South Korean Combat Units Deploy to Vietnam

September 29, 1965

1965-09-29_SouthKoreans
1965-09-29_SouthKoreans
South Korean marines prepare defensive positions near Tuy Hoa, 1965. (U.S. Army Center of Military History)

The first South Korean combat units deploy to Vietnam. The Republic of Korea Army Capital (Tiger) Infantry Division, the 2d Marine (Blue Dragon) Brigade, and supporting elements arrive between September and November 1965. They are based near Qui Nhon and Cam Ranh Bay. By the end of the year, South Korea has nearly 19,000 combat troops in South Vietnam.1