By: HISTORY.com Editors
U.S. forces launch last major American operation of the Vietnam War
On September 5, 1970, the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), in coordination with the South Vietnamese (ARVN) 1st Infantry Division, initiates Operation Jefferson Glen in Thua Thien Province west of Hue. This operation lasted until October 1971 and was one of the last major large-scale military operations in which U.S. ground forces took part.
The operation followed the start of President Richard Nixon’s Vietnamization program in the summer of 1969. Its objective was to increase the combat capability of the South Vietnamese forces so that they could assume responsibility for the war against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese forces as U.S. combat units were withdrawn and sent home.
Shortly after the completion of Jefferson Glenn, the 101st Airborne began preparations to depart South Vietnam and subsequently began redeployment to the United States in March 1972.
Vietnamization
Show: Vietnam in HDSearch and Destroy missions were a crucial part of the American war strategy in Vietnam.
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Citation Information
- Article Title
- U.S. forces launch last major American operation of the Vietnam War
- Author
- HISTORY.com Editors
- Website Name
- History
- Date Accessed
- October 29, 2026
- Publisher
- A&E Television Networks
- Last Updated
- September 01, 2026
- Original Published Date
- November 16, 2009
