11/11/1972: Direct U.S. Troop Engagement in Vietnam Ends

Direct U.S. troop engagement in the Vietnam War ended on Veterans’ Day 1972.  Over the previous three years, the U.S. had been gradually withdrawing troops and transferring responsibilities, bases and equipment to South Vietnamese forces according to the Vietnamization policy of President Nixon’s administration.  The final base to be turned over to South Vietnam was the largest of them all – the massive Long Binh post outside of Saigon.  At its height, Long Binh had contained 50,000 U.S. troops, and Vietnam as a whole had contained 543,400 U.S. forces.  Even after Long Binh was handed over, 29,000 U.S. servicemen remained in South Vietnam in advisory and support roles.  The final U.S. drawdown would not occur until after the Paris Peace Accords in 1973.