U S. TROOPS IN VIETNAM1964-196919641965525,000 537,000 512,000478,000325,000196619671968CURRENTS--------AUGUST1969The first-step withdrawal set for August will be the first decrecsc m U.S. strength in Vietnam. The rapid escalation leveled off in 1968 when Washington decided ogojflSt raising fhe tgtal to almost 600,000 as recommended by the Saigon command.