The Air Force in the Vietnam War - Air Force Association

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US Military Personnel in Southeast Asia
The American military presence in Southeast Asia peaked in 1968. “Vietnamization”
of the war began the next year, with the first US troop withdrawals in July 1969. All
told, some 3.4 million troops from all branches of the armed services spent time
on duty in Southeast Asia. Except for 1973, the figures on this chart are as of Dec.
31 each year. The “All Services” totals include Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps,
and Coast Guard.
Sources: MACV, MACTHAI, Department of Defense.
South Vietnam Thailand
Air Force All Services Air Force All Services
960 68 875 44 319
96 1,006 3,164 57 542
962 2,429 11,326 1,212 4,353
96 4,630 16,263 1,086 4,126
964 6,604 23,310 2,943 6,505
96 20,620 184,314 9,117 14,107
966 52,913 385,278 26,113 34,489
967 55,908 485,587 33,395 44,517
968 58,434 536,134 35,791 47,631
969 58,422 475,219 32,901 44,470
970 43,053 334,591 27,858 36,110
97 28,791 156,776 26,851 31,916
972 7,608 24,172 35,856 43,168
June 97 14 49 35,135 42,469
Security forces maintained a constant
vigil against insurgent attacks on
USAF bases.
Forward air controllers directed air attacks
in Vietnam.
Pilots and crew chiefs worked together
closely, preparing for air operations
over Southeast Asia.
A1C Gale Mobley from the Medical Civic
Action Program innoculates a Vietnamese
child.