Cambodia


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

Cuo^.c xa^m la(ng cu?a qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t kho^ng pha?i chi? ddi tha(?ng mo^.t ddu+o+`ng da`i tu+` Ba('c Vie^.t qua so^ng Be^'n Ha?i o+? Vi~ Tuye^'n 17 ro^`i xuo^i xuo^'ng mie^`n Nam. Cuo^.c xa^m la(ng cu?a qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t dda~ kho^ng ddo+n so+ va` de^~ da`ng nhu+ the^'. Ke^? tu+` na(m 1959, Ba('c Vie^.t dda~ ba('t dda^`u thie^'t la^.p mo^.t he^. tho^'ng va^.n chuye^?n ddi tu+` Ba('c va`o Nam. He^. tho^'ng na`y cha.y da`i xuye^n qua ru+`ng gia`, nu'i ddo^`i, va` so^ng ngo`i o+? ca? ba quo^'c gia Vie^.t, Mie^n, va` La`o. Ta.i La`o, qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n ta^.p trung nhie^`u binh ddoa`n ma.nh me~ ddo+.i di.p ta^'n co^ng va`o mie^`n Trung dde^? chia ddo^i la~nh tho^? Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a (VNCH). O+? mie^`n Nam, ga^`n bie^n gio+'i Vie^.t-Mie^n (Mie^n: Cam Bo^'t), qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n thie^'t la^.p nhie^`u ca(n cu+' qua^n su+. bi' ma^.t. Ca'c kho chu+'a qua^n du.ng, thuo^'c men, thu+.c pha^?m, xe co^., v.v. dde^`u ddu+o+.c canh ga'c ca^?n ma^.t va` lie^n tu.c ba?o tri` dde^? ye^?m tro+. ca'c lu+.c lu+o+.ng Co^.ng Sa?n ddo'ng qua^n trong la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t. Na(m 1970, hai quo^'c gia Hoa Ky` va` Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a dde^`u ddo^`ng y' mo+? cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n dda.i quy mo^ tie^u die^.t ca'c ha^.u ca^`n (ca(n cu+') cu?a qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t trong la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t.

Trong khi ddo' ta.i Cam Bo^'t, cha'nh phu? Hoa`ng Gia ga(.p nhie^`u kho' kha(n no^.i bo^.. Hoa`ng tha^n Norodom Sihanouk pha?i ddo^'i dda^`u vo+'i hai lu+.c lu+o+.ng lo+.i ha.i la` qua^n Khmer DDo? (Co^.ng Sa?n Cam Bo^'t) va` Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t Nam ddo'ng qua^n tre^n la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t). Cha'nh sa'ch cu?a o^ng Sihanouk "nu+?a tra('ng nu+?a dden." O^ng kho^ng tha^n Co^.ng Sa?n, nhu+ng cu~ng kho^ng da'm tha(?ng tay dda'nh Co^.ng Sa?n. O^ng bie^'t ddu+o+.c qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t bi' ma^.t cho ha`ng chu.c nga`n bo^. ddo^.i xa^m nha^.p Nam Vie^.t Nam qua ca'c ne?o ddu+o+`ng trong la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t, nhu+ng o^ng la.i kho^ng ma.nh me~ le^n tie^'ng pha?n ddo^'i. Ngu+o+.c la.i, o^ng Sihanouk dda~ la`m ngo+ dde^? ma(.c cho bo^. ddo^.i Ba('c Vie^.t tung hoa`ng tre^n la~nh tho^? cu?a quo^'c gia o^ng.


ARVN soldiers conducting a military operation to destroy secret North Vietnamese Communist bases in Cambodia, 1970.



Tha'ng 3 na(m 1970, lo+.i du.ng lu'c o^ng Sihanouk sang Pha'p dde^? chu+~a be^.nh ddau gan, Thu? Tu+o+'ng Lon Nol ddu+'ng le^n la^.t ddo^? cha'nh phu?. O^ng Lon Nol xua^'t tha^n tu+` trong qua^n ddo^.i Hoa`ng Gia, va` vi` la` mo^.t ngu+o+`i cho^'ng Co^.ng trie^.t dde^? ne^n o^ng dda~ kho^ng cha^'p nha^.n vie^.c bo^. ddo^.i Ba('c Vie^.t du`ng la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t dde^? la`m ba`n dda.p cho co^ng cuo^.c xa^m la(ng. Sau khi le^n ca^`m quye^`n, Thu? Tu+o+'ng Lon Nol la^.p tu+'c ra le^.nh cho qua^n ddo^.i Hoa`ng Gia mo+? ca'c cuo^.c ta^'n co^ng va`o ca'c vi. tri' ddo'ng qua^n cu?a bo^. ddo^.i Ba('c Vie^.t. Nhu+ng tre^n phu+o+ng die^.n qua^n so^' va` ho?a lu+.c, qua^n ddo^.i cu?a Thu? Tu+o+'ng Lon Nol kho^ng bi` ddu+o+.c vo+'i ke? thu`. Qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t va` qua^n Khmer DDo? ddu+o+.c trang bi. to^'i ta^n, va` co' nhie^`u tay su'ng ho+n qua^n ddo^.i cha'nh phu?. Ngoa`i ra, ca? hai lu+.c lu+o+.c Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t va` Khmer DDo? dde^`u pho^'i ho+.p cha(.t che? dde^? tro+? tha`nh mo^.t lu+.c lu+o+.ng qua^n su+. vo^ cu`ng hu`ng ha^.u tre^n dda^'t mie^n. Trong mo^.t cuo^.c pha?n co^ng to lo+'n, qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t vo+'i qua^n so^' tu+` 40 dde^'n 50,000 dda'nh tho^'c tu+` DDo^ng sang Ta^y. Cuo^.c pha?n co^ng na`y ddu+a Co^.ng qua^n ho. dde^'n ga^`n thu? ddo^ Phnom Penh. Ne^`n an ninh cu?a cha'nh phu? Lon Nol lu'c a^'y bi. dde do.a tra^`m tro.ng (David Phillipson, Vietnam At War, The History 1945-75, tr.624).

Trong ti`nh huo^'ng a^'y, Thu? Tu+o+'ng Lon Nol lie^`n nho+` Hoa Ky` can thie^.p. Kho^ng mo^.t chu't do du+., Hoa Ky` lie^`n ho^.i y' cha'nh phu? Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a. Ca? hai quo^'c gia na`y hie^?u ro~ ne^'u Cam Bo^'t bi. ma^'t va`o tay Co^.ng Sa?n thi` Ba('c Vie^.t se~ ddu+o+.c tu+. do xa^m nha^.p Nam Vie^.t Nam tre^n mo^.t chie^'n tuye^'n ro^.ng ra~i ke'o da`i ha`ng tra(m ca^y so^'. Nga`y 22 tha'ng 4, To^?ng Tho^'ng Nixon quye^'t ddi.nh gu+?i qua^n can thie^.p va`o ti`nh hi`nh chie^'n su+. o+? Cam Bo^'t. Trong mo^.t buo^?i ho.p vo+'i Ho^.i DDo^`ng An Ninh Quo^'c Gia, o^ng dda~ soa.n tha?o mo^.t ke^' hoa.ch nhu+ sau: Nga`y 29 tha'ng 4, qua^n ddo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a se~ ha`nh qua^n va`o khu "Mo? Ve.t", va` mo^.t nga`y sau ddo', 1 tha'ng 5, qua^n ddo^.i My~ se~ tie^'n qua^n va`o lu.c soa't khu "Lu+o+~i Ca^u." Trong tho+`i ddie^?m na`y, lu+.c lu+o+.ng ti`nh ba'o cu?a Hoa Ky` va` VNCH dde^`u cho ra(`ng bo^. chi? huy cu?a Ma(.t Tra^.n Gia?i Pho'ng Mie^`n Nam (Vie^.t Co^.ng) dda(.t trong khu vu+.c "Lu+o+~i Ca^u."

Cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n va`o la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t ddu+o+.c chia tha`nh nhie^`u nga~. DDe^? lu.c soa't khu vu+.c "Lu+o+~i Ca^u", lu+.c lu+o+.ng Thie^'t Ky. Hoa Ky` se~ tu+` hu+o+'ng Nam ha`nh qua^n ngu+o+.c le^n hu+o+'ng Ba('c, song song vo+'i mo^.t cuo^.c ta^'n co^ng cu?a Su+ DDoa`n 1 Kho^ng Ky. tu+` hu+o+'ng DDo^ng ke'o qua, trong khi ddo' Lu+~ DDoa`n 3 Du` VNCH se~ truy lu`ng ddi.ch qua^n tu+` phi'a Ba('c, ro^`i mo^.t cuo^.c tru+.c tha(ng va^.n se~ ddu+o+.c tung va`o dde^? cha^.n ca'c nga~ ddu+o+`ng ru't lui cu?a ddi.ch qua^n. Trong chie^'n di.ch ha`nh qua^n dda^`u tie^n, to^?ng co^.ng qua^n so^' Vie^.t-My~ go^`m khoa?ng 15,000 ngu+o+`i. Nga`y 1 tha'ng 5, chie^'n tru+o+`ng Cam Bo^'t ddu+o+.c do.n de.p sa.ch se~ vo+'i nhie^`u phi vu. oanh ta.c, va` lu+.c lu+o+.ng ddo^`ng minh ba('t dda^`u tie^'n qua^n sang Cam Bo^'t. Trong khi ddo' ve^` hu+o+'ng Nam, cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n va`o khu "Mo? Ve.t" dda~ kho^ng ga(.p tro+? nga.i na`o. Ba tie^?u ddoa`n Bo^. Binh VNCH pho^'i ho+.p cu`ng mo^.t thie^'t ddoa`n Thie^'t Ky. go^`m 75 thie^'t gia'p ddu? loa.i -- to^?ng co^.ng khoa?ng 8,700 binh si~ -- ba('t dda^`u di chuye^?n sang Cam Bo^'t dde^? bao va^y Ca(n Cu+' 706 va` 367 cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t. Sau khi trie^.t ha. ca'c ca(n cu+' na`y, lu+.c lu+o+.ng VNCH se~ tie^'n ve^` hu+o+'ng Ta^y dde^'n thi. xa~ Svay Rieng, ro^`i se~ di chuye^?n ngu+o+.c le^n hu+o+'ng Ba('c dde^? lu.c soa't Ca(n Cu+' 354. Nhie^`u vu. cha.m su'ng ma.nh dda~ xa?y ra trong hai nga`y dda^`u tie^n. Nhu+ng sau ddo' qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n pha?i tra'nh ne' va` ru't sa^u va`o la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t.

DDe^'n nga`y 3 tha'ng 5, nhie^`u kho qua^n du.ng bi' ma^.t cu?a qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n ba('t dda^`u bi. kha'm pha'. DDu? thu+' loa.i vu~ khi' va` dda.n du+o+.c bi. ti.ch thu. Ca'c ha^`m ho^', nha` du+o+~ng thu+o+ng, va` khu hua^'n luye^.n da~ chie^'n dde^`u bi. pha' hu?y. Cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n va`o la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t ke^'t thu'c va`o cuo^'i tha'ng Sa'u vo+'i qua^n ddo^.i Hoa Ky` kho+?i dda^`u cuo^.c lui binh, sau ddo' dde^'n ca'c ddo+n vi. VNCH la^`n lu+o+.t ru't lui theo thu+' tu+.. Chie^'n di.ch ca`n que't ma^.t khu Co^.ng Sa?n dda~ tha`nh co^ng my~ ma~n. Nhie^`u ddo+n vi. Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t bi. dda'nh tan na't, pha?i ga^'p ga'p bo? cha.y va` kho^ng ki.p tie^u hu?y nhu+~ng ta`i lie^.u to^'i ma^.t cu?a ho.. The^m va`o ddo', lu+.c lu+o+.ng ddo^`ng minh cu~ng ti`m ddu+o+.c nhie^`u ca(n cu+' qua^n su+. bi' ma^.t cu?a qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t trong la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t. Ve^` pha^`n chie^'n lo+.i pha^?m, ho. ti.ch thu ddu+o+.c 23,000 loa.i vu~ khi' ca' nha^n (ddu? trang bi. cho 74 tie^?u ddoa`n Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t), 2,500 vu~ khi' co^.ng ddo^`ng (ddu? trang bi. cho 25 tie^?u ddoa`n), 16,700,000 vie^n dda.n co+~ nho? (ddu? cho qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n tie^u du`ng trong mo^.t na(m), 14 trie^.u ca^n ga.o, 143,000 dda.n co+~ lo+'n (cho ho?a tie^?n, su'ng co^'i, su'ng kho^ng gia^.t).


Important events of the year

Qua^n DDo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a

Qua^n ddo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a ta(ng tru+o+?ng le^n dde^'n khoa?ng 950,000 binh si~ thuo^.c ca'c qua^n chu?ng Ha?i, Lu.c, va` Kho^ng Qua^n. Theo su+. nha^.n xe't cu?a su+? gia Tom Carhart trong quye^?n Battles And Campaigns In Vietnam xua^'t ba?n va`o na(m 1984, lu+.c lu+o+.ng Co^.ng Sa?n bi. thua thie^.t na(.ng o+? tho+`i ddie^?m 1970 vi` ga(.p pha?i su+. chie^'n dda^'u gio?i giang cu?a qua^n ddo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a. (Tom Carhart, Battles And Campaigns In Vietnam, tr.134).

Qua^n so^' Co^.ng Sa?n

Ke^? tu+` dda^`u na(m 1970, Co^.ng Sa?n ta.i Nam Vie^.t Nam co' 133,000 bo^. ddo^.i chi'nh quy Ba('c Vie^.t, vo+'i 52,000 du ki'ch cu`ng 58,000 phu. lu+.c qua^n, to^?ng co^.ng go^`m 243,000 ngu+o+`i. Lu+.c lu+o+.ng na`y ddu+o+.c ye^?m tro+. bo+?i 84,000 qua^n Vie^.t Co^.ng ra~i ra'c o+? mie^`n Nam. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.144).

Ho?a lu+.c Co^.ng Sa?n

Nga So^ va` Trung Co^.ng tie^'p tu.c gia ta(ng vie^.n tro+. cho Ba('c Vie^.t. Ca'c loa.i vu~ khi' cha'nh ye^'u go^`m co' 122 ly, ho?a tie^?n 107 ly, su'ng co^'i 82 ly, su'ng kho^ng gia^.t 75 ly, su'ng cho^'ng xe ta(ng RPG-2 va` B-40, ca'c dda.i lie^n 14.5 ly va` 12.7 ly, va` mo^~i mo^.t qua^n nha^n Co^.ng Sa?n tho^ng thu+o+`ng dde^`u ddu+o+.c trang bi. su'ng tru+o+`ng tu+. ddo^.ng AK-47 vo+'i loa.i dda.n 7.62 ly. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.144).

Tha'ng 2

Bo^. Tru+o+?ng Quo^'c Pho`ng Hoa Ky`, o^ng M. Lair sang tha(m Vie^.t Nam. Ta.i dda^y o^ng dda~ ddo^`ng y' cho Tu+o+'ng Abrams xu+? du.ng ho?a lu+.c ye^?m tro+. cho Qua^n DDo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a trong chie^'n di.ch ha`nh qua^n tie^u die^.t qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t trong la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t.

Tha'ng 3

Su+ DDoa`n 26 Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n Hoa Ky` ba('t dda^`u ru't qua^n kho?i Vie^.t Nam. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.143).

18 tha'ng 3

Tu+o+'ng Lon Nol la^.t ddo^? tha'i tu+? Norodom Sihanouk, va` le^n ca^`m quye^`n vo+'i chu+'c vi. Thu? Tu+o+'ng. DDe^? pha?n ddo^'i su+. hie^.n die^.n ba^'t ho+.p pha'p cu?a ha`ng tra(m nga`n bo^. ddo^.i Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t tre^n la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t, Thu? Tu+o+'ng Lon Nol ra le^.nh cho qua^n ddo^.i mo+? ca'c cuo^.c ta^'n co^ng. Tuy nhie^n, qua^n ddo^.i Hoa`ng Gia Cam Bo^'t chi? co' to^?ng co^.ng 32,000 ngu+o+`i. Qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t cho^'ng cu+. ma.nh me~. Ca'c tru.c lo^. chi'nh da^~n ve^` thu? ddo^ Nam Vang ha^`u nhu+ bi. ca('t ddu+'t. Trong khi ddo' lu+.c lu+o+.ng Kmer DDo? (Co^.ng Sa?n Cam Bo^'t ddu+o+.c ho^~ tro+. bo+?i Trung Co^.ng) cu~ng ga^y a'p lu+.c na(.ng ne^` o+? nhie^`u no+i tre^n la~nh tho^? Cao Mie^n.

Tha'ng 4

Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh Hoa Ky` ba('t dda^`u ru't qua^n kho?i Vie^.t Nam. Lu+~ DDoa`n 3, thuo^.c Su+ DDoa`n 4 Bo^. Binh, cu~ng ba('t dda^`u ro+`i kho?i Vie^.t Nam. Pha^`n co`n la.i cu?a su+ ddoa`n la^`n lu+o+.t ve^` nu+o+'c va`o khoa?ng tha'ng 12. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.143).

Tha'ng 4 dde^'n tha'ng 10

O+? Vu`ng 1 Chie^'n Thua^.t, Su+ DDoa`n 101 Hoa Ky` mo+? chie^'n di.ch Texas Star ca`n que't hai ti?nh Qua?ng Tri. va` Thu+`a Thie^n. Cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n ba('t dda^`u va`o tha'ng 4 va` ke^'t thu'c va`o tha'ng 10. Khoa?ng 1,782 qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n bi. ha.. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.144).

13 tha'ng 4

Nga`y 13 tha'ng 4 qua^n ddo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a vu+o+.t bie^n gio+'i va`o la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t dde^? tie^u die^.t ca'c ca(n cu+' qua^n su+. bi' ma^.t cu?a Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t. Cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n mang te^n Toa`n Tha('ng 41 ddu+o+.c ddie^`u ddo^.ng du+o+'i quye^`n chi? huy cu?a Trung Tu+o+'ng DDo^~ Cao Tri', Tu+ Le^.nh Qua^n DDoa`n 3. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng, Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam 1963-75, tr.237).

13 tha'ng 4

Nga`y 13 tha'ng 4 qua^n ddo^.i Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a vu+o+.t bie^n gio+'i va` ta^'n co^ng va`o ca'c khu vu+.c ta^.p trung cu?a qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t. Cam Bo^'t. Chie^'n di.ch Toa`n Tha('ng 41 ddu+o+.c ddie^`u ddo^.ng va` chi? huy bo+?i Trung Tu+o+'ng DDo^~ Cao Tri', Tu+ Le^.nh Qua^n DDoa`n 3. Trong ddo+.t ta^'n co^ng dda^`u tie^n na`y, Chie^'n DDoa`n 225 (mo^.t tha`nh pha^`n cu?a Su+ DDoa`n 25 Bo^. Binh), Chie^'n DDoa`n 318 Thie^'t Ky., va` Chie^'n DDoa`n 333 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n chia la`m 3 mu~i du`i ca`n que't vu`ng Ca'nh Thie^n Tha^`n (vu`ng Ngu~ Long thuo^.c qua^.n Go` Da^`u ti?nh Ta^y Ninh). Sau ba nga`y ha`nh qua^n, qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t bi. thie^.t ha.i na(.ng vo+'i 700 bo^. ddo^.i bi. tie^u die^.t tre^n tra^.n ddi.a. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng, Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam 1963-75, tr.237-8).

20 tha'ng 4

Trong mo^.t cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n kha'c, 3 thie^'t ddoa`n va` 3 tie^?u ddoa`n Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n VNCH ca`n que^'t khu vu+.c ' Qua.. Sau hai nga`y ddu.ng ddo^., qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t bo? cha.y va` dde^? la.i nhie^`u kho vu~ khi'. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng, Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam 1963-75, tr.238).

28 tha'ng 4

Thie^'t DDoa`n 2, Thie^'t DDoa`n 6, cu`ng ca'c lu+.c lu+o+.ng DDi.a Phu+o+ng Qua^n VNCH tro+? la.i khu vu+.c ' Qua., nhu+ng kho^ng co' ddu.ng ddo^. na`o dda'ng ke^?. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng, Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam 1963-75, tr.238).

29 tha'ng 4

Qua^n ddo^.i VNCH kho+?i dda^`u cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n Toa`n Tha('ng 42 vo+'i hai chi ddoa`n Thie^'t Ky. (thuo^.c Su+ DDoa`n 5 va` 25 Bo^. Binh), mo^.t trung ddoa`n cu?a Su+ DDoa`n 25 Bo^. Binh, va` Lie^n DDoa`n 2 Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n vo+'i to^?ng co^.ng qua^n so^' khoa?ng 8,700 ngu+o+`i. Ta^'t ca? dde^`u ddu+o+.c dda(.t du+o+'i quye^`n chi? huy cu?a Thie^'u Tu+o+'ng DDo^~ Cao Tri'. Ngay sau khi cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n ddu+o+.c khai die^~n, mo^.t lu+.c lu+o+.ng kha'c go^`m 4,300 binh si~ cu?a Su+ DDoa`n 9 Bo^. Binh, na(m chi ddoa`n Thie^'t Ky., va` mo^.t Lie^n DDoa`n Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n cu?a Qua^n DDoa`n 4 cu~ng ddu+o+.c ddie^`u ddo^.ng va`o tra^.n ddi.a. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng, Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam 1963-75, tr.238-9).

1 tha'ng 5

DDe^m 30 tha'ng 4 dde^'n sa'ng nga`y 1 tha'ng 5, cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n Toa`n Tha('ng 43 ba('t dda^`u vo+'i su+. pho^'i ho+.p cu?a ca'c lu+.c lu+o+.ng Vie^.t-My~. Phi'a be^n Hoa Ky` co' su+. tham du+. cu?a Su+ DDoa`n 1 Ky. Binh Kho^ng Va^.n. Phi'a be^n VNCH co' ca'c Su+ DDoa`n 9, Su+ DDoa`n 22, Su+ DDoa`n 23, va` Su+ DDoa`n 25 Bo^. Binh, pho^'i ho+.p cu`ng na(m lie^n ddoa`n Bie^.t DDo^.ng Qua^n, lu+~ ddoa`n 3 Nha?y Du`, Thie^'t DDoa`n 2 Thie^'t Gia'p, va` mo^.t lu+~ ddoa`n Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n. Ta^'t ca? dde^`u ddu+o+.c dda(.t du+o+'i quye^`n chi? huy cu?a Chua^?n Tu+o+'ng R.L. Skoemaker (Tu+ Le^.nh Pho' Su+ DDoa`n 1 Ky. Binh Kho^ng Va^.n). (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng, Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam 1963-75, tr.240). (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.146)

3-7 tha'ng 5

Ca'c lu+.c lu+o+.ng Hoa Ky` tie^'n va`o Mimot ba('t tay vo+'i ca'c ddo+n vi. VNCH trong cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n Toa`n Tha('ng 42. Nga`y 5 tha'ng 5 ho. chie^'m thi. xa~ Snuol. Nga`y 6 tha'ng 5, chie^'n di.ch Toa`n Tha('ng 44 ba('t dda^`u. Su+ DDoa`n 25 Bo^. Binh Hoa Ky` mo+? cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n ca`n que't Ca(n Cu+' 354 cu?a CSBV trong la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t ve^` phi'a Ta^y cu?a ti?nh Ta^y Ninh, va` Lu+~ DDoa`n 2 thuo^.c Su+ DDoa`n 1 Ky. Binh Kho^ng Va^.n Hoa Ky` ta^'n co^ng Ca(n Cu+' 351 cu?a qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t cu~ng na(`m trong la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t (Tom Carhart, Battles And Campaigns In Vietnam, tr.144). Nga`y 7 tha'ng 5 lu+.c lu+o+.ng Hoa Ky` kha'm pha' ddu+o+.c ca(n cu+' qua^n su+. vi~ dda.i cu?a Su+ DDoa`n 7 Vie^.t Co^.ng. Ta.i ca(n cu+' na`y, qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n dda~ thie^'t la^.p 182 co^ng su+. chie^'n dda^'u chu+'a ddu+.ng vo^ so^' qua^`n a'o, thu+.c pha^?m, thuo^'c men, va` qua^n du.ng. Ngoa`i ra, nhie^`u ba~i su+?a chu+~a qua^n xa, nha` a(n, sa^n ta^.p ba('n, lo+'p ho.c, ca'c tra.i cha(n nuo^i gia su'c, tre^n 300 loa.i xe co^. ddu? loa.i, 30 ta^'n ga.o, va` ho+n 7 ta^'n ba('p cu~ng dda~ ddu+o+.c ti`m tha^'y. Ca'c vu~ khi' ti.ch thu go^`m co' 1,282 vu~ khi' ca' nha^n, 202 vu~ khi' co^.ng ddo^.ng, 1.5 trie^.u vie^n dda.n cho ca'c loa.i su'ng nho?, ho+n 26 ta^'n cha^'t no^?, 22 thu`ng mi`n cho^'ng ca' nha^n. Lu+.c lu+o+.ng Hoa Ky` dda(.t te^n cho ca(n cu+' na`y la` The City. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng, Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam 1963-75, tr.240-1).

8 tha'ng 5

Mo^.t ca(n cu+' kha'c na(`m ca'ch The City khoa?ng 40 km ve^` phi'a Ta^y Ba('c, theo hu+o+'ng Lie^n Ti?nh Lo^. 131, bi. ti`m tha^'y. Ca(n cu+' na`y ddu+o+.c dda(.t te^n Rock Island East chu+'a ddu+.ng khoa?ng 6.5 trie^.u vie^n dda.n pho`ng kho^ng, khoa?ng 500 nga`n vie^n dda.n cho ca'c loa.i su'ng nho?, va` ha`ng nga`n ho?a tie^?n cu`ng nhie^`u to^?ng dda`i ddie^.n thoa.i. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng, Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam 1963-75, tr.241).

9 tha'ng 5

Qua^n ddo^.i VNCH mo+? cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n Cu+?u Long 1 vo+'i mu.c ddi'ch khai tho^ng so^ng Cu+?u Long tu+` Vie^.t Nam dde^'n Nam Vang (thu? ddo^ Cam Bo^'t) dde^? ddu+a Vie^.t kie^`u ho^`i hu+o+ng. Mo^.t lu+.c lu+o+.ng dda(.c nhie^.m thu?y bo^. go^`m 40 ta`u cu?a Ha?i Qua^n cu`ng ca'c ddo+n vi. Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n VNCH dda~ giu'p chuye^?n va^.n 40,000 ddo^`ng Vie^.t kie^`u tu+` Cam Bo^'t ve^` Vie^.t Nam an toa`n. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng, Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam 1963-75, tr.241).

14 tha'ng 5

Chie^'n di.ch Bi`nh Ta^y 2 ddu+o+.c khai die^~n. Su+ DDoa`n 22 Bo^. Binh VNCH cu`ng Lu+~ DDoa`n 2 Thie^'t Ky. VNCH ta^'n co^ng Ca(n Cu+' 701 cu?a qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t trong la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t. Cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n ke'o da`i 2 tua^`n le^~. Qua^n ddo^.i VNCH ti`m tha^'y nhie^`u kho chu+'a qua^n du.ng, vu~ khi', thuo^'c men, thu+.c pha^?m cu?a qua^n Ba('c Vie^.t. (Tom Carhart, Battles And Campaigns In Vietnam, tr.146).

25-28 tha'ng 5

Ca'c lu+o+.ng lu+o+.ng Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a tu+` hai Lie^n Ti?nh Lo^. 7 va` 15 tie^'n qua^n ve^` Kongpong Cham dde^? gia?i cu+'u cho Bo^. Tu+ Le^.nh Qua^n Khu 1 cu?a qua^n ddo^.i Hoa`ng Gia Cam Bo^'t ddang bi. Su+ DDoa`n 9 Vie^.t Co^.ng bao va^y. Do.c theo Lie^n Ti?nh Lo^. 7, Tie^?u DDoa`n 272 VC va` Trung DDoa`n 88 CSBV ta^'n co^ng Thie^'t DDoa`n 5 VNCH, nhu+ng dda~ bi. lu+.c lu+o+.ng VNCH tie^u die^.t tro.n ve.n. Sa'ng nga`y 25, hai thie^'t ddoa`n 15 va` 18 la.i dda'nh tan mo^.t tie^?u ddoa`n VC kha'c tre^n Lie^n Ti?nh Lo^. 15. Nga`y 28 tha'ng 5, mo^.t tie^?u ddoa`n VC bi. thie^.t ha.i na(.ng ne^` trong mo^.t cuo^.c giao tranh a'c lie^.t ve^` phi'a Ta^y Nam ddo^`n ddie^`n Chup. DDe^'n dda^y, cuo^.c bao va^y Kompong Cham cu?a qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t ke^? nhu+ dda~ bi. qua^n ddo^.i VNCH hoa`n toa`n pha' vo+~. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng, Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam 1963-75, tr.239-40).

17 tha'ng 6

Cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n Cu+?u Long 2 va` 3 ddu+o+.c tie^'n ha`nh vo+'i mu.c ddi'ch ca`n que't khu vu+.c phi'a Nam Cam Bo^'t, va` dde^? ye^?m tro+. qua^n ddo^.i Cam Bo^'t thie^'t la^.p ca'c ca(n cu+' qua^n su+. trong vu`ng. Chie^'n di.ch na`y ke^'t thu'c va`o nga`y 30 tha'ng 6. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng, Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam 1963-75, tr.241).

Tha'ng 7

Khoa?ng giu+~a tha'ng 7, lu+.c lu+o+.ng Hoa Ky` ta.i Vie^.t Nam chi? co`n khoa?ng 298,600 binh si~ cu`ng 39,900 Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.143).

30 tha'ng 6

Theo chi? thi. cu?a To^?ng Tho^'ng Nixon, ca'c lu+.c lu+o+.ng Hoa Ky` ru't kho?i Cam Bo^'t tru+o+'c nga`y na`y. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng, Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam 1963-75, tr.241).

22 tha'ng 7

Ca'c lu+.c lu+o+.ng ha`nh qua^n VNCH ru't qua^n kho?i la~nh tho^? Cam Bo^'t. (Nguye^~n DDu+'c Phu+o+ng, Nhu+~ng Tra^.n DDa'nh Li.ch Su+? Trong Chie^'n Tranh Vie^.t Nam 1963-75, tr.240).

Tha'ng 8

Su+ DDoa`n 7 Thu?y Qua^n Lu.c Chie^'n Hoa Ky` ba('t dda^`u ru't qua^n kho?i Vie^.t Nam. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.143).

Tha'ng 9 dde^'n tha'ng 10

Su+ DDoa`n 101 Hoa Ky` pho^'i ho+.p cu`ng Su+ DDoa`n 1 Bo^. Binh VNCH trong chie^'n di.ch Jefferson Glenn o+? ti?nh Thu+`a Thie^n. Sau hai tha'ng ha`nh qua^n, lu+.c lu+o+.ng ddo^`ng minh tie^u die^.t 2,026 qua^n Co^.ng Sa?n. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.144).

Tha'ng 10

Lu+~ DDoa`n 199 Light Infantry Brigrade ro+`i Vie^.t Nam tro+? ve^` My~. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.143).


Su+ DDoa`n 25 Bo^. Binh Hoa Ky` cu~ng tro+? ve^` My~ no^.i trong na(m na`y. (Charles T. Kamps, Jr., History Of The Vietnam War, tr.143).

Ke^'t qua?

Ke^'t qua? cu?a cuo^.c ha`nh qua^n va`o Cam Bo^'t trong na(m 1970 ddu+o+.c su+? gia Tom Carhart ghi nha^.n nhu+ sau:

  • Co^.ng Sa?n Ba('c Vie^.t: 11,369 che^'t, 2,328 tu` binh.
  • Vie^.t Nam Co^.ng Ho`a: 538 che^'t, 3,009 bi. thu+o+ng.
  • Hoa Ky`: 338 che^'t, 1,525 bi. thu+o+ng.
  • Chie^'n lo+.i pha^?m do qua^n ddo^.i VNCH va` Hoa Ky` tha^u hoa.ch: 25,000 vu~ khi' ddu? loa.i, 435 xe co^. ddu? loa.i, ha`ng trie^.u vie^n dda.n nho?, ha`ng tra(m nga`n loa.i dda.n co^'i, ho?a tie^?n, ha`ng ta^'n thuo^'c men va` thu+.c pha^?m.
(Tom Carhart, Battles And Campaigns In Vietnam, tr.137).