Combined
Action Platoon, 2nd CAG, Quang Nam Province 1970
The Combined Action Program was initiated by the USMC
in 1965. Its aim was to have Marines live in the villages of the I Corps Tactical
Zone and work with the Vietnamese local forces (called Popular Forces) to
defend those villages against the Vietcong. There were four Combined Action
Groups (CAGs), which divided in Platoons (the 2nd CAG had around 25
platoons).
The Combined Action Platoons normally had around 12
Marines, and operated in remote villages. Their duties also included civic
action. These units were generally too isolated to hope for quick
reinforcements in case of attack, making this assignment one of the most dangerous
of the war.
The program ended in 1971, after 5000 Marines had
served in its ranks.
This photo series shows members of a platoon in a
village. One of them wears a 2nd CAG sweatshirt.
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