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SUBJ/2023 NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMEMORATION - VIETNAM WAR//
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/DNS/MAR//
RMKS/ 1. U.S. Navy advisors first arrived in South Vietnam in late 1954 to
provide material support and training for the Republic of Vietnam Navy. As
conflicts in the country continued to mount in the early 1960s, so did the
efforts of the U.S. Navy. Following the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin
Resolution, direct actions against North Vietnam increased significantly with
U.S. Navy assets performing an extensive array of missions. The U.S. Navy
deployed a total of 17 aircraft carriers that made 73 deployments to the
South China Sea. TF-77, the attack carrier task force, varied in size, but
during surges included five carriers, 400 aircraft, 25 escort and support
ships, and 30,000 Sailors. This task force, along with Marine aviators,
dropped 1.5 million tons of bombs during the course of the war-approximately
24 percent of the total tonnage dropped by America in the air war. Navy
advisors and liaison officers helped grow the South Vietnamese Navy from a
small force of 22 ships in 1955 to over 1,000 ships and coastal/riverine
patrol craft in 1972. In partnership with the South Vietnamese, the U.S.
Navy developed a highly effective inshore blockade to prevent the resupply of
enemy forces by sea, engaged in naval gunfire support missions in the
littoral and riverine areas of Vietnam, and provided amphibious transport for
Marines operating ashore. Patrol aircraft also helped enforce the coastal
blockades. On the rivers, the Navy stood up several task forces that
protected commercial traffic, assisted allied ground forces in pacifying
these areas, and interdicted enemy troops and supplies moving on these inland
waterways. Navy SEALs initially served as advisors and then carried out
critical reconnaissance and operational missions. The Seabee presence in
Vietnam grew from one battalion of 600 in 1965 to over 10,000
Sailors. Seabees built helicopter pads, airfield runways, and hangars at Chu
Lai, Danang, and Phu Bai. They also built port facilities, maintained vital
roads, and erected thousands of bridges. Navy medicine also played a key
role, serving not only in the station hospitals and aboard ship, but as the
corpsmen and doctors assigned to USMC ground units. The Navy's intelligence
professionals carried out their primary mission of providing forces with
information to save lives and improve battle performance. The Navy's
logistical support for the war ranged from sea and airlift of supplies and
personnel to the theater of operations, to base building, medical, and
administrative support on the ground. Much of the material assistance
provided to the Vietnamese people came by sea, as did 99 percent of the
ammunition and fuel and 95 percent of the supplies, vehicles, and
construction resources required for the war effort. A total of 1.842 million
Sailors served in Southeast Asia. Overall, the Navy suffered the loss of
1,631 Sailors killed and 4,178 wounded during the course of the 11-year war.
2. To ensure the sacrifices of the 9 million who served during this
difficult chapter of our country's history are remembered for generations to
come, the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 designates 29 March of
each year as National Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day. This is a
significant date that marks the day when U.S. troops left Vietnam in
1973. On 29 March 2023, we will honor all those who answered our Nation's
call to duty. We vow to never again confuse personal disapproval of war with
prejudice against those who honorably wear the uniform of our Armed
Forces. We reaffirm one of our most fundamental obligations: to show all who
have worn the uniform of the United States the dignity and respect they
deserve and to honor their sacrifice by serving them as well as they served
us. The Vietnam veterans have been hit hard in recent years with illnesses
and advancing age. With conviction, our Nation pledges our enduring respect,
our continuing care, and our everlasting commitment to all Vietnam Veterans.
3. Mission. Coordinate with the Vietnam War Commemoration Committee in
Arlington, VA to meet the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act's intent by
honoring and recognizing Vietnam Veterans for their service to the Nation and
Navy.
4. Commander's Intent
a. Purpose. Commemorate National Vietnam War Veterans Day throughout
the Navy on 29 March 2023.
b. Method. Command-centric execution of a coordinated Navy-wide
National Vietnam War Veterans Day commemoration.
(1) Use available Navy outreach assets to maximum extent possible.
c. End State: The National Vietnam War Veterans Day commemoration
continues to be an annual fleet commemoration and Navy pride event observed
globally through the end of the commemoration in 2025.
5. Tasks
a. Director, Navy Staff (DNS) will oversee planning and program
development for the National Vietnam War Veterans Day commemoration.
b. Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Director, will serve as
chairman of the NHHC role with the commemoration, with the Outreach Branch of
the Communication and Outreach Division (COD) as the lead for planning.
(1) Develop a commemoration toolkit for use by all Navy commands.
(a) Develop and make available a body of lessons learned at the
tactical, operational, and strategic levels from previous Vietnam War
Commemoration ceremonies.
(2) Coordinate and support the execution of the commemoration events
to include the execution of a Navy-wide observation and supporting community
outreach events.
(3) Conduct National Vietnam War Veterans Day Ceremony at Navy
museums at 1200 local on 29 March 2023.
(a) National Museum of the U.S. Navy. Washington, DC.
POC: Charles Swift/john.c.swift6.civ@us.navy.mil/202-433-8502.
(b) National Naval Aviation Museum. Pensacola, FL.
POC: Hill Goodspeed/hill.goodspeed@navy.mil/850-452-3604 x3135.
(c) Naval War College Museum. Newport, RI. POC: Ryan
Meyer/ryan.meyer@usnwc.edu/401-841-1296.
(d) United States Naval Academy Museum. U.S. Naval
Academy, Annapolis, MD.
POC: Sarah McGlone/mcglone@usna.edu/410-293-5254.
(e) United States Navy Seabee Museum. Naval Base
Ventura County Port Hueneme, Port Hueneme, CA.
POC: Lara Godbille/lara.godbille@navy.mil/805-982-5167.
(f) National Museum of the American Sailor. Naval
Station Great Lakes, Great Lakes, IL.
POC: Jennifer Searcy/jennifer.searcy.civ@us.navy.mil/
nmas.fct@navy.mil/847-688-3154.
(g) Hampton Roads Naval Museum. Norfolk, VA.
POC: John Pentangelo/john.pentangelo@navy.mil/757-322-2990.
(h) Puget Sound Navy Museum. Bremerton, WA.
POC: Danelle Eaton/danelle.n.eaton.civ@us.navy.mil/360-627-2275.
(i) Naval Undersea Museum. Keyport, WA.
POC: Lindy Dosher/lindy.dosher@navy.mil/360-396-4164.
(j) Submarine Force Museum and Library. Groton, CT.
POC: LCDR Derek A. Sutton/derek.a.sutton2.mil@us.navy.mil/
860-694-4276.
(4) Develop a commemoration toolkit for use by all Navy commands.
(a) Develop and make available a body of lessons learned at the
tactical, operational, and strategic levels from previous Vietnam War
Commemoration events.
(b) Post all documents and associated points of contact on the
NHHC website (https://www.history.navy.mil/) NLT 17 March 2023.
c. Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC); Commander,
U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT); Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC);
Naval Education and Training Command (NETC);
Commander, Navy Reserve Force Command (COMNAVRESFORCOM); Commander,
Naval Recruiting Command (COMNAVCRUITCOM); and other commands as required.
(1) Provide representatives as necessary to support the
commemoration.
(2) Ensure COs and OICs plan for and commemorate the event.
6. Coordinating Instructions: Additional coordination instructions and
tasking to be provided by separate correspondence (SEPCOR) as needed.
7. Administrative
a. The VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION toolkit is available at the NHHC
website (https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/commemorations-
toolkits/Vietnam-War-Veterans-Day.html).
b. Public Affairs Guidance
(1) The public affairs posture is active for this commemoration and
all supporting events.
8. Point of contact. NHHC POC is Mr. Eric Ritter, at comm: (202) 433-7880
or via email: eric.d.ritter.civ@us.navy,mil.
9. Released by Mr. Andrew S. Haeuptle, Director, Navy Staff.//
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