Albuquerque in Bernalillo County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Combined Action Program Memorial
Photographed by Thomas Smith, September 16, 2026
1. Combined Action Program Marker
Combined Action Program was a United States Marine Corps operational initiative in the Vietnam War and proved to be one of the most effective counterinsurgency tools developed during that conflict.
Operating from 1945 - 1971 this program was characterized by the placement of a 13 - member rife squad, augmented by a Navy Corpsmen, and strengthened by 30- man Vietnamese Militia Popular Forces Platoon (PF's Nghia Quan). The Nghia Quan were residents of the hamlet who were either too young or too old to be drafted into the army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) or the regimental forces (DIA Phuong Quan). The entire unit U. S. Marines and the popular forces militia members together was designated as a Combine Action Platoon (CAP).
The combining of the Marine Rifle Squad with local PF’s and assigning them a village to protect proved to be a force multiplier. The Basic model was to combine Marines and PF's to form a village defense platoon. It was effective in denying the enemy a sanctuary at local village level.
In the six years of operation an estimated 5,000 Marines participated in the program and were attached
this page online
We dedicate this memorial column to all those marines and Navy Corpsmen who served in the Combined Action Program during the Vietnam War.
Erected 2022.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, Vietnam.
Location. 35° 3.651′ N, 106° 34.003′ W. Memorial is in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in Bernalillo County. It can be reached from Louisiana Boulevard SE 0.1 miles south of Continental Loop SE, on the right when traveling north. The CAP Memorial is located within the New Mexico Veterans Memorial. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 1100 Louisiana Boulevard SE, Santa Fe NM 87501, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in the New Mexico’s Rio Grande Valley. It is also in the American Southwest. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also the Republic of Texas.
Photographed by Thomas Smith, September 15, 2026
2. Combined Action Program Memorial
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Honor-Respect-Never Forget Vietnam War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The Eighth Air Force Historical Society Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Japan - New Mexico Friendship Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Holes in Our Hearts (within shouting distance of this marker); Tuskegee Airman (within shouting distance of this marker); Women in the Military Tribute (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); New Mexico Gold Star Mothers Memorial (about 400 feet away); USMC Navajo Code Talkers WWII (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albuquerque.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2026, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on October 11, 2026, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. 2. submitted on October 15, 2026, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
