrimination. On the other hand, they also greatly contributed to admin work and medical care.

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4. Defoliated Forests

Though Agent Orange caused tragic side effects, its main purpose was deforestation—a goal it certainly accomplished. By the end, it wiped out nearly eight million acres of forest in Vietnam, leading historians to outright call it an ecocide. 

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5. Bình Hòa Massacre

In 1966, South Korean troops led a three-day massacre against South Vietnamese civilians. Nearly 400 lives were taken, most of whom were children, women, and the elderly. South Korean troops were accused of similar atrocities just two months prior in Bình Tai, where they took another 168 lives.

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6. My Lai Massacre

Often considered the 20th century’s largest civilian massacre by U.S. soldiers, the brutal assault on My Lai resulted in nearly 500 Vietnamese lives lost. Women and children were targeted, villages were burned to the ground, and groups were attacked en masse. 

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7. Massacre at Huế

Mass graves were discovered years after the 26-day Battle of Huế. It was discovered that the Viet Cong took roughly 6,000 civilian lives in an atrocity later described as the biggest of the Vietnam War.

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8. Fragging Attempts

Hundreds of so-called “fragging” cases were reported between 1969 and 1971—a coin termed specifically during the Vietnam War to detail soldiers’ attacks on their superiors. The conflict was caused by soldiers wanting out of the war and growing tired of their superiors’ demands. 

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9. Zippo Raids

You might not think of Vietnam when you see a zippo lighter, but it quickly became an unofficial symbol of the war. They were called “zippo raids,” a term used for troops who set fire to supposed enemy huts with their lighters. 

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10. Persistent M16 Problems 

One of the biggest problems U.S. soldiers had was with the M16 rifle. Roughly 100,000 were flown out to troops in 1963, and it took almost three years before rumors swirled of their inadequacies. Their problems were ultimately a leading cause of lost lives.

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11. Battle of Đắk Tô

Considered one of the roughest battles of the Vietnam War, this event stretched on for twenty days and claimed countless lives. The PAVN 1st Division planned to take Đắk Tô and attack nearby American soldiers, but the U.S. caught wind of their plans and retaliated. The battle took hundreds of lives and wounded nearly 1,500 others. 

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12. Phong Nhị and Phong Nhất Massacre

South Korean troops stormed South Vietnamese villages in 1968, claiming nearly 100 innocent lives. The 2nd Marine Brigade of the Republic of Korea Marines targeted men, women, and children. 

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13. Operation Linebacker II

In December 1972, 200 U.S. B-52 bombers led a strategic attack against North Vietnam—they dropped 20,000 tons of ordnance in the largest bombing with heavy bombers since WW2. It was America’s last attack of the war and forced North Vietnam back into peace negotiations.  

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14. Many American Soldiers Lost Their Lives

America deployed 550,000 troops to Vietnam soil and nearly 60,000 of them lost their lives. Though U.S. soldiers had plenty of weapons, most of them weren’t prepared for Vietnam’s guerrilla tactics such as launch raids and surprise attacks. 

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15. Vietnamese Boat People

By the end of the war in 1975, Vietnamese refugees were referred to as “boat people,” those who fled the country on boats and sought safety elsewhere. An estimated 800,000 people fled between ‘75 and ‘95 and safely made it to America, Canada, France, and Italy. 

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16. “Draft Dodgers”

People were far from enthusiastic about signing up for the Vietnam War. Millions of American men dodged the draft by destroying their draft cards, openly criticizing the war, and even leaving the country. 

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17. Kent State Protests

Potential soldiers weren’t the only ones opposed. 300 students at Kent State University rallied in protest of the war, a march that ultimately led to the Ohio National Guard openly firing and taking four innocent lives. Another nine were injured. 

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18. Millions Lost Their Lives

Millions of people on both sides lost their lives, though half of the Vietnamese casualties were civilians. It’s estimated that nearly 60,000 U.S. troops and 250,000 South Vietnamese also lost their lives. 

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19. Vietnam After the War

War always takes its toll, but such a devastating and costly one left 70% of people in Vietnam below the poverty line. Economic struggles and attempts to rebuild the nation also plagued Vietnam for years afterward. 

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20. America Divided

Returning American soldiers didn’t receive any welcome parties. In fact, some considered them the losing side and others outright denounced the war’s purpose at all. Because of this, U.S. soldiers were left to deal with these repercussions and their trauma alone. 

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