- Joined
- Feb 29, 2004
- Messages
- 1,628
- Points
- 248
1965 U.S. forces are available for ground support
A State Department press officer notes that, "American forces would be available for combat support together with Vietnamese forces when and if necessary," alerting the press to an apparently major change in the U.S. commitment to the war. Prior to this time, U.S. forces had been restricted to protecting American airbases and other installations. The next day, the White House tried to calm the protests by some in Congress and the media who were alarmed at this potential escalation of the war by issuing a statement claiming, "There has been no change in the missions of United States ground combat units in Vietnam." The statement went on to explain that General Westmoreland, senior U.S. commander in Saigon, did have the authority to employ troops "in support of Vietnamese forces faced with aggressive attack."
Later in the month, Westmoreland was given formal authority to commit U.S. forces to battle when he decided they were necessary "to strengthen the relative position of the GVN [Government of Vietnam] forces." This authority and the influx of American combat troops that followed forever changed the role of the United States in the war.
1969 Nixon and Thieu meet at Midway
President Nixon and South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu meet at Midway Island in the Pacific. At the meeting, Nixon announced that 25,000 U.S. troops would be withdrawn by the end of August. Nixon and Thieu emphasized that South Vietnamese forces would replace U.S. forces. Along with this announcement of the first U.S. troop withdrawal, Nixon discussed what would become known as "Vietnamization." Under this new policy, Nixon intended to initiate steps to increase the combat capability of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces so that the South Vietnamese would eventually be able to assume full responsibility for the war.
After the initial withdrawal was accomplished in August, 14 more increments departed between late 1969 and 1972. By the time the Paris Peace Accords were signed in January 1973, there were only 27,000 U.S. troops left in South Vietnam (down from a high of over 540,000 in April 1969). These remaining personnel were withdrawn in March 1973 in accordance with the provisions of the Paris Peace Accords.
A State Department press officer notes that, "American forces would be available for combat support together with Vietnamese forces when and if necessary," alerting the press to an apparently major change in the U.S. commitment to the war. Prior to this time, U.S. forces had been restricted to protecting American airbases and other installations. The next day, the White House tried to calm the protests by some in Congress and the media who were alarmed at this potential escalation of the war by issuing a statement claiming, "There has been no change in the missions of United States ground combat units in Vietnam." The statement went on to explain that General Westmoreland, senior U.S. commander in Saigon, did have the authority to employ troops "in support of Vietnamese forces faced with aggressive attack."
Later in the month, Westmoreland was given formal authority to commit U.S. forces to battle when he decided they were necessary "to strengthen the relative position of the GVN [Government of Vietnam] forces." This authority and the influx of American combat troops that followed forever changed the role of the United States in the war.
1969 Nixon and Thieu meet at Midway
President Nixon and South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu meet at Midway Island in the Pacific. At the meeting, Nixon announced that 25,000 U.S. troops would be withdrawn by the end of August. Nixon and Thieu emphasized that South Vietnamese forces would replace U.S. forces. Along with this announcement of the first U.S. troop withdrawal, Nixon discussed what would become known as "Vietnamization." Under this new policy, Nixon intended to initiate steps to increase the combat capability of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces so that the South Vietnamese would eventually be able to assume full responsibility for the war.
After the initial withdrawal was accomplished in August, 14 more increments departed between late 1969 and 1972. By the time the Paris Peace Accords were signed in January 1973, there were only 27,000 U.S. troops left in South Vietnam (down from a high of over 540,000 in April 1969). These remaining personnel were withdrawn in March 1973 in accordance with the provisions of the Paris Peace Accords.
