2109:
major offensives in late 1966 and in early 1967, and more troops were needed to support these and other planned operations. As a result of these deployments, United States forces were scattered from the DMZ to the Mekong Delta by mid-1967. Opposition to the war, meanwhile, was mounting in the United States; and among the
Vietnamese facing one another in the South, the rising cost of men and resources was beginning to take its toll on both sides. The level of PLAF volunteers declined to less than 50 percent in 1967 and desertions rose, resulting in an even greater increase in northern troop participation. Morale declined among communist sympathizers and Saigon government supporters alike. In elections held in South Vietnam in September 1967, former generals Nguyễn Văn Thiệu and Nguyen Cao Ky were elected president and vice president, respectively. A number of popular candidates, including Buddhists and peace candidates, were barred from running, and newspapers were largely suppressed during the campaign. Even so, the military candidates received less than 35 percent of the vote, although the election took place only in areas under the Saigon government's control. When proof of widespread election fraud was produced by the defeated candidates, students and Buddhists demonstrated and demanded that the elections be annulled.
2233:
forced out of all of the towns and cities, except Huế, within a few weeks. Nevertheless, the offensive emphasized to the
Johnson administration that victory in Vietnam would require a greater commitment of men and resources than the American people were willing to invest. The American public was shocked and dismayed; for the newly anti-war side, they realized that the American military command had been dangerously overoptimistic in its appraisal of the situation in Vietnam, and dishonest in their reports to the public. For the pro-war side, the Tet Offensive was proof that the military was being
264:
483:
844:, INR saw the priority during this period as more a matter of establishing a viable, sustainable political structure for South Vietnam, rather than radically improving the short-term security situation. It saw the Minh-Tho government as enjoying an initial period of popular support as it removed some of the most disliked aspects of the Diem government. During this time, the increase in VC attacks was largely coincidental; they were resulting from the VC having reached a level of offensive capability rather than capitalizing on the overthrow of Diem.
409:
309:
495:
219:
171:
287:
321:
360:
434:
347:
383:
183:
159:
1936:
147:
1810:
influenced by his experience during the Korean War. Mac Bundy saw this as a fascinating set of operational problems. I think he assumed that we were so clever, somehow we could find the key hook. For myself, I had a whole different set of experiences. As a practicing lawyer, I had had among my clients various agencies of the French government when they went through the Indo-Chinese experience. I had heard everything before.
470:
396:
207:
195:
4117:
4107:
1068:, rejected, if they seriously considered, the protracted war doctrine stated by Mao and restated by the DRV leadership, mirror-imaging that they would be reasonable by American standards, and see that they could not prevail against steady escalation. They proposed to defeat an enemy, through attrition of his forces, who guided by the Maoist doctrine of Protracted War, which itself assumed it would attrit the
458:
446:
234:
1697:
because "what the situation requires may exceed what the
Vietnamese can be expected to do." He proposed a U.S. division be sent preferentially to the Central Highlands (II Vietnamese corps area; Kon Tum, Pleiku, and Darlac provinces) or to the Bien Hoa/Tan Son Nhut area nearer to Saigon. McNamara, however, did not think such action would make enough ARVN troops available and preferred that a
58:
276:
421:
521:
508:
334:
4127:
1282:
seize the opportunities to win victories in a not too long a period of time...There is no contradiction in the concept of a protracted war and the concept of taking opportunities to gain victories in a short time." Protracted war theory, however, does not urge rapid conclusion. Palmer suggests that there might be at least two reasons beyond a simple speedup:
1996:
technical aid, local self-government, and land distribution to peasant farmers. A majority of tenant farmers received title to their own land in one of the most successful transfer projects in any nation. On the other hand, hundreds of thousands of peasants entered squalid refugee camps when CORDS moved them out of villages that could not be protected.
922:
and limited strikes on logistical targets supporting DRV operations against South
Vietnam and Laos, to strikes (if necessary) on a growing number of DRV military and economic targets. In the absence of all-out strikes by the DRV or Communist China, the measures foreseen would not include attacks on population centers or the use of nuclear weapons.
254:
1524:, to organize the effort in the south. The sending of a headquarters, however, is not obvious. North Vietnamese combat units started deploying in October, but, again, this was preparation. Reasonably, they wanted to know the outcome of the November 1964 Presidential election before assessing the potential for U.S. action.
1729:, wrote to McNamara and others that the ROLLING THUNDER campaign was not a serious deterrent to the DRV, and warned against putting more U.S. troops into combat roles. McCone said that this would merely encourage the Soviets and Chinese to take a low-risk course of supporting infiltration. Khanh, in mid-April, met with
1826:, 50 miles northeast of Saigon near the Cambodian border. Its capital, Songbe, was overrun. Song Be was primarily defended by irregular ARVN units, although supported by a Special Forces team and several miscellaneous units. An unprecedented amount of air support, including the first use of a company-sized
1484:. Pike said he could almost hear Trường Chinh saying, "You see, it's what I mean. You're not going to win militarily on the ground in the South. You've just proven what we've said; the way to win is in Washington." Alternatively, Giáp, in September 1967, had written what might well have been a political
2169:
Subsequent actions in April and May were more holding actions than anything decisive; again, the goal may have been simply to pin forces while affecting
American public opinion and politics. The North Vietnamese 320th Division fought the U.S. 3rd Marine Division i the area north of Dong Ha, resulting
2108:
In mid-1967, with United States troop levels close to the half million mark, Westmoreland requested 80,000 additional troops for immediate needs and indicated that further requests were being contemplated. United States forces in Tây Ninh, Bình Định, Quảng Ngãi, and Dinh Tuong provinces had initiated
1842:
Westmoreland, on 7 June, sent a message to CINCPAC that a VC summer offensive was underway, not yet at its full potential, both to destroy RVN forces and isolate (but not hold) key towns. He doubted the South
Vietnamese capability to cope, largely due to recent troop losses. To prevent what he called
1704:
GEN Johnson said a decision was needed "now to determine what the
Vietnamese should be expected to do for themselves and how much more the U.S. must contribute directly to the security of South Vietnam." Secretary McNamara noted in the margin: "Policy is: anything that will strengthen the position of
1512:
covert operations were small-unit, weather was not a determining factor. started, although these were primarily psychological warfare at first. Planning for guerilla operations in the North and, although no
Americans knew the North Vietnamese fear of such, actions against the Trail in Laos were still
926:
Further assumptions is that the U.S. would inform the DRV, China, and the Soviet Union that these attacks were of limited purpose, but show serious intent by additional measures including sending a new 5,000 troops and air elements to
Thailand; deploying strong air, naval, and ground strike forces to
811:
There were numerous ARVN and VC raids, of battalion size, for which only RVN losses or body count is available. They took place roughly monthly. In the great casualty lists of a war, 100–300 casualties may not seem an immense number, but these have to be considered as happening at least once a month,
2173:
A second Tet assault on Saigon, complete with rocket attacks, was launched in May. Through these and other attacks in the spring and summer of 1968, the
Communists kept up pressure on the battlefield in order to strengthen their position in a projected a series of four-party peace talks scheduled to
1970:
1966 was the year of considerable improvement of command relationships, still under Westmoreland, for what Westmoreland considered the less interesting "other war" of rural development. There were frequent changes of names of aspects of this mission, starting in 1964, but eventually, the GVN and US
965:
Despite differences in were both sides believe their centres of gravity were, the NVA and Viet Cong would retain strategic initiative throughout this period, choosing when and were to attack, and being capable of controlling their losses quite widely. They were estimated to have initiated 90% of all
2228:
The Nixon Administration embarked upon a policy of "Vietnamization", or turning over ground combat to the South Vietnamese. Despite the name, significant numbers of American troops continued to fight in Vietnam in 1969 and onward; the scaling back was gradual, and the US continued to support South
1922:
McNamara also observed that the Administration's approach to air war against the North, Rolling Thunder, had not "produced tangible evidence of willingness on the part of Hanoi to come to the conference table in a reasonable mood. The DRV/VC seem to believe that SVN is on the run and near collapse;
1918:
At Defense, McNamara agreed the situation was worse, but believed the situation might be retrieved: "The situation in SVN is worse than a year ago (when it was worse than a year before that). After a few months of stalemate, the tempo of the war has quickened. . . . The central highlands could well
1889:
It is clear that no military personnel were part of the inner circle of discussion, but there are different descriptions of the degree to which they were consulted. McNamara said "I spent countless hours with the Joint Chiefs" debating Westmoreland's thinking. McNamara did have a small staff group,
1850:
Even then, he told Lyndon Johnson, they would be a stopgap, with at least 100,000 more needed in 1966. For Johnson, it was a choice between deeper involvement or defeat. McNamara said this cable was the most disturbing of the war; it forced a major decision and discussions with the President on the
1800:
The integrity of the U.S. commitment is the principal pillar of peace throughout the world. If that commitment becomes unreliable, the communist world would draw conclusions that would lead to our ruin and almost certainly to a catastrophic war. So long as the South Vietnamese are prepared to fight
1788:
Westmoreland, in early June, saw the situation as close to collapse without a major commitment of ground troops, in addition to the ARVN. This triggered several weeks of intense debate among the President's close civilian advisers, with McNamara controlling all direct military input to the process.
1696:
to assess the situation, already doubting the air offensive before it seriously began. GEN Johnson reported, in Vietnam between 5 and 12 March, reported back on 14 March. He was seriously concerned about the situation, and proposed external forces be brought in to free the ARVN for offensive action
1281:
stated the conflict as less the classic, protracted war of Maoist doctrine, and the destabilization of doctrine under Khrushchev, than a decision that it was possible to accelerate. "on the one hand we must thoroughly understand the guideline for a protracted struggle, but on the other hand we must
794:
led a reconnaissance mission of specialists reporting directly to the Politburo, who said, in a 1981 interview with Stanley Karnow, that he saw the only choice was escalation including the use of conventional troops, capitalizing on the unrest and inefficiency from the series of coups in the South.
693:
And since we still did not recognize the North Vietnamese and Vietcong and North Vietnamese as nationalist in nature, we never realized that encouraging public identification between Khanh and the U.S. may have only reinforced in the minds of many Vietnamese that his government drew its support not
2075:
In 1967, the NVA organization in the northwest was under two Military Regions (MR), MR-4 north and south of the DMZ, and MR-5 (also known as MR-S) for Communist units in the northern part of South Vietnam. Essentially, the MR-4 command was conventional while MR-5 was guerilla. MR-4 commanded five
1833:
On 10 June, the VC made another two-regiment attack on Đồng Xoài, north of Saigon, using one regiment against the town and Special Forces camp, while preparing an ambush for an ARVN relief force with the other. ARVN leadership disintegrated, and, contrary to policy, American advisers took command.
1721:
As these proposals were made to the North, on 13 April 1965, joint RVN-US discussions agreed that the ARVN force levels were inadequate. The manning level was increased, to increase RVN infantry battalions from 119 to 150. The new battalions were generally added to existing regiments, to avoid the
1668:
Ambassador Taylor, a retired general with extensive combat experience, objected. His calculation was that one battalion would protect the base from any plausible direct VC ground attack, but that six, not three, battalions would be necessary to establish a sufficiently large area to prevent the VC
1596:
plan, which had not yet officially started. Alternatively, the North Vietnamese may have accepted the risk of being bombed, correctly predicting that even if ground troops were introduced, the U.S. would not risk the North's greatest fear: large-scale ground operations, beyond the South Vietnamese
1516:
The February 1964 attack on U.S. forces at Kon Tum signaled a policy change; the North Vietnamese had previously not struck directly at Americans. As well as raids, terrorist attacks against Americans increased, in keeping with the changed political theory, or, as Truong Chinh put it, to "properly
1268:
Westmoreland complained that, "we are not engaging the VC with sufficient frequency or effectiveness to win the war in Vietnam." He said that American troops had shown themselves to be superb soldiers, adept at carrying out attacks against base areas and mounting sustained operations in populated
1257:
To pacify the Republic of Vietnam by destroying the VC—his forces, organization, terrorists, agents, and propagandists—while at the same time reestablishing the government apparatus, strengthening GVN military forces, rebuilding the administrative machinery, and re-instituting the services of the
957:
of the opposition, rather than the political opposition or the security of the populace. In contrast, the North Vietnamese took a centre of gravity built around gradual and small-scale erosion of US capabilities, closing the enormous technological disadvantage with surprise attacks and strategies,
921:
The actions to be taken, primarily air and naval, with the GVN (US-assisted) operations against the DRV and Communist-held Laos, and might subsequently include overt US military actions. They would be on a graduated scale of intensity, ranging from reconnaissance, threats, cross-border operations,
860:
Col. Don Si Nguyen brought in battalions of engineers to improve the Trail, principally in Laos, with up-to-date Soviet and Chinese construction equipment, with a goal, over several years, of building a supply route that could pass 10 to 20,000 soldiers per month. At this time, the U.S. had little
847:
During this period, INR observed, in a 23 December paper, the U.S. needed to reexamine its strategy focused on the Strategic Hamlet Program, since it was getting much more accurate – if pessimistic – from the new government than it had from Diem. Secretary McNamara, however, testified to the House
831:
Ambassador Lodge resigned on 23 June, with General Taylor named to replace him. In the next two days, the ARVN would succeed with Operation Thang Lang-Hai Yen 79 on the Dinh Tuong–Kien Phuong Sector border, killing 99 VC, followed the next day by an attack on a training camp in Quảng Ngãi, killing
2084:
In Saigon, the political situation began to calm in 1967, with the rise of Nguyễn Văn Thiệu to the head of the South Vietnamese government. Thieu's ascent to the presidency stabilized the government and ended a long series of military juntas that had administered the country since Diem's removal.
1995:
Westmoreland was principally interested only in covert military operations, while Abrams looked at a broader picture. MACV advisors did work closely with 900,000 local GVN officials in a well-organized pacification program called CORDS (Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development.) It stressed
1580:
In December 1964, the Viet Cong launched coordinated attacks throughout Vietnam, including a Christmas Eve attack on a Saigon hotel (killing two Americans, wounding 58 others) and 28 December 1964 occupation of the Catholic village of Binh Gia 40 miles SE of Saigon. Ultimately seven battalions of
1488:
argument: the U.S. was faced with two unacceptable alternatives: invading the North or continue a stalemate. Invasion of "a member country of the Socialist camp" would enlarge the war, which Giap said would cause the "U. S. imperialists...incalculable serious consequences." As for reinforcements,
1329:
capability of the 1st Cav, so BG Man revised a plan to bring to try to fight the helicopter-mobile forces on terms favorable to the North Vietnamese. They fully expected to incur heavy casualties, but it would be worth it if they could learn to counter the new U.S. techniques, inflict significant
883:
appeared on the organization charts. Its overt name was "MACV Studies and Operations Group". In reality, it was the Special Operations Group, with CIA agent programs for the North gradually moving under MACV control – although SOG almost always had a CIA officer in its third-ranking position, the
2232:
The Tet offensive is widely viewed as a turning point in the war despite the high cost to the communists (approximately 32,000 killed and about 5,800 captured) for what appeared at the time to be small gains. Although they managed to retain control of some of the rural areas, the communists were
1983:
RD is the integrated military and civil process to restore, consolidate and expand government control so that nation building can progress throughout the Republic of Vietnam. It consists of those coordinated military and civil actions to liberate the people from Viet Cong control; restore public
1885:
ruled out withdrawal, but did not think escalation would help, unless the ARVN did netter; he was concerned that too large an intervention would create a "white man's war", with the U.S. replaying the role of the French in the endgame in Indochina. Ball, in his oral history interview, deprecated
1527:
Both sides, in mid-1964, were misreading one another. On the U.S. side, the Defense Department's Joint War Gaming Agency conducted the Sigma II-64 war game in mid-September, which concluded that the full air attack program proposed by the JCS would not have a major effect. Neither bombing of the
717:
promised more aid and additional money, weapons, and supplies were sent with little effect. Some policy-makers in Washington began to believe that Diem was incapable of defeating the communists, and some even feared that he might make a deal with Ho Chi Minh. Discussions then began in Washington
1809:
Bob McNamara was analyzing this thing as a man who was trained in quantification, who believed in systems analysis, who believed in application of games theory to strategy, who was enormously persuaded by the disparity in military power... Rusk, it was quite a different thing. He was enormously
1113:
There were, however, changes in the overall situation from early 1964 to the winter of 1965–1966, from 1966 to late 1967, and from late 1968 until the U.S. policy changes with the Nixon Administration. Nixon's papers show that in 1968, as a presidential candidate, he ordered Anna Chennault, his
807:
In February and March 1964, confirming the December decision, there was more emphasis on military action and less attention to negotiation. As opposed to many analysts who believed the North was simply unaware of McNamara's "signaling"; INR thought that the North was concerned of undefined U.S.
782:
INR determined that the North Vietnamese had, in December, adopted a more aggressive stance toward the South, which was in keeping with Chinese policy. This tended to be confirmed with more military action and less desire to negotiate in February and March 1964 Duiker saw the political dynamics
909:
To understand factors that contributed to the heightened readiness in the Gulf, it must be understood that MACV-SOG OPPLAN 34A naval operations had been striking the coast in the days immediately before the incident, and at least some North Vietnamese naval patrols were deployed against these.
2052:
Starting in mid-February 1966, patrols detected indications of a pending VC attack against the A Shau Special Forces camp, whose mission was surveillance of infiltration from the nearby Laotian border. Continuous attacks on 9–10 March overran the camp, with a disorderly retreat losing several
1600:
The Pleiku attack seems to have been a vital decision point for the U.S. While the introduction of U.S. ground troops had been discussed for years, there were no specific plans. Bundy's memorandum to Johnson about the attack, on 7 February, did not propose the introduction of combat troops.
1633:. While there were occasional strikes on the DMZ and the southern part of the DRV from bases in the South, especially when South Vietnamese aircraft participated, the U.S. bases in the RVN primarily supported operations there. Da Nang was the primary South Vietnamese base for such strikes.
641:, a widespread campaign by the communist forces to attack across all of South Vietnam; while the offensive was largely repelled, it was a strategic success in seeding doubt as to the long-term viability of the South Vietnamese state. This phase of the war lasted until the election of
1919:
be lost to the NLF during this monsoon season. Since 1 June, the GVN has been forced to abandon six district capitals; only one has been retaken...The odds are less than even that the Ky government will last out the year. Ky is "executive agent" for a directorate of generals."
1644:
of only a few miles' range. As Flaming Dart progressed and the detailed planning for the major air escalation of Rolling Thunder, Westmoreland was concerned about the security of the exposed U.S. air bases in the south. On 22 February, he sent his deputy, Lieutenant General
1456:
never let them develop the "second wave" or "third phase" "We don't ever know what the second wave was; we have never been able to find out because probably only a couple of dozen people knew it." The description of the three fighting methods is consistent with the work of
2112:
Late in 1967, Westmoreland said that it was conceivable that in two years or less U.S. forces could be phased out of the war, turning over more and more of the fighting to the ARVN. He should have known better. This readiness of the enemy to remain fixed in place inspired
1905:
gave him all the authority he needed, and, indeed, Senators both opposed and supporting the escalation did not believe it was a proper matter for Congressional debate. Much later, McNamara wrote that it was wrong not to have that debate, even if it encouraged the enemy.
1713:
Johnson's main public announcement at the time, however, was an 7 April speech, in which he offered economic support to North Vietnam, and Southeast Asia in general, if it would stop military action. This offer was quite in keeping with his goals for development, the
652:
One of the main problems that the joint forces faced was continuing weakness in the South Vietnamese government, along with a perceived lack of stature among the generals who rose up to lead it after the original government of Diem was deposed. Coups in
1914:
Before the 1 July 1965 presentation to Johnson, McGeorge Bundy suggested that he "listen hard to George Ball and then reject his proposal", and pick between McNamara's and William Bundy's recommendations; McNamara would "tone down" his recommendations.
1359:
Putting simultaneous pressure on Plei Me and Pleiku, so II CTZ would need to call in U.S. reinforcements; this is what became the Battle of the Ia Drang in popular Western terms, but has been called either the U.S. Battle of the Ia Drang or the Pleiku
2144:
Robert E. Cushman Jr., who had relieved General Walt, was "unduly complacent." worried about what he perceived as the Marine command's "lack of followup in supervision", its employment of helicopters, and its generalship. Westmoreland sent his deputy
2120:
Most of the PAVN/NLF operational capability was possible only because of the unhindered movement of men along the Hồ Chí Minh Trail. Indeed, the PAVN was doing just that. MACV used this opportunity to field its latest technology against the PAVN.
1834:
The VC ambushes were extremely effective against ARVN relief forces, which were committed one battalion at a time, until the ARVN ran out of reserves. Among the forces destroyed was the 7th Airborne Battalion, one of the best units in the ARVN.
1779:
division replacing the Marines in central Vietnam, and the 173rd Airborne Brigade for the Bien Hoa/Vũng Tàu area near Saigon. Early, CINCPAC had objected to the use of the 173rd, since it was the primary strategic reserve for Pacific Command.
2752:
1528:
North itself, nor of the Ho Chi Minh trail, greatly threatened thinking in the Politburo. Unknown to the U.S., their greatest fear was a major ground operation to cut the trail, which, indeed, would have meant entering Laos and Cambodia.
4160:
2539:
Director of Central Intelligence for the U.S. Intelligence Board (25 May 1964), "Special National Intelligence Estimate 50-2-64: Probable Consequences with Respect to Certain U.S. Actions toward Vietnam and Laos", in Prados, John (ed.),
1234:
Even with these three approaches, there was still significant doubt, in the U.S. government, that the war could be ended with a military solution that would place South Vietnam in a strongly anticommunist position. In July, two senior
1660:
The President approved sending two Marine battalions on 26 February. Other than possibly Westmoreland, they were seen purely as defensive troops. Westmoreland denies assuming they would be available for missions outside the base. The
1760:
Westmoreland obtained Taylor's agreement on a plan for reinforcement. It had three phases, the first two establishing security for Allied bases and then an offensive strategy, beginning with enclaves on the coast, and moving inland.
3287:
1500:
Throughout the intensified war, it should be noticed the Vietnamese weather enforced seasonal offensives. Typically, there was a winter-spring offensive, from perhaps November to March, and a summer offensive, separated by rainy or
1465:. Trà's analysis (see above) was that while the concept of the General Offensive-General Uprising was drawn up by the Politburo in 1965, the orders to implement it did not reach the operational headquarters until late October 1967.
2011:
There was an increasing intensity to use air power in Cambodia and Laos, accelerating in July. In some, but not all cases, the Cambodian or Laotian governments were secretly consulted, but in other cases, U.S. aircraft, especially
1628:
It must be emphasized that for most of the war, the bulk of the attacks on the North came, at first, from Navy carriers offshore. When the bombing escalated, they were joined by U.S. Air Force fighter-bombers flying from bases in
1757:, about 100 miles from Saigon, on 11 May. Much farther in the north, later in the month, they ambushed an ARVN force in the north, near Quảng Ngãi, badly hurting ARVN relief troops and leaving two battalions combat ineffective.
1546:
North Vietnam received foreign military aid shipments through its ports and rail system. This materiel (and PAVN manpower) was then shuttled south down the logistical corridor called by the Americans the Ho Chi Minh Trail (the
808:
action on the North and sought Chinese support. If INR's analysis is correct, the very signals mentioned in the March 1965 McNaughton memo, which was very much concerned with Chinese involvement, may have brought it closer.
1551:
Strategic Supply Route to the North Vietnamese). At the end of an arduous journey the men and supplies entered South Vietnam's border areas. Beginning in December 1964, however, the U.S. began a covert aerial interdiction
1604:
Johnson made no public announcements, although the U.S. press reported it. The attack was carried out by U.S. Navy aviators from an aircraft carrier in the South China Sea. Flaming Dart II was a response to an attack on
930:
It was estimated that while there would be a strong diplomatic and propaganda response, the DRV and its allies would "refrain from dramatic new attacks, and refrain from raising the level of insurrection for the moment."
1215:. Westmoreland, in a 26 March message, said that it would take six months for air attacks to take effect, and third-country ground troops were needed immediately. Westmoreland stated "search and destroy" as a goal in May
966:
contacts and engagement firefights, in which 46% of all engagements were NVA/VC ambushes against US forces. A different study by the department of defence breaks down the types of engagements from a periodic study here.
2190:
doctrine that tends to use air rather than substantial artillery. The 3rd would usually colocate an infantry battalion command post with the firebase, from which the infantry companies would move by foot or helicopter.
3502:
927:
the Western Pacific and South China Sea; and providing substantial reinforcement to the South. The U.S. would avoid further Geneva talks until it was established that they would not improve the Communist position.
1536:
What worries me most is that they will send in troops or use choppers to send some commandos or drop paratroopers, who would then occupy a chunk of the trail. This would throw the entire complicated system out of
1375:, and used obvious helicopters to cause the PAVN to retreat onto very reasonable paths to break away from the Americans – but different Americans had silently set ambushes, earlier, across those escape routes.
815:
For example, on 23 March 1964, ARVN forces in Operation Phuong Hoang 13-14/10, Dien Phong Sector, raids a VC battalion in a fortified village, killing 126. On 13 April, however, the VC overran Kien Long (near
1890:
headed by John McNaughton, who obtained technical assistance from the Joint Staff, but did not have participation from the JCS proper. McMaster, however, cites George Ball as saying that McNamara lied to the
1293:
They may also have believed the long-trumpeted U.S. maxim of never getting involved in a land war in Asia, and that the U.S. was too concerned with Chinese intervention to use airpower outside South Vietnam.
1843:
collapse, he wanted to double the size of his forces, with 34 U.S. and 10 South Korean battalions comprising 175,000 men; thus the message has been called the "44 battalion request." The State Department's
2202:
North Vietnamese actions certainly were dependent on the result of the U.S. 1968 Presidential election, and what they saw as a new environment under Nixon. Several factors caused change in U.S. strategy:
2140:, consisting of what amounted to two Army divisions, two reinforced Marine Divisions, a Marine aircraft wing, and supporting forces, numbering well over 100,000. GEN Westmoreland believed that Marine
2765:
2045:
Starting on 20 December 1965, the non-Communist forces held an 84-hour ceasefire for Tet, which was the culmination of a psychological warfare program to encourage Communist defections under the
2412:
1718:, in the United States, and was likely a sincere offer. That he saw such an offer as attractive to the enemy, however, is an indication of his lack of understanding of the opposing ideology.
4012:
1681:
plan on 13 March, the Da Nang security force arrived on 8 March. in response to Westmoreland's request of 22 February reflecting a concern with VC forces massing near the Marine air base at
3300:
1665:
suggest he did see a wider mission, but there is no strong evidence that he did; these troops were the first U.S. land combat forces committed to the Asian mainland since the Korean War.
1657:
and supporting elements, were needed to ensure its defense. Westmoreland, according to Davidson, believed a two-battalion MEB was more politically acceptable, but submitted that request.
1868:
1138:, or "struggle", where the goal coupling military and political initiatives alongside each-other; there are both military and organisational measures that support the political goal.
1131:
959:
953:, in selecting a strategy in 1965, had assumed the enemy forces were assumed that much as the defeat of the Axis military had won the Second World War, the Communist military was the
1378:
By late 1966, however, North Vietnam began a buildup in the northwest area of the theater, in Laos, the southernmost part of the DRV, the DMZ, and in the northern part of the RVN.
1669:
firing on Da Nang with standard and easily portable 81mm mortars. The Joint Chiefs of Staff disagreed, and forwarded Westmoreland's request, with their agreement, on 26 February.
3892:
1489:"Even if they increase their troops by another 50,000, 100,000 or more, they cannot extricate themselves from their comprehensive stalemate in the southern part of our country."
4164:
3537:
1072:. An alternative view, considering overall security as the center of gravity, was shared by the Marine leadership and some other U.S. government centers of opinion, including
629:
countries increased their support, sending large scale combat forces into South Vietnam; at its height in 1969, slightly more than 400,000 American troops were deployed. The
1584:
If the Politburo had assumed the U.S. would not use airpower against the North, they were disabused by the outcome of a 6 February 1965 VC attack attacked U.S. facilities at
1867:
Considerable internal discussion took place among the President's key civilian advisers, with the main four papers presented to Johnson on 1 July, with a covering memo from
4120:
774:, on 21 December, to select the least risky operations on 21 December, which delivered a report on 2 January 1964, for the first operational phase to begin on 1 February.
726:
allegedly aided a group of ARVN officers to overthrow Diem. To help deal with the post-coup chaos, Kennedy increased the number of US advisors in South Vietnam to 16,000.
2149:
to take command of I Corps, and gave his Air Force commander control of Marine aviation. The Marines protested vehemently but were rebuffed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
3683:
1984:
security; initiate political, economic and social development; extend effective Government of Vietnam authority; and win the willing support of people toward these ends.
1425:
January–March 1968: "independent" fighting methods, often small, such as the squads that hit the U.S. Embassy. The operational message was that there were no safe areas.
1099:. The former was the priority for U.S. forces, as of 1965, assuming the South Vietnamese had to take the lead in pacification. Arguably, however, there were three wars:
637:
fought back, keeping to countryside strongholds while the anti-communist allied forces tended to control the cities. The most notable conflict of this era was the 1968
884:
second-in-command being an Air Force officer. The U.S. had a shortage of covert operators with Asian experience in general. Ironically, Assistant Secretary of State
2093:
Laos and Cambodia also had their own indigenous communist insurgencies to deal with. These regular government forces were supported by the CIA and the bombs of the
1492:
The answer may be somewhere in between: Giáp indeed wanted to draw American forces away from the coastal urban areas, but tried too hard for a victory at Khe Sanh.
1461:, who commanded forces in the south but died, possibly of natural causes, in 1967; Thanh may very well have been among those couple of dozen. Thanh was replaced by
898:
has components from all the services, there is a regional Special Operations Component, alongside Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Components, in every geographic
760:
Paramilitary operations, such as raids and sabotage against facilities that were significant to the admittedly weak economy, and stronger security, of North Vietnam
3522:
605:. At the start of the decade, United States aid to South Vietnam consisted largely of supplies with approximately 900 military observers and trainers. After the
3342:
2174:
begin in January 1969 that called for representatives of the United States, South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the National Liberation Front to meet in Paris.
1196:
Some fundamental decisions about U.S. strategy, which would last for the next several years, took place in 1965. Essentially, there were three alternatives:
4024:
2163:
2003:(part of CORDS with a strong CIA component) GVN police identified and arrested (and sometimes killed) the NLF secret police agents engaged in assassination.
1363:
An ARVN counteroffensive against the PAVN troops retreating into Cambodia, an action fought by the ARVN Airborne Brigade with U.S. air and artillery support.
1286:
The Politburo wanted to prevent Southern Communist dominance in an eventual victory, so by introducing Northern troops, they could take away that opportunity
677:, the Party concluded, the "United States was forced to introduce its own troops because it was losing the war. It had lost the political game in Vietnam."
662:
1701:
division be sent rather than U.S. troops. GEN Johnson also suggested a four-division force be raised under the SEATO treaty and used to block infiltration.
1330:
casualties on the U.S. Army, and, if very lucky, still cut II CTZ in half. That planned movement was very similar to the successful PAVN maneuver in 1975.
1805:
Second, the principals viewed the situation with their own experiential and analytical filters, well articulated by Ball in an oral history interview.
1126:
While the discussion following splits into military and political/civil strategies, that is a Western perspective. North Vietnamese forces took a more
879:
Before the operations scheduled by the Krulak committee could be attempted, there had to be an organization to carry them out. An obscure group called
4266:
4060:
1851:
9th and 10th. In a telephone conversation afterwards, McNamara told Johnson that he personally had limitations in mind, but he did not think that the
1371:
approximately a month later, which extended into 1966, 1st Cav drew their own lessons from what they believed the PAVN developed as countertactics to
1114:
liaison to the South Vietnam government, to persuade them to refuse a cease-fire being brokered by President Lyndon Johnson. This action violated the
649:, or ending the direct involvement and phased withdrawal of U.S. combat troops and giving the main combat role back to the South Vietnamese military.
4316:
4186:
4017:
3235:
1730:
1689:
895:
2790:
1768:
U.S. forces, in coordination with the RVN, would make deep patrols and limited offensives, still centered on the bases, to pre-empt direct threats.
4281:
3948:
3697:
1297:
Once the elections were over, North Vietnam developed a new plan to move from the Ho Chi Minh trail in Cambodia, in central Vietnam (i.e., ARVN
1145:
and with US Withdrawal, once the United States was no longer likely to intervene, the North Vietnamese changed to a conventional, combined-arms
766:
Selected raids as well as reconnaissance to direct air strikes, with more of a tactical goal than the economic and security actions of category
3462:
2475:
2101:
made a deal with the Chinese in 1965 that allowed North Vietnamese forces to establish permanent bases in his country and to use the port of
1891:
1879:
was the most strongly opposed to escalation. Ball had been, since October 1964, sending Johnson memoranda saying "we should cut our losses."
903:
747:
2085:
Despite this, the Americanization of the war clearly showed that the South Vietnamese were incapable of defending the country on their own.
3547:
2978:
1322:
1212:
1092:
1077:
914:
3991:
3270:
2565:"The Pentagon Papers, Gravel Edition, Volume 4, Chapter 2, "US Ground Strategy and Force Deployments, 1965–1968, pp. 277–604, 4th section"
1886:
William Bundy's influence, "he was not one of the top three or four people that were always talking to the President about these things."
2030:
was effectively a continuation a month later. These were significant for a variety of reasons, first because the Communists first used a
4311:
4286:
4276:
4075:
4042:
3720:
3115:
2502:
2372:
2297:
1844:
1588:, killing 8 and destroying 10 aircraft. President Johnson, on 7–8 February, responded with the first specifically retaliatory air raid,
1419:
666:
2564:
1173:, as well as joint "search and destroy" operations against Communists. During this period, the U.S. concept of the joint war developed.
848:
Armed Service Committee, on 27 December, that only a maximum effort of American power could salvage the situation. Two days later, the
817:
743:
organization had not yet been created. There were five broad categories, to be planned in three periods of 4 months each, over a year:
4087:
3931:
3706:
3658:
3016:
2941:
1244:
812:
with a population of perhaps 10 million. It was a grinding war of attrition, with no decision, as death and destruction ground along.
658:
3379:
2194:
The 320th, in August, again moved against the 3rd, south of the Bến Hải River and north of Route 9, between Cam Lo and the Rockpile.
1118:, banning private citizens from intruding into official government negotiations with a foreign nation, and thus constituted treason.
865:, under Russell, was prohibited from any operations in Laos, although SOG was eventually authorized to make cross-border operations.
4306:
4271:
3653:
3416:
3389:
2910:
2269:
1081:
894:
Jack Singlaub, to become the third commander of SOG, argued that special operators needed to form their own identity; while today's
625:
made a policy commitment to safeguard the South Vietnamese regime directly. The American military forces and other anti-communist
1406:
were to fit. If there was a larger plan, to what extent were North Vietnamese actions in the period of this article a part of it?
4321:
4296:
4007:
3648:
3613:
3527:
1726:
1353:
462:
450:
1263:
Source: Directive 525-4 (MACJ3) 17 September 1965: Tactics and Techniques for Employment of US Forces in the Republic of Vietnam
4261:
3516:
2900:
1150:
438:
4221:
4216:
4211:
4206:
4201:
4196:
4191:
3557:
3552:
3406:
2871:
1830:
unit, allowed a successful defense. Higher command, however, was concern that this large a VC unit could take an initiative.
1452:
as an analogy for the third phase, although Dien Bien Phu was an isolated, not urban, target. Losing elite troops during the
1161:
Military developments in this period should be considered in several broad phases that do not fit neatly into a single year:
849:
770:
Lyndon Johnson agreed with the idea, but was cautious. He created an interdepartmental review committee, under Major General
2615:
1765:
The first phase extended the security perimeter of the bases so that the facilities were out of range of light artillery. I
4301:
3880:
3070:
2234:
1722:
need of creating more headquarters units. By the end of 1965, twenty-four were either in the field or in training areas.
1313:. This goal at first seemed straightforward, but was reevaluated when major U.S. ground units entered the area, first the
1165:
Gradual intensification, and North Vietnamese exploration of a changed ground environment. Significant events include the
954:
940:
622:
594:
413:
3964:
1855:
had them. Still, McNamara briefed the press on the 16th. Polls supported the escalation, and, when asked for his advice,
913:
Possible consequences of such actions, although not explicitly addressing the OPPLAN34A operations, were assessed by the
704:
4291:
3897:
3643:
2187:
1395:
3820:
2284:
3887:
3532:
2445:
1179:
The 1967–68 campaign, which appears to have had a broader concept, not executed, than the most obvious aspects of the
1073:
757:
Psychological operations against the north to increase tension and division; Colby had already started such operations
3498:
3348:
630:
487:
482:
3909:
1823:
1754:
1277:
In December 1963, the Politburo apparently decided that it was possible to strike for victory in 1965. Theoretician
709:
The situation in South Vietnam continued to deteriorate with corruption rife throughout the Diem government and the
4256:
4251:
4246:
4241:
4236:
4231:
4226:
4065:
3870:
3734:
3480:
3296:
2761:
2636:
1975:, which was to continue in a variety of development activities. The term, apparently coined by Premier and general
1314:
1302:
1088:
841:
670:
654:
2720:
1741:
to permit the Marines to go beyond static defense, and to start offensive sweeps to find and engage enemy forces.
1625:
they would not be used. In fact, the missiles were used, setting off upward spiral of air attack and air defense.
1428:
Something identified in their message against a large target, a "psychological backbreaker" against a target like
1414:
October–November 1967: "concentrated" fighting methods, with raids against small to medium military bases such as
4070:
4037:
3936:
3739:
3715:
3455:
2019:
VC attacks ranged in size from local bombings to multi-regimental operations, and use of longer-range artillery.
1902:
1678:
1593:
939:
The U.S/RVN and North Vietnam had strategic goals, with very different, and often inaccurate, definitions of the
899:
3585:
2026:, beginning in November 1965, was a response to the start of the 1965–66 Communist winter-spring offensive; the
1801:
for themselves, we cannot abandon them without disaster to peace and to our other interests throughout the world
4092:
3969:
3678:
3542:
3119:
2506:
2376:
2301:
2065:, starting in November 1965, was the first of many "search and destroy" missions launched by the U.S., such as
1236:
832:
50. These successes, however, must be balanced by the Buddhist crisis and the increased instability of Diem.
828:
On 25 April, GEN Westmoreland was named to replace GEN Harkins; an ARVN ambush near Plei Ta Nag killed 84 VC.
3221:
Notes for Memorandum from McNamara to Lyndon Johnson, "Recommendations of Additional Deployments to Vietnam,"
2328:(1993), "Tet: The 1968 General Offensive and General Uprising", in Jayne S. Werner and Luu Doan Huynh (ed.),
1521:
1458:
3943:
3802:
3711:
3632:
3241:
3131:, vol. George Washington University National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 121, INR-VN5
2518:, vol. George Washington University National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 121, INR-VN4
2388:, vol. George Washington University National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 121, INR-VN4
2313:, vol. George Washington University National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 121, INR-VN4
2094:
2066:
1569:
1469:
800:
618:
4130:
2325:
1477:
1462:
682:
674:
3974:
3926:
3638:
1976:
1737:, and told them that the war will eventually have to be taken to the North. In April, Johnson changed the
1618:
1589:
1298:
1269:
areas. Yet, the operational initiative— decisions to engage and disengage—continued to be with the enemy.
1166:
906:, but special operators were regarded as outcasts, unlikely to rise high in rank, during the Vietnam War.
714:
3829:
3788:
2815:
the Secret War against Hanoi: The Untold Story of Spies, Saboteurs, and Covert Warriors in North Vietnam
2796:
2070:
1852:
1565:
1561:
1557:
1200:
Bombing, enclave and rural security, principally supported by U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam, General
888:, who had been a guerilla in Asia during the Second World War, was forced out of office on 24 February.
1792:
There were two drivers among the inner circle. First, some, but not all, were fervent believers in the
17:
3431:
1258:
Government. During this process security must be provided to all of the people on a progressive basis.
4181:
4110:
3448:
2102:
1898:, to ensure that Wheeler did not attend the meeting when the Ball and McNamara drafts were reviewed.
1856:
1693:
1646:
1223:
1208:
1061:
751:
286:
3901:
2543:
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 40 Years Later: Flawed Intelligence and the Decision for War in Vietnam
2447:
Paper Prepared by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (McNaughton)
1481:
1278:
686:
4032:
3981:
3811:
3624:
3580:
2166:, said "I felt, and I think that most Marines felt, that the time had come to get out of Vietnam."
2062:
2031:
1876:
1738:
1609:
on 10 March. In response, initially unknown to the U.S., the North Vietnamese received their first
1306:
1146:
115:
3850:
2481:
1822:
Mid-May saw a new series of Communist offensives, all over the country. Much of the action was in
3775:
3761:
3105:
MACV cable 19118, Westmoreland to Sharp and Wheeler "Deployment", quoted in McNamara, pp. 187–188
2664:
2153:
2141:
2027:
2023:
1775:
Westmoreland assumed he would have III Marine Expeditionary Force, the new airmobile division, a
1622:
1399:
1368:
1338:
1334:
1310:
1180:
1170:
3765:
2984:
2207:
There was no plausible way of inflicting a decisive defeat with the politically plausible forces
1581:
South Vietnamese forces were engaged resulting in almost 200 soldiers and 5 US advisors killed.
1325:, the "First Cav". In particular, the PAVN were not sure of the best tactics to use against the
1250:, at the same time, saw the situation as bad but potentially retrievable with major escalation.
902:. Today, officers from the special operations community have risen to four-star rank, including
3267:
1814:
Johnson gave the go-ahead in July, but then sent McNamara and others to study actions further.
1091:, but it was increasingly irrelevant in the face of larger and larger VC conventional attacks.
3855:
3748:
3575:
3412:
3385:
2940:"Chapter 4, "American Troops Enter the Ground War, March–July 1965", Section 1, pp. 389–433",
2906:
2810:
2656:
2265:
2183:
2159:
devotes Chapter 13 of his memoirs to the dispute. Douglas Kinnard also discusses the tension.
1776:
1750:
1698:
1553:
1532:, the North Vietnamese general running trail operations, was less concerned with bombing than
1240:
1219:
1096:
1069:
958:
while building and consolidating political control over the rural areas of South Vietnam. See
111:
2162:
General Cushman, formerly the III Marine Amphibious Corps commander in Vietnam and, in 1969,
1350:
739:
OPPLAN 34A was finalized around 20 December, under joint MACV-CIA leadership; the subsequent
3865:
3797:
3618:
3608:
3590:
3219:
2648:
2572:
2146:
2098:
2076:
divisions north of the DMZ, three operational, one reserve, and one recovering from battle.
2038:
forces, also in division strength, in response. The Ia Drang also involved the first use of
1989:
1827:
1346:
673:
all shook faith in the government and reduced the trust of civilians. According to General
4155:
3022:
2947:
4081:
3986:
3905:
3692:
3274:
2344:
2238:
2000:
1641:
1637:
1247:
950:
678:
614:
364:
313:
223:
96:
2541:
2510:
2380:
2305:
2105:
for delivery of military supplies in exchange for payments and a proportion of the arms.
1685:, 3500 Marine ground troops arrived, the first U.S. large ground combat unit in Vietnam.
3123:
3015:"Chapter 1, "U.S. Programs in South Vietnam, Nov. 1963-Apr. 1965,"Section 1, pp. 1–56",
2042:
bombers integrated into a tactical plan, rather than on independent ARC LIGHT missions.
1305:, splitting South Vietnam in half. For this large operation, the PAVN created its first
784:
3860:
3834:
3784:
2223:
1872:
1614:
1548:
1529:
1201:
1176:
A North Vietnamese strategic buildup for what they saw as decisive actions in 1967–1968
1127:
1065:
946:
861:
intelligence collection capability to detect the start of this project. Specifically,
646:
433:
138:
120:
45:
3628:
2404:
1935:
1653:; Throckmorton reported that a full Marine Expeditionary Brigade, with three infantry
4175:
3757:
3512:
3494:
2980:
Vietnam Studies: The Development and Training of the South Vietnamese Army, 1950–1972
2668:
2156:
2130:
1895:
1882:
1715:
1453:
1449:
1403:
1227:
1184:
1142:
891:
885:
771:
642:
638:
610:
606:
590:
269:
164:
152:
92:
88:
62:
1356:
camp, ambushing the expected heavy rescue force and possibly attracting the 1st Cav,
1095:
began to refer to the "two wars", one against conventional forces, and the other of
791:
3875:
2697:
1407:
1398:) One of the great remaining questions is if this was a larger plan into which the
475:
388:
227:
2259:
2034:-sized organization in conventional warfare, and second the U.S. first used true
1517:
punish a number of reactionaries and tyrants who owe blood debts to the people."
593:
began a period of gradual escalation and direct intervention referred to as the "
3471:
2035:
1793:
1606:
1372:
1326:
602:
401:
291:
212:
200:
188:
57:
41:
3076:
2053:
helicopters and resulting in a number of friendly personnel missing in action.
1610:
280:
2660:
970:
Pentagon Papers, Department of Defence Studies on types of engagements, 1967
3506:
2409:
Confronting Vietnam: Soviet Policy toward the Indochina Conflict, F1954-1963
2046:
1796:
doctrine, especially Rusk. McNamara quoted Rusk's direct appeal to Johnson:
1734:
1654:
1636:
Bases in SVN, however, were accessible to the VC, by ground attack, or with
1415:
1115:
634:
257:
246:
176:
2451:
2754:
The Marines in Vietnam, 1954–1973: An Anthology and Annotated Bibliography
2652:
2213:
The South Vietnamese were better mobilized and organized than ever before.
1901:
Congress, as an institution, also was not consulted. Johnson believed the
1103:
Ground combat in South Vietnam, including air operations in direct support
1013:
Unplanned US attacks on a VC/NVA defensive perimeter, US Forces surprised
3240:, Center of Military History, U.S. Department of the Army, archived from
2182:
Starting in June, Marine operations made more extensive use of artillery
1630:
1509:
1429:
880:
874:
862:
740:
586:
457:
445:
239:
100:
49:
2977:
Collins, James Lawton Jr., "Chapter I: The Formative Years, 1950–1959",
2595:
1433:
1422:, essentially as large raids: "not a decisive battle but a punitive one"
1289:
They thought they would be defeated if they did not take decisive action
1682:
1650:
1502:
1437:
1318:
713:
unable to effectively combat the Viet Cong. In 1961, the newly elected
689:, in January 1964, reflected differing U.S. and Vietnamese priorities.
500:
2705:
Spartans in Darkness: American SIGINT and the Indochina War, 1945–1975
2477:
Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Command History Chronology – 1964
1207:
Attrition of VC bases and secondarily personnel, the focus of General
2097:. Believing that the triumph of communism in Vietnam was inevitable,
1585:
1441:
719:
526:
352:
326:
2698:"Chapter 7 – A Springtime of Trumpets: SIGINT and the Tet Offensive"
2637:"Winning the Vietnam War: Westmoreland's Approach in Two Documents."
795:
The Politburo ordered infrastructure improvements to start in 1964.
621:
in 1964 and amid continuing political instability in the South, the
253:
1988:"Search and Destroy" gave way after 1968 to "clear and hold", when
1386:
It is known that the North Vietnamese planned something called the
2137:
626:
513:
408:
339:
308:
1923:
they show no signs of settling for less than complete takeover."
1087:
Roughly until mid-1965, the SVN-US strategy still focused around
763:
Encouraging the development of an underground resistance movement
3432:
The Vietnam Wars, Section 8: The Tet Offensive and its Aftermath
2760:(Second Printing, 1985 ed.), History and Museums Division,
2114:
2039:
2013:
1749:
A VC unit, estimated to be in two-regiment strength, fought the
710:
426:
359:
275:
218:
3444:
2049:
program. MACV announced 106 Communist violations of the truce.
1556:
that would continue until the end of the conflict in 1973 (see
3440:
2967:
PntV3Ch4389-433, EMBTEL (Embassy Telegram) of 22 February 1965
1930:
723:
3286:
Telfer, Gary L.; Rogers, Lane; Fleming, V. Keith Jr. (1984),
4161:
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
3289:
U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Fighting the North Vietnamese, 1967
2117:
to send reinforcements from other sectors of South Vietnam.
2285:
Statistical information about casualties of the Vietnam War
1026:
Planned US attack against known VC/NVA defensive perimeter
79:(5 years, 2 months, 3 weeks and 6 days)
4159:, which is licensed in a way that permits reuse under the
2707:, Center for Cryptologic History, National Security Agency
1520:
In September 1964, North Vietnam sent a Politburo member,
992:
Planned VC/NVA attacks represent 66.2% of all engagements
986:
Hot landing zone. VC/NVA attacks US Troops as they deploy
1869:
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
1592:(or, more specifically, Flaming Dart I), of the broader
4150:
1946:
1301:), with a goal of driving through to the seacoast over
1239:
officials formally recommended withdrawal to President
2509:, "IV. Time of Decision: November 1963 – March 1965",
2379:, "IV. Time of Decision: November 1963 – March 1965",
2304:, "IV. Time of Decision: November 1963 – March 1965",
2261:
War without fronts: the American experience in Vietnam
1771:"Search and destroy plus reserve reaction operations."
1032:
Planned US attacks represent 14.3% of all engagements
3408:
The War Managers American Generals Reflect on Vietnam
3347:, U.S. Marine Corps Historical Center, archived from
3213:
3211:
1847:
disagreed with the MACV assessment of near-collapse.
997:
Planned VC/NVA attack against US defensive perimeter
722:. This was accomplished on 2 November 1963, when the
3125:
Vietnam 1961–1968 as interpreted in INR's Production
3122:, "V – Trial by Force: March 1965 – February 1965",
2512:
Vietnam 1961–1968 as interpreted in INR's Production
2382:
Vietnam 1961–1968 as interpreted in INR's Production
2330:
The Vietnam War: American and Vietnamese Perspective
2307:
Vietnam 1961–1968 as interpreted in INR's Production
2136:
By mid-January 1968, III MAF was the size of a U.S.
4053:
4000:
3957:
3919:
3843:
3667:
3601:
3568:
3487:
2450:, vol. FRUS 193, 10 March 1965, archived from
2422:
2420:
1410:believed the TCK/TCN was to have three main parts:
869:
U.S. and GVN covert action planning and preparation
3072:Unit History of the 334th Armed Helicopter Company
2935:
2933:
2931:
2795:, Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc., archived from
2218:Aftermath and scaling back of American involvement
2789:Marc Jason Gilbert and William Head, ed. (1996),
2349:In Retrospect: the Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam
2747:
2745:
2237:. The Tet Offensive came to embody the growing
2229:Vietnam heavily in supplies and with air power.
1341:, but Ia Drang actually had three major phases:
1130:view than did the U.S. and South Vietnam with a
3005:Apr 65 CIA Director Memo to SecDef & others
2946:, vol. 3 (Gravel ed.), archived from
2470:
2468:
2061:To act before the 1966–67 Communist offensive,
1859:agreed that the reinforcements should be sent.
1807:
1733:GEN Earl Wheeler, joined by Secretary of State
1255:
718:regarding the need to force a regime change in
34:
3237:Vietnam Studies: Command and Control 1950–1969
2630:
2628:
2616:"George Will Confirms Nixon's Vietnam Treason"
1677:Shortly before Johnson approved the sustained
1005:VC/NVA ambushes or encircles a moving US Unit
3456:
3344:The Marine War: III MAF in Vietnam, 1965–1971
3018:The Pentagon Papers, Gravel Edition, Volume 3
2210:Communist forces had taken massive casualties
1218:Emphasis on rural security, from a number of
694:from the people, but from the United States.
8:
2728:, Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library
2241:at the heart of U.S. government statements.
3992:Normalization of US–Vietnam relations
1309:headquarters, under then-brigadier general
1153:, and taking and holding land permanently.
4156:"Joint warfare in South Vietnam 1964–1969"
3463:
3449:
3441:
3336:
3334:
1382:North Vietnamese plans for decisive action
1222:officer including then-Lieutenant General
935:Strategic Initiative and Centre of Gravity
31:
2133:, which caused immense Communist losses.
1649:, to inspect the Marine aviation base at
1496:Fighting continues; 1964 winter offensive
1468:Pike described it as consistent with the
975:TYPE OF ENGAGEMENTS IN COMBAT NARRATIVES
1480:but opposed by the politically oriented
1045:Chance engagement, neither side planned
968:
896:United States Special Operations Command
787:in charge and Ho becoming a figurehead.
778:North Vietnam decides on intensification
35:Joint warfare in South Vietnam 1963–1969
4013:Opposition to United States involvement
2889:, Viking Press: New York (1982), p. 423
2722:Oral History interview by Ted Gittinger
2250:
1597:border, against the Ho Chi Minh trail.
1037:US Forces ambushes moving VC/NVA Units
820:), killing 300 ARVN and 200 civilians.
378:
304:
77:1 November 1963 – 28 January 1969
18:Joint warfare in South Vietnam, 1963–69
4167:. All relevant terms must be followed.
2902:Vietnam at War: The History: 1946–1975
2351:, Times Books division of Random House
754:collection from locations in the north
699:Frustrations and assassination of Diem
3264:Reorganizing for pacification support
3051:Dean Rusk, quoted by McNamara, p. 195
2559:
2557:
2555:
1892:Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
1333:The resulting campaign is called the
904:Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
824:Command changes and continued actions
735:Johnson approval of covert operations
7:
4126:
3218:McNamara, Robert S. (20 July 1965),
2080:Political situation in South Vietnam
1253:Westmoreland's "ultimate aim", was:
1213:Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
1106:Air operations against North Vietnam
1093:Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
1078:Agency for International Development
915:United States Intelligence Community
589:in the 1960s, the United States and
3730:U.S. escalation / "Americanization"
3116:Bureau of Intelligence and Research
2503:Bureau of Intelligence and Research
2373:Bureau of Intelligence and Research
2298:Bureau of Intelligence and Research
1845:Bureau of Intelligence and Research
3659:1960 South Vietnamese coup attempt
2764:, 1974, p. 97, archived from
1396:General Offensive-General Uprising
1273:North Vietnamese strategic buildup
1019:Virtual surprise to US Commanders,
25:
4153:, this article uses content from
3654:North Vietnamese invasion of Laos
3363:Westmoreland, William C. (1976),
1082:United States Army Special Forces
645:and the change of U.S. policy to
4267:Wars involving the United States
4125:
4116:
4115:
4106:
4105:
4008:Draft evasion in the Vietnam War
3295:, History and Museums Division,
2685:, Presidio Press, pp. 63–65
1934:
1727:Director of Central Intelligence
1323:1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
978:Percentage of total engagements
519:
506:
493:
481:
468:
456:
444:
432:
419:
407:
394:
381:
358:
345:
332:
319:
307:
285:
274:
262:
252:
232:
217:
205:
193:
181:
169:
157:
145:
56:
4317:Wars involving the Soviet Union
4187:Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson
3644:Vietnamese migration of 1954–55
2332:, M.E. Sharpe, Tran Van Tra-Tet
2125:1968 North Vietnamese offensive
2007:1965–66 winter–spring offensive
1151:Army of the Republic of Vietnam
917:in late May, on the assumption
681:suggests that the overthrow of
4282:Wars involving the Philippines
3893:United States prisoners of war
2905:, Oxford University Press US,
2600:Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung
2164:Commandant of the Marine Corps
1979:, was agreed to be defined as
1973:Revolutionary Development (RD)
1673:Rolling Thunder buildup, March
1621:, although civilian officials
599:joint warfare in South Vietnam
1:
4076:Henry Kissinger’s involvement
2899:Davidson, Phillip B. (1991),
1392:Tong Kong Kich/Tong Kong Ngia
1109:Pacification in South Vietnam
1089:pacification in South Vietnam
1021:being well-concealed/alerted
623:Lyndon Johnson Administration
617:close to the end of 1963 and
3234:Eckhardt, George S. (1991),
2842:, Cambridge University Press
2719:Douglas Pike (4 June 1981),
2347:; Vandermark, Brian (1995),
2188:Marine Air-Ground Task Force
960:the protracted warfare model
842:Diem's fall in November 1963
3684:Independence Palace bombing
2739:Tran Van Tra-Tet, pp. 38–40
2641:Journal of Military History
1074:Central Intelligence Agency
4338:
4312:Wars involving North Korea
4287:Wars involving New Zealand
4277:Wars involving South Korea
4066:Canada and the Vietnam War
3735:1965 South Vietnamese coup
3543:People's Republic of China
3523:International participants
3297:United States Marine Corps
2817:, Harper Collins Perennial
2762:United States Marine Corps
2696:Hanyok, Robert J. (2002),
2221:
1863:Discussion before decision
1731:Chief of Staff of the Army
1690:Chief of Staff of the Army
1688:President Johnson ordered
1542:Flow of communist supplies
1315:United States Marine Corps
872:
799:Late 1963 to 1964 (before
729:
702:
4101:
4071:CIA activities in Vietnam
3478:
3405:Kinnard, Douglas (1991),
3384:, Naval Institute Press,
2635:Carland, John M. (2004),
2602:, Foreign Languages Press
2258:Thomas C. Thayer (1985).
2170:in heavy NVA casualties.
1903:Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
1784:U.S. decision to escalate
1705:the GVN will be sent..."
1679:Operation Rolling Thunder
1594:Operation Rolling Thunder
1337:, with a followup at the
1064:, and to a lesser extent
1031:
991:
900:Unified Combatant Command
568:
563:
535:
130:
69:
55:
39:
4307:Wars involving Nicaragua
4272:Wars involving Australia
4093:Women in the Vietnam War
4025:United States news media
3970:Indochina refugee crisis
3965:Cambodian–Vietnamese War
3740:Bombing of North Vietnam
3679:Strategic Hamlet Program
3120:U.S. Department of State
2681:Palmer, Dave R. (1978),
2507:U.S. Department of State
2377:U.S. Department of State
2302:U.S. Department of State
2235:"held back" from winning
1838:The 44 battalion request
1576:1964–65 winter offensive
1237:U.S. Department of State
1132:protracted warfare model
856:North Vietnamese buildup
748:Clandestine human-source
705:War in Vietnam (1959–63)
631:People's Army of Vietnam
65:, Military Regions, 1967
4322:20th century in Vietnam
4297:Wars involving Thailand
3712:Gulf of Tonkin incident
3633:Battle of Dien Bien Phu
3378:Krulak, Victor (1999),
3324:Westmoreland, William,
3273:15 January 2010 at the
2186:, a variant on typical
2095:United States Air Force
2067:Operation Junction City
1992:replaced Westmoreland.
1709:Carrot and stick, April
1619:surface-to-air missiles
1570:Operation Commando Hunt
801:Gulf of Tonkin incident
619:Gulf of Tonkin incident
27:Part of the Vietnam War
4262:Wars involving Vietnam
4121:Battles and operations
4061:Awards and decorations
3975:Vietnamese boat people
3944:Impact of Agent Orange
3932:Body count controversy
3639:1954 Geneva Conference
3060:Ball, pp. I-20 to I-21
2811:Shultz, Richard H. Jr.
2683:Summons of the Trumpet
2614:Fitrakis, Bob (2014),
2287:The National Archives.
1986:
1943:This section is empty.
1927:Quagmire and attrition
1812:
1803:
1590:Operation Flaming Dart
1539:
1299:II Corps Tactical Zone
1266:
1211:, commanding general,
1167:Battle of the Ia Drang
1134:, in their concept of
1122:North Vietnamese views
924:
715:Kennedy Administration
696:
4222:1969 in South Vietnam
4217:1968 in South Vietnam
4212:1967 in South Vietnam
4207:1966 in South Vietnam
4202:1965 in South Vietnam
4197:1964 in South Vietnam
4192:1963 in South Vietnam
3830:1975 spring offensive
3789:ARVN campaign in Laos
3785:Vietnamization policy
3395:, pp. 195-204 online.
3196:McNamara, pp. 191–192
3178:McMaster, pp. 301–302
2873:The Ho Chi Minh Trail
2653:10.1353/jmh.2004.0024
2594:Mao Tse-tung (1967),
2071:Operation Cedar Falls
2016:acted at direct U.S.
1981:
1853:Joint Chiefs of Staff
1798:
1613:(NATO reporting name
1566:Operation Tiger Hound
1562:Operation Steel Tiger
1558:Operation Barrel Roll
1534:
1226:, then Major General
919:
691:
564:Casualties and losses
4302:Wars involving Spain
4163:, but not under the
3949:Environmental impact
3821:Battle of Phước Long
3586:Cold War (1962–1979)
3262:Thomas W. Scoville,
3079:on 10 September 2005
2838:Moyar, Mark (2006),
2129:1968 began with the
1857:Dwight D. Eisenhower
1245:Secretary of Defense
1209:William Westmoreland
1204:(U.S. Army, retired)
1062:William Westmoreland
752:signals intelligence
4292:Wars involving Laos
4029:In popular culture
3982:Sino-Vietnamese War
3812:Paris Peace Accords
3625:First Indochina War
3614:Japanese occupation
3581:Cambodian Civil War
3306:on 5 September 2009
3151:Karnow, pp. 423–424
3096:Karnow, pp. 421–422
3042:8 May 65 MACV 15182
3025:on 26 February 2010
2943:The Pentagon Papers
2799:on 17 December 2005
2596:"On Protracted War"
2454:on 28 December 2009
2401:Ho Chi Minh: A Life
2399:William J. Duiker,
2063:Operation Attleboro
1971:agreed on the term
1824:Phước Long Province
1818:May and June combat
1755:Phước Long Province
1745:RVN reverses in May
1739:rules of engagement
1476:theory espoused by
971:
943:of the opposition.
850:Minh Tho government
116:Cambodian Civil War
3803:Christmas bombings
3776:Cambodian campaign
3244:on 19 October 2017
2950:on 17 January 2010
2887:Vietnam: A History
2876:by John T. Correll
2862:Moyar, pp. 323–324
2345:Robert S. McNamara
2264:. Westview Press.
2184:fire support bases
2057:Winter–spring 1967
2028:Battle of Bong Son
2024:Battle of Ia Drang
1910:Decision and worry
1400:Battle of Khe Sanh
1369:Battle of Bong Son
1339:Battle of Bong Son
1335:Battle of Ia Drang
1181:Battle of Khe Sanh
1171:Battle of Bong Son
969:
836:Post-Diem activity
4257:Conflicts in 1969
4252:Conflicts in 1968
4247:Conflicts in 1967
4242:Conflicts in 1966
4237:Conflicts in 1965
4232:Conflicts in 1964
4227:Conflicts in 1963
4139:
4138:
3856:Ho Chi Minh trail
3749:Buddhist Uprising
3707:Coup against Minh
3698:Coup against Diem
3621:(1949–1955)
3576:Laotian Civil War
3569:Related conflicts
3548:Republic of China
3411:, Da Capo Press,
3365:A Soldier Reports
3351:on 21 August 2006
3341:Shulimson, Jack,
3326:A Soldier Reports
2885:Karnow, Stanley.
2792:The Tet Offensive
2529:Shultz, pp. 46–48
2484:on 3 October 2008
2435:INR-IV, pp. 29–31
2426:Shultz, pp. 45–46
2362:Shultz, pp. 38–39
1963:
1962:
1777:Republic of Korea
1753:, the capital of
1751:Battle of Song Be
1699:Republic of Korea
1647:John Throckmorton
1241:Lyndon B. Johnson
1220:U.S. Marine Corps
1157:Military strategy
1070:counterinsurgents
1054:
1053:
955:center of gravity
941:center of gravity
583:
582:
551:: ~600,000 (1969)
126:
125:
112:Laotian Civil War
16:(Redirected from
4329:
4129:
4128:
4119:
4118:
4109:
4108:
3866:Operation Popeye
3798:Easter Offensive
3619:State of Vietnam
3609:French Indochina
3591:Cold War in Asia
3499:Việt Minh / PAVN
3465:
3458:
3451:
3442:
3435:
3434:, Edwin E. Moïse
3429:
3423:
3421:
3402:
3396:
3394:
3375:
3369:
3367:
3360:
3354:
3352:
3338:
3329:
3328:
3321:
3315:
3314:
3313:
3311:
3305:
3299:, archived from
3294:
3283:
3277:
3260:
3254:
3252:
3251:
3249:
3231:
3225:
3224:
3215:
3206:
3205:McMaster, p. 302
3203:
3197:
3194:
3188:
3187:McMaster, p. 411
3185:
3179:
3176:
3170:
3169:McNamara, p. 192
3167:
3161:
3158:
3152:
3149:
3143:
3140:
3134:
3132:
3130:
3112:
3106:
3103:
3097:
3094:
3088:
3087:
3086:
3084:
3075:, archived from
3067:
3061:
3058:
3052:
3049:
3043:
3040:
3034:
3033:
3032:
3030:
3021:, archived from
3012:
3006:
3003:
2997:
2995:
2994:
2992:
2983:, archived from
2974:
2968:
2965:
2959:
2958:
2957:
2955:
2937:
2926:
2925:Davidson, p. 344
2923:
2917:
2915:
2896:
2890:
2883:
2877:
2869:
2863:
2860:
2854:
2853:McNamara, p. 153
2851:
2845:
2843:
2840:Triumph Forsaken
2835:
2829:
2826:
2820:
2818:
2807:
2801:
2800:
2786:
2780:
2779:
2778:
2776:
2770:
2759:
2749:
2740:
2737:
2731:
2730:, pp. I-1 to I-3
2729:
2727:
2716:
2710:
2708:
2702:
2693:
2687:
2686:
2678:
2672:
2671:
2632:
2623:
2622:
2611:
2605:
2603:
2591:
2585:
2584:
2582:
2580:
2571:. Archived from
2561:
2550:
2549:
2548:
2536:
2530:
2527:
2521:
2519:
2517:
2499:
2493:
2492:
2491:
2489:
2480:, archived from
2472:
2463:
2462:
2461:
2459:
2442:
2436:
2433:
2427:
2424:
2415:
2407:; Ilya Gaiduk,
2405:pp 534–37 online
2397:
2391:
2389:
2387:
2369:
2363:
2360:
2354:
2352:
2341:
2335:
2333:
2322:
2316:
2314:
2312:
2294:
2288:
2282:
2276:
2275:
2255:
2147:Creighton Abrams
2099:Norodom Sihanouk
2089:See-saw conflict
1990:Creighton Abrams
1958:
1955:
1945:You can help by
1938:
1931:
1828:armed helicopter
1554:campaign in Laos
1522:Nguyễn Chí Thanh
1470:armed struggle (
1459:Nguyễn Chí Thanh
1264:
972:
852:was overthrown.
730:LBJ's war begins
545:: 409,111 (1969)
525:
523:
522:
512:
510:
509:
499:
497:
496:
486:
485:
474:
472:
471:
461:
460:
449:
448:
437:
436:
425:
423:
422:
412:
411:
400:
398:
397:
387:
385:
384:
363:
362:
351:
349:
348:
338:
336:
335:
325:
323:
322:
312:
311:
290:
289:
279:
278:
268:
266:
265:
256:
238:
236:
235:
222:
221:
211:
209:
208:
199:
197:
196:
187:
185:
184:
175:
173:
172:
163:
161:
160:
151:
149:
148:
71:
70:
60:
32:
21:
4337:
4336:
4332:
4331:
4330:
4328:
4327:
4326:
4172:
4171:
4140:
4135:
4097:
4082:Pentagon Papers
4049:
3996:
3953:
3915:
3839:
3693:Buddhist crisis
3663:
3649:1955 referendum
3597:
3564:
3483:
3474:
3469:
3439:
3438:
3430:
3426:
3419:
3404:
3403:
3399:
3392:
3377:
3376:
3372:
3362:
3361:
3357:
3340:
3339:
3332:
3323:
3322:
3318:
3309:
3307:
3303:
3292:
3285:
3284:
3280:
3275:Wayback Machine
3261:
3257:
3247:
3245:
3233:
3232:
3228:
3217:
3216:
3209:
3204:
3200:
3195:
3191:
3186:
3182:
3177:
3173:
3168:
3164:
3159:
3155:
3150:
3146:
3141:
3137:
3128:
3114:
3113:
3109:
3104:
3100:
3095:
3091:
3082:
3080:
3069:
3068:
3064:
3059:
3055:
3050:
3046:
3041:
3037:
3028:
3026:
3014:
3013:
3009:
3004:
3000:
2990:
2988:
2976:
2975:
2971:
2966:
2962:
2953:
2951:
2939:
2938:
2929:
2924:
2920:
2913:
2898:
2897:
2893:
2884:
2880:
2870:
2866:
2861:
2857:
2852:
2848:
2837:
2836:
2832:
2827:
2823:
2809:
2808:
2804:
2788:
2787:
2783:
2774:
2772:
2771:on 9 April 2008
2768:
2757:
2751:
2750:
2743:
2738:
2734:
2725:
2718:
2717:
2713:
2700:
2695:
2694:
2690:
2680:
2679:
2675:
2634:
2633:
2626:
2613:
2612:
2608:
2593:
2592:
2588:
2578:
2576:
2575:on 26 June 2019
2563:
2562:
2553:
2546:
2538:
2537:
2533:
2528:
2524:
2515:
2501:
2500:
2496:
2487:
2485:
2474:
2473:
2466:
2457:
2455:
2444:
2443:
2439:
2434:
2430:
2425:
2418:
2413:online pp 203–4
2398:
2394:
2385:
2371:
2370:
2366:
2361:
2357:
2343:
2342:
2338:
2324:
2323:
2319:
2310:
2296:
2295:
2291:
2283:
2279:
2272:
2257:
2256:
2252:
2247:
2239:credibility gap
2226:
2220:
2200:
2180:
2127:
2091:
2082:
2059:
2009:
2001:Phoenix Program
1968:
1966:The "other war"
1959:
1953:
1950:
1929:
1912:
1865:
1840:
1820:
1786:
1747:
1711:
1675:
1663:Pentagon Papers
1578:
1544:
1498:
1384:
1321:, and then the
1275:
1265:
1262:
1248:Robert McNamara
1224:Leonard Cushman
1194:
1159:
1128:grand strategic
1124:
1059:
1020:
951:Robert McNamara
937:
877:
871:
858:
838:
826:
805:
780:
737:
732:
707:
701:
679:Robert McNamara
633:and the allied
615:John F. Kennedy
595:Americanization
575:
573:
558:
546:
531:
520:
518:
507:
505:
494:
492:
480:
469:
467:
455:
443:
431:
420:
418:
406:
395:
393:
382:
380:
377:
376:
369:
357:
346:
344:
333:
331:
320:
318:
306:
303:
302:
284:
283:
273:
272:
263:
261:
260:
233:
231:
230:
226:
224:Kingdom of Laos
216:
215:
206:
204:
203:
194:
192:
191:
182:
180:
179:
170:
168:
167:
158:
156:
155:
146:
144:
118:
103:
78:
61:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
4335:
4333:
4325:
4324:
4319:
4314:
4309:
4304:
4299:
4294:
4289:
4284:
4279:
4274:
4269:
4264:
4259:
4254:
4249:
4244:
4239:
4234:
4229:
4224:
4219:
4214:
4209:
4204:
4199:
4194:
4189:
4184:
4174:
4173:
4170:
4169:
4145:
4144:
4137:
4136:
4134:
4133:
4123:
4113:
4102:
4099:
4098:
4096:
4095:
4090:
4085:
4078:
4073:
4068:
4063:
4057:
4055:
4051:
4050:
4048:
4047:
4046:
4045:
4040:
4035:
4027:
4022:
4021:
4020:
4010:
4004:
4002:
3998:
3997:
3995:
3994:
3989:
3984:
3979:
3978:
3977:
3967:
3961:
3959:
3955:
3954:
3952:
3951:
3946:
3941:
3940:
3939:
3934:
3923:
3921:
3917:
3916:
3914:
3913:
3895:
3890:
3885:
3884:
3883:
3878:
3868:
3863:
3861:Sihanouk Trail
3858:
3853:
3851:Củ Chi tunnels
3847:
3845:
3841:
3840:
3838:
3837:
3835:Fall of Saigon
3832:
3823:
3814:
3805:
3800:
3791:
3778:
3769:
3751:
3742:
3737:
3732:
3723:
3718:
3709:
3700:
3695:
3686:
3681:
3671:
3669:
3665:
3664:
3662:
3661:
3656:
3651:
3646:
3641:
3636:
3622:
3616:
3611:
3605:
3603:
3599:
3598:
3596:
3595:
3594:
3593:
3583:
3578:
3572:
3570:
3566:
3565:
3563:
3562:
3561:
3560:
3555:
3550:
3545:
3540:
3535:
3530:
3520:
3510:
3491:
3489:
3485:
3484:
3479:
3476:
3475:
3470:
3468:
3467:
3460:
3453:
3445:
3437:
3436:
3424:
3417:
3397:
3390:
3381:First to Fight
3370:
3355:
3330:
3316:
3278:
3268:online edition
3255:
3226:
3207:
3198:
3189:
3180:
3171:
3162:
3153:
3144:
3135:
3107:
3098:
3089:
3062:
3053:
3044:
3035:
3007:
2998:
2987:on 8 June 2010
2969:
2960:
2927:
2918:
2911:
2891:
2878:
2864:
2855:
2846:
2830:
2821:
2802:
2781:
2741:
2732:
2711:
2688:
2673:
2647:(2): 553–574,
2624:
2606:
2586:
2551:
2531:
2522:
2494:
2464:
2437:
2428:
2416:
2392:
2364:
2355:
2336:
2317:
2289:
2277:
2270:
2249:
2248:
2246:
2243:
2224:Vietnamization
2222:Main article:
2219:
2216:
2215:
2214:
2211:
2208:
2199:
2198:Winter 1968–69
2196:
2179:
2176:
2126:
2123:
2090:
2087:
2081:
2078:
2058:
2055:
2008:
2005:
1967:
1964:
1961:
1960:
1941:
1939:
1928:
1925:
1911:
1908:
1873:McGeorge Bundy
1864:
1861:
1839:
1836:
1819:
1816:
1785:
1782:
1773:
1772:
1769:
1766:
1746:
1743:
1710:
1707:
1694:Harold Johnson
1674:
1671:
1615:SA-2 Guideline
1577:
1574:
1543:
1540:
1530:Dong Sy Nguyen
1497:
1494:
1478:Võ Nguyên Giáp
1446:
1445:
1426:
1423:
1383:
1380:
1367:In the larger
1365:
1364:
1361:
1357:
1291:
1290:
1287:
1274:
1271:
1260:
1232:
1231:
1216:
1205:
1202:Maxwell Taylor
1193:
1192:The U.S. plans
1190:
1189:
1188:
1177:
1174:
1158:
1155:
1141:Following the
1123:
1120:
1111:
1110:
1107:
1104:
1066:Maxwell Taylor
1058:
1055:
1052:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1042:
1041:
1038:
1034:
1033:
1030:
1027:
1023:
1022:
1017:
1014:
1010:
1009:
1006:
1002:
1001:
998:
994:
993:
990:
987:
983:
982:
979:
976:
947:Lyndon Johnson
936:
933:
873:Main article:
870:
867:
857:
854:
837:
834:
825:
822:
804:
797:
779:
776:
768:
767:
764:
761:
758:
755:
736:
733:
731:
728:
703:Main article:
700:
697:
683:Dương Văn Minh
663:September 1964
647:Vietnamization
581:
580:
566:
565:
561:
560:
559:420,000 (1969)
552:
538:
537:
533:
532:
530:
529:
516:
503:
490:
478:
465:
453:
441:
439:Czechoslovakia
429:
416:
404:
391:
374:
373:
372:
370:
368:
367:
355:
342:
329:
316:
300:
299:
298:
295:
294:
242:
139:Anti-Communist
133:
132:
128:
127:
124:
123:
121:Vietnamization
109:
105:
104:
87:
85:
81:
80:
75:
67:
66:
53:
52:
46:Indochina Wars
37:
36:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
4334:
4323:
4320:
4318:
4315:
4313:
4310:
4308:
4305:
4303:
4300:
4298:
4295:
4293:
4290:
4288:
4285:
4283:
4280:
4278:
4275:
4273:
4270:
4268:
4265:
4263:
4260:
4258:
4255:
4253:
4250:
4248:
4245:
4243:
4240:
4238:
4235:
4233:
4230:
4228:
4225:
4223:
4220:
4218:
4215:
4213:
4210:
4208:
4205:
4203:
4200:
4198:
4195:
4193:
4190:
4188:
4185:
4183:
4180:
4179:
4177:
4168:
4166:
4162:
4157:
4154:
4152:
4147:
4146:
4142:
4141:
4132:
4124:
4122:
4114:
4112:
4104:
4103:
4100:
4094:
4091:
4089:
4086:
4084:
4083:
4079:
4077:
4074:
4072:
4069:
4067:
4064:
4062:
4059:
4058:
4056:
4052:
4044:
4041:
4039:
4036:
4034:
4031:
4030:
4028:
4026:
4023:
4019:
4016:
4015:
4014:
4011:
4009:
4006:
4005:
4003:
3999:
3993:
3990:
3988:
3985:
3983:
3980:
3976:
3973:
3972:
3971:
3968:
3966:
3963:
3962:
3960:
3956:
3950:
3947:
3945:
3942:
3938:
3937:POW/MIA issue
3935:
3933:
3930:
3929:
3928:
3925:
3924:
3922:
3918:
3911:
3907:
3903:
3899:
3896:
3894:
3891:
3889:
3886:
3882:
3879:
3877:
3874:
3873:
3872:
3869:
3867:
3864:
3862:
3859:
3857:
3854:
3852:
3849:
3848:
3846:
3842:
3836:
3833:
3831:
3827:
3824:
3822:
3818:
3815:
3813:
3809:
3806:
3804:
3801:
3799:
3795:
3792:
3790:
3786:
3782:
3779:
3777:
3773:
3770:
3767:
3763:
3759:
3758:Tet Offensive
3755:
3752:
3750:
3746:
3743:
3741:
3738:
3736:
3733:
3731:
3727:
3724:
3722:
3721:December coup
3719:
3717:
3713:
3710:
3708:
3704:
3701:
3699:
3696:
3694:
3690:
3687:
3685:
3682:
3680:
3676:
3673:
3672:
3670:
3666:
3660:
3657:
3655:
3652:
3650:
3647:
3645:
3642:
3640:
3637:
3634:
3630:
3626:
3623:
3620:
3617:
3615:
3612:
3610:
3607:
3606:
3604:
3600:
3592:
3589:
3588:
3587:
3584:
3582:
3579:
3577:
3574:
3573:
3571:
3567:
3559:
3556:
3554:
3551:
3549:
3546:
3544:
3541:
3539:
3536:
3534:
3531:
3529:
3528:United States
3526:
3525:
3524:
3521:
3518:
3514:
3513:South Vietnam
3511:
3508:
3504:
3500:
3496:
3495:North Vietnam
3493:
3492:
3490:
3486:
3482:
3477:
3473:
3466:
3461:
3459:
3454:
3452:
3447:
3446:
3443:
3433:
3428:
3425:
3420:
3418:9780306804496
3414:
3410:
3409:
3401:
3398:
3393:
3391:9781557504647
3387:
3383:
3382:
3374:
3371:
3366:
3359:
3356:
3350:
3346:
3345:
3337:
3335:
3331:
3327:
3320:
3317:
3302:
3298:
3291:
3290:
3282:
3279:
3276:
3272:
3269:
3265:
3259:
3256:
3243:
3239:
3238:
3230:
3227:
3223:
3222:
3214:
3212:
3208:
3202:
3199:
3193:
3190:
3184:
3181:
3175:
3172:
3166:
3163:
3160:Ball, p. I-13
3157:
3154:
3148:
3145:
3139:
3136:
3127:
3126:
3121:
3117:
3111:
3108:
3102:
3099:
3093:
3090:
3078:
3074:
3073:
3066:
3063:
3057:
3054:
3048:
3045:
3039:
3036:
3024:
3020:
3019:
3011:
3008:
3002:
2999:
2986:
2982:
2981:
2973:
2970:
2964:
2961:
2949:
2945:
2944:
2936:
2934:
2932:
2928:
2922:
2919:
2914:
2912:9780195067927
2908:
2904:
2903:
2895:
2892:
2888:
2882:
2879:
2875:
2874:
2868:
2865:
2859:
2856:
2850:
2847:
2841:
2834:
2831:
2828:Palmer, p. 51
2825:
2822:
2816:
2812:
2806:
2803:
2798:
2794:
2793:
2785:
2782:
2767:
2763:
2756:
2755:
2748:
2746:
2742:
2736:
2733:
2724:
2723:
2715:
2712:
2706:
2699:
2692:
2689:
2684:
2677:
2674:
2670:
2666:
2662:
2658:
2654:
2650:
2646:
2642:
2638:
2631:
2629:
2625:
2621:
2620:Common Dreams
2617:
2610:
2607:
2604:, pp. 175–176
2601:
2597:
2590:
2587:
2574:
2570:
2569:mtholyoke.edu
2566:
2560:
2558:
2556:
2552:
2545:
2544:
2535:
2532:
2526:
2523:
2514:
2513:
2508:
2504:
2498:
2495:
2483:
2479:
2478:
2471:
2469:
2465:
2453:
2449:
2448:
2441:
2438:
2432:
2429:
2423:
2421:
2417:
2414:
2410:
2406:
2402:
2396:
2393:
2384:
2383:
2378:
2374:
2368:
2365:
2359:
2356:
2350:
2346:
2340:
2337:
2331:
2327:
2321:
2318:
2309:
2308:
2303:
2299:
2293:
2290:
2286:
2281:
2278:
2273:
2271:9780813371320
2267:
2263:
2262:
2254:
2251:
2244:
2242:
2240:
2236:
2230:
2225:
2217:
2212:
2209:
2206:
2205:
2204:
2197:
2195:
2192:
2189:
2185:
2177:
2175:
2171:
2167:
2165:
2160:
2158:
2157:Victor Krulak
2155:
2150:
2148:
2143:
2139:
2134:
2132:
2131:Tet Offensive
2124:
2122:
2118:
2116:
2110:
2106:
2104:
2103:Sihanoukville
2100:
2096:
2088:
2086:
2079:
2077:
2073:
2072:
2068:
2064:
2056:
2054:
2050:
2048:
2043:
2041:
2037:
2033:
2029:
2025:
2020:
2017:
2015:
2006:
2004:
2002:
1997:
1993:
1991:
1985:
1980:
1978:
1977:Nguyễn Cao Kỳ
1974:
1965:
1957:
1948:
1944:
1940:
1937:
1933:
1932:
1926:
1924:
1920:
1916:
1909:
1907:
1904:
1899:
1897:
1896:Earle Wheeler
1893:
1887:
1884:
1883:William Bundy
1880:
1878:
1874:
1870:
1862:
1860:
1858:
1854:
1848:
1846:
1837:
1835:
1831:
1829:
1825:
1817:
1815:
1811:
1806:
1802:
1797:
1795:
1790:
1783:
1781:
1778:
1770:
1767:
1764:
1763:
1762:
1758:
1756:
1752:
1744:
1742:
1740:
1736:
1732:
1728:
1723:
1719:
1717:
1716:Great Society
1708:
1706:
1702:
1700:
1695:
1691:
1686:
1684:
1680:
1672:
1670:
1666:
1664:
1658:
1656:
1652:
1648:
1643:
1639:
1634:
1632:
1626:
1624:
1620:
1616:
1612:
1608:
1602:
1598:
1595:
1591:
1587:
1582:
1575:
1573:
1571:
1567:
1563:
1559:
1555:
1550:
1541:
1538:
1533:
1531:
1525:
1523:
1518:
1514:
1511:
1506:
1504:
1495:
1493:
1490:
1487:
1483:
1479:
1475:
1473:
1466:
1464:
1460:
1455:
1454:Tet Offensive
1451:
1450:Dien Bien Phu
1443:
1439:
1435:
1431:
1427:
1424:
1421:
1417:
1413:
1412:
1411:
1409:
1405:
1404:Tet Offensive
1401:
1397:
1393:
1389:
1381:
1379:
1376:
1374:
1370:
1362:
1358:
1355:
1352:
1348:
1344:
1343:
1342:
1340:
1336:
1331:
1328:
1324:
1320:
1316:
1312:
1308:
1304:
1300:
1295:
1288:
1285:
1284:
1283:
1280:
1272:
1270:
1259:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1246:
1242:
1238:
1229:
1228:Victor Krulak
1225:
1221:
1217:
1214:
1210:
1206:
1203:
1199:
1198:
1197:
1191:
1186:
1185:Tet Offensive
1182:
1178:
1175:
1172:
1168:
1164:
1163:
1162:
1156:
1154:
1152:
1148:
1144:
1143:Tet Offensive
1139:
1137:
1133:
1129:
1121:
1119:
1117:
1108:
1105:
1102:
1101:
1100:
1098:
1094:
1090:
1085:
1083:
1079:
1075:
1071:
1067:
1063:
1056:
1050:
1047:
1044:
1043:
1039:
1036:
1035:
1028:
1025:
1024:
1018:
1015:
1012:
1011:
1007:
1004:
1003:
999:
996:
995:
988:
985:
984:
980:
977:
974:
973:
967:
963:
961:
956:
952:
948:
944:
942:
934:
932:
928:
923:
918:
916:
911:
907:
905:
901:
897:
893:
889:
887:
886:Roger Hilsman
882:
876:
868:
866:
864:
855:
853:
851:
845:
843:
835:
833:
829:
823:
821:
819:
818:U Minh Forest
813:
809:
802:
798:
796:
793:
788:
786:
777:
775:
773:
772:Victor Krulak
765:
762:
759:
756:
753:
749:
746:
745:
744:
742:
734:
727:
725:
721:
716:
712:
706:
698:
695:
690:
688:
684:
680:
676:
672:
668:
667:December 1964
664:
660:
656:
650:
648:
644:
643:Richard Nixon
640:
639:Tet Offensive
636:
632:
628:
624:
620:
616:
612:
611:Ngo Dinh Diem
608:
607:assassination
604:
600:
596:
592:
591:South Vietnam
588:
578:
577:United States
571:
570:South Vietnam
567:
562:
556:
553:
550:
547:
544:
543:United States
540:
539:
534:
528:
517:
515:
504:
502:
491:
489:
484:
479:
477:
466:
464:
459:
454:
452:
447:
442:
440:
435:
430:
428:
417:
415:
410:
405:
403:
392:
390:
379:
371:
366:
361:
356:
354:
343:
341:
330:
328:
317:
315:
310:
305:
297:
296:
293:
288:
282:
277:
271:
270:North Vietnam
259:
255:
251:
250:
248:
243:
241:
229:
225:
220:
214:
202:
190:
178:
166:
165:United States
154:
153:South Vietnam
143:
142:
140:
135:
134:
129:
122:
119:Beginning of
117:
113:
110:
107:
106:
102:
98:
94:
93:South Vietnam
90:
89:North Vietnam
86:
83:
82:
76:
73:
72:
68:
64:
63:South Vietnam
59:
54:
51:
47:
43:
38:
33:
30:
19:
4158:
4148:
4080:
4054:Other topics
3876:Agent Orange
3825:
3816:
3807:
3793:
3780:
3771:
3753:
3744:
3729:
3725:
3702:
3688:
3674:
3488:Participants
3427:
3422:, pp. 60–61.
3407:
3400:
3380:
3373:
3364:
3358:
3349:the original
3343:
3325:
3319:
3308:, retrieved
3301:the original
3288:
3281:
3263:
3258:
3246:, retrieved
3242:the original
3236:
3229:
3220:
3201:
3192:
3183:
3174:
3165:
3156:
3147:
3138:
3124:
3110:
3101:
3092:
3081:, retrieved
3077:the original
3071:
3065:
3056:
3047:
3038:
3027:, retrieved
3023:the original
3017:
3010:
3001:
2989:, retrieved
2985:the original
2979:
2972:
2963:
2952:, retrieved
2948:the original
2942:
2921:
2901:
2894:
2886:
2881:
2872:
2867:
2858:
2849:
2839:
2833:
2824:
2814:
2805:
2797:the original
2791:
2784:
2773:, retrieved
2766:the original
2753:
2735:
2721:
2714:
2704:
2691:
2682:
2676:
2644:
2640:
2619:
2609:
2599:
2589:
2577:. Retrieved
2573:the original
2568:
2542:
2534:
2525:
2511:
2497:
2486:, retrieved
2482:the original
2476:
2456:, retrieved
2452:the original
2446:
2440:
2431:
2408:
2400:
2395:
2381:
2367:
2358:
2348:
2339:
2334:, pp. 38–40
2329:
2326:Trần Văn Trà
2320:
2306:
2292:
2280:
2260:
2253:
2231:
2227:
2201:
2193:
2181:
2172:
2168:
2161:
2151:
2135:
2128:
2119:
2111:
2107:
2092:
2083:
2074:
2060:
2051:
2044:
2021:
2018:
2014:B-52 bombers
2010:
1998:
1994:
1987:
1982:
1972:
1969:
1951:
1947:adding to it
1942:
1921:
1917:
1913:
1900:
1888:
1881:
1866:
1849:
1841:
1832:
1821:
1813:
1808:
1804:
1799:
1791:
1787:
1774:
1759:
1748:
1724:
1720:
1712:
1703:
1687:
1676:
1667:
1662:
1659:
1635:
1627:
1603:
1599:
1583:
1579:
1545:
1535:
1526:
1519:
1515:
1507:
1499:
1491:
1485:
1482:Trường Chinh
1471:
1467:
1463:Trần Văn Trà
1447:
1408:Douglas Pike
1391:
1388:Tet Mau Than
1387:
1385:
1377:
1366:
1332:
1296:
1292:
1279:Trường Chinh
1276:
1267:
1256:
1252:
1233:
1230:, and others
1195:
1160:
1149:against the
1140:
1135:
1125:
1112:
1097:pacification
1086:
1060:
964:
945:
938:
929:
925:
920:
912:
908:
890:
878:
859:
846:
839:
830:
827:
814:
810:
806:
789:
781:
769:
738:
708:
692:
687:Nguyễn Khánh
675:Trần Văn Trà
659:January 1964
651:
598:
584:
576:
569:
554:
548:
542:
541:
476:East Germany
389:Soviet Union
375:Supported by
301:Supported by
245:
244:
137:
136:
131:Belligerents
40:Part of the
29:
4182:Vietnam War
4143:Attribution
3558:New Zealand
3553:South Korea
3472:Vietnam War
3368:, pp 164–66
3310:17 February
3253:, pp. 64–68
3248:17 February
3083:17 February
3029:17 February
2991:17 February
2954:17 February
2819:, pp. 41–45
2520:, pp. 10–12
2488:17 February
2458:17 February
2390:, pp. 29–30
2315:, pp. 10–18
2178:Summer 1968
1877:George Ball
1794:containment
1373:air assault
1327:air assault
1311:Chu Huy Man
603:Vietnam War
601:during the
585:During the
402:North Korea
292:Khmer Rouge
213:New Zealand
201:South Korea
189:Philippines
42:Vietnam War
4176:Categories
3927:Casualties
3898:War crimes
3881:Land mines
3716:Resolution
3602:Background
3142:Ball, I-11
2245:References
1954:March 2013
1655:battalions
1611:S-75 Dvina
1549:Truong Son
1448:Pike used
1394:(TCK/TCN,
1303:Highway 19
1057:U.S. views
579:47,691 KIA
574:74,416 KIA
281:Pathet Lao
4151:this edit
4001:Reactions
3958:Aftermath
3629:Việt Minh
3538:Australia
3507:Viet Cong
2775:4 October
2669:159926609
2661:0899-3718
2047:Chieu Hoi
2036:airmobile
1735:Dean Rusk
1505:seasons.
1486:dau tranh
1472:dau trinh
1416:Con Thien
1360:Campaign,
1136:dau tranh
1116:Logan Act
635:Viet Cong
258:Viet Cong
247:Communist
177:Australia
4111:Category
4018:Protests
3987:Veterans
3844:Conflict
3762:Khe Sanh
3533:Thailand
3271:Archived
2844:, p. 326
2813:(2000),
2709:, p. 310
2403:(2001),
2353:, p. 112
2032:division
1631:Thailand
1607:Qui Nhơn
1513:denied.
1510:MACV-SOG
1430:Khe Sanh
1420:Lộc Ninh
1307:division
1261:—
1183:and the
1169:and the
1147:conquest
881:MACV-SOG
875:MACV-SOG
863:MACV-SOG
783:putting
741:MACV-SOG
609:of both
587:Cold War
536:Strength
463:Bulgaria
451:Mongolia
240:Thailand
101:Cambodia
84:Location
50:Cold War
4131:Commons
3920:Impacts
3910:Đắk Sơn
3871:Weapons
3481:Outline
3266:(1982)
3133:, p. 10
2996:, p. 64
2579:12 June
2411:(2003)
2152:Marine
1999:In the
1683:Da Nang
1651:Da Nang
1642:mortars
1638:rockets
1623:assumed
1503:monsoon
1438:Kon Tum
1351:Plei Me
1349:on the
1319:Da Nang
792:Bùi Tín
785:Lê Duẩn
249:forces:
141:forces:
4149:As of
3906:My Lai
3668:Events
3415:
3388:
2916:p. 342
2909:
2667:
2659:
2268:
1586:Pleiku
1568:, and
1537:whack.
1508:Since
1442:Saigon
1347:attack
1080:, and
1016:12.5%
1008:23.3%
1000:30.4%
989:12.5%
981:Notes
840:After
720:Saigon
669:, and
555:NVA/VC
527:Sweden
524:
511:
498:
488:Poland
473:
424:
399:
386:
353:Canada
350:
337:
327:Taiwan
324:
267:
237:
210:
198:
186:
174:
162:
150:
108:Result
4088:SEATO
4043:Songs
4038:Games
3304:(PDF)
3293:(PDF)
3129:(PDF)
2769:(PDF)
2758:(PDF)
2726:(PDF)
2701:(PDF)
2665:S2CID
2547:(PDF)
2516:(PDF)
2386:(PDF)
2311:(PDF)
2138:corps
1440:, or
1345:PAVN
1048:7.1%
1040:8.9%
1029:5.4%
627:SEATO
597:" of
514:India
501:Burma
414:China
340:Japan
314:Spain
228:Hmong
4165:GFDL
4033:Film
3888:Rape
3826:1975
3817:1974
3808:1973
3794:1972
3781:1971
3772:1970
3754:1968
3745:1966
3726:1965
3703:1964
3689:1963
3675:1962
3517:ARVN
3413:ISBN
3386:ISBN
3312:2010
3250:2010
3085:2010
3031:2010
2993:2010
2956:2010
2907:ISBN
2777:2013
2657:ISSN
2581:2018
2490:2010
2460:2010
2266:ISBN
2115:MACV
2069:and
2040:B-52
2022:The
1725:The
1692:GEN
1640:and
1402:and
1354:CIDG
949:and
790:COL
750:and
711:ARVN
671:1965
655:1963
613:and
549:ARVN
427:Cuba
365:Iran
97:Laos
74:Date
48:and
3902:Huế
3766:Hue
3503:PRG
2649:doi
2154:LTG
2142:LTG
1949:.
1572:).
1434:Huế
1418:or
1390:or
1317:at
724:CIA
685:by
4178::
3908:,
3904:,
3828::
3819::
3810::
3796::
3787:,
3783::
3774::
3764:,
3756::
3747::
3728::
3714:/
3705::
3691::
3677::
3631:,
3505:,
3501:,
3333:^
3210:^
3118:,
2930:^
2744:^
2703:,
2663:,
2655:,
2645:68
2643:,
2639:,
2627:^
2618:,
2598:,
2567:.
2554:^
2505:,
2467:^
2419:^
2375:,
2300:,
1894:,
1875:.
1871:,
1617:)
1564:,
1560:,
1436:,
1432:,
1243:;
1084:.
1076:,
962:.
892:MG
665:,
661:,
657:,
114:,
99:,
95:,
91:,
44:,
3912:)
3900:(
3768:)
3760:(
3635:)
3627:(
3519:)
3515:(
3509:)
3497:(
3464:e
3457:t
3450:v
3353:,
2651::
2583:.
2274:.
1956:)
1952:(
1474:)
1444:.
1187:.
803:)
572::
557::
20:)
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