AFTER THE 2/12th AND THE U.S. DEPARTED VIET NAM
1972
JAN 72
The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Div. is tactically withdrawn from Vietnam. [MYER]
FEB 72
The 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Div. is tactically withdrawn from Vietnam. [MYER]
21 FEB
President Nixon visits Peking and meets with Mao Zedong. North Vietnam fears a deal to their disadvantage.
Korean Marines leave Vietnam
MARCH 72
10 MARCH
101st Airborne leaves Vietnam
12 MARCH
Australian Task Force withdraws
30 MARCH
The Easter Offensive begins - Equipped with Soviet Tanks, Vo Nguyen Giap’s North Vietnamese Army launch a
large-scale assault across the DMZ into Quang Tri province
APRIL 72
4 APRIL
In response to the Communist's Easter Offensive, President Nixon authorizes U.S. bombing of North Vietnam
up to the 18th parallel.
6 APRIL
2nd Squadron 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment departs Vietnam
7 APRIL
Launching a second prong to their Easter Offensive, North Vietnamese forces drive into Binh Long Province
and begin an assault on An Loc (65 miles northwest of Saigon)
9 APR 72
At 1400 hours, C Battery, 2nd Battalion 94th Field Artillery fired the last American heavy artillery round in
Vietnam. Hill 34, RVN (AT989714). [Ntl. Archives]
12 APRIL
North Vietnamese launch a third phase of the Easter Offensive, striking from northern Cambodia into the
Central Highlands and aiming for Kontum City
26 APR 72
The 101st NVA Regiment left the Ho Bo woods and occupied Trung Lap & Phuoc Hiep. They were driven out by
the South Vietnamese Army.
MAY 72
1 MAY
North Vietnamese forces capture Quang Tri city
8 MAY
Nixon orders the mining of North Vietnam’s ports and rivers in order to cut off the Communist's supply line
10 MAY
U.S. Air Force begins Operation Linebacker, the sustained bombing of North Vietnam's military installations,
storage facilities and transportation network. The campaign aims to destroy the Communist's ability to
sustain it's Easter Offensive by cutting off supply routes into North Vietnam and by stopping any NVA
reinforcements from entering South Vietnam.
JUN 72
9 JUN
After weeks of fierce fighting, Kontum City is cleared of NVA and declared secure
17 JUN
Five burglars are arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate
building in Washington D.C
.
18 JUN
After withstanding heavy artillery bombardment, an ARVN counteroffensive, combined with US air strikes,
forces the NVA to withdraw from An Loc
26 JUN
3rd Brigade 1st Cavalry leaves Vietnam
29 JUN
196th Infantry Brigade (Light) leaves for home
New Zealand troops leave Vietnam
30 JUN
General Frederick C. Weyand takes over as MACV Commander from General Creighton Abrams
Trung Lap village is again occupied. The 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and 196th (Light) Infantry Brigade are
tactically withdrawn from Vietnam. [MYER]
JULY 72
18 JUL
Jane Fonda delivers an anti-war message on Hanoi Radio
31 JUL
9th Marine Amphibious Brigade leaves Vietnam
AUG 72
23 AUG 72
3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, the last U.S. ground combat Battalion withdraws from Vietnam
SEP 72
16 SEP
After weeks of intense fighting, ARVN forces recapture Quang Tri city effectively ending North Vietnam's
Easter Offensive
11 OCT
Kissinger and Le Duc Tho draft a 9-point cease fire agreement to be signed in Paris on October 30th by the
U.S., South Vietnam (GVN), North Vietnam (DRV) and the PRG. The agreement:
Covers the exchange of POWs
Allows North Vietnamese troops to remain in the South Vietnam after the cease fire
Creates a National Council of National Reconciliation and Concord (NCNRC) (comprised of the GVN, PRG and a
neutral third party) to oversee implementation of the agreement in South Vietnam
Reaffirms the 1954 agreement that the 17th parallel DMZ is a temporary demarcation line and not a political
or territorial boundary. Reunification is to be achieved through peaceful means.
Contains a U.S. pledge to supply aid for the reconstruction of Indochina including North Vietnam
12 OCT 72
The 101st PAVN - joined by the 271st NVA Regt. & 7th National Liberation Division - invade Trang Bang, Hau
Nghia Province.
28 OCT 72
SAIGON (UPI) ...... Communists also lobbed eight 122mm rockets into the old Cu Chi Base camp, formerly
occupied by the U.S. 25th Infantry Division - under cover of the barrage aimed at the base, now occupied by
the South Vietnamese 25th Division, they invaded three hamlets, within four miles northwest of Cu Chi
District Town, military sources said. Cu Chi is 21 miles northwest of Saigon.
It brought to five the number of hamlets near Highway 1 in the Cu Chi area into which the Communists have
moved in 36 hours, military sources said. Government regulars and militiamen were moving in to try to drive
the Communists out of the area but Highway 1, the main road between Saigon and Phnom Penh, remained
cut between Cu Chi and Trang Bang, 30 miles northwest of Saigon, military sources said. 9th After weeks of
fierce fighting, Kontum City is cleared of NVA and declared secure.
17th Five burglars are arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate
building in Washington D.C.
18th After withstanding heavy artillery bombardment, an ARVN counteroffensive, combined with US air strikes,
forces the NVA to withdraw from An Loc
26th 3rd Brigade 1st Cavalry leaves Vietnam
29th 196th Infantry Brigade (Light) leaves for home
New Zealand troops leave Vietnam
30th General Frederick C. Weyand takes over as MACV Commander from General Creighton Abrams
NOV 72
4 NOV
Hanoi agrees to resume negotiations with the U.S
7 NOV
President Nixon is re-elected
1st Signal Brigade departs Vietnam
11 NOV
The logistical base at Long Bien is turned over to the South Vietnamese, marking the end of direct U.S. Army
participation in the war
DEC 72
13 DEC
The Paris peace negotiations collapse
14 DEC
Nixon warns the North Vietnamese that they have 72-hours to return to negotiations. The ultimatum is
rejected.
18 DEC
Operation Linbacker II (aka Christmas bombing) begins. The most intensive bombing campaign of the
Vietnam War, Linebacker II is designed to force the North Vietnamese to come to a quick agreement on the
cease fire and targets the Hanoi and Haiphong areas
28 DEC
Hanoi agrees to reopen negotiations in Paris
29 DEC
Nixon suspends Linebacker II, though the bombing of military targets in southern North Vietnam continues
31 DEC
U.S. troop levels in Vietnam: 24,200
1976
1 APR to 21 SEP 76
2/12th Infantry relieved from assignment to the 25th Infantry Division, assigned to the 4th Infantry Division
and activated at Fort Carson, Colorado. Inactivated 21 September 1976 at Fort Carson, Colorado. [Source: CMH]
1980's
16 JUN 1989
2/12 Activated at Fort Carson, Colorado (4th Div).
1990's
2 JUL 95
U.S. & Canadian veterans dedicate a memorial in Windsor, Canada to the 113 Canadians who died in Vietnam.
It is believed that as many as 40,000 Canadians crossed the border to the United States to serve in Viet-Nam.
15 SEP 95
2/12th Infantry inactivated at Fort Carson, Colorado, and relieved from assignment to th4th Infantry Division.
16 SEP 95
The 2/12th Inf was "Reflagged" at Fort Carson, CO and became the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 3rd
Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. The 2/12th's "colors" were placed in storage at the Anniston Army Depot,
Collections Depot, Anniston, Alabama under control of the Center of Military History.
15 MAY 1997
The United States establishes its first embassy in Viet Nam since the fall of Saigon in 1975. This time it's in
Hanoi, and former US pilot and Vietnam veteran "Pete" Peterson is the Ambassador.
2000's:
In the year 2000 Vietnam has a population of 77 million. Life expectancy has risen to 68. The adult literacy rate
is 93%. The annual per capita income is $1,700. But only 45% of the population has easy access to safe water.
[Source: Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).]
26 APR 00
Marking the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen visited
Hanoi.
13 JUL 00
The United States and Vietnam sign a "trade deal" normalizing trade relations between the two countries
.
20 NOV 00
President Clinton visits Vietnam. The 1st U.S. President to visit since the war.
27 OCT 03
Vietnam announces that it plans to launch a communication satellite of its own at the end of 2005. The
Vietnamese communication satellite Vinasat will be designed for communication, and radio and TV
broadcasting, educational and rescue activity.
20 NOV 03
The U.S.S. Vandegrift - a missile frigate of the 7th Fleet - becomes the first U.S. Navy warship to visit Viet Nam
since the end of the Vietnam War. A "port call" that will (no doubt) become popular in the future. Two days
latter members of the crew pose and mug for their shipmates cameras at the 'tunnels of Cu Chi' tourist trap.
13 DEC 04
On December 13th, the first commercial flight from the United States arrived at Tan Son Nhut airport (Saigon)
since the communist took over in 1975.
11 JUL 2005
Vietnamese and Americans agree to co-operate militarily and share intelligence.
18 JUL 2005
General William C. "Westy" Westmoreland dies of natural causes.
Activated 29 September 2005 at Fort Carson, Colorado, as an element of the 2d Infantry Division.
Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 2d Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment.
Relieved 16 November 2005 from assignment to the 2d Infantry Division and assigned to the 2d Brigade
Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
The 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment was formerly attached to the 3d Brigade Combat Team of the U.S. 4th
Infantry Division at Fort Carson. The 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment deployed with the 3d Brigade
Combat Team in March 2003, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I. The 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry
Regiment redeployed back to Fort Carson in March 2004. As a result of transformation of the brigade,
elements of the battalion were changed to a cavalry squadron, the 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment in
November, 2004. 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment was re-activated at Fort Hood as part of the 4th ID's 4th
Brigade Combat Team and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in fall of 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
They were replaced in the fall of 2006 by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division based out
of Fort Carson. This unit was temporarily assigned to 1st Cavalry Division which the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry
Regiment was attached to until February 2007 when the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division
was assigned tactical control of Baghdad. 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry regiment and 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry
regiment are currently assigned to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.
[edit] Operation Enduring Freedom
In December 2001, Bravo and Charlie Companies from the 1st Battalion deployed to Kuwait in support of
Intrinsic Action 01-02 and later in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Elements of other units from
within the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division made up the remainder of Task Force 1-12. The task
force redeployed to Fort Carson in May 2002.
In May 2009, 1st and 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4BCT, 4ID, deployed to Afghanistan in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom. In June 2010, Task Force 1-12 and Task Force 2-12, 4BCT, 4ID redeployed to Fort
Carson, CO after a successful 12 month combat deployment in Afghanistan.
1973
15 JAN
Nixon announces a halt to all U.S. offensive action against the North
27 JAN
It is estimated that there is 145,000 NVA troops in South Vietnam
Peace Pact is signed in Paris. End of military draft announced
10 MARCH
ROK Capital Division returns home to South Korea.
18 MARCH
Major Floyd Thompson is released by North Vietnam, he was captured in March 1964
28 MARCH
1st Aviation Brigade leaves for home and is the cut of date for the award of the Vietnam Service
medal and Campaign medal
29 MARCH
MACV HQ is disbanded and the 18th MP Brigade leaves Saigon.
The withdrawal of all U.S. troops from South Vietnam is complete and release of 590 U.S. POW’s
held by communist forces in Vietnam are completed.
1 JUL
U.S. Navy starts to clear mines from North Vietnamese ports and rivers.
14 AUG
U.S.A.F. Operations Arc Light and Freedom Deal end as U.S. officially ceases bombing in Cambodia
and thus direct U.S. military action in South East Asia ceases.
31 DEC
U.S. military personnel limited to 50.
1974
9 AUG.
Nixon resigns the Presidency. Vice President Gerald Ford becomes President
President Ford offers an amnesty to draft dodgers from the Vietnam War period.
31 DEC.
There are still only 50 U.S. military personnel in Vietnam
1975
8 JAN
North Vietnamese politburo orders offensive to ‘Liberate’ South Vietnam by NVA cross-boarder
invasion.
14 MARCH
President Nguyen Van Thieu orders the withdrawal of ARVN forces from II Corps, central highlands.
11-13 APRIL
U.S. Navy conducts Operation Eagle Pull to evacuate U.S. Embassy staff from Phnom Penh.
17 APRIL
Cambodia falls to the Khmer Rouge
29 APRIL
NVA begins attack on Saigon, Corporal Charles McMahon, Jr. U.S.M.C and Lance Corporal Darwin
Lodge U.S.M.C are the last U.S. military personnel killed in Vietnam, struck by shrapnel from an NVA
rocket
29-30 APRIL
U.S. Navy conducts Operation Frequent Wind to evacuate all U.S. personnel and selected South
Vietnamese from the rooftop of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon. The final Marines who had been sent in
to help with evacuation of the Embassy are the very last to leave South Vietnam as the NVA enter
Saigon.
30 APRIL
North Vietnamese troops enter Saigon and smash the gates of the Presidential Palace with a tank
and accept the unconditional surrender of South Vietnam.
The Vietnam War has ended after almost 20 years of continuous fighting..
