Vietnam soldiers, 2/12th, 25th Infantry Division, undated

Battalion operation of village and hamlet searches, combined operation with 25th Infantry Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). HU1D "Huey" helicopters were from the 269th combat aviation battalion. This large scale operation of United States and South Vietnamese Armed Forces was part of the United States' Vietnamization policy, started during the administration of President Richard M. Nixon. At the end of 1969, an announcement was made to members of the U.S. military press that there would be a de-emphasis of American military operations in Vietnam and that there would be more publicity given to South Vietnam's military actions by the American Military Pres and Information Services. That policy was part of the public relations program to show the military forces of South Vietnam as a capable fighting force.; Location: Southeast of Fire Support base Pershing, Northwest of Cu Chi; photo by Jeff Hinman '68