U S Marines In Vietnam The Advisory And Combat Assistance Era 1954 1964

This is the first of a series of chronological histories prepared by the Marine Corps History and Museums Division to cover the entire span of Marine Corps involvement in the Vietnam conflict. This particular volume covers a relatively obscure chapter in U.S. Marine Corps history—the activities of Marines in Vietnam between 1954 and 1964. The narrative traces the evolution of those activities from a one-man advisory operation at the conclusion of the French-Indochina War in 1954 to the advisory and combat support activities of some 700 Marines at the end of 1964. As the introductory volume for the series this account has an important secondary objective: to establish a geographical, political, and military foundation upon which the subsequent histories can be developed.

This unique publication covers a relatively obscure chapter in U.S. Marine Corps history-the activities of Marines in Vietnam between 1954 and 1964. The narrative traces the evolution of those activities from a one-man advisory operation at the conclusion of the French-Indochina War in 1954 to the advisory and combat support activities of some 70.0 Marines at the end of 1964. As the introductory volume for the series this account has an important secondary objective: to establish a geographical, political, and military foundation upon which the subsequent histories can be developed. The author is a Marine Reservist who was a member of the History and Museums Division from September 1972 until August 1974. Promoted to major soon after his return to inactive duty, he is now working for the Kentucky State Government. A native of Kentucky, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehead State College (1965) and a Master of Arts degree in American History from the University of Kentucky (1972). Commissioned in 1965, Major Whitlow served as an infantry platoon commander with the 6th Marines, an aerial observer with the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam, and later as a platoon commander at Officer Candidate School, Quantico. For services in the Republic of Vietnam during 1967 and 1968 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and 26 awards of the Air Medal. Contents: PART I * THE WATERSHED * Chapter 1 * Background to Military Assistance * The Geographic Setting * The People * Vietnam's Recent History * Post-Geneva South Vietnam * The American Response * Chapter 2 * The Formative Years * Military Assistance Advisory Group, Vietnam * Origins of U.S. Marine Assistance * Political Stabilization and Its Effects * Reorganization and Progress * Summing Up Developments * Chapter 3 * Vietnamese Marines and the Communist Insurgency * Origins and Early Stages of Insurgency * Insurgency and the Vietnamese Marine Corps * Ancillary Effects on Marine Pacific Commands * American Decisions at the Close of 1961 * Chapter 4 * An Expanding War, 1962 * The War's New Context * Creation of MACV and Marine Advisory Division * The Vietnamese Marine Corps, 1962 * Some Conclusions * PART II * MARINE HELICOPTERS GO TO WAR * Chapter 5 * SHUFLY at Soc Trang * The Decision * Deployment to Soc Trang * Mekong Delta Combat Support Operations * Preparations and Redeployment * Accomplishments * Chapter 6 * SHUFLY Moves North * Arrival at Da Nang * I Corps Tactical Zone * Military Situation, September 1962 * Initial Helicopter Operations * Marine People-to-People Program * SHUFLY Operations in I Corps * Chapter 7 * The Laotian Crisis, 1962 * Genesis of the Problem * The American Response * The Marine Corps Role * Marine Participation: A Summary * PART III * THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES, 1963 * Chapter 8 * The Marine Advisory Effort * The Political Climate * The Advisory Division and VNMC Operations * Accomplishments * Chapter 9 * SHUFLY Operations * Development of the Compound Continues * Combat Support Operations * The Situation in Vietnam * PART IV * AN EXPANDING GROUND WAR, 1964 * Chapter 10 * Marines Meet the Challenge * New American Decisions * A Restructured Military Assistance Command * Changes in Marine Leadership * Redesignation and Reorganization * The Vietnamese Marine Brigade * Additional Marine Activities * Chapter 11 * Spring and Summer Fighting * The Monsoons * The Weather Breaks * Sure Wind 202 * Operations Elsewhere in I Corps * Changing the Watch * Chapter 12 * Fall and Winter Operations * Dry Weather Fighting * Monsoon and Flood Relief Operations * Changes and Improvements * Action as the Year Ends * Chapter 13 * Prelude to Escalation * NOTES * APPENDICES. * A. USMC and VNMC Senior Officers, 1954-1964 * B. Awards and Decorations, RVN, Through 1964 * C. Glossary of Acronyms * D. Chronology * E. List of Reviewers

This is the first of a series of nine chronological histories being prepared by the Marine Corps History and Museums Division to cover the entire span of Marine Corps involvement in the Vietnam conflict. This particular volume covers a relatively obscure chapter in U.S. Marine Corps history—the activities of Marines in Vietnam between 1954 and 1964. The narrative traces the evolution of those activities from a one-man advisory operation at the conclusion of the French-Indochina War in 1954 to the advisory and combat support activities of some 700 Marines at the end of 1964. As the introductory volume for the series this account has an important secondary objective: to establish a geographical, political, and military foundation upon which the subsequent histories can be developed.

This is the second volume in a series of chronological histories prepared by the Marine Corps History and Museums Division to cover the entire span of Marine Corps involvement in the Vietnam War. This volume details the Marine activities during 1965, the year the war escalated and major American combat units were committed to the conflict. The narrative traces the landing of the nearly 5,000-man 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade and its transformation into the ΙII Marine Amphibious Force, which by the end of the year contained over 38,000 Marines. During this period, the Marines established three enclaves in South Vietnam’s northernmost corps area, I Corps, and their mission expanded from defense of the Da Nang Airbase to a balanced strategy involving base defense, offensive operations, and pacification. This volume continues to treat the activities of Marine advisors to the South Vietnamese armed forces but in less detail than its predecessor volume, U.S. Marines in Vietnam, 1954-1964; The Advisory and Combat Assistance Era.

This is the second volume in a series of nine chronological histories being prepared by theMarine Corps History and Museums Division to cover the entire span of Marine Corpsinvolvement in the Vietnam War. This volume details the Marine activities during 1965, the year the war escalated and major American combat units were committed to theconflict. The narrative traces the landing of the nearly 5,000-man 9th MarineExpeditionary Brigade and its transformation into the Ill Marine Amphibious Force, whichby the end of the year contained over 38,000 Marines.During this period, the Marines established three enclaves in South Vietnam's northernmostcorps area, I Corps, and their mission expanded from defense of the Da Nang Airbaseto a balanced strategy involving base defense, offensive operations, and pacification. Thisvolume continues to treat the activities of Marine advisors to the South Vietnamese armedkrces but in less detail than its predecessor volume, U. S. Marines in Vietnam, 1954-1964, The Advisory and Combat Assistance Era.The co-author, Mr. Jack Shulimson, is the senior civilian historian on the Vietnamproject. He has been with the division since 1964 and has worked on Vietnam studies since1965. Mr. Shulimson has a MA in history from the University of Michigan and is a PhDcandidate in American Studies at the University of Maryland.Major (now Lieutenant Colonel) Charles M. Johnson was with the History andMuseums Division from September 1972 until September 1973. He has a BA in historyfrom the University of Minnesota and was commissioned in the Marine Corps upongraduation in 1959. Lieutenant Colonel Johnson served two tours in Vietnam, first asCommanding Officer, Battery L, 4th Battalion, 11th Marines from May 1966 until May1967 and then from December 1970 until August 1971 as public information officer in thePublic Information Office, U. S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam in Saigon. He isnow Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, 1st Force Service SupportGroup at Camp Pendleton, California.E. H. SIMMONSBrigadier General, U. S. Marine Corps (Ret.)Director of Marine Corps History and Museu