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Revised: 31 May 2010 - After Action Report
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The 2nd Civil Affairs Company (2nd CA) was activated on 23 May 1966 at Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia. The 2nd Civil Affairs was assigned to the 95th Civil Affairs Group also at Fort Gordon which then included the HQ, 95th CA and the 42nd Civil Affairs Company. |
Presentation of the RVN Civic Action Medal |
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In the fall of 1966, the 2nd CA deployed to Vietnam where it was assigned to Headquarters, Second Field Force - Vietnam (II-FFV). The II-FFV was the U.S. Army corps-level headquarters that controlled the operations of U.S. Army divisions and separate brigades in the III Corps Tactical Zone (III-CTZ) and the IV Corps Tactical Zone (IV-CTZ) of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN).
The 2nd CA Headquarters and Base Camp was located at the Plantation Compound (click the Link to the Map below and then go to YT 046 104) along with the Headquarters of II-FFV. The Plantation was located on the east side of Highway 1A (later redesignated as Highway # 316) and north of the road junction with Highway QL 15 (the Bien Hoa - Long Thanh - Vung Tau road). The Plantation was east of Bien Hoa and east south east of the runways at Bien Hoa Air Force Base and north of the Long Binh Logistics Base.
Map - 2nd Civil Affairs HQ at Plantation Base, Long Binh - 1971
"The Mission" of the 2nd Civil Affairs Company was “To Seal the Victory” in the secure areas of Vietnam by “Winning the Hearts and Minds" of the Vietnamese people. To help the Vietnamese civilian population improve the quality of their lives and to try to persuade the Vietnamese to support their nationally elected government - the Government of Vietnam (GVN) in Saigon.
Civil Affairs Soldiers were once officially described as specially trained soldiers who were culturally oriented and linguistically capable to provide functional expertise about civilians and civil operations to the U.S. commanders of direct action missions or unconventional warfare operations as well as to assist the GVN internal defense operations.
CIVIC ACTION PROJECTS NEVER KILLED ANYONE !
Unit Organization
The Table of Organization & Equipment (TOE 41-500-D) for the 2nd Civil Affairs changed several times - officially and provisionally (Prov) in Vietnam. The original organizational concept was similar to the U.S. Army Special Forces unit configurations. There were: "C" Detachments (CA Group Headquarters - 95th Civil Affairs Group); "B" Detachments (CA Company Headquarters - 2nd CA); "AA Platoons" (Team AA - Platoon Headquarters) and "A Teams" (special function teams within a Company).
The original configuration of the 2nd CA at Fort Gordon consisted of a Company Headquarters with a Switchboard Operations Team, a Mess Team; an Automotive Maintenance Team plus three Team AA Platoon Headquarters and functional teams: one Public Safety Team; one Civilian Supply Team; two Public Welfare Teams; at least one Food & Agriculture Team and at least one Public Health Team. Other recent roster data suggests that other teams were authorized but never activated for Civilian Supply & Transport, for Public Finance and for Public Works & Utilities as well as possible second teams for Public Health and for Food & Agriculture. Other teams may have been authorized but were never staffed and are now forgotten.
Soon after the 2nd CA Company was activated, the early arriving Officers attended the U.S. Army Civil Affairs School at Fort Gordon while the enlisted members had orientation and training in the company area. Vietnamese language classes were taught several nights per week. The months of August, September and part of October were spent on Company Field Training and Team Building Exercises.
Shortly before deployment, the 2nd CA Company was reorganized: the Automotive Maintenance Team was disbanded and their equipment was left behind at Fort Gordon; the Mess Detachment was disbanded – only one cook volunteered to deployed with the unit. The authorized size of the unit was increased but the unit was not fully staffed. The elements of the Company began deployment to Vietnam in October and November of 1966.
Some additional NCO's and Enlisted Men were assigned to the unit in late October but were not Civil Affairs trained. These late arriving members were called the “Second Increment”. Simultaneously, two 1st Lieutenants became non-deployable because they were then “90 Days Losses”. One Lieutenant became the Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of training of the “Second Increment”.
The Deployment to Vietnam
The Equipment Group was the first element to depart from Fort Gordon at Augusta, Georgia. During the Summer of 1966, the Company had just one Jeep (M-151); just three or four ¾ Tons Trucks (M-37) and three brand new 2-½ Ton Trucks (M-35 multi-fuel). The evening before and in the dark early hours of the morning before the Equipment Group was to depart for the port of embarkation, the Fort Gordon Supply Group levied the missing vehicles and equipment from other units on base. The Company departed with 26 Jeeps, 13 ¾ Ton Trucks, three 2-½ Ton Trucks but without certain authorized TO&E equipment (AN/VRC 53 Radios, M-79 Grenade Launchers and others miscellaneous tools). The Company’s Equipment was convoyed to Savannah, Georgia where the vehicles and ConEx Containers (12 ±) were loaded onto the USNS LT. George W.G. Boyce (T-AK-251) (a Military Sea Transport Service ship with a DOD civilian crew - retired Navy). The ship departed on or after October 15, 1966 sailing first to Norfolk, VA to pick up additional deck cargo, thence via the Mediterranean Sea and through the Suez Canal, stopping at the Port of Aden in Yemen for refueling, then steaming to Nha Trang to offload deck cargo and the ship finally arrived at Saigon at the Cholon Docks, in the old French Pier area, sometime in late November 1966.
The Main Body departed Fort Gordon on 8 Nov 1966 and they flew from Augusta, Georgia to San Francisco and thence by vehicle over the Bay Bridge to the Oakland Army Base and onto the USNS General W.S. Gordon (T-AP-117). The troop ship departed Oakland on 9 Nov 1966 and then they sailed across the Pacific, with a detour to Okinawa and then stops at Da Nang, Qui Nhon, Cam Ranh Bay before reaching Vung Tau on 6 Dec 1966. Everyone really appreciated being off the ship and onto dry land. The Main Body was air-lifted from Vung Tau to Bien Hoa Airfield by USAF C-123s. Between the C-123's Rear Ramp and the first Jeep, the Operations Officer (S-3) requested beer and booze refreshments for everyone because the trip across the Pacific Ocean had been very long and the "boat was dry". The Main Body had finally arrived "in-country" and was at the Plantation Base Camp on 6 Dec 1966.
The Advance Party departed Georgia on or after 18 Nov 1966, flying from Augusta to Atlanta, through Dallas, and unto San Francisco via commercial airliner. The Advance Party transferred to chartered Boeing 707 (a Piedmont-Northwest Orient Airlines 707) at Travis AFB near Stockton, CA which flew to Seattle, then to Tokyo (the Japanese Government did not allow the Advance Party to get off the plane because they did not want their Sacred Soil stained by American Soldiers going to Vietnam) thence to Tan Son Nhut Airport at Saigon arriving after midnight on 19 Nov 1966. The Advance Party stayed at the famous (or infamous) Camp Alpha – on a hot, steamy, smelly night. Welcome to Vietnam ! The travel time was estimated at 27 Hours (±).
Getting Started and the First Year
The Advance Party moved from Camp Alpha to the Plantation Base Camp in Long Binh where it was hosted and assisted by the 53rd Signal Battalion before the arrival of our Main Body and the building of our base camp facilities. Our base camp neighbor, the 9th Transportation Company (Airborne) shared their mess facilities for more than five years with the 2nd CA Headquarters Detachment as well as with numerous unanticipated visiting members of our platoons. Thank You, to all.
The Mailing Address was APO SF 96266 and the unit identification code was WA8GAA. The original Telephone Number was Hurricane 145 which was replaced by Plantation 5355 and 5716 in the later years. The establishment of a Radio Net was avoided in 1966-1967 but an unauthorized Radio Call Sign was "Plantation 54".
When the Advance Party arrived, the 2nd CA Company Commander was advised that the 2nd CA would not function as organized and trained in the U.S.A. and that the CA platoons would be attached to the headquarters of the maneuver brigades in the III and IV Corps areas of Vietnam and within the Second Field Force Vietnam (II-FFV) Area of Operations. From the original stateside configuration of three platoon and several specialists teams, the 2nd CA was initially re-organized into 7 platoons and then over the next two weeks, it was expanded again to 11 platoons, then to 13 platoons - all of which were deployed by 15 Dec 1966 and the 14th platoon was deployed in late January 1967. Included in this reorganization were three Displaced Persons Teams from the 41st Civil Affairs Company who were initially "attached" to the 2nd CA in December 1966 but were finally officially "transferred into" the 2nd CA by the end of July 1967. These teams had been working with and continued to work with 1st Infantry Division although officers and men from both units were intermixed to share and to gain experience. The Officers and Men from the 41st CA were welcomed and well respected as seasoned veterans with four months of CA field operations.
The Second Increment which was left behind at Fort Gordon, Georgia so they could be trained as Medics and Linguists finally departed for RVN on or after February 16, 1967. They sailed across the broad Pacific aboard the USNS General William Weigle (T-AP-119) and came ashore at Vung Tau on 22 March 1967. Our brothers were welcomed. Our first family was complete and finally together again.
When the fifty-two Men, three NCOs, and one Officer finally rejoined the Company, each platoon was selectively augmented and rounded out so that every platoon had at least one NCO, one Medic, one Admin Specialist and a Linguist - an American Soldier who spoke Vietnamese, a brother who we could really trust as our interpreter.
On 13 April 1967, USARV authorized the addition of a TAERS Repair Parts Clerk and a Maintenance Records Clerk but they did not authorize the addition of the Maintenance Team Leader or of any Vehicle Mechanics. None-the-less, the Company was officially commended on 27 July 1967 for our Vehicle Maintenance Building and for our maintenance programs.
The Second Increment staffing authorization also included an additional twenty-six officers who began to arrive on or after 1 July 1967 either in small groups or individually. The Company's Table of Organization & Equipment (TO&E) varied over the years (MTOE) but the typical "Morning Report" strength had 48 Officers and 124 Enlisted Men.
During the summer of 1967, while our first year in-country (1966-1967) was coming to an end, an additional eight platoons (15th - 22nd Platoons) were created with arrival of the new officers and the splitting up of the now seasoned 2nd CA personnel. By the end of August 1967, twenty-two AA Platoons had been staffed and deployed.
Between the 17th and 25th of November 1967, the Company staffed seven "CA Teams" (Nos. 31-37) to work with the MACV's Province Senior Advisors (PSA). Each "CA Team" was staffed with one officer and two enlisted men. The CA Teams may have been created and functioned as transition cadre in anticipation of the reassignment of the platoons from the Brigades to the MACV Advisory Teams.
The "Periodic Civil Affairs Report - 1 Feb 68 to 29 Feb 68" from the Headquarters, 2nd Civil Affairs Company refers to "26 AA Platoon/Teams" in the field during that month.
Esprit-de-corps ( added - Jan 2010 )
Soon after our first year "in-country" ended on 6 Dec 1967, the Company reported in January 1968 that 58 Men had extended their foreign service tours and this represented almost 40% of the 146 original members of the Main Body and Second Increment. Truly amazing !
So "What did we really do ?" when we were attached to the Brigades ?
The Accomplishments
First and most important, the Mission of the Company would not have been accomplished without the outstanding work of the Enlisted Members of the Platoons and the Teams. The NCOs, the Medics, the Linguists, the Drivers, the Mechanics and the Clerks of the Platoons and Teams always did more than one job and could be counted on to meet or exceed expectations. Their great work must be acknowledged. "Thank You" to all for your dedication and doing a great job.
Participation in Tactical Operations ( added - Feb 2010 )
In the commendation above, USARV said " the support rendered by the men to tactical units during numerous major combat operations"...
Please take a minute and think about - what you did, where you were and just " How many 'non-combat' units ever lived, worked, ate and slept with the U.S. Infantry battalions 'in the field' for weeks at a time ? ".
In 1967, II-FFV conducted multi-divisional operations against VC Main Force units and NVA Regiments in the "Iron Triangle" - an area which the French never entered when it was part of War Zone "C". Multiple 2nd CA Platoons were there and they assisted with the movement of refugees and "evacuees" (hostage VC families) as well as with the collecting, warehousing and redistribution of food stocks captured during major operations. Operation Cedar Falls was conducted by the 1st and 25th Divisions with augmentation from the 173rd Airborne and the 11th Armored Cavalry which lasted for 20 days and Operation Junction City was conducted by 22 U.S. battalions from the 1st, 4th and 25th Divisions with augmentation from the 196th Light Infantry Brigade and the 173rd Airborne Brigade which lasted for 83 days.
In addition, there were also extended duration provincial clearing operations: Kole-Kole by the 25th Division; Enterprise by the 9th Division; Shenandoah by the 1st Division; Uniontown and Fairfax by the 199th Brigade and Manhattan by the 25th Division. All of these 'cordon and search operations' went on for months at a time with numerous Civic Action projects.
TET and a change of the mission After TET
The VC-NVA began their TET Offensive during the early morning hours of 31 January 1968 and it soon became a major tactical battlefield defeat for the VC-NVA forces. Most Platoon locations and the Company Headquarters at the Plantation were attacked by VC-NVA infantry assaults.
Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV)
By the end of September 1967, USARV had completed a study to determine the most effective utilization of the three Civil Affairs companies then 'in-country'. The study even questioned "the need for and the continued existence of the three CA companies" as well as the need for a fourth CA company then being considered but which had been placed 'on hold' pending the results of the study. The final report recommended the orderly and phased transfer of all Civil Affairs platoons and teams "to the field advisors" to be started in and completed by the end of the first quarter of 1968 which was then ordered by USARV.
General Order No. 205 from Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam dated 8 March 1968 confirmed the previous verbal order of the Commanding General, II-FFV effective on 1 March 1968, to "DETACHED" the seventeen "Team AA" Platoons Headquarters from previous tactical unit attachments in III-CTZ and IV-CTZ as well as the seven CA Teams attached to selected senior province advisors called "CA Team 31" through "CA Team 37" and reassigned them as "Generalist AA Platoons" to the direct support of provincial revolutionary development projects.
On March 1, 1968, the 2nd Civil Affairs Company was officially reorganized into 19 "Team AA Platoon Headquarters" in Direct Support of selected MACV Province Senior Advisors (PSA) with a reconfigured Company Headquarters (Team AB); a reactivated Civilian Supply Team (BB); a new Civilian Supply & Transport Team (BE); a reestablished Automotive Maintenance Team (DA) as well as the original Public Health Team (NA) which was always authorized but was not always staffed with a U.S. Army Medical Doctor. The authorized MTOE staffing was 48 Officers plus 124 Enlisted Men and the number of authorized vehicles was increased to 59.
When the 2nd CA Platoons were withdrawn from the U.S. and the Allied brigades, the platoons were renumbered and then were ATTACHED to work for the MACV's Province Senior Advisors (PSA) and to assist with the implementation of the CORDS Program (Civil Operations and Revolutionary {changed to "Rural" in 1970} Development Support). The Mission of CORDS was: (1) to eliminate the Viet Cong Insurgency (VC) in South Vietnam; (2) to end the Viet Cong's ability to recruit in South Vietnam and (3) to recruit Vietnamese and indigenous tribes to take up arms against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA).
MACV had advisory teams with the major ARVN units. There were other MACV advisors who were assigned on an area basis and they were lead by the Province Senior Advisor (PSA). The PSAs advised the GVN's provincial governments and also advised the local RF-PF (Regional Force - Popular Force) units; the CIDG (Civilian Irregular Defense Group) units and the RD (Revolutionary Development) Cadre. There was at least one 2nd CA Platoon with each province advisory team in the III-CTZ. Some of the more populated provinces had more than one 2nd CA Platoon attached and then one of the 2nd CA platoons usually worked at the PSA Headquarters location while the other 2nd CA Platoon(s) usually worked with one of the PSA's SubSector (District) Teams. Sometimes the 2nd CA Platoons were relocated from one MACV SubSector (District) Team to another within the same province while others stayed at the same location for years. And when the need was determined to be greater elsewhere, the 2nd CA Platoons were moved from one province to another province. In 1969, three 2nd CA platoons were even sent by USARV from the III-CTZ to assist in the I-CTZ.
In March 1968, three platoons (22nd, 21st and ??) were inactivated as part of the reorganization - possibly to provide for the manpower to staff the new or reactivated functional teams. At the same time, all of the remaining platoons were "renumbered". The original 20th Platoon with the 1st Infantry Division at Quan Loi was renumbered as the new 10th Platoon while the original 10th Platoon with the 25th Infantry Division at Dau Tieng was renumbered as the new 18th Platoon. The reason for and the choice of the new numbers for every platoon is not discernable today. The "renumbering" may have been an innovative accomplishment for a member of a G-5 Staff who received an upgraded medal for his creative and his meritorious work. None-the-less, we are still seeking any information about the MACV attachments and the locations of the 11th, 15th and 17th Platoons - both before and after their deployment to the I-CTZ.
On 6 June 1968, the 2nd Civil Affairs Company was officially transferred from II-FFV and reported directly to the United States Army Vietnam (USARV). And a few months later on 28 September 1968, the 2nd CA was transferred from USARV back to the II-FFV. These changes in the 'Chain of Command' had no effect on platoon operations, however, a significant amount of paper work was created for the Administrative Section (S-1) of the 2nd CA's Headquarters Detachment. Your promotions may have been delayed at a higher headquarters but your R&R and DEROS dates were definitely not delayed at Company Headquarters.
In 1968, a higher headquarters determined there was a need for additional U.S. Army Civil Affairs platoons in the First Corps Tactical Zone (I-CTZ). Our 11th, 15th and 17th Platoons (totaling 6 officers and 12 enlisted men) were sent to I-CTZ in November 1968. The initial deployment may have been contemplated as a short duration TDY assignment. However at some point in time, it may have been decided to confirm in writing the previous verbal orders of a commanding general and on 13 July 1969, these three platoons were attached to the 29th Civil Affairs Company (29th CA).
At this point in time, the 29th CA was officially attached to the U.S. Army's 1st Logistics Command (1st Log) because in 1965 when the 29th CA arrived in RVN, there were no major U.S. Army combat units in that part of RVN. The 29th CA and the 2nd CA's 15th and 17th Platoons were really under the operational control of the USMC's Third Marine Amphibious Force (the controlling corps headquarters for the 1st and the 3rd Marine Divisions). When the 11th Platoon arrived in I-CTZ, although it was officially attached to the 29th CA, it was really working for the U.S. Army's XXIV (24th) Corps HQ. Their mission and their attachments, to MACV Teams or to Brigades, are presently unknown.
During August 1969, the USARV directed the 2nd Civil Affairs Company to create their own in-house training unit - Civil Affairs Functional Affairs Specialist Team (CA-FAST) to provide training for all newly assigned company personnel in grades "O-3 and below" because most of the men (80%) assigned to the 2nd CA did not attend the U.S. Army's Civil Affairs School at Fort Gordon, Georgia. The Training Team was to be commanded by a Captain with the assistance of four technical service Lieutenants plus two ARVN NCO Interpreters who conducted courses in: Language and Cultural Affairs; Economic Development (CE); Public Administration (AG); Public Safety (MP) and Food & Agriculture (QM). However, several positions were most often staffed with either Air-Defense Artillery or Armor or Infantry Lieutenants.
In January 1970, the 2nd Civil Affair Company was advised that it would be inactivated as part of a withdrawal increment. Accordingly, on 25 January 1970, five platoons (8th, 9th, 10th, 12th and 13th) stood down, turned in their equipment and the personnel were reassigned to other II-FFV units. However on 3 February 1970, II-FFV verbally rescinded the stand down orders. The platoons returned to their previous locations and were reattached to the MACV Provincial Advisory Teams. Reacquiring their equipment was difficult.
On 9 March 1970, the 29th CA along with the three 2nd CA Platoons were transferred from the operational control of the USMC's Third Marine Amphibious Force and were assigned to the U.S. Army's XXIV (24th) Corps. At almost the same time, the XXIV Corps relocated from Phu Bai to Da Nang.
Shortly thereafter on 24 March 1970, our 11th, 15th and 17th Platoons (as well as eight other CA Platoons in I-CTZ - four from the 41st CA and the once independent 51st, 52nd, 53rd and 54th CA Platoons) were inactivated as part of a planned stand down - Withdrawal Increment III. At this point in time, the 2nd CA had only 16 platoons in the field.
The 2nd CA activated a "new" 11th AA Platoon on 8 April 1970 from "Company assets" and it was attached to MACV Team 48 for Binh Tuy Province at the town of Ham Tan. At various times, the 11th AA Platoon was tasked to assigned "four man civic action teams" to work with the MACV District Advisory Teams in the three populated areas within Binh Tuy Province. The Company size had been increased to 17 platoons.
When two or more 2nd CA Platoons were attached to the same Province Senior Advisor (PSA), normally the 2nd CA Captain worked at the Province Advisory Office and the 2nd CA Lieutenants with the platoon members worked with MACV SubSector (District) Advisor Teams. The combined platoons referred to themselves as the "3/16 AA Platoons" and the "2nd and 14th AA Platoons".
Most of the 2nd CA Platoons were withdrawn from MACV's operational control in early April 1970 and were again reattached to the U.S. Army maneuver brigades in anticipation of a future missions and to perform their original mission of "Refugee Assistance" during tactical operations.
Cambodia - May and June 1970
In mid April 1970, the 2nd CA had 17 platoons in the III-CTZ and IV-CTZ. At least ten platoons and one provisional team entered into Cambodia and functioned as 'Refugee Assistance Teams' in support of the tactical operations with the maneuver brigades and battalions from: the 9th Infantry Division, the 25th Infantry Division, the 1st Cavalry Division, the 11th Armored Cavalry and the 199th Infantry Brigade. The cross-border activities were called the Cambodian Incursion which were started on 30 April 1970.
While in Cambodia, the 2nd CA Platoons coordinated the repatriation of thousands of Vietnamese and the relocation of local tribes from the Cambodian cross-border areas back to a safe area in RVN; planned the building of resettlement camps in Vietnam; arranged for the movement of and redistribution of hundreds of tons of rice captured from NVA and VC warehouses to the needy; inventoried captured weapons; made solicitation payments; arranged for the delivery of building materials to rebuild Cambodian villages destroyed during the battles; conducted numerous MedCAPs and even helped the Cambodian Boy Scouts conduct their weekly meetings.
The 6th AA Platoon was attached to the 25th Infantry Division (Rear) and this platoon remained in Tay Ninh Province to coordinate the construction of camps for the estimated 30,000 Vietnamese and local tribes who had become refugees, evacuees or displaced persons. In addition, this platoon coordinated the warehousing and redistribution of food seized in the border areas for use by the camp inhabitants.
After at least 60 days of cross-border operations, all of the U.S. combat brigades along with their attached 2nd Civil Affairs Platoons were withdrawn from Cambodia by 2 July 1970.
Commander's Evaluation Report - Cambodia Operations ( added - May 2010 )
The Commanding General of II FFORCEV included the following statement in his 31 July 1970 Combat After Action Report:
" 5. The basic objectives of civil affairs support were accomplished with minimum impact on the tactical operation. The contributions of the 2d Civil Affair Company were invaluable, both in assisting the tactical commanders and in supporting the GVN officials."
There was an understanding in the Army that units and the troops normally worked 'one up and two down' in the chain of command. The commander of an army corps (IIFFV) normally would report 'one up' to the chain of command to a higher headquarters (MACV) and normally worked 'two down' from the corps level to a division and / or a brigade size units.
The 31 July 1970 Report does not mention any other battalion or company by name. The only small size unit mentioned by name is the 2d Civil Affairs Company. The General and his staff thought your actions were "invaluable" and a non-traditional acknowledgement was included within the report.
Back with MACV and the Final Year
After the 1970 Cambodian Incursion, the 2nd CA Platoons were once again attached to worked with the MACV Province and SubSector Advisory Teams.
Only 17 AA Platoons were then in the field and the MTOE strength was reduced to 41 Officers and 100 Enlisted Men. Most of the men were armed with "borrowed" M-16s. And even though the Company had been 'in-country' for more than four years, Radios (AN/PRC 25) (AN/VRC 53) remained in short supply and the all important 2nd CA Radio Net still had not been authorized by II-FFV. The Signal Operating Instructions (SOI) for Radio Frequencies and Call Signs were never established.
The Company now had 59 vehicles. Over the years, the quantity of 3/4 ton trucks (M-37) had been increased from one per platoon to two per platoon. From the original quantity of 13 of the M-37s deployed in 1966, the MTOE for this type of vehicle had been increased to 41 units while the three original and 'once brand new' 2-1/2 tons trucks (M-35) continued to serve faithfully.
When the U.S. decided to withdraw maneuver brigades from Vietnam, there were conflicting stand down orders which affected at least two platoons who did stand down. Then a week later, the stand down orders were cancelled and the platoons were reactivated for service again with the MACV Advisory Teams. There were problems reacquiring the men and their equipment. And in early 1971, the Company's Monthly Rosters indicate that the 13th, 14th, 16th and 18th Platoons were inactivated by 1 March 1971 and the 19th Platoon was inactivated by 1 May 1971. The platoon personnel were reassigned to fill the vacant slots in the other platoons.
On May 2, 1971, Headquarters, Second Field Force - Vietnam (II-FFV) was inactivated and the 2nd Civil Affairs Company was transferred to the operational control of the Third Regional Assistance Command (TRAC) until the 2nd Civil Affairs was inactivated.
The Casing of the Colors
The 2nd Civil Affairs Company was inactivated on July 27, 1971 as part of Withdrawal Increment VIII. The total time "in-country" was 1,711 days. Over the five years of its existence, at least 750 men served in this unit.
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