B6 | THE FLAGSHIP | JUN 4, 2015 | FLAGSHIPNEWS.COM
maritimestrategy
1955
The start of the Vietnam War
540,000 U.S. troops in Vietnam
1968
U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam
1965
The end of the Vietnam War
1975
U.S. Navy photo by AWR2 Evan Kenny The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82), front, conducts a trilateral naval exercise with the Turkish frigate FTCD Gediz (F-495) and Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) destroyers Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong (DDG 993) and Gang Gam-chan (DDH 979) in support of theater security operations.
USS Lassen conducts multilateral exercises with allied navies Commander, Naval Forces Korea Public Affairs BUSAN, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
1965 3,500 Marines arrive in Da Nang
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War lasted from 1955-1975 with official U.S. participation beginning in 1965 with the arrival of 3,500 Marines in Da Nang. The conflict would last until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. During those ten years, the U.S. lost 58,303 soldiers and saw 303,644 soldiers wounded. Over 600 prisoners of war were returned; more than 1,600 are still unaccounted for. Soldiers saw more days of combat per year than ever before; the average U.S. infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year compared to 40 days in four years for the average infantryman in the South Pacific during WWII. It is a war fraught with emotion. The anti-war protests of the 1960s and the lack of official welcome home ceremonies we’re used to for returning veterans underscored the negative feelings many Americans had about U.S. involvement in the conflict. But that doesn’t make the contributions of those veterans any less valuable.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) and ships from the Republic of Korea (ROK) navy conducted separate one-day multilateral naval exercises with France and Turkey in the waters south of the Korean peninsula May 23 and 25. The exercises, conducted with French frigate FS Aconit (F-713) on May 23, and Turkish frigate TCG Gediz (F-495) on May 25, were designed to increase maritime interoperability and strengthen long-standing partnerships with these participating United Nations Sending States. France and Turkey are two of the 17 nations that have reafďŹ rmed their national commitment as Sending States to the United Nations Command with a promise to return to Korea should the armistice agreement fail. “It is an incredible experience to conduct high-speed tactical drills with the French, Turkish and ROK navies,â€? said Lt. j.g. Gerie
Palanca, the signals warfare ofďŹ cer aboard Lassen. “During both exercises, it was obvious that their ship handling skills were awless and the communication was very professional. We always look forward to interacting with our partners.â€? The exercises took place in international waters around the Korean peninsula and consisted of tactical maneuvering drills, nonmaneuvering voice drills and signal communication training. “Through multilateral training, the participating navies can improve operational proďŹ ciency and integration,â€? said Cmdr. Lee, Jong-Sik, of the ROK Fleet Headquarters in Busan. “By working with our allied partners, we help ensure the continued peace and stability throughout the region.â€? Lassen, one of seven destroyers assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15, is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-AsiaPaciďŹ c region. For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, visit www.navy.mil/ local/cnfk/.
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U.S. SOLDIERS
303,644
WOUNDED KILLED MISSING POWs (returned)
58,303 Over the coming 1,600 weeks and months, 600 we will be honoring those veterans and the contributions of those in Hampton Roads who served in Vietnam. We will revisit the actions of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard in Vietnam. We will say thank you to area vets whose stories and pictures we will share in this spot every week. The series will culminate with our Still Serving event in December where The Flagship and Military Newspapers of Virginia honors and celebrates the service and achievements of the veterans that call Hampton Roads home.
TELL US YOUR STORY If you have a story or photos you would like to share, please contact Carrie Anderson at carrie.anderson@ militarynews.com or 757-222-3983.
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