In August 1972, the last U.S. combat unit was deactivated on schedule, but the Communists were still advancing, proving that the U.S policy of Vietnamization (preparing South Vietnam to defend itself without outside help) was a complete failure.

In March 1972, 120,000 North Vietnamese troops, assisted by Viet Cong guerrillas, had stormed into South Vietnam, taking both the American and South Vietnamese armies by surprise. With only 6,000 U.S. combat troops still remaining in South Vietnam, the Quangtri Province fell to Hanoi's troops amid the bombing of North Vietnam with unprecedented fury by American B-52s.

In December, President Nixon ordered saturated bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong. This "Christmas bombing" aroused international protest, but assured the North Vietnamese administration that the U.S. had not and would not abandon them. On January 27, 1973, a treaty was finally signed between North and South Vietnam, after months of peace talks.

According to Nixon, "peace with honour" had been won. In fact, America had ended its longest war with its first military defeat -- at the hands of a tiny, technologically less advanced country. Over 57,000 American lives had been lost and the killing had still not ended for the people of Indochina.