Description This campaign was from 1 July to 30 November 1971. This period witnessed additional progress in the Vietnamization program which included turning over the ground war to South Vietnam, sustaining the withdrawal of U.S. troops, but also continuing, U.S. air strikes on enemy targets.
South Vietnam assumed full control of defense for the area immediately below the demilitarized zone on 11 July, a process begun in 1969. Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird announced completion of Phase I of Vietnamization on 11 August which meant that the U.S. relinquished all ground combat responsibilities to the Republic of Vietnam. The participation of U.S. forces in ground combat operations had not ceased, however, U.S. maneuver battalions were still conducting missions, and the 101st Airborne Division joined the 1st Army of Vietnam 1st Infantry Division in Operation JEFFERSON GLEN that took place in Thua Thien Province in October. This was the last major combat operation in Vietnam which involved U.S. ground forces. Following the close of Operation JEFFERSON GLEN on 8 October, the 101st began stand-down procedures and was the last U.S. division to leave Vietnam.
U.S. troop strengths decreased during Consolidation I. American battle deaths for July 1971 were 66, the lowest monthly figure since May 1967. By early November, U.S. troop totals dropped to 191,000, the lowest level since December 1965. In early November, President Nixon announced that American troops had reverted to a defensive role in Vietnam.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
July / 1971
To Month/Year
November / 1971
Last Updated: Mar 12, 2023
Personal Memories
People You Remember L/cpl Stokes & I were sent to Dong Ha for OJT with the army's CMR. I remember it to be BEFORE ST. PADDY'S DAY. We were hit by artillery very late at night, maybe 4 or 5 shells hit around us, but it stopped after the ammo dump blew-up. The next day, 1/9 or 2/9's patrol were knocked down with a type of gas. One survivor was brought back into our compound where he underwent what appeared to be nervous breakdown. The chaplin held him and he cried stating that his platoon had been executed by NVA regulars, but when it came to him, in english, the NVA stated "You live!" The word was that he was left to tell & scare us. RESEARCH NEEDED FOR BETTER DATES & LOCATION OF 1/9
Memories When the C130 landed in Dong Ha, Stokes & I ran & jumped into a bunker to look around. Along side the bunker were several body bags awaiting a trip back to Da Nang. I told Stokes that we were in the wrong place.
