What did the declassified documents reveal?

Document: A Study of Strategic Lessons Learned in Vietnam, Vol. II: South Vietnam Agency: Department of the Army, US Army War College Strategic Studies Institute Date: March 17, 1981 Notable: A comprehensive study on the Vietnam conflict, focusing on lessons learned from the US involvement in South Vietnam. PROVENANCE: The document is a declassified study, released through the Defense Technical Information Center. The study was originally classified, but the Army War College Security Office notified recipients in December 1980 that it contained classified information. BDM Corporation has since revised the study to delete all classified information, conforming to clearance review requirements. A revised copy is included, approved for public release. THE DOCUMENT: LEY WU DIEN BIEN PHU HAO 00 A Study of Strategic Lessons Learned BAN ME THUOT '.MAR 17 1981.j SAIGOA ;- --j DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY US ARMY WAR COLLEGE STRATEGIC STUDIES INSTITUTE CARLISLE BARRACKS. PENNSYLVANIA 17013 i PLY To ATTINtICU CU AWCI 9 March 1981 SUBJECT: Declassification of the BDM Study, "The Strategic Lessons Learned in Vietnam" Defense Technical Information Center ATTN: Ms. Betty Weatherholtz Cameron Station Alexandria, VA 22314 1. Your organization was on the distribution list for the BDM study, "The Strategic Lessons Learned in Vietnam." The study was assigned AD numbers B048632L through 64. 2. In December 1980, the Army War College Security Office notified all recipients of the study by telephone that it contained classified information and should be secured. 3. BDM has revised the appropriate pages of the study to delete all classified information and has conformed to all other requirements required by the clearance review. 4. A revised copy of the study which is unclassified and approved for public release is enclosed. DTIC Form 50's are enclosed for assignment of new AD numbers. Incls ANDREW C. REMSON, as Colonel, CE Director, Strategic Studies Institute RI. CORPORATION 7915 Jones Branch Drive McLean, Virginia 22102 Phone (703) 821-5000 December 28, 1979 BDM/W-7 THE BDM CORPORATION FOREWORD This Study is a final draft submitted to DAMO-SSP for review in accordance with the provisions of Contract No. DAAG 39-78-C-0120. The task is to identify and analyze lessons that should be learned from three decades of US involvement in Vietnam. This is Volume II of the Study. [... document truncated, full source linked in narration ...] CONTEXT: This study is part of an eight-volume effort to examine specific aspects of the Vietnam conflict and determine lessons the United States, and especially the United States Army, should have learned from that experience of 1954-1975. OUTRO: This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. The declassified study on Strategic Lessons Learned in Vietnam, Volume II: South Vietnam, is available at storyflo.com and at the canonical PDF link: https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/vietnam/ADA096425.pdf.

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process.

Case · DAILY-025

A Study of Strategic Lessons Learned in Vietnam, Vol. II: South Vietnam

JUL 6 · 2026Narrated by daily-declassified-a-study-of-strategic-lessons-learned-in-vietnam-vol-ii-sou4 minLast updated July 6, 2026

The short version

Document: A Study of Strategic Lessons Learned in Vietnam, Vol. II: South Vietnam Agency: Department of the Army, US Army War College Strategic Studies Institute Date: March 17, 1981 Notable: A comprehensive study on the Vietnam conflict, focusing on lessons learned from the US involvement in South Vietnam.

Date: JUL 6 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)

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What was A Study of Strategic Lessons Learned in Vietnam, Vol. II: South Vietnam about?: Document: A Study of Strategic Lessons Learned in Vietnam, Vol. II: South Vietnam Agency: Department of the Army, US Army War College Strategic Studies Institute Date: March 17, 1981 Notable: A comprehensive study on the Vietnam conflict, focusing on lessons learned from the US involvement in South Vietnam.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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