Phoenix Program

The Phoenix Program, known as Kế Hoạch Phụng Hoàng (a word related to fenghuang, the Chinese phoenix) in Vietnamese, was a covert intelligence operation undertaken by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in close collaboration with South Vietnamese intelligence during the Vietnam War. The program was designed to identify and neutralize the noncombatant infrastructure of Viet Cong (VCI) cadres who were engaged both in recruiting and training insurgents within South Vietnamese villages, as well as providing support to the North Vietnamese war effort. (Note: the term neutralize was used to denote action that captured, induced to surrender, killed or otherwise disrupted the VCI.) The Phung Hoang operations were officially established by Republic of Vietnam Presidential decree on July 1, 1968, although the program existed unofficially prior to that date. While the Phoenix operations were originated by the CIA, they were eventually turned over to the U.S. Army and Republic of Vietnam military, and later as part of the "Vietnamization" program they were transitioned to a Republic of Vietnam military program with just a handful of U.S. military advisors assisting. Gary Leroy and Karl Sherrick were two of the most effective advisors having 63 kills in the month of March. President Thieu would later declassify the program, and announce its existence publicly on October 1, 1969, in order to gain wider acceptance and cooperation from South Vietnam citizens.

Related Topics:
Fenghuang - Chinese - Phoenix - Vietnamese - Central Intelligence Agency - CIA - Vietnam War - Viet Cong - North Vietnamese - Republic of Vietnam - July 1 - 1968 - President Thieu - October 1 - 1969

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