7 - The ARVN Experience

Summary

This chapter seeks to discern the nature of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and military contribution it made to the wider Vietnam War. Often written off as a mere stooge of the West or a puppet of imperialism, the ARVN needs to be understood as a Vietnamese institution. Though it grew from the shattered wreckage of French colonialism and served a flawed American war effort, the ARVN was indeed Vietnamese. And although it failed in the end that failure needs to be seen from within a Vietnamese context. The ARVN for years commanded the loyalty and sacrifice of millions and fought much more effectively than its American sponsors were willing to admit or its North Vietnamese foes ever expected. Understanding ARVN as an institution is critical to understanding the Vietnam War. And understanding both its military successes and critical failures are key to understanding why the American war in Vietnam failed. That the ARVN perhaps had a real chance to succeed brings the larger failings of the American war in Vietnam into focus.