DEPARTMENT OF THE GOLDEN WEST (CALIFORNIA / NEVADA)

Santa Clara County Unified Chapter #63

“Winner – Department of California President’s Cup – 2003 – 2004”“Winner – ROA National Distinguished Chapter Award – 2004 – 2005”

“Winner – ROA National Sustaining Chapter Award – 2005 – 2006”“Winner – ROA National Sustaining Chapter Award – 2008 – 2009”“Winner – Department of California President’s Cup – 2010 – 2011”

“Winner – Department of the Golden West President’s Cup – 2013 – 2014”“Winner – Department of the Golden West President’s Cup – 2014 – 2015”“Winner – Department of the Golden West President’s Cup – 2016 – 2017”

After Action Report -- Saturday -- 28 October 2017

Cadet Travis Chew, Army ROTC – Santa Clara University

The History of the Vietnam War

The brutality of the Vietnam War--mud,blood, and terror--has been describedby America’s war correspondents andcaptured by combat photographers.One of the most famous images of theVietnam War is “Reaching Out,” themoment when wounded Gunnery Sgt.Jeremiah Purdie, photographed with ablood-stained bandage tied around hishead, is drawn to his fellow soldier, wholies wounded on the ground. ByJanuary 30, 1968, the Tet offensive,U.S. public opinion took a negative turnwith no evidence the war was comingto an end.

Cadet Travis Chew,AROTC accepts the 2017LTC Frank Holt MemorialArmy ROTC ScholarshipCertificate from Capt JerryKromrey, USAFR (Ret.) atthe 10 May 2017 SantaClara University FatherPresident’s ROTC AwardCeremony. Cadet Chewshared his Vietnam Warpresentation developed asan ROTC project withChapter #63 on 28 Oct 17.

The chapter’s late October luncheonspeaker was San Jose State Universitystudent and Santa Clara University ROTCBronco Battalion cadet Travis Chew, whoprovided a modified illustratedpresentation delivered May 25, 2017 tomeet a military history courserequirement. His topic was the history ofthe Vietnam War and he provided asummary of actions which led to the war,some of the major battles and conflicts,and the events that resulted in U.S. forcewithdrawal.

Cadet Chew provided Vietnam maps describing the operationalenvironment faced during the war, specifically dense jungle andhigh elevations encountered which effectively allowed enemyforces to hide, conduct effective ambushes, and transportsupplies undetected. Elevations allowed establishment ofeffective defense postures.

The background, buildup and operations during the period 1950to 1967 was instructive and explained the French failure ofcolonalism, the rise of Ho Chi Minh, and later the battle of DienBien Phu resulting in French surrender and agreements. Thiswas followed by the emergence of South Vietnam and the 1957rise to power by Ngo Ding Diem, who established an anti-communist state. By 1959 insurgents called the Viet Cong (VC)rose in numbers, having 5,000 men and later by 1964 more than100,000. The VC, with support from the populace, initiatedguerilla attacks against the South Vietnamese Army (SVA).

In 1961 a new American President, John F. Kennedy, was elected and quickly moved to increase thesize of U.S. forces, make equipment available, create the Special Forces, experiment with newapproaches such as Air Assault, and increase the U.S. Army presence. By 1964 most SouthVietnamese Army elements were supported by helicopters; 22,000 U.S. troops were in-country. Diem’searly strategy, along with the battle of Ap Bac, demonstrated the failure of counterinsurgency efforts;Diem died in 1963.

Dense Vegetation TorrentialRain

Vietnam victory at Dien Bien Phu Ap Bac changed views of Vietnam War

By July 1965 President Johnson planned to approveadditional forces but had problems expanding the Army;however, by the end of 1967 the Army had 490,000 troops.General Westmoreland’s strategy included (1) Createdefense positions around Saigon; (2) begin attacks againstmajor enemy forces; and (3) locate and destroy sanctuariesand VC bases. In 1965 the fight began in The Highlandsagainst North Vietnam with the first major engagement theBattle of Ia Drang and Landing Zone X-ray which proved asignificant test for U.S. airmobile tactics.

On January 30, 1968 the Tet offensive was underway along with the desperate Battle of Hue, whichincluded seven NV regiments. Although U.S. public opinion soured the battle increased local supportfor the U.S. and South Vietnamese governments. The American people thought the war was comingto an end; a military request for an additional 206,000 troops showed just the opposite. The ArmyReserve was finally activated; the last phase of American involvement, called Vietnamization, wasabout to begin. Responsibility for ground combat went to the South Viet forces, along with an increasein that force’s capabilities, as well as a decrease in U.S. artillery and the beginning of withdrawal.Phoenix was a pacification program that entailed searching for and capturing or killing enemy hiding inSouth Viet villages. The degree of success is still debated today.

In 1969 U. S. troop withdrawal began with the return of communist forces to South Vietnam. GeneralAbrams created a strategy to counter the new threat, using air cavalry for heavy assault andestablishment of a dozen fire bases along the Cambodian border. The battle of Hamburger Hill, ahuman meat-grinder, was notable with 70 U.S. Forces killed and 341 wounded and more than 600enemy KIAs. In just 3 weeks the NVA reoccupied the hill, enraging the American public. By March1972 withdrawal was underway with all soldiers evacuated except for 100,000. The Easter offensivebegan with the NV forces attacking on 3 fronts but by November 24th they were losing momentum; in1975 the NVA attacked again. 7,000 people—U.S. military and SV—were evacuated, and the war wasover.

In 2016, Cadet Chew graduated from Cochise College with an AA degree in Intelligence OperationStudies. He graduated with honors from basic combat training in 2015 and served two years as anintelligence analyst in the Army and Army Reserve. During his time in the reserves, he competed inthe Best Warrior competition, making it to the Division level and was awarded two Army achievementmedals. Cadet Chew is an ROA member.

Landing zone X-Ray

Phoenix Program: VC headed to jail Last flight out of Vietnam

SOURCE: Cadet Travis Chew MORE– Keep Reading

Scenes and Moments from the 28 October 2017 Luncheon Program

Left: LtCol Maurice Casey, USMC (Ret.) – Chapter President – and Vietnam combat veteran – welcomesthe group. Right: BG Gerald Griffin, U.S. Army (Ret.) – a medical doctor and battlefield physician from bothGulf Wars shares a story with 2LT Alexander Amoroso, USAR (a recent Santa Clara University ROTCgraduate) – and guest speaker Cadet Travis Chew, AROTC.

MG Robert Ostenberg, U.S. Army (Ret.) – a Vietnam combat veteran -- briefs and presents the "The UnitedStates of America Vietnam War Commemoration Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin” to eligible attendees. LivingUnited States veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the periodof November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location, are eligible to receive one lapel pin.

Cadet Chew begins his presentation – drawing close attentionof former classmate – 2LT Alexander Amoroso – Vietnamcombat veteran MG Robert Ostenberg – and other attendees.It was a unique experience for both Cadet Chew -- and hisaudience of seasoned veteran officers – and one secondlieutenant. At the end, President Casey thanked Cadet Chewfor an outstanding job well done.

Santa Clara County Unified Chapter #63 – Department of the Golden West -- ROA