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Vietnam - the war

The Vietnam war lasted for many years, with the North fighting the South. It was in the 1960s and early 70s.

America thought Vietnam was going to become communist, so they came over to fight with the people of South Vietnam against the people of North Vietnam. Many other countries thought America should keep out of it and mind their own business.

There are 58 thousand names on this memorial wall, naming those killed. Altogether 1.2million people died on both sides in this war.

Some terrible weapons were used. This photo is of children, including a nineyear old girl running away from a napalm attack. Her clothes had been burned off.

The American soldiers left the countryside bare, using chemicals such as Agent Orange to destroy all the plants. These chemicals also made people very sick with cancer and other diseases.

A lot of young people in America and in other countries did not support the war, and they protested against it.

In 1970, at Kent State University, students were protesting against American soldiers going into Cambodia. The National Guard opened fire on them and killed four students, paralysed one, and injured eight others.

In the end, America had to withdraw from Vietnam, and the North took over the South, and Vietnam became a single country once more.

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