Posted on 04/29/2005 5:08:24 AM PDT by Chairman_December_19th_Society
We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail!
Good morning!!
Do not let the victims of the attacks on New York and Washington, nor the brave members of our Nation's military who have given their lives to protect our freedom, die in vain!!
You have nothing left to turn over. [North Vietnamese colonel Bui Tin after being offered the surrender of South Vietnam by Doung Van Minh]
March 9, 1975, was as many other days in South Vietnam--hot, sultry, the steam rising from the jungle. This day, however, heavy fighting broke out between government soldiers of the Army of the Republic of South Vietnam (ARVN) and the Viet Cong (VC) at a place called An Loc.
Three years earlier, the location had been the site of a fierce battle between United States forces and those of North Vietnam, a battle the Americans ultimately won.
This day, the attack was being joined not against the Americans, but against an allegedly well-trained army seeking to defend the free portion of Vietnam from a take over, liberation they called it, by the Communist North. The ARVN forces were well supplied and were acquitting themselves well in this town near Saigon.
It was a part of a trap.
The North Vietnamese, in total violation of an agreement they had signed two years earlier in Paris, had been sending whole, divisional-sized units, down, and into Laos and on into Cambodia. These forces then infiltrated the Central Highlands, preparing for the day they were to move.
Movement for these forces started on March 10, 1975, as North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces struck at Ban Me Thot in division strength, moving toward the Pacific Ocean. The town falls that day, and the ARVN regiment in the region collapses.
Now at this point, the only fighting that was occurring was in the Central Highlands and near Saigon, and could have been fairly easily contained, even with the disaster at Ben Me Thot. President Thieu, however, paniced. ARVN forces were ordered to abandon the Central Highlands and the provinces to its north immediately. President Thieu worried his narrow country was going to be split in half. The withdrawl begins four days after the fall of Ban Me Thot.
Normally, general withdrawls need to be planned well in advance. ARVN didn't even have a contingency draft to cover what they were now called upon to do by Theiu. The NVA, however, had been preparing for such a possibility for years.
The original plan of attack by the NVA did not call for a general offensive striking from the North at this point, but probably late in 1975. Noticing ARVN forces abandoning positions, and having thought the whole process through, NVA generalship ordered a general attack by forces near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The ARVN forces began to disintegrate into a rout. They simply couldn't move south fast enough.
What followed, the "convoy of tears", goes down in history as one of the great tragedies. ARVN forces became little more than scared animals searching for their own survival and those of their loved ones. Country meant nothing. Indeed, these forces would hoard food and water in Hue, for example, over the needs of the terrified civilian population they were to defend.
The military debacle then set toward becoming one of the all-time great defeats of a major armed force. On March 19, 1975, Quang Tri, site of tremendous battles in 1972, fell to the NVA. Five days later, Tam Ky is captured by the Communists and seige is laid upon the ancient capital of Hue. It would become part of North Vietnamese military territory on March 26, the same day Chu Lai falls.
On the 28th or March, NVA forces attack Da Nang, and military officers of the ARVN take flight, leaving non-coms and soldiers to their own fate. Nearly 100,000 ARVN soldiers surrender in Da Nang two days later. The attacking NVA force was only two divisions: 35,000.
April opened with the North Vietnamese in control of the northern half of Free Vietnam.
April also started with President Lon Nol of Cambodia deciding the gig was up and he fled his country. The American embassy in Phmon Penh begins to evacuate the country.
Finally, by the middle of April, the ARVN decides it is time to fight. Unfortunately, Xuan Loc is not all that far outside of the capital of Saigon. NVA forces, however, are overextended having moved hundreds of miles in a month, and cannot immediately overcome the resistance of the ARVN 18th Infantry Division--one of the few remaining units in the South's order of battle. ARVN forces would resist at this location for 13 days, starting on the 8th of April.
Meanwhile, sensing complete victory, political elements of North Vietnam make it clear they will not discuss terms with South Vietnamese President Thieu. They hold out a fig leaf of talks were someone else to enter power. Thieu resigned on April 12.
On April 17, 1975, Cambodia fell to Khmer Rouge forces. Thieu is helped into exile in Taiwan by the CIA four days later; on April 22, 1975, Xuan Loc falls. NVA forces begin the encirclement of Saigon.
On the 27th of April, the encirclement is complete, and NVA forces begin to rocket the capital of Free Vietnam, virtually the last remaining territory under the control of the ARVN. Only 30,000 troops remain in the order of battle for the South. Thieu's Vice President flees, setting forth a consitutional crisis as no one wants to lead the South. Eventually Minh, who had been President in the 1960s, would take over.
The battle of Tan Son Nhut would signal the final battle for Saigon had started; this commenced 30 years ago today. The Americans being the airlift out of the embattled capital. The next day, resistance would end and NVA forces would stream into the capital nearly unopposed.
After crashing down the gates of the Presidential Palace--which NVA forces couldn't find, they had to ask directions--forces stormed into the building to find a nervous Minh.
Minh declared to the leader of the NVA contingent, Colonel Bui Tin, "We have been waiting for you so that we could turn over the government." The response was there was nothing left to turn over. The Second Indochina War had come to an end, not with a bang but a whimper.
[Answers.com, 1st Battalion 50th Infanty Website, and Vietnam Voices were used in the preparation of this short history.]
Next: The Tactics Employed by the North
For AMERICA - The Right Way, I remain yours in the Cause, the Chairman.
Hi Bev.
The sun is shining here, but it is cool out there. I am at work and hoping to be headed home sometime this afternoon. I hope to start home early enough that I can stop at a garden center to pick up some Silver King Artemesia. I lost a lot of it to winterkill, or perhaps old age, and I love the way it looks against the brown metal warehouse which frames 2 sides of my backyard.
I really like the look of Asiatic & Oriental Lilies in front of Silver King. For more long term stuff I like pink tall Cosmos floating above Silver King.
Okay, I admit it. I like just about everything in the garden.
Here's a little CPR for ya, bev! I just returned from PetSmart w/my Yorkies all spiffy after I practically mortgaged my house to pay for their beauty treatments!
Dog are children with Fur.
I was just reading off Powerline Blog that Sen. Norm Coleman has issued subpeonas for those two O-F-F UN investigation lawyers who resigned. AND he skewered Volker too. Here's the blurb:
I spoke with Mr. Volcker yesterday and expressed my grave and growing concerns about the credibility and independence of the investigation into the criminal misconduct that occurred in the U.N. Oil-for-Food program. Robert Parton and Miranda Duncan's resignation from the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC), and a lack of adequate explanation for their departure, only fuels concerns about the credibility of the IIC led by Mr. Volcker. His refusal to permit Mr. Parton and Ms. Miranda to cooperate with the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation (PSI) cannot stand. I have directed staff to issue subpoenas as soon as possible to Mr. Parton and Ms. Miranda to compel them to cooperate with PSI investigators. In order to preserve public confidence in the IIC investigation and the United Nations, it is vital to hear from these two individuals immediately.
No problem. Mike Sherman called him & told him to stay home & take care of family matters & just relax.
Apparently he (Mike) feels that 15 years, 220+ starts & 3 MVP's earned him a little break.:)
First time Brett's missed a mini-camp. But only because Mike made the offer to let him stay home.
I think the Packers may have gotten the pick of the draft with this new quarterback.
So true! My little ones wake me in the morning by gently nuzzling my fingers...better than the horrid sound of an alarm clock. LOL
Girlchild is on the mend although so congested that she still sounds horrible. But she says she feels better and that's what counts.
I went & did a bit of grocery shopping for her so she could stay home and rest.
A box of Krispy Kremes and a few other treats just HAPPENED to fall into the cart.;^)
(I still feel the urge to spoil my kids when they're sick. Guess that comes with the "mom" territory.)
Now I'm going to go spoil myself for a few hours and relax and veg for a bit until afternoon students arrive. Only four, and then a quiet evening. MMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmm I love Fridays.:) :) :)
I hope you're right!!!!!!
Go Norm, go!!
Thank you, prairie, for this ping. I heard a blurb on the radio (Fox news update during Rush's show) that Fox had learned Volcker had contacted at least 3 congressional committees to refuse access to the investigators due to diplomatic immunity.
I was away from the office at the time I heard this so am gratified to see your post first thing when I logged back on.
I'll be back in a sec with a quote from no less than Kofi himself saying how he and others would waive immunity (though I'm sure he parsed it carefully leaving several outs) to aid investigations.
And why is Volcker, of all people denying access to these people? Because they're "his" investigators? Wouldn't it be up to the whoever is called to claim it?
The scandal Kofi couldn't cover up
excerpts:
Even if Mr Annan escapes censure in Mr Volcker's next report, he is not out of the woods. There are also five US congressional investigations into the oil-for-food scandal and UN mismanagement (as well as two criminal inquiries being conducted by federal and New York prosecutors).
~snip~
At the UN, the fightback is being led by Mark Malloch Brown, the eloquent British official who Mr Annan recently promoted to his chief of staff with a brief to "renew" the organisation. "Benon Sevan has been a lifelong colleague and a dear, dear friend," he said."But these are extremely serious charges of wrongdoing and no one will be shielded from prosecution. If there are criminal charges, the UN will fully co-operate and waive diplomatic immunity of staff members, whoever they are." Mr Malloch Brown said the Volcker report was "encouraging" and a "step in the right direction".
~snip~
As I noted, can be parsed out several ways to allow them to weasel out, as expected. Still, it's good to have the quote on hand to wave around.
I still recogonize some of the names of the towns ...from when my brother was in Nam.
Annan vows action on corruption
quote from Kofi Annan:
"I made clear from the outset that no-one found to have broken any laws would be shielded from prosecution - I stand by that pledge."
~snip~
Me too!
Hello NY. Good to see you!
*cough* yeah right *cough*
jtill over here...don't follow Molly's ping....:-)
Nita, Giada's doing her jiggle thing again...
Nice of you to show up....snicker.
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