II Field Forces Vietnam

• Formation and Purpose: II Field Force, Vietnam (II FFV) was activated on 15 March 1966, headquartered at Long Binh, to coordinate and command US Army forces in the III Corps Tactical Zone, which surrounded Saigon. • Largest Corps-Level Command: II FFV was one of the largest American corps-level commands ever fielded, at times commanding over 100,000 personnel from multiple divisions and independent units. • Key Operations: II FFV planned and led major operations including Operation Junction City (1967), the largest airborne operation since World War II, aimed at destroying Viet Cong bases in War Zone C. • Tet Offensive Response: During the 1968 Tet Offensive, II FFV units played a crucial role in defending Saigon and retaking key areas in the city and its surroundings. • Integrated Multi-National Forces: The command included not only US Army units but also attached Australian, New Zealand, South Korean, and Thai forces, reflecting a truly multinational effort. • Notable Commanders: Several prominent generals led II FFV, including Lieutenant General Frederick C. Weyand, who later became Chief of Staff of the US Army. • Long Binh Post: The II FFV headquarters at Long Binh was the largest US Army base in Vietnam, featuring its own hospital, warehouses, and even a movie theater. • PACV “Hovercraft” Operations: II FFV’s 9th Infantry Division was the only US Army unit to use PACV hovercraft in Vietnam, patrolling the Mekong Delta’s waterways. • Disbandment: As part of the US withdrawal (“Vietnamization”), II Field Force was inactivated on 2 May 1971, with its responsibilities transferred to Vietnamese Army units. • Legacy: The unit’s distinctive patch—a white sword on a blue shield—remains a symbol of the US Army’s largest field command in Vietnam and is still worn by some Vietnam veteran organizations today.