On May 14. 1969. the President presented eight specific proposals for peace. developed after consultation with President Thieu. including phased. mutual withdrawal of major U.S.. allied. and North Vietnamese forces. On June 8. at the Midway meeting between Presidents Nixon and Thieu. President Nixon announced the initial replacement of 25.000 U.S. troops with South Vietnamese. The Vietnamization process had begun. Phased withdrawals began on a continuing basis. In August. the U.S.S. New Jersey was deactivated. the refugee population dropped below the 1 million mark for the first time since February of 1968. and U.S. military strength was lowered to 509.618. well below the announced goal of the President. Throughout the fall. Americans turned over combat responsibility and war materiel to the South Vietnamese.