Marines

In mid-1965, General Westmoreland requested additional combat forces for Vietnam, and Washington responded by sending more Marines along with support troops. Reinforcements landed at Da Nang, with some units deployed further north to Phu Bai, near Hue.

As the conflict in Vietnam escalated during 1965, General William Westmoreland, commander of U.S. forces, pressed Washington for additional combat troops to strengthen the American presence. Initial deployments had been limited to defending air bases such as Da Nang, but growing Viet Cong activity made it clear that larger numbers were needed for offensive and defensive operations alike. President Johnson approved Westmoreland’s request, sending not only combat units but also the necessary support personnel to sustain a larger American force.

The arrival of additional Marines at Da Nang marked another step in the deepening U.S. commitment to Vietnam. Some of the Marines were soon redeployed to Phu Bai, only eight miles south of Hue, to secure that strategically vital area. Their deployment extended the American military footprint further into central Vietnam, positioning U.S. forces to defend key cities and highways while also projecting strength in areas where the Viet Cong were gaining ground. What began as a mission to protect air bases was rapidly transforming into a broader combat role, setting the pattern for the massive troop increases that would follow later in 1965.