- 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 theArmy of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). The U.S.Military Assistance Command Vietnam considered the 18th as undiscipline d 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 tosurrender beforeSaigon fell.During the last major battle of the
Vietnam War , the vastly outnumbered 18th Division stood and fought at Xuan Loc, 38 miles north ofSaigon . This battle is considered the epic last stand of ARVN forces, where the 18th earned the name "The Supermen". It was commanded by GeneralLe Minh Dao , a smart, conservative and emotional commander. The 18th made alast 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 theVietnam 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 onApril 21 ,1975 , nine days before thefall of Saigon . Upon learning the 18th had lost "Xuan Loc" that afternoon at 3:00pmPresident Nguyen Van Thieu made a tearful televised speech that was broadcast around the world in which he blamed theUnited States for abandoningSouth Vietnam ; he closed the speech by resigning the presidency. The 18th was finally destroyed while defendingBien Hoa Air Base .External links
* [http://www.sudoan18bobinh.com/ Web site of veterans of the 18th Division]
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