Veitnam and teh TET offensive

[JCricket]

Hey Folks, I had to step away for the last week. I have been helping my son with a presentation/history assignment on Vietnam and the TET offensive.

I was wondering if I could get some comments and thoughts from those of you who are old enough to have been there and remember this.

I understand the coordinated attack and how the VC and the North Vietnamese had hope to quickly overthrow the south and thus win the support of the south. Supposedly, as I have read, their hopes were that the South would rise up against us and join the North.

I also understand how this led to the escalation in 1968, despite that we had quelled the attempts of the VC/NV in a matter of hours to within a few weeks of the attacks. Finally, as I have read, the American people and the generals in command, realized that the VC/NV had the ability to carry on a long drawn out war of guerilla tactics, that we would likely never win. This is what is actually being taught, if I understand correctly.

We have also covered the Gulf of Tonken too.

A few things I did not cover yet and was wondering about. What was the "civil war" in Vietnam about? Was it a civil war? Was it an invasion from China and Russia, or did they just happen to support the north? When di this "civil war" or invasion begin? Were there any American influences that caused this war or invasion to happen? Was this related to Korea at all?

I'll dig more and learn more, just thought I would share what I was doing and ask for some first hand opinions if possible.

Thanks in advance,
Mark