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General Vietnam War History Trivia Quiz

This quiz includes mixed questions about the Vietnam War. Some may be easy, others may not. Most of the information is found in the 'Vietnam War Almanac.'

A multiple-choice quiz by Leapday. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Leapday

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
10,926

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
15 / 20

Plays
14336

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 75 (5/20), Guest 86 (16/20), Guest 98 (16/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. This person served as President of South Vietnam from 1955 to 1963, and was assassinated as a result of a coup which took place November 1, 1963. Hint

Giap

Bao Dai

Ho Chi Minh

Diem

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Question 2 of 20

2. This person was the only individual convicted of war crimes as a result of the My Lai incident. Hint

Robert Jones

George Young

Arnold Dixon

William Calley

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Question 3 of 20

3. What was the capital of South Vietnam during the war? Hint

Hanoi

Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City

Seoul

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Question 4 of 20

4. The term 'Vietnamization' as used by Defense Secretary Melvin Laird is best described as: Hint

The practice of American soldiers learning Vietnamese culture

Using Vietnamese words within everyday English

The teaching of Vietnamese to people in Laos and Cambodia

A gradual turnover of the war from the U.S. military to South Vietnamese Armed Forces

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Question 5 of 20

5. Simultaneous attacks on major cities, towns and military bases throughout Vietnam on January 30, 1968, during a major Vietnamese holiday, was known as this Offensive: Hint

Tonkin

Binh

Tet

Mekong

6. This U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968 had been the first President of Ford Corporation who had not been a member of the Ford family. He at first supported escalation of the Vietnam War, but growing doubts about the war led him to resign from the cabinet. Hint

Robert McNamara

Alexander Haig

Dean Rusk

William Westmoreland

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Question 7 of 20

7. The book 'Chickenhawk' was written by Robert Mason who served in this position in the Vietnam War: Hint

Marine sergeant

Tank driver

Helicopter pilot

Navy Seal

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Question 8 of 20

8. The title of a hit song in 1985 by Paul Hardcastle refers to the average age of the combat soldier who served in the Vietnam War. What was this age according to the song? Hint

Nineteen

Twenty-three

Twenty-one

Twenty-five

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Question 9 of 20

9. The most common initial tour in Vietnam was: Hint

12-13 months

2 years

6 months

Varied widely from 2 months to 3 years

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Question 10 of 20

10. This utility helicopter was used in different configurations to transport troops and supplies, to evacuate wounded from the battlefield, to land combat forces in enemy territory and also as an attack helicopter gunship. Hint

Cobra

Huey

Seahawk

Loach

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Question 11 of 20

11. The coastline of Vietnam is longer than that of California

True

False

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Question 12 of 20

12. The shooting at Kent State University on May 4, 1970 led to hundreds of college shutdowns and protests. In what state is Kent State University located? Hint

Ohio

Missouri

Connecticut

California

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Question 13 of 20

13. Martin Luther King was a strong supporter of the Vietnam War.

True

False

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Question 14 of 20

14. How many people were awarded the (Congressional) Medal of Honor for their service in the Vietnam War? Hint

239

101

521

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Question 15 of 20

15. Rest and recreation (R and R) was a program designed to give U.S. servicemen a respite from combat during their tour of duty and was permitted in places including Hawaii and Tokyo.

True

False

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Question 16 of 20

16. What percentage of the United States military force in Vietnam were African Americans? Hint

5.2 percent

10.6 percent

17.7 percent

23.1 percent

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Question 17 of 20

17. For centuries, this town had been the imperial capital of Vietnam. In 1968, two-thirds of this town's population lived within the walls of the Citadel. The Citadel was surrounded by miles of large walls with moats outside them, except for the wall which bordered the River of Perfume. Hint

Da Nang

Pleiku

Cam Ranh

Hue

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Question 18 of 20

18. This term is used to describe a reaction to combat experience (among other things) and is recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. Hint

Post-War Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Combat Disorder

Battle Fatigue Disorder

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Question 19 of 20

19. What is napalm? Hint

A jellied gasoline

A type of tree

A booby trap

A type of gun

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Question 20 of 20

20. "Agent Orange" was named for: Hint

The town in which it was developed

The color that foliage turned after it was sprayed

The color of identification band painted on the storage drums

The name of the person who developed it

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 23 2024 : Guest 75: 5/20
Apr 22 2024 : Guest 86: 16/20
Apr 21 2024 : Guest 98: 16/20
Apr 20 2024 : oslo1999: 17/20
Apr 19 2024 : Guest 97: 18/20
Apr 18 2024 : Guest 50: 12/20
Apr 18 2024 : Guest 58: 18/20
Apr 18 2024 : bradez: 13/20
Apr 16 2024 : Guest 2: 1/20

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This person served as President of South Vietnam from 1955 to 1963, and was assassinated as a result of a coup which took place November 1, 1963.

Answer: Diem

Diem was named premier in 1954 and emerged as President after ousting Bao Dai as head of state in 1955.

2. This person was the only individual convicted of war crimes as a result of the My Lai incident.

Answer: William Calley

The My Lai incident occurred on March 16, 1968 in the hamlet of My Lai in Son My village, Quang Ngai Province. Lieutenant Calley was sentenced to life imprisonment. His sentence was later reduced to 10 years, and in Sept., 1974, a federal district court overturned the conviction and Calley was released.

3. What was the capital of South Vietnam during the war?

Answer: Saigon

Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City at the end of the War.

4. The term 'Vietnamization' as used by Defense Secretary Melvin Laird is best described as:

Answer: A gradual turnover of the war from the U.S. military to South Vietnamese Armed Forces

Nixon officially initiated this program on June 8, 1969. As South Vietnam assumed responsibility for the war, U.S. combat forces were gradually withdrawn.

5. Simultaneous attacks on major cities, towns and military bases throughout Vietnam on January 30, 1968, during a major Vietnamese holiday, was known as this Offensive:

Answer: Tet

'Tet' is a Vietnamese holiday which celebrates the beginning of the lunar new year. In Vietnam, it incorporates the celebrations Westerners identify with both Christmas and New Year.

Answer: Robert McNamara

McNamara wrote a book published in 1995 entitled 'The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam.'

7. The book 'Chickenhawk' was written by Robert Mason who served in this position in the Vietnam War:

Answer: Helicopter pilot

'Chickenhawk' gives a very interesting account of Mr. Mason's experience as a helicopter pilot (he was also Crew Chief of the helicopter) during the war. A sequel to this book is entitled 'Chickenhawk: Back in the World.'

8. The title of a hit song in 1985 by Paul Hardcastle refers to the average age of the combat soldier who served in the Vietnam War. What was this age according to the song?

Answer: Nineteen

The song claims that the average age of U.S. combat soldiers in WWII was 26, and in Vietnam it was only 19. However, the factual accuracy of this has been disputed. According to others, the average age of U.S. combat soldiers was 22, and 20 for drafted soldiers.

9. The most common initial tour in Vietnam was:

Answer: 12-13 months

Personnel with not much time left in their 12-13 month stint were known as 'short-timers.'

Answer: Huey

The UH-1 Huey was considered the 'workhorse' in the Vietnam War.

11. The coastline of Vietnam is longer than that of California

Answer: True

The coastline of Vietnam is approximately 1,400 miles long.

12. The shooting at Kent State University on May 4, 1970 led to hundreds of college shutdowns and protests. In what state is Kent State University located?

Answer: Ohio

Ohio Governor James Rhodes called out the National Guard to restore order after student protesters set fire to the ROTC building on campus. Four students were killed.

13. Martin Luther King was a strong supporter of the Vietnam War.

Answer: False

MLK began to speak out against American involvement in Vietnam in July 1965 and by 1967 he openly identified with the antiwar movement.

14. How many people were awarded the (Congressional) Medal of Honor for their service in the Vietnam War?

Answer: 239

Of the 239 awards, 155 were awarded to members of the Army, 57 to Marines, 15 to Navy and 12 to Air Force personnel.

15. Rest and recreation (R and R) was a program designed to give U.S. servicemen a respite from combat during their tour of duty and was permitted in places including Hawaii and Tokyo.

Answer: True

Other R and R sites included Hong Kong, Manila, Penang, Taipei, Kuala Lampur and Singapore as well as certain locations in South Vietnam.

16. What percentage of the United States military force in Vietnam were African Americans?

Answer: 10.6 percent

Answer: Hue

Hue is the third largest city in Vietnam today. It was heavily bombed during the Tet Offensive.

18. This term is used to describe a reaction to combat experience (among other things) and is recognized by the American Psychiatric Association.

Answer: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (1988) estimated that 31 percent of the males and 27 percent of the females who served in the Vietnam War had symptoms of PTSD. Symptoms include: reexperiencing of the traumatic event, nightmares, depression, a sense of emotional numbness, insomnia, survivor guilt and difficulty in developing close relationships.

19. What is napalm?

Answer: A jellied gasoline

Napalm was used in flamethrowers and bombs.

20. "Agent Orange" was named for:

Answer: The color of identification band painted on the storage drums

During the initial stages of herbicide use in Vietnam, the most commonly used herbicides were Purple and Pink. Beginning in the late 1970's, Vietnam veterans began to cite dioxin (a component of Agent Orange) as the cause of various health problems.

Source: Author Leapday

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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