Scope and Contents

Half a linear foot of one VHS tape, documents and correspondence detail Lieutenant General John Cushman's service as advisor to the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) 21st Infantry Division, 1963-64. The date range of the materials are 1963-1990s and include information on the Viet Cong, pacification plans developed by Cushman in respect to the 21st Infantry Division, his deposition for the Westmoreland vs. CBS case, and his personal memoir.

Biographical / Historical

General Cushman, West Point Class of '43, acted as a military advisor to the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) 21st Infantry Division in 1963-64. He helped develop the pacification plan implemented in the provinces of Phong Dinh, Ba Xuyen, Choung Thien, and An Xuyen. Upon his return from duty in Vietnam, Cushman presented his ideas to the US Army. Cushman, now a colonel, returned to Vietnam in 1967 where he commanded the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne. Cushman's command took part in the battles of the 1968 Tet Offensive, particularly near Hue and Quang Tri. In May 1971, Cushman, now a Major General, took command of the MACV advisory teams associated with the ARVN 7th, 9th, and 21st Divisions in the Mekong Delta. As 'area coordinator,' Cushman was also responsible for discipline for the 12000 American troops in the area.