Dates 5 Sep 1970 – 6 Oct 1971 | ||
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Result U.S. and South Vietnamese victory Combatants Vietnam, North Vietnam, United States of America Similar Operation Shed Light, Battle of Suoi Bong Trang, Operation Chenla II, Battle of Gang Toi, Battle of Suoi Chau Pha | ||
Operation Jefferson Glenn ran from September 5, 1970 to October 8, 1971 and was the last major operation in which U.S. ground forces participated in Vietnam and the final major offensive in which the 101st Airborne Division fought.. This was a joint military operation combining forces of the 101st Airborne and the 1st Infantry Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). The purpose of this operation was to shield critical installations in Huế and Da Nang by patrolling communist rocket belts along the edge of the mountains. During the 399 days of operations the allied troops established multiple firebases throughout Thua Thien Province and regularly encountered North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) troops.
President Richard Nixon had begun his Vietnamization program in the summer of 1969; the objective was to increase the combat capability of the South Vietnamese forces so that they could assume responsibility for the war against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese forces as U.S. combat units were withdrawn and sent home. Shortly after the completion of Jefferson Glenn, the 101st Airborne began preparations to depart South Vietnam and subsequently began redeployment to the United States in March 1972. They reported 2,026 enemy casualties.