Top Vietnam Vacation

From what I recall, there were massive helicopter evacuations of as many of the refugees as possible.

Hordes of Vietnamese were trying to get out of the country as the U.S. forces were diminishing.

I left the country in March 1972 as well.

Added note: I am in total agreement with Bob F's response below.
References :
Retired Army Airborne

By guitarpicker56 on May 30, 2009

North Vietnam’s’ massive invasion over Easter 1972 cost the North Vietnamese army 100,000 men and half their tanks and artillery. They were forced it to sign the peace accords in Paris and formally to recognize the Republic of South Vietnam. By August 1972 there were no U.S. combat forces left in Vietnam. Contrary to the overwhelming mass of press reports, American policy there had been a success.
References :
The war in Vietnam was lost on the propaganda front, due to the press’s misreporting of the clear U.S. victory at Tet as a defeat. The press is doing the same thing in Iraq.

By Bob F on May 30, 2009

Diplomacy with a Bombing Campaign

- Nixon announced that Kissinger had met with DRV representatives 13 times in January 1972

- the PAVN began its offensive along the DMZ on March 30

- Nixon authorized the bombing of the Hanoi-Haiphong area in April, and the mining of all DRV ports in May

- the DRV presented the draft of a peace agreement on October 8

- Nixon informed Pham Van Dong that the peace agreement was essentially complete on October 20

- United States began the intensive bombing of the Hanoi-Haiphong region on December 18

- the U.S. halted the bombing north of the 20th parallel and annouced the resumption of negotiations on Decmber 30.

One the homefront their may have been the recognition that an agreement was nearly in the making. In fact, less than one month later Kissinger and Le Duc Tho would sign the agreement.
References :
Vietnam Anatomy of War 1940-1975
Gabriel Kolko, Unwin, 1985

By J. S. on May 30, 2009

The people of the United States were sick of the war. The overwhelming majority wanted us out of the conflict. While the U.S. never lost a major battle, we lost the war. It's popular to blame the press for the way the war was reported but the reason was the American people as a group have no stomach for prolonged war and the sacrifices that accompany such action unless they feel physically threatened.

1972 was an attempt by the Nixon administration to force a peace agreement through strategic bombing (the old Curtis LeMay strategy).

The North Vietnamese played a better game of chess than the U,S.
References :
Vietnam vet (including Tet of 68 in AnKhe), infantry

By Michael J on May 30, 2009