INDOCHINA: The Invasion Ends

The crisply uniformed U.S. Army lieutenant colonel was briefing a group of foreign military attaches in Saigon. "As of today no ARVN elements remain in Laos," he began. "Enemy forces are now chasing them toward the border—wait, I don't mean to use that word. They are following them to the border."

Not even the usually polished briefers could put a completely bright face on Lam Son 719's clouded conclusion. Only hours after the latest Washington assurances that all was continuing "according to plan," the South Vietnamese began streaming back—on foot, aboard armored columns...

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