Marine lieutenant colonel on an introductory tour of south vietnam s northern bases, to act as chief advisor to the 3rd arvn division. In the spring of 1972, north vietnam launched a massive. Book on diplomatic wins in the 1975 spring offensive. The signing of the paris agreement in 1973 ended not only americas vietnam war but also richard nixons best laid plans. Mar 22, 2017 spring 1972 saw north vietnam launch a large scale offensive against the south. This all out effort involved eventually in excess of ten divisions on each side and affected the lives of well over a million south vietnamese. Pictures from my vietnam tour in 19711972 jimcomer. Two allies, new zealand and thailand, which had contributed a small military contingent, left south vietnam this year. North vietnamese armys 1972 eastertide offensive historynet. Moore thirteen years after the north vietnamese governments resolution 15, in january 1959, set in motion the armed struggle to conquer south vietnam, north vietnamese army nva general vo nguyen giap believed he had found the elusive center of gravity he had been searching for. Kimballs vietnam war diplomatic history oxford academic. Oct 20, 2017 the easter offensive was designed by north vietnam not to end the war directly, but to destroy the military strength of south vietnams army arvn. General offensive and uprising charlie company vietnam 1966.
Tet with tanks the nva easter offensive, 1972 armchair. But an overconfident hanoi misjudged its opponents who, led by american military advisers and. After the start of the 1972 spring offensive, the democratic republic of vietnam tried to boost the nations fighting spirit by issuing a government statement on april 11, 1972 which said the people of vietnam have the right and duty to fight american aggressors anywhere in vietnam. In the spring of 1972, north vietnam launched a massive, threepronged attack into south vietnam that was eventually repulsed by south vietnamese forces, united states. The easter offensive of 1972 was an effort by north vietnam to eradicate south vietnam, expedite the american withdrawal and unify the nation. North vietnamese army and viet cong infantryartillery. The attack, which broke through the dmz into the central highlands toward saigon, was countered by increased amphibious activity in i corps in the northernmost provinces of south vietnam as well as naval. Although the withdrawal was governed to some extent by the fluctuating intensity of combat operations, it moved as relentlessly as an avalanche. I launched this web site on march 30, 2002, the 30th anniversary of the vietnam easter offensive spring offensive of 1972. Shrapnel was a common cause of deaths and injuries during the vietnam war. April 510 1972 history nbc audio with added archive. Written between 1973 and 1976 under the direction of major later lieutenant general donn a.
Air force and navy, the vietnam war might have ended in the spring of 1972 with north. The 1972 easter invasion and the battle that saved. Rufus philips published a book in 2008 which is an eyewitness account of lessons not learned. Halting hanois 1972 easter offensive modern war studies. Vietnam spring offensive nbc radio news april 1972 youtube. Menu pilots later falsified reports, stating they had bombed south vietnam. One of the earliest accounts of the easter offensive published. Credits courtesy of the united states military academy department of history. Pictures from my vietnam tour in 1971 1972 our primary mission was to keep the north vietnamese away from the airbase in da nang.
It took place during the 1972 north vietnamese spring offensive, after most u. After years of secret negotiations, threats of massive bombing, and secret diplomacy designed to shatter strained communist alliances, the president had to settle for a peace that fell far short of his original aims. He continued the campaign against south vietnam, including the tet offensive in 1968 and the spring offensive in 1972 lyndon b. The easter offensive was a military campaign conducted by the peoples army of vietnam pavn against the army of the republic of vietnam arvn, the regular army of south vietnam and the united states military between march 30 and october 22, 1972, during the vietnam war.
The offensive was not designed to win the war outright but to gain as much territory and destroy as many units of. The enemy spring offensive of 1972 the largest military operation of 19701971 in vietnam was not a combat operation but the redeployment of over 300,000 american troops. Acg vietnam war bonus article the octobernovember 2007 issue of armchair general magazine is chockfull of articles on americas longest war, vietnam, including james willbanks outstanding retrospective of the entire war, featuring acgs exclusive vietnam gatefold map. The 1972 easter offensive, americas last vietnam battle. This is a five minute history intended video based on reporting of the spring offensive in vietnam in 1972. The bulk of the ground fighting was carried by the south vietnamese army arvn who defended their country ferociously. First lieutenant vmaaw533, mag15, 1st maw united states marine corps kewanee, illinois panel 01w line 082 following the 1972 spring offensive by the north vietnamese, the united states began a concerted bombing campaign against north vietnam and the nvaoccupied areas of laos, cambodia, and south vietnam. In april 1969, president nixon stated that the redeployment of united states troops from vietnam would depend upon three factors. By all standards, the easter offensive of 1972 was one of north vietnam1 5 most significant initiatives during the vietnam war. Though nixon ultimately decided against the plan, kimball argues that its existence attests to the presidents potential for irrationality. The battle of an loc was one of the most important battles of the vietnam war.
Nguyen hue is a playbymail wargame for two players. It was the last time that us forces provided massive air support to south vietnam. Tet with tanks the nva easter offensive, 1972 by frederick f. On each of the twelve game turns, the communist player sends in orders which are executed, with the results then sent to the allied player, who then sends in his or her orders. Almost all of the american forces had already withdrawn from vietnam except for a small group of american advisers to the south vietnamese armed forces. Air force and navy saved south vietnam in 1972 by michael peck had it not been for the u. The aerial interdiction campaign against north vietnam s easter offensive began on 6 april 1972 with attacks in the southern part of the country, then expanded rapidly. The easter offensive, officially known as the 1972 spring summer offensive by north. Why did north vietnam and vietcong lose the easter offensive. The resulting offensive, planned for the spring of 1972, would be known as the easter offensive in the south and the nguyen hue offensive in the north, nguyen hue. The seal of the army university press authenticates this document as. Vietnamese army during the north vietnamese easter offensive in 1972. Airpower and the 1972 easter offensive, by lt col matthew c.
It participated in the easter offensive 1972 and the spring 1975 final. The general was then ordered to the capital to explain his concept in person to the military central. The effects of the spring easter offensive in the vietnam war the vietnam war will always be thought of as the perfect example of the cardinal rule, never underestimate your opponent. This chapter traces the main events leading to the conclusion of the vietnam war as they affected my tho, the spring offensive of 1972, the paris agreements and ceasefire of january 1973, the early postceasefire struggle between the two sides in 1973, and hanois conclusion that. The threefront easter offensive, launched by north vietnam in 1972, stunned the south vietnamese and americans with its magnitude. North vietnamese armys 1972 eastertide offensive james k.
Halting hanois 1972 easter offensive modern war studies paperback andrade, dale on. Americas last vietnam battle university press of kansas. President richard nixons visit to chairman maos red china. He served 23 years in uniform, received a doctorate in history, and af. The largescale vietnam battles of spring, 1972, did not get the attention of american historians or, that of our political leaders. General offensive and uprising the operational plan for the general offensive and uprising had its origin as the cosvn proposal at thanhs southern headquarters in april 1967 and had then been relayed to hanoi the following month. After all these years, it is my hope that some of the insights gained during this period will be of use to others and may provide a better understanding of this battle.
Efforts to reduce the aggressive capabilities of the north vietnamese and to strengthen the south vietnamese were primary goals of the nixon administration, necessary to prepare the way for the successful withdrawal of american troops. Combat in vietnam, spring, 1972 is an operational level simulation of the communist spring offensive against the forces of the republic of vietnam south vietnam, in 1972. The 1972 easter invasion and the battle that saved south viet nam by lam quang thi and andrew wiest the easter offensive of 1972 by quang truong ngo. Halting hanois 1972 easter offensive modern war studies paperback. The battle of an loc, april 1972 army university press. Those that served in vietnam during the nvas spring or easter offensive that began on 30 march 1972 may be interested in reading, the bridge at dong ha air field, by john grider miller, published by the naval institute press, bluejacket books, 186 pages. But an overconfident hanoi misjudged its opponents who, led by american military advisers and backed by american. Three days before easter last spring, the north vietnamese struck south vietnam with a fury unknown to the vietnam war since the tet offensive four years earlier. Later it was reissued in the familiar spi plastic flatpack version featured here. Before the communist offensive in 1975, the arvn, with a total of about 1 million men, consisted of 11 infantry divisions, one airborne division, one marine division, 15 ranger groups, 66 artillery battalions, four armored brigades, and various combat support units. Almost all of the american forces had already withdrawn from vietnam except for a small group of american advisers to the south vietnamese arm. A unit formed, trained and designated b north vietnam as an nva unit and.
Apr 15, 2019 one of the key factors that helped hanoi defeat south vietnams armed forces and topple the saigon regime in the spring of 1975 was the nixon administrations inability to negotiate the withdrawal of nearly 200,000 north vietnamese army regulars from south vietnam following the 1972 easter offensive. Although the withdrawal was governed to some extent by the fluctuating intensity of combat operations, it moved as. The us and south vietnam were aware that an offensive was in the offing, however, analysts disagreed as to when and where it would strike. It took place during the 1972 north vietnamese spring offensive, after most. Correspondent allen dawson reports the images that those in vietnam hold of 1972 are images of war, and mostly bitter. In the spring of 1972, north vietnam launched a massive military offensive.
The battle of an loc, april 1972 by lieutenant colonel james h. How badly were the north vietnamese defeated during the. Like the battle of the bulge, the 1972 easter offensive in vietnam has often been. Moving forward on march 30, 1972, peoples army of north vietnam pavn forces stormed across the dmz supported by 200 tanks. When nixon eventually implemented the less risky components of duck hook, it was in response to north vietnam s invasion of the south in the spring offensive of 1972. Johnson american president 19631969 who escalated u. Better known as the eastertide offensive, it dropped all pretense of guerrilla war. On 30 march 1972 the north vietnamese army launched a largescale attack on the south known as the easter offensive. Although the withdrawal was governed to some extent by the fluctuating intensity of combat operations, it moved a. A map is provided on which players indicate their positions by either writing on a plastic overlay or sticking in pins. Hoping to gain an edge in these deliberations, north vietnam sent 122,000 main force units to attack south vietnam in march. Also, the 196th light infantry brigade was also in the bush until august 10, 1972, so both were in combat until then. Here is a massive, 500page history of the viet minh 1972 spring.
Vietnam to join the two already on station there, until by late spring there were. This all out effort involved eventually in excess of ten divisions on each side and affected the lives of well over a million south vietnamese people. This chapter traces the main events leading to the conclusion of the vietnam war as they affected my tho, the spring offensive of 1972, the paris agreements and ceasefire of january 1973, the early postceasefire struggle between the two sides in 1973, and hanois conclusion that a political solution was no longer possible. Shrapnel refers to small shards of metal propelled at high speed by an exploding grenade, mine or artillery shell. Vietnam war the easter offensive 1972 parallel narratives. The united states continued to participate in combat, primarily with air power to assist the south vietnamese army, while negotiators in paris tried to hammer out a peace agreement and withdrawal. Albert grandolini deftly details the fiercest campaign of the vietnam war in terms of military engagement and length of fighting in volume 1 of the easter offensive vietnam 1972. We spent some of our time out in the bush in the hills west and south of da nang, some of the time on outposts on the ridgeline and hill 327 overlooking da nang from the west and some of the time pulling perimeter. Easter offensive vietnam 1972 stunning in its magnitude.
Spring 1972 saw north vietnam launch a large scale offensive against the south. Victory day vietnam war the spring offensive 1975 vnmig. The battle, which lasted over two months, resulted in the virtual destruction of three north vietnamese. In february 1970, henry kissinger began back channel negotiations with north vietnam. The tet offensive was a coordinated series of north vietnamese attacks on more than 100 cities and outposts in south vietnam. The north vietnamese nva forces suffered huge losses in men and materiel. One offensive tactic of this war falls directly into this category. This account of the destruction of the dong ha bridges is a summary from the book the easter offensive the last american advisors vietnam, 1972. They still do not receive adequate credit and reco.
Winning hearts and minds the vietnamese war taylor. The authors, however, are responsible for the content. Spring offensive see easter offensive strategic hamlets. The last american advisors, vietnam, 1972 leatherneck classic by g. The effects of the spring easteroffensive in the vietnam. In the spring of 1972, north vietnam invaded south vietnam in what became known as the easter offensive. The leadup to the battle of kontum began in mid1971, when north vietnam decided that its victory in operation lam son 719 indicated that the time had come for largescale conventional offensives that could end the war quickly. The dong ha bridges were the only direct route for the advancing nva armored columns who were attempting to push south toward quang tri and hue city as part of the 3 front 1972 spring offensive.
The first cav was in the field during the easter offensive and until august 1972, so they were in combat until then and during the easter offensive. The offensive was an attempt to foment rebellion among the south. Here, frances albert grandolini explains how he explores this landmark campaign in the vietnam war in two exhilarating new volumes. This first attempt by the democratic republic of vietnam north vietnam to invade the south since the tet offensive of. The easter offensive, officially known as the 1972 spring summer offensive vietnamese. General offensive and uprising charlie company vietnam. Starry, mounted combat in vietnam explores early us military thoughts on the introduction of heavy armored forces to south vietnam and then how they fared once there. Illustrated with 1 table, 7 maps, 1 figure and illustrations the battle of an loc was one of the most important bat. Army ground combat units left in vietnam were the 196th light. The attack, which broke through the dmz into the central highlands toward saigon, was countered by increased amphibious activity in i corps in the northernmost provinces of. The title to this book is borrowed in part from the article the battle that saved. The title to this book is borrowed in part from the article the battle that saved saigonby philip c.
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