Four miles south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), about 500 U.S. troops of the 1st Brigade, 5th Mechanized Division turn over Fire Base Charlie 2 to Saigon troops, completing the transfer of defense responsibilities for the border area. On the previous day, nearby Fire Base Alpha 4 had been turned over to the South Vietnamese. This was part of President Richard Nixon's Vietnamization policy, which had been announced at a June 1969 conference at Midway Island. Under this program, the United States initiated a comprehensive effort to increase the combat capabilities of the South Vietnamese armed forces. As the South Vietnamese became more capable, responsibility for the fighting was gradually transferred from U.S. forces. Concurrent with this effort, there was a gradual withdrawal of U.S. forces.
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- Old West
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- Sports
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- Vietnam War
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United States turns over responsibility for the DMZ
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This Week in History, Jul 9 - Jul 15
- Jul 09, 1966
- Soviets protest U.S. bombing of Haiphong
- Jul 09, 1971
- United States turns over responsibility for the DMZ
- Jul 10, 1965
- MiGs shot down as bombing of North Vietnam continues
- Jul 10, 1967
- Heavy fighting continues near An Loc and the Central Highlands
- Jul 11, 1966
- Public opinion approves bombing of North Vietnam
- Jul 11, 1967
- Senators debate U.S. policy in Vietnam
- Jul 11, 1969
- Thieu challenges NLF to participate in free elections
- Jul 12, 1965
- First Marine wins Medal of Honor
- Jul 12, 1966
- North Vietnam urged to treat U.S. POWs better
- Jul 13, 1968
- Rockefeller announces new peace proposal
- Jul 13, 1969
- Wallace criticizes Nixon's handling of the war
- Jul 14, 1964
- North Vietnamese regulars are fighting in South Vietnam
- Jul 14, 1968
- Clifford visits South Vietnam
- Jul 15, 1964
- Goldwater nominated for president
- Jul 15, 1971
- Nixon announces a visit to China
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