1972 in the Vietnam War Vietnam. South Vietnamese marines recaptured Quang Tri city from North Vietnamese forces. Quang Tri had been the only provincial capital to fall to the North Vietnamese in the Eastern offensive. Communist negotiators in Paris hinted for the first time that they could accept a peace agreement with the United States that did not require the ouster of President Thieu of South Vietnam. Communist negotiators in Paris proposed that a "Provisional Government of National Concord" be formed in South Vietnam to organize elections leading to the union of South and North Vietnam. In Paris, North Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho gave
1972 in the Vietnam War mines off the coast of North Vietnam to prevent ship travel to and from the country. Operation Linebacker II began. Better known as the "Christmas bombings", 129 B-52s and smaller tactical aircraft struck at targets in North Vietnam, including around the city of Hanoi. North Vietnam shot down three B-52s. Military adviser Alexander Haig met with President Thieu in Saigon to deliver a letter from President Nixon. Nixon said it was his "irrevocable intention" to achieve a peace agreement with North Vietnam, preferably with the cooperation of South Vietnam, "but, if necessary, alone." He pledged continue military support to South