The silent majority disagreed with the antiwar protesters but rarely discussed their opinions publicly.
Radical protestors during the Vietnam era often burned their draft cards. American involvement in Vietnam began in 1955, and the war ended in 1975 during the presidency of Gerald Ford.
Besides the US; Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines sent COMBAT units to Vietnam.
The Army had around 4,368,000 members. The Marines had about 794,000. The Navy generally had 1,842,000. Lastly, the Air Force probably had about 1,740,000.
500,000 men were maintained in Vietnam during it's height. Rotations from the US maintained that level, allowing for 1 year rotations (one year tours, at least for the US Army). The half of a million men consisted of marines, soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Coast Guardsmen.
During an anti-war protest the National Guardsmen sent by the Governer to quell the protest, shot into the crowd of unarmed protesters, onlookers and passers-by 67 times for 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others, one of whom suffered permanent paralysis.
The draft protesters.
998,742 people
War protesters.
On 01 May 1970, under orders from President Nixon (Commander in Chief) US ground forces entered Cambodia, penetrating approximately 21 miles, for approximately 60 days, in search of COSVN (Central Office South Vietnam-communist headquarters). On 04 May 1970, (another standard routine) protest/riot erupted at Kent State University, state of Ohio. Ohio National Guardsmen arrived, on line, they were face to face with the "students" (protesters/rioters), stones, bricks were thrown at the Guardsmen; Guardsmen opened fire with their M-1 Garand rifles (WWII Rifle) killing four students. Crosby, Stills, and Nash, commemorated the incident with a song, "...Tin Soldiers, and Nixon's bombing...Four dead in Ohio..."
They probably fuelled the protesters, as they did in the US.
The chapter introduction juxtaposes the stories of Marines in Vietnam and National Guardsmen at Kent State to make what point? Selected Answer: b. America was divided over the fundamental question of who was a true friend and who was a real enemy Correct Answer: b. America was divided over the fundamental question of who was a true friend and who was a real enemy
University protests against the war in Vietnam were common throughout the war. At Kent State University in Ohio, a National Guard soldier fired a shot that killed one of the peaceful protesters.This was a severe incident that gave more importance to ending the war as soon as possible.
Draft dodgers, Doves, Hippies, Protesters, etc.
Not just soldiers; but marines, airmen, sailors, and coast guardsmen, the names of which are engraved in stone.
One of the most infamous demonstrations against the Vietnam War took place at Kent State University, 1970, when National Guard troops fired on Kent State students and protesters and four were killed and eleven were wounded. The event triggered a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of colleges and universities to close. Two students were killed by police during a demonstration at another college. The Guardsmen at Kent State claimed they had fired in self defense. Some of those killed were students going to class and not even taking part in the demonstration. There is still dispute over the shootings.
They burned their draft cards.