Marine Corps History

Vietnam War

1962-1975Pages 84-92

Political Unrest North: Socialized Govt. support >[[China & USSR]China & USSR] South: Democratic Govt. support >[USA & others][USA & others] Business MenBusiness Men = = were madewere made employees of the Stateemployees of the State

Land was seizedLand was seized = = owners treated as criminalsowners treated as criminals

The people of Vietnam revoltedThe people of Vietnam revolted The North Vietnamese Army restored orderThe North Vietnamese Army restored order

The Revolt Ho Chi Minh wanted a unified VietnamHo Chi Minh wanted a unified Vietnam The South did not want to fall under The South did not want to fall under

communist rulecommunist rule The North formed: The North formed: “The People’s “The People’s

Revolutionary Party for the South”Revolutionary Party for the South” 1965: The North began infiltrating the 1965: The North began infiltrating the

SouthSouth

1962-1965 Marines provided transportation to the South

Vietnamese Government

15 April 196215 April 1962 : : HMH-362 arrived at Soc Trang to HMH-362 arrived at Soc Trang to provide mobility to the South Vietnamese forces.provide mobility to the South Vietnamese forces.

                                                                                                                                                                                   

September 1962September 1962: Marine Helicopters : Marine Helicopters established an Air Base at DaNangestablished an Air Base at DaNang

                                                                                      

Feb 1965Feb 1965::

Viet Cong : attacked US military Viet Cong : attacked US military installationsinstallations

President Johnson : ordered the bombing President Johnson : ordered the bombing of North Vietnamese military targetsof North Vietnamese military targets

6 March 19656 March 1965:: Two battalions of Marines sent to Two battalions of Marines sent to South Vietnam at the request of Saigon Government.South Vietnam at the request of Saigon Government.

                                                                                                                                  

1965:1965: Marines Marines

had had operational operational control of control of

the 5 the 5 northern northern

provinces. provinces. (225 (225 milesmiles

x 50 x 50 milesmiles))

17 degrees17 degrees

Marines built another airfield Marines built another airfield at Chu Lai for Jetsat Chu Lai for Jets

(55 miles south of Da Nang)(55 miles south of Da Nang)

By the end of 1965:By the end of 1965:

4 Marine Regiments4 Marine Regiments in country: in country: 33rdrd, 4, 4thth, 7, 7thth, & 9, & 9thth Infantry Regiments Infantry Regiments

4 Marine Air Groups4 Marine Air Groups in country: in country:1111thth, 12, 12thth, 16, 16thth, & 36, & 36thth MAG’s MAG’s

First ground operation by Marines:First ground operation by Marines:18 August 196518 August 1965

V.C. were going to attack V.C. were going to attack Chu Lai airbaseChu Lai airbase

Operation StarliteOperation StarliteMarines successfully used Marines successfully used

“Vertical Envelopment”“Vertical Envelopment”

Vertical Envelopment: Inserting Marines behind enemy

defensive lines

Pacification Program:Free villages of V.C. Free villages of V.C.

influencesinfluencesProvide security for villagesProvide security for villages

Improve quality of life in Improve quality of life in villages through civic action villages through civic action

programsprograms

Combined Action Program

Marines would :Marines would : Live and work among villagersLive and work among villagers

Train south Vietnamese to provide Train south Vietnamese to provide security for themselvessecurity for themselves

Require the South Vietnamese forces Require the South Vietnamese forces to takeover responsibility of security to takeover responsibility of security

for their villages for their villages

1965

Operation Golden FleeceOperation Golden Fleece:: Ensured farmers were able to Ensured farmers were able to

harvest their cropsharvest their crops Keep the food supply out of V.C. Keep the food supply out of V.C.

handshands

1965 Operation County FairOperation County Fair::

To help the villages with health & To help the villages with health & sanitation problemssanitation problems

Marines :Marines : dug wells, built schools, dug wells, built schools, funded orphanages, supplied hospitals, funded orphanages, supplied hospitals,

distributed food, etc…distributed food, etc…

1966 + 1967 V.C. stopped major confrontations with V.C. stopped major confrontations with

U.S. MarinesU.S. Marines Marines were victorious in all major Marines were victorious in all major

confrontations with V.C. & N.V.A.confrontations with V.C. & N.V.A. V.C. began heavy Guerrilla & Terrorist V.C. began heavy Guerrilla & Terrorist

activity activity (sniper & ambush)(sniper & ambush)

1968 The “The “TETTET” Offensive” Offensive

A truce was agreed upon for: A truce was agreed upon for: 27 Jan - 3 Feb27 Jan - 3 Feb in observance of the in observance of the

Lunar Holiday “Tet”Lunar Holiday “Tet” NVA & VC NVA & VC attackedattacked all major military bases all major military bases

Hue fell to the V.C.Hue fell to the V.C.Khe Sanh under siege was evacuated and Khe Sanh under siege was evacuated and

““razedrazed” by the Marines ” by the Marines (11June 1968)(11June 1968)

19691969 : Pacification continued : Pacification continued Republic of Vietnam forcesRepublic of Vietnam forces : taking over : taking over

in the defense of their countryin the defense of their country For the MarinesFor the Marines : the War was winding : the War was winding

downdown 19701970 : Most Marines left Vietnam and : Most Marines left Vietnam and

their only area of responsibility was the their only area of responsibility was the Quang Tri ProvinceQuang Tri Province

19711971 : Only : Only 500 500 Marine advisors Marine advisors remained in countryremained in country

19721972 : Marine’s role in Vietnam is over : Marine’s role in Vietnam is over

What difficulty did Marines experience while fighting in Vietnam ???

It was difficult distinguishing between enemy & friendly forces

                                                                                              

                 

In 1975 Marines returned to Vietnam In 1975 Marines returned to Vietnam for evacuation operationsfor evacuation operations

April 1975 Operation Operation

Frequent WindFrequent Wind Marines from Marines from

HMH-462 HMH-462 evacuated evacuated Americans & Americans & Vietnamese Vietnamese refugees from refugees from Saigon, South Saigon, South VietnamVietnam

April 1975

Operation Eagle Operation Eagle PullPull

Marines from Marines from HMH-362 HMH-362 evacuated the evacuated the U.S. Embassy in U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh, CambodiaCambodia

Acronyms: VC

NVA ARVN MEB MAW DMZ HMH HMM HML

HMLA

                                                               

US Marine Casualties:Wounded 88,591

Killed 12,983

Questions ???Questions ???