Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Military Assistance Command, Vietnam | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 1962-1973 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Joint Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Tan Son Nhut Air Base |
| Engagements | Vietnam War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
William C. Westmoreland Creighton Abrams Frederick C. Weyand |
The U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, MACV, (mack vee), was the United States' unified command structure for all of its military forces in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Because of the many headquarters units in its locale, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, near Saigon, MACV was called Pentagon East.
The MACV was created on February 8, 1962, in response to the increase in U.S. military assistance to South Vietnam. MACV was first implemented to assist the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) Vietnam, controlling every advisory and assistance effort in Vietnam, but was reorganized on May 15, 1964 and absorbed MAAG Vietnam to its command when combat unit deployment became too large for advisory group control. The first commanding general of MACV, General Paul D. Harkins, was also the commander of MAAG Vietnam, and after reorganization was succeeded by General William C. Westmoreland in June, 1964, followed by General Creighton Abrams (July 1968) and General Frederick C. Weyand (June 1972). The MACV was disbanded on March 29, 1973.
Major component commands of MACV were:
- United States Army Vietnam (USARV)
- Naval Forces Vietnam (NAVFORV)
- Seventh Air Force (7AF)
- III Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF)
- I Field Force, Vietnam (I FFV)
- II Field Force, Vietnam (II FFV)
- XXIV Corps
- 5th Special Forces Group
- Civil Operations and Rural Development Support (CORDS)
- Studies and Observations Group under Joint "High Command" (Joint Chiefs of Staff & Commander in Chief) covert
[edit] See also
- John Paul Vann, US Army Lieutenant Colonel and adviser in Viet Nam who became a critic of MACV
- Military Assistance Advisory Group
- George Patton IV was part of MACV-SOF during its early years
[edit] References
- Stanton, Shelby, Vietnam Order of Battle, ISBN 0-89193-700-5
- Sorley, Lewis, A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America's Last Years in Vietnam, ISBN 0-15-601309-6
