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The U.S. in Vietnam

The U.S. in Vietnam. Part 3. Richard M. Nixon: President, 1969-74 Creighton W. Abrams: MACV Commander, 1968-1972. “Vietnamization”. Policy of shifting burden for prosecuting the war onto South Vietnam. Allows for reduction of U.S. troops. Hope that South Vietnam can defend itself.

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The U.S. in Vietnam

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  1. The U.S. in Vietnam Part 3

  2. Richard M. Nixon: President, 1969-74 • Creighton W. Abrams: MACV Commander, 1968-1972

  3. “Vietnamization” • Policy of shifting burden for prosecuting the war onto South Vietnam. • Allows for reduction of U.S. troops. • Hope that South Vietnam can defend itself.

  4. Fighting the War • conventional units • pacification • air operations • important change: ground operations will be allowed into Laos and Cambodia

  5. Bombing Campaigns • 1968: ROLLING THUNDER ends • 1968: COMMANDO HUNT begins • 1969: Nixon administration authorizes bombing of NVA bases in Cambodia.

  6. Pacification • U.S. funds and arms “People’s Defense Force.” • security forces to take over most pacification duties from ARVN. • Also provides economic investment. • Administration of pacification programs undermined by corruption.

  7. Military operations:Abrams’ approach • Shifted focus of U.S. combat units away from “seek & destroy”: • emphasized small-unit raids and patrols to eliminate Communist base camps and supply caches. • Also pursued U.S.-ARVN combined operations to help South Vietnamese prepare for major combat.

  8. Invasion of Cambodia • May - June 1970. • Designed to destroy NVA base areas. • “Allowed” by Cambodian regime.

  9. Results • The good: damage inflicted to Communist logistical system. • The bad: Cambodia itself now became a war zone. • The ugly: invasion led to renewed protests and demonstrations against the war.

  10. LAM SON 719 • February 1971: ARVN forces invade Laos. • U.S. provides air, artillery, logistical support. • ARVN performs poorly.

  11. The Easter Offensive:March 30, 1972 • North Vietnam launches a conventional invasion of South Vietnam.

  12. Results • DRV invasion defeated: • Large, mechanized formations offered large targets to U.S. air support. • U.S. advisors stiffened GVN resistance. • 80,000 Communist casualties. • Nixon Administration responds with intense bombing of North Vietnam. • Operation LINEBACKER: May - October 1972.

  13. “Peace is at Hand” • Peace talks sporadic between 1968-72. • October 1972: preliminary cease fire worked out between Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho. • LINEBACKER suspended.

  14. But not quite • Thieu balks • Nixon promises military aid and promises of support of North Vietnam attempts another attack. • DRV pulls out of talks • Nixon responds with LINEBACKER II in December (a/k/a The Christmas Bombings). • Devastates industrial & transportation targets in & around Hanoi & Haiphong.

  15. “Peace with Honor” • Paris Peace Accords signed January 27, 1973. • Settled little beyond the fact that U.S. would complete pull-out from Vietnam • Troops finish withdrawal on March 29, 1973.

  16. After the Accords… • DRV: sends replacements south, fixes logistical system, builds up arms. • GVN loses 100,000 casualties and deserters in first half of 1973. • U.S. Congress reduces aid to GVN.

  17. The Final Communist Offensive • The End of the GVN: April 30, 1975

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