II Field Force, Vietnam
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| II Field Force, Vietnam | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | II Field Force, Vietnam |
| Dates | 1966–1971 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Corps-level command |
| Size | Corps |
| Garrison | Long Binh Post |
| Battles | Vietnam War |
| Notable commanders | William Westmoreland, Creighton Abrams, John J. Hennessey |
II Field Force, Vietnam was a corps-level United States Army headquarters established in 1966 to command American ground operations in the III Corps Tactical Zone around Saigon during the Vietnam War. It coordinated large-scale combat operations, pacification efforts, and joint actions with United States Air Force aviation, United States Navy riverine forces, and allied formations including the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, Australian Army, New Zealand Army, and Republic of Korea Army. The command was inactivated in 1971 as part of Vietnamization and U.S. force reductions.
History and Formation
II Field Force, Vietnam was activated on 15 March 1966 under the authority of United States Pacific Command and the Department of Defense to assume control of units previously under III Corps and United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Formed during the tenure of General William Westmoreland, it consolidated operational command for forces defending Saigon, protecting lines of communication to Bien Hoa Air Base, and conducting counterinsurgency and search-and-destroy operations against Viet Cong and People's Army of Vietnam formations. The headquarters worked alongside provincial authorities such as the National Liberation Front opposition elements and coordinated with programs like Strategic Hamlets Program and Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support.
Organization and Structure
II Field Force, Vietnam was structured as a corps-equivalent headquarters overseeing subordinate divisions, brigades, support commands, and aviation units. Key subordinate formations included the 1st Infantry Division (United States), 25th Infantry Division (United States), 4th Infantry Division (United States), 9th Infantry Division (United States), and the 199th Infantry Brigade (Light Combat). Aviation assets from the 1st Aviation Brigade and artillery support from units like the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment were coordinated through the corps staff. The command maintained liaison with Military Assistance Command, Vietnam headquarters, provincial military offices such as the III Corps Tactical Zone staff, and allied liaison officers from the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam.
Operations and Major Campaigns
II Field Force, Vietnam directed operations across the III Corps area including major actions during the Tet Offensive, Operation Junction City, Operation Cedar Falls, and Battle of Long Binh. It planned and executed search-and-destroy missions against North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong units, coordinated interdiction along the Ho Chi Minh Trail approaches, and supported pacification campaigns in provinces like Binh Duong, Dau Tieng, and Phuoc Tuy Province. The corps worked with Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group elements on unconventional warfare missions and coordinated with United States Marine Corps and Republic of Vietnam Navy forces for riverine and coastal operations. II Field Force elements were active during Operation Linebacker effects on ground logistics and supported responses to the Easter Offensive through advisory and redeployment activities.
Commanders and Leadership
Commanders of II Field Force included senior leaders selected from the United States Army general officer corps. Early command was exercised by generals influenced by William Westmoreland's strategy; subsequent commanders adapted to shifts under leaders such as Creighton Abrams who emphasized combined arms and pacification. Command staff integrated officers experienced from earlier conflicts including veterans of the Korean War and advisors from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff. Leadership coordinated with civilian officials from U.S. Embassy, Saigon and engaged with South Vietnamese leaders such as Ngô Đình Diệm era political figures and later governments.
Order of Battle and Unit Composition
The order of battle under II Field Force varied over time, typically including multiple infantry divisions, independent brigades, cavalry regiments, aviation brigades, artillery battalions, engineer battalions, and military police units. Notable units frequently assigned were the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, and support units such as the 45th Medical Brigade and 18th Engineer Brigade (United States). The corps coordinated with Army of the Republic of Vietnam Special Forces and territorial forces including Regional Forces (South Vietnam) and Popular Forces (South Vietnam). Reserve and logistics elements included assets from United States Army Vietnam (USARV) and theater sustainment through United States Army Logistics Command.
Equipment and Support Assets
II Field Force employed combined arms equipment including M48 Patton, M113 armored personnel carrier, M551 Sheridan, and aerial platforms such as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, Bell AH-1 Cobra, and Sikorsky CH-47 Chinook. Artillery support came from systems like the M101 howitzer and M109 self-propelled howitzer, while aviation assets included assets from the 1st Aviation Brigade. Riverine and naval coordination used craft from the Brown-water Navy and Mobile Riverine Force elements using Armored Troop Carrier vessels. Logistical and medical support was provided by units associated with United States Army Medical Department and U.S. Army Transportation Corps.
Legacy and Honors
II Field Force, Vietnam left a legacy in doctrine, lessons learned, and organizational precedents for corps-level command in counterinsurgency and joint operations. Its inactivation in 1971 reflected policies under Vietnamization and directives from the Nixon administration and the Department of Defense force reductions. Historians and analysts from institutions like the United States Army Center of Military History and veterans' organizations have chronicled II Field Force operations in relation to debates over strategy influenced by figures such as Westmoreland and Abrams. Individual soldiers and units received decorations including campaign streamers from the Vietnam Service Medal era and unit awards recognized by the Department of the Army.