About this Unit
MACV Team 95, officially known as Advisory Team 95, was a United States Army advisory unit under the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) during the Vietnam War. The team operated primarily in Kien Hoa Province (now Ben Tre Province) in the Mekong Delta, where they worked closely with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and Regional and Popular Forces. Their main mission was to provide military advice, operational support, and training to South Vietnamese units, helping to coordinate counterinsurgency operations against Viet Cong forces. Team 95 played a crucial role in improving local security and supporting pacification efforts throughout its area of responsibility until the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam.
Historical Facts
•
MACV Team 95: This was a U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) Advisory Team, primarily assigned to Bình Thuận Province during the Vietnam War.
•
Province Advisory Role: Team 95 was tasked with advising the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and local forces in Bình Thuận, helping to coordinate military operations and pacification efforts.
•
Multi-Branch Composition: Members of Team 95 came from various branches of the U.S. military, including Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, reflecting the joint nature of MACV advisory operations.
•
Operation Phoenix: Team 95 participated in the controversial Phoenix Program, which aimed to identify and neutralize Viet Cong infrastructure within the province.
•
Combat and Civil Affairs: In addition to combat advising, Team 95 was heavily involved in civil affairs, infrastructure development, and civic action projects to win "hearts and minds" of the local population.
•
Small Team, Big Impact: Teams usually consisted of 30–50 personnel, but their influence extended through hundreds of local South Vietnamese military and paramilitary forces.
•
Dangerous Duty: Advisors frequently accompanied Vietnamese units on combat patrols, exposing them to significant risk; many Team 95 members were wounded or killed in action.
•
Notable Engagements: Team 95 played key roles during the Tet Offensive in 1968, helping to defend provincial capitals and coordinate rapid counterattacks.
•
Decorations and Honors: Several members of Team 95 received high U.S. and Vietnamese decorations for valor, including Silver Stars, Bronze Stars, and Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry.
•
Legacy and Reunion: Former Team 95 members have held reunions and maintain a presence in Vietnam veteran organizations, sharing their unique stories and documenting the advisory war effort.