The original caption for this photograph reads: Embarking – South Vietnamese troops observed from the window of a Sea Knight helicopter prepare to embark aboard a Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-165 transport helicopter at a jumping off point south of Da Nang. They will be air lifted into an area southwest of Da Nang in search of enemy forces.
In the Vietnam War, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was South Vietnam’s army. These soldiers shouldered most of the fighting before and after large American troop units were deployed to Vietnam. They fought alongside their American allies in many operations and suffered far greater casualties. Between 1960 and 1974, 254,256 ARVN deaths were recorded. No figures are available for ARVN deaths in 1975.
