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Vietnam War Military Operations

Images depict U.S. Marines in various operations during the Vietnam War, showcasing military coordination, healthcare assistance, and equipment recovery.

A soldier holding up a Viet Cong flag found during Operation TRAILBLAZER. The flag was discovered along with 200 pounds of documents and technical manuals by the 3rd Recon Battalion in a Viet Cong complex. This black and white photograph captures the moment during the Vietnam War.
A soldier holding up a Viet Cong flag found during Operation TRAILBLAZER. The flag was discovered along with 200 pounds of documents and technical manuals by the 3rd Recon Battalion in a Viet Cong complex. This black and white photograph captures the moment during the Vietnam War.
460 assets in this story
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Marines of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion visually survey the terrain from the cabin of a Sea Knight insertion helicopter. This highly skilled team prepares to land in suspected enemy territory after being briefed on nearby enemy troop concentrations. This photo captures a moment of reconnaissance and preparation during the Vietnam War.
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A-4 Skyhawk aircraft in formation during the Vietnam War. The image, taken on March 11, 1971, shows an A-4E from VMA-311 and an A-4B from VMA-311 flying together. This photograph is part of the collection documenting American military activities in Vietnam. DEFENSE DEPT. PHOTO (MARINE CORPS) pd A422815.
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ARVN soldiers undergoing training on January 20, 1970, during the Vietnam War. The photograph captures the Marines providing familiarization on the M-60 machine gun to enhance the overall training. The image belongs to the Defense Department and was taken by Sgt R.F. Rais.
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Private First Class D. E. Lemmons of Coos, Oregon from Company L, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment was presented with the Purple Heart Medal by Lieutenant General Richard C. Mangrun, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, on September 13, 1965. Lemmons had recently undergone surgery for a bullet wound and appears to be asleep in the photo.
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Vietnamese children are seen cooking items to be sold, in order to raise funds for the Kim Long children's orphanage. Corporal D.R. Paul, a member of the 3rd Marine Division, is seen observing. This photograph was taken on May 6, 1967, during the Vietnam War.
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Marine Captain Lawrence V. Friese returns to the US from Vietnam captivity. Upon arrival at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Captain Friese raises his arm in response to cheers from well-wishers. This photograph was taken on March 18, 1973, during Operation Homecoming (Repatriation of US Marine POWs).
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Lieutenant CJ O'Neill Jr., a naval flight surgeon of Marine Fighter-Attack Squadron 122, checks his plane with pilot Lieutenant Colonel John M. Verdi on July 9, 1968. O'Neill, also known as the "Mach Doc," has recently completed his 101st combat mission. This image was taken by MSgt Golden Pase of the US Department of Defense.
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Marines in flak jackets enjoy some downtime by playing basketball on March 6, 1968, during their Rest and Relaxation (R&R) period in Vietnam. The photo captures a moment of leisure beside an air strip, showcasing the troops' camaraderie. This image belongs to a collection called "Photographs of American Military Activities during the Vietnam War."
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A U.S. Marine from G Company, 1st Marine Division, interacts with a young Vietnamese child from the village of Tri Binh in May 1966. The Marine takes a moment to entertain the child while other children observe. The event was part of the 1st Marine Division Civil Affairs Program, which included skits performed by a drama team from Quang Ngai. Defense Department Photo (Marine Corps) A369178.
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During the Vietnam War, Operation Frequent Wind took place on April 15, 1975, which involved the evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon. In this photo, Major G.E. Allen and Major J.R. Howell discuss flight plans with two pilots from Squadron HMM-164, attached to HMH-463, aboard the USS Hancock, in preparation for the upcoming evacuation in Saigon.
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Lieutenant James W. Glore, a dental officer from Leesburg, Florida, pulls a tooth of a Vietnamese baby during a Med-Cap (Medical Civilian Assistance Program) event held at Bo Mung-2. The event was organized by medical and dental personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, 1st Marine Division, approximately 10 miles south of DaNang in Vietnam on December 12, 1967.
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Vietnamese civilians from Thach Nam Hamlet returning from morning harvest, bringing back crops to their thriving community. The use of improved irrigation methods and high-quality seeds has positively impacted the local economy. This image was taken on May 12, 1970, at Camp Jay K. Books in Vietnam by Sgt. Nick Myers. (Source: Vietnam Force Logistic Command Danang)
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Assistant Secretary of the Navy John Warner, Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird, and Dr. Norman Vincent Peale attending a ceremony in 1969. Lieutenant General Herman Nickerson, Jr., commanding general of III Marine Amphibious Force, cutting the ribbon at the official opening of the Freedom Hill Bowling Lanes. Sue Ellis, the director of Freedom Hill Red Cross, is seen with Lieutenant General Nickerson. This photograph is from the Vietnam War.5000011631.
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81mm Mortar positions camouflaged to protect Danang airfield during the Vietnam War. These positions are located on the edge of the airfield itself. The photo was taken on March 13, 1965, by SSgt. C. Batchelor of the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Danang, South Vietnam. (Defense Dept. Photo, Marine Corps)
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Pfc. Worden Leigh Snealen entertains members of the 11th Marines during the Johnny Grant EO ahou "Operation Starlift" on June 13, 1966. Accompanied by Dick Cantine on the accordion, Snealen brings joy to the men of the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam. Photographed by Pfc. Worden Leigh Snealen during her performance.
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A Marine lieutenant engages with children in Thang Binh, Vietnam on June 6, 1966. He is seen conversing through an interpreter while distributing clothing donated by students from his former alma mater. This interaction reflects the "People to People" program, fostering connections between American military personnel and Vietnamese civilians during the Vietnam War.
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First Sergeant of "3" Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, seen preparing to shave in the mountains of Vietnam on Operation Scotland II. This image captures the importance of personal hygiene even in military operations. Photograph taken on December 31, 1968, by Photog!SSgt Z...ilson, part of the American military activities during the Vietnam War.
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A CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter of Marine Heavy Helicopter 463 is shown carrying a 105mm howitzer of the 3d Battalion, 11th Marines high above Vietnam in support of Operation Boulder. The image was taken on July 21, 1967, in a zone southwest of DaNang. This photograph is part of the Photographs of American Military Activities during the Vietnam War.
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A tank from the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam, 1968. The tank, identified as GVB-333, is seen firing into a suspected enemy position during a reaction operation. This photograph was taken by Lamont and is a 36mm negative. It is part of the collection of American military activities during the Vietnam War, belonging to the Defense Department.
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ARC-5 , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy
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Lieutenant Colonel Bond, Commanding Officer, and the Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, receive a final briefing from Brigadier General Carey aboard the USS HANCOCK. This occurred just 15 miles south of Cambodia, prior to the evacuation of Phnom Penh during Operation Eagle Pull on April 11, 1975.
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American Marine POW sitting in a prison cell during Operation Homecoming, the repatriation of US POWs from North Vietnam. This image is from the Confinement Series and was taken by the Defense Department. It is labeled ECC A900200 127 GVB-280 3M.MAD.
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Marines from "A" Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines Regiment, 1st Marine Division were photographed on December 28, 1966, during a Search and Destroy operation conducted northwest of Chu Lai, Vietnam. The photo captures the Marines crossing a rain-swollen river with the assistance of their comrades, as they strain to hold a taut line.
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Brigadier General Jonas M. Platt reviews forward area during Operation DOUBLE EAGLE in January 1966 during the Vietnam war. The photograph captures officers and officials, including President Lyndon Johnson and Col P X Kelley. Photo taken by Pfc. John Rose, and documented by the Defense Department.
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Marines from the 3rd Marine Division prepare for fire missions during the Vietnam War. Sergeant Byron E. Crabb mans the gunner's seat on an 8-inch howitzer while Corporal Henry D. Dean and Corporal Michael L. Noro place a projectile in the carriage. All three Marines destroyed an enemy artillery sapon in August.
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Collection of World War I Photographs, 1914-1918 that depict the military activities of British and other nation's armed forces and personnel during World War I.
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Marine L/Cpl Frank Grobolske of H7S Company Communications 1st Marine Regiment, demonstrates the functions of an AR-15 rifle to State Representative James C. Corman of California. L/Cpl D.C. Purdue from 1st Bn. 11th Marines observes. The photo was taken on January 26, 1970, during the Vietnam War.
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Captain T.F. Hove III, Aide-de-Camp to Major General Edvin B. Wheeler, presents Major General Wheeler with an SKS rifle found in the Charlie Ridge area, 15 miles southwest of Danang. The ceremony took place on April 26, 1970, and this was the same area where the General's helicopter crashed. (Photo: Sergeant R.W. Nelson, U.S. Marine Corps)
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Lieutenant General Lewis W. Walt visits the China Beach Orphanage in Da Nang, Vietnam on April 3, 1969. He is pictured warmly greeting small children at the orphanage. This photograph is a part of the Vietnam War collection, taken by D.E. Kramer and authorized by the Defense Department.
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A Vietnamese refugee transports donated wheat from An Hoa, located 18 miles south of Da Nang, to his hamlet in 1966. The wheat, received by various people-to-people organizations in the U.S.A., was distributed by the Third Battalion, Ninth Marine Regiment. Photo taken by Sgt. D.A. Reid.
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"Force Logistic Command truck convoy winding over dusty, mountainous roads in South Vietnam during the war. The trucks include jeeps, mules, trucks, and dune buggies, showcasing the variety of vehicles used by the American military in their operations."
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Sergeant Jose J. Anzaldua introduces his parents to General Robert E. Cushman, Jr., during Operation Homecoming on April 2, 1973. Sgt. Anzaldua was captured on January 21, 1970, while serving with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in South Vietnam. He was one of 26 Marines held as prisoners of war during the conflict. Sgt. Anzaldua enlisted in April 1968 and was born in Refugio, Texas.
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Congressman Phillip Kelleher, accompanied by Congressmen Gubser and Irwin, visits the First Division in Vietnam during combat in 1968. In this photograph, Kelleher is seen firing an M-16 rifle. The image was taken by Sgt J.Colton on April 18, 1968, as part of the Defense Department's documentation of American military activities during the Vietnam War.
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Caption: "Disassembled Chinese Communist mine, captured by the 7th Marine Regiment during Operation Sierra near Chu Lai, Vietnam. This mine is designed identically to the U.S. MAI anti-tank mine. Photograph taken on January 8, 1967, by LCpl Mincomayer. (MARTER CORPS) 220 A369762 127 GVB -368 ANTI-TANK MINE MAT C 7-43 L-111."
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Captured RPG-7 Recoil-less Rifle Round, Vietnam 1967. This photograph shows a snapshot of weapons confiscated during the Vietnam War. The image shows an RPG-7 recoil-less rifle round which was taken as a part of American military activities.
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Marine of the 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines plays "kick ball" with Vietnamese boys at the Trung Phu Orphanage south of Danang during the Vietnam War. (Photograph taken on April 7, 1966 by Cpl. Jim Hallis. Defense Dept. Photo - Marine Corps. Identified as GVB-372)
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In this photograph taken in January 1967, Senator Hubert Humphrey, General William Westmoreland, and Senator Harry F. Byrd are seen together during a military visit. This image also features General Wallace M. Greene, Jr., Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Ceo Ky. Captured by the Defense Department, this photo highlights the notable individuals present during this event.
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Vietnamese Refugee boy helps his younger brother from the bus upon arrival at Camp Tulega, located at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA. The photograph was taken on April 29, 1975, during a visit by Claudia Cardinale, Nguyen Cao Ky, Rosemary Clooney, and Betty Ford. Photographer: LCpl. C.M. Parish, Jr.
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Lieutenant Colonel M. L. Raphael, commanding officer of the 3rd Tank Battalion, distributing CARE school kits to children of Phong Bac School in 1965. This image shows a people-to-people interaction between the American military and Vietnamese civilians during the Vietnam War. Photograph by SSgt. Releiser, Defense Department Photo.
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Collection of World War I Photographs, 1914-1918 that depict the military activities of British and other nation's armed forces and personnel during World War I.
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A US Marine receives a "bush briefing" in 1968 before his battalion launched an assault on an enemy bunker complex south of Da Nang in Vietnam. The photograph captures the expressions of concern and determination on the faces of the Marines. Taken by Cpl. M.W. Starn, this image is part of the collection of American military activities during the Vietnam War. Defense Department photo (Marine Corps).
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A Marine Corps photograph taken on September 13, 1967, shows captured weapons during the Vietnam War. In the image, there is a 102mm rocket without a launcher. The photograph was taken by Sgt F.Barrett of the IIIMAF Vietnam and is labeled as a Defense Department photo (Marine Corps).
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Vietnamese children(await General Leonard F. Chapman, Jr., Commandant of the Marine Corps, at the Force Logistics Command Children's Hospital in Danang in January 1969. These small patients eagerly await the arrival of the Commandant, reflecting the impact of American military activities on Vietnamese civilian life during the Vietnam War.
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A-4 Skyhawk Marine jet aircraft parked on an airstrip in Vietnam. This photo was taken in 1966 during American military activities in the region. It is a Defense Department photo from the Marine Corps.
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Fort Moultrie, Sumter in the distance. The Robin G. Stanford Collection, Digitized 2015 Funding from Center for Civil War Photography. Charleston (S.C.), History, Civil War, 1861-1865, United States, History, Civil War, 1861-1865, South Carolina, Fort Moultrie.
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Caption: Tran Van Sau, a former soldier in the Republic of Vietnam Army, lost both his legs in a Viet Cong grenade explosion in 1967. After receiving artificial limbs and training for two months, he now works as a Keypunch Operator at the Data Processing Section, Force Logistic Command near DaNang.
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"Vietnamese civilians resume normal life in Cho Dong Ba market, Hue City, following extensive damage from VC/NVA rocket attacks during the battle. The market is now bustling with activity, including buying, selling, and the sound of motorcycles. Photograph taken by Cpl M.W. Starn in 1969. DEFENSE DEPT. PHOTO (MARINE CORPS) pd A193749 127 GVB-375. SHIRVA."
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An Army of the Republic of Vietnam outpost at Ca Lu in the Ba Long Valley, South Vietnam in 1965. The photograph captures the terrain of the area, highlighting the rugged and mountainous landscape. This image gives a glimpse into the military activities during the Vietnam War.
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Marine Corporal Roger V.P. Burke (right), a member of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, points out features of the Vietnamese terrain to his twin brother Brian, an Army Specialist Fifth Class, from the window of a Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM-165) CH-46 "Sea Knight" helicopter in December 1966. The brothers were reunited during the Christmas season when Brian, stationed at Pleiku, went to Chu Lai to see Roger. They were reunited during a resupply mission to an isolated outpost.
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Consolidated B-24 Liberator - 'Contrary Mary'.
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Refugees find shelter and support in a special camp near Dien Ban village during Operation Meade River. Over 2,600 individuals were provided with food, identification, and temporary housing while U.S. Marines, Army of the Republic of Vietnam Soldiers, and Korean Marines secured the area, conducting searches for enemy forces. This photograph captures the compassion and efforts made by the military to assist Vietnamese civilians during the Vietnam War.
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Image Caption: Lieutenant Colonel Jerry W. Marvel, USMC, makes a phone call to his wife and family in Newport, N.C., shortly after his arrival at Clark Air Force Base, Philippines, as part of Operation Homecoming, the repatriation of US Marine POWs in 1973. The returning POWs were provided with a bank of telephones for communication.
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This photograph taken between 1969-1969 shows a damaged helmet with a bullet hole. It is located in the Individuals and Groups section, with identification #A374611. The marine featured in the image remains unidentified. This image captures a somber reminder of the dangerous and violent nature of military activities during the Vietnam War.
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Captain James V. DiBernardo, a US Marine captured in Hue, South Vietnam, arrives at Naval Air Station Miramar on March 8, 1973, in Camp Pendleton, California, as part of Operation Homecoming. DiBernardo had been a captive since February 3, 1968, and was part of the American Forces Radio under MACV. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in April 1953 and resides in Mission Viejo, California. Photo by MSgt. Penalosa.
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Lieutenant Colonel Edison W. Miller, a former prisoner of war, is seen discussing a model helicopter built by one of his sons during Operation Homecoming on February 22, 1973. He was among the 26 Marines released at Hanoi, North Vietnam. Captured in October 1967 while serving as a pilot, Lt. Col. Miller entered the Marine Corps in 1949 and resides in Tustin, California. The photograph was taken by MSgt. C.R. Ayers, credited to the Defense Department (Marine Corps).
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A combat photographer from the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam, Corporal William T. Perkins, captures intense images of American military activities during the Vietnam War. This photograph, taken by Marine Corps photographer Eddie Cole in 1967, highlights the bravery and dedication of those documenting the war.
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Gunnery Sergeant Roy E. Haddux, Civil Affairs NCOIC, is seen with his friend in this photograph taken on September 8, 1967, during the Vietnam War. The image captures a moment of Vietnamese civilian life, showcasing the interaction between American military personnel and the local population.
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"CH-46 helicopters bringing in more Marines as previous group exits the landing zone during the Vietnam war. Photo taken on July 15, 1966 at the DAVA Still Media Depository Building in Washington, D.C. Credit: Cpl. Paul Johnson. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo."
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