Operation Ivory Coast

Overview

Operation Ivory Coast was a mission conducted by United States Special Operations Forces and other American military elements to rescue U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. It was also the first joint military operation in United States history conducted under the direct control of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The specially selected raiders extensively trained and rehearsed the operation at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, while planning and intelligence gathering continued from 25 May to 20 November 1970.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

Operation Ivory Coast was a U.S. Special Operations Forces mission aimed at rescuing American prisoners of war during the Vietnam War, making it one of the most ambitious POW rescue attempts of the conflict. Beyond its immediate objective, the operation carried institutional significance as the first joint military operation in U.S. history conducted under the direct control of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, establishing a command precedent for future joint special operations. The raiders underwent extensive training and rehearsal at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, across a planning and preparation period running from 25 May to 20 November 1970, reflecting the operational complexity and high stakes attached to the mission.

Commanders (2)