Guide to the Vietnam Military Assistance Advisory Group Team 58 photograph collection, 1955-1965 Vietnam Military Assistance Advisory Group Team 58 photograph C0196

Guide to the Vietnam Military Assistance Advisory Group Team 58 photograph collection, 1955-1965

A Collection in
Special Collections and Archives
Collection Number C0196


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George Mason University Libraries

2011 By George Mason University Libraries. All rights reserved.

Processed by: Special Collections and Archives Staff

Repository
George Mason University. Special Collections and Archives.
Collection number
C0196
Title
Vietnam Military Assistance Advisory Group Team 58 photograph collection 1955-1965
URL:
http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/
Physical Characteristics
0.25 Linear feet (1 box)
Creator
George Mason University. Special Collections and Archives.
Language
English
Abstract
The collection contains 104 black and white photographs measuring 3.75 x 2.5 inches, of MAAG Advisory Team 58. The images in this collection document the camp life of MAAG Advisory team 58. Photographs in the collection show the day-to-day life in the camp with no images of combat. The majority of photographs feature portraits of MAAG Team 58.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Vietnam Military Assistance Advisory Group Team 58 photograph collection, Collection #C0196, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.

Acquisition Information

The collection of photographs was purchased from Between the Covers in August of 2011.

Processing Information

Processed by Kristen Korfitzen in November 2011. EAD created by Kristen Korfitzen in November 2011.

Historical Information

MAAG (Military Assistance Advisory Group), Vietnam, was an organization of military personnel, sent to train and assist South Vietnamese armed forces. Originally, the delegation was sent to support the French military in the First Indochina War and named MAAG Indochina. With the withdrawal of French troops from Vietnam, MAAG shifted its focus to the training of South Vietnamese forces in an effort to stem the rising influence of Communism. MAAG Vietnam was in operation from 1955-1964. At the time the photographs in this collection were taken, Team 58 was stationed in Vi Thanh in the former Chuong Thien province. Throughout its inception MAAG Vietnam was under the control of three generals; Lieutenant General Samuel T. Williams, November 1955-September 1960, Lieutenant General Lionel C. McGarr, September 1960-July 1962, and Major General Charles J. Timmes, July 1962-May 1964. In 1964 MAAG was placed under U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) and had grown from a few hundred advisors to over 3,000.

Scope and Content

The collection contains 104 black and white photographs measuring 3.75 x 2.5 inches, of MAAG Advisory Team 58. Photographs in the collection show the day-to-day life in the camp with no images of combat. The majority of photographs feature portraits of MAAG Team 58. Photographs of advisors include personnel working in offices, eating meals and enjoying down time, and preparing for a USO show. Several photographs document an assembly with Vietnamese speakers attended by both military advisors and local residents. Photographs also include scenes of the town of Vi Thanh, and several photographs taken from an airplane.

Series 1 contains photographs taken from an assembly in Vi Thanh. The photographs show one main speaker addressing the crowd from a platform with several other persons sitting behind him. Photographs of the crowd show both soldiers and civilians in attendance. Though the purpose and issues discussed at the assembly remain undocumented, soldiers in the audience carry banners with Vietnamese slogans printed on them which could provide further insight.

Series 2 contains photographs of the MAAG Team-58 camp. Photographs document the interiors and exteriors of the camp, showing soldier common areas and images of several buildings that make up the camp complex. Interior shots show the living quarters of MAAG Team 58 including bedrooms and common areas used for meals and recreation. Interiors also depicted include rooms used for meetings and office space. Exterior views of the camp include several shots of different kinds of buildings. Large multipurpose buildings as well as small living quarters are shown. Images of several roofs show that buildings were marked with MAAG Team 58, Vi Thanh.

Series 3 includes Aerial views of Vietnam and images of the camp's runway and pilots. Four images in this series are shot from the back of a cargo or transport aircraft. The other four images in the series show planes taking off from the camp's makeshift runway and aviation crew members.

Series 4 contains images of Vi Thanh,the capital of what was then called Chuong-Thien Province. Photographs of Vi Thanh include the main town area and areas of local recreation. Several photographs show a local tennis court being used by both civilians and possibly soldiers. Images of Vi Thanh town center include shop fronts with local residents, and a main street populated with cars and residents.

Series 5 contains portraits of MAAG Team 58. Portraits in the series contain individual as well as group portraits. Only one of the portraits in the series is labeled, documenting place and date. None of the figures in the portraits are identified. Images show the soldiers working at their desks, sitting in common areas, eat meals, congregating outside and solitary against a non-descript background.

Arrangement

The photographs in this collection are arranged by subject.

Series 1: Vi Thanh Assembly, 1955-1965 (Box 1) Series 2: MAAG Team 58 Camp, 1955-1965 (Box 1) Series 3: Aviation and Aerial Photography, 1955-1965 (Box 1) Series 4: Vi Thanh, 1955-1965 (Box 1) Series 5: Portraits, 1955-1965 (Box 1)

Related Material

Special Collections and Archives also hold the Oliver F. Atkins photograph collection which includes photographs related to the Vietnam War. The French Communist Party poster collection and the Edwin W. Lynch Vietnam War protest collection both contain anti-Vietnam War materials.

Index Terms

    Corporate Names:

  • United States. Army--Photographs.
  • Geographical Names:

  • Vi Thanh (Vietnam)--Photographs.
  • Vietnam--Photographs.
  • Subjects:

  • Military camps--Photographs.
  • Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Photographs.
  • Document Types:

  • Aerial photographs.
  • Group portraits.
  • Photographic prints.
  • Portraits.

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Vi Thanh (Vietnam)--Photographs.
  • Vietnam--Photographs.

Contents List

Series 1: Vi Thanh Assembly,
1955-1965

Images in this series depict an assembly held in Vi Thanh.

  • box: 1 Folder: 1
    Assembly speaker,
    1955-1965

    Man delivering a speech, viewed from behind.

  • box: 1 Folder: 1
    Assembly speaker,
    1955-1965

    Man giving a speech, viewed from right.

  • box: 1 folder: 1
    Assembly speaker,
    1955-1965

    Man giving a speech, viewed from right.

  • box: 1 Folder: 1
    Assembly stage,
    1955-1965

    Man delivering a speech, viewed from the point of view of the crowd behind him.

  • box: 1 Folder: 2
    Assembly stage,
    1955-1965

    Man delivering a speech, viewed from the point of view of the crowd behind him.

  • box: 1 Folder: 2
    Assembly crowd,
    1955-1965

    View of the crowd at the assembly including military personnel and civilians.

  • box: 1 Folder: 2
    Assembly crowd,
    1955-1965

    Alternate view of the crowd at the assembly.

  • box: 1 Folder: 2
    Assembly crowd,
    1955-1965

    Crowd at assembly with banners displaying Vietnamese slogans.

  • box: 1 Folder: 3
    Assembly soldiers,
    1955-1965

    Soldiers at assembly with Vietnamese banner.

  • box: 1 Folder: 3
    Assembly soldiers,
    1955-1965

    Soldiers at assembly with Vietnamese banner.

Series 2: MAAG Team 58 Camp,
1955-1965

Images in this series show buildings and areas of the MAAG Team 58 camp in Vi Thanh.

  • box: 1 Folder: 3
    Weapons,
    1955-1965

    Weapons hanging on the wall.

  • box: 1 Folder: 4
    Camp Bedroom,
    1955-1965

    Wall of a camp bedroom with dresser and clothing hanging on wall.

  • box: 1 Folder: 4
    Camp Bedroom,
    1955-1965

    Camp bedroom with a bed, table and chairs, dresser and nightstand.

  • box: 1 Folder: 4
    Camp common area,
    1955-1965

    Two images of an assembly area of camp with maps on a easel.

  • box: 1 Folder: 5
    Camp building,
    1955-1965

    Camp building made of corrugated metal.

  • box: 1 Folder: 5
    Entrance gate,
    1955-1965

    View of the entrance gate to MAAG Team 58 Camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 5
    Camp building,
    1955-1965

    Building in the camp seen from the side.

  • box: 1 Folder: 5
    Camp buildings,
    1955-1965

    Aerial view of the camp including several different complexes of buildings.

  • box: 1 Folder: 6
    Camp and jeep,
    1955-1965

    Army jeep parked in the camp behind reinforcements made of sandbags.

  • box: 1 Folder: 6
    Camp buildings,
    1955-1965

    View of buildings in the camp shot from an army jeep.

  • box: 1 Folder: 6
    Camp building,
    1955-1965

    Large building in the camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 6
    Camp building,
    1955-1965

    Two images of a building in the camp seen from the side.

  • box: 1 Folder: 7
    Camp building,
    1955-1965

    Same building as previous photo shot from a different angle.

  • box: 1 Folder: 7
    Camp building,
    1955-1965

    Building in the camp with corrugated roof.

  • box: 1 Folder: 7
    Shed and military advisor,
    1955-1965

    Small building in the camp with army personnel inside.

  • box: 1 Folder: 8
    Repairing camp building,
    1955-1965

    Building in the camp with corrugated roof. A military advisor on a ladder makes repairs to the building.

  • box: 1 Folder: 8
    Camp buildings,
    1955-1965

    Three military personnel stand outside several buildings in the camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 8
    Entrance gate,
    1955-1965

    View of the entrance gate to MAAG Team 58 Camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 8
    Camp roofs,
    1955-1965

    Overhead shot of corrugated roofs with camp name and location printed on it.

  • box: 1 Folder: 9
    Meeting,
    1955-1965

    Four images of a meeting in the MAAG Team 58 Camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 10
    USO show,
    1955-1965

    Three images of USO preparations.

  • box: 1 Folder: 10
    Camp hall,
    1955-1965

    Military personnel in a large hall.

  • box: 1 Folder: 11
    Camp shed and jeep,
    1955-1965

    Small building in the camp with army personnel inside and army jeep.

  • box: 1 Folder: 11
    Repairing jeeps in courtyard,
    1955-1965

    Military personnel outside buildings working on automobiles.

  • box: 1 Folder: 11
    Camp hall,
    1955-1965

    Military personnel working at desks in hall.

  • box: 1 Folder: 11
    Camp building with military,
    1955-1965

    Military personnel in uniform outside camp building.

Series 3: Aviation and Aerial Photography,
1955-1965

Photographs in contain aerial views of Vietnam and images of aviation.

  • box: 1 Folder: 12
    Aerial views of Vietnam,
    1955-1965

    4 images of land, taken from an aircraft.

  • box: 1 Folder: 13
    Camp runway,
    1955-1965

    3 Images of camp runways and aircraft.

  • box: 1 Folder: 13
    Military advisors with aircraft,
    1955-1965

    Three military personnel standing at the back of an aircraft.

Series 4: Vi Thanh,
1955-1965

Photographs in series 4 contain images of village life in Vi Thanh.

  • box: 1 Folder: 14
    Beach,
    1955-1965

    The names of MAAG Team 58 written in the sand.

  • box: 1 Folder: 14
    Tennis courts,
    1955-1965

    3 Images of a tennis court in Vi Thanh with local children and military personnel playing tennis.

  • box: 1 Folder: 15
    River bank,
    1955-1965

    A river bank in Vi Thanh.

  • box: 1 Folder: 15
    Store fronts,
    1955-1965

    3 images of store fronts in Vi Thanh with local residents and military personnel.

  • box: 1 Folder: 16
    Main street,
    1955-1965

    Street scene of Vi Thanh features local residents and military personnel.

Series 5: Portraits
1955-1965

Photographs in series 5 include individual and group portraits of members of MAAG Team 58.

  • box: 1 Folder: 16
    Army Personnel,
    1955-1965

    Two army personnel posed in uniform in the camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 16
    Self portrait,
    1955-1965

    Military personnel taking a picture in the mirror.

  • box: 1 Folder: 16
    Guard on lookout,
    1955-1965

    Military personnel on look out tower.

  • box: 1 Folder: 17
    Guard on lookout,
    1955-1965

    2 images of a military advisor on a lookout tower.

  • box: 1 Folder: 17
    Man sitting down,
    1955-1965

    A man sitting in the camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 17
    Two men at camp,
    1955-1965

    Two men sitting behind sandbags in the camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 18
    Man at desk,
    1955-1965

    Army personnel sitting at his desk behind a type writer.

  • box: 1 Folder: 18
    Group portrait,
    1955-1965

    Several army personnel sitting in a camp common area.

  • box: 1 Folder: 18
    Man at desk,
    1955-1965

    Man sitting at a desk or table.

  • box: 1 Folder: 18
    Man at desk,
    1955-1965

    Man sitting at a desk with a map of Vietnam behind him.

  • box: 1 Folder: 19
    Man in courtyard,
    1955-1965

    A man standing in a court yard in the army camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 19
    Portrait,
    1955-1965

    Photograph of a man in a stripped shirt.

  • box: 1 Folder: 19
    Two men at camp,
    1955-1965

    Two men sitting outside in the camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 19
    Man in bed,
    1955-1965

    Man reading something in bed.

  • box: 1 Folder: 20
    Man in jeep,
    1955-1965

    Man driving a jeep stopping to have his picture taken.

  • box: 1 Folder: 20
    Group portrait at meal time,
    1955-1965

    Group portrait of army personnel eating a meal.

  • box: 1 Folder: 20
    Two men at camp,
    1955-1965

    Two men sitting in camp in uniform. One man in the foreground faces away from the camera.

  • box: 1 Folder: 20
    Man getting a haircut,
    1955-1965

    A man getting his haircut in the camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 21
    Man at desk,
    August 1965

    Man at his desk in the camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 21
    Portrait,
    1955-1965

    Photograph of a man in a white tee-shirt.

  • box: 1 Folder: 21
    Man with shovel,
    1955-1965

    Man working with a shovel in the camp courtyard.

  • box: 1 Folder: 21
    Two men at camp,
    1955-1965

    Two men at there desks in the camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 22
    Group portrait volleyball,
    1955-1965

    Group portrait of army personnel playing volleyball in the camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 22
    Two men at camp,
    1955-1965

    Two men sitting in the camp behind sandbags.

  • box: 1 Folder: 22
    Army Personnel in office,
    1955-1965

    Two army personnel in uniform sitting at a desk in the camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 22
    Man with cars,
    1955-1965

    Young man posing with several cars.

  • box: 1 Folder: 23
    Group portrait,
    1955-1965

    Three men sitting around a table in a bedroom.

  • box: 1 Folder: 23
    Man with snake,
    1955-1965

    Man posing with a Boa constrictor.

  • box: 1 Folder: 23
    Guard on lookout,
    1955-1965

    Military advisor on look out tower.

  • box: 1 Folder: 23
    Two men with cars,
    1955-1965

    Two men posed with military jeeps.

  • box: 1 Folder: 24
    Portrait,
    1955-1965

    Photograph of a man in a white shirt in front of a building.

  • box: 1 Folder: 24
    Group portrait,
    1955-1965

    Group portrait of military advisors at a party.

  • box: 1 Folder: 24
    Men at camp,
    1955-1965

    Two men in a camp common area. One reading and one at a desk.

  • box: 1 Folder: 24
    Men in front of a building,
    1955-1965

    Two men, one seated and one standing, in front of a camp building.

  • box: 1 Folder: 25
    Man in courtyard,
    1955-1965

    Man in uniform posed in a courtyard.

  • box: 1 Folder: 25
    Man outside,
    1955-1965

    Man outside in the camp posed in front of sandbags.

  • box: 1 Folder: 25
    Man making coffee,
    1955-1965

    Photograph of a man making coffee in the army camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 25
    Man at desk,
    1955-1965

    A man sitting at his desk with a map of Vietnam behind him.

  • box: 1 Folder: 26
    Group portrait,
    1955-1965

    Group portrait of several military advisors sitting outside.

  • box: 1 Folder: 26
    Group Portrait,
    1955-1965

    Four military advisors sitting outside the camp.

  • box: 1 Folder: 26
    Two men at desk,
    1955-1965

    Two men in uniform sitting at a desk.

  • box: 1 Folder: 26
    Men outside,
    1955-1965

    Two men standing in a courtyard talking.