DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Dedication
To the U.S. Navy
Veterans of the War in Southeast Asia
"Home is the sailor, home from
the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill."
--Robert Louis Stevenson
Foreword
This volume depicts
the United States Navy's contribution to the twenty-five-year
American and Vietnamese campaign to defend the Republic of Vietnam.
The dimension of that effort is suggested by the fact that two
million U.S. naval personnel, more than 2,500 of whom lost their
lives, served their country in Southeast Asia.
The text and photographs
in By Sea, Air, and Land cover all naval aspects of this
prolonged campaign, particularly the operations of carrier, surface,
amphibious, logistic, riverine, coastal, and mine forces. Assessments
of the Navy's overall experience in counterinsurgency, civic action,
and the advisory effort are provided. Coverage extends to naval
forces assigned to the Seventh Fleet as well as to units based
ashore that reported to the Commander Naval Forces, Vietnam.
Edward J. Marolda,
who heads the Naval Historical Center's Contemporary History Branch,
is a recognized authority on the U.S. involvement in Southeast
Asia. For more than twenty years, as a member of the Center's
historical staff, he has concentrated his attention on the maritime
aspects of the Vietnam War. Previously, he had first-hand experience
in Vietnam, where he served as a U.S. Army officer. Dr. Marolda
is the author of three books and a number of shorter works on
the conflict in Southeast Asia.
Special
recognition needs to be given to several individuals who worked
with the author. Charles R. Haberlein, the highly competent head
of the Naval Historical Center's Photographic Section, offered
his expert advice on the selection of photographs for this volume.
Sandra J. Doyle and Akio J. Stribling of the Editorial Section
and Charles Cooney of the Naval Aviation News staff capably
prepared the book for publication and oversaw the printing process.
As is true for all
publications of the Naval Historical Center, the opinions and
conclusions expressed in this work are solely those of the author.
Those views do not reflect the position of the Department of the
Navy or any other agency of the U.S. Government.
This volume presents
a much needed overview of a complex subject. The Navy's historians
trust that By Sea, Air, and Land will be of value to naval
professionals and to all other readers interested in the Navy's
experience in Southeast Asia.
DEAN C. ALLARD
Director of Naval History
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08 November 1997