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80-626: MACV was created on 8 February 1962, in response to the increase in United States military assistance to South Vietnam. MACV was implemented to assist the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) Vietnam, controlling every advisory and assistance effort in Vietnam. It was reorganized on 15 May 1964 and absorbed MAAG Vietnam to its command when combat unit deployment became too large for advisory group control. General Paul D. Harkins

160-482: A People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) regiment reported to be operating in Thừa Thiên-Huế Province . The results were inconclusive with 8 VC killed while Marine losses were eight killed and 9 wounded. The 9th MAB provided Battalion Landing Team (BLT) of 1st Battalion, 26th Marines for Operation Deckhouse IV from 15–18 September 1966. The 9th MAB's Marines killed over 200 PAVN soldiers from 90th Regiment with

240-450: A growing threat to Firebase Gio Linh , III MAF launched Operation Beacon Hill on 20 March 1967. BLT 1/4 and Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 363 were ordered for the mission. The contact with the enemy was light until 21 March, when the BLT 1/4 engaged about 80 PAVN troops, killing 14 of them. The next day the battalion made contact again between Gio Linh and Con Thien . After a stiff fight

320-514: A little more than a third the size of its Washington namesake, included twelve acres of enclosed office space. In addition to the headquarters offices, the complex included a barracks, a mess hall, a refrigerated storage building and its own power plant and telephone exchange. Inside, according to one staff officer, "the well-waxed corridors had the fluorescent feel of an airport terminal." A cyclone fence, topped with barbed wire and with watch towers at intervals, provided close-in protection. Following

400-502: A new purpose-built facility. The building was designed and constructed under the supervision of the U.S. Navy Officer in Charge of Construction RVN. The construction contractor was RMK-BRJ , at a cost of $ 25 million. MACV occupied its new headquarters early in August 1967. The new complex soon earned the nickname "Pentagon East." The air-conditioned structure of two-story prefabricated buildings,

480-571: A result, on 1 April 1966, Naval Forces, Vietnam , was established to control the Navy's units in the II, III and IV Corps Tactical Zones. This eventually included the major combat formations: Coastal Surveillance Force ( Task Force 115 ), River Patrol Force ( Task Force 116 ) and Riverine Assault Force ( Task Force 117 ). The latter unit formed the naval component of the joint Army-Navy Mobile Riverine Force . Commander Naval Forces, Vietnam (COMNAVFORV) also controlled

560-633: A result, the 1st Logistics Command was established. Large scale combat deployments began when the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade was deployed in the Da Nang area from March 1965. When the III Marine Amphibious Force moved to Da Nang on 6 May 1965, its commanding general, Major General William R. Collins , was designated MACV's naval component commander. In May 1965, the Army's 173d Airborne Brigade from Okinawa arrived. In July 1965, in response to

640-602: A single formation, the 1st Signal Brigade . It supported the combat signal battalions of the divisions and field forces in each corps area. The 1st Signal Brigade operated the many elements of the Defense Communications System in South Vietnam. To improve co-ordination and management of communications-electronics assets, the brigade commander served as the U.S. Army, Vietnam, staff adviser on all matters pertaining to Army communications-electronics. In contrast to

720-569: A total of total of 760 105mm, 155mm, and 203mm artillery pieces. The artillery pieces delivered were used to reequip artillery units within Yugoslavia's eight divisions. Harmony was promoted to major general by February 1956 and became commander of Military Advisory Assistance Group (Provisional) – Korea. [1] In September 1950, US President Harry Truman sent the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) to Vietnam to assist

800-624: The 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) , recently reorganized from an infantry formation, reported in country, and the rest of the 1st Infantry Division arrived in October. Two corps-level HQs were established in 1965-66, Task Force Alpha (soon to become I Field Force, Vietnam ) for U.S. forces in the II Corps Tactical Zone and II Field Force, Vietnam , for U.S. Army forces in the III Corps Tactical Zone . The 5th Special Forces Group

880-562: The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps , Republic of Vietnam Navy and the Republic of Vietnam Air Force . MAAG Indochina had three commanders: BG Francis G. Brink (who committed suicide at The Pentagon on 24 June 1952 ), October 1950 – June 1952; MG Thomas J. H. Trapnell , June 1952 – April 1954; and LTG John W. O'Daniel , April 1954 – November 1955. MAAG Vietnam

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960-648: The French in the First Indochina War . The President claimed they were not sent as combat troops, but to supervise the use of $ 10 million worth of US military equipment to support the French in their effort to fight the Viet Minh forces. By 1953, aid increased dramatically to $ 350 million to replace old military equipment owned by the French. The French Army , however, was reluctant to take U.S. advice, and would not allow

1040-693: The Joint United States Military Advisory Group Thailand in September 1953, which still operates today. MAAG Laos was preceded by the Programs Evaluation Office , established on 15 December 1955. Due to the limitations emplaced by international treaty , the PEO was set up with civilian personnel instead of a MAAG with military staff. When political changes superseded the treaty, MAAG Laos was established in 1961 to replace

1120-604: The Kinmen (Quemoy) Islands in a five-hour period. Two Americans of the US Military Assistance Advisory Group, Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Medendorp and Lieutenant Colonel Frank Lynn, were killed in the shelling. Memorial cenotaphs were erected for the officers on Greater Kinmen by the ROC Army Kinmen Defense Command ( 陸軍金門防衛指揮部 ) in 1992 and 2011 respectively. Lt. Col. Alfred Medendorp ( 孟登道中校 )

1200-556: The Naval Support Activity Saigon (NSA Saigon), which supplied naval forces in the II, III and IV Corps areas. Naval Support Activity Danang (NSA Danang), provided logistic support to all American forces in I Corps, where the predominant Marine presence demanded a naval supply establishment. NSA Danang was under the operational control of Commander III Marine Amphibious Force. Major component commands of MACV were: The "Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam"

1280-645: The Programs Evaluation Office in its support of the Royal Lao Army 's fight against the communist Pathet Lao . On July 23, 1962, several interested countries agreed in Geneva to guarantee the neutrality and independence of Laos. As such, the US removed the MAAG, replacing it with a Requirements Office , which served as a convenient cover for the CIA activities. One of MAAG Laos' commanders

1360-603: The Seventh Fleet . BGen William A. Stiles arrived on 30 March and assumed command of the brigade. Colonel Hansen Jr. was appointed brigade's chief of staff. The Brigade was composed of Headquarters and the Headquarters Company, Regimental Landing Team 5, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines and Sub Unit Two, Headquarters&Service Company, 1st Service Battalion. The Brigade received its air unit, Marine Aircraft Group 13 (Reinforced) on 15 April 1966 and now

1440-677: The Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty , maintaining military contacts, and monitoring Republic of China forces. In 1957 there were 10,000 Americans in Taiwan, the great majority being CIA and military personnel and their families. Since 1979, the site of MAAG headquarters in Taipei has been occupied by American Institute in Taiwan /Taipei Main Office, which moved to a new office complex in 2019. The American Club Taipei currently occupies

1520-500: The United States Support Activities Group & 7th Air Force (USSAG/7th AF), it was located at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base in northeast Thailand . The advance echelon of USSAG/7AF moved from Tan Son Nhut Air Base to Nakhon Phanom on 29 January 1973. Transfer of the main body, drawn largely from the operations and intelligence sections of MACV and Seventh Air Force, began on 10 February. USSAG

1600-489: The United States Taiwan Defense Command . The Military Assistance Advisory Group, Taiwan, commanded by Army Major General William C. Chase , was authorized 67 Army, 4 Navy and 63 Air Force personnel. Under the group's joint headquarters were Army, Navy and Air Force sections. General Chase arrived at Taipei, Taiwan, on 1 May 1951 to begin carrying out his duties as the military member of a team, which

1680-679: The 1940s–1970s, including in Yugoslavia after 1951, and to the Ethiopian Armed Forces , the most famous MAAGs were those active in South Vietnam , Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, before and during the Vietnam War . Records held by the National Archives and Records Administration detail the activities of numerous assistance advisory groups. Typically, the personnel of MAAGs were considered to be technical staff attached to, and enjoying

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1760-514: The 1st Brigade, 10lst Airborne Division. On 25 September 1967 the 23rd Infantry (Americal) Division ) was activated to control the blocking force, replacing the provisional task force HQ. With the elapse of five months, all the three same brigades remained in the new division, but the brigade at Chu Lai was now named the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, after a responsibility swap that had occurred in August. In April 1966, all Army communications-electronics resources in South Vietnam were combined in

1840-478: The 810th and the 814th, were operating in the region. Due to bad weather and poor visibility, SLF Bravo launched a combined helicopter and overland assault which killed 940 VC with Marine losses of 71 killed and 349 wounded. Simultaneously with Operation Beacon Star, the 9th MAB took part in the Operation Beaver Cage between 28 April and 13 May 1967. SLF Alpha containing BLT 1/3 and HMM-263 and its mission

1920-542: The 9th MAB practiced a combined surface and helicopter assault. Metzger's units subsequently participated in Operation Beacon Star between 22 April and 12 May 1967, where he could test SLF new concept. The main target of the operation was a VC stronghold and supply area along the border of Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces. Intelligence officers reported two battalions of the VC 6th Regiment and two main force battalions,

2000-522: The 9th MAB, took part in the operation, but due to forewarning, the VC left the area before the attack. The units of 9th MAB killed only 21 VC and lost 7 Marines. III Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF) launched Operation Desoto on 27 January 1967 against known VC strongholds in the region. The 9th MAB launched the Operation Deckhouse VI on 16 February in order to disrupt enemy movement in the vicinity of Sa Huynh salt flats, search northward in

2080-462: The Army Support Group for administrative and logistical needs. Over the course of 1962 U.S. military strength in South Vietnam rose from about 1,000 to over 11,000 personnel. Each service continued to provide its own logistical support. Throughout 1963 the duties of the U.S. Army Support Group steadily increased, particularly regarding to combat support activities and logistics. During the year,

2160-556: The BLT claimed 201 VC killed during this period; only 6 Marines died. On 27 February, Phase II of Deckhouse VI started, but there was only occasional contact with the enemy and intermittent sniper fire marked the only enemy reactions. In the six days required to accomplish the Phase II, the battalion killed 78 more VC, destroyed 145 fortifications, and captured an additional five tons of supplies. Similarly, as in Phase I, 6 Marines died. Because of

2240-512: The Cold War, MAAG Cambodia's involvement in the country was terminated on November 20, 1963, by General Order 6, MAAG Cambodia, following the Cambodian government's cancellation of all U.S. aid. From 1951 until 1978, there was a Military Assistance Advisory Group to the Republic of China in Taiwan. From 1955, operational U.S. joint combat forces operating alongside the advisory group were directed by

2320-891: The Dominican Republic as well as in African countries such as Liberia. At the end of World War II , a Col. Wise recruited for the Military Advisory Group to the Republic of China Air Force with headquarters located at Nanking and liaison teams at Hankou . A MAAG of 30 officers commanded by Brigadier General John W. Harmony was established by the United States in Belgrade in 1951. It operated for ten years, disbursing military grants and arranging another US$ 1 billion in arms sales on favorable terms. Among weapons transferred were 599 M-4A3 tanks , 319 M-47 tanks, 715 M-7, M-18, and M-36 self-propelled guns, 565 M-3A1 and M-8 armored cars, and

2400-526: The French Minister of Overseas Affairs, it was agreed that all U.S. aid would be funneled directly to South Vietnam and that all major military responsibilities would be transferred from the French to the MAAG under the command of Lieutenant General John O'Daniel. MAAG Indochina was renamed the MAAG Vietnam on November 1, 1955, as the United States became more deeply involved in what would come to be known as

2480-500: The Gulf of Tonkin crisis faded, one BLT was sent to Okinawa , another to the Philippines and a third one was served afloat as Special Landing Force of the Seventh Fleet under Admiral Roy L. Johnson . The skeleton headquarters of the brigade under BGen Davis remained at U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay for case of emergency and BGen John P. Coursey relieved Davis on 16 October 1964. Meanwhile

Military Assistance Command, Vietnam - Misplaced Pages Continue

2560-626: The Kennedy administration, MAAG Vietnam worked closely with administration officials, USOM , and the US Information Service to develop a counterinsurgency plan (CIP). The CIP's main initiatives included the strengthening of ARVN to combat the Communist insurgency, which had the corollary effect of strengthening Diem's political position. At the same time President Diem agreed to the assignment of advisors to battalion level, significantly increasing

2640-452: The MAAG to observe where the equipment was being sent and how it was being used. Eventually, the French decided to cooperate, but at that point, it was too late. By 1954, the United States had spent $ 1 billion in support of the French military effort, shouldering 80 percent of the cost of the war. In 1954 the commanding general of French forces in Indochina , General Henri Navarre , allowed

2720-475: The Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, and formally inactivated it. Military Assistance Advisory Group A Military Assistance Advisory Group ( MAAG ) is a designation for a group of United States military advisors sent to other countries to assist in the training of conventional armed forces and facilitate military aid. Although numerous MAAGs operated around the world throughout

2800-534: The Nui Dat area, and, finally, link up with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines , then operating around Nui Dat in Operation Desoto. BLT 1/4 confirmed the presence of VC in the area, but enemy concentrated only on delaying and harassing tactics. BLT 1/4 destroyed 167 fortifications and captured 20 tons of assorted supplies during the 32 days of Phase I of Operation Deckhouse VI. Though there never were any major contacts,

2880-503: The PAVN, apparently a company, withdrew leaving 43 bodies behind. Progress during both days was slow because the PAVN laced their positions with connecting tunnels which required detailed search. On 26 March, after two days of air and artillery preparation, BLT 1/4 broke through two well-prepared defensive trench lines and cleared the interconnecting tunnel system. The PAVN subsequently withdrew and only sniper fire and minor rear guard actions slowed

2960-493: The U.S. buildup continued, especially in aviation, communications, intelligence, special warfare and logistic units, reaching a total of 17,068 men, of which 10,916 were Army. Because of this expansion, the commanding general, General Joseph Warren Stilwell Jr. late in 1963 proposed that the name of the support group be changed to U.S. Army Support Command, Vietnam. Harkins concurred and General James Francis Collins , commander of United States Army, Pacific and Admiral Felt approved

3040-520: The United States to send liaison officers to Vietnamese forces. But it was too late, because of the siege and fall of Dien Bien Phu in the spring. As stated by the Geneva Accords , France was forced to surrender the northern half of Vietnam and to withdraw from South Vietnam by April 1956. At a conference in Washington, D.C., on February 12, 1955, between officials of the U.S. State Department and

3120-508: The Vietnam War. The next few years saw the rise of a Communist insurgency in South Vietnam, and President Diem looked increasingly to US military assistance to strengthen his position, albeit with certain reservations. Attacks on US military advisors in Vietnam became more frequent. On October 22, 1957, MAAG Vietnam and USIS installations in Saigon were bombed, injuring US military advisors. In

3200-457: The Vietnamese army to be trained to use the new equipment, because it went against French policy. They were supposed to not only defeat enemy forces but to solidify themselves as a colonial power, and they could not do this with a Vietnamese army. French commanders were so reluctant to accept advice that would weaken the time-honored colonial role that they got in the way of the various attempts by

3280-589: The advancing Marines. The operation ended on 1 April and BLT 1/4 suffered 29 Marines killed and 230 wounded. The PAVN lost 334 men. Following Operation Beacon Hill, 1/4 Marines was transferred back to the 3rd Marine Division and 9th MAB's Special Landing Force (SLF) was reorganized into twin concept: SLF Alpha, which consisted of HMM-263 and the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines and SLF Bravo formed with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines and HMM-164 . The landing exercise at Kin Blue Beach, Okinawa followed during April 1967, where

Military Assistance Command, Vietnam - Misplaced Pages Continue

3360-461: The advisors were doubtful of his ability to hold off the insurgency. Newly elected President John F. Kennedy agreed with MAAG Vietnam's calls for increases in ARVN troop levels and the U.S. military commitment in both equipment and men. In response, Kennedy provided $ 28.4 million in funding for ARVN, and overall military aid increased from $ 50 million per year to $ 144 million in 1961. In the first year of

3440-617: The amphibious landing exercise. On 7 February 1965, the VC attacked the U.S. base in Pleiku killing 9 Americans, wounding 128 others and damaging or destroying 25 aircraft. President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered the deployment of 9th MEB to Da Nang by the end of February 1965 with the mission of protecting the Da Nang Air Base from enemy incursion. After initial delay because of negotiations with South Vietnamese government, Karch led his brigade ashore on 8 March 1965 on Red Beach . The 9th MEB

3520-405: The border between North and South Vietnam. The deployment of a division-sized U.S. Army force would allow the 1st Marine Division to move north, to provide greater support for the 3rd Marine Division in the northern portion of the I Corps Tactical Zone . Designated as Task Force Oregon , it included the 196th Infantry Brigade ; the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division at Chu Lai Base Area ; and

3600-507: The carrier, amphibious, and naval gunfire support forces and, at least during early 1965, the coastal patrol force, which Commander Seventh Fleet directed, the Navy's forces within South Vietnam were operationally controlled by COMUSMACV. Initially, Westmoreland exercised this command through the Chief, Naval Advisory Group. However, the increasing demands of the war required a distinct operational rather than an advisory headquarters for naval units. As

3680-499: The civilian air terminal, allegedly because Premier Nguyễn Cao Kỳ wanted to keep the property for a postwar tourist hotel. In late April 1966, with the Saigon regime locked in a tense confrontation with Buddhist and ARVN rebels in I Corps, Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. and Westmoreland reopened the effort to acquire the Tan Son Nhut soccer field. Under their combined pressure, Kỳ gave way. On 2 July 1966 construction started on

3760-652: The closure of MACV and the establishment of the DAO, the MACV Headquarters became the DAO Compound. Under the terms of the Paris Peace Accords MACV and all American and third country forces had to be withdrawn from South Vietnam within 60 days of the ceasefire. A small U.S. military headquarters was needed to continue the military assistance program for the southern Republic of Vietnam Military Forces and supervise

3840-638: The deactivation of MACV on 27 March 1973. Command then passed to the Commander USSAG/Seventh Air Force at Nakhon Phanom. The DAO was activated on 28 January 1973 with United States Army Major General John E. Murray , formerly MACV director of logistics, as the Defense Attaché and United States Air Force Brigadier General Ralph J. Maglione, formerly the MACV J-1 (Director for Manpower and Personnel), as deputy Defense Attaché. By 29 March,

3920-609: The entire headquarters. He initially tried to obtain a site between the ARVN Joint General Staff compound and Tan Son Nhut Airport , desirable from the standpoint of removing Americans from central Saigon and placing MACV conveniently close to its Vietnamese counterpart. The Vietnamese government refused to turn over the most suitable location, a soccer field ( 10°48′45.62″N 106°39′57.49″E  /  10.8126722°N 106.6659694°E  / 10.8126722; 106.6659694  ( post-1967 MACV, Saigon ) ) near

4000-549: The former site of the MAAG NCO Open Mess – Club 63. In 1983, Joint MAAG in Greece US Navy Captain George Tsantes was killed by Revolutionary Organization 17 November . [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army Center of Military History 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (United States) The 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

4080-453: The growing size of U.S. Army forces in the country, United States Army, Vietnam was established, and both the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division as well as the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division , deployed from the United States. The brigade from the 101st Airborne Division was originally planned to replace the 173d Airborne Brigade but, with the need for additional combat forces, both brigades remained in South Vietnam. Two months later,

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4160-492: The headquarters of Republic of Korea armed forces in Vietnam . As the U.S. military presence in South Vietnam grew, MACV quickly outgrew the Pasteur Street quarters and expanded into a proliferating number of buildings throughout downtown Saigon. This added to the command’s existing security vulnerabilities and communications difficulties. In March 1965, Westmoreland began a search for a new location large enough to accommodate

4240-413: The increasing number of Marine forces in South Vietnam, the 9th MEB was deactivated on 6 May 1965 and reorganized as the III Marine Amphibious Force under Major General William R. Collins . The unit was reactivated on 1 March 1966 as 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade (9th MAB) on Okinawa , Japan with Colonel Herman Hansen Jr. as temporary commander. The brigade was designated Special Landing Force of

4320-492: The loss of 36 Marines. During the rest of the year, the 9th MAB and its units were stationed off the northern coast of South Vietnam in order to provide force for the defense of Vietnam Demilitarized Zone in case of emergency. BGen Louis Metzger assumed command of the 9th MAB on 4 January 1967 and led it during Operation Deckhouse V in Bến Tre Province a few days later. The Battalion Landing Team 1/9 , now assigned to

4400-500: The number of advisors; from 746 in 1961 to over 3,400 before MAAG Vietnam was placed under U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) and renamed the Field Advisory Element, Vietnam. At the peak of the war in 1968, 9,430 US Army personnel, along with smaller numbers of US Navy, US Marine Corps, US Air Force and Australian Army personnel acted as advisors down to the district and battalion level to train, advise and mentor

4480-412: The only American military personnel left in South Vietnam were the U.S. delegates to the Four-Party Joint Military Commission established under the Paris Peace Accords to oversee the ceasefire, themselves in the process of winding up work and departing; the fifty man DAO military contingent; and a 143-man Marine Security Guard . At 11:00 on the 29th, in a simple ceremony, General Weyand furled the colors of

4560-412: The organization of the task force headquarters in the contingency plans, MACV's commander was also his own Army component commander. With an initial authorized strength of 216 men (113 Army), MACV was envisaged as a temporary HQ that would be withdrawn once the Viet Cong insurgency was brought under control. In that event, the Military Assistance Advisory Group would be restored to its former position as

4640-500: The principal U.S. headquarters in South Vietnam. For this reason, the MAAG was retained as a separate headquarters. In March 1962 Headquarters, U.S. Army, Pacific, removed the "provisional" designation from the U.S. Army Support Group, Vietnam, attached it to U.S. Army Ryukyu Islands , for administrative and logistical support, and made its commanding officer the deputy Army component commander under MACV. All U.S. Army units in South Vietnam, excluding advisory attachments, were assigned to

4720-644: The privileges of, the US diplomatic mission in a country. "The special status of personnel serving in Military Advisory Assistance Groups (MAAG) results from their position as an integral part of the Embassy of the United States where they perform duty." Although the term is not as widespread as it once was, the functions performed by MAAGs continue to be performed by successor organizations attached to embassies, often called United States Military Groups (USMILGP or MILGRP). The term MAAG may still occasionally be used for such organizations helping promote military partnerships with several Latin American countries such as Peru and

4800-412: The ranks of the army. The first signs that his position was beginning to shift came in 1960, when the number of official US military advisors in the country was increased from 327 to 685 at the request of the South Vietnamese government. By 1961, communist guerrillas were becoming stronger and more active. This increased enemy contacts in size and intensity throughout South Vietnam. At this point, Diem

4880-527: The redesignation. The new designation went into effect on 1 March 1964. MACV was reorganized on 15 May 1964, and absorbed MAAG Vietnam within it, when combat unit deployment became too large for advisory group control. A Naval Advisory Group was established and the Commanding General, 2nd Air Division , became MACV's Air Force component commander. That year the U.S. strength in Vietnam grew from about 16,000 men (10,716 Army) to about 23,300 (16,000 Army) in 1964. Logistic support operations were highly fragmented. As

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4960-425: The same roles of MACV within the restrictions imposed by the Paris Peace Accords until the Fall of Saigon . Admiral Harry D. Felt, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific , established the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, on 8 February 1962, as a subordinate unified command under his control. Lieutenant General Paul D. Harkins , the Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Army, Pacific , who, as the commander-designate for

5040-421: The situation in South Vietnam became critical, when Viet Cong (VC) forces won the Battle of Binh Gia at the beginning of January 1965 and it became obvious that this was an intensive military challenge which the South Vietnamese government could not meet with its own resources. BGen Frederick J. Karch assumed command of the brigade on 22 January 1965 and 1st and 3rd Battalions , 9th Marines took part in

5120-421: The summer of 1959, Communist guerrillas staged an attack on a Vietnamese military base in Bien Hoa, killing and wounding several MAAG personnel. During this time, American advisors were not put in high-ranking positions, and President Diem was reluctant to allow American advisors into Vietnamese tactical units. He was afraid that the United States would gain control or influence over his forces if Americans got into

5200-495: The task force headquarters (HQ) in the event of operations in Southeast Asia, had participated in the planning for such operations, was appointed commander and promoted to general. Harkins became the senior U.S. military commander in South Vietnam and responsible for U.S. military policy, operations and assistance there. Harkins had the task of advising the South Vietnamese government on security, organization, and employment of their military and paramilitary forces. As provided for in

5280-458: The technical assistance still required to complete the goals of Vietnamization . This headquarters became the Defense Attaché Office, Saigon . That headquarters also reported operational and military intelligence through military channels to DOD authorities. A multi-service organization was required to plan for the application of U.S. air and naval power into North or South Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos , should this be required and ordered. Called

5360-415: The total to 13 Marine Corps personnel. The original three Service sections proved inadequate, so a joint technical service section was created as a counterpart to, and for advising, the Nationalist Army's Combined Service Force, which comprised the medical, signal, engineer, ordnance, transportation, chemical, and quartermaster services. A Headquarters Commandant, on the same level as the four section chiefs,

5440-474: Was Reuben Tucker . MAAG Cambodia was established on June 4, 1955, pursuant to the United States-Royal Government of Cambodia agreement of May 16, 1955. This agreement included the introduction of high-ranking US military personnel to advise the Cambodian armed forces as non-combatants. The advisory group was staffed mainly by army personnel, with smaller contingents of navy and air force personnel. As Cambodia's leadership took an official policy of neutrality in

5520-569: Was a United States Marine Corps unit. Following the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in August 1964, the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (9th MEB) was activated by United States Pacific Command under Admiral Ulysses S. Grant Sharp . The 3rd Marine Division assistant commander and Medal of Honor recipient, Brigadier General Raymond G. Davis , was appointed its first commander. It consisted of 9th Marine Regiment regimental headquarters and three battalion landing teams (BLT). Almost 6,000 men were transformed into an effective force in readiness. When

5600-417: Was activated on 11 February 1973 under the command of commander of MACV. At 08:00 on 15 February, USAF General John W. Vogt Jr. , as USSAG/7AF commander, took over from MACV control of American air operations. U.S. air support operations into Cambodia continued under USSAG/7th AF until August 1973. The DAO was established as a subsidiary command of MACV and remained under the command of commander of MACV until

5680-418: Was also established in-country by 1965. A brigade of the 25th Infantry Division arrived in late 1965, with the 4th Infantry Division deploying between August and November 1966. The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment was alerted for assignment to Southeast Asia on 11 March 1966. In April 1967, General Westmoreland, who had arrived in June 1964 as Commander of MACV, organized a division-sized blocking force along

5760-545: Was charged with insuring that all assistance granted the Chinese Nationalists was in furtherance of United States foreign policy. After its arrival at Taiwan, the advisory group was reorganized and expanded. Initially there was no representation from the Marine Corps, until a U.S. Marine officer, Robert B. Carney Jr. , was added to the team. Later on he was joined by a dozen other officers and enlisted men, bringing up

5840-562: Was commanded by LTG Samuel T. Williams , November 1955 – September 1960; LTG Lionel C. McGarr , September 1960 – January 1962; and GEN Paul D. Harkins , January 1962 – June 1964. As part of the military outreach of the USA to friendly countries in Southeast Asia, a MAAG was established in Bangkok , Thailand in September 1950 with Brigadier general John T. Cole as Group Chief. It was replaced by

5920-876: Was known by the abbreviation COMUSMACV ( / ˌ k ɒ m . juː ɛ s ˌ m æ k ˈ v iː / "com-U.S.-mack-vee"). COMUSMACV was in one sense the top person in charge of the U.S. military on the Indochinese peninsula ; however, in reality, the CINCPAC and the U.S. ambassadors to Vietnam , Laos, and Cambodia also had "top person in charge" status with regard to various aspects of the war's strategy. The original MACV Headquarters were colocated with MAAG at 606 Trần Hưng Đạo, Cholon . In May 1962 it moved to 137 Pasteur Street ( 10°46′58.25″N 106°41′35.94″E  /  10.7828472°N 106.6933167°E  / 10.7828472; 106.6933167  ( pre-1967 MACV, Saigon ) ) in central Saigon . The Trần Hưng Đạo site subsequently became

6000-583: Was made responsible for the routine tasks necessary to support the group. Military Assistance Advisory Group officers assisted their counterparts within the Nationalist Ministry of National Defense and the general headquarters. Special teams were created as needed to provide aid at service schools and in tactical units. On September 3, 1954, fourteen 120mm and 155mm Chinese Communist artillery in Xiamen (Amoy) and Dadeng (Tateng) fired six thousand rounds at

6080-687: Was posthumously awarded the Order of the Cloud and Banner in November 1954. General Chase retired in 1955 at which time he was succeeded by U.S. Brigadier General Lester Bork. In 1967, Major General Richard Ciccolella commanded the MAAG. By this time, the CINCPAC Command History for 1967 gives the title as "MAAG China". American military advisors were tasked with providing arms and military advice, assisting with Taiwanese military training, implementation of

6160-540: Was responsible for most Marine air and ground units in the Western Pacific outside of Vietnam. BG Michael P. Ryan relieved BGen Stiles as commanding General on that date. Regimental Landing Team 5 was relieved by newly organized 26th Marine Regiment and the 9th MAB participated in Operation Osage between 27 April and 3 May 1966. The 9th MAB was assigned to the mission of destroying a VC battalion and elements of

6240-541: Was subsequently reinforced by the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines . Johnson also permitted a change of mission for the 9th MEB which would allow the use of Marines "in active combat under conditions to be established and approved by the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the Secretary of State." The Brigade absorbed the Marine Aircraft Group 16 and conducted defense duty at Da Nang for next two months. However, with

6320-533: Was the first commanding general of MACV (COMUSMACV), and was previously the commander of MAAG Vietnam. After reorganization he was succeeded by General William C. Westmoreland in June 1964, followed by General Creighton W. Abrams (July 1968) and General Frederick C. Weyand (June 1972). MACV was disestablished on 29 March 1973 and replaced by the Defense Attaché Office (DAO), Saigon . The DAO performed many of

6400-457: Was under pressure from US authorities to liberalize his regime and implement reforms. Although key elements in the US administration were resisting his requests for increased military funding and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) troop ceilings, MAAG Vietnam played a significant role in advocating for a greater US presence in the country. Throughout this period relations between the MAAG Vietnam and Diem were described as "excellent", even though

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