April 30, 2016 is the 41st anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the conclusion of the Vietnam War. The War The Tet Offensive in 1968 marked a major turning point in the Vietnam War for North and South Vietnam as well as the U.S. in particular. Soon after Tet, the 3-year long aerial bombing campaign against North Vietnam was halted; peace talks began in Paris while Nixon carried out the so-called ‘Vietnamization’ to steadily reduce the number of U.S. combat troops in Vietnam. Together with the Tet Offensive, the news of U.S. soldiersmassacring hundreds civilians at My Lai in 1969 in the name of fighting the Viet Cong, then the invasion of Cambodia in 1970 and the leak of Pentagon Papers in 1971 had made the war in Vietnam become more and more unpopular among American people. Massive anti-war protests were held throughout the country against the nation’s war effort in Vietnam . In January 1973, the Paris Peace Accords (PPAs) were eventually signed to restore peace and end direct U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. Nevertheless, the treaty did not stop the fighting in South Vietnam as both South and especially North Vietnam flagrantly violated the ceasefire in an attempt to gain control of as much territory as possible. Although the PPAs allowed the Viet Cong to stay in South Vietnam, thereby threatening its independence and stability, South Vietnamese President Thieu did not take it seriously as he still believed in Nixon’s promise of taking severe retaliatory actions against North Vietnam if they would seriously violate the accords. He also assumed that American military and financial support to South Vietnam would continue at previous levels. However, on July 1, 1973, the U.S. Congress passed legislation prohibiting any direct or indirect U.S. combat activities in Indochina including Vietnam, which was vetoed by Nixon. Nonetheless, Nixon’s secret bombings of Cambodia in 1970 urged the Congress to pass the War Powers Resolution which limits the president’s power to commit armed forces abroad without its consent and overrode the presidential veto. South Vietnam had still received $2.2 billion aid from the U.S. one year before the PPAs. Nevertheless, the number was slashed more than half to only $965 million in just a year after that. The problem was compounded by the resignation of Nixon on August 9 following Watergate scandal. These severe cutbacks adversely affected Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) ‘s performances while the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) was quickly recovering and began to gain strength from the 1972 Easter Offensive losses under strong support from the Soviet and Chinese. North Vietnamese leadership were, nonetheless, rather reluctant to launch a new offensive as they were still doubtful whether it would provoke the U.S. to resume its bombings in the North or intervene in the South once again. Under the circumstances, the PAVN decided to launch a “test” attack in Phuoc Long province in December 1974 to see how well the ARVN would perform, and more importantly, how the U.S. would react. It was unsurprising that the ARVN could only hold Phuoc Long until January 6, 1975 before it became the first provincial capital permanently seized by the PAVN since 1954. What more important to the communists was the complete indifference of the U.S. regarding this loss. They then took full advantage of that indifference to proceed with a major offensive in the Central Highlands. North Vietnamese aggressive movement and rapid success led to Thieu’s decision to retreat and regroup his forces to defend only strategically important cities and areas. However, this attempt resulted in a mass civilian exodus, making coherent military movements much more difficult. Besides, confusing orders, lack of command and control, leaderless and exhausting troops contributed to the debacle in the Central Highlands and then the fatal losses of Hue and Da Nang. The country was now in complete chaos. South Vietnamese rapid collapse prompted Communist leaders to launch a final offensive to conquer the country. The so-called “Ho Chi Minh campaign” was conducted with the goal of capturing Saigon in time to celebrate their leader’s birthday. A defense line was quickly established around Saigon; Thieu also resigned but it did not help.Saigon fell on April 30, 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War. How South Vietnam Fell (March – April 1975) During its monthly meetings on October, 1974 and January, 1975, Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam decided to liberate South Vietnam. January 6, 1975 : PAVN occupied Phuoc Long – the first South Vietnamese province completely seized by the Viet Cong since 1954. The U.S. did not respond . March 10: The town of Ban Me Thuot was attacked and fell after 2 days. March 14: President Thieu ordered a disorderly and costly retreat from Kontum and Pleiku. The country was in chaos. March 19: ARVN withdrew from Quang Tri. Five days later, the PAVN captured Tam Ky and Quang Ngai, and therefore, isolated Danang – the largest military bases in the central of South Vietnam. March 26: Hue City and the entire province of Thua Thien fell. March 29: Da Nang fell. South Vietnam lost Phu Yen and Binh Dinh province on April 1. South Vietnam only left perimeter defenses of Saigon at Khanh Hoa – Phan Rang – Binh Thuan. April 2: Nha Trang and Cam Ranh Bay were liberated. April 4: Operation Eagle Pull began evacuating Americans out of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. April 9: Xuan Loc – the eastern gate of Saigon and the center of South Vietnam’s resistance, was attacked. ARVN poured all of its last military units to stall the advance of the PAVN’s 4th Corp. April 20: ARVN withdrew from Xuan Loc to Bien Hoa. April 21: The town of Xuan Loc was captured by the PAVN. President Nguyen Van Thieu resigned; Vice President Tran Van Huong took office. April 26: The final offensive to occupy Saigon began. April 28: President Tran Van Huong resigned; Duong Van Minh assumed power. April 29: U.S. Marines launched Operation Frequent Wind to evacuate American civilians and “at-risk” South Vietnamese by helicopter from Saigon. Training and Education Command United States Marine Corps Quantico, VA Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps By Sgt. A. Lyn Bell MCRD PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- In late December 1816, a group of Marines traveling by ship up the Potomac River to Washington were set back when their vessel was halted by ice. They were forced to disembark and march to the town of Dumfries through Quantico, Va., which was then a quiet woodland area. A fellow Marine visiting his family nearby rescued them from the frozen woods. He used his own money to hire a wagon for them to expedite their journey to Washington. "A generous-natured man," as one of the Marines would describe him, Capt. Archibald Henderson was tall and thin with a hard nose and manner "displaying the courtesy of a gentleman and the fire of a man familiar with fighting." Born in Colchester, Va., Jan. 21, 1783, to Sara and Alexander Henderson, Archibald was one of 10 siblings. The family moved to Dumfries when Archibald was seven, where his father established a store. His father owned stores in Colchester, Occoquan, Alexandria and Dumfries, Va., and became famous as the 'Father of the Chain Store.' Henderson received appointment as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps at 23. During the War of 1812, he served as a captain on the USS Constitution, and for his gallantry against the British corvettes Cyan and Levant off the coast of Portugal, he was awarded the rank of brevet major. A bold officer, he relished in the image of the Marine Corps. During the British attack on Washington, D.C., Lt. Col. Franklin Wharton, third Commandant of the Marine Corps, fled from the Washington Navy Yard by boat. Though Henderson was far from the scene, he felt Wharton had damaged the public image of the Marine Corps by not taking to the field himself and brought Wharton up on charges of neglect of duty and dishonorable behavior. Wharton was acquitted of all charges but died in office the next year, during which time Henderson served as interim commandant until the senior officer could be appointed. Henderson would not be long-removed from the Commandants' Quarters. Oct. 16,1820, the fourth commandant, Lt. Col. Anthony Gale was court martialed and removed from service. Henderson was sworn in the next day. At 37 years old, he took the reins of the Marine Corps. He would not hand them over for 39 years. Henderson, known today as the Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps would out serve nine presidents and leave a legacy to the Corps in both traditions and legend. Henderson's 14 years of service prior to becoming the fifth Commandant were marked by gallant fighting against the British during the War of 1812 and against pirates in the Caribbean, but his great legacy grew greater with his rise to power. An issue Henderson saw to the betterment of the Corps would come in 1834 when Congress passed the "Act for the Better Organization of the Marine Corps." It better established the mission of the Corps as part of the naval establishment but gave latitude by the order of the president to allow detachments to serve with the Army. President Andrew Jackson would use this act the next year during the Indian Wars. Florida had become a hot spot for the Army as conflicts between settlers and Seminole and Creek Indians erupted in war. Heeding Henderson's request to support the Army, Jackson finally gave him permission to assist and Marines were brought from shipboard duty to aid the Army. Henderson placed himself in command and, taking virtually the entire available strength of the Corps, left for the extended campaign. In a legendary moment, Henderson is said to have tacked a terse message on his office door, which read: "Have gone to Florida to fight Indians. Will be back when war is over. Signed, A. Henderson, Col. Commandant" After the Indian Wars, Jackson felt the Marine Corps was no longer needed and sought to eliminate it, but Henderson's tenacity proved as unyielding in tongue as he was in body and a legislative duel sent Jackson away unheard by Congress. The Congressional hearings, instead of disbanding the Corps, doubled its strength and appropriations. He was also awarded the brevet rank of brigadier general. During the war with Mexico, which began in May 1846, Marines fought several geographically distinct campaigns. Under orders from President James Polk, Henderson sent 1st Lt. Archibald Gillespie on a secret mission to the west coast of Mexico. The mission resulted in the cession of California from Mexico. Within a few months of the cession, Marines were the first to set foot on Mexican soil during the Invasion of Mexico and march on Mexico City in September 1847. With the city secured, Marine 1st Lt. Augustus S. Nicholson cut down the Mexican colors and ran up the Stars and Stripes. As a result of the Marines' participation in the Mexican War, the citizens of Washington, D.C., presented Henderson with a blue and gold standard which bore the motto, "From Tripoli to the Halls of Montezuma." In the years that followed, Henderson led his Marines through service around the world, in conflict and humanitarian aid. He regulated training of Marines enforced stricter guidelines of conduct and brought the Corps out of its infancy, developing it into a mature, defined organization. On Jan. 6, 1859, Brevet Brig. Gen. Henderson died quietly while taking a nap at the age of 76. He had been out for his daily walk "apparently in his usual good health," according to his Notice of Death, which dripped with the despair that swallowed Washington over the death of their favored Marine. It details "it was apparent that death came without a struggle, and the good man and brave soldier had passed to his final rest without suffering in any respect the bitterness of death." Henderson's funeral was one of the largest seen in Washington, according to the Washington Ledger, which published his death notice. Two Navy commodores, two Navy captains, three Marine Corps colonels and the famed Surgeon General Thomas Lawson were among his pall bearers and President James Buchanan and the cabinet were all in attendance. As a sign of respect, all flags were ordered to half-mast and a mourning band was ordered for all military officers to be worn for 30 days. His remains were interred in the Congressional Cemetery in southeast Washington. Henderson was remembered for giving his best to the Marine Corps and was well recognized for his leadership and foresight. The Corps that Commandant Lt. Col. John Harris inherited on the eve of the Civil War was insured a continued role as a strong-armed force in the American military structure by Henderson's fierce fighting, both in battle and politics. Henderson' tenaciousness endured even after his death. After living in the Commandant's House for more than 38 years, he included it in his estate, attempting to will it to his son.
JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
(A Soldier Died Today) by A. Lawrence Vaincourt He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast, And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past. Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done, In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one. And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke. But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away, And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today. He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife, For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life. Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way, And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today. When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state, While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great. Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young, But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung. Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man? Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife, Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life? A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives. While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all, Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small. It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago, That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys, Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys. Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand, Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand? Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end? He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin, But his presence should remind us we may need his like again. For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start. If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise, Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days. Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say, Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today. © 1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt From the Vietnam Memorial Wall
There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010. The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties. The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth , Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965. · There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall. · 39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger. · 8,283 were just 19 years old. The largest age group, 33,103 were 18 years old. · 12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old. · 5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old. · One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old. · 997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam .. · 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam .. · 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. · Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons. · 54 soldiers attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia . I wonder why so many from one school. · 8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded. · 244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall. · Beallsville, Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons. · West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall. · The Marines of Morenci - They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest. And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci's mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home. · The Buddies of Midvale - LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam. In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. · The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths. · The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 - 2,415 casualties were incurred. For most Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War created. To those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that these numbers created. We are, until we too pass away, haunted with these numbers, because they were our friends, fathers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters. There are no noble wars, just noble warriors. Editor's Note: I not only had the privilege to meet him but I also shook his hand. I am honored. VandeLinde, Bobby L. Department of the Army Permanent Orders No. 118-02 - 28 April 2011 The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 9 July 1918 (amended by act of 25 July 1963), has awarded the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class Bobby L. VandeLinde, 187th Infantry Regiment (Airborne) for gallantry in action on 22 October 1950, while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), near Sukchon, Korea while leading an eight-man forward outpost and protecting his company from a surprise attack. As Sergeant VandeLinde moved from protected cover to silence a wounded enemy soldier who was attempting to guide an attack in his direction, he was confronted by a large attacking force, estimated at over two-hundred strong. Despite enemy small arms fire and grenade explosions, he engaged the enemy, killing several and disrupting their fierce assault. Wounded and knocked to the ground, he continued to resist, killing another enemy soldier who had stabbed him. As his unit was being overrun he moved back to warn his commanding officer of the impending attack, allowing his company to regroup and prepare for the enemy assault. With the warning from Sergeant VandeLinde, the unit was able to successfully meet and repel the enemy attack. Sergeant VandeLinde's actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 187th Infantry Regiment (Airborne) and the United States Army. Col. Sherman Weisinger presented the Silver Star to Bob VandeLinde July 22, 2011 in a ceremony at the National D-Day Memorial. [note: Bob VandeLinde received the Silver Star in 2011 during a ceremony at the National D-Day Memorial, stating, "I accept this medal humbly and with a sense of pride. I merely acted and reacted to circumstances for which I was trained. I will accept the Silver Star on behalf of the seven other guys who fended off an enemy attack by North Koreans." VandeLinde is the only one of the eight who is still living.]
The American tunnel rats were volunteer soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War.
The tunnels presented many deadly booby traps: enemy soldiers, some manned holes on the sides of tunnels through which spears could be thrust, impaling a crawling intruder. Often there were flooded U-bends in the tunnels to trap poison gas. There were also dangerous creatures, such as venomous snakes, spiders, scorpions, ants, rats, Black-Bearded Tomb Bats and Lesser Dawn Bats. These were and are very special warriors. Juniata County Veterans Council and their significant others, attended a breakfast this morning. This gathering was sponsored by the Lady's Auxiliary of American Legion Post 298 as a thank you for their service and for providing a military Honor Guard graveside salute and playing of TAPS, to their departed comrades and for our local families in their time of sorrow. "because we proudly served our country, we honor those who also served" Top left to right;
Jon Livingston, Ken Geedy, Fred Powell, Clarence Allen, Floyd Sheets, John Huss, Larry Stone Middle row; Terry Liebkicker, Sam Goshorn, John Monteleone, Steve Ferrante, Garry Zeiders, Dennis Hutchings, John Bell, Garry Willow, Ed Rozell Front row; Bill Brothers, Banks Zimmerman, Jim Yetter *Members not present; Mark Amig, Sam Stein, Steve Sholly, Jay Kpip, Drew Aldinger, Fina Williams, Rich Swab, Steve Wirt, Rich Huff, Wib VanAlman and Butch Pines. |