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N0KFQ > TODAY 23.04.15 13:50l 60 Lines 2817 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 53585_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Apr 23
Path: IZ3LSV<IW8PGT<IW7BFZ<I3XTY<I0OJJ<N6RME<N0KFQ
Sent: 150423/1232Z 53585@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.63
1975
Ford says that war is finished for America
At a speech at Tulane University, President Gerald Ford says the
Vietnam War is finished as far as America is concerned. "Today,
Americans can regain the sense of pride that existed before
Vietnam. But it cannot be achieved by re-fighting a war." This
was devastating news to the South Vietnamese, who were
desperately pleading for U.S. support as the North Vietnamese
surrounded Saigon for the final assault on the capital city.
The North Vietnamese had launched a major offensive in March to
capture the provincial capital of Ban Me Thuot (Darlac province)
in the Central Highlands. The South Vietnamese defenders there
fought very poorly and were quickly overwhelmed by the North
Vietnamese attackers. Despite previous promises by both
Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford to provide support, the
United States did nothing. In an attempt to reposition his forces
for a better defense, South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu
ordered his forces in the Highlands to withdraw to more
defensible positions to the south. What started out as a
reasonably orderly withdrawal soon degenerated into a panic that
spread throughout the South Vietnamese armed forces. The South
Vietnamese abandoned Pleiku and Kontum in the Highlands with very
little fighting and the North Vietnamese pressed the attack from
the west and north. In quick succession, Quang Tri, Hue, and Da
Nang in the north fell to the communist onslaught. The North
Vietnamese continued to attack south along the coast, defeating
the South Vietnamese forces at each encounter.
As the North Vietnamese forces closed on the approaches to
Saigon, the politburo in Hanoi issued an order to Gen. Van Tien
Dung to launch the "Ho Chi Minh Campaign," the final assault on
Saigon itself. Dung ordered his forces into position for the
final battle.
The South Vietnamese 18th Division made a valiant final stand at
Xuan Loc, 40 miles northeast of Saigon, in which the South
Vietnamese soldiers destroyed three of Dung's divisions. However,
the South Vietnamese finally succumbed to the superior North
Vietnamese numbers. With the fall of Xuan Loc on April 21 and
Ford's statement at Tulane, it was apparent that the North
Vietnamese would be victorious. President Thieu resigned and
transferred authority to Vice President Tran Van Huong before
fleeing Saigon on April 25.
By April 27, the North Vietnamese had completely encircled Saigon
and began to maneuver for their final assault. By the morning of
April 30, it was all over. When the North Vietnamese tanks
crashed through the gates of the Presidential Palace in Saigon,
the South Vietnamese surrendered and the Vietnam War was
officially over.
73, K.O. and Billie...
...."on the road again".
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
Using Outpost Ver 3.0.0 c260
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