ASA Narrative Timeline Viet Nam

ASA NARRATIVE TIME LINE - VIETNAM WAR

 Pre-ASA involvement:

 10 Aug 50:   First shipload of U.S. arms aid to pro-French Vietnam arrives.

1951:   U.S. military aid amounted to more than $500 million by 1951.

7 May 54:   Viet Minh overrun French fortress at Dien Bien Phu.

8 Sep 54:   Eight nations sign U.S.-sponsored  SEATO  treaty.

12 Feb 55:   President Eisenhower's administration sends the first U.S. advisers to South Vietnam to     train the South Vietnamese Army.

June 56:  16 members of 14th SFG(A) deploy to Vietnam. Throughout the remainder of the 1950s and early 1960s, the number of Special Forces military advisors in Vietnam increases steadily.

5 Sep 56:   President Eisenhower tells a news conference that the French are "involved in a hopelessly

losing war in Indochina".

21 Oct 56:   The first American soldier dies in Vietnam - Cpt Harry G. Cramer Jr, 14th SFOD.

8 July 59:    Two Americans are killed and one wounded during a Viet Minh attack 20 miles north of

Saigon.

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1961:

 MAY:

On 13 May the first contingent of ASA personnel arrived in South Vietnam setting up an organization at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon (400th USASA Opns Unit (Prov). During the early years of conflict ASA troops in Vietnam were assigned to the 3rd Radio Research Unit (cover designation). Their primary mission was to locate Viet Cong transmitters operating in the south. President Kennedy orders 100 "special forces" troops to S. Vietnam.

 

SEP:

 82nd USASA Opns Unit is organized in Saigon replacing 400th USASA Unit (Prov) and assuming its cover name of 3rd RRU. Supported commands now include MAAG-V and MAC-V.

DEC:

 U.S. aircraft carrier "Core" arrives in Saigon with 33 helicopters and 400 air and ground crewmen

assigned to operate them for S. Vietnam. ASA soldier SP4 James Davis of Livingston, Tennessee killed by Viet Cong (VC) later called by President Johnson "The first American to fall in defense of our freedom in Vietnam". The death of Davis brought home to ASA the dangers of proceeding into the jungle with short-range DF equipment to locate VC transmitters that might be only a few miles away. ASA engineers began working on airborne DF platforms as the answer.

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1962:

 JAN:

 The facility occupied by 3rd RRU is named "Davis Station" in honor of SP4 James Davis.

 FEB:

 MAAG becomes MACV

 MAR:

 The first airborne DF platform, a single-engine aircraft that flew low, slow, and had room for only a few people, was put into service. Within days soldiers in the unit were calling it TWA - Teeny Weeny Airlines. These RU-6As were assigned to the Aviation Section of the 3rd RRU.

 MAY:

 President Kennedy orders an immediate build-up of US troops in Thailand to a total of 5,000 due to

Communist attacks in Laos and movement toward the Thailand border.

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 1963:

 Buddhists protests in Vietnam are met with repressive response by President Diem. 8 Buddhist monks are killed by ARVN forces quelling protests. Major coverage in the US media.

JAN:

 Vietcong guerrillas overwhelm ARVN forces at Phu Bai.

 MAR:

 The 101st USASA Security Det, cover designation 7th RRU, is organized in Saigon under the 3rd RRU. The det is tasked with supporting the MAC-V and USAR-V commands.

NOV:

 South Vietnamese President Diem and his brother are assassinated outside of Saigon. One coup follows another and weakens the war effort.

President Kennedy is assassinated.

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 1964:

 U.S. mission still to advise and train ARVN forces but in February President Johnson orders American

dependents withdrawn from South Vietnam, a sure sign that the U.S. government expects action in Vietnam to escalate. U.S. policy of non-reprisal continues .

The Army Security Agency as a whole has now expanded to the point of achieving the status of a major Army field command. It's strength worldwide reaches 30,000.

 JUN:

 General Westmoreland becomes MACV commander.

JUL:

 Announcement states that US military contingent in Vietnam would increase 5,000 more to 21,000.

AUG:

 US Navy destroyers "Maddox" and "C. Turner Joy" are reported attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin (attacks 2 Aug & 4 Aug). 4 Aug - US retaliatory strike destroyed 25 N. Vietnamese boats at their bases. 7 Aug 64 - US Congress approves Gulf of Tonkin resolution affirming "All necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States. . to prevent further aggression. . . (and) assist any member or protocol state of the Southeast Asian Collective Defense Treaty (SEATO) requesting assistance. . ." US Senate voted (88-2) passed - Senator Wayne Morse (D-Oregon) and Senator Ernest Gruening (D-Alaska) voted against the resolution. US House voted (414-0) passed.

Guerrilla attack on U.S. troops staying in Caravelle Hotel in downtown Saigon.

 

 

NOV:

 Vietcong forces mount a mortar attack on Bien Hoa Air Base, destroying five B-57s, seriously damaging eight other aircraft, killing four Americans and wounding seventy-six.

The 3rd RRU is redesignated as  53rd USASA Special Operation Command and the 8th RRU is organized in Phu Bai. (Later to be called FS Phu Bai) The 8th RRU replaces Det J, 3rd RRU and provides support to the MACV and MAF commands.

DEC:

 Bombing of the Brinks Hotel in Saigon. Two Americans killed and thirty-eight wounded. Policy of non-

reprisal continues.

On December 28th the 9th Vietcong Division destroyed two crack ARVN units at Binh Gia. U.S.

intelligence learn that North Vietnam has begun sending the 325th NVA Division into South Vietnam. This action changed the entire character of the war - it became an invasion of one sovereign nation by another.

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1965:

 SPRING:

 Marine units arrive to take over security arrangements at airfields.

 MAY-DEC:

 Larger numbers of American units and personnel arrive. Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Philippines

and Republic of Korea send military forces.

The ASA organization in-country expands. The 3rd RRU is replaced by 509th Radio Research Group,

which commands three battalions and compnay-size direct support units assigned to all Army Divisions. At the height of the war the 509th RR Group will command some 6,000 ASA personnel in country.

FEB:

"In the early hours of February 7th, 1965, the VC upped the ante when they launched a guerilla assault against the military barracks at Pleiku , where US military advisors were housed. The attack left  8 Americans dead, and President Johnson reacted as though the VC had delivered a personal insult."

Johnson ordered a retaliatory air-strike against North Vietnam the next day. Operation "Rolling

Thunder" began in mid-February and lasted 3 years.

 

MAY:

 Det 1 (404th ASA Det), 3rd RRU is deployed in support of 173rd Abn Bde. Based at Bien Hoa, the Det falls under the 53rd USASA SOC.

JUN:

 Det 2 (405th ASA Det), 3rd RRU deploys to Bien Hoa in support of 1st Bde, 101st Abn Div. Det 2 is

inactivated in NOV but reappears in JUL 68 as the 405th RR Det.

JUL:

 Det 3 (406th ASA Det), 3rd RRU is deployed to Phan Rang, arriving in NOV, to take over the support mission to 1st Bde, 101st Abn Div.

AUG:

Det 4 (407th ASA Det), 3rd RRU, is deployed to Nha Trang in support of Field Force, Vietnam. The Det will be inactivated between from MAY 66 and JUL 68.

Company B, 313th ASA Bn, cover designation 11th RRU deploys from Fort Bragg, NC to Bien Hoa. Falling under 53rd USASA SOC and providing support to 1ST Inf Div, it relocates to Di An in NOV.

Company C, 313th ASA Bn (formerly at Two Rock Ranch, CA) also arrives in country and is based at An

Khe (Camp Radcliff) in support of 1st Cav Div. It receives the cover designation of 10th RRU.

SEP:

 1st Cav Div (Airmobile) arrives in country.

NOV:

 1st Cav Div helicopters, supporting 7th Cav engage in first major battle for U.S. forces. The fighting in the valley of Ia Drang leaves 79 U.S. soldiers dead and 121 wounded. The battle is considered a 'big win' for U.S. forces.

 DEC:

First fire engagement fought entirely by U.S. troops, Marine Operation Starlight, destroys a Vietcong post near Chu Lai.

NVA increase the number of regiments in the South from five to twelve.

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 1966:

 Numerous search and destroy operations run by U.S. forces.

FEB:

 A Co., 303rd ASA Bn arrives in country and is designated 16th RRU. The unit, based in Cu Chi, provides

support to the 25th Inf Div. In OCT is it redesignated 372nd ASA Co, cover designation of 372nd RRC.

MAR:

 An attempt to repeal Gulf of Tonkin resolution was defeated in the US Senate.

HHC, 313th ASA Bn deploys to Nha Trang from Fort Bragg, NC. Designated the 13th RRU under the 53rd USASA SOC, it is tasked with supporting the FFV-I. In May is redesignated 313th RR Bn and in June its command transfers to the 509th USASA Group.

APR:

 HHC, 303rd ASA Bn deploys to Vietnam from Camp Wolters, TX. It is given the cover designation of 17th RRU under the command of 53rd USASA SOC (3d RRU). Based in Long Binh, the 303rd provides support to FFV-II. On 1 June the unit is reassigned to the 509th USASA Group. In JUL its cover designation is changed to 303rd RR Bn.

Vietcong guerrillas set off 200 pounds of explosives outside the Victoria Hotel in Saigon, killing three

American MPs and three civilians. Sixty-seven were wounded.

APR to SEP:

 Months of political disorder that sidetrack the war effort as ARVN factions battle each other for political power prior to September elections.

JUN:

 The 53rd USASA SOC (formerly 3rd RRU) transfers its mission to the 509th USASA Group and the 53rd is discontinued.

The 195th RRC is organized in Saigon as part of the 303rd ASA Bn. Providing support to MACV and

FFV-II, the 195th would later be designated USASA Opns Company Saigon in DEC 67, and USASAFS Bien Hoa in SEP 71.

509th RR Group is formed in Saigon as part of USASA PAC. Supporting both MACV and USAR-V, it

would later be redesignated US Army Security Group - Vietnam.

USASA Comms Unit- Vietnam, also known as 18th RRU, is organized in Saigon. Under the command of

509th USASA Group, the unit would be redesignated RR Comms Unit-Vietnam in SEP 66.

The HQS, HQS Det, 224th Avn Bn (RR) and it's subordinate companies are activated/organized in country.

The battalion will pioneer the use of Special Electronic Mission Aircraft (SEMA) on the battlefield.   HHD is based out of Saigon under the 509th USASA Group while it's companies deploy to:

138th Avn Co (RR), support I CTZ/MR I at Da Nang

144th Avn Co (RR), support to II CTZ/MRII, based at Nha Trang (Camp John P. McDermot)

146th Avn Co (RR), support to III CTZ/MR 3 based in Saigon.

156th Avn Co (RR), support to IV CTZ/MR 4, based in Can Tho

JUL:

Det 3, 3rd RRU is redesignated the 406th RR Det and reassigned to 8th USASAFS-Phu Bai's command.

AUG:

409th ASA Det deploys to Xuan Loc (Blackhorse Base Camp) in support of 11th ACR and under the

command of 303rd ASA Bn.

330th ASA Co. arrives in country and deploys to Engineer Hill, Pleiku, becoming the 12th RRU until July, when it is redesignated 330th RRC. Assigned to the 313th ASA Bn, the 330th provides support to FFV-I.

SEP:

 Sizable number of NVA forces now operating in the DMZ, including three battalions of the 324B Division.

7th RRU is redesignated  101st RRC and reassigned to 509th RR Groups command.

The 5th SFG(A)'s ASA element, the 403rd ASA SOD (ABN) arrives at Nha Trang. Although tasked with a

primary mission of supporting 5th SFG(A), it falls under the 509th USASA Groups command.

C Co., 303rd ASA Bn deploys to Pleiku, Camp Earl, and is given the cover designation of 374th RRC.

Assigned to the 313th ASA Bn, the unit provides support to 4th Inf Div. In OCT it is redesignated 374th

RRC.

OCT:

 408th RR Det deploys to Tay Ninh. Assigned to the 303rd ASA Bn, the Det is tasked with providing support to the 196th Inf Bde (Light).

NOV:

 Operation Attleboro in Tay Ninh province in November is largest U.S. operation of the war so far.

856th RR Det deploys to Long Binh (Camp Frenzell-Jones) as part of the 303rd ASA Bn. The Det is tasked with supporting 199th Inf Bde Light.

 

DEC:

 8th RRU is reassigned to 509th USASA Groups command.

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1967:

JAN:

US begins bombing around Haiphong and Hanoi, N. Vietnam. This is considered a major escalation of the air war. The U.S. continues its buildup of installations and units throughout 1967.

Operation Cedar Falls, Jan 8 to 26 is conducted in the "Iron Triangle" (Binh Duong province). 1st and

25th Infantry Divisions, 173rd Airborne Bde, and 11th Arm Cav fight along with ARVN forces.

The 335th ASA Co. is organized in country, becoming the 335th RRC under the 303rd ASA Bn. Supporting 9th Inf Div, the company originally is located at Bear Cat.

FEB:

 Operations Junction City, using 22 U.S. Army and ARVN battalions takes place in Tay Ninh and

surrounding provinces.

APR:

The 406th, 408th and Det 2, 374th ASA Co are combined to form the Provisional RRC, 313th ASA Bn. The unit is based at Chu Lai in support of Task Force OREGON. In OCT the Prov RRC is redesignated the

Americal RRC in support of 23rd Inf Div (Americal).

Command of the 408th RR Det transfers from 303rd RR Bn to 313th RR Bn. The Det relocates from Tay

Ninh to Chu Lai in OCT.

MAY:

 Operation Oregon, a search and destroy mission in the Duc Pho District of Quang Tri province, takes

place.

JUN:

 1st ASA Co (AVN) deploys from Fort Benning, Georgia to Cam Ranh Bay, becoming the 1st RRC (Avn),

224th Avn Bn (RR). Prior to its assignment, the then 1st Army Avn Co., had deployed briefly to Vietnam. The 1st RRC (Avn) provides support to MACV its entire time in the RVN.

JUL:

 404th RR Det (Det 1, 3rd RRU) is reassigned to 313th RR Bn's command. In FEB 68 the unit will move

from Bien Hoa to Phu Hiep.

 

AUG:

During its opening day, elements of Operation Cochise fire more than 1,000 rounds of artillery into

Vietcong positions.

SEP:

 Nguyen Van Thieu elected president of S. Vietnam.

 OCT:

 601st ASA Det/RR Det deploys to Chu Lai under the 313th ASA Bn's command. It is tasked with supporting 198th Inf Bde (Light). From OCT 67 till NOV 68 the 601st, along with the 408th and 415th Dets, are combined to form the Americal RR Co (Prov) in support of 23rd Inf Div (Americal). In Nov 68 the 601st is inactivated.

DEC:

The 265th ASA Co/RRC deploys to Bien Hoa. Subordinate to the 303rd ASA Bn, the 265th provides

support to the 101st Abn Div. In FEB 68 the 265th will be reassigned to FS Phu Bai/s command.

415th ASA Det (415th RR Det) deploys to Chu Lai as part of 313th ASA Bn. The Det will provide support to 11th Inf Bde (Light) until inactivated in NOV 68.

8th RRU (Phu Bai) is redesignated USASAFS Phu Bai, with a cover designation of 8th RRFS.

101st RRC is redesignated USASA Security Company - Saigon.

175th RRC is redesignated USASA Opns Co-Saigon.

509th RR Group is redesignated US Army Security Group-Vietnam.

An RU-8D aircraft assigned to the 138th RRC (Avn) crashes on takeoff from Da Nang or Phu Bai, killing

two crew members.

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1968:

JAN:

Communists start Tet Offensive which escalates into one of the major battles of the war, including attacks on almost all of the capitals of South Vietnam's 44 provinces.

U.S. Marines engage in fierce fighting at Khe Sanh, known as the Siege of Khe Sanh. When the siege is lifted on 1 April the U.S. had lost 205 personnel with 852 wounded.

 

FEB:

The battle for Hué - captured on Jan 31st by Vietcong and NVA forces.

82nd Airborne Division, 505th Infantry and 271st Aviation Company arrive in country.

Det A, 358th ASA Co. deploys and assumes the cover designation of Det A, 358th RRC. Assigned to FS Phu Bai, Det A supports 3rd Bde, 82nd Abn Div until July 68 when it redeploys.

Command of the 265th RRC changes from 303rd RR Bn to FS Phu Bai. In March the 265th moves from

Bien Hoa to Camp Eagle and continues its support to 101st Abn Div.

Command of 371st RRC is passed from 313th RR Bn to FS Phu Bai. In March the unit moves to Camp

Evans (near Phu Bai). In October the 371st is once again reassigned - this time to 303rd RR Bn and in

November moves to Camp Gorvad at Phuoc Vinh.

MAR:

President Johnson commits the US to a nonmilitary solution of the war when he announced he would not seek reelection, and ordered a bombing halt over 75% of N. Vietnam (north of the 20th Parallel).

MAY:

 Communist forces renew their assault on Saigon. The fighting is fierce, centering around Tan Son Nhut Air Base. After about a week, the Americans and South Vietnamese prevail.

JUL:

 335th RRC moves from Bear Cat to Dong Tam.

Det 2, 3rd RRU is reactivated as the 405th RR Det under 8th USASAFS-Phu Bai's command. The 405th,

now located at Ghia Le, is tasked with supporting 3rd Bde, 82nd Abn Div. In September command is

changed to 303rd RR Bn and the Det moves to Phuc Loi.

406th RR Det is placed under FS-Phu Bai's command and moves from Phan Rang to Camp Eagle. In

November the Det is inactivated.

The former Det 4, 3rd RRU (inactivated in May 66) is reactivated as the 407th RR Det in support of 1st

Bde, 5th Inf Div (Mech). Now located at Quan Tri, the Det falls under FS Phu Bai's command.

175th RRC relocates from Saigon to Bien Hoa and is redesignated USASA Opns Co-Bien Hoa.

 

OCT:

President Johnson announced he would halt all bombing of N. Vietnam on 1 Nov 68. The B-52 bombing halt was maintained until 15 Apr 72. The US bombing "sorties" were shifted to Laos 1 Nov 68 on through 1972 -- over 25,000 sorties were flown, with the most occurring in 1971.

NOV:

328th RRC is activated at Chu Lai to support the 23rd Inf Div. It assumes the former mission of the

Americal RRC (Prov) and falls under the 313th ASA Bn's command.  408th RR Det is inactivated

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1969:

 JAN:

Expanded peace talks open in Paris with representatives of the US, S. Vietnam, N. Vietnam, and the

National Liberation Front.

Mid-69:

President Nixon abandoned the idea of a "purely military victory"and started bringing US troops home, and talked of a "Vietnamization" program to prepare the S. Vietnamese to take over the US combat role.

Withdrawals announced: 8 Jun - 25,000 and 16 Sep - 35,000.

APR:

U.S. operations in Cambodia begin. The fighting lasts until May 3rd.

AUG:

337th RRU relocates from Bien Hoa to Lai Khe.

OCT:

"Vietnam Moratorium" An estimated 1 million Americans across the US participated in anti-war

demonstrations, protest rallies and peace vigils. 50 members of the US Congress also participated.

405th RR Det is inactivated.

 NOV:

 The first ASA aircraft loss occurred  when a  LEFT BANK EH-1H, assigned to the 1st Cav Div, is shot down near Landing Zone Buttons in Phuoc Long Province, III Corps. The mission of this 4-man crew was airborne intercept and location of enemy transmitters directly threatening the 1st Cav's area of operations.

The aircraft was shot down by ground fire and the crew were killed on impact. The aircraft was later

destroyed by tactical airstrikes to prevent compromise of on-board mission equipment.

DEC:

Command of the 335th RRC changes from 303rd RR Bn to 509th RR Group and the unit moves from Di An to Can Tho.

405th RR Det is inactivated.

President Nixon announced the reduction of another 50,000 troops by mid-April 1970.

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1970:

 JAN:

146th RRC (Avn) moves from Saigon to Long Thanh North and picks up the support mission to MR 3 and MR 4.

HHD, 224th Avn Bn (RR) relocates from Saigon to Long Thanh North.

FEB:

 337th RRC relocates from Lai Khe to Di An and redeploys to Fort Bragg in April.

MAR:

 374th RRC relocates from Pleiku to An Khe (Camp Radcliff) and re-deploys to the U.S. in Dec 1970.

101st RRC moves from Saigon to Long Binh. In one year (MAR71) it will move back to Saigon.

APR:

President Nixon announces during a TV address, the withdrawal of another 150,000 troops over the next 12 months. This reduction would lower US troop strength to 284,000.

President Nixon sends US forces into Cambodia, causing widespread war protest in the streets, and plunging  Congress into a session-long debate over Congressional war powers.

 MAY:

 4 Kent State college students were shot to death by Ohio National Guardsmen during an anti-war protest on the campus.

330th RRU moves from Pleiku to Nha Trang.

 

JUN:

138th RRC (Avn) relocates from Da Nang to Phu Bai.

DEC:

 403rd ASA SOD is inactivated.

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1971:

 JAN:

President Nixon signs a bill repealing the Gulf of Tonkin resolution.

MAR:

 A second  LEFT BANK aircraft from the 1st Cav Division (371st RRC) is lost on 1 March near Dambe,

Cambodia (approximately five miles inside Cambodia).

Another ASA aircraft, this time a JU-21A LEFT JAB assigned to the 138th RRC based at Phu Bai, is lost.

On 4 March it took off on an intelligence-gathering mission. The aircraft headed northwest towards the DMZ to collect intelligence on surface-to-air missiles sites. Shortly after departure, the JU-21A, tail #67-18062, was shot down. The crew were declared missing in action. A search to locate the aircraft along its known flight path produced no findings. 5 crew members are lost.

409th RR Det is inactivated.

A Co., 303rd RR Bn is inactivated (at zero strength by Nov 70).

856th RR Det is inactivated.

APR:

 The BDE RR Det (PROV) is organized under the 303rd ASA Bn. Located at Bien Hoa, it is reassigned to

US Army Security Opns Co (Bien Hoa) in June. It assumes support of the 1st Cav Div, formally provided by 371st RRC which redeployed on 29 April 1971. The BDE RR Det was discontinued on 30 Sep 71,

transferring its mission to the newly activated 405th ASA Det.

USASA Company - Can Tho is organized in Can Tho. The unit assumes the 335th RRC designation and

assumes the mission of the original 335th RRC (which would be formally inactivated in Sep 71). The unit, under the command of the USASA Group Vietnam would support the Delta Regional Assistance command until June when the 335th RRC would be discontinued.

146th RRC (AVN) picks up MR 2 mission from 144th RRC (Avn) which has stood down pending

inactivation.

371st RRC redeploys to Fort Hood, TX with its mission transferred to the BDE RR Det (Prov).

USASA Opns Co-Bien Hoa now supports MACV and FRAC.

MAY:

HHC, 224th Avn Bn (RR) is redesignated 224th RR Bn.

USASAFS-Pleiku (Prov) is formed at Nha Trang. In September the 330th RRFS is organized and the

designator USASAFS-Pleiku is discontinued. Subordinate to the US Army Security Group - Vietnam, the

330th would support MACV and SRAC until September 1972 when the unit would be discontinued.

Although known as FS-Plieku, the unit never made the planned move from Nha Trang to Pleiku.

 JUN:

 Mansfield Amendment was passed along with the draft extension bill. It was a controversial amendment by Senate Majority leader Mike Mansfield (D-Mont) setting a national policy of withdrawing troops from Indochina 9 months after the bill's enactment (wording was later softened to the "earliest practical date").

It was the first time in modern US history that Congress had urged an end to a war in which the country was actively involved.

HHC, 303rd RR Bn redeploys to Fort Hood, TX. Command of its subordinate units is passed to FS-Bien

Hoa.

328th RRC is reassigned to FS Pleiku's command, moves to Da Nang in OCT and once again changes

command to FS-Phu Bai.

330th RRC is reassigned to the 509th RR Groups command and then inactivated in Sep.

AUG:

407th RR Det is at zero strength and formally deactivates in Apr 72.

SEP:

144th RRC (Avn) is inactivated (the unit stood down in Apr). Its mission of supporting MR 2 is transferred  to the 146th RRC (Avn).

335th RRC inactivated with its mission and personnel transferred to USASA Opns Co - Can Tho, in April

404th RR Det command transfers to FS-Pleiku. The unit is at zero strength in August and is formally

inactivated in Apr 72.

405th RR Det is once again re-activated, this time in Phuoc Vien, Bien Hoa. Now under the command of  FS-Bien Hoa and supporting 3rd Bde, 1st Cav Div (the former mission of Bde Spt Det (Prov). The 405th Det will undergo its final inactivation in June 72.

USASA Opns Co-Bien Hoa is redesignated USASAFS-Bien Hoa (175th RRFS). It's command changes from 303rd ASA Bn to US Army Security Group-Saigon (509th RR Group).

NOV:

 President Nixon announced a troop withdrawal of 45,000 more troops by 1 Feb 72, but said it was

particularly important to continue air strikes on enemy infiltration routes.

DEC:

The US carries out the heaviest air strikes on North Vietnam since 1968 in Operation Proud Deep,

consisting of 1,025 sorties.

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1972:

 JAN:

 President Nixon announces the 7th withdrawal: 70,000 troops by 1 May 72 reducing the troop level in

Vietnam to 69,000.

265th RRC relocates to Phu Bai and is inactivated in April. The unit as at zero strength within 5 days of its move to Phu Bai.

MAR:

The North Vietnamese launch a major offensive across the DMZ, the biggest since Tet 1968. In retaliation, Nixon orders the bombing of the Hanoi and Haiphong area.

APR:

President Nixon announced the withdrawal of 20,000 more troops.

Paris Peace talks resume.

1st RRC (Avn) is inactivated.

156th RRC (Avn) is inactivated. Support for MR 4 is passed to 146th RRC (Avn).

MAY:

Nixon orders the mining of North Vietnamese harbors without first consulting Congress.

JUN:

328th RRC is inactivated.

335th RRC discontinued.

JUL:

 Nixon announced the withdrawal of 10,000 more troops by September.

AUG:

Nixon announced the withdrawal of 12,000 more troops.

146th RRC (Avn) moves from Long Thanh North to Can Tho and picks up the support mission for MR 4

and MR 3.

224th RR Bn relocates from Long Thanh North back to Saigon.

SEP:

FS-Bien Hoa/175th RRFS relocates to Saigon.

OCT:

138th RRC relocates from Phu Bai back to Da Nang.

NOV:

 FS-Phu Bai is relocated to Da Nang and is discontinued in Feb 73.

DEC:

 Peace talks stopped due to a change in the Communist's position. The heaviest US bombing of North

Vietnam of the war followed 18-30 Dec during Operation Linebacker II which included  129 B-52 bombers  striking Hanoi.

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1973:

JAN:

On 8 Jan the final stage of peace talks began that would lead to the signing of a Vietnam cease fire on 27 Jan. On 23 Jan 73 President Nixon announced an agreement "to end the war and bring peace with honor in Vietnam and S.E. Asia." 27 Jan 73 - Official end of the Vietnam War. Between 27 Jan and 29 March 73, a total of 587 military and civilian prisoners were released by the North Vietnamese, and during that same period, 23,500 US troops were withdrawn from South Vietnam.

RR Comms Unit- Vietnam discontinued.

FEB:

FS-Phu Bai discontinued.

The 138th RRC (Avn) flies the last ARDF mission in South Vietnam on 16 February in the vicinity of

Pleiku.

146th RRC (Avn) inactivated.

175th RRFS-Bien Hoa discontinued.

MAR:

US Army Security Group-Vietnam discontinued.

138th RRC (Avn) inactivated.

224th RR Bn is inactivated.

29 Mar 73:  67 more US P.O.W.'s were freed in Hanoi. The same day, the US withdrew its remaining 2,500 troops from South Vietnam. This date also marked the actual end of military involvement in Vietnam.

MAY:

10 May 73:  Due to continued bombing of Laos and Cambodia, the House voted (219-188) for the first time to cut-off Indochina funds.

31 May 73:  The Senate took strong action prohibiting the use of any funds appropriated by Congress to be used for combat activities in Laos or Cambodia.

7 Nov 73:  War Powers Act - Congress dealt President Nixon a stunning setback when it voted to override his veto of legislation limiting presidential powers to commit US forces abroad without congressional approval.

Congress, with the Vietnam War and the showdown over continued bombing in Cambodia behind it, was anxious to reassert its role in the conduct of the country's foreign affairs.

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1974:

Aug 74:  President Nixon resigns.

16 Sep 74:  President Ford unveiled a conditional clemency program for Vietnam-era military deserters and draft evaders.

1975:

9 Mar 75:  A major offensive begins against South Vietnam with an attack on Ban Me Thuot in the Central Highlands.  South Vietnam fell in 55 days.

17 Apr 75:  Cambodian government surrenders to Khmer Rouge forces.

29 Apr 75:  Last American soldier killed in Vietnam (the 1st was 8 Jul 59) The official American presence in Saigon ends when the last Americans are evacuated by helicopter from the US Embassy roof.

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