Thailand in the Vietnam War

Thailand involvement in the Vietnam War
Part of the Vietnam War
Queen's Cobras M79 grenadier in Phuoc Tho in 1967
Type War
Location Republic of Vietnam
Objective To support South Vietnam against Communist attacks
Date 1967 – 1972
Casualties 351 killed
1,358 injured

The Kingdom of Thailand, under the administration of military dictator Field Marshall Thanom Kittikachorn, took an active role in the Vietnam War. Thailand was the third-largest provider of ground forces to South Vietnam, following the Americans and South Koreans.[1]

Due to its proximity to Thailand, Vietnam's conflicts were closely monitored by Bangkok. Thai involvement did not become official until the total involvement of the United States in support of South Vietnam in 1963. The Thai government then allowed the United States Air Force in Thailand to use its air and naval bases. At the height of the war, almost 50,000 American military personnel were stationed in Thailand, mainly airmen.[2]

In October 1967 the Royal Thai Volunteer Regiment (Queen's Cobras) was sent to Camp Bearcat at Bien Hoa, to fight alongside the Americans, Australians, New Zealanders and South Vietnamese. In 1968 the Cobras were replaced by the Royal Thai Army Expeditionary Division ("Black Panthers").[3] About 40,000 Thai military would serve in South Vietnam, with 351 killed in action and 1,358 wounded.[2][4][5] The last Thai ground forces were withdrawn from South Vietnam on 5 February, 1972.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Albert Lau (2012). Southeast Asia and the Cold War. Routledge. pp. 190–. ISBN 978-0-415-68450-7.
  2. 1 2 Ruth, Richard A (7 November 2017). "Why Thailand Takes Pride in the Vietnam War" (Editorial). New York Times. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  3. ↑ James F. Dunnigan; Albert A. Nofi (5 May 2000). Dirty Little Secrets of the Vietnam War: Military Information You're Not Supposed to Know. St. Martin's Press. pp. 314–. ISBN 978-0-312-25282-3.
  4. ↑ Trauschweizer, Ingo (December 2011). "Forgotten Soldiers in Vietnam" (Book review). H-Net Online. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  5. ↑ "Thailand Involvement in Vietnam War". The Vietnam War. 29 March 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2017.

Further reading

  • Richard Alfred Ruth (2011). In Buddha's Company: Thai Soldiers in the Vietnam War. University of Hawaiʻi Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-3489-0.
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