Resources:
Kolko, p. 145-147
Langguth, pp. 197-207
Web Site: Neil Sheehan on Ap Bac
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Ap Bac Maps: |
Ap Bac The battle of Ap Bac, which occurred on January 2, 1963, is important because it involved both ARVN troops and U.S. Advisors and because it showed the reluctance of the ARVN commanders to engage the Viet Cong, risk a loss, and infuriate Diem. The ARVN 7th Division exhibited cowardice, confusion, and incompetence. ARVN soldiers refused to advance under fire. By noon, five U.S. helicopters carrying ARVN soldiers were downed. Intermediate ARVN commanders refused to act. Finally, ARVN paratroopers dropped into the battle zone. Despite the technological superiority of the ARVN and American Advisors, the small group of VC, about 350 in number, essentially won the battle over a force four times its size, then escaped into the night.The senior U.S. officer in South Vietnam, General Paul Harkins, reported that the mission was successful. It was, but only after the enemy had escaped. U.S. reporters who managed to get to the site of the battle reported otherwise. The Communist forces suffered 18 killed and 39 wounded; ARVN, by comparison, suffered approximately 80 killed and over 100 wounded. Not only did the battle of Ap Bac demonstrate ARVN's command and control difficulties, General Harkins damaged the U.S. credibility with the press corps; that credibility gap would prove more problematic as the United States increased its involvement in the war. |
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Resources: Kolko, p. 145-147 Langguth, pp. 197-207 Web Site: Neil Sheehan on Ap Bac |