END OF THE

VIETNAM WAR

Nixon & Vietnamization

Began troop withdrawals in 1969
Nixon Doctrine
Train locals to defend themselves
Became known as Vietnamization
"I am tonight announcing plans for the withdrawal of an
additional 150,000 American troops to be completed during
the spring of next year. This will bring a total reduction of
265,500 men in our armed forces in Vietnam below the level
that existed when we took office 15 months ago. (Nixon,
1970)

Anti-Vietnam sentiment
Knowledge of the actions taking place in Vietnam reduced
public support
Events like My Lai massacre in which a U.S army platoon
raped and killed innocent civilians in the village of My
Lai or the Green Beret Affair in which U.S. special forced
murdered a suspected double agent
Protests began and there was increased pressure to reduce
the amount of troops in Vietnam and to leave all together

Reducing involvement
With Nixons Vietnamization, Australian involvement
reduced.
Prime Minister Billy McMahon announced in August
1971 that all troops would be withdrawn by the end of
1971
All Australian troops had left Vietnam by early 1972.

Late April 1975 South Vietnam capital Saigon falls to the

North. All US and remaining Australian personnel are
evacuated from their respective embassies by helicopter.

The Return Home

While it is believed that all Vietnam veterans were not
welcomed home and were hidden from the public, a large
number of troops returned on the HMAS Sydney to fanfare
and a parade.
Images made public depicting the horrors of the war made it
difficult for many Vietnam veterans to adjust to society.
Many people blamed the soldiers and not the
government for the failures of the war
People associated the role of the Australians with that of
the Americans, even though both countries fought
differently on the battle fields.

 1987 Veterans given a welcome home parade in Sydney

25000 veterans marched to the cheers of several
hundred thousand onlookers

1992 National Memorial for the Vietnam War was

unveiled on Canberras Anzac Parade