Date
3-22-2024
Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD)
Chair
Stephen Neese
Keywords
Vietnam War, U.S. Army, Maneuver Commanders, 1965-1973
Disciplines
History
Recommended Citation
Eaton, Patrick Richard, "Conventional Commanders in an Unconventional War: The U.S. Army in Vietnam 1965-1973" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5279.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5279
Abstract
This study examines the U.S. Army maneuver battalion and brigade commanders who led their formations in combat in the Vietnam War between 1965 and 1973. This study highlights how the maneuver commanders shaped tactics and operations and by their success, influenced the MACV strategy. It also delineates how battalion- and brigade-level commanders interpreted the MACV strategy and formulated tasks, operations, and missions for subordinate units. This study establishes a direct link between maneuver battalion and brigade commanders and the strategy, doctrine, and tasks they executed during the Vietnam War. The study further assesses the distinct and profound leadership challenges that maneuver commanders faced during their combat tours. Finally, it examines their backgrounds, including their previous combat experience in WWII and the Korean War, their commissioning source, and prior assignments, to ascertain any impact on their leadership styles and operational approaches. While the historiography includes political, diplomatic, and military history research, none has examined the maneuver commanders collectively. This study is the first to treat the maneuver commanders as a cohesive group and examine their role in the Vietnam War. By incorporating primary source evidence, such as Combat After-Action Reports, Lessons Learned, and End of Tour Exit Interviews, this study identified over seven hundred senior leaders, MACV staff, and brigade and battalion commanders. The analysis of the evidence demonstrates that the maneuver commanders, the most challenged in the history of the U.S. Army, directly influenced combat operations and the development of tactics. Additionally, the maneuver commanders indirectly influenced strategy during the Vietnam War.
