Dr. Samuel B. Hoff, a George Washington Distinguished Professor Emeritus and the internship director at Delaware State University, has taught and published extensively on the Vietnam War period.
Though American participation in the Vietnam War was noteworthy for the heroism and courage of our military forces, the government’s policies over two decades resulted in backing the losing side. While there were many positive features that transpired after the conflict, some of those gains are being stymied by recent events.
The conclusion of the Vietnam conflict occurred concurrent with the decline of the Cold War. Further, with conscription ending early in 1973, the military became a volunteer force. The United States took a leading role in resettling refugees who fled Vietnam after the communist victory. Eventually, the long trade embargo between America and Vietnam was lifted, and the normalization of ties was renewed. That facilitated greater cooperation in search for Americans presumed killed in action in the war, among other benefits.
In the current century, America and Vietnam have cemented links in a number of areas but none more important than the foreign policy relationship, which serves to balance Chinese influence in the South Asia region. However, various policies enacted by the Donald Trump administration threaten to derail the healing process from the war, which continues today.
First, the elimination of most resources going to the U.S. Agency for International Development means more death and suffering in Vietnam. Those funds have been used to clear unexploded ordnance from the war years in Vietnam, which have killed more than 40,000 since.
Second, some of the USAID monies were earmarked for treatment, equipment and loans to victims of Agent Orange, the toxic herbicide used for eight years in Vietnam that injured thousands of American troops and Vietnamese citizens alike. American veterans know how long it took to get our government to acknowledge the deadly defoliant’s use, then to support medical treatment for the same.
Third, the worldwide political trend toward authoritarianism has not missed Vietnam, though the political abuses come from a communist clan rather than from a rightist regime. Case in point: A journalist was just sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for “offensive” Facebook posts over a 10-year period. This rekindles memories about the release of the Pentagon Papers back in 1971 here and the freedom of speech debate that it engendered.
Fourth, the anti-American sentiment overseas due to the Trump tariffs will not help Vietnam attract foreign tourists. A record 17.5 million visited in 2024, including aging American veterans. For that matter, the America-as-bully stereotype will definitely hinder the U.S. effort to host visitors as it celebrates its 250th birthday next year.
Fifth, imposing unreasonable trade conditions on Vietnam will have an ironic effect stateside: It will hurt Elon Musk, whose Starlink company has contracted with Vietnam to bring satellite internet to the fast-progressing nation.
Finally, the crusade against diversity, equity and inclusion by the current occupants of the White House, trumpeted as replacing preference with merit, went way overboard in trying to erase history. First, there was hiding evidence of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Then, it was one of the flag-raisers at Iwo Jima because he was a Native American. Not surprisingly, the Trump team then temporarily scrubbed an Arlington National Cemetery website with information about an African American Medal of Honor recipient who served in Vietnam.
The loss of 58,000 Americans during the Vietnam War era was dwarfed by the number of South Vietnamese allies who were killed during or after the war — about a million. And there is no question that, just as American veterans must constantly strive for due recognition and benefits, South Vietnamese veterans — many interned for years after the war — live as second-class citizens in their own nation, with both sets of soldiers, airmen and sailors dealing with posttraumatic stress disorder and suicide issues on an increasing scale.
In some ways, America has never gotten over the Vietnam War, even though it has taken many steps to get past it. Let’s not again ignore history and think we can always succeed with sheer force, an arrogant combination that cost us $140 billion and a generation of our youth.
Note: There will be a program to commemorate the end of the Vietnam War 50 years ago at the Kent County Levy Court complex from 7-8:30 p.m. April 30. Co-sponsored by the Department of History, Political Science, Philosophy and Law Studies at Delaware State University and the Delaware Veterans Coalition, the event will include academic speeches, as well as testimonials from veterans. For information, contact me at 302-270-2101.
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