United States. Army, Vietnam

The rapid buildup of United States Army ground forces, both combat and logistical units, in 1965, resulted in the establishment of an all-army headquarters element under the operational control of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam to directly command these units. On July 20, 1965, the United States Army Support Command Vietnam was reorganized and redesignated the United States Army, Vietnam (USARV) with the missions of assuming operational control of all U.S. Army and Free World Military Assistance Forces in the Republic of Vietnam and establishing logistical organizations to support these forces.

Headquarters, USARV was initially established in Bien Hoa, a suburb of Saigon. However, the presence of so many Americans in the city lead to friction with various elements of the South Vietnamese population. In 1967 plans were drawn up to remove the headquarters to a more remote area and on July 15 USARV took up its new quarters at Long Binh, just north of the city.

By December 1965, there were over 100,000 officers and men assigned to USARV. These numbers grew dramatically each year until by the end of 1968 there were in excess of 325,000 military personnel under the direct control of USARV. This was the high point of American involvement.

In mid-1969 United States forces began redeploying from Vietnam. The immediate effective of this action was to begin a reduction in the USARV staff and logistical elements. In June 1970, the 1st Logistical Command was dissolved and its staff functions and personnel were transferred to Headquarters, USARV. Then on October 1, 1970, the USARV headquarters underwent a massive reorganization that consolidated many formerly separate functions into a much smaller staff structure.

USARV Commanders were: General William C. Westmoreland, July 20, 1965; and General Creighton W. Abrams, July 3, 1968. USARV Deputy Commanders included: Brigadier General John Norton, July 20, 1965; Lieutenant General Jean E. Engler, January 16, 1966; Lieutenant General Bruce Palmer, Jr., May 14, 1967; Lieutenant General Frank T. Mildren, August 8, 1968; and Lieutenant General William J. McCaffrey, June 15, 1970.

Staff consolidations continued over the next eighteen months as more army units deployed from Vietnam. Finally, on May 15, 1972, the functions of the Headquarters, USARV and MACV were consolidated into a new organization designated the United States Army Vietnam/ Military Assistance Command Vietnam Support Command (USARV/MACVSUPCOM).