Vietnam Vocabulary for Bingo Review Game
1. France- Had imperialistic power over Vietnam from the late 1800s to 1956. The United States was one of France’s allies, and we also were against the spread of Communism. That’s why US troops were sent to Vietnam in the first place.
2. Ngo Diem- US supported Democratic leader of South Vietnam, but he did not work for the Vietnamese people. He was later brutally assassinated.
3. Burning Buddhists- Buddhist monks protested the Diem government for putting them in jail for their religious beliefs by setting themselves on fire.
4. Ho Chi Minh- Leader of the Communist Movement in Vietnam that fought against foreign influences and invaders such as the French and United States.
5. John F. Kennedy- He thought about pulling out of Vietnam before he was assassinated.
6. President Johnson- Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) had to make the decision to either fight against Communism in Vietnam by sending troops, or allow Communism to take over Vietnam. Domestically he developed the Great Society Programs.
7. Barry Goldwater- President Johnson soundly defeated him for the 1964 election due to his tough Cold War stance.
8. Great Society- Group of public programs in order to make the United States a better place to live. Unfortunately, the Vietnam War took money and effort away from the program.
9. George Ball- Undersecretary of State that advised President Johnson that he could not win in Vietnam when everyone else on Johnson’s staff believed that Vietnam could be won.
10. John McNamara- Secretary of Defence, he advocated going into Vietnam. In 1967 he left his position for a bank job and later stated that he had “miscalculated.”
11. General Westmoreland- Top general of all US Forces in Vietnam who always seemed to call for more troops.
12. Tonkin Resolution- Congress gave President Johnson a “blank check” in Vietnam after the Vietnamese attacked a US ship in the gulf of Tonkin, to protect US Military personnel.
13. Operation “Rolling Thunder”- Title of the first bombing campaign in Vietnam.
14. Dove- Person who believed that the US should decrease its military force in Vietnam.
15. Hawk- Person who believed that the United States should increase its military strength in Vietnam, and that the war could be won.
16. Agent Orange- A chemical used to kill off the plant life in the jungles of Vietnam so the Viet Cong could not hide.
17. Napalm- “liquid fire” to burn away the jungle so that the Communists couldn’t hide.
18. New Left- Social change movement on college campuses since 1930. Due to this movement, the war protests gained new life especially after the Kent State Shooting.
19. Charlie/Gook- Racial slur used for Vietcong enemies or the Vietnamese people in general.
20. Tunnels- The Viet Cong hid and worked in these in order to avoid US bombing attacks.
21. Ho Chi Minh Trail- A “deer path” along the western border of Vietnam that the Communist North used to transport goods for rebels in the South.
22. USO- United Services Organization provided entertainment for the troops.
23. Deferment- Medical conditions, or being a college student. A way for young men to be exempted from military service.
24. Booby Traps- Since the Viet Cong lacked technology, they relied on traps to kill unsuspecting American troops.
25. “Hell No! We Won’t GO!”- Was a popular anti-war, anti-draft protest slogan.