American troop strength in Vietnam peaks at 543,482 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 30 1969)


Video: 'Dustoff: 82nd Medical Detachment, 45th Medical Company (April 29-30, 1969) | Vietnam War'

(Wednesday, April 30, 1969; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The number of U.S. troops in South Vietnam reached its peak today, with 543,482 American servicemen and women — more than half a million — in a nation of 19 million people.

From May onward, the number of U.S. troops would gradually decline until the end of the Vietnam War.