Na(m 1962 kho^ng pha?i la` mo^.t na(m co' nhie^`u bie^'n chuye^?n chi'nh tri. lo+'n lao nhu+ nhu+~ng na(m tru+o+'c ddo'. Nhu+ng na(m na`y la.i la` mo^.t na(m quan tro.ng dda'nh da^'u su+. ta(ng trie^?n cu?a nhie^`u "ddo+.t so'ng nga^`m" khua ddo^.ng du+o+'i ma(.t ho^` chi'nh tri.. Mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam va^~n tie^'p tu.c ddu+o+.c Hoa Ky` u?ng ho^. ma.nh me~. Chu+o+ng tri`nh vie^.n tro+. qua^n su+. ddu+o+.c gia ta(ng. Con so^' co^' va^'n qua^n su+. My~ cu~ng ddu+o+.c gia ta(ng. Qua^n DDo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a (VNCH) ddu+o+.c ca?i tie^'n, ta^n trang, va` ddang tre^n dda` tha('ng lo+'n tre^n chie^'n tru+o+`ng. Tuy nhie^n, nhu+~ng tha`nh qua? cu?a qua^n ddo^.i va^~n kho^ng che la^'p ddu+o+.c ca'c vu. ro^'i ren ddang xa?y ra o+? ha^.u phu+o+ng. DDu+o+`ng lo^'i cai qua?n dda^'t nu+o+'c theo phong ca'ch "gia ddi`nh tri." cu?a cha'nh phu? dda~ bi. nhie^`u dda?ng pha'i chi'nh tri., ddoa`n the^? to^n gia'o, cu`ng ca'c lu+.c lu+o+.ng da^n-qua^n than oa'n che^ bai. Nhu+~ng quan ddie^?m va` lo+`i le~ chi? tri'ch tuy nhie^`u, nhu+ng ca'c vu. co^ng khai cho^'ng ddo^'i ma.nh me~ thi` va^~n co`n kha' i't o?i. Na(m 1962 dda~ la(?ng la(.ng tro^i qua mo^.t ca'ch ye^n la`nh. Nhu+ng dda^y chi? la` su+. ye^n la`nh o+? be^` ngoa`i. Mo^.t su+. ye^n la`nh nguy hie^?m tre^n ma(.t bie^?n, mo^.t su+. ye^n la`nh che da^'u ddo+.t so'ng nga^`m chuye^?n ddo^.ng du+o+'i dda'y sa^u, mo^.t su+. ye^n la`nh tru+o+'c khi co' gio^ng to, mo^.t su+. ye^n la`nh tru+o+'c khi co+n ba~o to+'i.

Tha^.t va^.y, na(m 1962 la` mo^.t na(m ma` Qua^n DDo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a (VNCH) tha^u ga(.t ddu+o+.c nhie^`u tha`nh qua? dda'ng tre^n chie^'n tru+o+`ng. Vo+'i ca'c loa.i tru+.c tha(ng va^.n ta?i CH-21 Shawnee do Hoa Ky` vie^.n tro+. va`o cuo^'i na(m 1961, qua^n ddo^.i cha'nh phu? dda~ co' phu+o+ng tie^.n di chuye^?n ra^'t tie^.n lo+.i va` nhanh cho'ng tre^n chie^'n tru+o+`ng. Qua^n xa (xe cho+? binh si~) kho^ng co`n la` phu+o+ng tie^.n duy nha^'t dde^? chuye^?n qua^n mo^.t ca'ch...cha^.m ra~i nu+~a. Mo^~i khi co' nhu+~ng cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n va`o ma^.t khu cu?a Vie^.t Co^.ng (VC), ca'c binh si~ Nam Vie^.t Nam dde^`u ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng ddu+a tha(?ng va`o tra^.n ddi.a. Sau ddo', nhu+~ng cuo^.c ta^'n co^ng tha^`n to^'c dda~ xa?y ra la`m cho lu+.c lu+o+.ng VC hoa`n toa`n bi. ba^'t ngo+` va` kho^ng ki.p tro+? tay pho`ng thu?. Do ddo', vie^.c xu+? du.ng ca'c tru+.c tha(ng CH-21 dda~ la` mo^.t nguye^n nha^n mang nhie^`u tha('ng lo+.i lo+'n dde^'n cho Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH tre^n chie^'n tru+o+`ng.

Ngoa`i vie^.c xu+? du.ng tru+.c tha(ng trong vie^.c ha`nh qua^n, ca'c binh si~ Nam Vie^.t Nam cu~ng dda~ chu+'ng to? ra(`ng ho. cu~ng bie^'t khai tha'c chie^'n thua^.t "bo^. binh tu`ng thie^'t" vo+'i bo^. binh va` thie^'t va^.n xa M-113 cu`ng tu+o+ng tro+. ha`nh qua^n dde^? dda.t u+u the^' chie^'n tru+o+`ng. M-113 la` loa.i thie^'t va^.n xa (hoa(.c "thie^'t qua^n va^.n") vo+'i vo? the'p be^n ngoa`i mo?ng, trang bi. nhe., co' kha? na(ng lo^.i nu+o+'c, chuye^n ddu+o+.c du`ng trong ca'c vie^.c chuye^?n va^.n binh si~. Na(m 1962 qua^n cha'nh phu? dda~ tha('ng lo+'n o+? nhie^`u no+i tre^n chie^'n tru+o+`ng mie^`n Nam. Lu+.c lu+o+.ng co+ gio+'i (ha^`u he^'t la` thie^'t va^.n xa) cu?a VNCH dda~ nhu+ mo^.t mu~i te^n nho.n lao tha(?ng va`o tra^.n ddi.a. Qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n kho^ng cho^'ng ddo+~ no^?i. Mo^~i khi tha^'y lu+.c lu+o+.ng co+ gio+'i VNCH la^m tra^.n, nhie^`u ca'n binh VC dda~ va^'t bo? vu~ khi' va` ti`m ddu+o+`ng tro^'n cha.y.

Tuy nhie^n, nhu+~ng chie^'n tha('ng tre^n chie^'n tru+o+`ng ha^`u nhu+ va^~n chu+a ddu? che ddi nhu+~ng ddo+.t so'ng nga^`m du+o+'i ma(.t ho^` chi'nh tri.. Nhie^`u ddoa`n the^? chi'nh tri. co' y' muo^'n no^?i le^n dde^? pha?n ddo^'i cha'nh sa'ch "ddo^.c ta`i gia ddi`nh tri." cu?a cha'nh phu? Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m. O^ng Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu, vi. ba`o dde^. cu?a To^?ng Tho^'ng vo+'i chu+'c vu. "co^' va^'n", dda~ la` ngu+o+`i bi. da^n chu'ng cho^'ng ddo^'i nhie^`u nha^'t. Ha^`u he^'t ca'c ddoa`n the^? dde^`u kho^ng thi'ch chu? tru+o+ng be` pha'i cu+.c ddoan cu?a o^ng Nhu. Va` dda(.c bie^.t la` ho. ghe't nha^'t ca'c vie^.c ba('t bo+' giam ca^`m va` pha^n bie^.t to^n gia'o cu?a vi. co^' va^'n na`y.

Mu+'c ddo^. cho^'ng ddo^'i a^m tha^`m ca`ng nga`y ca`ng gia ta(ng, va` su+. vie^.c dda~ bu`ng no^? va`o sa'ng nga`y 27.2.1962 khi 2 chie^'c oanh ta.c co+ cu?a Kho^ng Qua^n (KQ) tu+` Bie^n Ho`a bay ve^` Saigon dde^? ne'm bom Dinh DDo^.c La^.p. Mo^.t pha^`n cu?a to`a Dinh bi. su.p ddo^? va` hu+ ha.i na(.ng vi` su+'c co^ng pha' ma.nh lie^.t cu?a nhu+~ng qua? bom 500 ca^n Anh. Tuy nhie^n, To^?ng Tho^'ng Die^.m cu`ng gia ddi`nh dde^`u may ma('n thoa't che^'t. Kho^ng mo^.t ai bi. he^` ha^'n gi`, chi? ngoa.i tru+` ba` Ngo^ DDi`nh Nhu bi. thu+o+ng nhe. vi` bi. nhu+~ng ma?nh ga.ch nho? ba('n tru'ng va`o ngu+o+`i.

Hai vie^n phi co^ng ne'm bom Dinh DDo^.c La^.p nga`y ho^m ddo' la` Nguye^~n Va(n Cu+? va` Pha.m Phu' Quo^'c. Nhu+ng kho^ng pha?i hai vie^n phi co^ng na`y la` nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i chu? mu+u trong vu. a'm sa't. Vu. ne'm bom Dinh DDo^.c La^.p la` do o^ng Nguye^~n Va(n Lu+.c (tha^n phu. cu?a phi co^ng Nguye^~n Va(n Cu+?) to^? chu+'c va` la~nh dda.o (DDo^~ Ma^.u: Vie^.t Nam Ma'u Lu+?a Que^ Hu+o+ng To^i, tr.381). O^ng Lu+.c la` mo^.t dda?ng vie^n ky` cu+.u cu?a Vie^.t Nam Quo^'c Da^n DDa?ng (VNQDDD). Tuy o^ng Lu+.c ddu+'ng ra to^? chu+'c vu. ne'm bom Dinh DDo^.c La^.p dde^? a'm sa't To^?ng Tho^'ng Die^.m, nhu+ng kho^ng co' nghi~a vie^.c la`m ddo' hoa`n toa`n no'i le^n chu? tru+o+ng cu?a DDa?ng Vie^.t Nam Quo^'c Da^n. No'i mo^.t ca'ch kha'c, dda^y co' the^? chi? la` mo^.t vie^.c la`m rie^ng tu+ cu?a o^ng Lu+.c ma` tho^i. O^ng Lu+.c dda~ mo'c no^'i vo+'i mo^.t so^' ddoa`n the^? da^n-qua^n dde^? chua^?n bi. ke^u go.i su+. la^.t ddo^? cha'nh quye^`n ne^'u vu. ne'm bom na`y ddu+o+.c tha`nh co^ng trong nga`y 27.2.1962 na`y. Tuy nhie^n, kho^ng may cho o^ng Lu+.c la` su+. vie^.c dda~ tha^'t ba.i ne^n o^ng dda~ ro+`i kho?i Saigon lui ve^` que^ a^?n na'u. Sau vu. ne'm bom, o^ng Nguye^~n Va(n Cu+? la'i bay tha(?ng qua Cam Bo^'t xin ti. na.n chi'nh tri.. Nhu+ng phi co^ng Pha.m Phu' Quo^'c ke'm may ma('n ho+n. Phi co+ cu?a o^ng bi. su'ng pho`ng kho^ng cu?a Ha?i Qua^n ba('n ha.. O^ng bi. ba('t va` bi. giam trong tu` nhie^`u na(m sau ddo'.

DDa'ng le~ na(m 1962 la` mo^.t na(m ra^'t to^'t dde.p cho cha'nh phu? Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m. Qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n la^`n lu+o+.t bi. dda'nh ha. va` tie^u die^.t o+? nhie^`u no+i. Tinh tha^`n cu?a ca'c binh si~ Nam Vie^.t Nam le^n ra^'t cao. Ti`nh hi`nh chie^'n su+. to^'t dde.p dde^'n no^~i ma` khi Thie^'u Tu+o+'ng Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n (TQLC) Victor Krulak sang Vie^.t Nam va`o tha'ng 9 na(m 1962 dde^? quan sa't ti`nh hi`nh, chi'nh o^ng dda~ vie^'t ba?n ba'o ca'o gu+?i ve^` cho To^?ng Tho^'ng Kennedy va` dda~ ke^'t lua^.n ra(`ng "Qua^n DDo^.i Nam Vie^.t Nam co' chie^'n dda^'u vo+'i Vie^.t Co^.ng va` ho. ddang thi ha`nh nhie^.m vu. na`y ra^'t gio?i giang" (William Rust: Kennedy in Vietnam, tr.134). Ngoa`i ra, Thie^'u Tu+o+'ng Krulak cu~ng vie^'t the^m: "Mu+'c ddo^. cu?a cuo^.c chie^'n hie^.n ddang gia ta(ng du+~ do^.i. Tuy ti`nh hi`nh chi'nh tri. cu?a Nam Vie^.t Nam kho^ng ddu+o+.c kha? quan cho la('m, nhu+ng vie^.c na`y cu~ng cha(?ng a?nh hu+o+?ng gi` ma^'y dde^'n chie^'n tru+o+`ng... Cuo^.c chie^'n cho^'ng Co^.ng se~ tha`nh co^ng vo+'i ddie^`u kie^.n Hoa Ky` tie^'p tu.c co^ng cuo^.c ho^~ tro+., va` be^` ma(.t xa^'u xa cu?a che^' ddo^. se~ kho^ng ga^y a?nh hu+o+?ng gi` ca?" (William Rust: Kennedy in Vietnam, tr.133).

DDu+`ng no'i chi mo^.t ngu+o+`i da^n thu+o+`ng, mo^.t ngu+o+`i li'nh, hay mo^.t chi'nh tri. gia ddang so^'ng ta.i Vie^.t Nam lu'c ba^'y gio+`, ngay ca? dde^'n mo^.t ngu+o+`i My~ xa la. nhu+ Thie^'u Tu+o+'ng Krulak cu~ng co`n nha^.n tha^'y ra(`ng da^~u cho cha'nh phu? ddu+o+ng tho+`i (Ngo^ DDi`nh Die^.m) co' te^. ba.c ddi cha(ng nu+~a, thi` Qua^n DDo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a va^~n ddu? su+'c dde^? dda'nh ba.i qua^n VC trong cuo^.c chie^'n na`y. DDu+o+ng nhie^n ddo' la` vo+'i ddie^`u kie^.n Hoa Ky` se~ kho^ng bo? ro+i mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam, cu~ng nhu+ Nga So^ va` Trung Co^.ng va^~n tie^'p tu.c cung ca^'p vu~ khi' cho Co^.ng Sa?n mie^`n Ba('c. Tu+o+'ng Krulak dda~ co' mo^.t nha^.n xe't he^'t su+'c la` tinh te^' va` xa'c thu+.c. Va` su+. nha^.n xe't na`y cu?a o^ng cu~ng ra^'t ddu'ng khi chu'ng ta nhi`n ve^` li.ch su+? chie^'n tranh Vie^.t Nam 15 na(m sau ddo'. Tu+'c la` khi My~ ba('t dda^`u bo? ro+i VNCH va`o na(m 1974, Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH dda~ kho^ng ddu? phu+o+ng tie^.n dde^? tu+. ve^.. Va` do ddo' co`n ke^'t qua? na`o buo^`n tuo^?i ho+n cho nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i li'nh Nam Vie^.t Nam na`y khi ho. dda~ pha?i tan ha`ng va`o tha'ng 4 cu?a na(m 1975 kha('c nghie^.t.

No'i to'm la.i, na(m 1962 la` mo^.t na(m ra^'t to^'t dde.p Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH. Nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i li'nh Nam Vie^.t Nam va^~n tie^'p tu.c chie^'n dda^'u va` mang ve^` nhie^`u chie^'n tha('ng. Ho. dda'nh dde^'n dda^u thi` Vie^.t Co^.ng bo? cha.y dde^'n ddo'. Qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n kho^ng co`n la`m gi` ddu+o+.c ngoa`i chie^'n tru+o+`ng, ngoa`i nhu+~ng vu. ddo^.t ki'ch le? te? va`o nhu+~ng la`ng ma.c nho? be' vo+'i da^n cu+ thu+a tho+'t. Tuy nhie^n, nhu+~ng chie^'n tha('ng cu?a qua^n ddo^.i cu~ng kho^ng "go+~ ddu+o+.c ma(.t mu~i" cho cha'nh phu?. Nhie^`u ddoa`n the^? chi'nh tri. da^n va` qua^n dda~ nga^'m nga^`m na^?y sanh ma^`m mo^'ng cho^'ng ddo^'i. DDa^y chi'nh la` khoa?ng tho+`i giang va` kho^ng gian ma` nhu+~ng ddo+.t so'ng nga^`m da^`n da` xua^'t hie^.n. Va` dda^y cu~ng chi'nh la` nhu+~ng ho^`i chuo^ng ba'o tu+? nha('c nho+? mo.i ngu+o+`i ha~y chua^?n bi. tinh tha^`n...tru+o+'c khi co+n ba~o to+'i.

4 tha'ng 2	Mo^.t tru+.c tha(ng Hoa Ky` cho+? 15 qua^n nha^n bi. ba('t ro+'i o+? ga^`n la`ng Ho^`ng My~. DDa^y la` chie^'c tru+.c tha(ng dda^`u tie^n cu?a My~ bi. VC ba('n ha. trong chie^'n tranh Vie^.t Nam (John Bowman: The Vietnam War Almanac, tr.61).
27 tha'ng 2	Hai oanh ta.c co+ loa.i T-28 do ca'c phi co^ng Pha.m Phu' Quo^'c va` Nguye^~n Va(n Cu+? do^.i bom Dinh DDo^.c La^.p. To^?ng Tho^'ng Die^.m cu`ng gia ddi`nh thoa't che^'t. Ma'y bay cu?a Pha.m Phu' Quo^'c bi. ba('n ro+i. O^ng bi. ba('t ca^`m tu`. Phi co^ng Nguye^~n Va(n Cu+? bay sang Cam Bo^'t la'nh na.n.
---	Sau vu. do^.i bom nga`y 27 tha'ng 2, Phu? To^?ng Tho^'ng dda~ ddu+o+.c do+`i ve^` Dinh Gia Long. Dinh DDo^.c La^.p (lu'c ddo' co`n ddu+o+.c go.i la` Dinh Norodom) ddu+p30c sang ba(`ng dde^? xa^y ca^'t Dinh DDo^.c La^.p mo+'i. Kie^'n tru'c su+ Ngo^ Vie^'t Thu. dda~ ve~ so+ ddo^` cho co^ng tri`nh kie^'n tru'c na`y. Va` ma~i dde^'n 5 na(m sau thi` co^ng vie^.c xa^y ca^'t Dinh DDo^.c La^.p na`y mo+'i ddu+o+.c hoa`n ta^'t. Va`o na(m 1967, To^?ng Tho^'ng Nguye^~n Va(n Thie^.u va` Pho' To^?ng Tho^'ng Nguye^~n Cao Ky` la` 2 nha^n va^.n dda^`u tie^n cu?a ne^`n DDe^. Nhi. Co^.ng Ho`a xu+? du.ng Dinh DDo^.c La^.p na`y.
6 tha'ng 5	Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t ta^'n co^ng va`o ca(n cu+' Muang Luong-Nam o+? ga^`n bie^n gio+'i La`o-Hoa do Qua^n DDo^.i Hoa`ng Gia La`o tra^'n giu+~. Lu+.c lu+o+.ng tru' pho`ng go^`m khoa?ng 5 nga`n qua^n dda~ kho^ng cho^'ng cu+. no^?i ne^n ca(n cu+' na`y tha^'t thu?. Qua^n CSBV dda~ co' chu? y' ra^'t ro~: Pha?i ba?o ve^. he^. tho^'ng ddu+o+`ng mo`n Ho^` Chi' Minh tre^n la~nh tho^? La`o dde^? thu+.c hie^.n co^ng cuo^.c xa^m la(ng mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam (Ray bonds: The Vietnam War, tr.63).
25 tha'ng 5	Co+ Quan International Control Commission (ICC) to^' ca'o Ba('c Vie^.t ve^` nhu+~ng ha`nh ddo^.ng xa^m la(ng mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam (John Bowman: The Vietnam War Almanac, tr.56)
---	Trong na(m na`y co' khoa?ng 11,300 co^' va^'n qua^n su+. va` chuye^n vie^n ky~ thua^.t Hoa Ky` la`m vie^.c ta.i Vie^.t Nam.
---	To^?n tha^'t cu?a Vie^.t Co^.ng trong na(m na`y la` 30,000 ngu+o+`i. Trong so^' ddo' co' 21,000 che^'t va` 9,000 bi. thu+o+ng.
---	Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH ddu+o+.c Hoa Ky` vie^.n tro+. nhie^`u vu~ khi' to^'i ta^n go^`m ca'c thie^'t va^.n xa M-113, tru+.c tha(ng CH-21 Shawnee, ca'c phi co+ trinh sa't, pho'ng pha'o co+, chie^'n ha.m, va` luo^n ca? ve^` ky~ thua^.t hua^'n lye^.n, ta'c chie^'n, tie^'p lie^.u, cho dde^'n ca'c ky~ thua^.t va` du.ng cu. ve^` truye^`n tin.
---	Pha'i Bo^. Co^' Va^'n Qua^n Su+. (Military Assistance and Advisory Group - MAAG) ddu+o+.c ddo^?i la.i tha`nh Bo^. Tu+ Le^.nh Qua^n DDo^.i My~ ta.i Vie^.t Nam (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam - MACV)
---	Cha'nh phu? Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a ba('t dda^`u thu+.c hie^.n chu+o+ng tri`nh A^'p Chie^'n Lu+o+.c dde^? cho^'ng su+. xa^m nha^.p va` khu?ng bo^' cu?a Vie^.t Co^.ng.
Tha'ng 8	Cha'nh phu? U'c DDa.i Lo+.i gu+?i pha'i ddoa`n qua^n su+. go^`m 30 si~ quan sang Nam Vie^.t Nam dde^? giu'p hua^'n luye^.n Qua^n DDo^.i VNCH ve^` ky~ thua^.t cho^'ng du ki'ch Co^.ng Sa?n.
27 tha'ng 5	Mo^.t ma^.t khu lo+'n cu?a VC o+? Lie^n Khu 5 ga^`n ranh gio+'i ba ti?nh Qua?ng Nam, Qua?ng Nga~i, va` Kontum, dda~ bi. Kho^ng Qua^n VNCH tie^u die^.t. Ha`ng tra(m doanh tra.i VC cu`ng kho thuo^'c su'ng bi. pha' hu?y (Vu~ DDi`nh Hoa.t: Vie^.t Nam To^n Gia'o Chi'nh Tri. Quan, tr.762.
18 tha'ng 9	DDa.i DDo^.i 7 Co+ Gio+'i cu?a VNCH vo+'i ca'c thie^'t va^.n xa M-113 tie^u die^.t toa`n bo^. Tie^?u DDoa`n 502 VC o+? ti?nh Kie^'n Phong. Sa'u mu+o+i (60) VC che^'t ta.i tra^.n va` 40 bi. ba('t so^'ng (Ly' To`ng Ba': Ho^`i Ky' 25 Na(m Kho'i Lu+?a, tr.66.
29 tha'ng 12	Trung Co^.ng tie^'t lo^. dda~ vie^.n tro+. 90,000 su'ng tru+o+`ng tu+. ddo^.ng cho qua^n VC ta.i chie^'n tru+o+`ng mie^`n Nam trong na(m na`y. (John Bowman: The Vietnam War Almanac, tr.58)
---	Con so^' qua^n nha^n My~ bi. thie^.t ma.ng ta.i chie^'n tru+o+`ng mie^`n Nam trong ca? hai na(m 1961 va` 1962 la` 32 ngu+o+`i (Phillip Davison: Vietnam at War, tr.301).