Close to Home: Vietnam’s Effect on Edmond
- Soldier Stories
- Edmond Lost Six
- Protesting the War
- No Heroes Welcome
- Edmond Thanks Its Heroes
- Exhibition Photos
America’s involvement in Vietnam started in the 1950s, but it escalated to its peak in 1965, and continued until the withdrawal of troops in 1973. In that span, more than 3.1 million Americans were stationed in Vietnam. The conflict resulted in over 58,000 American causalities and countless injuries. Over 1,000 Okies were killed in action.
From losing friends and family, to standing up for personal beliefs and trying to find peace after a war, the events from the Vietnam War left a huge impact that could be felt here, Close to Home in Edmond.
Why the War Started
Prior to World War II, Vietnam was a French colony, but was occupied by Japanese forces during the war. After the Japanese surrendered to the Allies in 1945, the Viet Minh, a nationalist and communist organization led by Ho Chi Minh, declared Vietnam‘s independence from France and began a guerrilla war against the French forces. In 1954, the French withdrew from Vietnam.
The 1954 Geneva Accords, agreed to by the French, British, Chinese, Soviet Union, and Viet Minh, created North and South Vietnam, and had the goal of uniting the country through elections. However, the division of Vietnam was never accepted by the Viet Minh in the North, who wanted to unite the country under a communist government. This disagreement jump started the conflict between North and South Vietnam.
America joined the war in 1955 to help stop the rise of communism. While America was very much a military superpower, the Vietnamese opposition’s use of guerilla warfare was hard to defeat. A difficult war, coupled with unrest in America that manifested itself with antiwar movements and an overall decrease in morale, caused a huge rift that affected many civilians and veterans—and still does to this day.
- Soldier Stories
- Edmond Lost Six
- Protesting the War
- No Heroes Welcome
- Edmond Thanks Its Heroes
- Exhibition Photos
America’s involvement in Vietnam started in the 1950s, but it escalated to its peak in 1965, and continued until the withdrawal of troops in 1973. In that span, more than 3.1 million Americans were stationed in Vietnam. The conflict resulted in over 58,000 American causalities and countless injuries. Over 1,000 Okies were killed in action.
From losing friends and family, to standing up for personal beliefs and trying to find peace after a war, the events from the Vietnam War left a huge impact that could be felt here, Close to Home in Edmond.
Why the War Started
Prior to World War II, Vietnam was a French colony, but was occupied by Japanese forces during the war. After the Japanese surrendered to the Allies in 1945, the Viet Minh, a nationalist and communist organization led by Ho Chi Minh, declared Vietnam‘s independence from France and began a guerrilla war against the French forces. In 1954, the French withdrew from Vietnam.
The 1954 Geneva Accords, agreed to by the French, British, Chinese, Soviet Union, and Viet Minh, created North and South Vietnam, and had the goal of uniting the country through elections. However, the division of Vietnam was never accepted by the Viet Minh in the North, who wanted to unite the country under a communist government. This disagreement jump started the conflict between North and South Vietnam.
America joined the war in 1955 to help stop the rise of communism. While America was very much a military superpower, the Vietnamese opposition’s use of guerilla warfare was hard to defeat. A difficult war, coupled with unrest in America that manifested itself with antiwar movements and an overall decrease in morale, caused a huge rift that affected many civilians and veterans—and still does to this day.