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: Feb 9, 2024
Personal Memories
People You Remember LCPL Ron Kissinger - Ron and I were in the same platoon at Parris Island - Platoon 183. When we left ITR he had orders for a Motor Transport MOS (3500), and I was assigned a Combat Engineer MOS (1300). It is interesting that when we were in Vietnam I was assigned to the 9th Engineer Battalion, and Ron was the driver for the 11th Engineer Battalion's Sgt Major. Ron was killed by a mine which destroyed his jeep in October 1968. The 11th Engineer Battalion Camp was name Camp Kissinger in honor of LCPL Ron Kissinger.
CAPT John Prichard - When I reported aboard to the Naval Academy Preparatory School in August 1966 Captain Prichard was both the Battalion Commander and the Senior Marine at NAPS. Capt. Pritchard was a 1961 graduate of the Naval Academy where he was a halfback and Navy's second-leading pass receiver, in addtion he was second only to Joe Belino in punt and kickoff returns. He played on the 1960 9-1 Orange Bowl team. Before our Class graduated from NAPS in 1967 Captain Prichard received order to Vietnam. I later discovered that he had been killed in action in Vietnam in January 1968. For his actions in a battle against superior North Vietnamese forces he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
GSGT John Mark Avery - When I was a Recruit at Parris Island from 16 September 1965 to 9 November 1965 and in Platoon 183, one of my Junior Drill Instructor - Sgt Avery - had an amphibian tractor operator MOS (1833). After his tour at Parris Island he eventually had a tour in Vietnam in 1968. At that time he was assigned as a Platoon Sergeant with Bravo Company,1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion. In October 1968 GSGT Avery was killed during a battle in Vietnam and was posthumously awarded a Silver Star. The irony is that after I received my commission in 1971 and graduated from The Basic School in 1972 I was assigned an 1803 (Amphibian Tractor Officer) MOS. In 1975 I was given orders to Camp Schwab Okinawa and the 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion. Once I checked into Battalion Headquarters I was assigned as the Executive Officer for Bravo Company, 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion.
