VIETNAMIZATION
U.S. wants to withdraw but cannot do so until the ARVN are ready. The ARVN and RVNAF are supplied with modern weapons and aircraft in the hope that they can defend themselves.
PACIFICATION-A DIFFERENT STRATEGY WHAT IT WAS: An effort to separate the Vietnamese villagers from the communists. IT FAILED INITIALLY BECAUSE: People were moved out of their villages into one area called a strategic hamlet which angered them. Hamlets were protected by poorly armed and trained local militias called Ruff/Puffs.
RETHINKING PACIFICATION-SUCCESS I. Strategic Hamlet program ends- Vietnamese move back to their villages. II.U.S. better arms and trains the RUFF PUFFs.
Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (MACVSOG) WHAT IT WAS: A joint-u.s. Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, Air Force, CIA and Marine Force Recon unit. WHAT IT DID: Recon Missions (on the wrong side of the border) Rescue Missions (on the wrong side of the border) Prisoner Snatches (on the wrong side of the border) Ambushes along the Ho Chi Minh Trail (which was on the wrong side of the border)
THE PHOENIX PROGRAM WHAT IT WAS: Joint CIA, U.S. Special Ops, Australian & South Vietnamese operation to wipe out the VietCong leadership. WHAT IT DID: I. ID d VietCong and their sympathizers throughout South Vietnam. II.Neutralized VC through kidnapping, assassination and enhanced interrogation. WHAT IT RESULTED IN: 81,000 VC neutralized and the tearing out by the roots of the VietCong.
Cambodia
Nixon authorizes an incursion into Cambodia to destroy the NVA/VC sanctuaries and COSVN (North Vietnamese HQ) that could not previously be touched. U.S. and South Vietnamese forces are prevented from going more than 21 miles into Cambodian territory. NVA/VC get wind of the operation and simply retreat deeper into Cambodia.
Cambodia VC & NVA are unable to launch attacks from Cambodia for two years but are not wiped out. Enormous morale booster for ARVN. American public split on opinion.
MARCH-OCTOBER 1972 Easter Offensive Massive NVA invasion of South Vietnam. Differed from earlier strategy because it involved mass armor (tanks) and infantry assaults backed by artillery. Objective was to destroy as many ARVN units and capture as much South Vietnamese territory as possible.
RESULTS U.S. airpower smashes North Vietnamese. ARVN fight ferociously (compared to Israeli Army) NVA lose 100,000 KIA but Establish a foothold in northern South Vietnam (IMPORTANT)
Exit Strategy DECEMBER 1972 North Vietnamese walk away from secret peace negotiations. Nixon orders UNRESTRICTED bombing of North Vietnam including Hanoi and Haiphong Harbor. Bombing destroys a massive amount of North Vietnamese infrastructure. Fearing they may lose the war, North Vietnam comes back to the peace table.
U.S. wants OUT! Paris Peace Accords North Vietnamese fear improved U.S. relations with China and Soviet Union will result in their losing backing. Agree to reach separate peace settlement with Saigon. Agreement does not require North Vietnamese forces to leave South Vietnam (MISTAKE)
U.S. POWs returned home. Last U.S. combat forces leave South Vietnam in 1973. Nixon secretly promises U.S. will provide air support if North Vietnamese resume invasion of South Vietnam.
WHITE CHRISTMAS IN APRIL North Vietnam resumes invasion of the south in March, 1975. Congress cuts arms supplies to South Vietnam and refuses to authorize further military action in support of the South Vietnamese. ARVN unable to hold NVA back
U.S. attempts to evacuate as many friendly South Vietnamese as possible. Many commandeer South Vietnamese aircraft and naval vessels in an attempt to escape.
Saigon falls on April 30, 1975.