This is the second volume in a series of a nine chronological histories being prepared by Marine Corps History about the U.S. marines operations in Vietnam.

The origin of this work lies in the continuing program to keep Marines, who are the key to the success of Marine Corps operations, informed of the ways of combat and civic action in Vietnam. The project provides a timely series of short, factual narratives of small unit action, stories which would have lessons learned as an integral part.

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 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.

Originally published in 1998. From the foreword: "In view of his unique experiences as a senior Marine commander in Vietnam and his extensive efforts to communicate his views and his combat knowledge to the troops he commanded, it was decided to republish a series of articles that Lieutenant General Herman Nickerson, Jr., wrote in 1969-1970 while he was Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF), which were published in Sea Tiger, the weekly newspaper distributed throughout the III MAF area of northern South Vietnam. General Nickerson commanded the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam from 1 October 1966 to 31 May 1967 and returned to that embattled country to command the III MAF from 27 March 1969 through 9 March 1970. During this latter tour of duty, in order to make up in part for an in-person briefing and welcome he used to give incoming officers and staff noncommissioned officers of the 1st Division, he began writing a series of articles for publication in Sea Tiger. In these short pieces, he covered a wide range of topics, some related to combat service in Vietnam, but many more to the Vietnamese people and the role of Americans in their support."

The assassination of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem on November 1, 1963, left a leadership void in Saigon that was never filled. Heads of state went through Saigon like a revolving door, yet none of them were able to successfully lead and govern the people of South Vietnam. On the other side of the globe, President of the United States John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. While the U.S. had a line of succession, President Johnson was relatively new to the Vietnam situation. Even though Johnson was new, he still had Kennedy's cabinet and advisers to aid his decisions. Despite this, by early 1964 two new leaders, Nguyen Khanh and Lyndon Johnson sought a solution to the decades long struggle in Vietnam. President Johnson inherited a three-front war in Vietnam. One front was North Vietnamese support of the Viet Cong (VC) insurgency in South Vietnam, and Johnson had to stop this support in order to defeat the VC. The insurgency itself constituted another front that had to be defeated in order to maintain a free and independent South Vietnam. The third overarching front was the creation of a stable and legitimate government in Saigon capable of governing the people of South Vietnam. The question for his administration was on which of these aspects to focus. Before Johnson could make that decision, he first had to decide if the U.S. should continue to aid Saigon; therefore, he had three options: leave Vietnam, continue in an advisory role, or escalate U.S. involvement. The political and military situations in Vietnam deteriorated to such a point through 1964-1965 that by February 1965 there were no good choices left from which President Johnson could choose. Johnson desired for there to be a stable South Vietnamese government before he committed U.S. forces to its defense; however, no such government emerged. The administration was unwilling to risk U.S. prestige, resources, and lives unless they were confident South Vietnam could succeed without U.S. support. Because of the instability in South Vietnam as well as the perceived risk of communist aggression, President Johnson decided that escalatory military actions would be limited and gradual. Therefore, President Johnson made the least bad decision he could in February 1965 by initiating Operation ROLLING THUNDER and committing the United States to the Vietnam War.

The primary question this thesis aims to answer is--did the Studies and Observation Group (SOG) covert and clandestine operations contribute significantly to the Vietnam War effort? The scope of research is an examination of SOG operations throughout the war. To determine SOG's contributions, research will answer the following secondary and tertiary questions: (1) What were the US strategic, operational, and tactical goals for Vietnam and how did they develop? (2) Did SOG contribute to the accomplishment of strategic, operational, and tactical goals in the Vietnam War? and (3) How did SOG missions affect enemy forces and their operations? By answering the primary, secondary, and tertiary questions, a conclusion may be drawn concerning the contributions of SOG in Vietnam as the primary headquarters for carrying out the unconventional war effort against the North Vietnamese. Lessons learned may apply to the use of similar unconventional warfare assets in the Global War on Terrorism.

More than three decades after the final withdrawal of American troops from Southeast Asia, the legacy of the Vietnam War continues to influence political, military, and cultural discourse. Journalists, politicians, scholars, pundits, and others have used the conflict to analyze each of America's subsequent military engagements. Many Americans have observed that Vietnam-era terms such as "cut and run," "quagmire," and "hearts and minds" are ubiquitous once again as comparisons between U.S. involvement in Iraq and in Vietnam seem increasingly appropriate. Because of its persistent significance, the Vietnam War era continues to inspire vibrant historical inquiry.

The eminent scholars featured in The War That Never Ends offer fresh and insightful perspectives on the continuing relevance of the Vietnam War, from the homefront to "humping in the boonies," and from the great halls of political authority to the gritty hotbeds of oppositional activism. The contributors assert that the Vietnam War is central to understanding the politics of the Cold War, the social movements of the late twentieth century, the lasting effects of colonialism, the current direction of American foreign policy, and the ongoing economic development in Southeast Asia.

The seventeen essays break new ground on questions relating to gender, religion, ideology, strategy, and public opinion, and the book gives equal emphasis to Vietnamese and American perspectives on the grueling conflict. The contributors examine such phenomena as the role of women in revolutionary organizations, the peace movements inspired by Buddhism, and Ho Chi Minh's successful adaptation of Marxism to local cultures. The War That Never Ends explores both the antiwar movement and the experiences of infantrymen on the front lines of battle, as well as the media's controversial coverage of America's involvement in the war. The War That Never Ends sheds new light on the evolving historical meanings of the Vietnam War, its enduring influence, and its potential to influence future political and military decision-making, in times of peace as well as war.

The author was an infantry squad leader and platoon sergeant in the famed 101st Airborne Division in the last years of the war in Vietnam. His poems, written often in foxholes and on bunker lines, trace a year-long tour of duty to chronicle the fear, hope, pride, guilt, and frustration of a combat soldier, and the issues of dealing with the experiences of war after separation from service. All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to support the programs of the 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association, a nonprofit veterans organization which strongly supports active duty soldiers.

Air America was a civilian airline doing paramilitary work for the CIA in Laos from the late 1950's to mid 1970. The most shot at airline in world history with the motto "Anything, Anytime, Anywhere, Professionally" provided logistical and humanitarian support to the Lao government in its civil war against the communist Pathet Lao. The airline was also called upon to rescue US Military personnel shot down in Laos and North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. This book is a collection of the up close and personal stories and photographs of the helicopter aircrews flying out of Udorn, Thailand, into Laos on a daily basis. These are true stories, told in their own words, about the danger, humor and atrocities of war.

This is the ninth volume in a nine-volume operational and chronological series covering the Marine Corps' participation in the Vietnam War. This volume details the final chapter in the Corps' involvement in Southeast Asia, including chapters on Cambodia, the refugees, and the recovery of the container ship SS Mayaguez.

Here is the true story of Rob Hardy, who in the 1960's was attempting to escape from an abusive father and street gangs. Lured by the trapping of Marine dress blues, he joined the United States Marine Corps. Get into formation and let Rob Hardy, take you on his first of two tours of duty: "From the Streets of Chicago, to the Jungles of Vietnam."

The Vietnam War was a defining event for a generation of Americans. But for years, misguided cliches about its veterans have proliferated. Philip F. Napoli's "Bringing It All Back Home" strips away the myths and reveals the complex individuals who served in Southeast Asia. Napoli helped to create Tom Brokaw's The Greatest Generation, and in the spirit of that enterprise, his oral histories recast our understanding of a war and its legacy.
Napoli introduces a remarkable group of young New Yorkers who went abroad with high hopes only to find a bewildering conflict. We meet, for instance, a nurse who staged a hunger strike to promote peace while working at a field hospital and a black soldier who achieved an unexpected camaraderie with his fellow servicemen in racially tense times. Some of these soldiers became active opponents of the war; others did not. Tracing their journeys from the streets of Brooklyn and Queens to the banks of the Mekong, and back to the most glamorous corporations and meanest homeless shelters of New York City, Napoli uncovers the variety and surprising vibrancy of the ex-soldiers' experiences.

A psychologist, through letters and narrative, describes his forty-three year journey from war in Vietnam to the present day. How does a returning war veteran re-integrate his life after the moral ambiguity of war, killing, the death of friends, and a naive, disinterested public? Combat trauma, reconciliation, and healing are woven into a story of daily faith.

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you were contacted by the US Government to perform a covert mission? First Light is a story about Curt Gray, an ex-Vietnam helicopter pilot, who is suddenly thrust into a secretive mission to help locate American POWs. Problem is Curt has buried his memories of the war into the dark recesses of his mind. His first thoughts are to refuse the mission, but his loyalty and patriotism will not allow him such luxury. As the mission unfolds, Curt finds himself entangled in a dark web of deception and emotional mayhem. Review: "Chuck Gross continues to capture the Vietnam experience, just like he did in Rattler One-Seven, in a way that takes me back to my own months in the jungle. After the authenticity of Rattler One Seven, Chuck, in his new novel, weaves reality into a story that will leave the reader wondering is it fiction or reality? My bet is on . . ." -- Barry Rice, President of the Tennessee State Council, Vietnam Veterans of America

THE SHOCKING TRUTH REVEALED A blistering, firsthand account of an American Soldier who joined forces with the Montagnards WHILE LOSING THE WAR AGAINST NORTH VIETNAM, ARVN TROOPS CONDUCTED A SECRET PROGRAM OF GENOCIDE AGAINST THE MONTAGNARD HILL PEOPLE. THE U.S. ARMY DIDN'T INTERVENE. THE GLOBAL MEDIA DIDN'T NOTICE. BUT THE 'YARDS WEREN'T ALONE. A HANDFUL OF GREEN BERETS FOUGHT AT THEIR SIDE...