18th Division (South Vietnam)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=18th Division


dates=Disbanded (1975)
country=Republic of Vietnam
allegiance=
branch=ARVN
type=Division
role=Infantry
size=
command_structure=
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname="The Supermen"
patron=
motto=
crest=Dual blue background with a 45` angle, yellow Phoenician Spear & blue no-headed dolphin with the number 18
march=
mascot=
battles=Battle of Xuan Loc
notable_commanders=Le Minh Dao
anniversaries=

The 18th Division was an infantry division in the III Corps of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). The U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam considered the 18th as undisciplined and was well known throughout the ARVN for it's "cowboy" reputation. In 1975 the 18th was made famous as the only ARVN division that stood fast and refused to surrender before Saigon fell.

During the last major battle of the Vietnam War, the vastly outnumbered 18th Division stood and fought at Xuan Loc, 38 miles north of Saigon. This battle is considered the epic last stand of ARVN forces, where the 18th earned the name "The Supermen". It was commanded by General Le Minh Dao, a smart, conservative and emotional commander. The 18th made a last stand against communist forces in Xuan Loc, a city strategically important for intersecting five main routes. The fierce fighting raged for two weeks. The 18th Division, outnumbered 7:1 by the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) forces, all but destroyed three VPA divisions before finally was overwhelmed by superior numbers. The division was forced to evacuate from the city on April 21, 1975, nine days before the fall of Saigon. Upon learning the 18th had lost "Xuan Loc" that afternoon at 3:00pm President Nguyen Van Thieu made a tearful televised speech that was broadcast around the world in which he blamed the United States for abandoning South Vietnam; he closed the speech by resigning the presidency. The 18th was finally destroyed while defending Bien Hoa Air Base.

External links

* [http://www.sudoan18bobinh.com/ Web site of veterans of the 18th Division]