CHAPTER 13

Prelude to Escalation

The close of 1964 marked the end of a full decade of American

political, economic, and military advice and assistance to South

Vietnam. That 10-year period saw a fragile state born and begin its

struggle for survival only to have its existence threatened by a new

brand of Communist aggression--the “war of national liberation.” It

also saw the U.S. commitment to Vietnam’s defense deepen in almost

direct proportion to the increasing threat. Despite growing amounts

of American aid and advice, there was little doubt that South Vietnam

stood near the brink of destruction at the hands of the Viet Cong and

their North Vietnamese allies as 1964 ended.

In many respects, the disaster which befell the Vietnamese Marines and

ARVN Rangers at Binh Gia on the final day of 1964 marked a critical

turning point in the war being waged in South Vietnam. General

Westmoreland feared that the battle heralded “the beginning of the

classic and final ‘mobile’ phase of the war.” “To the South Vietnamese

government,” he reported, “it meant the beginning of an intensive

military challenge which the Vietnamese government could not meet

within its own resources.”[13-1] Brigadier General Carl Youngdale,

Westmoreland’s assistant chief of staff for intelligence and the

ranking Marine assigned to Vietnam, assessed the meaning of the battle

in equally distressing terms. “Binh Gia,” he explained, “was just part

of the whole thing. All the reserve--the strategic reserve--was fixed:

the airborne and the four Marine battalions had all been committed.

There was absolutely no strategic reserve left.”[13-2] So, as 1964

ended, hope was fading rapidly among American military officials in

Saigon that the ground war for South Vietnam could continue for long

without more vigorous participation of the United States.

Pressures other than those produced by military events in the South

were also working to move the United States toward direct military

intervention against the Communists in Indochina. Although sustained

open warfare had not occurred as a result of the Tonkin Gulf crisis of

early August, tensions continued to mount between North Vietnam and

the United States throughout the autumn. On 1 November, just after

the cessation of the U.S. air strikes which followed the Tonkin Gulf

incidents, Viet Cong mortar squads attacked American facilities at the

Bien Hoa airbase near Saigon. Four American servicemen were killed,

five B-57 medium bombers destroyed, and eight others heavily damaged in

the raid.

President Johnson’s reaction to the Bien Hoa attack was to initiate

a month-long review of U.S. policy regarding North Vietnam. In early

December that review culminated in the adoption of a two-phased plan

to discourage further North Vietnamese support of the Viet Cong

by expanding the air war. Phase I, approved for implementation in

December, called for stepped-up air operations against the vital

Communist infiltration routes in Laos, and for the intensification

of covert operations against North Vietnam. Approved “in principle,”

Phase II involved “a continuous program of progressively more serious

air strikes” against North Vietnam. The implementation of Phase II,

it was agreed, would depend on future enemy actions.[13-3] As if to

indicate that Communist policy makers had settled on a parallel course

of escalation, Viet Cong terrorists bombed a U.S. officers’ quarters

in Saigon on Christmas Eve, killing two Americans and wounding over 50

others.[13-A]

[13-A] Among the wounded was Major Damm, the Assistant Senior

Marine Advisor.

The new year, 1965, would open against this portentous combination

of intensified U.S. air activities over Laos, a worsening military

situation on South Vietnam’s battlefields, and the existence of the

Phase II contingency plans. It was this situation which would spawn

a new series of events as the first months of 1965 unfolded--events

which would determine the direction of American and North Vietnamese

military involvement in the war for South Vietnam. In January, MACV

intelligence would learn that two new North Vietnamese Army regiments,

the _32d_ and the _101st_, had infiltrated the South and had initiated

combat operations. Intelligence sources would also report the existence

of another NVA regiment in the first stages of formation in Quang Tri

Province. When added to a unit of similar size which had appeared in

Kontum Province (II Corps Tactical Zone) in the final weeks of 1964,

the new arrivals would raise to four the number of North Vietnamese

regiments known to be operating on South Vietnamese soil.[13-4]

The pace of escalation would quicken in early February. The Viet Cong

would attack a U.S. installation at Pleiku in the Central Highlands on

the 7th. Eight Americans would die in this incident, over 100 would be

wounded, and a score of aircraft would be either destroyed or damaged.

President Johnson would react quickly to the Pleiku attack by ordering

a series of reprisal air strikes under the code name FLAMING DART.

Recognizing the possibility of surprise North Vietnamese air strikes

against U.S. installations in Vietnam, Johnson would also order a

Marine light antiaircraft missile (LAAM) battalion to Da Nang, the

American base located closest to Communist airfields. Armed with Hawk

missiles, the Marines would protect the growing Da Nang airbase from

which many of the FLAMING DART raids were to originate.

American reaction to the Communists’ escalation would not be limited

to the bombing of North Vietnam. Washington also would authorize

the use of U.S. jet attack aircraft to engage targets in the south.

On 19 February, U.S. Air Force B-57s would conduct the first jet

strikes flown by Americans in support of Government of Vietnam ground

units. Less than one week later, on the 24th, Air Force jets would

strike again, this time to break up a Communist ambush in the Central

Highlands with a massive series of tactical air sorties.[13-5]

While the events of February would serve to focus world opinion more

sharply on the intensifying conflict already raging over Southeast

Asia, March would prove the decisive month in terms of the commitment

of American combat power to the war in Vietnam. On 2 March, the

President would order the FLAMING DART raids replaced by Operation

ROLLING THUNDER--a sustained air campaign against the Democratic

Republic of Vietnam designed to escalate gradually in response to

continued Communist military activities in South Vietnam. ROLLING

THUNDER would constitute a transition from the earlier reprisal type

raids to a continuing air campaign based upon strategic considerations.

Within a week after the first ROLLING THUNDER strikes over the North,

the ground war in South Vietnam would also shift toward deeper and more

active American involvement. On 7 March, the 9th Marine Expeditionary

Brigade--the force which had been poised in the South China Sea since

the Tonkin Gulf crisis of the previous August--would finally land at

Da Nang to provide protection for the air base. Although the Pentagon

would announce their mission as purely defensive, the Marines would

become the first actual American ground combat battalions on hand for

use in Vietnam. With that commitment, the stage would be set for a

new and more dramatic phase of what was already becoming known as the

“Second Indochina War.”

Notes

PART I

THE WATERSHED

Chapter 1

Background to Military Assistance

Unless otherwise noted the material in this chapter is derived from:

Department of Defense, _United States-Vietnam Relations, 1945–1947_,

12 books (Washington: GPO, 1971), hereafter _Pentagon Papers_; The

Senator Gravel Edition, _Pentagon Papers: The Defense Department

History of Decision Making On Vietnam_, 4 vols. (Boston: Beacon

press, n.d.), hereafter Gravel Edition, _Pentagon Papers_; Foreign

Area Studies Division, American University, _Area Handbook for South

Vietnam_ (Washington: GPO, 1967), hereafter American University, _Area

Handbook_; Chester L. Cooper, _et al._, _The American Experience With

Pacification in Vietnam_, 3 vols. (Washington, D.C.: Institute For

Defense Analysis, 1972), hereafter Cooper, _et al._, _The American

Experience With Pacification_; Joseph Buttinger, _The Smaller Dragon:

A Political History of Vietnam_ (New York: Praeger, 1958), hereafter

Buttinger, _The Smaller Dragon_; Bernard Fall, _Two Viet-Nams: A

Political and Military Analysis_ (New York: Praeger, 1967, 2d rev.

ed.), hereafter Fall, _Two Viet-Nams_; D. G. E. Hall, _A History of

South-East Asia_ (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1966), hereafter

Hall, _A History of South-East Asia_; Frances FitzGerald, _Fire In

The Lake: The Vietnamese and the Americans In Vietnam_ (Boston:

Little, Brown and Company, 1972), hereafter FitzGerald, _Fire In The

Lake_; Ellen J. Hammer, _The Struggle for Indochina_ (Stanford, Cal.:

Stanford University Press, 1954), hereafter Hammer, _The Struggle for

Indochina_; Douglas Pike, _Viet Cong: The Organization and Techniques

of The National Liberation Front_ (Cambridge, Mass.: M.I.T. Press,

1966), hereafter Pike, _Viet Cong_.

[1-1] Hanson W. Baldwin, _Strategy for Tomorrow_ (New York:

Harper & Row, Publishers, 1970), p. 261.

[1-2] Fall, _Two Viet-Nams_, p. 3.

[1-3] Pike, _Viet Cong_, p. 81.

[1-4] FitzGerald, _Fire In The Lake_, p. 42.

[1-5] Col Victor J. Croizat, USMC (Ret.), _A Translation From

The French Lessons of The War In Indochina_, v. II (Santa

Monica, Cal.: Rand Corporation, 1967), p. 12, hereafter

Croizat, _A Translation From the French Lessons_.

[1-6] Dean Acheson, _Present At The Creation: My Years in The

State Department_ (New York: W. W. Norton & Company,

Inc., 1969), p. 673.

[1-7] Buttinger, _The Smaller Dragon_, p. 46.

[1-8] B. S. N. Murti, _Vietnam Divided_ (New York, 1954), p. 49.

[1-9] Letter, SecState to SecDef, 18Aug54 as quoted in “U.S.

Training of the Vietnamese National Army 1954–1959,”

_Pentagon Papers_, bk. 2, sec. IV.A.4, p. 3.

Chapter 2

The Formative Years

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this chapter is derived

from: MajGen Edward G. Lansdale, USAF (Ret.), _In the Midst of Wars:

An American’s Mission To Southeast Asia_ (New York: Harper & Row,

1972), hereafter Lansdale, _In the Midst of Wars_; George McTurnam

Kahin and John W. Lewis, _The United States in Vietnam_ (New York:

Dell Publishing Co., Inc., 1967), hereafter Kahin and Lewis, _The

U.S. In Vietnam_; Joseph Buttinger, _Vietnam: A Dragon Embattled_, 2

vols (New York: Praeger, 1967), Vol. II, _Vietnam at War_, hereafter

Buttinger, _Vietnam: A Dragon Embattled_, v. II; Robert Scigliano,

_South Vietnam: Nation Under Stress_ (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1963),

hereafter Scigliano, _South Vietnam: Nation Under Stress_; Fall, _Two

Viet-Nams_; Pike, _Viet Cong_; Gravel Edition, _Pentagon Papers_, vs.

I & II; Vietnam Histories Comment File, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC, hereafter

Vietnam Comment File; U.S. Marine Activities in RVN, 1954–1964 Project

Interview Folder Hist&MusDiv, HQMC, hereafter 1954–1964 Project

Interview Folder.

_Origins of U.S. Marine Assistance_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from:

Bernard B. Fall, _Street Without Joy: Indochina At War, 1946–1954_,

(Harrisburg, Pa.: The Stackpole Company, 1961), hereafter Fall,

_Street Without Joy_; Col Victor J. Croizat, USMC (Ret.), “Vietnamese

Naval Forces: Origin of the Species,” _USNI Proceedings_, v. 99, no.

2 (Feb73), pp. 48–58, hereafter Croizat, “Vietnamese Naval Forces”;

Col Victor J. Croizat, USMC (Ret.), intvw by Hist&MusDiv, HQMC, dtd

10–11 Feb70 (OralHistColl, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC), hereafter _Croizat

Interview_; Col Victor J. Croizat, USMC (Ret.), Comments and supporting

materials on Draft MS, Jack Shulimson, “U.S. Marines in Vietnam,” pt.

1 (Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Croizat Comments and Supporting

Materials_; Col Victor J. Croizat, USMC (Ret.), Comments on Draft MS,

Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities in Vietnam, 1954–1964”

(Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Croizat Comments On Whitlow MS_; Col

James T. Breckinridge, USMC, Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow,

“U.S. Marine Activities In Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment

File), hereafter _Breckinridge Comments_; MajGen William B. Fulton,

USA (Ret.), _Riverine Operations_ (Washington, D.C.: Department of

The Army, 1973), hereafter Fulton, _Riverine Operations_; Croizat, _A

Translation From The French Lessons_.

[2-1] Col Victor J. Croizat, USMC (Ret.), “Notes on The

Organization of the Vietnamese Marine Corps,” p. 3

(_Croizat Comments and Materials_), hereafter Croizat,

“Notes on The Organization.”

[2-2] _Ibid._, p. 5.

[2-3] _Ibid._, p. 6.

_Political Stabilization and its Effects_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from:

Buttinger, _Vietnam; A Dragon Embattled_, v. II; Gravel Edition,

_Pentagon Papers_, v. I; Fall, _Two Viet-nams_; Robert Shaplen, _The

Lost Revolution_ (New York: Harper, 1965); Kahin and Lewis, _The U.S.

In Vietnam_; Lansdale, _In The Midst of Wars_.

[2-4] Col John T. Breckinridge, telephone conversation

with Capt Robert Whitlow, dtd 21 Feb 74, subj: Early

Experiences with the VN Marine Corps (Addenda to

_Breckinridge Comments_, Vietnam Comments File),

hereafter _Breckinridge Conversation_.

[2-5] Croizat, “Notes on The Organization,” p. 5.

[2-6] _Breckinridge Conversation._

Chapter 3

Vietnamese Marines and the Communist Insurgency

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this chapter is derived from:

Department of State, _Aggression From The North; The Record of North

Viet-Nam’s Campaign to Conquer South Viet-Nam_ (Washington: GPO,

1965), hereafter Department of State, _Aggression From The North_;

Buttinger, _Vietnam: A Dragon Embattled_, v. II; Fall, _Two Viet-Nams_;

FitzGerald, _Fire In The Lake_; Kahin and Lewis, _The U.S. In Vietnam_;

Pike, _Viet Cong_.

[3-1] _U.S. News & World Report_, 9Nov64, p. 63.

[3-2] Scigliano, _South Vietnam: Nation Under Stress_, p. 164.

[3-3] Fall, _Two Viet-Nams_, p. 360.

[3-4] Gravel Edition, _Pentagon Papers_, v. II, p. 35.

[3-5] “Evolution of The War,” _Pentagon Papers_, bk. 2, sec.

IV.B.1, p. 1.

[3-6] Pike, _Viet Cong_, p. 81.

[3-7] Gravel Edition, _Pentagon Papers_, v. II, p. 36.

[3-8] HistBr, G-3, HQMC, “General Chronology of Events in

Vietnam, 1945–1964,” p. 41.

_Insurgency and the Vietnamese Marine Corps_

Unless otherwise noted the material in this section is derived from:

SMA to CMC, ltr dtd 22 March 1973, Subj: Vietnamese Marine Corps/Marine

Advisory Unit Historical Summary, 1954–1973, hereafter VNMC/MAU

HistSum, 22Mar73; Maj James Yingling, Capt Harvey D. Bradshaw, and

Mr. Benis M. Frank, “United States Marine Corps Activities in Vietnam

1954–1963,” MS (HistDiv, HQMC, 1963), hereafter Yingling, _et al._,

“USMC Activities 1954–1963”; Col Frank R. Wilkinson, USMC (Ret.), intvw

by Hist&MusDiv, HQMC, dtd 14Jul74 (Oral HistColl, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC),

hereafter _Wilkinson Interview_; LtCol Robert E. Brown, Comments on

Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities in Vietnam,

1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File), hereafter, _R. E. Brown Comments_;

Col Raymond C. Damm, Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S.

Marine Activities in Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File)

hereafter _Damm Comments_; LtCol Michael J. Gott, Comments on Draft MS,

Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities in Vietnam, 1954–1964”

(Vietnam Comment File) hereafter _Gott Comments_; Col Gary L. Wilder,

Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “Marine Activities in

Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Wilder Comments_.

[3-9] VNMC/MAU HistSumm, 22Mar73.

[3-10] _Wilkinson Interview._

[3-11] _Ibid._

[3-12] _Damm Comments._

[3-13] _Gott Comments._

_Ancillary Effects on Marine Pacific Commands_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from:

Maj T. C. Edwards, “3d MarDiv Counterguerrilla Training: A Readiness

Report,” _Marine Corps Gazette_, v. 47, no. 5 (May 1963), pp. 45–48,

hereafter Edwards, “Counterguerrilla Training”; MajGen Donald M.

Weller, USMC (Ret.), Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S.

Marine Activities in Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File),

hereafter _Weller Comments_; MajGen Donald M. Weller, USMC (Ret.),

intvw by Hist&MusDiv, HQMC, dtd (OralHistColl, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC),

hereafter _Weller Interview_; MajGen Donald M. Weller, USMC (Ret.),

Intvw with Captain Robert Whitlow, dtd 26Sep73, Subj: 3d MarDiv

Training Program (1954–1964 Project Interview Folder), hereafter

_Weller Interview on Training Programs_.

[3-14] _Weller Interview on Training Programs._

[3-15] Edwards, “Counterguerrilla Training,” p. 46.

_American Decisions at the Close of 1961_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from:

Gravel Edition, _Pentagon Papers_, v. II; “The Fall Decisions,”

_Pentagon Papers_, bk. 2, sec. IV.B, ch. V and VI; Arthur M.

Schlesinger, Jr., _A Thousand Days_ (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company,

1965), hereafter Schlesinger, _A Thousand Days_; Maxwell D. Taylor,

_Swords and Plowshares_ (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1972),

hereafter Taylor, _Swords and Plowshares_; Chester L. Cooper, _The Lost

Crusade: America In Vietnam_ (New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1970),

hereafter Cooper, _The Lost Crusade_; Gen. William C. Westmoreland and

Adm U. S. G. Sharp, _Report On The War In Vietnam_ (Washington: GPO

1969), hereafter Westmoreland and Sharp, _Report On The War_.

[3-16] Taylor, _Swords and Plowshares_, p. 225.

Chapter 4

An Expanding War, 1962

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this chapter is derived from:

William A. Nighswonger, _Rural Pacification in Vietnam 1962–1965_

(Washington: Advanced Research Projects Agency, 1966), hereafter

Nighswonger, _Rural Pacification, 1962–65_; USMAAG, Vietnam, “Tactics

and Techniques of Counterinsurgent Operations” (Saigon, RVN: USMAAG,

1961), hereafter, USMAAG Vietnam, “Tactics and Techniques of

Counterinsurgent Opns”; Hdqts, U.S. Army, _The Viet Cong_ (Ft. Bragg,

N.C.: 1965) hereafter, U.S. Army, _Viet Cong_; Cooper, _et al._, _The

American Experience With Pacification_; Gravel Edition, _Pentagon

Papers_, v. II; “The Strategic Hamlet Program, 1961–63,” _Pentagon

Papers_, bk. 3, sec. IV.B.2; Fall, _Two Viet-Nams_.

[4-1] As quoted in the Gravel Edition, _Pentagon Papers_, v.

II, p. 140.

_Creation of MACV and Marine Advisory Division_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from:

Senior Marine Advisor letter to CMC, dtd 24Jan64, hereafter _SMA ltr

to CMC, 24Jan64_; CinCPac Command History, 1962; MACV Command History,

1962; Marine Corps Command Center, Items of Significant Interest,

Jan-Feb62, hereafter _MCC Items_; LtGen Richard G. Weede, Intvw by

Hist&MusDiv, HQMC dtd 23Jul73 (OralHistColl, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC),

hereafter _Weede Interview_.

_The Vietnamese Marine Corps, 1962_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from:

_SMA ltr to CMC, 24Jan64_; Capt Don R. Christensen, “A Special Gazette

Report: Dateline ... Vietnam,” _Marine Corps Gazette_, v. 47, no. 9

(Sep63), p. 5, hereafter Christensen, “Dateline”; Gen David M. Shoup,

SE Asia Trip Folder, Sep62, hereafter _Shoup SEA Trip Folder_; LtCol

Harold F. Brown, Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S.

Marine Activities in Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File),

hereafter _H. F. Brown Comments_.

[4-2] _SMA ltr to CMC, 24Jan64._

[4-3] Gen David M. Shoup, ltr to President Ngo Dinh Diem, dtd

Oct62 (_Shoup SEA Trip Folder_).

[4-4] Gen David M. Shoup conversation with BGen Edwin H.

Simmons, dtd Feb74 (1954–64 Project Interview Folder).

[4-5] _SMA ltr to CMC, 24Jan64._

PART II

MARINE HELICOPTERS GO TO WAR

Chapter 5

SHUFLY at Soc Trang

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this chapter is derived from:

HQMC Msg File; Vietnam Comment File _MCC Items_; CinCPac Command

History, 1962; LtGen Keith B. McCutcheon, “Marine Aviation In Vietnam,

1962–1970,” _Naval Review_, v. 10 (1971), hereafter McCutcheon, “Marine

Aviation.”

[5-1] JCS to CinCPac, 17Jan62, 1212Z (HQMC Msg File).

[5-2] CinCPac to JCS, 28Feb62, 0217Z (HQMC Msg File).

[5-3] JCS to CinCPac, 6Mar62, 1838Z (HQMC Msg File). DA to

CinCPac and CinCUSARPac, 2Mar63 (HQMC Msg File).

[5-4] ChMAAG, VN to CinCPac, 26Feb62, 0945Z (HQMC Msg File).

[5-5] CGFMPac to CinCPac, 28Feb62, 0113Z (HQMC Msg File).

[5-6] _Ibid._

[5-7] CinCPacFlt to CinCPac, 28Feb62, 2044Z (HQMC Msg File).

[5-8] CinCPac (Bangkok Th) to ComUSMACV, 5Mar62, 0340Z (HQMC

Msg File).

[5-9] ComUSMACV to CinCPac, 8Mar62, 0941Z (HQMC Msg File).

[5-10] CinCUSARPac to CinCPac, 9Mar62, 2100Z (HQMC Msg File).

[5-11] Dir, DivAv, HQMC, Briefing Item, dtd 14Mar62, for CMC

Weekly Conf., Subj: Assignment of Marine Helicopter

Squadron to ChMAAG, Vietnam.

[5-12] CinCPac to JCS, 14Mar62, 0712Z (HQMC Msg File).

[5-13] _Ibid._

[5-14] CinCPac to CinCPacFlt and ComUSMACV, 21Mar62, 0412Z (HQMC

Msg File); CinCPacFlt to ComSeventhFlt, 21Mar62, 2048Z

(HQMC Msg File).

_Deployment to Soc Trang_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from:

Commander Task Unit 79.3.5 ComdDiary, 31Jul–5Nov62, hereafter _CTU

79.3.5 CmdD, 31Jul-Nov62_; CG 1st MAW, SHUFLY, OpSums, Apr-Sep62; CG,

1st MAW, Ltr of Instruction, SHUFLY, dtd 12Nov62, hereafter _CG, 1st

MAW LOI_; LtCol Archie J. Clapp, “SHU-FLY Diary,” _USNI Proceedings_,

v. 89, no. 10 (Oct63), hereafter Clapp, “SHU-FLY Diary”; Cdr Withers

M. Moore, Chaplain Corps, USN, _Navy Chaplains in Vietnam, 1954–1964_

(Washington: Department of Navy, 1968), hereafter Moore, _Navy

Chaplains_; Capt Robert B. Asprey, “Saga At Soc Trang: Marines In

Viet-Nam,” _Marine Corps Gazette_, v. 46, no. 12 (Dec62), pp. 2–3,

hereafter Asprey, “Saga At Soc Trang”; VAdm Edwin B. Hooper, USN

(Ret.), Intvw by Capt Robert Whitlow, dtd 15Apr74 (1954–64 Project

Interview Folder), hereafter _Hooper Interview_.

[5-15] CG, 1st MAW to ComSeventhFlt, 30Mar62, 0700Z, (HQMC Msg

File).

[5-16] _Ibid._

[5-17] ComSeventhFlt to CTF 76 and CTG 79.3, 3Apr62 (HQMC Msg

File).

_Mekong Delta Combat Support Operations_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from:

Marine Corps Operational Analysis Group, Study No. 1, dtd 12Mar63,

“Characteristics of U.S. Marine Helicopter Operations in the Mekong

Delta,” hereafter _MCOAG Study No. 1_; LtCol Robert L. Rathbun,

Comments on Yingling, _et al._, “USMC Activities 1954–1963,” (Vietnam

Comment File), hereafter _Rathbun Comments on Yingling MS_; Richard

Tregaskis, _Vietnam Diary_ (New York: Popular Library, 1963), hereafter

Tregaskis, _Vietnam Diary_; Clapp, “SHU-FLY Diary”; CTU 79.3.5 ComdD,

31Jul–5Nov62; CG, 1stMAW SHUFLY OpSums, Apr-Sep62.

[5-18] Clapp, “SHU-FLY Diary,” p. 46.

[5-19] _Ibid._, p. 51.

[5-20] CTU 79.3.5 ComdD, 31Jul–5Nov62.

[5-21] Yingling, _et al._, “USMC Activities 1954–1963,” p. 118.

[5-22] CTU 79.3.5 ComdD, 31Jul-Nov62.

[5-23] C of S memo 007A20763, as quoted in Yingling, _et al._,

“USMC Activities, 1954–1963,” p. 153.

Chapter 6

SHUFLY Moves North

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this chapter is derived from:

Col Julius W. Ireland, Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow,

“U.S. Marine Activities in Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File),

hereafter _Ireland Comments_; McCutcheon, “Marine Aviation”; _Weede

Interview_; _Rathbun Comments on Yingling MS_.

_I Corps Tactical Zone_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from:

BGen Edwin H. Simmons, “Marine Corps Operations in Vietnam, 1965–1966,”

_Naval Review_, 1968, hereafter Simmons, “Marine Corps Operations in

RVN, 65–66”; McCutcheon, “Marine Aviation”; Fall, _Street Without Joy_;

Nighswonger, _Rural Pacification, 1962–65_.

_Military Situation, September 1962_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from:

Col Francis J. Kelly, USA, _U.S. Army Special Forces 1961–1971_

(Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army, 1973), hereafter Kelly,

_U.S. Army Special Forces_; MACV J-2 ltr to CTU 79.3.5, dtd 11Oct62,

Subj: Intelligence Estimate, Period Oct62–Feb63 (Encl D-17 to CTU

79.3.5 ComdD), hereafter _MACV Intell Est, 11Oct62_.

[6-1] _MACV Intel Est, 11Oct62._

[6-2] _Ibid._

_Initial Helicopter Operations_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived

from: _CTU 79.3.5 ComdD, 31Jul–5Nov62_; CG 1st MAW, SHUFLY, OpSums,

Sep-Dec62; McCutcheon, “Marine Aviation”; _Ireland Comments_; _Rathbun

Comments on Yingling MS_.

[6-3] _MCC Items_, 7Oct62.

[6-4] CTU 79.3.5 ltr to CG 1st MAW, dtd 4Oct62, Subj: Rotation

of Task Unit Personnel to South Vietnam (encl D-15, _CTU

79.3.5 ComdD, 6Apr–5Nov62_).

Chapter 7

The Laotian Crisis, 1962

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this chapter is derived from:

3d Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Report, 16May–7Aug 1962, hereafter

_3d MEU Special Report_; CinCPac Operations Plan 32-59 Phase II (Laos),

hereafter _OpPlan 32-59_; _Weller Interview_; _Croizat Interview_; _MCC

Items_, May, Jun, Jul62; Schlesinger, _A Thousand Days_; Cooper, _The

Lost Crusade_; Paul F. Langer and Joseph J. Zasloff, _North Vietnam

and The Pathet Lao: Partners in The Struggle For Laos_ (Cambridge,

Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1970), hereafter Langer and Zasloff,

_North Vietnam and The Pathet Lao_; LtGen Ormond R. Simpson, USMC

(Ret.) Comments on 2d Draft MS, Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities

In Vietnam, 1954–1963,” (Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Simpson

Comments_; Foster Rhea Dulles, _American Policy Toward Communist China:

The Historical Record_ (New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1972),

hereafter Dulles, _American Policy Toward Communist China_; Taylor,

_Swords and Plowshares_.

[7-1] _MCC Items_: 16 May 62.

[7-2] _Croizat Interview_; _Weller Interview_.

PART III

THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES, 1963

Chapter 8

The Marine Advisory Effort

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this chapter is derived from:

FitzGerald, _Fire In The Lake_; “The Overthrow of Ngo Dinh Diem,

May-November, 1963,” _Pentagon Papers_, bk. 3, sec. IV.B.5; Gravel

Edition, _Pentagon Papers_, v. III; Shaplen, _The Lost Revolution_;

Kahin and Lewis, _The U.S. In Vietnam_.

_The Advisory Division and VNMC Operations_

Unless otherwise noted the material in this section is derived from:

Senior Marine Advisor, MACV, Monthly Historical Summaries, 1963–1965,

hereafter _SMA, MACV HistSums_; Col Wesley C. Noren, Comments on Draft

MS, Maj Harvey Bradshaw, “U.S. Marine Corps Operations in RVN, 1964”

(Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Noren Comments on Bradshaw MS_;

Col Wesley C. Noren, Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S.

Marine Activities in Vietnam, 1954–1964”. (Vietnam Comment File),

hereafter _Noren Comments on Whitlow MS_; Col Clarence G. Moody,

Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities In

Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Moody Comments_;

LtCol James P. McWilliams, Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow,

“U.S. Marine Activities In Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File),

hereafter _McWilliams Comments_; LtCol Joseph N. Smith, Comments on

Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities In Vietnam,

1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Smith Comments_; LtCol

Joseph N. Smith intvw by Capt Robert Whitlow (1954–1964 Project

Interview Folder), hereafter _Smith Interview_; Col Edwin F. Black,

USA, and Lt R. P. W. Murphy, USNR, “The South Vietnamese Navy,” _USNI

Proceedings_, v. 90, no. 1 (Jan64) pp. 52–62, hereafter, Black and

Murphy, “The South Vietnamese Navy”; Maj Alfred J. Croft, “A Special

Gazette Report: Dateline, Vietnam,” _Marine Corps Gazette_ v. 47, n.

10 (Oct63), p. 18, hereafter Croft, “Dateline, Vietnam”; Christenson,

“Dateline”; Capt. James P. McWilliams, “Pacify and Hold,” _Marine Corps

Gazette_, v. 49, no. 2 (Feb65), p. 56, hereafter McWilliams, _Pacify

and Hold_.

[8-1] _Moody Comments_; _Weede Interview_.

[8-2] _McWilliams Comments._

[8-3] _Smith Interview._

[8-4] _Noren Comments on Whitlow MS._

Chapter 9

SHUFLY Operations

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this chapter is derived

from: CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD, 6Nov62–31Oct63; CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD,

31Oct63–14Jan64; Col Thomas J. Ross, Comments on Draft MS, Bradshaw,

“U.S. Marine Corps Operations in RVN, 1964,” (Vietnam Comment File),

hereafter _Ross Comments on Bradshaw MS_.

[9-1] McCutcheon, “Marine Aviation.”

_Combat Support Operations_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived

from: CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD, 6Nov62–31Oct63; CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD,

31Oct63–14Jan64; CTE 79.3.3.6 After Action Reports, 26Apr–20May63,

hereafter _CTE 79.3.3.6 AAR_; McCutcheon, “Marine Aviation”; MajGen

Paul J. Fontana, Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S.

Marine Activities In Vietnam, 1954–1964,” (Vietnam Comment File),

hereafter _Fontana Comments_; Col Thomas J. Ross, Comments on Draft MS,

Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities In Vietnam, 1954–1964”

(Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Ross Comments On Whitlow MS_; _Ross

Comments On Bradshaw MS_; _H. F. Brown Comments_.

[9-2] CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD, 6Nov–31Oct63.

[9-3] _Ibid._

[9-4] CTE 79.3.3.6 AAR, 19May63.

[9-5] CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD, 6Nov–31Oct63.

[9-6] Aviation Headquarters Operations Center SOP, p. 1 (encl

5, CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD, 18Jul–31Oct63).

[9-7] Col A. D. Gomez ltr to Coordinator, Marine Corps Landing

Force Development Center, dated 23Oct63 (encl 1, CTE

79.3.3.6 ComdD, 18Jul–31Oct63).

[9-8] 1st MAW OpSums, 8Jun–20Oct63.

[9-9] _Ross Comments on Bradshaw MS._

[9-10] CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD, 6Nov63–14Jan64.

_The Situation in Vietnam_

Unless otherwise noted the material in this chapter is derived

from: Gravel Edition, _Pentagon Papers_, v. II; Nighswonger, _Rural

Pacification, 1962–65_; Fall, _Two Viet-Nams_; Cooper, _The Lost

Crusade_; Department of State, _Aggression from the North_.

[9-11] Nighswonger, _Rural Pacification, 1962–65_.

PART IV

AN EXPANDING GROUND WAR, 1964

Chapter 10

Marines Meet the Challenge

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this chapter is derived from:

MajGen Carl A. Youngdale, USMC (Ret.) intvw by Hist&MusDiv, HQMC,

dtd 24Jul73 (OralHistColl, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC), hereafter _Youngdale

Interview_; MajGen Carl A. Youngdale, USMC (Ret.), Comments on Draft

MS, Capt Robert Whitlow “U.S. Marine Activities in Vietnam, 1954–64”

(Vietnam Comment File), hereafter, _Youngdale Comments_; Westmoreland

and Sharp, _Report On The War_; Cooper, _et al._, _The American

Experience With Pacification, 1962–65_; “Military Pressures Against

North Vietnam, July-Oct 1964,” _Pentagon Papers_, bk. 4, sec. IV.C.2;

Gravel Edition, _Pentagon Papers_, v. III; CinCPac Command History,

1964, hereafter _CinCPac ComdHist, 64_; U.S. Military Assistance

Command, Vietnam, Command History, 1964, hereafter MACV ComdHist, 64;

Nighswonger, _Rural Pacification, 1962–65_.

[10-1] Gravel Edition, _Pentagon Papers_, v. III, p. 501.

[10-2] _Ibid._

[10-3] _Ibid._, v. II, p. 471.

[10-4] “Military Pressures Against North Vietnam, Jul-Oct 1964,”

_Pentagon Papers_, bk. 4, sec. IV.C.2(b), p. 42.

_Redesignation and Reorganization_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from:

Senior Marine Advisor, MACV, After Action Reports, 1964–65, hereafter

_SMA, MACV, AARs 64-65_; Col William P. Nesbit, USMC (Ret.), Comments

on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities In Vietnam,

1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Nesbit Comments On

Whitlow MS_; Col William P. Nesbit, USMC (Ret.), Comments on Draft

MS, Maj Harvey Bradshaw, “U.S. Marine Corps Operations In RVN, 1964”

(Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Nesbit Comments on Bradshaw MS_;

_Noren Comments on Whitlow MS_; _Noren Comments on Bradshaw MS_; James

C. Pickerell, “Marine Advisor: Vietnam,” _Marine Corps Gazette_, v. 48,

n. 4 (Apr64), hereafter Pickerall, “Marine Advisor”; _Damm Comments_.

[10-5] _Nesbit Comments on Bradshaw MS._

_The Vietnamese Marine Brigade_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from:

_SMA, MACV, AARs, 64-65_; CG FMFPac On-The-Job-Training, RVN, Monthly

Reports, Jan-Dec, 1964, hereafter _OJT Monthly Repts, 64_; Capt Philip

O. Brady, intvw by HistBr, G-3 Div, HQMC, dtd 26Jan66 (OralHistColl,

Hist&MusDiv, HQMC), hereafter _Brady Interview_; Westmoreland and

Sharp, _Report On The War_; Pickerell, “Marine Advisor”; Naval Advisory

Group, MACV, Historical Review, 1964–65, hereafter NAVGP, MACV,

HistRevw, 64-65.

[10-6] _Noren Comments on Whitlow MS._

[10-7] _Nesbit Comments on Whitlow MS._

[10-8] NAVGP, MACV, HistRevw, 64-65, p. 21.

_Additional Marine Activities_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from:

LtCol Raymond Becker, intvw with Capt Robert Whitlow, dtd 25Jan74

(1954–64 Project Interview Folder), hereafter _Becker Interview_;

Capt Charles H. Gallina, Intvw with Capt Robert Whitlow, dtd 29Jan74

(1954–64 Project Interview Folder), hereafter _Gallina Interview_;

Director of Intelligence, HQMC, to Director, History and Museums

Division, dtd 31Jan74, Subj: Summary of U.S. Marine Corps Operations

at Tiger Tooth Mountain and Dong Bach Ma in 1964, hereafter “Summary

of USMC Opns at Tiger Tooth Mountain”; Col Raymond C. Damm intvw with

Captain Robert H. Whitlow, dtd 19Jul73 (1954–64 Project Interview

Folder), hereafter _Damm Interview_; NAVG, MACV, HistRevw, 64-65; CTE

79.3.3.6 ComdD, 1Nov63–16Oct64.

[10-9] _Damm Interview._

[10-10] NAVG, MACV, HistRevw, 64-65, p. 14.

[10-11] _Smith Comments._

[10-12] Col Warren P. Baker, ltr to CG, 3dMarDiv, dtd 3Apr64,

Subj: Job Related Orientation Report.

[10-13] CG, FMFPac ltr to CMC 18Mar64, Subj: SVN Observations.

Chapter 11

Spring and Summer Fighting

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this chapter is derived from:

CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD, 1Nov63–16Oct64; Col Andre Gomez, Comments on Draft

MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities in Vietnam 1954–64”

(Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Gomez Comments_; Col Robert A.

Merchant, Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine

Activities In Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File), hereafter

_Merchant Comments_; Col John H. La Voy, Comments on Draft MS, Capt

Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities In Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam

Comment File), hereafter _La Voy Comments_; _Ross Comments on Whitlow

MS_; LtGen Herman Nickerson, USMC (Ret.), Comments on Draft MS, Capt

Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities In Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam

Comment File), hereafter _Nickerson Comments_.

[11-1] CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD, 1Nov63–16Oct64.

[11-2] _Ross Comments on Whitlow MS._

[11-3] _Ibid._

[11-4] _Ibid._

[11-5] Statement of General Wallace M. Greene, Jr., CMC, before

the House Committee On Armed Services, dtd March 1964

(Greene Papers Collection).

[11-6] CTE ComdD 79.3.3.6, 1Nov63–16Oct64.

[11-7] _La Voy Comments._

[11-8] _Ibid._

[11-9] _Ibid._

[11-10] CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD, 1Nov63–16Oct64; _Merchant Comments_;

_La Voy Comments_.

[11-11] CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD, 1Nov63–16Oct64.

Chapter 12

Fall and Winter Operations

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this chapter is derived from:

CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD, 1Nov63–16Oct64; CTU 79.3.5 ComdD, 17Oct64–14Jan65;

1st MAW OpSums, 9Jul64–7Oct64; CinCPac CmdHist 64; _Fontana Comments_;

BGen Joseph Koler, USMC, Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow,

“U.S. Marine Activities In Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File),

hereafter _Koler Comments_; Col Hardy Hay, Comments on Draft MS, Capt

Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities In Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam

Comment File), hereafter _Hay Comments_; _Becker Comments_; _Merchant

Comments_; _Nickerson Comments_; Capt Roger H. Donlon, USA, _Outpost of

Freedom_ (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1965), hereafter Donlon, _Outpost of

Freedom_; Moore, _Navy Chaplains_.

[12-1] CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD, 1Nov63–16Oct64; CG 1st MAW OpSums,

9Jul–7Oct64.

[12-2] CTE 79.3.3.6 ComdD, 1Nov63–16Oct64.

[12-3] Moore, _Navy Chaplains_, p. 92.

[12-4] _MCC Items_, 23Nov64.

[12-5] CTU 79.3.5 ComdD, 17Oct64–14Jan65.

[12-6] _Ibid._

[12-7] _Ibid._

[12-8] _Ibid._

Chapter 13

Prelude to Escalation

[13-1] Westmoreland and Sharp, _Report On The War_, p. 95.

[13-2] _Youngdale Interview._

[13-3] Gravel Edition, _Pentagon Papers_, v. III, p. 289.

[13-4] Westmoreland and Sharp, _Report On The War_, pp. 95, 97.

[13-5] _Ibid._, p. 98.

Appendix A

USMC and VNMC Senior Officers, 1954–1964

USMC SENIOR MARINE ADVISORS

LtCol Victor J. Croizat Aug 1954–Jun 1956

LtCol William N. Wilkes, Jr Jun 1956–Jun 1958

LtCol Frank R. Wilkinson, Jr Jun 1958–Jun 1960

LtCol Clifford J. Robichaud, Jr Jun 1960–Aug 1961

LtCol Robert E. Brown Aug 1961–Oct 1962

LtCol Clarence G. Moody, Jr Oct 1962–Oct 1963

LtCol Wesley C. Noren Oct 1963–Sep 1964

Col William P. Nesbit Sep 1964–

VNMC SENIOR OFFICERS AND COMMANDANTS

Maj Le Quang Trong 1 Oct 1954–17 Jun 1956

Maj Phan Van Lieu 18 Jan 1956–22 Aug 1956

Capt Bui Pho Chi 23 Aug 1956– 1 Oct 1956

Maj Le Nhu Hung 2 Oct 1956–23 May 1960

LtCol Le Nguyen Khang 24 May 1960–15 Dec 1963

LtCol Nguyen Ba Lien 16 Dec 1963– Feb 1964

BGen Le Nguyen Khang Feb 1964–

SHUFLY, SQUADRON, AND SUB UNIT COMMANDERS[14-A]

_SHUFLY Commanders_ _Dates_

Col John F. Carey 15 Apr 1962–31 Jul 1962

Col Julius W. Ireland 1 Aug 1962– 5 Nov 1962

LtCol Alton W. McCully 6 Nov 1962–28 Jan 1963

LtCol Harold F. Brown 29 Jan 1963–17 Jul 1963

Col Andre D. Gomez 18 Jul 1963–14 Jan 1964

Col Robert A. Merchant 16 Jan 1964– 9 Jul 1964

Col Hardy Hay 10 Jul 1964–16 Oct 1964

Col John H. King, Jr 17 Oct 1964–

_Squadron Commanders_ _Squadron_ _Dates_

LtCol Archie J. Clapp HMM-362 15 Apr 1962–31 Jul 1962

LtCol Robert L. Rathbun HMM-163 1 Aug 1962–11 Jan 1963

LtCol Reinhardt Leu HMM-162 12 Jan 1963– 7 Jun 1963

LtCol Frank A. Shook HMM-261 8 Jun 1963– 1 Oct 1963

LtCol Thomas J. Ross HMM-361 2 Oct 1963–31 Jan 1964

LtCol John H. La Voy HMM-364 1 Feb 1964–21 Jun 1964

LtCol Oliver W. Curtis HMM-162 17 Jun 1964– 7 Oct 1964

LtCol Joseph Koler, Jr HMM-365 8 Oct 1964–

_Sub Unit Commanders_ _Dates_

LtCol William W. Eldridge, Jr 15 Apr 1962– 3 Aug 1962

LtCol Ralph R. Davis 4 Aug 1962–15 Jan 1963

LtCol George H. Linnemeier 16 Jan 1963– 4 Jul 1963

LtCol Earl W. Cassidy 5 Jul 1963– 6 Feb 1964

LtCol Samuel G. Beal 7 Feb 1964–26 Jun 1964

Maj Marion R. Green 27 Jun 1964–14 Dec 1964

LtCol Thomas E. Vernon 15 Dec 1964–

[14-A] SHUFLY was designated Task Unit 79.3.5 from 15 April

1962 until 6 November 1962; Task Element 79.3.3.6 from 6

November 1962 through 31 December 1964.

Appendix B

Awards and Decorations, Vietnam, through 1964[14-B]

_Navy Cross_

Maj Donald E. Koelper[14-C] 16 Feb 1964

SSgt John C. Thompson 30 Apr 1964

_Navy Distinguished Service Medal_

MajGen Richard G. Weede[14-D] Feb 1962–May 1964

MajGen Carl A. Youngdale 25 Jan 1964–20 Jul 1965

_Silver Star Medal_

Maj John R. Braddon 27 Apr 1964

1stLt Phillip O. Brady 31 Dec 1964

Capt Franklin P. Eller, Jr 31 Dec 1964

Capt Joseph N. Smith 27 Oct 1963–25 Apr 1964

Capt Richard B. Taylor[14-E] 25 Nov 1962–31 Oct 1963

_Legion of Merit_

Col Earl E. Anderson 8 Jul 1963–15 May 1964

LtCol Earl W. Cassidy 2 Jul 1963–14 Jan 1964

Col John F. Carey[14-F] 9 Apr 1962–31 Jul 1962

LtCol Archie J. Clapp[14-G] 15 Apr 1962–31 Jul 1962

Col Andre D. Gomez 19 Jul 1963–14 Jan 1964

Col John H. King, Jr 16 Oct 1964–15 May 1965

LtCol Joseph Koler, Jr 7 Oct 1964–18 Feb 1965

LtCol John H. La Voy 1 Feb 1964–22 Jun 1964

Col Robert A. Merchant 2 Jan 1964–10 Jul 1964

LtCol Clarence C. Moody, Jr 18 Jan 1962–24 Oct 1963

Col Wesley C. Noren 13 Oct 1963–13 Sep 1964

LtCol Thomas J. Ross 1 Oct 1963–31 Jan 1964

Col Roy H. Thompson 27 Feb 1962–16 Jun 1964

Col Charles E. Warren 8 Feb 1962– 9 Jul 1964

Col Edwin B. Wheeler 1 Aug 1964–23 Aug 1965

_Distinguished Flying Cross_

Maj Albert N. Allen 27 Apr 1964

Capt William J. Burrows 27 Apr 1964

Capt Charles E. Cannon 27 Apr 1964

Capt William Cunningham 27 Apr 1964

1stLt Ronald V. Debrincat 27 Apr 1964

Capt George H. Dunn II 27 Apr 1964

Capt George H. Dunn II 30 Apr 1964

Capt Robert K. Ervi 31 Dec 1963

1stLt Melvin T. Graves 27 Apr 1964

Capt Theodore A. Heister 1 Aug 1963

1stLt Donald A. Hodgen[14-H] 10 Mar 1963–11 Mar 1963

LtCol John H. La Voy 27 Apr 1964

Capt Peter A. Love 27 Apr 1964

WO Dennis T. McKee 27 Apr 1964

1stLt Edward P. Moore 27 Apr 1964

CWO Robert F. Patton 5 Jun 1964

1stLt Thomas H. Peters[14-I] 9 Mar 1963–10 Mar 1963

Capt Eugene W. Rawlins 27 Apr 1964

Capt Howard G. Taylor 27 Apr 1964

1stLt Charles R. Upshaw 27 Apr 1964

Capt William W. Wamel, Jr. 27 Apr 1964

Capt William W. Wamel, Jr. 30 Apr 1964

Maj Goodell P. Warren 27 Apr 1964

1stLt Charles C. Wood, Jr. 27 Apr 1964

Capt Grant T. Yule 27 Apr 1964

_Bronze Star Medal_

SSgt John Baran 12 Dec 1964

LtCol Samuel G. Beal 3 Feb 1964– 1 Jul 1964

SSgt Clifford J. Beaver 30 Dec 1964–31 Dec 1964

LtCol George A. Brigham 3 Apr 1964– 3 Jul 1964

SSgt Marvin I. Bryant 12 Oct 1964– 8 Mar 1965

Cpl Clarence L. Chester 30 Jun 1964

Capt Don R. Christensen[14-J] 28 Sep 1962–31 Jul 1963

2dLt Francis R. Ciccone 16 Oct 1964

SSgt James A. Coryer 30 Jun 1964

Maj Alfred J. Croft 1 Feb 1962– 7 Feb 1964

LtCol Oliver W. Curtis 17 Jun 1964–23 Nov 1964

LtCol Raymond C. Damm 10 May 1964– 1 Dec 1964

Maj Alfred M. Gray, Jr. 11 Apr 1964–15 Aug 1964

Capt James J. Harp 10 Mar 1963–11 Mar 1963

Cpl Cary F. Janulewicz 9 Dec 1964

1stLt Weston L. Johnson 10 Nov 1964

2dLt James P. Kelliher 31 Dec 1964

1stLt Donald H. Larson 4 Apr 1964– 1 Feb 1965

GySgt Richard L. Latimer 9 Dec 1964

Capt John P. Monahan 21 Mar 1964–28 Feb 1965

Capt James P. McWilliams 2 May 1963– 9 Jun 1964

GySgt Charles D. Peck 14 Apr 1963–22 Apr 1964

LCpl James N. Phinney 10 Apr 1964

LCpl Walter L. Rupp 24 Mar 1964

GySgt Edmund R. Sewell 20 Sep 1964

SSgt Cecil C. Stibbens Dec 1962– Dec 1964

Capt Edward H. Walsh 28 Sep 1964– 1 May 1964

Maj Charles K. Whitfield 31 Jan 1964–20 Jan 1965

Capt Frank Zimolzak[14-K] 27 Apr 1962–25 May 1963

[14-B] Other awards, such as Navy Commendation Medals, Air

Medals, and Purple Hearts are not included in this list.

[14-C] First Navy Cross approved for Vietnam.

[14-D] First Navy Distinguished Service Medal awarded for

Vietnam.

[14-E] First Silver Star Medal awarded to a Marine for Vietnam.

[14-F] First Legions of Merit awarded to USMC personnel for

Vietnam.

[14-G] First Legions of Merit awarded to USMC personnel for

Vietnam.

[14-H] First Distinguished Flying Crosses approved for USMC

personnel in Vietnam.

[14-I] First Distinguished Flying Crosses approved for USMC

personnel in Vietnam.

[14-J] One of the first two Bronze Star Medals (approved the

same date) for USMC personnel in Vietnam.

[14-K] One of the first two Bronze Star Medals (approved the

same date) for USMC personnel in Vietnam.

Appendix C

Glossary of Acronyms

AHOC Aviation Headquarters Operations Center

ARVN Army of The Republic of Vietnam

ASOC Air Support Operation Center

BLT Battalion Landing Team

CG Civil Guard

ChMAAG Chief, Military Assistance Advisory Group

CIDG Civil Irregular Defense Group

CinCPac Commander in Chief, Pacific

CIP Counter Insurgency Plan

ComUSMACV Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam

COSVN Central Office for South Vietnam

CTZ Corps Tactical Zone

DMZ Demilitarized Zone

DRV Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam)

FAC Forward Air Controller

FEC French Expeditionary Corps

FMFPac Fleet Marine Force, Pacific

GCA Ground Controlled Approach (system)

GVN Government of Vietnam (South Vietnam)

HMM Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron

ICC International Control Commission

JCS Joint Chiefs of Staff

JGS Joint General Staff (Vietnamese)

JRO Job Related Orientation (Program)

JTF Joint Task Force

LSG Logistics Support Group

MABS Marine Air Base Squadron

MAG Marine Aircraft Group

MATCU Marine Airfield Traffic Control Unit

MAW Marine Aircraft Wing

MEB Marine Expeditionary Brigade

MEU Marine Expeditionary Unit

MR Military Region

NLF National Liberation Front

OJT On-The-Job Training (Program)

PAVN Peoples Army of Vietnam

PF Popular Forces

RF Regional Forces

RLT Regimental Landing Team

RSSZ Rung Sat Special Zone

RVN Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam)

RVNAF Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces

SAR Search and Rescue

SDC Self Defense Corps

SEATO Southeast Asia Treaty Organization

SLF Special Landing Force

TACAN Tactical Air Navigation (system)

TAFDS Tactical Airfield Fuel Dispensing System

TERM Temporary Equipment Recovery Mission

TRIM Training Relations Instruction Mission

USMAAG (MAAG) U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group

USMACThai U.S. Military Assistance Command, Thailand

USOM U.S. Operations Mission

VC Viet Cong

VMGR Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron

VNA Vietnamese National Army

VNAF Vietnamese Air Force

VNMC Vietnamese Marine Corps

Appendix D

Chronology

1954

7 May--French garrison at Dien Bien Phu surrenders to Viet Minh.

16 Jun--Ngo Dinh Diem named premier of Vietnam by French-sponsored

emperor, Bao Dai.

20 Jul--French and Viet Minh representatives sign Geneva

cease-fire. Vietnam is divided into northern and southern zones

pending reunification elections to be held in 1956.

2 Aug--LtCol Victor J. Croizat, USMC, arrives in South Vietnam

for duty with USMAAG.

8 Sep--Manila Pact signed by U.S. and seven other nations. Within

weeks (Sep 1954) the Manila Pact is transformed into the

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).

13 Oct--Premier Diem decrees the establishment of a 1,137-man

Marine Corps (VNMC).

1955

Feb--LtCol Croizat becomes first advisor to VNMC.

Apr--Sect rebellion threatens to topple the Diem government. Marine

Landing Battalion deploys to the Mekong Delta.

31 May--Diem names Major Le Quang Trong as Senior Marine Officer

of VNMC.

Sep--Two USMC advisors, a captain and a technical sergeant, are

assigned to the USMAAG, Vietnam, for duty with the VNMC.

23 Oct--Premier Diem receives 98 percent of South Vietnamese vote

during a national referendum in which he was opposed by Bao Dai.

26 Oct--Ngo Dinh Diem proclaims the Republic of Vietnam and

becomes the republic’s first president.

1956

18 Jan--Diem appoints Major Phan Van Lieu as Senior Officer of

VNMC.

Feb--Marine Landing Battalion returns to garrison at Nha Trang. VNMC

reorganized into two landing battalions, a 4.2-inch mortar

company, and a small headquarters.

Jun--LtCol William N. Wilkes, Jr., replaces LtCol Croizat as Senior

Marine Advisor to VNMC.

Jul--Election deadline for reunification of northern and southern

zones passes without serious incident.

Aug--Diem appoints Captain Bui Pho Chi as Senior Officer of VNMC.

Oct--Diem appoints Major Le Nhu Hung as Senior Officer of VNMC.

Nov--LtGen Samuel T. Williams, USA, relieves LtGen John O’Daniel as

Chief USMAAG, Vietnam.

1958

Jun--LtCol Frank R. Wilkinson, Jr., relieves LtCol Wilkes as Senior

Marine Advisor to VNMC.

1959

May--1st VNMC Landing Battalion conducts operations against Viet

Cong in An Xuyen Province while 2d Landing Battalion conducts

similar operation against Communist guerrillas in Vinh Binh

Province.

1 Jun--The VNMC is expanded to a Marine Corps Group of 2,276

officers and men. A 3d Landing Battalion is formed and the

battalions are reorganized into four infantry companies.

1960

Jun--LtCol Clifford J. Robichaud, Jr., relieves LtCol Wilkinson as

Senior Marine Advisor to VNMC.

Sep--LtGen Lionel C. McGarr, USA, relieves LtGen Williams as Chief

USMAAG, Vietnam.

11 Nov--An abortive attempt by ARVN paratroops and two Marine

companies to overthrow the Diem Government.

20 Dec--The Communist “National Front for Liberation of South

Vietnam” was formed.

1961

May--On The Job Training (OJT) program for USMC junior officers and

staff noncommissioned officers is initiated. Thereafter, 20

Marines per month enter Vietnam to observe operations.

16 May--A 14 nation conference on the deteriorating Laotian

situation convenes at Geneva.

Jul--VNMC again reorganized and expanded. The addition of a fourth

infantry battalion and a 75mm pack howitzer battery raises the

strength of the VNMC to 3,321.

Aug--LtCol Robert E. Brown relieves LtCol Robichaud as Senior Marine

Advisor to VNMC.

Aug--VNMC battalion conducts operations in the inundated U Minh

Forest region of the Ca Mau Peninsula.

Nov--General Maxwell D. Taylor, USA (ret.), President Kennedy’s

special military advisor, visits South Vietnam on fact-finding

mission.

11 Dec--The first direct support contingent of U.S. military

forces arrives in Vietnam--400 Army Troops and two helicopter

companies.

Dec--USMAAG approves plan for new 18-man Marine Advisory Division.

1962

1 Jan--VNMC expanded to 6,109 officers and men, and redesignated

the Vietnamese Marine Brigade. A new amphibious support

battalion is formed.

3 Jan--First element of USAF transport aircraft arrive in South

Vietnam to support government forces.

Jan--Detachment A, 1st Radio Company, FMF arrives in Vietnam for duty

with Army communications unit.

20 Jan--CinCPac authorizes all MAAG advisors to accompany their

Vietnamese units into combat.

3 Feb--President Diem issues decree formalizing initiation of the

Strategic Hamlet Program.

8 Feb--U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (USMACV)

activated in Saigon with General Paul D. Harkins as commander.

MajGen Richard G. Weede, USMC, becomes MACV’s first chief of

staff.

7 Feb--Vietnamese Air Force fighters bomb and strafe the

Presidential Palace in Saigon but fail to injure President Diem.

9 Apr--The leading elements of Marine Task Unit 79.3.5 (SHUFLY),

commanded by Col John F. Carey, arrive at Soc Trang, Republic

of Vietnam.

15 Apr--HMM-362 (Reinforced), a Marine medium transport helicopter

squadron, arrives at Soc Trang to begin operations in support

of government forces.

22 Apr--HMM-362 helicopters fly their first combat support

missions in Vietnam.

9 May--Eight Marine helicopters hit by small arms fire during

landing on Ca Mau Peninsula.

18 May--The 3d Marine Expeditionary Unit (3d MEU) began moving

into position at Udorn, Thailand, in response to the

deteriorating situation in Laos. The 3d MEU was part of Joint

Task Force 116, organized for use in the mounting crisis.

20 May--BGen Ormond R. Simpson assumes command of 3d MEU.

18 Jun--Eagle Flight first employed in combat by Marine

helicopters operating from Soc Trang.

25 Jun--HMM-162 replaces HMM-261 at Udorn as 3d MEW (MEB)

helicopter element.

1 Jul--First Marine Combat units withdraw from Udorn, Thailand,

as a display of good faith.

23 Jul--An agreement guaranteeing the neutrality of Laos is signed

by the U.S., the Soviet Union, Communist China, North Vietnam,

and 10 other nations at Geneva.

30 Jul--Col Julius W. Ireland relieves Col Carey as SHUFLY

commander.

31 Jul--Last Marine combat units withdrawn from Udorn, Thailand.

1 Aug--HMM-163 replaces HMM-362 as operational squadron assigned

to SHUFLY.

Aug--First machine guns mounted on Marine helicopters operating in

Vietnam.

4 Sep--Initial SHUFLY elements begin displacing to Da Nang in I

Corps Tactical Zone.

18 Sep--HMM-163 conducts first combat operations in I Corps.

20 Sep--All SHUFLY elements are in place at Da Nang.

Oct--LtCol Clarence G. Moody relieves LtCol Brown as Senior Marine

Advisor to VNMC.

6 Oct--Five Marines and two U.S. Navy personnel killed in HUS

crash near Tam Ky.

7 Nov--HMM-163 executes first tiger flight reaction force mission

in I Corps.

Nov--All Marine Corps aircraft redesignated.

6 Nov--Marine Task Unit (SHUFLY) redesignated Task Element

79.3.3.6.

6 Nov--LtCol Alton W. McCully assumes command of SHUFLY.

Dec--Vietnamese Joint General Staff realigns South Vietnam’s Corps

Tactical Zones, creating a fourth CTZ and a Capital Military

District.

1963

11 Jan--HMM-162 replaces HMM-163 as SHUFLY’s operational squadron.

19 Jan--HMM-162 conducts its first combat troop lift in Vietnam.

10–13 Mar--HMM-162 helicopters participate in search and rescue

attempts for U.S. Army OV-1 Mohawk and crew. Two Marine

helicopters crash in high mountains of northern II Corps.

13 Apr--Marine transport helicopters conduct first operation with

U.S. Army UH-1B armed helicopters.

Apr--Organization of Marine Advisory Division modified slightly.

1 May--Provisional Marine Brigade joins ARVN forces for operation

in Do Xa base area.

8 Jun--HMM-261 replaces HMM-162 as SHUFLY’s operational squadron.

15–16 Aug--HMM-261 helilifts 2d ARVN Division units from field to

culminate operation LAM SON XII.

21 Aug--Vietnamese National Police raid Buddhist pagodas

throughout South Vietnam.

Sep--LtCol Wesley C. Noren relieves LtCol Moody as Senior Marine

Advisor to VNMC.

2 Oct--HMM-361 replaces HMM-261 as SHUFLY’s operational squadron.

Oct--Provisional Marine Regiment conducts operation PHI-HOA 5 in Gia

Dinh Province.

1 Nov--Diem government overthrown by coup of military leaders.

Diem and brother Ngo Dinh Nhu assassinated.

14 Nov--Provisional Marine Regiment launches Operation DAI-PHONG

28 and 29 in III Corps Tactical Zone.

25 Nov--2d VNMC Battalion participates in Operation DAI-PHONG 30.

16 Dec--LtCol Khang relieved as Commandant of Vietnamese Marine

Corps. Replaced by LtCol Nguyen Ba Lien.

1964

1 Jan--General Wallace M. Greene, Jr., relieves General David

Shoup as Commandant of U.S. Marine Corps.

Jan--General Greene visits Vietnam.

15 Jan--BGen Carl A. Youngdale, USMC, becomes MACV Assistant Chief

of Staff for Intelligence (J-2).

1 Feb--HMM-364 replaces HMM-361 as SHUFLY’s operational squadron.

Feb--Col Khang recalled from Philippines and relieves LtCol Lien as

Commandant of VNMC.

Mar--LtGen Victor H. Krulak relieves LtGen Carson A. Roberts as

Commanding General, FMFPac.

27 Apr--HMM-364 participates in Operation SURE WIND 202 in

northern II Corps.

May--MajGen Weede, USMC, relieved as MACV Chief of Staff.

15 May--USMAAG abolished. Marine Advisory Division renamed Marine

Advisory Unit and placed under Naval Advisory Group, MACV.

20 May--Marine Advisory Team One arrives at Da Nang.

7 Jun--Two Marines from SHUFLY compound reported missing south of

Da Nang.

13 Jun--Advisory Team One moves to Tiger Tooth Mountain in

northwestern I Corps.

19 Jun--HMM-364 turn over helicopters and maintenance equipment to

VNAF 217th Squadron.

21 Jun--HMM-162 replaces HMM-364 as SHUFLY’s operational squadron.

Jul--Vietnamese Marine Recruit Training Center opens at Thu Due. VNMC

expanded with the creation of a fifth infantry battalion.

7 Jul--HMM-162 participates in relief of Nam Dong Special Forces

Camp.

2–5 Aug--North Vietnamese patrol boats and U.S. ships clash in

Tonkin Gulf.

6 Aug--U.S. Congress passes Tonkin Gulf resolution.

11 Aug--President Johnson signs the so-called Tonkin Gulf

Resolution.

19 Aug--Advisory Team One moves to Bach Ma and continues

operations.

4 Sep--Col William P. Nesbit replaces Col Noren as Senior Marine

Advisor to VNMC.

13 Sep--Advisory Team One dissolved, departs Vietnam.

14 Sep--SHUFLY aircraft flown to safety in face of severe tropical

storm.

Sep--Marine Advisory Unit reorganized and expanded.

8 Oct HMM-365 replaces HMM-364 as SHUFLY’s operational squadron.

Oct--Marine reconnaissance element conducts survey of Cam Ranh Bay in

southern II Corps.

31 Dec--Viet Cong terrorist bomb American BOQ in Saigon.

31 Dec--4th VNMC Battalion defeated at Binh Gia in III Corps.

Appendix E

List of Reviewers

_General Officers_

Gen Earl E. Anderson, USMC

Gen Wallace M. Greene, Jr., USMC (Ret.)

Gen David M. Shoup, USMC (Ret.)

LtGen Victor H. Krulak, USMC (Ret.)

LtGen Herman Nickerson, Jr., USMC (Ret.)

LtGen Carson A. Roberts, USMC (Ret.)

LtGen Ormond R. Simpson, USMC (Ret.)

LtGen Richard G. Weede, USMC (Ret.)

MajGen Norman Anderson, USMC (Ret.)

MajGen Paul J. Fontana, USMC (Ret.)

MajGen Charles J. Timmes, U.S. Army (Ret.)

MajGen Donald M. Weller, USMC (Ret.)

MajGen Carl A. Youngdale, USMC (Ret.)

BGen Joseph Koler, Jr., USMC

_Colonels_

Col Frederick S. Aldridge, USMC (Ret.)

Col Samual Beal, USMC (Ret.)

Col John T. Breckinridge, USMC

Col Harold F. Brown, USMC (Ret.)

Col John F. Carey, USMC (Ret.)

Col Archie J. Clapp, USMC (Ret.)

Col Alfred J. Croft, USMC

Col Victor J. Croizat, USMC (Ret.)

Col Oliver W. Curtis, USMC (Ret.)

Col Raymond C. Damm, USMC

Col Andre Gomez, USMC (Ret.)

Col Hardy Hay, USMC (Ret.)

Col Julius W. Ireland, USMC (Ret.)

Col John H. La Voy, USMC (Ret.)

Col Reinhardt Leu, USMC (Ret.)

Col Robert A. Merchant, USMC (Ret.)

Col Ross S. Mickey, USMC (Ret.)

Col Clarence G. Moody, Jr., USMC

Col William P. Nesbit, USMC (Ret.)

Col Wesley C. Noren, USMC (Ret.)

Col Robert L. Rathbum, USMC (Ret.)

Col Thomas J. Ross, USMC (Ret.)

Col Clifford J. Robichaud, Jr., USMC (Ret.)

Col Frank R. Wilkinson, Jr., USMC (Ret.)

_Lieutenant Colonels_

LtCol Robert E. Brown, USMC (Ret.)

LtCol Earl W. Cassidy, USMC (Ret.)

LtCol Michael J. Gott, USMC

LtCol George H. Linnemeier, USMC (Ret.)

LtCol James P. McWilliams, USMC

LtCol Joseph N. Smith, USMC

_CMC Advisory Committee on Marine Corps History_

Col Frederick S. Aldridge, USMC (Ret.)[14-L]

MajGen Norman Anderson, USMC (Ret.)[14-M]

Dr. Gordon A. Craig

Dr. Philip K. Lundeberg

Mr. Robert L. Sherrod

MajGen Donald M. Weller, USMC (Ret.)[14-N]

_Others_

Center of Military History, Department of the Army

Dr. Philip A. Crowl

Capt Joseph Drachnik, U.S. Navy (Ret.)

Naval Historical Division, Department of the Navy

Office of Air Force History, Department of the Air Force

[14-L] Cited previously.

[14-M] Cited previously.

[14-N] Cited previously.

Index

Adams, LtCol Harold W., 89–90, 92–94

Africa, 11

Agroville Program, 45

Aircraft

Types

AD-6, _See_ A1-H

A1-H (Skyraider), 71, 116, 137, 149, 152–154, 158–159

A-4C, (Skyhawk), 89, 92

B-26, 109, 117–118

B-57, 166–167

F4U (Corsair), 71

F-100 (Super Sabre), 90

C-117 (Skytrain), 60–61, 84, 160

C-124 (Globemaster), 71

C-123 (Provider), 46, 90, 103, 139, 141

CH-21 (Shawnee), 58, 103, 107

CV-2 (Caribou), 158

GV-1. _See_ KC-130

H-21. _See_ CH-21

HUS-1. _See_ UH-34D

KC-130 (Hercules), 61, 70, 73, 89–90, 93–94, 112–114, 142, 147,

156

O-1B (Bird Dog), 60, 67–69, 73, 82, 84, 92, 107, 115–118,

144–145, 149, 154, 157–159, 161

OE-1. _See_ O-1B

OV-1 (Mohawk), 114

R4D. _See_ C-117

T-28 (Trojans), 46, 67, 71, 116–118, 120, 149

U-10 (Super Courier), 118, 149, 152, 158

UH-1B (Iroquois), 107, 109, 115–120, 139, 147–149, 151–152, 154,

157–159, 164–165

UH-34D, 57–58, 65, 71, 84, 89, 92–93, 103, 105, 111, 113–121, 139,

144–146, 149, 151–161, 164–165

UH-37 (Mojave), 149

Air Force, 46, 62, 71, 76, 82, 112, 114–115, 117, 149, 152,

158–159, 167

Air Force Command and Staff College, 120

Air Support Operations Center, 80, 82, 117–119, 149, 152

Allied Training Operations Mission, 16

Alsop, Maj William F., 164

Amphibious Ready Group, 59, 88–90

Amphibious Ready Group (TG 76.5), 61–62

Andaman Sea, 3

Anderson, Col Earl E., 47, 131, 146

Anderson, Cpl Thomas E., 83

An Diem, 144, 147, 158

Annam, 3, 9, 11–12, 78

Annamese Coast, 8, 162

Annamite Mountains, 6, 80, 103, 139

Anti-Communist Denunciation Campaign, 27

An Xuyen Province, 31, 49, 71, 133

Armed Services Committee, 146

Army, 23, 26, 42, 46, 62, 80, 83, 117, 136, 152, 154, 157–158

Units

27th Infantry Brigade, 88, 90

52d Aviation Battalion, 155

145th Aviation Battalion, 107

33d Helicopter Company, 57, 59

57th Helicopter Company, 65, 70–71

68th Aviation Company, 115

81st Helicopter Company, 58–59

93d Helicopter Company, 58, 73–74

704th Counterintelligence Unit, 141

3d Radio Research Unit, 46

Paratroopers, 70

Special Forces, 80, 111, 114, 151, 155, 157

Army Communications Station, Phu Bai, 139

Army Communications Station, Pleiku, 139

Army Field Hospital, Nha Trang, 148, 157, 159

Army Special Warfare School, Fort Bragg, NC, 41, 47

A Shau Valley, 149

Asia, 12

Associated States of Indochina, 11

Atsugi, Japan, 61

Australia, 14, 165

Aviation Headquarters Operations Center, 117

Bach Phoung XI, 103, 105, 116

Baker, Col Warren P., 143

Bangkok, Thailand, 88–89, 93, 143

Ban Me Thuot, 9, 49

Bassac River, 65

Ba Xuyen Province, 61, 67

Beal, LtCol Samuel G., 146, 156

Beaver, SSgt Clifford J., 137

Becker, Raymond A., 141

Beirut, Lebanon, 146

Bell Helicopter Company, 115

Ben Hai River, 12

Ben Tre, 70

Bien Hoa, 105, 107, 166

Binh Dinh Province, 129

Binh Duong Province, 45, 107

Binh Gia, 136–138, 143, 166

Binh Thuan Province, 49, 51

Binh Xuyen, 13, 18–20, 26

Braddon, Maj John R., 153

Brady, Lt Philip O., 137–138

Breckinridge, Capt James T., 19–20, 23

Brigham, LtCol George, 152

British Advisory Mission, 45

Bronars, Maj Edward J., 142

Bronze Star, 110, 148

Brown, LtCol Harold F., 111–112

Brown, LtCol Robert E., 36, 48–49, 53

Buddhist, 8, 99

Burma, 3, 93

Cai Ngai, 67

California, 59, 70

Ca Mau, 40, 65, 67, 69–71

Ca Mau Peninsula, 11, 36, 62, 101

Cambodia, 3, 8–9, 11–12, 14, 30, 67, 93, 109

Cambodian Border, 107

Campbell, Cpl Charley M., 115

Cam Ranh Bay, 22, 31, 141

Canada, 12, 93

Can Tho, 9, 62, 65

Cao Dai, 8, 13, 18–19

Cape St. Jacques, 36

Capital Military District, 84, 105, 132

Carey, Col John F., 60–61, 63, 69–71, 73

Cassidy, LtCol Earl W., 112, 144, 146

Catholicism, 8, 12–13, 99

Central Committee of the North Vietnamese Communist Party, 28

Central Highlands, 6, 9, 32, 49, 53, 105, 129, 167

Central Office for South Vietnam, 44–45

Chai Doc, 65

Chams, 6

Chien Tang (“Struggle for Victory”) Plan, 129

Chi, Capt Bui Pho, 19, 23

China, 3, 11–13, 93, 96, 161

Chinese, 6, 8

Chinese Nationalist Forces, 9, 11

CHINH BIEN, 159

Cholon District, 13

Christanity, 3, 8

Christensen, Capt Don R., 49, 101, 103, 110

Civil Guard, 27–28, 30–32, 34, 45, 67, 129

Civilian Irregular Defense Group, 80, 139, 144, 157

Clapp, LtCol Archie J., 60–62, 65, 67, 69–70, 156

Clark Air Force Base, Philippines, 90

Cochinchina, 3, 8, 11

Cold War, 86

Collins, Gen James F., CinCUSARPac, 58

Collins, Gen J. Lawton, 15

Command and Staff Training Course, 41–42

Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, 94, 144, 155

Condon, MajGen John P., 59–61, 73, 88

Confucianism, 8

Conway, MajGen J. F., 88

Cook, Capt Donald G., 138

Corps Tactical Zones

I Corps, 46, 58, 63, 73, 76, 78–80, 82–85, 103, 111, 113–114,

116–118, 120, 127, 132, 139, 142, 144, 146, 148–149, 152,

154–162, 164–165

II Corps, 46, 49, 58, 63, 79–80, 84, 102–103, 111, 114, 129, 132,

141, 152, 154–155, 160, 167

III Corps, 58–59, 61–63, 67, 69, 71, 73–74, 107, 109, 129, 132, 136

IV Corps, 84, 132

Counter-Insurgency Plan, 29–30

Counterguerrilla Warfare Study Group, 41

Croft, Maj Alfred J., 49, 51, 103

Croizat, LtCol Victor J., 16, 18–20, 22–23, 32, 90, 132

Cronin, LtCol Angus J., 93

Cross of Valor, 156

Cua Viet, 78

Cubi Point Naval Air Station, Philippines, 89

Curtis, LtCol Oliver W., 156–159, 161–162

Cushman, MajGen Robert E., 41–42

Cuu Long, 36

Cuu Long Navy Yard, 31–32

Dai, Emperor Bao, 8, 11–13, 19

DAI-PHONG 28, 107

DAI-PHONG 29, 107

DAI-PHONG 30, 107, 109

DAI-PHONG 31, 109

Dak To, 155

Damm, Maj Raymond C., 131, 142, 166

Da Nang, 9, 32, 58, 71, 73–76, 78–80, 83–85, 103, 111–118,

120–121, 123, 129, 139, 141–149, 154–162, 164–165, 167

Da Nang Harbor, 78, 111

Da Nang River, 78

DA NANG SIX, 164

Davis, Capt Dale N., 31

Davis, LtCol Ralph R., 71, 111

Davis, BGen Raymond G., 129

Declaration of Neutrality of Laos, 93

Dees, LtCol Harry C., 71

Delayen, Capt Jean Louis, 17, 19

Demilitarized Zone, 13, 27–29, 76, 78, 111

Democratic Republic of Vietnam. _See_ North Vietnam

Department of Defense, 42, 47, 61, 76, 84, 144

Department of State, 15, 19, 28

Dickinson, LtCol Harry E., 143

Diem, President Ngo Dinh, 8, 12–16, 18–20, 22–23, 26–32, 35–36, 42,

45, 53, 80, 99–100, 105, 121–122, 127, 146

Dien Bien Phu, 12, 71

Distinguished Flying Cross, 59, 111, 120, 156

Distinguished Service Medal, 131

Don, MajGen Tran Van, 79–80

Dong Bach Ma, 141

Dong Ha, 9, 78

Dong Nai boats, 101

Donlon, Capt Roger H. C., 157–158

Do Xa Base Area, 103, 105, 115–116, 121, 152, 155

Dulles, Secretary of State John Foster, 14

Eagle Flight, 69–70, 83

Eisenhower, President Dwight D., 14–15, 29

Eldridge, LtCol William W., 60–61, 71

Eller, Capt Franklin P., 137–138

Ely, Gen Paul, 15–16

Europe, 11

Father-For-A-Day Program, 85

Felt, Adm Harry D., 47, 57–58, 86, 88, 90

FLAMING DART, 167

Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, 40, 42, 58, 70, 76, 83, 90, 94, 141,

143, 147, 165.

_See Also_ Marine Corps, FMF Units

Fontana, MajGen Paul J., 156, 160

Fort Ord, California, 57, 59

Forward Air Controller, 72, 107, 109

France, 8, 9, 11–14, 19, 22, 93

French Expeditionary Corps, 9, 11–16

French High Command, 16, 22, 24

French-Indochina, 9, 11, 15

French-Indochina War, 13–14, 16, 22–24, 36, 48, 103

French Navy, 16

French Union, 11

Futema, Okinawa, 61

General Commission for Refugees, 16

Geneva Conference, 12–16, 25, 27, 86, 88, 93–94, 121, 132

German Army, 70

Gia Dinh Province, 105, 132

Giap, Gen Vo Nyguyen, 11–12

Gi Lang, 152, 154

Go Cong, 132–133

Gomez, Col Andre D., 112, 117, 119–120, 144, 146

Gott, Capt Michael J., 37

Gray, Maj Alfred M., 139, 141, 156, 158

Great Britain, 9, 12, 14, 93

Green, Maj Marion R., 156

Greene, Gen Wallace M., Jr., 142, 145–146

Greer, PFC Robert L., 155–156

Griffin, Lt Gerald, 83

Ground Control Approach, 60

Guadalcanal, 22, 35

Gulf of Siam, 3, 88

Gulf of Tonkin, 6, 78, 128–129, 158, 166–167

Haiphong, 16

Hai Van Peninsula, 78, 83

Hamilton, Sgt Richard E., 83

Hanoi, 11–12, 29

Harkins, Gen Paul D., 46–47, 57–59, 61–62, 73, 88, 99, 127, 146

Hau Nghia Province, 107

Hawaii, 47, 59, 90, 141–142, 146

Hay, Col Hardy, 158, 160–161

Heim, Lt Robert P., 162

Hiep Hoa Special Forces Camp, 107, 109

Hoa Hao, 8, 13, 18–19

Hoa My, 83

Ho Chi Minh. _See_ Minh, Ho Chi

Ho Chi Minh Trail, 80

Hoi An, 9, 78

Hoi Dong Sam, 107, 109

Honolulu Conference, 46

Hop Tac Program, 129, 132, 136

Hudson, LtCol Robert S., 93

Hue, 9, 12, 16, 78–79, 82, 99, 113, 119

Hughes, Capt Virgil R., 116

Hugo, Victor, 8

Hung, Maj Le Nhu, 23, 31, 35

India, 93

Indian Ocean, 3, 12

Indochina, 3, 11–12, 16, 35, 62, 166

Industrial College of the Armed Forces, 146

Infantry Unit Training Course, 41

Interministerial Committee for Strategic Hamlets, 45.

_See Also_ Strategic Hamlet Program

International Control Commission, 12, 30.

_See Also_ Canada, India, and Poland

Interzone V, 44

Ireland, Col Julius W., 71, 73, 75–76, 79, 83, 85, 112

Irwin, Capt William R., 141

Iwo Jima, 62

Japan, 8–9, 11, 62, 71

Jeep, M-442 “Mighty Mite,” 112

Job Related Orientation Program, 143

Johnson, President Lyndon B., 127, 166–167

Johore, Malaya, 41

Joint Chiefs of Staff, 51, 53, 57, 59, 88, 127, 142, 155

Joint General Staff, 20, 22, 31–32, 35–36, 40, 82, 84, 100, 102, 109,

111, 132, 149

Joint Operations Center, 62–63, 82

Joint Operations Evaluation Group, 47

Joint Task Force 116, 86, 88–90.

_See Also_ Marine Corps, FMF Units

Joint U.S. Military Advisory Assistance Group, Thailand, 88, 90

Jones, Capt Robert C., 100

Jungle Warfare School, 41

Kelliher, Lt James P., 137

Kennedy, President John F., 30, 36, 42–44, 57, 86, 88, 93, 127

Kham Duc, 159, 161

Khang, BGen Le Nguyen, 35–36, 49, 53, 100–103, 105, 109–110, 132, 138

Khanh, MajGen Nguyen, 103, 127, 129, 132

Ke Sanh, 139, 141, 155–156, 158

Khmers, 6

Khrushchev, Premier Nikita, 30

Kien Giang Province, 18

King, Col John H., Jr., 161–164

Koler, LtCol Joseph, Jr., 161–162, 165

Kontum, 9, 79, 103

Kontum Province, 103, 155, 167

Korat, Thailand, 88, 90

Korean War, 15, 35, 47–48, 59, 70, 111, 116, 120, 131, 146, 156, 161

Ky, Vice Air Marshal Nguyen Cao, 156

LAM SON XII, 117

LAM SON, 115, 149

Laos, 3, 9, 11–12, 14, 29–30, 80, 86, 88, 92–94, 139, 155, 166

Laotian Border, 78, 80, 117–119, 121, 147, 149, 157, 159

La Voy, LtCol John H., 146–147, 149, 151–152, 155–156

Legion of Merit, 59, 158

Leu, LtCol Reinhardt, 93, 111, 113, 115–116

Lien, Lt Col Nguyen Ba, 110, 132

Lieu, Maj Pham Van, 20

Linnemeier, LtCol George H., 111–112

LOCKJAW, 65

Lodge, Ambassador Henry Cabot, 127

Logistics Support Group, Thailand, 93

Long An, 133

Long An Province, 132

Long Tao River, 142

Loyko, GSgt William A., 49

Malaya, _See_ Malaysia

Malaysia, 3, 45

Mang Buc, 114

Manila Pact, 14

Mansfield, LCpl James I., 83

Mao Tse-tung, 11

Marine Corps, 22–25, 34–35, 40–41, 46–48, 53, 57–58, 65, 73–74, 82,

85, 90, 95, 100, 103, 107, 110–111, 116–117, 121, 123, 136–139,

142, 156

FMF Air Units:

1st Marine Aircraft Wing, 59–61, 70, 83, 88, 129, 156, 160–161,

165

3d Marine Aircraft Wing, 71, 70

Task Unit 79.3.5. _See_ SHUFLY

Task Element 79.3.3.6. _See_ SHUFLY

MAG-16, 58, 62, 70, 85, 158, 161

ProvMAG, 89–90, 92

MACS-2, 89

MABS-12, 89

MABS-16, 60–63, 69–71, 73, 75–76, 88, 111–114, 144, 146, 148,

155–156, 160

VMA-211, 89

VMA-324, 71

VMA-332, 89, 93

VMB-443, 146n

VMGR-152, 61, 116, 156

VMGR-352, 61

VMO-2, 68

HMM-161, 161

HMM-162, 93, 111, 113, 115–116, 156–162

HMM-163, 70–73, 75, 80, 83, 111, 113, 116

HMM-261, 61, 89–90, 93, 117–120

HMM-361, 120–121, 144, 146

HMM-362, 60–63, 65, 67–71

HMM-364, 146–147, 149, 151–152, 155–156

HMM-365, 161–162, 164–165

MATCU-68, 60, 62

Task Element 79.3.5.2, 60.

_See also_ MABS-16

FMF Ground Units

1st Marine Division, 161

3d Marine Division, 40–41, 86, 90, 100, 110, 112, 129, 136–138,

142, 147–158

4th Marine Division, 146

3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 88, 90, 92–93

9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 129, 167

5th Marines, 47

3d Marine Expeditionary Unit, 93–95, 113

Marine Advisory Unit, Vietnam, 131, 143

Infantry Battalions

1/9, 147, 160

2/9, 164

3/9, 89, 93–94

Infantry Companies

G/2/3, 139, 141

K/3/3, 141

E/2/9, 161

L/3/9, 164

Advisory Team One, 139, 141, 155–156, 158

1st Radio Company, 46, 139, 141

Signal Engineering Survey Unit, 139.

_See Also_ 1st Radio Company

Security Detachment, Marine Unit Vietnam, 164

Marine Corps Air Facility, Santa Ana, 70

Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, 61

Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, 16, 18, 23, 24, 35

Marine Corps Junior School, Quantico, 47

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, 100, 136

McCully, LtCol Alton W., 71, 84, 111–112

McGarr, LtGen Lionel C, 29, 36

McNamara, Secretary of Defense Robert S., 43, 46, 122, 127, 142

McWilliams, Capt James P., 107

Medal of Honor, 51, 158

Mekong Delta, 3, 6, 8–9, 16, 18–19, 28, 32, 36, 44–45, 57–59, 61–62,

67, 69, 73–75, 78, 80, 82, 84–85, 113, 116, 121, 132

Mekong River, 6, 8, 88

Merchant, Col Robert A., 146–149, 152, 154–158

Mickey, Col Ross S., 89, 93

Middle East, 3, 146

Midway, 60

Military Assistance Program, 30

Military Region 5, 45, 103

Military Region 9, 45

Minh, MajGen Duong Van, 99

Minh, Ho Chi, 11, 29

“Minute of Understanding,” 15

_Missouri_ (BB-63), 9

M-108 Wrecker, 136

Monkey Mountain, 141

Monroe, Lt Anthony A., 161

Montagnards, 6, 103, 111, 157

Montgomery, LtCol William, 149

Moody, LtCol Clarence G., 48–49, 100–103, 105, 132

My Tho, 62, 65, 107

NAMBO Interzone, 44

Nam Dong, 155, 157–159

Nam Tha, 88

National Intelligence Estimate, 29

National Liberation Front, 29, 44, 45

National War College, 161

Navy, 37, 48, 71, 90, 128

Navy Cross, 60, 48, 155

Navy Mobile Construction Battalion, 93, 112

New Life Hamlets. _See_ Hop Tac Program

Newport, Rhode Island, 131

New Zealand, 14

Nesbit, Col William P., 131–133, 143

Nghiem, BGen LeVan, 61–62, 73

Nha Trang, 16, 18–19, 22, 31, 114, 157, 160, 162

Nhu, Ngo Dinh, 45–46, 99

NIGHTINGALE, 65

Nipper, LCpl David, 162

Nong Son, 79

Nong Ta Kai, Thailand, 90, 92–93

Noren, LtCol Wesley C., 105, 107, 110, 131, 132

Normandy, France, 70

Northern Training Area, Okinawa, 41

North Korea, 11, 13, 15

North Vietnam, 3, 9, 11–12, 16, 26, 28–29, 44, 80, 86, 93–94, 128,

155, 166–167

North Vietnamese, 27, 29, 30, 88, 103, 121, 129

North Vietnamese Army

Units

32d Regiment, 167

101st Regiment, 167

Norton, H. G. O., 83

Nosavan, Gen Phoumi, 86

O’Daniel, LtGen John M., 15–16, 22

Olmen, Lt John D., 115

Okinawa, 41, 47, 58, 61–62, 70–71, 74, 76, 85–86, 89–90, 93, 112–113,

136, 141–144, 146, 156, 161

On-The-Job Training Program, 40, 42, 136–137, 142–143

Otlowski, Lt Raymond J., 139, 141

Oum, Prince Boun, 86

Pacific Ocean, 3

Pacifier, _See_ Eagle Flight

Pakistan, 14

Paris, France, 138

Parker, Capt Evan L., 49

“Passage to Freedom,” 16

Pathet Lao, 29, 86, 88

Patton, LtCol Harvey M., 89

Pendell, Sgt Jerald W., 83

People-to-People Program, 71, 74, 85, 92–93

People’s Army of Vietnam, 13, 80

People’s Republic of China. _See_ China

Perfume River, 78

Phan Rang, 6

Phan Thiet, 51

PHI-HOA 5, 105

Philippines, 12, 14, 59, 61, 89–90, 93, 110, 132

Phouma, Prince Souvanna, 86, 88, 93

Phu Bai, 139

Phouc Thuan Province, 30

Phouc Thy Province, 136

Phouc Vin, 30

Plain of Jars, 86

Plain of Reeds, 70

Plateau Gi, 103

Pleiku, 9, 32, 46, 103, 129, 139, 152, 167

_Point Defiance_ (LSD-31), 90

Poland, 12, 93

Popular Forces, 129

Porter, Col Daniel B., Jr., 67, 73–74

_Princeton_ (CV-37) (LPH-5), 61–62, 162

Purple Heart Medal, 110

Radar, counter-mortar, 164

Radios, 61, 68, 149

Rathbun, LtCol Robert L., 70–74, 84, 111, 113

Red River Delta, 3, 11, 16

Regional Forces, 129

Republic of Korea. _See_ South Korea

Republic of Vietnam. _See_ South Vietnam

Richardson, LtGen John L., 88, 90, 93–94

Roberts, MajGen Carson A., 57–58, 70

Robichaud, LtCol Clifford J., 35–36

Roe, 161

ROLLING THUNDER, 167

Roosevelt, President Franklin D., 23

Ross, LtCol Thomas J., 120, 144–146

Route 1, 9, 80, 141

Route 9, 9, 80, 139

Route 19, 9

Royal Marines, 48

Royal Thai Regiment, 88

Rung Sat, 18–19

Rung Sat Special Zone, 142

Rupp, LCpl Walter L., 148

Saigon, 8–9, 15–16, 18–19, 28, 30–32, 34–36, 40, 45–48, 51, 53, 58,

60, 62, 65, 80, 100–102, 105, 107, 121, 129, 131–133, 136, 138,

141–153, 160, 166

Saigon Central Police Headquarters, 18

Saigon-Gia Dinh Special Zone, 45

Saigon River, 8

St. Clair, Col Howard B., 142

Saipan, 47

Secretary of Defense, 57, 128, 131

Self Defense Corps, 30, 45, 129

Seventh Fleet, 59–60, 88, 93–94, 141, 162

Schoech, VAdm William A., 59–61

Schrenkengost, PFC Fred T., 155–156

Shapley, LtGen Alan, 40, 57–58

Sheperd, Gen Lemuel C., 16

Sheridan, Capt John, 164

Shook, LtCol Frank A., 116, 119–120

Shoup, Gen David M., 51, 53, 58

SHUFLY, 59–62, 65, 69–71, 73–75, 83–86, 92, 111, 113–114, 117, 120,

121, 139, 141, 142, 144, 146, 157–159, 165

Sides, Adm John H., 58–59

Silver Star Medal, 110, 138

Simpson, BGen Ormand B., 90, 92–95

Sinnott, Lt William T., 83

Slack, Cpl Richard D., Jr., 162

Smith, Capt Joseph N., 107, 109–110

Snell, Capt Bradley S., 49

SocTrang, 58, 60–63, 65, 67, 70–71, 73–76, 82, 86, 92, 111–113, 144

So Huynh Pho, 8

Son, MajGen Tran Van, 79

Song Cam Lo, 78

Song Cau Dai, 78

Song Cau Do, 78

Song Han, 78

Song Huong, 78

Song Thu Bonm, 78–79, 115, 162

Song Tra Bon, 159

Song Tra Bong, 78

Song Tra Khuc, 78

Song Ve, 78

Song Vu Gia, 78, 117

Souphanauvong, Prince, 86

South China Sea, 3, 6, 8, 78, 84, 141, 167

South Korea, 11–13, 15

South Vietnam, 3, 6, 8–9, 12, 14–16, 18–19, 22–23, 25, 27–30, 35, 40,

42–45, 48, 51, 53, 57–58, 61, 65, 68, 70–71, 74, 78–79, 84,

86, 88, 90, 93–94, 100, 109, 110–111, 119, 121–123, 127–129,

138–139, 141–144, 152, 155–158, 166–167

South Vietnamese Armed Forces, 30, 32, 34, 36, 43, 45–46, 58, 129

Units

Vietnamese Air Force, 27, 46, 48, 62, 67–69, 72, 80, 82, 105,

115–120, 137, 144, 146–147, 149, 151–152, 154–156, 158, 162

Vietnamese Army, 13–16, 18, 22–23, 26–27, 32, 49, 60–61, 63, 65,

67, 72, 74, 80, 83–84, 103, 105, 110, 112, 116–121, 129, 139,

141–142, 145, 147–149, 152–153, 155, 157–159, 161, 164–165

1st ARVN Division, 79, 111, 113, 115, 142

2d ARVN Division, 79, 82–83, 103, 105, 111, 113, 115, 117, 142,

154, 159

5th ARVN Division, 62

7th ARVN Division, 62, 65

21st ARVN Division, 62, 65, 67, 79–80

25th ARVN Division, 79, 103, 111

Airborne Brigade, 34, 129, 132

11th ARVN Regiment, 107

43d ARVN Regiment, 51

Ranger Battalions, 79, 114, 136, 164–166

Special Forces, 84

Vietnamese Marine Corps, 16, 18–20, 22–24, 29–30, 32, 34–37, 40,

47–49, 53, 58, 65, 84, 90, 100, 102–103, 105, 107, 109–110,

116, 121, 129, 131–133, 136, 138, 142–143, 166

Amphibious Support Battalion, 136

1st Battalion, 16, 18–20, 22–23, 31, 37, 49, 105, 107, 109

2d Battalion, 22–23, 31, 35, 49, 101–103, 107, 109–110

3d Battalion, 32, 36–37, 53, 105, 107, 109–110

4th Battalion, 36, 49, 51, 100–103, 105, 110, 136–138

5th Battalion, 133, 138

Reconnaissance Company, 105

Training Company, 136

Artillery Batteries, 51, 100, 105

Vietnamese Navy, 16, 36–37, 48, 101, 105, 142

South Vietnamese Ministry of Defense, 32

South Vietnamese Ministry of Interior, 27, 30

Southeast Asia, 3, 9, 11, 14, 29, 40–41, 94, 167

Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, 14, 59, 61, 88, 90

Soviet Union, 12–13, 86, 93

Sparrow Hawk, _See_ Eagle Flight

Special Landing Force, 59, 62, 88–89, 162

Special Operations Group, 141

Steele, Col Fred A., 89–90

Stilwell, MajGen Richard G., 131

Strategic Hamlet Program, 45–46, 51, 53, 80, 101, 121–122, 129

SURE WIND 202, 152, 154–156, 158

Tactical Air Commander Airborne, 149

Tactical Air Navigation, 60

Tactical Air Support System, 62

Tactical Airfield Fuel Dispensing System, 60, 62, 69, 73, 75, 82,

103, 114, 119, 148, 155

Takjli, 90

Tam Ky, 82–83, 103, 116, 149, 157, 159–161, 165

Taoism, 8

Tarawa, 51

Taylor, Gen Maxwell D., 42–43, 57, 127

Taylor, Capt Richard B., 101, 103, 110

Tay Ninh Province, 109, 133

Temporary Equipment Recovery Mission, 26, 30

Texas A&M, 158

Thailand, 3, 14, 86, 88–90, 92–94, 113, 143

Thi, Col Nguyen Chanh, 29, 36

Thompson, SSgt John C., 155

Thompson, Sir Robert G. K., 45–46

Thoung Duc, 117, 119, 151

Throckmorton, LtGen John L., 131

Thua Thien Province, 76, 111, 115, 149, 157

Thu Duc, 36, 53, 100, 107, 136

Tien Phouc, 83, 160

Tiger Flight. _See_ Eagle Flight

Tiger Force, 83, 162, 165

Tiger Tooth Mountain, (Dong Voi Mep), 139, 141, 155–156, 158

Timmes, MajGen Charles J., 47, 57

Tonkin, 3, 8–9, 11–12, 16

Tonkin Gulf Resolution, 128

Tourane, 71.

_See Also_ Da Nang

Tracy, TSgt Jackson E., 19–20

Training Relations Instruction Mission, 16, 19, 22

Tra My, 103, 105, 116

Trong, Maj Le Quang, 16, 19

Tropic of Cancer, 6

Truman, President Harry S., 12, 15

TULUNGAN, 59–60

Tunny, Lt Michael J., 83

Turner, Capt James S. G., 37

Typhoon Kate, 162

Typhoon Tilda, 159–160

Typhoon Violet, 159

Udorn, Thailand, 88–90, 92–93, 113, 158

U Minh Forest, 36, 40

United Front of National Forces, 18

United States, 13, 15, 19, 42, 71, 93, 99, 136, 166

U.S. Air Force. _See_ Air Force

U.S. Army. _See_ Army

U.S. Congress, 12

U.S. Embassy, Saigon, 32, 45, 138

U.S. Interagency Committee for Province Rehabilitation, 45

U.S. Marine Corps. _See_ Marine Corps

U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group, 15–16, 19, 22–24, 26, 29,

31–32, 35–36, 42, 44, 46–48, 53, 57, 86, 131, 146

U.S. Military Assistance Command, Thailand, 88, 90

U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, 46–48, 53, 57–63, 67, 73,

76, 80, 88, 99–100, 117, 127, 131, 139, 141–144, 147, 154–155,

158, 165, 167

U.S. Military Assistance Program, 16

U.S. Navy. _See_ Navy

U.S. Operations Mission, 27

Valentin, LCpl Miguel A., 83

_Valley Forge_ (LPH-8), 93, 156

Vichy Government, 9

Vientiane, Laos, 88, 93

Viet Cong, 19, 27–32, 34–37, 40, 43, 45–46, 49, 51, 53, 62–63, 65,

67, 69–74, 80, 82–83, 99, 101–103, 105, 107, 109–111, 113–116,

120–123, 127, 129, 136, 138, 141–144, 148–149, 151–153, 155,

157–159, 161–162, 164–167

Units

9th Viet Cong Division, 138

4th Viet Cong Battalion, 80

Viet Minh, 8, 11–13, 16, 27, 32.

_See Also_ Viet Cong

Village Self Defense Corps, 27–28

Vinh Binh Province, 31

Vinh Long, 9, 65

Vinson, Lt Richard P., 85

Vung Tau, 36, 40, 100, 136

Walker, Maj John W., 142

Washington, D.C., 22, 29–30, 42, 46, 121, 128, 141, 143, 167

Watson, Cpl Billy S., 74

Weapons

Types

AR-15 automatic rifles, 65

Browning automatic rifles, 22

81mm mortars, 32, 164

82mm mortars, 137

57mm recoilless rifles, 32, 109, 137

.50 caliber machine guns, 107, 109, 137, 152–154

4.2-inch mortars, 22, 32, 60

Hawk missiles, 167

Light antiaircraft missiles, 167

M-14 rifles, 65

M-1 carbines, 22, 32

M-1 rifles, 32

M-16 rifles, 65

M-60 machine guns, 73, 114–115, 147–149, 162

M3A1 submachine guns, 65

105mm howitzers, 49, 118, 136

75mm pack howitzers, 36, 49, 136

60mm mortars, 32, 109

.30 caliber machine guns, 107, 152

TK-1, 162, 164

2.75-inch rockets, 115, 162

Webster, Capt David N., 114

Weede, MajGen Richard G., 47, 76, 131

Weller, MajGen Donald M., 40–41, 86, 90

Westmoreland, Gen William C., 127–128, 131, 155, 158, 166

Wilder, Capt Gary, 31

Wilkes, LtCol William N., Jr., 22–23, 31

Wilkinson, LtCol Frank R., Jr., 23, 31, 34–35

Williams, LtGen Samuel T., 26–27, 29, 32, 35

World War II, 9, 11, 13, 35–37, 40, 47, 51, 59, 62, 70, 75, 111–112,

120, 131, 146, 156, 161

Yen, Capt Nguyen Thanh, 107, 109

Youngdale, BGen Carl A., 131, 166

Zimolzak, Capt Frank, 110

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1977 O-211-623

Transcriber’s Notes

Punctuation, hyphenation, and spelling were made consistent when a

predominant preference was found in the original book; otherwise they

were not changed.

Simple typographical errors were corrected; unbalanced quotation

marks were remedied when the change was obvious, and otherwise left

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Illustrations in this eBook have been positioned between paragraphs and

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The original book uses bottom-of-page footnotes and end-of-volume

endnotes. In this ebook, the footnotes have been moved directly

below the paragraphs that reference them, and their symbols have

been replaced by letters, so as to be unique within the eBook, while

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original positions, and their numbers have been modified to be unique

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The modified footnote numbering uses chapter numbers and sequences

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In the original book, several footnotes were referenced multiple times.

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