MILITARY ASSISTANCE COMMAND, VIETNAM (MACV)

• Formation and Mission: MACV (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam) was established in February 1962 to provide command and control for all U.S. military forces in South Vietnam, evolving from the earlier Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG). • Rapid Growth: MACV started with a few hundred personnel but expanded rapidly, eventually commanding over 500,000 U.S. troops at the height of the Vietnam War in 1969. • First Commander: The first commander of MACV was General Paul D. Harkins, who served from 1962 to 1964, overseeing the initial escalation of American involvement. • Tet Offensive: MACV played a crucial role during the Tet Offensive in 1968, coordinating the defense of key cities and bases during one of the war's largest and most significant campaigns. • MACV-SOG: MACV oversaw the secretive Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), which conducted covert operations, reconnaissance, and unconventional warfare across Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. • Advisory Role: A major part of MACV’s mission was to train, advise, and support the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), providing equipment, logistics, and operational guidance. • Commanders Included Westmoreland and Abrams: Two of its most famous commanders were General William Westmoreland (1964–1968) and General Creighton Abrams (1968–1972), both of whom shaped U.S. strategy in Vietnam. • Controversies and Challenges: MACV faced criticism for overestimating enemy casualties (the "body count" strategy), misjudging the effectiveness of U.S. operations, and underestimating the Viet Cong’s resilience. • Operation Rolling Thunder: MACV was involved in planning and supporting major bombing campaigns such as Operation Rolling Thunder (1965–1968), which aimed to pressure North Vietnam but had limited results. • Dissolution: MACV was dissolved in March 1973 following the Paris Peace Accords and the withdrawal of most U.S. military forces, marking the end of direct American military involvement in Vietnam.