This article, sent in by Ken Heins and published in a Canonsburg, PA newspaper on September 22, 1969, describes the withdrawal of troops from LZ Russell, Cates and Fuller.  This was all part of President Nixon’s Official U.S. Government “Troop Cutback” .  Truth, however, shows that American troop totals in Vietnam rose by 2,200 that same week.  B-52 bombing provided cover for the withdrawal, which would be the beginning of the end for the 3rd Marine Division’s presence in Vietnam, since 1965.  

Final scores for the 3rd Mar. Div. were 5,000 U.S. Marines and 38,000 Vietnamese Communists dead.  We won.

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