American Military History: Roles of Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem, Operation Rolling Thunder

This article discusses the roles of Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem in the Vietnamese conflict and the purpose of Operation Rolling Thunder in American Military History. Ho Chi Minh was the exponential figure behind the independence of Vietnam, while Ngo Dinh Diem was fed with American ideals. Operation Rolling Thunder was the implementation of the contemporary US president L.B. Johnson to stop the communist insurgency of North Vietnam. The article also mentions the role of new military technologies and if the operation successfully completed its mission.

Running head: AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY
American Military History
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QUESTION 1
1. Briefly summarize the roles of both Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem in the Vietnamese
conflict. What was the background of each man? Explain why Ho was more successful than
Diem.
Your response should be at least 500 words in length.
Ho Chi Minh was the exponential figure behind the independence of Vietnam. The
French colony of Vietnam espoused freedom under the lone leadership of Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi
Minh was a patriot who always wanted Vietnam to flourish by self-esteem. The unification of
Vietnam had a key role behind the eradication of the imperialist forces from South East Asia. As
a leader, Ho Chi Minh always led from the front and always put the national interests at first.
According to Halvorson (2016), the battle of Dein Bien Phu was an exquisite example of Ho’s
military skills. He was highly influenced by the American Independence war and the marshalling
spirit of the Americans inspired him to make the Declaration of Independence and frame the
Democratic Republican country of Vietnam. He travelled the world in search of a political
idealism that he could embrace. In 1919, Ho Chi Minh had arrived at the Versailles Conference
for upholding the causes of Vietnam. However, he or his views were not accepted and his hopes
of the liberation of Vietnam from the French had failed. Ho’s nationalism was proven again
when he joined the French Communist forces out if the perception that the Socialist leaders were
diverted worshippers of capitalism and colonialism. On the other hand, Werner (2015), is of the
opinion that he saw that the communists were ready to give active support for national liberation.
The Americans, although supportive of Ho Chi Minh in the beginning, began to withdraw

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support when they observed that the Communists were gaining grounds in the country. In 1930
Ho Chi Minh had taken active role in organizing the Indo-Chinese Communist party’s rule in
Vietnam. However, more than any political ideal, the liberation of his motherland was essential
for him. Hence, in the latter half of the 1940s, Ho Chi Minh attempted to form a combined front
by coalition of the Nationalist groups of Vietnam with the Communists to create the Viet Minh.
Since the 1950s, the Americans began to change sides. In order to prevent the penetration
of communism in the South East Asia, they supported the French. However, HO Chi Minh
gallantry and martyrdom helped Viet Minh to land the French. This was followed by the Geneva
Conference where it was decided that Vietnam was to be split till 1956. Allison (2016), is of the
opinion that America had introduced Ngo Dinh Diem, at that strategic period as a substantial
leader from South Vietnam to combat the combined forces of Viet Minh in North under the
leadership of Ho Chi Minh. The rise of Ngo Dinh Diem in South Vietnam as an anticommunist
face was the strategic planning of the US political personnel’s. However, Ngo Dinh Diem lacked
the pulse of the nationalists. His government in South Vietnam was strategically led by the US.
He received US aid as well expertise. However, Ngo Dinh Diem can also be given the stage as a
tragic hero who could never win acclaim favor of his countrymen owing to his allegiance
towards America. He was also a patriot who had substantial plans for modernization of South
Vietnam. However he lacked the spirit to unify North and South Vietnam.
Ngo Dinh Diem was fed with American ideals. This led him to commit the greatest
mistake of subsidizing a large section of the Buddhists which made him an intriguer in the eyes
of the nationalists. The Buddhists had approached Ngo with hope of a favor after being despised
by communist minded Viet Cong. However, he took an essential discriminatory policy towards
them. This major flaw combined with extremes American intervention in his governance and his

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incapability to tack the same led to his downfall and paved the way for the unification of
Vietnam in 1970s under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh.
QUESTION 2
1. What was Operation Rolling Thunder? Be sure to outline the purpose of the operation, the role of
new military technologies, and if the operation successfully completed its mission.
Your response should be at least 500 words in length.
The Operation Rolling Thunder was the implementation of the contemporary US president L.B.
Johnson. Johnson intensified the military activities in Vietnam and ordered a series of air strikes.
This incident has been named as Operation Rolling Thunder. Williams (2017), has opined that
the US saw this action as a compulsory step to make the Soviet forces aware of the level of
American indulgence in the Vietnamese war. The communist insurgency of North, backed by
communist forces needed to be stopped and hence the operation Rolling Thunder occurred. The
American leaders had supposed that with the active support of American troops, South Vietnam
would be able to stalk the progress of the north. However, when it turned otherwise, President
Johnson decided to show advanced and aggressive involvement of Americans and warn North
Vietnam indirectly.
The Combat Readiness of the joint military venture of the Vietnamese and American
forces in South Vietnam was also displayed by the series of sir attacks. Fey (2018), informs that
the US navy, Republic of Air Force of Vietnam and the seventh Air Force of US were combat
read parallely at the time of the attack. The US had already gained air superiority in combat. On

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the contrary, the North Vietnamese force backed heavily by Soviet weaponries relied on anti-
aircraft missiles. Communist forces like China and the former Soviet Union also strengthened the
Viet Cong in North with the 85 mm and 100 mm Surface missiles which could successfully land
air missiles. Hence the USA also needed to make a display of their air fare fighting arsenal. The
US also equipped South Vietnam with the Phantom 2 air craft along with Sky hawks and
Bombers. These were the primary weapons that were involved in the war. As per MacKenzie
(2017), the SAMS missiles had locked the smaller planes with micro targets leaving larger areas
vulnerable to the attacks of the A-6A intruders and the USAF (Iron Hand SAMS suppression
team). The US saw the project of Rolling Thunder as an essential opportunity to test the
proficiency of the weapon systems of their native war crafts. The effectiveness of US air
bombers such as A-7B Corsairs or the A-6A Intruders have been effectively analyzed in the
attack. The onset of the attack during the Operation Rolling thunder made it evident that the US
had serious intention, economic strength, technicality, and ability to concentrate on expansion of
their air power. However, the application of the project Rolling Thunder had another strategic
importance. The attacks could not curb the arsenal of the North Vietnam who were not willing to
submit before the US backed Southern capitalist forces.
The tactical suppression of the harshness of war by the US officials is another aspect of
the Rolling Thunder Project. The media projecting the horror of the aftermath of the
bombardment had to be eye washed by the US. Most importantly America had to validate their
cause for such a a vivacious attack. The American civilians were also resenting thus terrible
attack. Moreover, this attack also made it evident to the Americans that they could not take a
direct route to participate in the Vietnamese war. This followed the search for an alternative
subsidiary for leading South Vietnam and America found it in the form of Ngo Dinh Diem.

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Reference List
Allison, W. T. (2016). The Lost Mandate of Heaven: The American Betrayal of Ngo Dinh Diem,
President of Vietnam. Parameters, 46(4), 140.
Fey, P. (2018). Bloody Sixteen: The USS Oriskany and Air Wing 16 during the Vietnam War.
Halvorson, K. (2016). Dr. Strom Catholicism in Vietnam May 2, 2016.
MacKenzie, P. (2017). Superstition and F‐105 Pilots in Operation Rolling Thunder. Historian,
79(4), 777-793.
Werner, J. (2015). Doomed from the Start? Ngo Dinh Diem and the Start of the Vietnam War.
Williams, B. C. (2017). Managing competing influences: risk acceptance in Operation Rolling
Thunder. US Army School for Advanced Military Studies Fort Leavenworth United
States.

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