From the book During fiscal year 1971, with combat operations in Vietnam drastically reduced, America casualties at their lowest in five years, Vietnamization moving ahead, a large-scale troop deployment in progress, and over-all strength declining to peacetime levels, the dimensions of a new Army challenge began to emerge. How could the Army, on the heels of an unpopular war, in the face of antimilitary sentiment and social ferment, with reduced strength and appropriations, and without resort to the draft, maintain a strong, viable, and professional ground force to meet its current and future roles and missions? The changing conditions and prospects were evidenced in many ways. A key factor was the gradual and appreciable withdrawal from a combat to a holding and support role in Vietnam coincident with the redeployment of large numbers of troop and units from the war zone. Battle casualties also decreased markedly from the preceding year levels: 2,135 soldiers were killed and 15,488 wounded in the twelve month period, compared with 4,672 and 34,826 respectively in 1970. More than half the wounded,789 were returned to duty without requiring hospitalization. Total Army battle casualties of the war January 1, 1961, to June 30, 1971Ñwere 30,173 killed and 199,142 wounded. Another 275 men were missing in action as the year closed, 62 of whom were known to have been captured.

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