This publication explores, in detail and with photographs and illustrations, the April 1975 withdrawal of the American Navy and Marine Corps from Cambodia and South Vietnam (with refugees), and the aftermath in Southeast Asia. This withdrawal showed the courage and skill of the American forces, who had to carry out large-scale and complicated evacuations despite criticism of the military by many Americans back home who had lost confidence in military and government during the protracted conflict. Yet the American forces proved in April 1975 that they were capable of completing complex missions with successful results, and this predicted the future of the military: with appropriate training and the dedication of competent servicemembers, the armed forces were brought back to a strong and healthy state of affairs by the 1980s.
Agency website: https://www.history.navy.mil/
Related items:
Fourth Arm of Defense: Sealift and Maritime Logistics in the Vietnam War can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/fourth-arm-defense-sealift-and-mariti...
Combat at Close Quarters: Warfare on the Rivers and Canals of Vietnam can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/combat-close-quarters-warfare-rivers-...
Naval History & Heritage Command publications can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/agency/naval-history-heritage-command
Vietnam War publications can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/vietnam-war
Table of Contents:
Introduction 1
The Collapse in I and II Corps 7
The Final Curtain in Cambodia 13
Preparations for the Saigon Evacuation 17
The Exodus Begins 23
Refugees at Sea 29
Seaborne Evacuation from Vietnam 33
Passage to the Philippines 37
Maritime Refugees 41
Succor in the Philippines and Guam 45
The Recovery of SS Mayaguez 53
The Battle for Koh Tang 59
SIDEBARS:
VNN Captain Nguyen Xuan Son, 1975 8
The Stalwart Sea Stallion 14
South Vietnamese Aircraft Descend on the Fleet 30
A Navy Nurse Hones Her Skills on Guam 48
Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7) 60
Acronyms 64
The Author 65
Acknowledgements 65
Publisher’s Note 65
Suggested Reading 67
Members of the military, Veterans, historians, students, and anyone interested in the Vietnam War and specific missions and logistics of the American armed forces during this conflict may be interested in this book.
