After nearly eight years of fighting and more than four years of negotiations, much of them in secret, talks in Paris finally yielded results. Late in 1972, the North Vietnamese government officially agreed to the terms of the Paris Peace Accords. There would be an immediate cease-fire, armies from both countries would hold their positions, U.S. troops would withdraw in 60 days and the South Vietnamese government would start negotiations with the Viet Cong for free and democratic elections with the eventual goal of reunifying Vietnam. 

"And I saw on the news territory that I've seen people die to obtain for the United States so the VC don't get it now being turned over to the VC by our government. And that was very disheartening. That was kind of a low shot to the gut, if you will, in seeing those things."

South Vietnamese troops were given control of their own fate. On January 28, 1973 withdrawal of U.S. combat troops began and by March all but advisors and Marine guards returned to America.