“…And on the Fourth Day They Spotted Us”: The macv Recondo School and the lrrps in Vietnam

Abstract

The United States military experienced a watershed moment during the Vietnam War, where special and conventional warfare came together. The macv Recondo School represents a significant shift in the mindset of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, illuminating a change that saw American commanders like General William Westmoreland attempt to spread Special Warfare ideals into their conventional line units, demonstrating the growing acceptance and importance of such warfare within the U.S. military. William Westmoreland’s influential role in the construction and implementation of this school and its training program sheds new light on both his personal relationship to such forces as well as the entire military experience in Vietnam. The wide reach of Recondo graduates represents the significant impact that this school had on the U.S. Army and multiple foreign military forces. Ultimately, the story of the Recondo School highlights the beginning of a trend that joins the two separate worlds of special and conventional warfare together.