Existing comment:
Vietnamization and American Withdrawal:
In 1969, the Nixon administration began working to end America's involvement in Vietnam. General Creighton Abrams assumed command of American forces in Vietnam and became responsible for planning an American exit strategy that would not leave South Vietnam unable to defend itself. The plan required the gradual removal of US forces, simultaneous with a large-scale influx of military equipment for the South Vietnamese military. Training and close cooperation between Vietnamese and American units also helped to shape the tactics and command techniques of the former. Diplomatically, the United States worked with China and the Soviet Union to reduce the flow of military support to North Vietnam. By 1972, responsibility for the war's conduct had largely passed to the South Vietnamese. As American forces returned home, armor and cavalry remained among the last to leave. They were considered the most effective ground forces, since they combined firepower, mobility, and protection. |