The Development and Training of the South Vietnamese Army, 1950-1972 by James Lawton Collins

The Development and Training of the South Vietnamese Army, 1950-1972 by James Lawton Collins is a recently reprinted official history first released in 1974. It is primarily interested in the activities of Military Assistance Command Vietnam [MACV]. The report is quite positive when discussing the creation of a South Vietnamese military. There is quite a bit of information here about the various programs that were set up particular focus is on the military education system created. Naturally their criticisms of the Vietnamese and even some of the Americans themselves. One interesting oversight is that the Vietnamese are criticized for problems learning English but there is no reference to the Americans inability to have enough Vietnamese speakers on hand. There is also an inability to show actual proof that improvements were taking place besides expanded class sizes and the like.

There are also several curious statements for example the South Vietnamese Army had developed an effective counterinsurgency ability as early as 1963. This flies in the face of much research that I've read on the topic.

Even when considering the books problems is an excellent study with lots of information. It is also interesting reading in light of the attempt to build an Iraqi military.

Recommended!

Is available through Abebooks.


For more reviews take a look at My Insurgency/Counterinsurgency, Partisan and Guerrilla Warfare bookshelf.