Beatrice in Gage County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Containing Communism - The Berlin and Cuban Crises and Vietnam
We Answered the Call
— 1861 - Today —
President Harry S. Truman established a policy of containing Communism that was followed by succeeding presidents until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Beatrice's residents served in Germany, protected the U.S. borders, and fought in the jungles of Vietnam during this period.
The most serious challenge to this policy came when Communist Ho Chi Minh tried to overtake the Republic of Vietnam. In his 1960 inaugural address, President John Kennedy pledged to pay any price...in order to assure the survival and success of liberty.
In 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson sent U.S. Marines to South Vietnam. An international conflict resulted. Increasing casualties and mounting costs resulted in protests at home. Anti-war protests split the country and returned soldiers experienced the effect of this unrest.
In 1972, in response to a major invasion of South Vietnam by the North, President Nixon ordered renewed bombing of North Vietnam. The high costs of this led to peace negotiations. A cease-fire agreement was signed in Paris on January 27, 1973. All U.S. and allied troops were withdrawn.
2,700,000 - Americans fought in Vietnam
58,000 - Americans killed
1,000,000+ - South Vietnamese killed
500,000 to 1 million - North Vietnamese killed
10 million - South Vietnamese refugees
unknown - Civilians killed
365,000 - Americans wounded
Cost to the U.S. - $150 billion
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #33 Harry S. Truman, and the Former U.S. Presidents: #37 Richard M. Nixon series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1900.
Location. 40° 15.28′ N, 96° 44.822′ W. Marker is in Beatrice, Nebraska, in Gage County. Marker is along the walking path in Beatrice Veterans Memorial Park, at South 6th Street (US Hwy 77) and Veterans Memorial Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1050 South 6th Street, Beatrice NE 68310, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Freedom Fighters (here, next to this marker); Beatrice's Own - Company C 134th Infantry Regiment Nebraska National Guard (here, next to this marker); Beatrice's Own - Civil War and the Spanish-American War (a few steps from this marker); World War II (a few steps from this marker); War Efforts at Home (a few steps from this marker); World War I (a few steps from this marker); Veterans Memorial Drive (within shouting distance of this marker); Fighting Communism - Korea and the Cold War (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beatrice.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 961 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 12, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.