MAAG & MACV, Army Advisors In Vietnam:
“NEW” Leutnant, MAAG Laos, early 1950s:
In this case, the Leutnant may be thinking, better to be in LAOS than maybe in Korea, where all the action was from 1950 to 1953, though Danger is, and the threat was very much there too, and fighting the various groups trying to control the country was as deadly as any gang with guns gets.
Major, “MAAG~LAOS”, 1954:
It is probable we had people spying, and working for our Government in the area, keeping tabs on the goings-on therein Indo-China / South-East Asia, since before the 1940s, with concern on the Japanese expanse through China and Burma theater, the “Burma-Road of WWII fame, started in China-and went to Haiphong Harbor in Frech Indo China at the time, and then across from there, so before the OSS even, and then downsized becoming the “Strategic Services Unit”, to the CIA was derived in 1947, the Eisenhower administration figured, that Laos might be the first “potential domino” to fall, in what was not the Cold War, and thus cause Cambodia, Thailand, Burma and Vietnam (French Indo China) to fall to communism, officially the CIA activities in Laos started in the 1950s.
By 1959, U.S. Special Operations Forces (Military working with the CIA) began to train some Laotian soldiers in unconventional warfare techniques, hand-to-hand combat, close-quarters battle, setting up traps and ambushes, guerrilla warfare tactics, and by the fall of 1959, called operation "Erawan". Under this code name, General Vang Pao, who was protecting the royal Lao family, recruited Hmong and Iu-Mien soldiers and had them trained by these operatives.
The Hmong and Iu-Mien people, the American representatives thought, could be taken in as allies to fight the Communist threat, and the idea was presented to President John Kennedy, “who had refused to send more American soldiers to battle in Southeast Asia” when he took office.
It would have saved a lot of lives to have backed Ho Chi Minh when he was in control of the Viet-Minh in 1941, an umbrella group of all parties fighting for Vietnam's independence. asked for US support, the answer was no, so with his Lenin-Marxist beliefs, he went that route, becoming President of North Vietnam before he died in 1969.
President Kennedy had called for the CIA to use its tribal forces in Laos and "make every possible effort to launch guerrilla operations into North Vietnam with its Asian recruits." General Vang Pao picked out, recruited, and trained Hmong soldiers to work with the CIA operative and fight against the North Vietnamese. Unfortunately, he was assassinated in 1963, and everything changed. LBJ was sworn in, and the fighting in Indochina continued to escalate with the Pathet-Lao, & the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, into the 1970s. It was quite an appalling mess and devastating to these countries. The CIA itself claims that CIA had air operations in Laos from 1955 to 1974 and was the "largest paramilitary operation ever undertaken by the CIA."
“MAAG Laos” (Military Assistance Advisory Group, Laos) came into existence in 1961; their job was to replace the “Programs Evaluation Office” that was supporting the Royal Lao Army in its fight against the Communist Pathet Lao.
As of July 23, 1962, the involved countries “agreed” in Geneva to guarantee the neutrality and the independence of Laos. So then the US shut down MAAG, which was really more of a replacement for it with a new title, their new cover was as the "Requirements Office", but really much the same mission. The US. Army’s Advisers then became known as (ARMA), the Air Force Attachés (AIRA) to the U.S. Embassy, in Vientiane, called "Project White Star", they were Mobile Training Teams that later became "Project 404".
Originally, there was a sleeve patch based on the CBI patch of WWII, with the Chinese star, with red and white strips below, and MAAG in the right top corner, and there was a red shield with two elephant heads back to back, with MAAG LAOS written on top. The one on the uniform is in form with the common MAAG Vietnam patch with 13 stars, but this one has a purple backing it. The uniform is the WWII cut, which carried over through the 1950s, through the Korean war, and on the American Advisors early on in the region of South East Asia, retaining full color on the insignia. Pictures of these people are rare. Depicting a very early advisor, we have the 1950 style flat top field had, or in the field the more practical Aussi style boone-hat that the locals found to be popular for a very long time, note the picture showing that on the sleeve’s are impressions still from where “First Sergeant Chevrons” still, so either he grabbed an old use uniform, from someone that rotated home? or he got a hell of a raise to go over seas? It may be the case that he had just gotten through the Korean War, and maybe felt he knew the mission, and still had fight in him (though the Korean War was enough for anyone), now stuck being a lifer, the way to get any advance in rank was in battle.
This is uniform is being updated, then it will be Reshot.
”Updated Pictures” Captain, MAAG( Military Assistance and Advisory Group~Vietnam, Mid-1950s:
Before the famous MAC-V, the senior military command in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) was the Military Advisory Assistance Groups (MAAG-Vietnam), which was formed on November 1, 1955, to provide military assistance to South Vietnam. Elements of MAAG-Vietnam, and the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, & Marine Corps specific personnel were gathered up and put together to provide American assistance to the area, helping with the Self-Vietnamese Ministry of Defence, Joint General Staff, the various Corps and divisional commanders, as well as training centers for their soldiers, to province and district headquarters.
MAAG-Vietnam was disbanded in 1964 (Before our official involvement), and its personnel and responsibilities were absorbed by the new “MAC-V”. The Major was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division “The Hour-Glass” in his prior overseas tour; the patch is bordered with the dark green of the early Class-A uniform, which would likely indicate Korean War service there. Colored scarves were being used to ID a member from the platoon or squad out in the boonies.
He was commissioned an officer of the Infantry, and he has passed through Jump School on the way. His CIB Badge implies he has served in both WWII and the Korean War, or possibly Korea, and an earlier tour in Vietnam. Entering into his third War, and may not completely realize it. But he’s sharp and knows his trade. His cap of choice is the WW/Korea Tropical hat (Daisy Mae). It keeps him cool by shielding him from the sun's light, and it works a bit in the Monsoon weather there, too. It was fairly typical early on with the Army and the Advisors, working with the ground forces of South Vietnam, that they still had their Steel Helmets as well, though the ARVN tended to wear just the liner. In this case, the helmet is absolutely “Mint”, as issued, I have to say, and it doesnt any longet match the uniform anymore (it’s been refurbished to a high standard.), The darker color of OD green was seen in the 50’s. All his insignia are typical, cloth as per regulation, and for comfort, but the collar insignia, deliberately metal, are removable for if he is out on patrol, or when its not needed to identify himself.
Wearing the still common, but old-style 1940s Tropical Fatigue Jacket, he would have likely worn matching trousers and brown boots. This would have occurred during the early stages of the war, possibly even before any of the announcements in the early 1960s, when US Soldiers were in the country, supposed to be observing the ARVN forces and gathering information for US intelligence, they were doing a lot of their training with them, and patrolling the countryside. So he may have had an M1 Garand Rifle or Carbine, likely, or possibly M14, and, commonly, a .45 Auto Pistol, a Medical Dressing, a Fighting Knife, and some kind of acquired local custom web gear, or vintage Army kit, with pouches for Rifle Magazines, and a grenade or two, aid kit, and a couple of canteens. He would be the one with the map and compass as well, a flashlight, maybe a poncho, and his old brown leather jump boots.
Staff Sergeant, MAC-V Indigenous Assault Force Advisor:
I have “pulled” this whole section out of the storage, and am in the process of ‘Updating them’, some to a more practical or likely layout, some may stay the same, but get new pictures of all, and stories for them.
This can be tricky to figure out, fact-wise sometimes, but there is a story here, and I’ll dig it out of the storage and look in the pockets one day.
“Updated Pictures” Staff Sergeant, MACV, Advisor, ARVN Infantry, 1965-66:
Add Story!
“Updated” Captain, HAU-NGHIA / ADV-TMC 43, MACV 1966-67:
MACV, Advisory Team 43, Hua Nghia Province. The basic idea of Advisors was to get Soldiers out in the provinces, to have the local populations support the southern leadership and oppose the Communists; they tried to protect local hamlets and fight back. Just as the Communist Forces infiltrated the south, and got the local peasants to rebel against their government, and informed the North of local regional operations, and whichever side you helped, sadly, the other side was punished; this was a vicious side of the war the American News didn’t show to the public. The war was going to be a nightmare from the beginning, and the escalation just made the quagmire bigger. Often, just one or two advisors would work with a town, or groups of provincial forces, in the Delta, and across the plain full of rice paddies.
Protecting their villages and people, and also watch and punch away at local VC Forces and the Communist Tax Collectors. Other teams worked in the highland with groups from the tribal peoples living there. The idea developed before America’s complete commitment to the war in the very early 1960s. But after Kennedy was removed, and the America was still in shock, things began to spin out of control more and more, with out military getting sent in. but under many rules of inguagement, tieing their heads behind their backs before getting started, and the opposition getting more and more supplied from the other Communist Nations, and the propaganda entered out own country here in America. There are many lessons to be learned from Vietnam on how not to fight a war.
“New Pistures” 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Military Advisor (MACV) ‘team leader’, 1st ARVN Infantry Division, Strike-Force Company, Thua Thien Province, 1968-69:
The successful mobile guerrilla force, instituted and managed by the 5th Special Forces, was made up of local tribes and mercenary fighters who worked from fixed bases, used air resupply, and planned long periods of observation and fighting in enemy territory, providing the model for the divisional strike forces of the ARVN Infantry Divisions. With the addition of a 34-man reconnaissance platoon, the divisional company contained 149 Vietnamese and 12 US Military Advisor personnel. Like the Gurellia Force, the Strike Force worked in specific, selected areas of territory. When conducting operations in the prescribed area, they “Owned” the area withpriority on all air, artillery, or any other support at hand.
Moving into enemy-held, hostile territory normally is done using fast helicopter insertions. The force moves through the area seeking out the enemy, his infrastructure, and given the mission would either recon the situation, attack, or destroy the enemy, set booby traps to hit enemy supply lanes, to stop the flow of materials, and end supply routes.
The forces moved about with 5 days’ worth of supplies of food and ammo. Normally, the recon platoon moved ahead of the main force to the next forward operating area, and they would communicate with division command to set up resupply points and arrangements of the resupply operations.
The Gurellia and Strike Forces found that helicopters, as well as other conventional air-drop methods of resupply, often brought quick and immediate attention by the enemy forces in the area. To mask resupply, the concept of loading 500-pound napalm bombs, color-coded for content, was then dropped by Skyraider Aircraft in conjunction with other aircraft dropping what ever ordance they had, keeping the enemy at a safer distance.
While the NVA and VC forces likely figured this all out, the system worked; few would run out after the dropped equipment and supplies, as they could not be sure if this was a resupply or an all-out assault on the enemy's positions.
The Thien Province in locted in what was the Northern part of South Vietnam, one provence removed from the DMZ. More U.S. Soldiers died in the Thua Thein Province than in any other; it was a rough place. There was the Ah Shau Valley, and the “Hamburger Hill”; the battle that motivated the change from direct US attacks on the enemy, to the protective engagements, and the first of the Vietnamization Policies in 1970.
Due to the bounty put on the heads of the US Advisers, and to blend in with the troops they served with, they tended to wear the Vietnamese-made, and patterned uniform clothing, though often modified so they could fit into them. In this case, the Lieutenant wears a 2x pocket, 2-piece cotton, Vietnamese version of the ERDL fatigues. He is an early member of the Army’s MACV and wears the sward in the wall, in a subdued locally made version of the shoulder patch. All of the insignia on the uniform, other than the pocket hanger, the 1st ARVN Infantry pocket hanger, and green “LTeam Leader” loops on his epelettes, are used on base compound alone. He has been given the “Tan Beret” quifted to him from the ARVN, with its Infantry Crest proudly displayed on it. Often pocket hanger with the ARVN equivalent rank was worn with its Cherrie Blossom rank displayed on it. With the matching trousers, he wears the popular boonie hat, but kept his official Army Cap to be used among his peers at the bar. he would have had local shoes or army boots, and a sidearm at all times with him. Scarves were often worn when coming back into base camps as a recognition device for the unit.
“NEW” Major, Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MAC-V), Vietnam 1964-65:
The Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV), headed by General Paul D. Harkins, former U.S. Army Deputy Commander-in-Chief in the Pacific, was installed in Saigon as the United States reorganized its Military Command in South Vietnam.
Before MACV, the Senior U.S. Military Command in South Vietnam was the Military Assistance and Advisory Group (MAAG-Vietnam), which was formed on November 1, 1955, to provide military assistance to South Vietnam. MAAG Vietnam had U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps elements that provided advice and assistance to the South Vietnamese Ministry of Defence, Joint General Staff, and Corps and Divisional Commanders, as well as Training Centers, and Province and District Headquarters.
MAAG-Vietnam was disbanded in 1964 and its personnel and responsibilities absorbed by MACV. The establishment of MACV, which greatly enlarged and reorganized the advisory effort, represented a substantial increase in the U.S. Commitment to the War in Vietnam, and American assistance to South Vietnam doubled between 1961 and 1962. Thereafter, the conduct of the war was directed by MACV, and a major buildup of American advisors and support personnel, with an escalation that included the commitment of U.S. combat troops, began.
All aspects of military skills were employed to strengthen Vietnam's military forces, including air assault tactics. Officers and NCOs with Air-Assault skills shipped to USARV (U.S. Army Republic of Vietnam to train and assist the National Troops in their battles against the Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese Army (NVA).
Major Groszek wears the Vietnamese “Tiger-Striped” camouflage uniform with non-subdued insignia. A veteran of both WWII and the Korean War, and having served with the 1st Cavalry Division, when it was a fast-moving ground force, they were brought in by trucks, then, and moved by foot, before the “air Cavalry” was conceived, to bring them in, to walk into trouble. He earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge “in both wars”. He is also “Airborne” qualified, which has led to his being stationed with Airborne Advisory Team 162, or the Red Hats (They wore Red Berets), and he assisted the South Vietnamese Airborne Division from 1962 to 1973. The US advisory team in the theater included 1,200 soldiers.
Staff Sergeant, MACV-Airborne Adviser to ARVN 1967:
Story? MACV assigned, “Airborne Qualifide,” with his senior Jump Wings, and CIB, he’s no stranger to battle. Working with the ARVN where they choose, working through MACV, would be in teaching, training, and supporting in several areas, such as Infantry, Airborne, and generally for any radio-relayed traffic for support from air assets, or artillery, medivac, emergency air extractions, etc. It is a field uniform, from before they were issued to troops.
“Updated Pictures” 1st Lieutenant, Team 162, ARVN Airborne Parachute-School, Tan Son Nhut Airbase, RVN:
Vietnamese Airborne strength in 1965 was 6 Battalions, stationed around the country. The ARVN Airborne School was located right inside the main air base of Tan Son Nhut, just outside of Saigon, the Capitol of South Vietnam. Formed up in the tradition of the prior French Forces that had controlled the Sout, the American advisors had to slowly transition the training program to align more with the American method, and concepts of airborne operations. As he is required to be on “Jump Statous”, he has also qualified with ARVN Airborne Paratroopers, and wears the Winged Sword of St. Marcus, another piece of French Airborne lineage, as well as the Vietnamese Army Jump Wings. During his tour, he has already taken part in several combat operations, with the airborn battalion, qualifying hm for the “Combat Infantryman’s Badge” or CIB, which he wears above his U.S. Senior Parachute Wings.
To ensure he blends in with his ARVN Airborne comrades, he has sewn in their insignia onto the left sleeve of his 2-pocket pattern, ERDL cotton jacket, that he ues as a shirt. When not conducting training operations, he wears his bright red beret with its Airborne “Wings” device. He has an M1-C Steel jump helmet with its special liner in it with a cupped chin-strap. He had matching trousers and wore black “Cockoran” jump boots, which he had brought with him from Fort Benning. With this uniform, he wore standard M1956 Field Gear.
“Updated” Captain, Advisor Team 162 (Airborne) 1970:
Now for the story….time to look in the pockets…
Staff-Sergeant, Advisor to ARVN-Airborne:
RESHOOTING!
“Updated Pictures” Sergeant First Class, U.S. Advisor to the ARVN 52nd Ranger Battalion, est 1964-1965:
The 52nd Ranger Battalion was part of the ARVN Army - Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). Formed in early 1964, from an amalgamation of the independent ranger companies 347th, 348th, 351st, and the 352nd at My Tho, which is located on the Mekong Delta, about 170 Killometers South West of Saigon. The Commanding Officer was Captain Vong Si Dau. On 11 November 1965, the Battalion was ambushed by the Viet Cong 2275th Regiment near Kim Hai and received a US Presidential Citation for its action in the battle.
Lieutenant General Burton Patrick (Ret.), an advisor of the Rangers, had this to say about them. They were different! Highly Dissipled! Large men by Vietnamese standards, and very proud, very brave, fearless. Well-led at both NCO and Officer levels. Could move over long distances by vehicle, helicopter, or by foot, with speed and precision… then go on the attack, and destroy… and then move out again.
Once the enemy was found and fixed in a position, the rangers were called upon by the Vietnamese high command to strike and overrun the enemy positions. The American Advisers helped lay down the firepower and support to get the job done. They could live well off the small sack of rice for 3 to 5 days at a time. They had superb staying power and endurance. The VC and NVA had great respect for the ARVN Rangers. They would avoid contact with them if at all possible, because they could bring down heavy pain on them, with overwhelming firepower and American Air and Artillery Support.
The Vietnamese Rangers “relished” a good fight and were extremely skilled at fire and rapid maneuver. “Close In” combat was second nature to them. They were also known for taking very few prisoners. American Advisors had to earn the respect of the ARVN Rangers. And that didn’t come easy. Mental and physical toughness to lead, and the compassion to care for their troops, were essential ingredients to “melding in” with their Rangers.
Successful ARVN Ranger Advisors had to prove early-on that they were a combat asset, and not a lieability. Otherwise, reassignment to another place was the rule rather than the exception. Successful Ranger Advisors kept a low profile. When great victories were won, the credit always went fully to the Rangers. When mistakes were made, the Advisors acknowledged their share of the result.
Combat experience with the 52nd enabled the advisor to see the battle up close and personal. The rattle of machine gun fire, and short bursts of automatic weapons, close artillery and mortar fire, helicopter gunship support, Tac-Air, all were routine and deadly, as were the mines and the booby traps left behind and waiting for them by the enemy.
Ranger Advisors in the mid 1960s knew what living off the land, and fighting in hell was like every week, as they were constandtly called upon to wade into a well-concealed, and dug-in enemy once every 3-5 days for the entire duration of his tour. Some lived to write about it, but most did not.
The Sergeant Firs Class wears the cotton fatigue jacket and trousers with the early name tape on it opposite the gold and black U.S. ARMY tape as standard procedure. The 52nd Black Tiger shield is on his left shoulder. He is a graduate of the ARVN Ranger School at Nha Trang, and also wears the crossed swords ARVN Ranger Qualification Badge above his Right Pocket. Above his Left Pocket, is his American Combat Infantrymans badge, which he earned while in country. With he wears his very old coffee-can 1950s field cap, or the Steel Pot, all dolled up by an ARVN Ranger for him.
“Updated” Staff Sergeant, ARVN-Ranger Advisor, early 1960s “Leopard Camouflage”:
Ok, finally got the pictures updated, and now, to dig up the story once again, and get it in here.
“Updated” Master Sergeant, Advisor Team 51, 42nd-ARVN Rangers, Mid 1960s:
I know the camouflage was not normal for the time and place, but I don’t know, maybe he had the jacket from a tour of Korea, or may have bought it while home from a prior tour, from a Deer hunting trip. It needed a home, and he needed camouflage? I think at the time, though, all options were used. Sometimes normal issues is not available, or practical, whick as a recon troop, is somewhat a nessesity, it's been called Korean Camouflage, so with that, I’ll say his prior deployment was there, or served with the ROK in Vietnam as well. An M56? Heavy Field Jacket, but in odd camouflage, may have been experimental or short-lived. I like it and have kept it.
“Updated” Staff Sergeant, ‘ARVN “LRRP” Adviser’, ARVN ABN. Ranger Troop 5-38, Operating in the “Trinh-Sat Special Zone”:
This one is ready for its story again.
“New Pictures” Captain 'No Name' ARVN Ranger 1970:
Early ARVN Woodland camo, subdued, shirt, with metal insignia applied.
“Updated” Army Ranger Captain, Advisor to 11th ARVN-Ranger Battalion 1970-71:
*Updated, Captain, U.S. Advisor, to ARVN Cavalry 1968-69:
Sergeant, Armor Advisory Team 1, ARVN 4 SQDN. 17CAV. RGT. Hue, Quang Nam, Vietnam 1965-66 :
This Sergeant is a ground-level advisor to the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) Armored Squadron of their 17th Cavalry. Often the only one of the standard 3-man teams due to injuries, reassignments, and DEROS obligations, or no replacements, having to sort of be a jack of all trades. He has to be able to lead the ARVN NCOs and their officers without losing face. He has to be able to take care of his subsistence and administration as he is often cut off from the main U.S. Forces and Command.
Often, his very limited ability to speak the language and their ways, mixed with pantomime, was used to communicate with soldiers and civilians alike. He has to be able to maintain, inspect, and be able to fix the weapons, know where he’s at on a map, and operate various radios, also call in airstrikes or artillery fire, to give his ARVN comrades the combat edge to keep their enemy in check, and defeat them, the VC and NVA were very serious and determined adversaries.
By 1965, the demand for advisors was overwhelming for MACV. Preparation for advisory duty became less and less complex in the combat units, and the Special Forces was wrapped up with the CIDG Forces, US. Army Soldiers were put to use in most postings.
Advisors processed through a six-week Military Assistance Training Advisory (MATA) course after they had already trained in a specific training specialty, ie, Infantry, Artillery, Armor, Medical Branch. The course consisted of instruction on counterintelligence surgency tactics, small arms training, psychological operations, civic actions, and general background on the country and its people.
The Sergeant wears the first-pattern jungle fatigues and stripped-down web gear. Armed with both an M1.30 Caliber Carbine and a 1911 .45 Auto Pistol. He has chosen to sew on (Officer Style) Armor Branch insignia above the right pocket flap, just to represent his position (The ARVN had their own Armor Badge). Advisors often wore the embroidered or metal branch insignias. Above his early-style sergeant’s stripes, he has the ARVN 4th Squadron shoulder patch (His Assignment). His Black ‘Armored’ Beret has a stamped metal ARVN version of the Armor Insignia; it was an ARVN item he adapted out of respect for his team. He is a graduate of Fort Benning’s Airborne School as well. This is not his first tour either, as he already has the ‘CIB’ above his ‘Wings’.On his feet are early nylon web jungle boots, designed for the constant wet of the tropical jungle, and the soles are heavy rubber to help prevent punctures from punji stakes.
The ARVN were equipped by the Americans, but it wasn’t our finest vehicle. They did have the M113 Armored Personnel Carriers, but they were the early models- sent to be tested in-country, and lightly armored, and few received the ACAV kit and following upgrades of the U.S. Army’s models, nor were they as maintained as well. They did have the ability to cross streams, and carried a .50 caliber machine gun in a turret, and added .30 Brownings, to 7.62mm M-60s on either side. The Lightweight armor the vehicle was made of did well against shrapnel and small arms, but an RPG would take the vehicle right out. The gas tank was also located right in the back compartment on the left rear side, and the enemy knew it. Most ARVNs were not willing to sit inside the vehicles, on top-exposed but not confined in the back. The only one inside was the driver; the TC sat outside his hatch, commo-in hand. They had seen what happened to those inside when an RPG hit or a mine went off underneath, and that could be said in part of the U.S. Army troops as well, only the crew was inside. In the way of Armor, from the Marine arsenal, they received old, lightweight M-41 Walker Bulldog 76mm Tanks, and early M-48s carrying the 90mm weapon were more on par, still, an RPG could take these out as well as mines. The vehicles were soon upgraded from gas to diesel fuel.
Many interesting and valuable lessons were learned during the Vietnam War, in the way of how to use Armor in a tropical place, where you did not want to stand out on a road, but you sunk in a rice paddy, in the jungle they often would bog down and get stuck, battling the trees and the VC, and in tight city fights, that said armor is good but has to be used logically, and with a lot of infantry support, they support each other, carrying the heavy weapons, and tactics were developed the worked fairly well.
