marine corps history vietnam war 1962-1975 pages 84-92
TRANSCRIPT
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 ???