Understanding America In The Korean And The Vietnamese Wars

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Understanding America in the Korean and the Vietnamese Wars

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Wars in Korea and Vietnam

War is a state of armed crisis between groups, societies, and states, characterized by

excessive destruction, mortality, and aggression by use of regular or irregular military troops.

Korea and Vietnam had similar beginnings as far as revolutions are concerned. Japan had

occupied Korea, and France invaded Vietnam. Communists China and the Soviet Union gave

their support to both Vietnam and Korean wars.

America was facing problems with a fact

China becoming a nuclear power. Therefore, they had to fight the Soviet power first, as a

fight with China would result in the World War III. The United States got involved in both

Korean and Vietnamese wars with a goal to stop communism.

The Korean and the Vietnam Wars were proxy wars. These refer to a situation where

two opposing powers use other countries as a substitute to fight each other. For example, the

United States and the Soviet Union became so dominant after World War II and were

powerful besides having varying forms of government systems.

The United States had a

democratic republic where citizens vote and elect representatives in government unlike in the

Soviet Union where it was a communist form of government. The United States was against

communism where it engaged in Vietnamese and Korean wars.

The domino theory, a theory that stated that if a country turned a communist, a set of

dominos would fall under the communist. Communism and democracy reasons led to the

fights in both countries among other reasons. In a communist form of government, ownership

of all kinds of productions becomes general and not individual. It replaced private property

and income-based economy with public ownership and controlled communally. The United

Cumings, Bruce. "Getting North Korea wrong." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 71, no. 4

(2015): p.65

Belletto, Steven. "The Red Sun in Our Hearts." Contemporary Literature 55, no. 4 (2014):

p.809

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States did not want the southeast countries communized since China, and the Korean

peninsula had already lost into it. They feared that the domino system was happening in Asia.

The Korean and Vietnamese fought a limited form of wars. Limited war refers to the

failure to assemble as a nation to administer a battle while Total conflict relates to the

reinforcement of the whole state in execution of a fight. Examples of total wars include

World War I and World War II. Examples of limited war include the Korean, Vietnamese,

and Iraq wars.

In the twentieth century, Korea a country that lies between China and Japan was

independent and united under the ruling of the Yi dynasty. In 1910, Japan her neighbor took

over to colonize. Japan wiped out the sense of national identity to the Koreans.

The Japanese

language became necessary for use sectors like business, in government, and in higher

education. Only a few who collaborated with Japanese rule benefited.

Japan in 1930, moved to expand its Asian territory and occupied Manchuria across

northern Korean border and further china. Japan expansion to the China territory resulted in a

full-scale war. The United States and Britain backed Chiang’ Kai Shek the then China leader

of China. The fight between Japan with the United States and Britain began which resulted in

the World War II in 1939-1945.

Japan became victorious following a series of defeat where

it occupied a large area of Asia like Indonesia, Philippines, and, Malaysia. Later the United

States and other allied forces turned the tide of war against Japan where Japan got defeated in

1945.

Cumings, Bruce. "Getting North Korea wrong." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 71, no. 4

(2015): p.70

Cumings, Bruce. "Getting North Korea wrong." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 71, no. 4

(2015): p.69

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A majority of Koreans expected, however, immediate independence but in 1945,

United States had facilitated a plan with the victorious allies on occupying Korea. The

Koreans who had been living in exile returned after Japan was defeated and since the two

foreign powers did not want Korea to rule itself, they had to find each a former exile to back

as a future leader. General John R. Hodge an American who led the occupation welcomed

Syngman Rhee, a Korean nationalist who was living in the U.S as an exile. The Soviets

backed Kim II-sung; a 33years old Korean communist following that he had spent most of

World War II in the Soviet Union.

The superpowers one under a communist and the other under a capitalist began to

have radically different ideas about making Korea united fading the agreement they had

made. In 1949, the Soviets and the U.S were open enemies, which resulted at the beginning

of Cold War.

The communist wanted to expand their territory of communism in Korea. On

the other hand, the Americans wanted to encourage the establishment of democracy in the

south. Additionally, they emphasized the benefits of containment; a policy carried out to

prevent the spread of communism.

In 1950, the north under the control of the Soviet Union and China invaded the South

Koreans under the command of the United States. This battle was the first in the cold war and

the first proxy war. A proxy war is where A proxy war refers to a way where one or more

opposing powers instigates war and then uses third parties to fight on their behalf. At first, the

Americans did not have strategies, and its soldiers faced difficulties with the terrain and

extreme weather condition. As a result, North Koreans advanced and successfully captured

Cumings, Bruce. "Getting North Korea wrong." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 71, no. 4

(2015): p.76.

Belletto, Steven. "The Red Sun in Our Hearts." Contemporary Literature 55, no. 4 (2014):

p.808

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Seoul the capital of South Korea. Later, United States turned the North Koreans by the use of

its arsenal-sophisticated weaponry. Also, Truman, the then South Korean president had

authorized General MacArthur supreme commander of the united nation forces, to help push

the enemy back past the 38th parallel.

During the end of the war, truce talks began in 1951. It refers to an agreement to stop

the fight for a while. Korea remained divided while the border that still existed before the war

continued. The United States in the whole process was trying to unite Korea, but after all,

there was no real winner.

Two division still endures in Korea, a communist North Korea

government, and a non-communist South Korean government. Therefore, with support from

the United Nations, the United States moved to create peace, and remove the communist

invaders from South Korea.

Korean War drove to some impact. It brought into a discovery that UN could stop a

fight on a member country. China discovered to have the ability to hold itself in a battle not

involving atomic weapons. Research also showed that War between the superpowers had to

continue.

The U.S since 1953 has been supporting South Korea, which has remained to

become an industrious powerhouse in Asia while North Korea continues as a communist and

still struggles to feed itself. She always threatens with military actions to its neighbors. The

fighting stopped, but the war did not officially end. Instead, a truce- temporary peace exists

between the two warring sides.

The Korean War also influenced positively in Japan and China. It led to an economic

and political recovery of Japan after the devastation of World War II. Japan supplied the

Cumings, Bruce. "Getting North Korea wrong." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 71, no. 4

(2015): 64-76.

Nguyen, Viet Thanh. "Just memory: War and the ethics of remembrance." American

Literary History 25, no. 1 (2013): p.146

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needs of the UN war machines hence its industries expanded rapidly. She also became

America's valued friend from the most hated enemy of World War II. America confirmed its

friendship with the Chinese nationalist on Taiwan although, American’s relation with China

remained a hostile until the 1970s. However, in 1971, Beijing government represented China

at the UN.

The war also affected negatively. It became a catastrophe for Koreans on both sides of the

ceasefire line since around one out of ten died in the Korean population. There was the

destruction of roads, factories, dams, and railways Cities while towns became heaps of ruin.

Political oppression worsened the economic hardship because of the previously mentioned

destruction. By then, there was no democracy nor freedom in the North and South Korea.

In Korea, tactics involved the communist was having Morale and discipline such that

they were willing to die for their country. They did not make unnecessary movements unless

at night to avoid US attacks. The Chinese did infiltration assault. They could also dig holes

during the day to protect themselves from UN air attacks. They challenged in open grounds

where they fought on the plain, an open ground where shots, air strikes, and other military

movements could be quick and efficient. The war in Korea drowned to the end dividing it

into halves at the 38th parallel. Finally, Korean citizens did not support the war on its soldiers

unlike the Vietnamese.

America lost almost 34,000 lives in the war, which brought anti-communist sentiment

to its highest pitch.

There was no ceremony for the Korean War ex-soldiers in Washington

D.C. The Eisenhower administration got involved in a limited war, which was a severe

Cumings, Bruce. "Getting North Korea wrong." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 71, no. 4

(2015): p.74

Cumings, Bruce. "Getting North Korea wrong." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 71, no. 4

(2015): p.75

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mistake that could lead to the immediate response using nuclear weapons. In the 1960s, U.S

was fighting another war in Vietnam on the ground of Asia in policy to keep war limited

hence a similar massive number of casualties.

Again, Vietnam divided into two, the communist side, and the non-communist.

Earlier, Nationalist independence movements after World War II spread across Southern

Asia. However, U.S gave the Philippine island independence. The Netherlands gave

Indonesia freedom. France failed to release its wild lands in the “Indochina” the area of South

East Asia, which resulted in Vietnamese war, which took so long. It lasted for 15years since

1960.

The Vietnamese ruled then by Ho Chi Minh fought against Japanese since Japan had

conquered Indochina during World War II. Ho Chi Minh wanted Vietnam to become

independent after the war and not a colony of France. He fought a guerrilla-style war against

the French where the French got assistance from the United States since the U.S did not want

another communist government in Asia.

Vietnamese communist captured a French fort,

which resulted in French deciding that it could not win the war.

Vietnam divided into two areas a decision made by Ho Chi Minh and French. North

Vietnam became the communist area, and South Vietnam became non-communist area.

Cambodia and Laos became independent. South Vietnam was to hold an election for the

division did not mean to be permanent. Elections never took place despite the choice of unity

the Vietnamese wanted to choose. A guerrilla war began in northern Korea inside South

Nguyen, Viet Thanh. "Just memory: War and the ethics of remembrance." American

Literary History 25, no. 1 (2013): p.145

Belletto, Steven. "The Red Sun in Our Hearts." Contemporary Literature 55, no. 4 (2014):

802-810.

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Vietnam to bring uniformity in the whole Vietnam peninsula to make it one communist

nation.

Vietcong- the Vietnamese living in south joined this struggle against South Vietnam

government. In 1960, military advisors went to help in southern Vietnam sent by the U.S.

This led to a fight in South Vietnam with America having nearly 500,000 troops. American

citizens protested against its involvement in this war.

In 1969, the U.S started to withdraw

its forces from South Vietnam. Vietnamization a plan that meant to turn the fight of the entire

war over the South Vietnamese army is what Americans wanted.

In 1975, the U.S had pulled off all its forces from Vietnam. The South Vietnamese

government collapsed, and for that reason, the North Vietnamese took control over Saigon-

south Vietnam’s capital city. A year later, The North and South Vietnam consolidated into

one socialist country called the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Saigon then renamed it as

Ho Chi Minh City. The American wanted to unite the Vietnamese by eradicating

communism.

Years later, the U.S and the Social Republic of Vietnam found ways of working

together. The trade between U.S and Vietnam increased, and U.S investment in Vietnam

grew. To date, tourism and travels in Vietnam are large numbers, and even an effort is has

started on locating the American soldier who went missing in Vietnam during the war.

Unlike in the Korean War, in November 1982, Vietnam veteran’s memorial was unveiled to

Nguyen, Viet Thanh. "Just memory: War and the ethics of remembrance." American

Literary History 25, no. 1 (2013): p.150

Belletto, Steven. "The Red Sun in Our Hearts." Contemporary Literature 55, no. 4 (2014):

p.804

Nguyen, Viet Thanh. "Just memory: War and the ethics of remembrance." American

Literary History 25, no. 1 (2013): p.160

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remain as a typical war monument. It has a V-shape wall inscribed with over 58,000 names of

the U.S names of soldiers who died during the war.

Vietnamese used tactics such as a guerrilla war, booby trap setting, US patrol ambush,

landmines and, bomb planting in towns.

They interacted with peasants wearing ordinary

clothes to hide their identity to the Americans. Russia and China supplied them with rockets

and weapons. They stayed close to the Americans their enemy, so there were no uses of air

back up to avoid killing their men. Americans used hi-tech war by use of b52 bombers,

helicopters, napalms, and defoliants. They forced the peasants to leave Vietcong controlled

areas for loyally defended areas. They patrolled in search and destruction of any Vietcong

though visible and easily ambushed. Americans wanted to stop communism in Vietnam.

Korean War considered justified. Among the reasons for these is the maintained

Korean status quo. The U.S ignored to accord and preferably implemented a permanent

fracture in Korea. The U.S believed that they could accomplish the same in Vietnam like in

Korea. Vietnam War was not justified.

The US blatantly ignored the Vietnamese

democratic side. Therefore, Vietnam sought for Russian and chines assistance, as she wanted

to gain independence from the French. Communist’s war began because of how they were

organized and ruthless of the independent groups.

Finally, Vietnam had been a unified country, but in the 1954 Geneva at the 17th

parallel, it divided. These resulted from the American involvement. Should America not have

involved Vietnam could remain united in the 1956 elections. America engaged in these wars

due to political motivation. The U.S officials believed they were justified by sending their

Belletto, Steven. "The Red Sun in Our Hearts." Contemporary Literature 55, no. 4 (2014):

802-810.

Nguyen, Viet Thanh. "Just memory: War and the ethics of remembrance." American

Literary History 25, no. 1 (2013): 144-163.

Surname 10

soldiers into Vietnam. Americans do not understand why American soldiers died in Vietnam

in an unjust war. A theory called just war states that Wars fought for political interests are

unjust. Unlike in Korea, pro-US interest eliminated in Vietnam.

That became the reason

why American could not succeed. Hope that the U.S. government has learned from the

conflict in Vietnam and will endanger the lives of its soldiers for only a just cause in the

future. They did not for this case review the domino theory that Americans believed in, that if

a country turned a communist, a set of dominos would fall under the communist. However,

Americans had a goal to set peace in Vietnam in addition to the fight against communism.

To compare the Korean and the Vietnamese wars, it is evident that they both had a

foreign intervention. That is the United States and the Soviet Union. Some of the

intermediary countries intervened because of the domino system an American belief that

when one falls into communism, others will follow. Communism and democracy reasons led

to the fights in both countries among other reasons. An occurrence of the wars in both

countries raised during the cold war. In both, a negotiation was involved in bringing the end

of the wars. The fights were internal fights for both. That is a half vs. the other half.

Vietnam fought using guerrilla style, which involved hit and runs surprising attacks.

The war in Vietnam started at a significant time- from 1960-1970. At the very end, North

Vietnam won the battle when they convinced the enemy to sign a treaty, which was an

advantage to themselves, and since the Americans were getting tired in war.

The United

States citizens did not like America getting involved in the Vietnamese war. Vietnamese

Nguyen, Viet Thanh. "Just memory: War and the ethics of remembrance." American

Literary History 25, no. 1 (2013): p.162

Belletto, Steven. "The Red Sun in Our Hearts." Contemporary Literature 55, no. 4 (2014):

p.809

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citizens supported the war and its soldiers calling the war a “people’s war.” They used to

house, supply, and other necessities to soldiers.

Korea on the other hand, challenged in open grounds where they fought on the plain,

an open ground where shots, air strikes, and other military movements could be quick and

efficient. In Korea, the war did not take a significant time unlike in Vietnam since it started in

1950-1953. The war in Korea drowned to the end dividing it into halves at the 38th parallel.

Unlike in the Vietnamese war with the Americans, the U.S citizens neutrally helped Korea in

the battle for democracy. However, Korean citizens did not support the war on it soldiers

unlike the Vietnamese.

In conclusion, the Korean and Vietnamese wars were for making peace. It is evident

in virtue of U.S global strategy and China's security concern. There is an identification of

remarkable commonalities in the U.S and China in the Korean and the Vietnamese war

experiences. The leaders in both consider the outbreak of the fight as credible and relevant

tests. Despite the view in Washington and Beijing that each was the main in the battles, they

decided to keep the disputes from expanding into China while the U.S avoided the use of

nuclear weapons. There is much desire of the decision left when the U.S leaders here

commended for rejecting total wars and instead improves crisis communication.

Cumings, Bruce. "Getting North Korea wrong." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 71, no. 4

(2015): p.75.

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Notes

Cumings, Bruce. "Getting North Korea wrong." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 71, no. 4

(2015): 64-76.

Belletto, Steven. "The Red Sun in Our Hearts." Contemporary Literature 55, no. 4 (2014):

802-810.

Nguyen, Viet Thanh. "Just memory: War and the ethics of remembrance." American Literary

History 25, no. 1 (2013): 144-163.

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