Minnesota in the Vietnam War

2018 was the 50th anniversary of the TET OFFENSIVE during the Vietnam War. Even though it was a major defeat for the Communist forces, it was a turning point in the conflict because it turned a large portion of the American public against war. Controversy continues to swirl around America’s involvement in the Vietnam conflict. Who were the Vietnamese and what was their fight all about? How did the United States get into the war? What were the strategic, diplomatic and domestic factors that determined the way we fought the war? The Vietnam War cost the nation 56,000 lives, 300,000 wounded, 1,200 missing in action, and $141 billion. Unlike previous wars where returning GIs came home to a grateful nation, Vietnam veterans were at best ignored and at worst shunned and sometimes persecuted for their service.

Many years would pass before Americans would show their appreciation for the sacrifices made by these veterans, finally reversing the shameful treatment they previously had endured. This multimedia presentation will use power-point, video, music, drama, role-playing and living history experiences, to give us an understanding of this turbulent time and make history come alive. The presenter will describe the increasing commitment of each of five American presidents, the rising antiwar protests at home and eventual U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam, and the lingering tragic effects of a war that had never been declared.