01 Sep 1969, Saigon, Vietnam --- Saigon: President Nguyen Van Thieu (third from left, front row) introduces his new 31-member cabinet on the steps of the Presidential Palace here. Thieu said the membership was selected with an eye to broadening the government's popularity with the nation's 17,500,000 people. Flanking Thieu are Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky (left) and new Premier, Gen. Tran Thien Khiem. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    02 Jan 1969, Dong Ha, South Vietnam --- Special Delivery.. Dong Ha, South Vietnam: Men in a U.S. 3rd Marine Division contingent fire howitzers near the Laotian border as a massive offensive is launched by some 5,000 U.S. and South Vietnamese troops. The troops were staging a drive against the are near the abandoned allied fortress of Khe Sanh. They were searching for North Vietnamese regulars. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    08 Jun 1969, Midway Islands --- President Richard Nixon of the U.S. and President Ngygen Van Thieu of South Vietnam make joint statement to press on Midway Island June 8th. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS   08 Nov 1969, Bien Hoa, South Vietnam --- Bien Hoa, S. Vietnam: South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu attends National Day ceremonies at a military cemetery near Bien Hoa. In most photos Thieu (wearing dark grey suit) is accompanied by Vice President Cao Ky, who is wearing a Nehru jacket. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    08 Nov 1969, Bien Hoa, South Vietnam --- Bien Hoa, S. Vietnam: South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu attends National Day ceremonies at a military cemetery near Bien Hoa. In most photos Thieu (wearing dark grey suit) is accompanied by Vice President Cao Ky, who is wearing a Nehru jacket. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS   17 Oct 1969, Saigon, Vietnam --- Saigon: The 11th Armored Cavalry armored personnel carriers and tanks sweep into rubber plantation area at Loc Ninh and Quan Loi October 17th. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    14 Dec 1969, Nha Trang, South Vietnam --- Nha Trang, South Vietnam: In an open air classroom, a student is instructed in the firing of a machine gun at the NCO Combat School at Nha Trang, 250 miles northeast of Saigon. Up to 4,000 students undergo a nine week course to become noncommissioned officers. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS  14 Dec 1969, South Vietnam --- A karate (or judo) class at South Vietnam Military Academy, a new four year school instituted by a decree from then President Ky in 1966. The school is run along the lines of West Point, and places much emphasis on moral leadership and education as military training. The school motto is "To master oneself for leadership." --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS  15 Oct 1969, Hue, South Vietnam --- Hue, South Vietnam: South Vietnamese president Nguyen Van Thieu speaks at a mass funeral for 250 people killed by the Viet Cong in the 1968 Tet offensive. Their bodies were found only a few days ago. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    15 Oct 1969, Hue, South Vietnam --- Rows of coffins of victims of the 1968 Tet Viet Cong offensive. Bereaved relatives mourn their dead during mass funeral of 250 persons killed by Viet cong. Funeral was held October 1969 as bodies were only recently discovered. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    17 Oct 1969, Saigon, Vietnam --- Saigon: Members of the 11th Armored Cavalry go out on foot patrols after getting their vehicles into position here in a plantation area near Loc Ninh and Quan Loi October 17th. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS     20 Sep 1969, Saigon, South Vietnam --- Tran Thiem Khiem, recently appointed Prime Minister of South Vietnam by President Thieu, speaks in Saigon, September 20th. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    30 Jul 1969, Saigon, S. Vietnam --- Saigon, S. Vietnam: President Richard Nixon and South Vietnamese President Hguyen Van Thieu give speeches during Presidential Palace welcome for the visiting U.S. Chief Executive. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    30 Jul 1969, Saigon, S. Vietnam --- Saigon, S. Vietnam: President Richard Nixon and South Vietnamese President Hguyen Van Thieu give speeches during Presidential Palace welcome for the visiting U.S. Chief Executive. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    1969 (CL-R) President Richard M. Nixon, Thieu Ky along with other dignitaries including Henry Kissinger and Ellsworth Bunker standing at microphones during visit to South Vietnam   1969 (R-L) President Richard Nixon and Thieu Ky reviewing South Vietnamese naval personnel during Nixon's visit.   1969 Nixon   20 Sep 1969, Saigon, South Vietnam --- Tran Thiem Khiem, recently appointed Prime Minister of South Vietnam by President Thieu, speaks in Saigon, September 20th. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS   SV Trường Võ Bị Quốc Gia Đà Lạt, nơi đào tạo sĩ quan chuyên nghiệp của VNCH theo mô hình trường Sĩ Quan Lục quân West Point của Hoa Kỳ . 14 Dec 1969, Nha Trang, South Vietnam --- Nha Trang, South Vietnam: Soldiers attending open air sessions, here outdoors in uniforms. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    Đà Lạt 14-12-1969, Lễ tốt nghiệp của 92 SV Khóa đầu tiên (1966) 14 Dec 1969, Nha Trang, South Vietnam --- Nha Trang, South Vietnam:Cadets march with colors on graduation day at South Vietnam's Military academy in Dalat. Modeled along the lines of West Point, 92 cadets received their commissions. They were the first group to complete the four year course instituted by a decree from then president Nguyen Cao Ky in 1966. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    26 Sep 1969, Hanoi, North Vietnam --- Funeral For Ho. Hanoi: Some North Vietnamese leaders gather around the body of President Ho Chi Minh during a state funeral here. This picture was released in Cambodia. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS   17 Oct 1969, Saigon, Vietnam --- Saigon: The 11th Armored Cavalry armored personnel carriers and tanks sweep into rubber plantation area at Loc Ninh and Quan Loi October 17th. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    01 Jan 1970, Saigon, South Vietnam --- Saigon, Vietnam: Vice presidents Spiro T. Agnew of the U. S. and Nguyen Cao Ky of South Vietnam inspect the honor guard for Agnew on his arrival at the presidential Palace. Agnew went immediately to the palace where he conferred with South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    11 Mar 1970, Saigon, South Vietnam --- Vietnam's first lady, Mme. Nguyen Van Thieu, fidgets with a notebook as she discusses the contrast between herself and the one time first lady of Vietnam, Mme, Ngo Dinh Nhu. Mme. Thieu says she does not advise her husband on affairs of state. "His interest in politics and mine is social welfare, I can help him most this way," she says. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    19 Jun 1970, Saigon, South Vietnam --- Saigon, South Vietnam: Review Parade. South Vietnam Vice Pres. Nguyen Cao Ky renders hand salute as he and Pres.. Nguyen Van Thieu preside over a muscle-flexing Armed Forces Day Parade, nation's first in four years, here June 19th. In an address, Thieu declared "we are forced to keep on fighting for self-defense and to help restore peace rapidly in this beloved land of ours." --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    15 Sep 1970, Saigon, South Vietnam --- Saigon, South Vietnam: Left to right, Chairman of Lower House Nguyen Ba Luong, President Nguyen van Thieu, Prime Minister Tran Thien Khiem, and Madame Khiem. September 15, 1970. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    07 Apr 1971, Dong Ha, South Vietnam --- Addresses Troops. Dong Ha, South Vietnam: South Vietnam Pres. Nguyen Van Thieu addresses troops, March 31, who took part in recent operation Lam Som 719 incussion into Laos. Thieu came to this Vietnamese base, 10 miles below the DMZ, to present medals to soldiers who participated in the operation. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    October 1971, Saigon, South Vietnam --- Saigon, South Vietnam: President Nguyen Van Thieu of South Vietnam giving a campaign address.   15 Oct 1971, Saigon, South Vietnam --- Reagan Confers with Thieu. Saigon, South Vietnam: Ronald Reagan of California, who is touring Asia as President Nixon's emissary, confers with South Vietnamese president Nguyen Van Thieu, October 15. Reagan told a news conference that he brought Thieu a message from the chief executive saying there would be "no change in the course of policy of our nation" toward South Vietnam. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    31 Oct 1971, Saigon, South Vietnam --- Swears Himself In. Sag ion: South Vietnamese President raises his hand as he swears himself in a for a second four year term here, October 31st. The ceremony was witnessed by a handpicked crowd of 5,000 persons. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    31 Oct 1971, Saigon, South Vietnam --- Second Inaugural. Saigon, South Vietnam: South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu lights a ceremonial flame at his inauguration here, October 31. Under massive security precautions, Thieu began his second four-year term as president. Representatives of thirty countries attended the ceremony. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    31 Oct 1971, Saigon, South Vietnam --- South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu leaves platform after taking oath of office for another four-year term, October 31. He is followed by Prime Minister Tran Thiem Khiem (L) and Vice President Tran Van Huong.. Seated at right are Justices of the Supreme Court. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    29 Aug 1971, Saigon, South Vietnam --- Election Day. Saigon, South Vietnam: There are an awful lot of motorcycles in Vietnam, and a great many of them were parked in front of a polling place (August 29) when the capital city's citizens turned out to vote for a new lower house. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    24 Jan 1971, Saigon, South Vietnam --- 1/24/1971-Saigon, Vietnam- Spectacular blaze looms in background as a Vietnamese woman is comforted by a companion and a youth (background) hastily stacks wicker baskets for removal. The blaze, the cause of which was not determined, erupted 1/24 in huge market area of fruit stands and vegetable stalls along the Saigon River. Fires are much feared here, as many of the houses and buildings are built close together and are constructed of straw, paper, light wood and other materials which have a propensity for burning quickly and easily. Filed 2/3/1971..   03 May 1972, Hue, South Vietnam --- Hue, South Vietnam. A regiment of South Vietnamese Marines pulling back from Quang tri are shown at My Chanh along Route #1 en route to Hue.. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS   05 Aug 1972, Highway 13, South Vietnam --- 8/5/1972-Highway 13, South Vietnam: A military ambulance races north on Highway 13, passing the grave of an unknown ARVN soldier whose shirt is draped over a cross, some nine miles north of An Loo.. On August 3, ARVN forces captured a key bunker that has kept the highway shut to An Loc for four months. A military spokesman said the highway to An Loc is expected to be reopened by August 9. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    05 Nov 1972, Saigon, South Vietnam --- South Viets Support Thieu. Saigon, So. Vietnam: A huge crowd of about 10,000 persons jams Saigon's downtown section to show support for President Nguyen Van Thieu and demand that there be no coalition government. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS   09 Apr 1972, Lai Kha, South Vietnam --- A column of ARVN paratroopers trudges along Highway 13 here in this photo, en route to reinforce besieged South Vietnamese forces at An Loc, district capital of Binh Long Province, some 60 miles north of Saigon. Attempting to head off a threat to Saigon, the Thieu government April 9th switched the full 21st Division from normal operations in the U Ming Forest to An Loc, where fighting seems to be centered. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    10 Apr 1972, Lai Khe, South Vietnam --- South Vietnamese soldiers string barbed wire along road as armored personnel carriers, of elite South Vietnamese paratrooper division, move along Highway 13 toward embattled city of An Loc, some 60-miles north of Saigon. U.S. Major General James F. Hollingsworth, senior military advisor in eleven province area surrounding Saigon, reported the Communist thrust down Highway 13 toward Saigon had been halted. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    10 Apr 1972, Lai Khe, South Vietnam --- Holding Their Own. South Vietnamese soldiers string barbed wire along road as armored personnel carriers, of elite South Vietnamese paratrooper division, move along Highway 13 toward embattled city of An Loe some 60-miles north of Saigon here April 10. U.S. Maj. Gen.. James F. Hollingsworth, senior military advisor in 11 province area surrounding Saigon, reported the Communist thrust down Highway 13 toward Saigon had been halted.   17-12-72 TT Nguyễn Văn Thiệu đọc diễn văn trước phiên họp lưỡng viện Quốc hội 12 Dec 1972, Saigon, South Vietnam --- Saigon, South Vietnam: In a speech to a joint session of the National Assembly, South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu spells out his position toward a cease-fire. Thieu spells out his position toward a cease-fire. Thieu indicated he is rejecting the cease-fire as it now stands. However, he said he will accept a temporary Christmas Truce and to show his good will he will release more than 1,000 North Vietnamese prisoners of war. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    13 Jun 1972, Lai Khe, South Vietnam --- 6/13/1972-Lai Khe, South Vietnam: Line of Helicopters of the U.S. First Air Cavalry Division land in formation at Lai Khe to pick up troops of the South Vietnamese Second Division and bring them to An Loc. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    14 Apr 1972, Chon Thanh, South Vietnam --- Chon Thanh, South Vietnam: With his bandaged arm in a sling, a South Vietnamese soldier walks down Highway 13 to an aid station after he was wounded in fighting with North Vietnam forces, April 14, north of Chon Thanh   14-4-1972 Chơn Thành: binh sĩ thuộc binh chủng Nhảy Dù được vận chuyển nhanh đến bãi đáp trực thăng để chi viện cho An Lộc 14 Apr 1972, Chon Thanh, Vietnam --- 4/14/1972-Chon Thanh, Vietnam: ARVN paratroopers, members of Saigon's elite Presidential Palace guard, speed down the highway on a truck toward the landing zone in the outskirts of Chon Thanh. They were part of an armored relief column spearheading drive up Highway 13 towards embattled provincial capital of An Loc, which North Vietnamese forces hope to capture and make a provisional capital for the Viet Cong, but had been stalled some 18 miles below the town by intense Communist artillery and mortar fire. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    16-4-1972 - Lai Khê: binh sĩ VNCH chờ trực thăng để đến An Lộc 16 Apr 1972, An Loc, South Vietnam --- An Loc, South Vietnam: Vietnam helicopters. ARVN airborne troops await helicopter at landing strip.   17 Jan 1972 --- U.S.Senator James L.Buckley (L), R-N.Y., confers briefly with South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu at the Presidential Palace late 1/17. The junior Senator told newsmen after the meeting with Thieu that Asian leaders appeared uncertain of United States foreign policy design in the Western Pacific. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    17 May 1972, Saigon, South Vietnam --- Vice President Spiro T.Agnew (R) talks with Pres.Nguyen Van Thieu in Independence Palace here May 17th following his arrival for a short, secrecy-shrouded visit with top South Vietnamese and American officials in the war zone. Agnew's trip to Saigon served the purposes both of showing American determination to aid South Vietnam and of gathering information for Pres.Nixon before Nixon's trip to Moscow beginning May 20th. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    17 Aug 1972, Saigon, South Vietnam --- 8/17/1972-Saigon, South Vietnam- South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu makes a point during a meeting with U.S. presidential advisor Henry Kissinger at Independence Palace. Earlier in the day Kissinger conferred with top U.S.. commanders and diplomats. -   19 Apr 1973, An Loc, South Vietnam --- Plaything... A Communist tank is a plaything for children at An Loc April 10th. Some of the children are really serious about playing "war." --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    Saigon, South Vietnam --- SAIGON-5/24/ 72-: An M-41 tank is unloaded from C-5A cargo plane at Tan Son Nhut Airbase here 5/23. The plane carried three tanks, which will be used in the defense of Saigon. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS   26 Apr 1972, Kontum City, South Vietnam --- South Vietnamese soldiers man their weapons in a sandbag bunker built in the middle of the street in Kontum city. The Central Highlands town is being threatened by a large force of N orth Vietnamese troops. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    27 Jan 1973, Along Highway One, Vietnam --- Along Highway One, Vietnam: With the cease-fire taking effect within a few hours, this pensive ARVN soldier wears a helmet decorated with a miniature U.S> Flag as an expression of solidarity with his soon to be "former" allies. He's helping guard refugees who fled Communist-held hamlet of Gia Loc, along Highway One and some 25 miles Northwest of Saigon. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS   29 Apr 1972, Highway 13, South Vietnam --- Highway 13, South Vietnam: A South Vietnamese soldier points to a skyraider making a bombing run along Highway 13, four miles south of Chon Thanh.. In background, one of the bombs explodes. The ARVN troops are manning a 105-mm. artillery piece which they had been firing directly into Communist positions. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    30 Apr 1972, Hue, South Vietnam --- Hue, S. Vietnam: Refugees from Quang Tri climb into small boats on river near here to escape from the Communist invasion. They are joined by deserting members of the ARVN Division. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    30-12-1972 - Chủ tịch Mao tiếp Nguyễn Thị Bình, bộ trưởng ngoại giao của "Chính phủ Cách mạng Lâm thời Cộng hòa Miền Nam Việt Nam" (Việt Cộng) 30 Dec 1972, Beijing, China --- Chairman Mao Meets Foreign Minister Nguyen Thi Binh. Peking, China: Chinese chairman Mao Tse-Tung with South Vietnamese minister of foreign affairs Nguyen Thi Binh of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam in Peking's Chungnanhai. Present on the occasion were Ambassador of the Republic of South Vietnam to China Nguyen Van Quang, Chinese premier Chou En-lai, Foreign Minister Chi Peng-fei and comrades Liang Feng, Wang Teh-yang, and Tang Wen-sheng. Chairman Mao shakes hands with Ambassador Nguyen Van Quang. Looking on is the Viet Cong foreign minister Nguyen Thi Binh. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    03 May 1972, Hue, South Vietnam --- Hue, South Vietnam. A regiment of South Vietnamese Marines pulling back from Quang tri are shown at My Chanh along Route #1 en route to Hue   Saigon, South Vietnam --- SAIGON: A U.S.. Army jeep with a machine gun mounted on it stop in traffic on the outskirts of Saigon Feb. 20. A young lady pulls up alongside without even a by-your-leave or glance at the strange street scene--or what would normally be a strange scene in most parts of the world. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    Saigon, South Vietnam --- Saigon, S. Vietnam: Escorted by some government troopers, an overly loaded mini-bus evacuates refugees and their belongings from Que Son district town, 25 miles southwest of Da Nang 8/3.. Government troops from the 3rd Infantry division recaptured the villages surrounding the town 8/2 but villagers still move out to Da Nang for their safety. 8/3/1974   16-4-1972 - Hành lang Trung Học Bình Long những ngày đầu cuộc chiến An Lộc 16 Apr 1972, An Loc, Vietnam --- Victims of Battle for an Loc. An Loc: Bodies of ARVN soldiers lay where they were slain April 14, during intense battle for this provincial capital some 65 miles north of Saigon. North Vietnamese troops have vowed to capture the town and make it a provisional capital for the Viet Cong.   06 Apr 1972, Quang Tri City, South Vietnam --- 4/6/1972-Quang Tri City, South Vietnam- Dead North Vietnamese soldiers are lined up beside road as refugees from Quang Tri City City flee from fighting, 4/5, five miles south of Quang Tri.   17 May 1972, Haiphong, North Vietnam --- A US jet bombs warehouses and shipping areas in Hiaphong, Vietnam.    05 May 1972, Hue, South Vietnam --- Hue, South Vietnam troopers search a truck loaded with fleeing refugees, ostensibly looking for deserting military defenders of the old Imperial capital. Hue seems to have settled back into a semblance of order following the arrival of a new military commander for the region. The mood in Hue now seems to be one of quiet expectation mixed with very cautious optimism, and most of the refugees have already fled. leaving Hue to resemble a ghost town. -   October 1967, Saigon, South Vietnam --- 10/1967-Saigon, South Vietnam- Photo shows two of the many motor scooters in use on this Saigon street   General Ngo Quang Truong 18 May 1972, Hue, South Vietnam --- Inspection. Hue, Vietnam: Newly installed Commanding General of the South Vietnamese forces defending Hue, Lt. Gen. Ngo Quang Truong, inspects soldier's weapons as U..S. advisor Maj. Gen. Frederick Kroesen looks on here May 17th.. Some 900 government troops of 2nd Division were airlifted into artillery base Rakkasan, 15 miles West of Hue, to form what commanders called a "circle of steel" to protect the once imperial capital.   03 Apr 1972, Quang Tri, South Vietnam --- 4/3/1972-Quang Tri, South Vietnam- Refugees fleeing fighting pass South Vietnamese military personel carrier, heading north in an effort to stop a Communist breakthrough at the demilitarized zone (DMZ). The US command says, navy and airforce fighterbombers made a total of 13 "protective reaction strikes" into North Vietnam near the DMZ April 3 and 4. -   10 Apr 1972, Quang Tri, South Vietnam --- 4/10/1972-Quang Tri, South Vietnam-People move out any way they can as they leave the area of Quang Tri City April 3rd. Quang Tri residents fled in the face of a major North Vietnamese offensive in the area.. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    29 Jul 1972, Quang Tri City, South Vietnam --- 7/29/1972-Quang Tri City, South Vietnam: A U.S. Phantom Jet Fighter drops napalm on a North Vietnamese stronghold in Quang Tri City. Fighting in and around the city was reported light 7/30 with five North Vietnamese killed in the only reported skirmish. South of the city, paratroopers cleared out many Communists threatening to close Highway 1, and opened the road to normal traffic for the first time in more than a week   Highway One, South Vietnam : Carrying their possessions, and in some cases, their children, refugees from the besieged Quang Tri province in South Vietnam walk along Highway 1 toward Hue City April 3rd. Communist troops outflanked Vietnamese defense lines and captured a key outpost 18 miles west of Hue April 4th. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    10 Apr 1972, Quang Tri, South Vietnam --- 4/10/1972-Quang Tri, South Vietnam- These are some of the people who flee from Quang Tri April 3rd as North Vietnamese forces launch a major attack along the demilitarized zone. Hundreds of U. S. Air Force and Navy fighter-bombers struck for the second day at North Vietnamese troop concentrations April 7th. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    Trung tướng Ngô Quang Trưởng, tư lịnh Vùng 1 Chiến Thuật (very proud) 12 Aug 1972, Da Nang, South Vietnam --- Medal For GI. Da Nang, South Vietnam: South Vietnamese Lt. Gen. Ngo Quang Truong, commander of the First Regional Command, pins medal on a soldier of the Third Battalion, 21st Infantry, the last U.S. combat unit in Vietnam, during the unit's deactivation ceremony at Da Nang August 12. Looking on is the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Rocco Negris (L). --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    11 Dec 1972, Da Nang, South Vietnam --- Da Nag, South Vietnam: South Vietnamese youngsters in an orphanage-refugee camp here seem to be enjoying themselves as they take on adult responsibilities- washing clothes-amid the atmosphere of war.. They are among the hundreds of thousands of children left homeless and without parents in this war-torn, embattled country. --- Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS    1 Aug 1972, Thang Binh, South Vietnam --- Thang Binh, South Vietnam. A bus bound for Da Nang is ready for departure, loaded with fleeing refugees and their persinal belongings..<br id="yiv7789122681ox-58709ab2c3-m_-89934902275