Vietnam War: 1969

Bie^n kha?o va` Nha^.n DDi.nh
Jen W. Nguye^~n

Nga`y 28 tha'ng 3 na(m 1969, trong phie^n ho.p Ho^.i DDo^`ng An Ninh Quo^'c Gia ta.i Hoa Ky`, Tu+o+'ng Andrew Goodpaster, phu. ta' cu?a DDa.i Tu+o+'ng Creiton Abrams, tha(?ng tha('n dde^` nghi.: "Chu'ng ta sa('p ddi dde^'n giai ddoa.n bo+'t-My~-ho'a cuo^.c chie^'n (de-americanization)." O^ng muo^'n no'i dda~ dde^'n tho+`i ky` qua^n ddo^.i My~ ca^`n gia?m bo+'t co^ng cuo^.c chie^'n dda^'u cho^'ng Co^.ng ta.i Vie^.t Nam. Nhu+ng Melvin Laird, Bo^. Tru+o+?ng Quo^'c Pho`ng Hoa Ky` la.i cho y' kie^'n rie^ng: "To^i ddo^`ng y', nhu+ng to^i kho^ng thi'ch danh tu+` 'bo+'t-My~-ho'a' cu?a anh. Chu'ng ta ca^`n mo^.t tu+` ngu+~ kha'c nhu+ la` Vie^.t-Nam-Ho'a cha(?ng ha.n." To^?ng Tho^'ng Nixon, lu'c ddo' cu~ng co' ma(.t trong buo^?i ho.p, lie^`n xen va`o: "Y' kie^'n hay ddo', anh Melvin." Tu+` ddo' tro+? ddi, danh tu+` Danh tu+` "vietnamization" (ta.m di.ch: Vie^.t-Nam-Ho'a) ddu+o+.c xu+? du.ng dde^? thay the^' cho danh tu+` "bo+'t-My~-ho'a" (de-americanization). Ca^u ho?i ddu+o+.c dda(.t ra: Vi` ly' do na`o ngu+o+`i My~ kho^ng muo^'n du`ng chu+~ "de-americanization," ma` la.i muo^'n xu+? du.ng danh tu+`: "vietnamization?" dde^? no'i dde^'n vie^.c Hoa Ky` muo^'n lui binh kho?i Vie^.t Nam?

Va`o na(m 1968 ngay sau bie^'n co^' Te^'t Ma^.u Tha^n, ca'c phong tra`o pha?n chie^'n o+? Hoa Ky` ba('t dda^`u tro^?i le^n. Da^n chu'ng My~ xuo^'ng ddu+o+`ng ra^`m ro^. bie^?u ti`nh. Ho. ca(ng bie^?u ngu+~, ga^y ba.o ddo^.ng, ddo`i ho?i cha'nh phu? ru't he^'t qua^n ve^` nu+o+'c. Lu'c dda^`u, ca'c cuo^.c bie^?u ti`nh chi? ddu+o+.c ghi nha^.n la` nhu+~ng nho'm tha^n Co^.ng nho nho?. Nhu+ng sau bie^'n co^' Te^'t Ma^.u Tha^n, ca'c cuo^.c bie^?u ti`nh tu+` tu+` dda^m cho^`i na^?y no+? va` lan ro^.ng ra dde^'n ha`ng tra(m nga`n ngu+o+`i o+? nhie^`u tha`nh pho^' nho? to o+? kha('p no+i. Vo+'i so^' ngu+o+`i ddi bie^?u ti`nh ca`ng nga`y ca`ng gia ta(ng, Quo^'c ho^.i My~ ru'ng ddo^.ng, nhie^`u gio+'i chu+'c cao ca^'p o^`n a`o chi? tri'ch cha'nh phu? va` to mie^.ng ke^u go.i vie^.c bo? ro+i mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam. To^?ng Tho^'ng Richard Nixon pha^n va^n. O^ng kho^ng muo^'n mo^.t-hai-ba ru't he^'t qua^n ve^` dde^? nu+o+'c dde^? ro^`i Hoa Ky` se~ bi. mang tie^'ng "thua tra^.n vi` teo gan." Nhu+ng to^?n tha^'t nha^n ma.ng cu?a qua^n ddo^.i My~ nga`y ca`ng gia ta(ng. Ha`ng nga`n thanh nie^n trai tra'ng Hoa Ky` tu+` lu+'a tuo^?i 18 tro+? le^n ddu+o+.c ddu+a sang Vie^.t Nam, lao dda^`u va`o tra^.n ma.c, ro^`i bi. tu+? tra^.n nga`y ca`ng mo^.t nhie^`u. DDa^`u na(m 1969, sau khi nha^.m chu+'c to^?ng tho^'ng kho^ng bao la^u, Richard Nixon dda~ co' ke^' hoa.ch bi' ma^.t dde^? giu'p Hoa Ky` ru't cha^n kho?i vu~ng la^`y chie^'n tranh o+? Vie^.t Nam.

Nhu+ng su+. vie^.c lui binh dda~ cha(?ng de^~ da`ng nhu+ cha'nh phu? Hoa Ky` ha(`ng mong muo^'n. Tha^.t su+. lu'c ddo' Hoa Ky` dda~ bi. ke.t va`o mo^.t tru+o+`ng ho+.p kho' kha(n xoay so+?. Ca^u no'i "muo^'n dde^'n thi` dde^'n va` muo^'n ddi thi` ddi" kho^ng a'p du.ng ddu+o+.c ta.i tho+`i ddie^?m na`y bo+?i vi` ne^'u ngu+o+`i My~ ra ddi, ho. chi? muo^'n ra ddi trong danh du+..

Na(m 1965 qua^n ddo^.i Hoa Ky` ddo^? bo^. le^n ba~i bie^~n DDa` Na(~ng oai phong la^~m lie^.t, co' ca'c thie^'u nu+~a Vie^.t Nam ba^.n a'o da`i tra('ng duye^n da'ng choa`ng ca'c vo`ng hoa danh du+. le^n co^? a'o ngu+o+`i chie^'n binh. Nhu+ng ba^y gio+` la` na(m 1969, sau khi bi. qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n "choa`ng vo`ng hoa Te^'t Ma^.u Tha^n" va`o dda^`u na(m 1968, ngu+o+`i My~ la.i ca?m tha^'y nhu+ bi. xu'c pha.m ne^'u pha?i du`ng danh tu+` "de-americanization." Danh tu+` na`y du+o+`ng nhu+ mang mo^.t y' nghi~a dden to^'i die^~n ta? su+. me^.t mo?i cu?a ho. ta.i Vie^.t Nam. Lu+.c lu+o+.ng hu`ng binh cu?a Hoa Ky` vo+'i chie^'n tha('ng la^~y lu+`ng trong DDe^. Nhi. The^' Chie^'n, dda'nh tan DDu+'c Quo^'c Xa~, san ba(`ng nu+o+'c Phu` Tang, co' lu+.c lu+o+.ng Ha?i Qua^n vo^ cu`ng ma.nh me~, Kho^ng Qua^n vo+'i ca'c pha'o dda`i B-52 ghe^ ho^`n, qua^n bo^. chie^'n vo+'i xe ta(ng va` ho?a tie^?n to^'i ta^n, Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n lu+`ng danh kha('p the^' gio+'i, ma` gio+` dda^y la.i pha?i ru't cha^n kho?i Vie^.t Nam vo+'i chie^u ba`i "de-americanizing the war" hay sao? Vi` the^', kho^ng muo^'n cha^'p nha^.n su+. be~ ba`ng, kho^ng muo^'n dde^? lo^. su+. me^.t mo?i tru+o+'c ca(.p ma('t soi mo'i cu?a the^' gio+'i, va` vi` danh du+. va` si? die^.n quo^'c gia, cha'nh phu? Hoa Ky` muo^'n xu+? du.ng danh tu+` "vietnamization" nhu+ dde^? no'i vo+'i du+ lua^.n ra(`ng: "Cuo^.c chie^'n dda~ dde^'n lu'c ca^`n pha?i ddu+o+.c Vie^.t-Nam-Ho'a."

DDo^'i vo+'i ca'c gio+'i chu+'c cao ca^'p da^n su+. Hoa Ky`, dda^y la` mo^.t ma'nh khoe' cu+.c ky` lo+.i ha.i tre^n canh ba.c xi` phe' chi'nh tri.. Sau nhie^`u na(m la^m tra^.n, Hoa Ky` dda~ bi. hao to^?n ra^'t nhie^`u. Tu+` ca'c con so^' dollar ba.c ty? cho dde^'n ca'c con so^' tu+? vong le^n dde^'n ha`ng va.n tre^n chie^'n tru+o+`ng Vie^.t Nam, ngu+o+`i My~ dda~ kho^ng tha^u hoa.ch ddu+o+.c gi` dda'ng ke^? ngoa.i tru+` mo^.t va`i tra^.n dda'nh lo+'n cu`ng vo+'i mo^.t chie^'n di.ch "vu+`a dda'nh vu+`a dda`m" (bombing while negotiating) trie^`n mie^n vo^ hie^.u qua?. Ba('c Vie^.t tuy pha?i chi.u nhie^`u ha.i na(.ng ne^` qua nhu+~ng phi vu. do^.i bom cu?a Hoa Ky`, nhu+ng la.i kho^ng bi. hoa`n toa`n gu.c nga~. Hoa Ky` qua' nha^n dda.o, kho^ng da'm do^.i bom tie^u die^.t ca'c co+ so+? qua^n su+. ma` qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n thie^'t la^.p trong vu`ng ddo^ng ddu'c da^n cu+. Hoa Ky` cu~ng qua' "re't" mo^~i khi nghi~ dde^'n vie^.c Trung Co^.ng se~ nha?y va`o can thie^.p ne^'u ga~ dda`n em Ba('c Vie^.t cu?a Trung Co^.ng bi. Hoa Ky` do^.i bom cho to+i bo+`i hoa la'. Hi`nh a?nh ha`ng tra(m nga`n qua^n Trung Co^.ng ddo^? qua bie^n gio+'i dde^? dda'nh ba^.t qua^n ddo^.i Lie^n Hie^.p Quo^'c cha.y ve^` mie^`n Nam cu?a DDa.i Ha`n (Korea) ho^`i dda^`u tha^.p nie^n 1950 dda~ la`m cho ca'c gio+'i chu+'c cao ca^'p da^n su+. Hoa Ky` so+. ha~i. Do ddo', cha'nh phu? My~ cha(?ng mong mo?i gi` ho+n la` se~ ddi dde^'n mo^.t gia?i pha'p dda`m pha'n, tu+'c la` Ba('c Vie^.t se~ ngoan ngoa~n hu+'a ra(`ng "se~ cha(?ng bao gio+` xa^m chie^'m mie^`n Nam."

Trong khoa?ng tho+`i gian 5 na(m tu+` 1965 dde^'n nay, con so^' tu+? vong cu?a Hoa Ky` mo^~i na(m mo^.t ta(ng da^`n ma` tie^'n tri`nh cu?a cuo^.c chie^'n va^~n co`n nhu+ ke'o da`i vo^ ta^.n. Va`o na(m 1969, so^' binh si~ My~ hie^.n die^.n ta.i Vie^.t Nam dda~ le^n dde^'n cao ddie^?m vo+'i 540,000 ngu+o+`i. Ha`ng trie^.u-trie^.u ddo^ la la.i tie^'p tu.c ddu+o+.c ddo^? the^m va`o cuo^.c chie^'n, so^' binh si~ bi. che^'t va` bi. thu+o+ng ca`ng nga`y ca`ng nhie^`u, va` dde^'n lu'c na`y -- na(m 1969 -- thi` Hoa Ky` dda~ ba('t dda^`u tha^'m me^.t va` muo^'n thoa'i ly kho?i chie^'n tranh. Nhu+ng ru't lui ba(`ng ca'ch na`o? Pha?i ra ddi ba(`ng ca'ch na`o ma` dda^'t nu+o+'c kho^ng bi. be~ ba`ng va` qua^n ddo^.i se~ cha(?ng bi. ma(.c ca?m? Tre^n phu+o+ng die^.n ta^m ly', ne^'u pha?i du`ng dde^'n danh tu+` "de-americanization" dde^? no'i dde^'n vie^.c lui binh thi` ke^? nhu+ la` ngu+o+`i dda'nh ba.c dda~ thua va` ddang muo^'n cuo^'n chie^'u. DDe^? che ma('t the^' gian, dde^? dda'nh lu+`a du+ lua^.n, va` dde^? ddu+o+.c ru't lui trong nie^`m danh tu+. ne^n Hoa Ky` dda`nh pha?i no'i ra(`ng, "Chu+o+ng tri`nh Vie^.t-Nam-Ho'a ddu+o+.c thie^'t la^.p dde^? cuo^.c chie^'n na`y co' the^? giao la.i cho qua^n ddo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a."

Nhu+ng tha^.t su+. la^.p lua^.n na`y hoa`n toa`n sai be't. Ke^? tu+` na(m 1954 khi Vie^.t Nam bi. chia ddo^i vo+'i hai mie^`n Nam Ba('c, ha`ng chu.c nga`n qua^n da^n mie^`n Nam dda~ che^'t trong no^~ lu+.c chie^'n dda^'u cho^'ng la.i su+. xa^m la(ng cu?a qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n mie^`n Ba('c. Tu+` o+? nhu+~ng tra^.n dda'nh dda^~m ma'u kho^'c lie^.t o+? A^'p Ba('c (1963), DDo^`ng Xoa`i (1965), Bi`nh Gia? (1964), cho dde^'n Te^'t Ma^.u Tha^n na(m 1968 ta.i ca'c ma(.t tra^.n kho'i lu+?a nhu+ Saigon, Qua?ng Tri., Hue^', va` Khe Sanh... qua^n ddo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a (VNCH) dda~ chie^'n dda^'u tha^.t nhie^`u va` tha^.t du~ng ma~nh. Ca'c binh si~ mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam vo+'i su'ng dda.n tre^n vai, tra'ch nhie^.m trong lo`ng, cu`ng nie^`m danh du+. ghi ta.i phu` hie^.u the^u tre^n vai a'o, co' khi na`o ho. dda~ da'm nghi~ ra(`ng "binh si~ My~ se~ chie^'n dda^'u va` se~ che^'t cho chu'ng to^i." Kho^ng, hoa`n toa`n la` kho^ng. Trong cuo^.c to^?ng ta^'n co^ng cu?a Vie^.t Co^.ng na(m na(m 1968, ai dda~ cu+'u Saigon thoa'i kho?i co+n dda.i na.n, ne^'u kho^ng pha?i la` ca'c lu+.c lu+o+.ng Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n VNCH? O+? mie^`n Trung, nhu+~ng binh chu?ng na`o dda~ ddo^? ma'u dde^? ta'i chie^'m Hue^' va` Qua?ng Tri., ne^'u kho^ng pha?i la` ca'c binh chu?ng Nha?y Du` va` Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n (TQLC) VNCH? Ta.i ma(.t tra^.n Khe Sanh, 200 tay su'ng mu~ Na^u na`o dda~ tra^'n giu+~ cu+?a a?i phi'a DDo^ng cu?a ca(n cu+' va` dda~ 3 la^`n dda^?y lui ca'c ddo+.t cu+o+`ng ta^.p bie^?n ngu+o+`i cu?a Co^.ng qua^n? (Ve^` sau na`y, chu+'ng ti'ch chie^'n dda^'u cu?a qua^n ddo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a la.i co`n ddu+o+.c ghi la.i o+? ca'c trang su+? Cam Bo^'t na(m 1970, Ha. La`o 1971, Mu`a He` DDo? Lu+?a 1972, qua^`n dda?o Hoa`ng Sa 1974, va` nhu+~ng tra^.n chie^'n sau cu`ng trong na(m 1975).

Nhu+ng ba^y gio+` la` 1969, ca'c gio+'i chu+'c cao ca^'p da^n su+. ta.i Hoa Ky` muo^'n xu+? du`ng danh tu+` "vietnamization" nhu+ mo^.t ta^'m khie^ng ha^`u che la^'p su+. me^.t mo?i va` nie^`m be~ ba`ng dde^? ddu+o+.c lui binh trong danh du+. sau 5 na(m da`i chie^'n dda^'u (1965-69). Kho^ng mo^.t qua^n nha^n mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam na`o muo^'n tha^'y ca'c binh si~ My~ pha?i che^'t cho mi`nh. Kho^ng mo^.t qua^n nha^n Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a na`o muo^'n tha^'y ca?nh ngu+o+`i da^n ta.i Hoa Ky` bi. ma^'t ddi tha^n nha^n, be` ba.n, hoa(.c tha^n quye^'n cho mo^.t cuo^.c chie^'n xa la. ca'ch nu+?a vo`ng tra'i dda^'t. Nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i li'nh mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam dde^`u ra^'t bie^'t o+n ve^` nhu+~ng su+. giu'p ddo+~ tre^n phu+o+ng die^.n vu~ khi' cu~ng nhu+ vo+'i su+. hy sinh dda^`y y' nghi~a cu?a ha`ng nga`n binh si~ Hoa Ky`. Nhu+ng ddo^'i vo+'i ho., nhu+~ng ngu+o+`i li'nh mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam, dde^`u hie^?u ro~ ra(`ng danh tu+` "vietnamization" tha^.t su+. dda~ ddu+o+.c hi`nh tha`nh va` ddi.nh nghi~a va`o na(m 1954 khi qua^n ddo^.i cu?a ho. ba('t dda^`u cho^'ng la.i su+. xa^m la(ng cu?a qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t. Va` su+. chie^'n dda^'u na`y, co^.ng vo+'i su+. hy sinh cu?a kho^ng bie^'t bao nhie^u binh si~ VNCH, dda~ kho+?i nguo^`n va` ke'o da`i ho+n mo^.t tha^.p nie^n tru+o+'c khi lu+.c lu+o+.ng bo^. chie^'n dda^`u tie^n Hoa Ky` ddo^? bo^. va`o Vie^.t Nam na(m 1965.


20 tha'ng 1	Richard Nixon nha^.m chu+'c To^?ng Tho^'ng Hoa Ky`. Ca'c va^'n dde^` cha'nh sa'ch an ninh quo^'c gia ddu+o+.c phu. tra'ch bo+?i Tie^'n Si~ Henry Kissinger. Cu~ng trong nga`y na`y, Su+ DDoa`n 3 Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n Hoa Ky` ta^'n co^ng va`o ca(n cu+' 611 cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t na(`m ga^`n bie^n gio+'i Vie^.t-La`o, tie^u hu?y nhie^`u kho du+. tru+~ nhie^n lie^.u va` vu~ khi' cu?a Co^.ng qua^n.
-	Nghi. Quye^'t 71 cu?a Trung U+o+ng DDa?ng ke^u go.i cuo^.c ta^'n co^ng ca'c ca(n cu+' cu?a Hoa Ky` tre^n la~nh tho^? Nam Vie^.t Nam. DDa^y la` mo^.t quye^'t ddi.nh cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t nha(`m "thu+? lu+?a" vo+'i cha'nh phu? cu?a ta^n to^?ng tho^'ng Richard Nixon.
22 tha'ng 2	Co^.ng Sa?n ddo^`ng loa.t ta^'n co^ng va`o 125 mu.c tie^u, va` pha'o ki'ch 400 no+i kha'c, tre^n la~nh tho^? Nam Vie^.t Nam. Mu+'c ddo^. ta^'n co^ng la^`n na`y tuy nhe. ho+n chie^'n di.ch To^?ng Co^ng Ki'ch - To^?ng Kho+?i Nghi~a cu?a 1968, nhu+ng cu~ng ga^y ddu+o+.c tie^'ng vang qua^n su+. nho nho?. Trong va`i tra^.n dda'nh, Co^.ng qua^n co' xu+? du.ng ddo+n vi. ca^'p lo+'n co+~ trung ddoa`n, nhu+ng ha^`u nhu+ ca'c cuo^.c ta^'n co^ng dde^`u bi. tha^'t ba.i. Trong na(m na`y, ti'nh dde^'n nga`y 1 tha'ng 7, dda~ co' 20,000 qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n ra dda^`u thu' (David Phillipson, Vietnam At War 1946-75, tr.591).
3 tha'ng 3	Tra^.n xa chie^'n duy nha^'t giu+~a Hoa Ky` va` Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t dda~ xa?y ra ta.i ca(n cu+' qua^n su+. o+? Be^'t He^'t ga^`n vu`ng Tam Bie^n (Vie^.t-Mie^n-La`o). Qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t xu+? du.ng 5 chie^'n xa PT-76 va` 6 chie^'c thuo^.c loa.i BMP-40. Phi'a be^n Hoa Ky`, ho?a lu+.c thie^'t gia'p go^`m nhu+~ng chie^'n xa ha.ng na(.ng loa.i M-48 Patton. Trong tra^.n na`y, DDa.i DDo^.i Thie^'t Gia'p Bravo du+o+'i quye^`n chi? huy cu?a DDa.i U'y John Stoval dda~ dda^?y lui cuo^.c ta^'n co^ng cu?a ddi.ch qua^n, ba('n ha. 2 chie^'n xa PT-76 va` 1 chie^'c BMP-40.
15-18 tha'ng 3	Nga`y 15 tha'ng 3, Vie^.t Co^.ng pha'o 5 ho?a tie^?n va`o thu? ddo^ Saigon. DDe^? tra? ddu~a, nga`y 18 tha'ng 3, pha'o dda`i B-52 Hoa Ky` do^.i bom ca(n cu+' 353 cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t o+? ga^`n bie^n gio+'i Vie^.t-Mie^n. Ca'c phi vu. tha'm thi'nh cho tha^'y nhie^`u kho nhie^n lie^.u cu?a Co^.ng qua^n pha't no^? va` bo^'c cha'y. Cu~ng trong nga`y na`y, mo^.t lu+.c lu+o+.ng ho^~n ho+.p Vie^.t-My~ mo+? cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n ca`n que't trong mo^.t vu`ng ro^.ng lo+'n khoa?ng 33 square-miles (77 km vuo^ng) ta.i ddo^`n ddie^`n cao su Michelin ga^`n Da^`u Tie^'ng, ca'ch bie^n gio+'i Vie^.t-Mie^n kho^ng xa. Ve^` sau na`y, Tru+o+ng Nhu+ Ta?ng -- mo^.t vie^n chu+'c cao ca^'p cu?a Ma(.t Tra^.n Gia?i Pho'ng Mie^`n Nam (MTGPMN) -- dda~ ghi la.i trong mo^.t quye^?n sa'ch ra(`ng ti`nh ba'o Hoa Ky` du+o+`ng nhu+ dda~ ddoa'n ddu+o+.c Bo^. Chi? Huy cu?a Cu.c Trung U+o+ng Vie^.t Co^.ng Mie^`n Nam na(`m ta.i khu vu+.c na`y, ne^n dda~ xu+? du.ng B-52 dde^? do^.i bom va` mo+? cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n va`o nga`y 18 tha'ng 3. Sau ddo', ca'c vie^n chu+'c Vie^.t Co^.ng cao ca^'p pha?i ro+`i bo? ca(n cu+' na`y va` di chuye^?n ve^` mo^.t ca(n cu+' bi' ma^.t kha'c na(`m sa^u trong la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t (David Phillipson, Vietnam At War 1946-75, tr.594).
28 tha'ng 3	Trong mo^.t phie^n ho.p vo+'i Ho^.i DDo^`ng An Ninh Quo^'c Gia, Tu+o+'ng Goodpaster, phu. ta' cu?a Tu+o+'ng Abrams, cho y' kie^'n ra(`ng, "Chu'ng ta sa('p ddi dde^'n giai ddoa.n bo+'t-My~-ho'a cuo^.c chie^'n." Nhu+ng o^ng Melvin Laird, Bo^. Tru+o+?ng Quo^'c Pho`ng la.i no'i, "To^i ddo^`ng y', nhu+ng to^i kho^ng thi'ch danh tu+` 'bo+'t-My~-ho'a' cu?a anh. Chu'ng ta ca^`n mo^.t tu+` ngu+~ kha'c nhu+ la` Vie^.t-Nam-Ho'a." To^?ng Tho^'ng Nixon co' ma(.t ta.i lu'c ddo' ddo^.t nhie^n xen va`o, "Y' kie^'n hay ddo', anh Melvin." Va` ke^? tu+` ddo' tro+? ddi, danh tu+` "Vie^.t-Nam-Ho'a" (Vietnamization -- hoa(.c Vietnamizing the war) ddu+o+.c du`ng thay vi` danh tu+` "bo+'t-My~-ho'a" (de-Americanization hoa(.c de-Americanizing the war).
Tha'ng 4	Qua^n so^' Hoa Ky` ta.i Vie^.t Nam to^?ng co^.ng 543,400 ngu+o+`i. DDa^y la` con so^' cao nha^'t ve^` su+. hie^.n die^.n cu?a qua^n ddo^.i My~ trong chie^'n tranh Vie^.t Nam.
Ta`i Lie^.u Hi`nh A?nh: Binh si~ VNCH xung phong va`o gia?i to?a mo^.t ca(n nha` ddang bi. Vie^.t Co^.ng chie^'m giu+~.
Tha'ng 5	Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t bao va^y tra.i Lu+.c Lu+o+.ng DDa(.c Bie^.t ta.i Be^'n He^'t. Cuo^.c va^y ha~m ke'o da`i dde^'n cuo^'i tha'ng 6 vo+'i nhie^`u tra^.n co^ng ki'ch lo+'n nho?. Nga`y 25 tha'ng 6, qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t ru't lui vi` kho^ng chie^'m no^?i cu+' ddie^?m na`y.
6 tha'ng 5	Lu+.c lu+o+.ng tru' pho`ng ta.i ca(n cu+' Camp Carolyn dda^?y lui mo^.t ddo+.t ta^'n co^ng cu?a mo^.t tie^?u ddoa`n Co^.ng Sa?n (Edgar O'Ballance, The War In Vietnam 1954-73, tr.146).
10 tha'ng 5	Trong mo^.t cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n tru+.c tha(ng va^.n, 3 tie^?u ddoa`n bo^. chie^'n thuo^.c Su+ DDoa`n 101 Nha?y Du` Hoa Ky` nha?y va`o Ca(n Cu+' 611 cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t o+? ga^`n bie^n gio+'i Vie^.t-La`o.
11 tha'ng 5	DDu.ng ddo^. na(.ng giu+~a qua^n ddo^.i Hoa Ky` va` Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t ta.i nu'i A^'p Bia, mo^.t ddi.a danh no^?i tie^'ng trong chie^'n tranh Vie^.t Nam qua bie^.t danh "Hamburger Hill", hoa(.c "DDo^`i 937." Trong tra^.n na`y, 56 qua^n nha^n My~ hy sinh, phi'a Ba('c Vie^.t co' 610 bo^. ddo^.i tu+? tra^.n.
11-12 tha'ng 5	Trong nga`y na`y, Vie^.t Co^.ng mo+? mo^.t cuo^.c to^?ng pha'o ki'ch va`o 212 mu.c tie^u trong la~nh tho^? Nam Vie^.t Nam.
14 tha'ng 5	Trong mo^.t buo^?i thuye^'t tri`nh, To^?ng Tho^'ng Nixon loa.i bo? mo^.t ddie^`u kie^.n quan tro.ng ma` dda~ ddu+o+.c ne^u le^n trong ca'c cuo^.c thu+o+ng thuye^'t tru+o+'c dda^y. DDo' la` vie^.c ddo`i ho?i Ba('c Vie^.t pha?i ru't he^'t qua^n kho?i la~nh tho^? Nam Vie^.t Nam tru+o+'c khi Hoa Ky` ru't qua^n ve^` nu+o+'c. Ngu+o+.c la.i la^`n na`y, o^ng chi? ddo`i ho?i qua^n ddo^.i cu?a hai be^n (Ba('c Vie^.t va` Hoa Ky`) se~ ddo^`ng loa.t ru't qua^n, va` ca'c cuo^.c ru't qua^n se~ ddu+o+.c gia'm sa't bo+?i nhu+~ng ho^.i ddoa`n trung la^.p quo^'c te^'. Ngoa`i ra, To^?ng Tho^'ng Nixon cu~ng nha('c dde^'n mo^.t gia?i pha'p "ba^`u cu+?" dde^? gia?i quye^'t vu~ng la^`y chie^'n tranh Vie^.t Nam. DDa^y la` mo^.t nhu+o+.c ddie^?m tro.ng he^. trong cha'nh sa'ch chi'nh tri. ngoa.i giao cu?a cha'nh phu? Hoa Ky`.
25-31 tha'ng 5	Nga`y 25 tha'ng 5, Tie^?u DDoa`n 11 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n VNCH ddu+o+.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n dde^'n DDo^`i 882, ca'ch thi. xa~ Dakto (thuo^.c ti?nh Kontum) 15 km ve^` hu+o+'ng Ta^y Nam. Va`o buo^?i chie^`u, hai dda.i ddo^.i Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n cha.m su'ng ma.nh vo+'i ddi.ch qua^n. Cuo^.c giao tranh ke'o da`i ga^`n hai gio+` ddo^`ng, qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t tha'o cha.y. Nga`y ho^m sau, 26 tha'ng 5, Tie^?u DDoa`n 11 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n VNCH tie^'p tu.c truy ki'ch lu+.c lu+o+.ng Co^.ng Sa?n. DDu.ng ddo^. ma.nh ve^` hu+o+'ng DDo^ng cu?a DDo^`i 882. Tra^.n dda'nh xa'p la' ca` dda^~m ma'u xa?y ra. Qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t xu+? du.ng B-40 ba('n tru+.c xa.. Tru+.c tha(ng vo~ trang AH-1 Cobra va` oanh ta.c co+ F-4 Phantom ddu+o+.c gu+?i dde^'n ye^?m tro+. cho ca'c binh si~ VNCH. Chie^'n tru+o+`ng ke^'t thu'c, Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n lu.c soa't khu vu+.c chie^'n dda^'u trong hai nga`y qua, ho. ti`m tha^'y 262 tu+? thi Co^.ng Sa?n. Nga`y 28 tha'ng 5, cu+o+`ng ddo^. pha'o ki'ch cu?a Co^.ng qua^n gia?m bo+'t, mo^.t so^' tru+.c tha(ng dda'p xuo^'ng DDo^`i 882 dde^? di ta?n mo^.t so^' thu+o+ng binh. Chie^`u 29 tha'ng 5, qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t phu.c ki'ch hai tie^?u ddoa`n Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n 11 va` 23. Cuo^.c cha.m su'ng ke'o da`i suo^'t dde^m, ho?a lu+.c pha'o binh cu?a VNCH va` Hoa Ky` tu+` xa chu.p xuo^'ng ye^?m tro+.. Nga`y 31 tha'ng 5, Tie^?u DDoa`n 23 BDDQ an toa`n ru't lui ve^` ca(n cu+', nhu+ng Tie^?u DDoa`n 11 BDDQ va^~n co`n bi. ke.t o+? trong ru+`ng. Nga`y 1 tha'ng 6, qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n bao va^y va` dda'nh bie^?n ngu+o+`i tu+` mo.i phi'a. Ca'c binh si~ Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n VNCH chie^'n dda^'u dde^'n ga^`n he^'t dda.n, nhu+ng nho+` co' ca'c oanh ta.c co+ F-4 Phantom va` tru+.c tha(ng vo~ trang AH-1 Cobra ye^?m tro+. ne^n ca'c ca'c vi. tri' cu?a ho. kho^ng bi. tra`n nga^.p. DDe^m ho^m ddo' ca'c binh si~ VNCH thu lu+o+.m su'ng AK-47 cu`ng dda.n du+o+.c tre^n xa'c che^'t ddi.ch qua^n ro^`i quye^'t tu+? chie^'n dde^? mo+? ddu+o+`ng ma'u thoa't kho?i vo`ng va^y. Ho. kho^ng dde^? la.i mo^.t thu+o+ng binh na`o. Ta^'t ca? dde^`u ddu+o+.c di`u da('t hoa(.c co~ng, ke^? ca? mo^.t co^' va^'n My~ bi. thu+o+ng tra^`m tro.ng. Mu+o+`i gio+` sa'ng nga`y 1 tha'ng 6, Tie^?u DDoa`n 11 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n ve^` dde^'n vu`ng dda^'t an toa`n. (DDa(.c San KBC so^' 19, Nha` Xua^'t Ba?n Tu' Quy`nh, tr.86).
8 tha'ng 6	Trong mo^.t cuo^.c ho.p thu+o+.ng ddi?nh ta.i dda?o Midway, To^?ng Tho^?ng Nixon tho^ng ba'o cho To^?ng Tho^'ng Thie^.u bo^'n ddie^?m quan tro.ng trong cha'nh sa'ch cu?a Hoa Ky` ta.i Vie^.t Nam: 1) ru't qua^n ddo^.i My~ ve^` nu+o+'c, 2) "Vie^.t Nam Ho'a Chie^'n Tranh", 3) cu?ng co^' lu+.c lu+o+.ng ddo^`ng minh, va` 4) thu+o+ng thuye^'t cu`ng Co^.ng Sa?n. O^ng cho bie^'t se~ la^.p tu+'c tie^'n ha`nh vie^.c ru't 25,000 binh si~ My~ kho?i Vie^.t Nam.
10 tha'ng 6	Cha'nh Phu? Ca'ch Ma.ng La^m Tho+`i (CPCMLT) ddu+o+.c tha`nh la^.p trong nhu+~ng vu`ng do Vie^.t Co^.ng kie^?m soa't ta.i mie^`n Nam Vie^.t Nam. DDa^y la` mo^.t "cha'nh phu? ma gia'o" ddu+o+.c Ba('c Vie^.t ta.o du+.ng dde^? dda'nh lu+`a du+ lua^.n the^' gio+'i, va` tie^.n vie^.c tuye^n truye^`n cho co^ng cuo^.c xa^m la(ng mie^`n Nam.
15 tha'ng 7	To^?ng Tho^'ng Nixon gu+?i thu+ cho Ho^` Chi' Minh dde^` nghi. xu'c tie^'n ca'c vie^.c thu+o+ng thuye^'t.
17.8 dde^'n 1.9	Nga`y 17 tha'ng 8 hai dda.i ddo^.i li'nh My~ bi. mo^.t trung ddoa`n Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t bao va^y ta.i thung lu~ng Que^' So+n, 25 miles (40 km) ve^` phi'a Nam cu?a DDa` Na(~ng. Nga`y 19 tha'ng 8 mo^.t tru+.c tha(ng Hoa Ky` bi. ba('n ro+i. Tra^.n chie^'n ke'o da`i ga^`n hai tua^`n va` cha^'m du+'t va`o nga`y 1 tha'ng 9 khi lu+.c lu+o+.ng gia?i to?a ba('t tai ddu+o+.c vo+'i hai dda.i ddo^.i bi. bao va^y. (Edgar O'Ballance, The War In Vietnam 1954-73, tr.147).
3 tha'ng 9	Ho^` Chi' Minh qua ddo+`i. To^n DDu+'c Tha('ng, mo^.t nha^n va^.t gia` nua 81 tuo^?i le^n na('m chu+'c chu? ti.ch. Mo^.t so^' tu+o+'ng la~nh Co^.ng Sa?n kha'c nhu+ Vo~ Nguye^n Gia'p, Le^ Dua^?n, Pha.m Va(n DDo^`ng, va` Tru+o+`ng Chinh cu~ng ddu+o+.c ddu+a va`o na('m giu+~ nhu+~ng chu+'c vu. then cho^'t cu?a cha'nh quye^`n Ba('c Vie^.t.
1.11 dde^'n 4.12	Nga`y 1 tha'ng 11, Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t pha'o ki'ch ha`ng nga`n qua? dda.n ddu? loa.i va`o ca'c tie^`n ddo^`n Annie, Susan, va` Kent trong vu`ng Bu Prang. Nga`y 2 tha'ng 11, dde^? ba?o toa`n lu+.c lu+o+.ng, qua^n tru' pho`ng ddu+o+.c le^.nh trie^.t thoa'i dde^? ta(ng cu+o+`ng cho ca'c khu vu+.c kha'c o+? ti?nh Qua?ng DDu+'c. Sa'ng nga`y 3 tha'ng 11, mo^.t trung ddoa`n pha'o Co^.ng Sa?n pha'o ki'ch va` ba trung ddoa`n bo^. ddo^.i ta^'n co^ng ca(n cu+' Bu Prang. Ca(n cu+' na`y ddu+o+.c tra^'n giu+~ bo+?i 500 binh si~ Bie^.t Ki'ch Qua^n Bie^n Pho`ng VNCH (co`n ddu+o+.c go.i la` Da^n Su+. Chie^'n DDa^'u) va` 50 binh si~ thuo^.c Lu+.c Lu+o+.ng DDa(.c Bie^.t Hoa Ky`. Tra^.n chie^'n kho^'c lie^.t ke'o da`i hai tha'ng tru+o+`ng. Bo^. ddo^.i Ba('c Vie^.t pha'o ki'ch va` mo+? nhie^`u ddo+.t ta^'n co^ng bie^?n ngu+o+`i nhu+ng va^~n kho^ng dda'nh ddo^? ddu+o+.c su+'c kha'ng cu+. du+~ do^.i cu?a qua^n tru' pho`ng. Kho^ng Qua^n Hoa Ky` va` VNCH bay nhie^`u phi vu. hie^?m nghe`o dde^? tro+. cho ca(n cu+' Bu Prang. Cuo^.c chie^'n ke'o da`i dde^'n nga`y 4 tha'ng 12 thi` cha^'m du+'t. Qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n bi. thie^.t ha.i na(.ng va` ru't lui kho?i chie^'n tru+o+`ng. Ca(n cu+' Bu Prang hoa`n toa`n ddu+o+.c gia?i to?a.
So^' tu+? vong va` thu+o+ng vong trong na(m 1969	Hoa Ky`: 9,249 tu+? thu+o+ng, 69,043 bi. thu+o+ng, 112 ma^'t ti'ch. Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a: ta`i lie^.u kho^ng pho^? bie^'n. Co^.ng Sa?n: 152,842 tu+? thu+o+ng, bi. thu+o+ng kho^ng ro~ (Edgar O'Ballance, The War In Vietnam 1954-73, tr.146).