Military Assistance Advisory Group
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Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) is a designation for American military advisors sent to assist in the training of conventional armed forces of Third World countries. Before and during the Vietnam War, there were three of these groups operating in Southeast Asia.
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[edit] MAAG, Indochina; MAAG, Vietnam
MAAG, Indochina was established in September 1950 to advise the French in its fight against the Viet Minh, who were fighting for an independent Vietnam. It provided combat training for all branches of the South Vietnamese armed forces, using field advisors, as well as lending joint services support to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN).
After the French defeat, it was renamed the MAAG, Vietnam in 1955, and in 1964 was merged into the U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV), when the United States became more deeply involved in the Vietnam War. The number of advisors rose from 746 in 1961 to over 3,400 before MAAG was placed under MACV and renamed the Field Advisory Element, Vietnam. At the peak of the war in 1968, 9,430 Army personnel acted as advisors down to the district and battalion level.
MAAG, Indochina had three commanders: Brig.Gen. Francis G. Brink, October 1950-August 1952; Maj.Gen. Thomas J. H. Trapnell, August 1952-April 1954; and LtGen John W. O'Daniel, April 1954-November 1955. MAAG, Vietnam was commanded by Lt.Gen. Samuel T. Williams, November 1955-September 1960; Lt.Gen. Lionel C. McGarr, September 1960-July 1962; and Maj.Gen. Charles J. Timmes, July 1962-May 1964.
[edit] MAAG Laos
MAAG Laos was established in 1961 to replace the Programs Evaluation Office in its support of the Royal Lao Army's fight against the cummunist Pathet Lao. On July 23, 1962, several interested countries agreed in Geneva to guarantee the neutrality and independence of Laos. As such, the US removed the MAAG, replacing it with a "Requirements Office", which served as a convenient cover for the CIA activities.
One of MAAG Laos' commanders was Reuben Tucker.
[edit] MAAG Cambodia
MAAG Cambodia operated from 1955-1964 to advise the Cambodian government.
[edit] External links
- History of the MAAG
- A chapter from Hmong Means Free dealing with the history of Laos (for information on MAAG Laos)
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