USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -William Westmoreland commanded U.S. forces in the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1968. He treated the conflict as a war of attrition, which diminished domestic support. In December 1956 he was promoted to major general; at 42 years old, he was then the youngest person holding that rank in the U.S. Army.

Detailed explanation-2: -The New York Times reports that General Westmoreland has requested an additional 206, 000 U.S. troops for Vietnam to reinforce the over 500, 000 service people already there, and that administration officials are divided over the request.

Detailed explanation-3: -Born Nguyen Sinh Cung, and known as “Uncle Ho, ” Ho Chi Minh led the Democratic Republic of Vietnam from 1945-69.

Detailed explanation-4: -Beginning in 1965, Westmoreland sent large numbers of soldiers on “search and destroy” operations using helicopters and high-tech weapons to find and kill Viet Cong forces. Westmoreland’s strategy in Vietnam depended on the superiority of U.S. firepower, including intensive aerial bombardments of regular enemy units.