S

To Whom It May or May Not Concern

I am a Vietnam Veteran who is grateful for my service. As a19 year old full of patriotism and raised on Guts and Glory ideals, the War on Vietnam changed my thinking. Today I am a 66 year old man who views waging war for any reason, a last resort.

The invasion of Iraq brought back the inner turmoil I experienced as a soldier deciding what is right and what is wrong. The American War in Vietnam, the invasion of Iraq, and the aggressive war on terror are wrong. Admitting mistakes made, not making assumptions, and negotiation before confrontation are right.

It is an age old adage that we need to “Learn from our Mistakes ” After 50 years can we at least acknowledge the Vietnam era was a mistake? The facts are there for all to see. I, for one, want to stand up and be counted as an eye witness to this fact.

For Peace and Justice,

Ron Schwinler

1972: 50 Years Ago

March 30-July 1972 The PAVN (People’s Army of Viet Nam) and the NLF begin a major offensive. The goal of Easter Offensive, officially known as The 1972 Spring – Summer Offensive, (also called the Nguyen Hue (Nguyễn Huệ) offensive) was to win a decisive victory in 1972 or at least improve the revolutionary position for future peace talks. The 3-pronged attacks began in the north, center, and south of the country. Massed North Vietnamese Army artillery open a shattering barrage, targeting South Vietnamese positions across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Upwards of 20,000 PAVN troops cross the DMZ, forcing the South Vietnamese units into a retreat. The Southern defense is thrown into complete chaos. Intelligence reports had predicted a Northern attack, but no one had expected it to come across the DMZ. A week after the launch of the offensive, Nixon decides to respond with a massive air campaign against the North. The campaign was by far the largest and most comprehensive of the war, using a wide variety of aircraft as well as new ‘smart’ bombs. The US committed 74 tactical squadrons to the attack. In addition, six aircraft carriers were assigned to the bombing mission as well as over 100 B-52 bombers. For the first time, the US places mines in Haiphong Harbor to cut off the North Vietnamese from foreign support.

The South Vietnamese with heavy American air support are able to turn back the attack after a month and a half. The city of Loc Ninh (Lộc Ninh), located close to the Cambodian border subsequently became the capital of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam (PRGSVN), a distinction it held until it was disbanded after the war. While US bombing and a stiffened ARVN defense was able to turn back the PAVN and NLF offensive, it remains politically impossible to reintroduce sufficient U.S. combat troops to stem the PAVN drive. With his policy of Vietnamization at stake, Nixon implements a massive buildup of air power in Southeast Asia and a broadening of the eligible targets.

S

Mission statement

Sign Up for Updates

50 Years of Resistance In & Out Of Uniform

Like Us on Facebook

1972: 50 Years Ago

2016 National Book Award Finalist, Viet Thanh Nguyen:

Agent Orange Awareness