•February 22, 2023•
The United States’ military involvement in the Vietnam War began in February 1961 and ended in May 1975. During that time, approximately 2.7 million Americans served in Vietnam and more than 58,000 lost their lives, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Canadians also fought in the Vietnam War. Officially, Canada played the role of neutral peacemaker. However, according to The Canadian Encyclopedia, Canada secretely backed the American effort in helping the Southern Vietnamese forces reclaim footing against the Northern Vietnamese. America was not able to stop the Tet Offensive in 1968. It would take two more assaults before the U.S. and South Vietnamese would retake lost territory. However, the victory was short-lived. When the 1973 Paris Peace Accords were signed, the North Vietnamese refused the last conditions which required releasing civilian detainees and allowing free and democratic elections in South Vietnam. The refusal prompted an armed insurrection in April 1975, and Saigon, the South capital, fell to Northern forces and was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. The U.S. then withdrew from the country. TF233776