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John Paul Vann: Man and LegendBy Peter Kross | Vietnam | 17 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post In May 1971, Vann moved north to become the senior adviser in II CTZ. Although he was now the civilian equivalent of a major general, he legally could not be given the title of commander. The 2nd Regional Assistance Command was redesignated the 2nd Regional Assistance Group, and Vann’s title was director. Because a civilian cannot convene courts-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Vann was assigned a military deputy, Brig. Gen. George Wear, whose official title was commanding general, U.S. Army Forces Military Region 2. Nonetheless, Vann exercised de facto operational command over all U.S. military forces in his sector. Other civilians, such as Komer, had held general officer equivalency rank, but Vann was the first to have the authority to direct American troops in battle. Rather than large maneuver units, however, most of the U.S. combat forces remaining in Vietnam by that time were advisers and aviation units. Subscribe Today
Vann’s major test as a field commander came during the Easter Offensive of 1972. As the North Vietnamese mounted a massive three-prong conventional attack from the north, Vann planned to defeat the thrust against II CTZ using the mobile defensive tactics he had seen Lt. Gen. Walton Walker use to defeat the North Koreans at the Pusan Perimeter in 1950. The NVA objective in II CTZ was Kontum, the northernmost key city in the Central Highlands. If Kontum fell, Pleiku would go with it. But before it could reach Kontum, the NVA had to take a series of ridges and high ground to the north, to which the outpost at Tan Canh was the key. The headquarters of the ARVN’s 22nd Division, Tan Canh, was defended by about 10,000 South Vietnamese troops. On the morning of April 23, 1972, Tan Canh was attacked by a large NVA force that included T-54 tanks. Vann landed under heavy fire at Tan Canh with his helicopter and began evacuating civilians and the wounded. He remained on the ground and tried to rally the demoralized ARVN soldiers. As the attack continued through the following day, Tan Canh’s defenses finally collapsed. Vann again returned to the battle, where he located and extracted three American advisers. His helicopter took several hits in the process, as he personally directed airstrikes on NVA tanks and anti-aircraft positions. Vann was credited with rescuing more than 50 wounded and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the only civilian to be so honored since World War II. With the fall of Tan Canh, the NVA had a direct shot at Kontum, 25 miles away. The North Vietnamese, however, had no real experience with pursuit in mobile warfare and failed to follow up aggressively. Vann used the pause to good advantage. Abandoning any pretense of who was really in command of II Corps, he bypassed Dzu and began to issue orders directly to the ARVN units defending Kontum. MACV rushed reinforcements north, including the still-experimental Huey helicopters armed with TOW antitank missiles — history’s first use of helicopters to attack tanks. In the end, however, it was air power, and specifically around-the-clock Boeing B-52 strikes, that broke the back of the offensive and destroyed the better part of two NVA divisions. Personally involved in targeting during the course of the battle, Vann directed more than 300 B-52 strikes. Ironically, the man who once said the most discriminating weapon in insurgency warfare was a knife or a rifle had now acquired the nickname of “Mr. B-52.” By June 5, the battle for Kontum was over. The civilian general had won his major battle, but he didn’t live long to enjoy his victory. On June 9, 1972, John Paul Vann was killed when his helicopter, call sign “Rogues’ Gallery,” flying in darkness, slammed into a stand of trees and exploded. He was 47. As author Neil Sheehan described the funeral, it was “like an extraordinary class reunion. Here were all the figures from Vietnam in this chapel.” General Westmoreland was the chief pallbearer. Also in attendance were such diverse individuals as Edward Lansdale, Lucien Conein, Daniel Ellsberg, Edward Kennedy, prowar columnist Joseph Alsop, Robert Komer and William Colby. Vann was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
            Tags: Historical Conflicts, Historical Figures, Vietnam War
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17 Comments to “John Paul Vann: Man and Legend”
Thank You for this story!
Vietnam Vet
Larry Mandrell
By mandrell_larry@yahoo.com on Jul 7, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I MEET JOHN PAUL IN 1972 HE WAS A GREAT MAN I WAS WITH THE 4TH CAV ASIGN TO HIS UNIT AND I WAS THERE. THIS IS WENT I HEARD HE GOT KILL.
By mitchell smith on Jul 18, 2008 at 11:53 pm
While the factual information presented in this biography may be true, the most important aspect of JP Vann’s life is entirely overlooked. I worked for JP Vann in the Phoenix program. Although most aspects of this program will remain classified for years to come, eventually this too will become public knowledge and the contributions of this man will be recognized.
By Wayne Marshall on Sep 16, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I am the grandson of John Paul Vann, his son Peter is my father. Thank you for taking the time to write this article.
By Ryan Vann on Dec 6, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Hello Ryan (and Peter and John A and Jesse and Patricia);
I worked for your grandfather at MAC-CORDS, IV Corps, 69-70. Considered him a mentor; changed my life along with his good friend, fellow soldier and free thinker, Col Carl Bernard.
JPV was a second father to me — though for only a short period of his life and a shorter period of mine. He was indomitable and was only brought down by the laws of physics. I have no doubt that had he survived we would have had a different and better outcome in Vietnam.
Stumbled across this article today by chance. Anyone interested should read Neil’s Bright Shining Lie. And anyone interested in contacting me, feel free; look me up on the net.
Ryan, you and your father and uncles and aunt come from the best stock. Stand proud.
Ed
By Edward Story on Feb 14, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Mr. Story,
My Grandfather is Eugene W. Vann, better known as John’s brother. He was a CMSgt in the Air Force. I’ve been in the AF almost ten years and am proud to bear our last name on my uniform. I’m putting in my package to go Green and be a Warrant Officer… your comment about being from the best stock would be awesome somewhere in my package! Wish me luck!
Jeremy
By Jeremy Vann on Mar 5, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Does anyone know what happened to John Vann’s Vietnamese daughter? Did her family leave Vietnam after 1975?
By Gary Richardson on Apr 7, 2009 at 1:29 am
Cool article. My dad was a LtC. and named me after him out of the respect he held for him. (Vo is my mom’s family name… they were not sure if any of my mom’s relatives survived the war, so they wanted me to carry the name another generation)
By Vo Vann Decker on Apr 8, 2009 at 8:45 pm
In 1972 Gene La Rouche and I drove from Cam Ranh to Qui Nhon on the day the Tet Offensive began. We were working for ITT-Federal Electric and were delivering test equipment for calibration. Three bridges were taken out behind us and we were stuck in Qui Nhon, as it came under attack.
We hitched a ride on a Huey headed back to Nha Trang, from a young Warrant Officer Pilot we met in the Officers Mess. We were diverted to Tuy Hoa, by orders from John Paul Vann. He commandeered
the Huey and Pilot to inspect mountain top microwave communication sites, that had come under attack, during the offensive.
We met Mr. Vann in passing, as he boarded the Huey and took off
for his inspection of the mountain top sites. We sat at Tuy Hoa and
listened to his radio calls, as he flew from one mountain site to the other. One particular radio transmission will always stick in my mind. He was talking to a Vietnamese Officer and said “you tell
General(can not recall his name), that if he does not have that bridge in by noon, I will have his ass on the carpet in Saigon”.
It’s difficult to convey the aura of no nonsense and dedication he
displayed,as this civilian, retired officer worked around us. I am
proud to have met and see him in action.
When our Pilot returned from the inspection flight, he told us, one
mountain top site was held by an old Vietnamese man who was hired to run the diesel generators, that powered the site. While under attack, the ARVN company fled and he manned a M-60, killing many VC on their perimeter and held the mountain top
site by himself. On another site it was a similar situation and a
American Army Major, serving in an advisory capacity, held the
mountain top firing from a bunker, and fought the VC off killing
at least a score of them, while the ARVN company fled and his Vietnamese counterpart cowered in the bunker near him. So went the war near the end
By Jack Johnstone on Apr 11, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Please note an error that I made when submitting my original comments. The incidents I described, happened during the Easter Offensive in 1972, not during a Tet Offensive. Although the memory
fades after 37 years the incidents I described, are absolutely true.
By Jack Johnstone on Apr 12, 2009 at 11:23 am
ASSLAM O ALLAIKUM….i m ALI from PAKISTAN…i just saw the movie A BRIGHT SHINNING LIFE..and i m inspired by hius personlity..he was geius..i m also in army and i have great interest in reading and knwoing abpout military leaders..and unfortunatley most of them they could not have successfull perosnal life…but he was really a hero…nation having men like him is lucky….i would love to see ppl related to hi talking or contacting me and i salute all those soldiers who sacrified their lives in veitnam………….
By ALI HUSSAIN on May 15, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Gary,
Last I heard she and her mother relocated to the US. East coast I believe. I heard Maryland. We don’t communicate with them.
Thank you Ed. I will not forget your words.
If any of you have any questions please contact me at Ryan_Vann1@msn.com
By Ryan Vann on Jun 6, 2009 at 2:52 am
I have read about JPV for many a year and he has to me seemed like a perfect hero, flawed yet brilliant, his children can be proud of who he was and what he achieved – JPV We Salute You Sir.
By thecleaner on Jun 20, 2009 at 12:50 pm
JPV has been a hero to me for years now. I first heard of him when I joined the military book club and bought the book, A Bright Shining Lie. Later, the HBO movie brought the book to life. I share the book and movie with friends, so they may know the story about a soldier who led a very interesting life.
JPV was certainly a great American and leader of men, whose life was taken too soon, as happens to many heroes.
I am just an enlisted soldier who has served in Desert Storm and Afghanistan, and respect what JPV stood for- the courage to lead from the front and tell it like it is…
By Ruperto Fiories on Aug 22, 2009 at 6:00 am
I am Eugene W. Vann, the youngest brother of John Paul Vann. I want to thank everyone for their comments about my brother who adored his family and was adored by his Mom and Dad and brothers and sister. He was our hero and is missed every day. My grandson, Jeremy R. Vann is doing his best to follow in the footsteps of this great man and we are extremely proud of him, just as we were of John. John had a human side that has never been written about. He was kind, loving , gentle and generous and that is the part of him that lives in our hearts. To put into feelings simply….he was my brother.
By Eugene W. Vann on Oct 3, 2009 at 11:18 pm
My name is Jo Vann, John Paul Vann’s sisiter-in-law. Reading the comments about John, one from Ruperto Fiores struck me…he referred to himself as,”just an enlisted soldier.” There is no such thing…every man who puts on a uniform and heads off to war to defend this great country is a National Hero and deserves the respect and gratitude of every citizen in the USA. Ruperto, you are no less a hero to me than John was and I, personally, want to thank you for your service and thank God you returned home safely. If only 15 minutes of time was bought for our country as a result of your service, that is a great tribute to John for all his efforts and it is greatly appreciated by the Vann family. May all the good things in life come your way and again, thank you.
By Jo Vann on Oct 3, 2009 at 11:40 pm