In early 1972 he was the assistant commander of the 3rd Marine Division. From 3 April 1972 he commanded the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade (9th MAB) when it deployed offshore of South Vietnam to assist in the defence of I Corps during the Easter Offensive. In late June the 9th MAB conducted a feint a feint amphibious assault against the mouth of the Cua Viet River as a diversion for the South Vietnamese Operation Lam Son 72. He relinquished command of the 9th MAB on 15 November 1972.