FREE ESSAY ON BATTLE OF AP BAC

BATTLE OF AP BAC

BATTLE OF AP BAC
On July 7, 1954 Bao Dai, president of Vietnam appointed Ding Diem as Prime Minister. Dai
was a pro French president who did not have communist beliefs for Vietnam. Diem was man
who refused French rule and favored American ideas. He was a Roman Catholic, thus causing
him to be an opponent of communism as well. He also maintained a link to the CIA through
Colonel Edward Lansdale, renowned expert on counterinsurgency. In April 1955 Diem
launched an offensive against his main rivals in the south (Coa Dai and Hoa Hoa sects
well as the powerful Binh Xuyen pirates) and declared himself president. Since the south
was a mainly Buddhist and Diem was Catholic, it caused him to be isolated from the
people. His fear of a coup and obsession with power caused him to distrust all, but his
own family. Between Diem and his family there was a spread of corruption throughout the
country. By the late 1950's South Vietnam had degenerated into repressive, undemocratic
state, which left its people angry and isolated. 1957 sparked the first sign of trouble
as guerillas launch attacks on government agencies in rural areas. It was believed that
the Vietnamese Communist launched the attacks; also know as the Viet Cong (VC), who was
of the Viet Ming party that stayed behind. They had gone under ground a few years earlier
in 1954. They gained the support of North Vietnam and in 1959 began a policy to reunify
Vietnam with a large-scale infiltration of armed cadres into the south along the Ho Chi
Man Trail. Due to the resentment caused by Diem, a substantial part of South Vietnam was
taken over by the communist (VC). The US, under the leadership of President John F.
Kennedy, was convinced that the insurgency in South Vietnam was part of a Sino-Soviet
campaign to ensure the spread of Communism. The US government sent aid to South Vietnam
in the form of US supplied M-113 armored personnel carriers, helicopters, aircraft along
with pilots and mechanics to train South Vietnamese personnel on their use. Also US
Special Forces (green berets) and Army advisors were deployed to boost the capability of
the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). At the end of 1961, about 3,160 US service
personnel were in Vietnam. The number would rise to about 16,000 two years later. Even
the advantages of US military technology and advisors to South Vietnam, after a short
time the VC learned to operate around them. This was due to the AVRN unit commanders,
many of who were just political appointees, lacked resolve. Thus allowing the VC to
escape instead of risking heavy AVRN casualties. The VC was engaging in new techniques
ranging from the relocation of villagers to more fortified areas to use of air and
artillery strikes in rural areas. This resulted in more alienation of the people from
Diem's cause, ultimately leading to the peasant class assisting the VC. January 2, 1963
the AVRN 7th Division was ordered to destroy a VC in the hamlet (AP) of Tan Thoi. The
plan was for AVRN infantry to be landed by helicopter to the north of the hamlet, while
two Civil Guard battalions supported by a company of M-113s approached from the south
through the neighboring hamlet of Bac. Originally it was believed that the transmitter
was guarded by an estimate of 120 VC. In reality it was guarded by about 360. The AVRN
attack went wrong from the very start. After the infantry had landed at 0703 hrs, it was
discovered that the weather was not good enough for any more helicopter operations, due
to a thick ground fog. Further operations had to post-poned until 0930 hrs. The first
clash occurred at 0745 where the Civil Guard blundered into the VC section across their
route. After the loss of their company commander the South Vietnamese Army went to the
ground and called for much needed reinforcements. Helicopters were landed 300 yards west
of Bac and were supported by UH-1 gunships. It is said that US pilots landed 200 yards
from the hamlet into a VC ambush. As they came in at about 1020 hrs they were hit by
machinegun and rifle fire from hidden foxholes. One of the CH-21 was shot down and
another came in to recover the aircrew. That helicopter and a UH-1 met a similar fate.
The infantry on board took cover in the paddy dikes. A call was made to the commander of
the M-113s ordering him to suggest an immediate advance on Bac, but the APCs were away to
the west beyond a series of canals. Some ARVN unit commanders had initially refused to
move. It was not until 1300 until the first APCs reached the battle area. At 1430 hrs
they charged the VC held positions, but the VC held their ground using grenades to hold
off the vehicles. An airborne division was to the made available to the ARVN but were
ordered the east of Bac to cut off the retreat of the VC. The VC was resourceful enough
to wait until nightfall to slip away into the darkness leaving only 18 dead behind.
America suffered only 3 fatalities, but the AVRN suffered over 80 due to the
indecisiveness of their leaders. Later after much conflict in South Vietnam, a coup was
plotted and carried out against Diem. He was assassinated due to his oppressive nature
against the Buddhist religion. America at this point could not back out of the conflict
and was committed by November 1, 1963. BATTLE OF AP BAC