The January 1973 Paris peace accords led to a near-total withdrawal of US forces in early 1973. In fall 1974, leaders in Hanoi had decided upon a two-year program to conquer the South and unite the two countries under Communist rule. Called “General Offensive, General Uprising,” the program was designed so that a series of major military offensives in 1975 would bring the South Vietnamese population to the point of revolution and permit a conclusive victory in 1976.
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MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 27 JUN 1973
SUBJECT: Contingency Planning for Taiwan(U) – ACTION MEMORANDUM
The last TDY C-130 squadron was withdrawn form CCK, Taiwan on 9 Jun 1973. This withdrawal left the 374 TAW, consisting of four squadrons of sixteen C-130s each, as the remaining tactical airlift squadron on Taiwan. (21 TAS, 50 TAS, 345 TAS, 776 TAS) The withdrawal of the entire 374th TAW from Taiwan was under consideration for some time and due to the close-hold nature of the discussions between Secretary Richardson and Dr. Kissinger, I believe the time is appropriate to review the history of events as we know them.
On 2 and 6 February 1973, Secretary Richardson forwarded a memorandum to Dr Kissinger which summarized the status of US forces on Taiwan and recommended:
- the withdrawal of two C-130 squadrons) one that was on temporary assignment and one of the four permanently assigned) (50 TAS) by September 1973
- the relocation by end of FY 74 of the remaining three C-130 (21st, 345th, 776th TAS) squadrons, together with the 374th TAW headquarters and a major portion of the Air Base Support Group at Ching Chun Kang (CCK) AB to a temporary location in the Pacific. Secretary Richardson pointed out that until such time as Japan completed projected construction at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, to accommodate the entire 374 TAW, it might be necessary to relocated the three squadrons to existing air bases in Korea, the Philippines, or Thailand
Based on later verbal guidance from Dr. Kissinger, Secretary Richardson asked the Chairman, JCS, to provide a plan for the complete relocation from Taiwan of all C-130 squadrons, 374th TAW headquarters, and a portion of the Air Base Group. This redeployment was to begin in July or August 1973, and be completed by te end of March 1974.The JCS provided two plans: one for redeployment of the TAW by 31 March 1974; another to maintain the TAW on Taiwan until Kadena AB construction is completed, estimated to be not earlier than fall 1975. The TAW redeployment from Taiwan prior to 31 March 1975 would require basing two of the three squadrons at Clark AB, PI as an interim measure until the construction at Kadena was completed in late 1975. The JCS strongly recommended, unless political constraints were overriding, not to move the TAW from CCK AB until the facilities at Kadena were ready to receive all three squadrons. In accordance with Secretary of Defense request, ISA reviewed the JCS plans and prepared proposed guidance to CJCS and the Secretary of the Air Force … that the redeployment occur prior to 31 March 1974 in view of guidance given to Secretary Richardson by Dr Kissinger.There are indications of some uncertainty within Dr Kissinger’s staff as to whether the entire TAEW should be redeployed by 30 September 1973 or 31 March 1974. this probably results from the February memorandum which indicates that tow C-130 squadrons (vice the TAW) could be withdrawn by 30 September 1973. We have, therefore, prepared the attached memorandum to Dr Kissinger which summarizes our current actions and should clarify the timing.
19 June 1973 Congress passed the Case-Church Amendment, which called for a halt to all military activities in Southeast Asia by August 15, thereby ending twelve years of direct U.S. military involvement in the region.
On 13 November 1973, the 374th TAW was reassigned to Clark AB, Philippines.