The American South and the Vietnam War: Belligerence, Protest, and Agony in Dixie

491 Pages·2015·8.937 MB·English

by  Joseph Fry

The American South
and the Vietnam War

The American South

and the
Vietnam War
Belligerence,
Protest,
and Agony
in Dixie
Joseph A. Fry
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Copyright © 2015 by The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre College of Kentucky, Eastern
Kentucky University, The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown College,
Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University, Morehead State
University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania
University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western
Kentucky University.
All rights reserved.
Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
www.kentuckypress.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fry, Joseph A., 1947–
The American South and the Vietnam War : belligerence, protest, and agony in
Dixie / Joseph A. Fry.
pages cm. — (Studies in conflict, diplomacy, and peace)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8131-6104-4 (hardcover : alk. paper) —
ISBN 978-0-8131-6109-9 (pdf) — ISBN 978-0-8131-6108-2 (epub)
1. Vietnam War, 1961–1975—Southern States. 2. Vietnam War, 1961–
1975—Political aspects—Southern States. 3. Southern States—Politics and
government—20th century. 4. Public opinion—Southern States—History—20th
century. 5. Southern States—History, Military—20th century. 6. Vietnam War,
1961–1975—Influence. I. Title.
DS559.62.S68F79 2015
959.704'310975—dc23 2014049411
This book is printed on acid-free paper meeting
the requirements of the American National Standard
for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Member of the Association of
American University Presses
For Sandy

Contents
List of Abbreviations ix
Introduction 1
1. Regionalism, Southerners, and US Foreign Relations,
1789–1973 11
2. Southerners and the Vietnam Commitment, 1953–1964 51
3. Southerners and the Decisions for War, 1965–1966 97
4. Southern Soldiers 147
5. Southerners and the Debate over the War’s Conduct, 1967 193
6. Southerners and the Decisions to Withdraw from Vietnam,
1968–1970 239
7. Southern College Students 285
8. Southerners and the End of the Vietnam War, 1971–1973 323
Acknowledgments 367
Notes 371
Bibliographic Essay 429
Index 441
Photographs follow page 238

Abbreviations
ABM Anti-Ballistic Missile System
AFB air force base
ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South
Vietnam)
CIDG Civilian Irregular Defense Group
CINCPAC Commander in Chief, Pacific Command
CO conscientious objection/objector
CORE Congress of Racial Equality
DMZ demilitarized zone
DOD Department of Defense
DRV Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North
Vietnam)
GVN Republic of South Vietnam
HBCU historically black colleges and universities
JCS Joint Chiefs of Staff
LBJ Lyndon Baines Johnson
LZ landing zone
MACV Military Assistance Command, South Vietnam
NAACP National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NCO noncommissioned officer
NLF National Front for the Liberation of Vietnam
NSC-68 National Security Council Paper No. 68
NVA North Vietnamese Army
OAS Organization of American States
OPPLAN 34-A Operation Plan 34-A