Vietnam 2016-06 (Vol.29 No.01)

The Official Guide to Rolling Thunder XXIX

HANDS-ON HELP

Birds star Tippi Hedren takes on a new role

Bad Blood

Terror on the River Viet Cong bomb restaurant

Aerial Insurgency

North Vietnam vs. U.S. warplanes

JUNE 2016

HistoryNet.com

June 2016

26 2

VIETNAM

RAGGED EDGE OF VIETNAMIZATION Long-nurtured ties between American advisers and South Vietnamese units ^LYL\UYH]LSPUNMHZ[I` VU[OLIH[[SLÄLSKZVM(U3VJHUK8\HUN;YP )`1VOU+/V^HYK

On the Cover:

An American adviser and a South Vietnamese soldier cruise along a river, patrolling the Cambodian IVYKLY7OV[V: 7OV[VX\LZ[ Getty Images; Inset: AF (YJOP]L(SHT`:[VJR7OV[V

6 8 16 18 20

Feedback Today In the news Then & Now Voices Walt Sides, Rolling Thunder Homefront May-June 1966

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22 25 58 64

Arsenal Capturing Enemy Territory on Film Editor’s Notebook Media Digest Rewind Actress Tippi Hedren

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THE RISE OF NORTH VIETNAM’S AIR DEFENSES By January 1965, Hanoi’s leaders felt they were a year away from being ready to withstand a major U.S. bombing campaign. By Carl O. Schuster

THE TERRORIST ATTACK THAT SHOOK THE WORLD ;OL IVTIPUNVM:HPNVU»ZÅVH[PUN My Canh restaurant caused death and destruction, as well as a few notable close calls. By Rick Fredericksen

46

FROM THE GENE BASSET SKETCHBOOK An editorial cartoonist sent to Vietnam to cover the war shows a lighthearted side of it.

50 THE FIGHT BACK HOME The president and legislators haggled over the GI Bill as thousands of vets returned from the war. By Mark Boulton JUNE 2016

3

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AT VIETNAM MAG.COM

MICHAEL A. REINSTEIN CHAIRMAN & PUBLISHER DIONISIO LUCCHESI PRESIDENT WILLIAM KONEVAL ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER DAVID STEINHAFEL ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER EDITOR IN CHIEF ROGER L. VANCE

JUNE 2016 VOL. 29, NO. 1

CHUCK SPRINGSTON EDITOR STEPHEN KAMIFUJI ART DIRECTOR BRIAN WALKER ART DIRECTOR DEBRA NEWBOLD MANAGING EDITOR LORI FLEMMING PHOTO EDITOR SARAH RICHARDSON SENIOR EDITOR JERRY MORELOCK SENIOR EDITOR ELIZABETH HOWARD COPY EDITOR JON GUTTMAN RESEARCH DIRECTOR DAVID T. ZABECKI EDITOR EMERITUS HARRY SUMMERS JR. FOUNDING EDITOR ADVISORY BOARD ROBERT H. LARSON, JAMES R. RECKNER, CARL O. SCHUSTER, EARL H. TILFORD JR., SPENCER C. TUCKER, ERIK VILLARD, JAMES H. WILLBANKS CORPORATE STEPHEN KAMIFUJI Creative Director ROB WILKINS Director of Partnership Marketing MICHAEL ZATULOV Finance DIGITAL JOSH SCIORTINO Associate Editor

Norman Schwarzkopf, who became famous as a U.S. commander in the !!/]TN?IZ_I[IaW]VOWЅKMZ in Vietnam. He appears in two stories in this issue. To learn more, visit HistoryNet.com and search “Schwarzkopf and Vietnam.”


VIETNAM

ADVERTISING BARBARA JUSTICE Senior Graphic Designer/Advertising Services [email protected] RICHARD E. VINCENT National Sales Manager [email protected] KIM GODDARD National Sales Manager [email protected] RICK GOWER Georgia [email protected] TERRY JENKINS Tenn., Ky., Miss., Ala., Fla., Mass. [email protected] DIRECT RESPONSE ADVERTISING RUSSELL JOHNS ASSOCIATES 800-649-9800 [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION 800-435-0715 or www.HistoryNet.com/Vietnam. Yearly subscriptions in U.S.: $39.95. List Rental Inquiries: Belkys Reyes, Lake Group Media, Inc. 914-925-2406; [email protected] Vietnam (ISSN 1046-2902) is published bimonthly by HistoryNet, LLC. 1600 Tysons Blvd., Suite 1140, Tysons, VA 22102-4883; 703-771-9400 Periodical postage paid at Leesburg, VA, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster, send address changes to Vietnam, P.O. Box 422224, Palm Coast, FL 32142-2224 Canada Publications Mail Agreement No. 41342519 Canadian GST No. 821371408RT0001 © 2016 HistoryNet, LLC The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of HistoryNet LLC. PROUDLY MADE IN THE USA

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SCHWARZKOPF IN VIETNAM

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More Kids and GIs

Bittersweet memories: Readers William Edwards and Manly Barton sent in their own photos of kids in the war zone.

“The GI and the Kid” (photo feature, April 2016) struck a chord with me. While serving as a Specialist 5 with the 5th Transportation Company (Heavy Boat) in Vung Tau and Cat Lai from 1969 to 1970, I struck up a friendship with a little fellow named Tung. He would follow me around on my daily assignments. He showed me his little swimming pool (left), and I taught him “This Little Piggy.” These are the people I think about 46 years later. I wonder what happened to our Vietnamese friends after the war. Tung would be almost 50 years old now, if he was one of the fortunate ones. William Edwards West Chester, Pa. Your photos brought back lots of memories. I’m sending a picture of the Special Forces Camp at Duc Phong (early 1970). These kids were there every day and always made us feel better. They were kids being kids in a war zone. They played, but they also wanted to help us do whatever we were doing. I often wonder what happened to them. Manly Barton Hurley, Miss.

Heroes: Some Remain Anonymous I read your December 2015 issue with greater than normal interest, particularly Karl Marlantes’ “What Makes a War Hero” essay and the account of helicopter rescues at LZ Albany. I totally agree with Marlantes that the concept of “hero” has lately become trivialized to an alarming degree. But “Shootout at LZ Albany,” by Dan Reed, exposed a raw nerve. In 1970-71, I served as a crew chief/gunner on Huey slicks and gunships in an assault helicopter company very similar to those in the 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion. The facile presumption \PI\WЅKMZ[UILM\PMWVTaQUXWZ\ant decisions or were more heroic fails in the face of operational realities. Good aircraft commanders would invariably consult with me 6

VIETNAM

and often the entire crew when deciding whether to attempt a risky mission. And yet the medals IT_Ia[ÆW_MLUWZMNZMMTa\W\PM pilots. I was therefore disheartened that Reed would identify only the WЅKMZ[I\4B)TJIVaIVLTMI^M\PM enlisted crew members nameless. If the author did not have access to such records, shame on the 1st Cav for not keeping them. /MWЄ+IZZ Woodside, Calif.

DAN REED RESPONDS: I had acKM[[\WZW[\MZ[WN\PMUMV_PWÆM_ into Albany, and I interviewed both WЅKMZ[IVLMVTQ[\MLUMV)N\MZ years many could not remember _PW_I[ÆaQVOVM`\\W\PMU_PW _I[QV\PMJIKSWZ_PW_I[ÆaQVO up front. On that night men were VW\I[[QOVML\WI[XMKQÅK[TQKS

but were intermixed based on the availability of crewmen and volun\MMZ[?PMV\PMZMKWZLQLMV\QÅML the members of a crew presumed \WJMÆaQVO\WOM\PMZ1KZW[[̆ checked it with those involved. I opted in favor of content I could verify and honored as best I could ITT\PW[M_PWÆM_QV\W)TJIVa named or unnamed. Correction: An item in the MarchApril 1966 Homefront (April 2016) gave an incorrect total for the damages from the March 3, 1966, tornado in Mississippi and Alabama. )̆ #WZ [email protected]

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The winner is: Nguyen Phu Trong, elected general secretary of Vietnam’s Communist Party, speaks at a party meeting on January 28.

When elections were held recently for the top leadership posts in Vietnam, what should have been a pre-ordained result was marked by an unprecedented degree of political infighting between conservatives resisting change and a reform movement that regards change as inevitable. During Vietnam’s 12th National Congress, from January 21 to 28, the 1,510 delegates, virtually all Communist Party members, held elections for the key posts of general secretary and prime minister. Conservative 71-year-old Nguyen Phu Trong was elected by a nearly 100 percent majority to a second five-year term as general secretary, but only after outmaneuvering his reformist rival, 66-year-old Nguyen Tan Dung, the prime minister. Although 96 percent of Vietnam’s population of 93 million had no say in the decision—an attempt at political reform within the Congress in 2013 failed— the election’s outcome suggests seismic forces at work within the ruling party. Secretary Trong has clung to Hanoi’s dominant Leninist political structure, but he KW]TLVW\LQ[UQ[[\PMJMVMÅ\[WNdoi moi, reforms toward a “socialist market economy” largely engineered by Dung and encouraged by China, which have brought the country 6.7 percent economic growth, the best in Å^MaMIZ[ Trong’s longstanding pragmatic close ties to China have also been undermined by friction over oil drilling rights in the South China Sea and disputes over control of the Spratly and Paracel islands, which have revived the millennia-old distrust of the Vietnamese people toward their giant neighbor to the north—a trend that Trong knows he would ignore at his peril. QM\VIU¼[XIZ\QKQXI\QWVQV\PM
VIETNAM

Delegate math: The Communists’ 12th National Congress represented less than 10 percent of the population.

political power. That ideological conflict is less black and white than it once was, though, as demonstrated in July 2015 when conservative Trong traveled to Washington and conferred with President Barack Obama. “There is broad party consensus on Vietnam’s repositioning further from China, closer to the U.S., and in the pocket of neither,” said retired diplomat and Vietnam analyst David Brown. As for the prospect of political change within the government, he added: “Dung’s government accepted that the Internet revolution and globalization have made a gradual expansion of de facto personal freedoms inevitable. It may take a while before the new leadership reaches a similar conclusion.” —Jon Guttman

MARYLAND VIETNAM VETS IN THE SPOTLIGHT On May 24, 25 and 26, Maryland Public Television will present a three-part documentary about the experiences of Vietnam veterans and their NIUQTQM[
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REFORMIST CHALLENGES OLD GUARD FOR POWER IN VIETNAM

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VIETNAM USING DNA TO ID ITS WAR DEAD

CHINESE MISSILES REPORTEDLY ON ISLAND The atolls, reefs and sandbars scattered across the South China Sea were thrust into controversy again with reports that satellite images taken on February 14 showed Chinese surface-to-air missiles on Woody Island, a narrow, reef-rimmed strip of land in the Paracel Islands. The missile allegation adds one more source of tension to the increasingly heated dispute between China and Vietnam over territorial claims and Chinese island building in the South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands to the south. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, attending a February 15-16 meeting in California to discuss Southeast Asian trade, implored the United States to increase its military presence in the area. The Chinese actions threatened peace, security and freedom of navigation and aviation, Dung said. Missile worries: This is an example of a Chinese HQ-9 surface-to-air missile like the ones seen in satellite images of Woody Island.

10

VIETNAM

KWVÆQK\QV*W[VQIIVL0MZbMOW^QVIQV\PM!![ The challenges are great. DNA from bones more than  aMIZ[ WTL Q[ TQSMTa \W JM LMOZILML IVL LQЅK]T\ \W [MY]MVKM IKK]ZI\MTa 5WZMW^MZ NWZMV[QK QLMV\QÅKI\QWV requires genetic material from relatives to prove kinship, but many war dead were too young to have had children and their parents may have died by now. The /MZUIVKWUXIVa*QWOTWJMPI[IOZMML\WXZW^QLM\ZIQVing and consulting services.

The Paracels are jointly owned by Vietnam, Taiwan IVL+PQVI¸WVXIXMZI\TMI[\¸J]\+PQVI[MQbMLKWV\ZWT WN\PMUQV!1V6W^MUJMZVM_[ZMXWZ\[QVLQKI\ML\PMXZM[MVKMWN+PQVM[MIL^IVKMLÅOP\MZIQZKZIN\ on Woody Island. In response to news reports on the missiles, the Chinese defense ministry issued a statement arguing that the Paracels are Chinese territory and the country has had defense facilities there for years. The Chinese, howM^MZLQLVW\ILLZM[[\PMUQ[[QTMQ[[]M[XMKQÅKITTa[Iaing only that missile reports were just media “hype,” Reuters reported. +PQVI¼[JI[M̆J]QTLQVOMЄWZ\[QVKT]LQVOIQZ[\ZQX[IVL PMTQKWX\MZTIVLQVObWVM[QV\PM;W]\P+PQVI;MIPI^M _WZZQMLVMQOPJWZ[[QVKMJ]\\PMUW^M\WXW[Q\QWVQVOUQ[[QTM[\PMZMZI\KPM\[]X\PMKWVÆQK\)2IV]IZa ZMXWZ\Ja\PM+MV\MZNWZ;\ZI\MOQKIVL1V\MZVI\QWVIT ;\]LQM[M^MVXZMLQK\ML\PI\Ja\PM;W]\P+PQVI;MI could become “virtually a Chinese lake, as the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico is for the United States today.” Island squabble: Woody Island is in a chain of islands with disputed claims by Vietnam, China and Taiwan.

BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT: ATIMES.COM

The journal Nature reported in February that Vietnam has initiated a project to use forensic DNA technology to identify the remains of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians killed during the war. The United States has been using DNA analysis since the early 1990s to identify war remains, but Vietnam’s MЄWZ\[ PI^M JMMV PIUXMZML Ja W]\LI\ML \MKPVWTWOa The new project will be the largest of its kind, rivaling \PM MЄWZ\ \W QLMV\QNa [WUM  _IZ LMIL NZWU \PM

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William J. Smith-Perez de Leon, who served as the model NWZWVMWN\PMÅO]ZM[QVThe Three Servicemen statue that is part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, died the weekend of January 23, according to a post on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s Facebook page. No further information was available. Sculptor .ZMLMZQKS0IZ\][ML;UQ\P̆8MZMb de Leon’s likeness to create the 0Q[XIVQK[WTLQMZQV\PMUWV]UMV\ which was dedicated in 1984.

Bill Snead, who managed the United Press International photo bureau in Saigon during North Vietnam’s 1968 Tet Offensive, died in Lawrence, 3IV[I[WV.MJZ]IZa 0M_I[ )N\MZ>QM\VIU he worked at National Geographic and then the Washington Post. Snead’s war coverage included !!KWVÆQK\[QV\PM Balkans and Iraq. V

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: AP PHOTO/USAF; COURTESY MSGT ROB WILKINS, USAF, RETIRED; THAD ALLENDER/THE LAWRENCE-JOURNAL WORLD VIA AP

Fred V. Cherry, an Air Force pilot who was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for more than seven years, died February 16, at age 87, in Washington, D.C. Cherry, who PILIT[WÆW_VKWUJI\UQ[[QWV[QV3WZMI was shot down Oct. 22, 1965, when his .̆,
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Historical Symbolism &UDIWVPHQFRPPLVVLRQHGVSHFLÀFDOO\IRUWKH Tribute by the Foundation polish and decorate each pistol. Deep bas relief etchings, selectively plated with 24-Karat Gold, form the central panoply, with borders of strapped bamboo and dragons, the Asian symbol of power and protection. Historical inscriptions include the dates of the war and General Westmoreland’s praise of all who served, along with the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal surmounted

To safely protect your Vietnam War .45 from dust and unauthorized handling, a Display Case is available.

RQ QDSDOP ÁDPHV 7KH$VLDQPRWLI DUWZRUN RI bamboo and dragons continues, in etching and 24-Karat Gold plating, across the reverse of the slide. The trigger, hammer, slide stop, magazine catch, safety lock and grip screws are 24-Karat Gold plated.  7KHJULSVDUHÀQHO\FKHFNHUHGLQWKHFODVVLF “Double Diamond” pattern. Inset in each grip is a full-color, cloisonné medallion, incorporating WKHÁDJRIWKH5HSXEOLFRI9LHWQDP6RXWK  The Vietnam War Tribute .45 is strictly limited to only 2,500 pistols, worldwide. Each pistol is engraved with its special Registry Number EHWZHHQDQGZLWKWKHSUHÀ[91IRU 9LHWQDP DQG D &HUWLÀFDWH RI $XWKHQWLFLW\ ZLOO accompany your Tribute.

Satisfaction Guaranteed This museum-quality .45 is available H[FOXVLYHO\ IURP 7KH $PHULFDQ +LVWRULFDO Foundation. You can reserve with a small deposit, and a convenient monthly payment plan is available. To place your reservation, please return the Reservation Request or call our Member Relations Staff, toll free, at 1-800-3688080. If you don’t have a Federal Firearms License, we will help coordinate delivery with \RX WKURXJK \RXU ORFDO ÀUHDUPV GHDOHU DIWHU your reservation is received here. Satisfaction is guaranteed or return in 30 days for a full refund. 
and those who proudly served, honoring that which President Reagan concluded, “Ours was, in truth, a noble cause.” &RQWLQXHWKHPLVVLRQOHVWZHIRUJHW® I wish to reserve ___ of the “ Vietnam War Tribute”, at the current issue price of $1,995.* My deposit of $195 per pistol is enclosed. I wish to pay the balance at the rate of $100 per month, no interest or carrying charges. Certificate of Authenticity included. Thirtyday return privilege. *All orders are subject to acceptance and credit verification prior to shipment. Shipping and handling will be added to each order. Virginia residents please add sales tax.

† Check enclosed for $___________________ † Charge payment $___________________ to: †Visa †MasterCard †AMEX †Discover Card No.____________________________ Exp._____ Display Case † I wish to reserve the optional, luxuriously lined, custom-made display case with locking glass lid. My payment of $149* is enclosed or add to credit card. Name ________________________________________ Address ______________________________________ City/State/Zip _________________________________ Daytime Telephone(______)______________________

THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL FOUNDATION 7,0%(55,'*('5,9(‡$6+/$1'9$ Website: AHFFIREARMS.com To place your reservation toll-free call

1-800-368-8080

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SAIGON EVACUATION SITE

BETTMANN/CORBIS; TOP: JOHN CAIRNS/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

One of the most dramatic scenes of the war shows Americans being evacuated by helicopter from a Saigon building on April 29, 1975, the day before Communist tanks entered the city. The building in the picture, by UPI photographer Hubert Van Es, was an apartment complex that housed the CIA. Today the historic structure is overshadowed by a gleaming skyscraper. V

16

VIETNAM

IN PROUD SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO SERVE...

★

Because of the Brave

★

Men’s Hoodie

BACK

In easy-care, cotton blend with thermal knit-lined hood Available in 4 Men’s Sizes M-XXL

FRONT

Silver-toned metal plaque adorns the front of this patriotic hoodie

An Exclusive Apparel Design from The Bradford Exchange

A Bold Statement of Patriotic Pride Show your respect and gratitude for the dedicated American heroes who honor, defend and protect our country every time you wear the “Because of the Brave” Men’s Hoodie from The Bradford Exchange. Crafted in a black easy-care cotton blend knit, the hoodie showcases a bold design on the back of a pair of U.S. military boots proudly displayed with the American flag and the sentiment “Home of the Free Because of the Brave”. Adding to the patriotic look is an American flag patch on the left sleeve and a silver-toned metal plaque on the front that features a soaring eagle and the American flag. Custom details include a comfortable brushed fleece interior, a beige thermal knit lined hood, kangaroo

front pockets, knit cuffs and hem, a full front zipper, and silver-toned metal tippets on the hood drawstrings. Imported.

An Outstanding Value with Satisfaction Guaranteed With its custom design and hand-crafted quality, the “Because of the Brave” Men’s Hoodie is a remarkable value at $89.95*, payable in 4 easy installments of $22.49 and backed by our 30-day money-back guarantee. To order, send no money now; just fill out and send in your Priority Reservation. This hoodie is not available in stores. So don’t miss out... Order Today!

www.bradfordexchange.com/bravehoodie

©2015 The Bradford Exchange 01-22824-001-BI

PRIORITY RESERVATION

SEND NO MONEY NOW Mrs. Mr. Ms.

9345 Milwaukee Avenue · Niles, IL 60714-1393

YES.

Please reserve the “Because of the Brave” Men’s Hoodie for me as described in this announcement in the size indicated below.
Medium (38-40) 01-22824-011
XL (46-48) 01-22824-013


Large (42-44) 01-22824-012


XXL (50-52) 01-22824-014

Name (Please Print Clearly)

Address City Email (optional)

State

Zip

E39571

*Plus $11.99 shipping and service. Please allow 6-8 weeks after initial payment for shipment. Sales subject to product availability and order acceptance.

;QLM[_WZSML_Q\PW\PMZ^M\MZIV[\WX][P \PMOW^MZVUMV\\W\ISMIUWZMIK\Q^MZWTMQV LM\MZUQVQVO\PMNI\M[WN\PM87?[_PWLQLV¼\ KWUMPWUMIVLWN\PM\ZWWX[[\QTTTQ[\MLI[ UQ[[QVOQVIK\QWV111_MÅO]ZMLW]\Q\¼[PMZM\W[\Ia What about the 1995 run made you realize it had staying power? ?M_MZMOZW_QVO[WZIXQLTa?M[\IZ\ML _Q\P\WJQSM[*a:WTTQVO111_M _MZMW^MZIKW]XTMP]VLZML\PW][IVL
VIETNAM

TWW[M*]\\PMaPILI\MVLMVKaVW\ \WLW\PI\?MPILVW̆NQZMbWVM[ IVLZM\]ZV̆ÅZMbWVM[IVLNZMM̆ÅZM bWVM[AW]KW]TLV¼\[PWW\QV\WI^QTTIOM
,]ZQVO\PM>QM\VIU?IZ¼[\PIVVQ^MZ[IZa>QM\VIU Q[QV\MZ^QM_QVOXMWXTM_PW[MTQ^M[IZMQV\MZ\_QVML _Q\P\PM_IZIVLI[SQVONWZ\PMQZZMÆMK\QWV[WV\PI\ MZIQV)UMZQKIVPQ[\WZaAW]KIVZMILUWZMWN\PQ[ QV\MZ^QM_I\___PQ[\WZaVM\KWU>QM\VIUV

DAN WILLIAMS

1V!_PMV\PMÅZ[\XZQ[WVMZ[WN_IZ _MZMNZMMLJa6WZ\P>QM\VIUIVLZM\]ZVML \W\PM=VQ\ML;\I\M[UIVa^M\MZIV[ JMTQM^ML\PI\\PMIK\]ITV]UJMZWN87?[ _I[U]KPPQOPMZ7VMWN\PW[M^M\MZIV[ _I[Walt SidesIOWTLUMLITUIZS[UIVQV 5IZQVM+WZX[KWUXM\Q\QWV_PW[MZ^ML\_W \W]Z[QV>QM\VIUWVMI[IVQV[\Z]K\WZNWZ \PMÅZ[\[VQXMZXTI\WWVQV+WZX[PQ[\WZa\W JM\ZIQVMLQVIKWUJI\bWVM)N\MZ\PM_IZ

Born: Dec. 31, 1939, Mustang, Oklahoma Residence: Round Hill, Virginia Military service: Joined Marine Corps, Jan. 26, 1956, at age 16, lying about his age; left in January 1958, attended University of Oklahoma on the GI Bill and played football; returned to the Marines in late 1959; retired Jan. 27, 1977, HZHÄYZ[ZLYNLHU[ In Vietnam: January 1966 to March 1967, scout-sniper platoon sergeant, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division; January 1969 to April 1970, company gunnery sergeant, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. Today: Co-founder and executive director, Rolling Thunder, Washington, D.C.

May 7 The Rolling Stones release “Paint It, Black.” The megahit, with lyrics about death and depression, is one of the war’s iconic songs. May 14 5WZM\PIV 400,000 students \ISMIVM`IU PWXQVONWZILZIN\ LMNMZUMV\#W\PMZ[ \MIZ]X\PMQZKIZL[

20

VIETNAM

MAY-JUNE

1966

May 22 IV,aSM;PW_ is VIUMLW]\[\IVLQVOKWUMLaI\\PM -UUa[>IV,aSMIVL5IZa
June 8 The National Football League and the American Football League announce a merger, which _QTTWЅKQITTa take place in 1970.

May 6 In a setback to U.S. desires to strengthen South Vietnam’s democracy, Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky announces that promised free elections will not be held and says the military regime will stay in power “for at least another year.” May 10 Coast Guard cutter Point Grey, on patrol near Ca Mau peninsula, intercepts a trawler bringing enemy war matériel into South Vietnam. The trawler runs aground, but Point Grey’s boarding XIZ\aQ[\]ZVMLJIKSJaPMI^aÅZM from the beach. Point Cypress joins the Grey,IVL\PM\_WK]\\MZ[ÅZMI\ the trawler, which blows up.

June 13 In Miranda v. Arizona, the Supreme Court establishes the “right to remain silent.”

June 16 In a civil rights speech, Stokely Carmichael proclaims, “What we’re going to start saying now is Black Power.”

June 30 The National Organization of Women is founded in Washington, D.C. Betty Friedan is chosen NOW’s ÅZ[\XZM[QLMV\

June 22 Theaters begin showing Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, who will win an Oscar for her role.

May 15 More than 1,000 marines and airborne troops from the Army of the Republic of Vietnam are airlifted from Saigon to Da Nang to put down a revolt by Buddhists and their sympathizers in some ARVN units that were opposed to South Vietnam’s undemocratic, military government. The government took control of the city in early June. June 2-21 The 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, and South Vietnamese units conduct Operation Hawthorne near Dak To in Kontum XZW^QVKM\WKTMIZIPMI^QTaNWZ\QÅML enemy base camp area. On June 9 Captain Bill Carpenter, commander of C Company, 502nd Infantry Regiment, called in napalm airstrikes on his own position to push back attacking North Vietnamese.
JUNE 2016

21

Refueling options: The RF-101 could refuel in midair using either a retractable probe for drogue refueling in the nose or a boom receptacle aft of the cockpit. Forward looking: KA-2 6-inch and 12-inch cameras were mounted in the nose.

Leave ’em lagging: The RF-101C’s main defense was the supersonic speed achieved by two Pratt and Whitney J-57 P-13 turbojets producing 10,500 pounds of thrust (or 15,000 pounds afterburner).

ECM or speed? In April1967 ALQ-71 electronic countermeasure pods were made available to be used against surface-to-air missiles, but RF-101C pilots often eschewed them as adding drag and weight, making the plane more vulnerable to MiG-21 interception.

CAPTURING ENEMY TERRITORY ON FILM *a+IZT7;KP][\MZ On Oct. 23, 1961, the commander of the Thirteenth Air Force ordered the RF-101Cs of Task Force Pipe Stem to ÆaIZMKWVVIQ[[IVKMUQ[[QWVW^MZQM\VIUM[MIVL;W^QM\XZM[MVKMQM\VIUM[M\ZWWX[IVL KI]OP\;W^QM\̆J]QT\1Ta][PQV1̆\ZIV[XWZ\XTIVM[XIZIKP]\QVO[]XXTQM[\W\PM\ZWWX[JMTW_ 7VKM[PW_V\PMQUIOM[NZWU\PMÅZ[\IVLTI\MZUQ[[QWV[8ZM[QLMV\2WPV.3MVVMLaWZLMZMLIVM`XIVLML ZMKWVVIQ[[IVKMMNNWZ\J]\\PM1V\MZVI\QWVIT+WV\ZWT +WUUQ[[QWVI[[QOVML\WUWVQ\WZ\PM!/MVM^I)KKWZL[WJRMK\ML\W\PMXTIVM[¼XZM[MVKMQV;W]\P>QM\VIU IVLUQ[[QWV[W^MZ4IW[
VIETNAM

MCDONNELL RF-101C VOODOO Crew: 1 Wingspan: 39.7 ft. Length: 89.3 ft. Max. speed: Mach 1.3 at 35,000 ft. Max. range: 2,435 miles Max. altitude: 51,450 ft.

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GREGORY PROCH

Captured in 3-D: One KA-1 and one KA-3 6-inch split vertical camera under the fuselage handled stereoscopic photography.

No tA in S vaila tor ble es

y Stands nearl 1½ feet high

 Showcases a hand-sculpted U.S. Navy sailor in WWII-era uniform, expertly hand-painted and finished in bronze tones  Naval destroyer, ship
s wheel and crashing waves add drama and distinction to the base; the proud emblem of the U.S. Navy is crafted of metal alloy with golden nish Shown much smaller than its impressive actual size of 17½ in. H. FREE CFL bulb included.

 Navy blue shade with beige fabric trim features the USN motto, Honor, Courage, Commitment  Includes bronze-toned title plaque on the mahogany-toned base and free CFL bulb

Neither the Department of the Navy nor any other component of the Department of Defense has approved, endorsed or authorized this product.

Great value; satisfaction guaranteed Order now at four convenient installments of $33.75, for a total of $135.00*. This lamp is backed by our 365-day moneyback guarantee with no risk. The edition is limited to 295 casting days, so don
t wait! Send no money now. Just return the Reservation Application immediately.

©2014 BGE All rights reserved. 01-19409-001-BIR

www.bradfordexchange.com/navypride RESERVATION APPLICATION

SEND NO MONEY NOW Mrs. Mr. Ms. Name (Please Print Clearly)

Address

9345 Milwaukee Avenue · Niles, IL 60714-1393

YES.

Please reserve “The Beacon of Freedom” Navy Accent Lamp for me as described in this announcement. Limit: one per customer. Please Respond Promptly

City State

Zip

01-19409-001-E39571 *Plus $16.99 shipping and service. Limited-edition presentation restricted to 295 casting days. Please allow 4-8 weeks after initial payment for shipment. Sales subject to product availability and order acceptance.

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hether it’s health-related or caused by an injury, discomfort can occur in anyone at any age— and there’s no excuse to exercise less. In fact, being active with discomfort is the most natural way to keep your joints moving smoothly. Experience a better life with Gravity Defyer footwear—ease your discomfort and rediscover movement! The moment you put on a pair of Gravity Defyer shoes, you’ll get ÁDVKEDFNVRIWKHGD\VZKHUH nothing could stop you.

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26

U.S. Army adviser Capt. James A. Musselman at Tan Dinh Island in September 1965

AP PHOTO/HUYNH THANH MY

The Core Question and the Search for an Answer What went wrong in Vietnam? It’s a question we are still debating 50 years later. And it doesn’t have a pat answer. The events of the war—on the battlefield and in the nation’s capital—are much too complex. But two articles in this issue provide revealing insights as their authors examine actions that had unfortunate consequences for the American side. John D. Howard, a retired Army brigadier general who was an adviser to South Vietnamese soldiers, reports on the unforeseen consequences of “Vietnamization,” the policy President Richard Nixon initiated in 1969 to gradually withdraw U.S. troops while shifting more responsibility for combat operations to South Vietnam’s military. As Howard shows, in an article that begins on pg. 26, the strategy had repercussions that actually worked against U.S. goals to provide South Vietnam with a force capable of beating back the Communist North. As U.S. troops pulled out, some South Vietnamese commanders felt betrayed and angry. They no longer sought or accepted the advice WN)UMZQKIVWЅKMZ[L]ZQVOKZ]KQIT\QUM[QV the transition from U.S. to South VietnamM[MKWUUIVLWN\PM_IZ
preparedness for the Rolling Thunder bombing campaign in 1965 with North Vietnam’s preparations to withstand the attacks. Since the late 1950s, when North Vietnam knew that war with the United States was likely, the country had been taking steps to build up its defenses against a U.S. air assault, and in early 1964 it began accelerating the process. Also in preparation for the coming war, North Vietnamese leaders tried to learn everything they could about America’s military, culture, political system and media. Meanwhile, Washington planners genMZITTaUILMTQ\\TMMЄWZ\\WTMIZVIJW]\\PM characteristics of their enemy beyond its military capabilities. And unlike the Hanoi leaders mobilizing for total war, President Lyndon B. Johnson—concerned about loss of life and public response to all-out war—opted for the minimum force he and his advisers thought necessary to deter North Vietnam in its attempted takeover of the South. Ironically, the technologically superior United States sent aircraft into combat that were ill-equipped to take on North Vietnam’s improved air defenses. That would change I[=;_IZXTIVM[_MZMW]\Å\\ML_Q\PUWZM sophisticated weaponry, but as Schuster notes, technology and military might didn’t decide the outcome of the war. The answer to another question did: How many deaths was each country willing to accept before concluding that this war wasn’t worth it? —Chuck Springston JUNE 2016

25

RAGGED EDGE OF VIETNAMIZATION The failings of a U.S. plan to turn the war over to the South Vietnamese were revealed on the battlefields of An Loc and Quang Tri when rapport degenerated into rancor By John D. Howard

26

VIETNAM

AP PHOTO

Plan of attack: U.S. senior adviser Maj. Gen. James Hollingsworth confers with subordinates and advisers about 45 miles north of Saigon on April 11,1972, to discuss plans for reinforcing nearby An Loc, besieged by North Vietnamese forces K\YPUN[OL,HZ[LY6ɈLUZP]L

JUNE 2016

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Battle for Quang Tri: Wounded South Vietnamese troops waiting to be evacuated watch an injured North Vietnamese captive about to join them on July 22, 1972. Right: Two days later, South Vietnamese check out homes destroyed by bombs.

\PMKWVÆQK\JZQVO\PMXZQ[WVMZ[WN_IZPWUMIVL]Xgrade South Vietnam’s armed forces so they would be KIXIJTMWNKIZZaQVOWV\PMÅOP\Ja\PMU[MT^M[ A reduction in U.S. combat forces and military support created tensions between South Vietnamese units and American advisers—co-vans in Vietnamese. Ties began to fray even in South Vietnam’s elite Airborne Division, which had always been the model for cooperation. Within the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (the organization in charge of American combat forces), the Airborne Division had enjoyed “favored son” status. General William Westmoreland, MACV commander from 1964 to 1968, held the Airborne in high regard, and the division received priority treatment. A 70-man advisory team, the largest in MACV, assisted the division. Not surprisingly, Vietnamese paratroops participated A concerted AmericanIL^Q[WZaMЄWZ\QV>QM\VIU QV[WUMWN\PMPIZLM[\ÅOP\QVO,]ZQVO!IVL!  began in 1956, when the last French troops left their eight airborne battalions were awarded the coveted U.S. former Indochina colony under the terms of an inter- Presidential Unit Citation. But as U.S. support began to national agreement that followed their May 1954 defeat diminish the following year, the much-touted airborne at Dien Bien Phu. Twelve years later, the U.S. military brotherhood became more illusory than anyone wanted commitment in Vietnam totaled about 500,000 troops. to believe. 6KWUXIVQM[ vision senior adviser, a U.S. Army colonel, personally batteries, battalions and regiments. [MTMK\MLMIKPWЅKMZIVLVWVKWUUQ[[QWVML WT]V\MMZ[TQVML]XNWZ\PW[MRWJ[ Honored: A memorial in Westminster, Calif., \WZ[IVLÅZM̆[]XXWZ\KWWZLQVI\WZ[)\\PM Service with Airborne Division Assistance pairs U.S. and South height of the American buildup, an adviser Team, also known as MACV Team 162, was Vietnamese soldiers. controlled medical evacuations, tactical air considered a plum assignment, even when support, artillery support, supply replenmost combat arms professionals wanted to ishment and an array of other resources serve in American units. available to those units. 5WZM\PIVWN\PMIL^Q[MZ\MIU¼[WЅIn 1969 the situation changed. The Amercers would become generals, among them ican people were war weary, and the newly Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of the MTMK\MLXZM[QLMV\VMMLML\WN]TÅTTPQ[KIUU.S.-led forces in the 1991 Gulf War, and paign pledge to end the war. “VietnamizaBarry R. McCaffrey, who later served as tion,” President Richard Nixon’s plan for LQZMK\WZWN\PM7ЅKMWN6I\QWVIT,Z]O+WVdisengagement, started a phased U.S. withtrol Policy during President Bill Clinton’s drawal. The aim was to “de-Americanize” administration. 28

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LEFT: OC PHOTOS; TOP LEFT AND RIGHT: AP PHOTO

Westminster, California, is home to the largest Vietnamese-American community in the United States. When the Republic of Vietnam collapsed on April 30, 1975, this city near Los Angeles became a haven for many escaping refugees. The residents of “Little Saigon,” who now number more than 35,000, raised funds and lobbied the city to allow construction of a large Vietnam War memorial. The sculpture, dedicated in 2003, features two large statues, a soldier of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and a U.S. soldier, standing together. To many, they symbolize the bonds between the American adviser and the ARVN commanders he assisted. However, during the latter stages of U.S. involvement in the war, the relationship memorialized in the California monument wasn’t always a close one.

TOP: AP PHOTO; MAP: BRIAN WALKER

Waterlogged: South Vietnamese soldiers carry the weapons of wounded men across a stream near Quang Tri on July 27.

The February-March 1971 incursion into Laos, Lam Son 719, was a major test of Vietnamization. A U.S. law XI[[MLJMNWZM\PMWЄMV[Q^MLQK\I\ML\PI\VW)UMZQKIV ground troops could be deployed outside South Vietnam. 6]VQ\[ into Laos. But American tactical aircraft, B-52 bombers and helicopters were allowed to cross the border to XZW^QLM[]XXWZ\ 4IU;WV!_I[\PMÅZ[\\QUM\PM):>6)QZJWZVM,Q^Q[QWVN]VK\QWVMLI[I\IK\QKITMV\Q\a.WZaMIZ[Q\[JI\\ITions and brigades fought as independent task forces. The LQ^Q[QWVPMILY]IZ\MZ[I\QM\VIUM[M MUXTWaMLUI[[MLQVNIV\ZaJIKSMLJa\IVS[IVLPMI^a IZ\QTTMZa4IKSWN-VOTQ[PXZWÅKQMVKaIVLXZWKML]ZIT knowledge hampered coordination with crucial AmeriKIVIQZ[]XXWZ\8ZM^QW][Ta=;IL^Q[MZ[WV\PMOZW]VL had handled communications with American aircraft. ,M[XQ\MOTW_QVOZMXWZ\[WN^QK\WZa):>6]VQ\[[][\IQVMLPMI^aKI[]IT\QM[L]ZQVO4IU;WV6¼[KWV\QV]ing dependence on the United States. After Lam Son 719 the pace of Vietnamization inKZMI[ML;WUM)ZUa\ZWWX[LMXIZ\MLQV\PM ZMUIQVQVOUWV\P[WN!6]VQ\[ QM\VIUM[MVW_[I_\PMIL^Q[MZI[[WTMTaI KWVL]Q\NWZ=;IQZXW_MZ4Q\\TMIL^QKM_I[ZMVLMZML

<0--);<-:7..-6;1>The North Vietnamese Army struck towns throughout the South in a series of attacks that began March 30, 1972.

IVLM^MVTM[[_I[IKKMX\MLI\I\QUM_PMVQ\_I[[WZMTa VMMLMLI[\PM_IZ\ZIV[Q\QWVML\WIKWV^MV\QWVIT[\Z]OOTMJM\_MMV\PM6WZ\PIVL;W]\P 1V\PM[XZQVOWN!\PMTMILMZ[WN\PM+WUU]VQ[\ 8IZ\a¼[8WTQ\J]ZWQV0IVWQQV\MVLML\W[M\\TM\PM]VQÅKI\QWVY]M[\QWVWVKMIVLNWZITTQM\VIUM[M Army launched an all-out combined-arms attack called 7XMZI\QWV6O]aMV0]MVIUMLIN\MZIVMUXMZWZ_PWQV \PMTI\M[]VQ\ML\PMVWZ\PMZVIVL[W]\PMZVIZMI[ of what is now Vietnam. The attacks became known to )UMZQKIV[I[\PM-I[\MZ7ЄMV[Q^MJMKI][M\PMaJMOIV W^MZ-I[\MZ_MMSMVL)¼[\PZ][\IKZW[[\PM,MUQTQ\IZQbMLBWVM[\IZ\MLWV5IZKPQM\VIUM[M[\Z]KSQV\PM[W]\PWV)XZQTI\4WK6QVPVMIZ \PM+IUJWLQIVJWZLMZVWZ\PWN;IQOWV)NWZKM[ITUW[\QUUMLQI\MTa surrounded An Loc a few miles away. An attack in the +MV\ZIT0QOPTIVL[JMOIV)XZQTQM\VIUM[M8ZM[QLMV\6O]aMV>IVQM\VIUM[M\WWS4WK6QVPIVL)V4WK1N)V 4WKNMTTWVTaUQTM[_W]TL[MXIZI\M\PZMM6>)LQ^Q[QWV[NZWU;W]\P>QM\VIU¼[KIXQ\IT1V\PM\PQZLXPI[M \PM+MV\ZIT0QOPTIVL[I\\IKS\_WLQ^Q[QWV[_MZM\WPQ\ 3WV\]U8ZW^QVKM
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capital, would allow the NVA to roll up the light defenses farther south and strike toward the coast, splitting South Vietnam in two. The NVA plan was based on assumptions that Vietnamization was a failure and that Nixon would not respond vigorously because U.S. public opinion had turned against the war. The NVA’s initial successes validated the optimism of the Politburo hawks. South Vietnam’s northernmost province, Quang Tri, had been overrun. In the south, An Loc was under siege, barely holding on. And the Central Highlands city of Kontum was threatMVML)WЄMV[Q^M[MMUML\WJMXZWOZM[[QVO_MTT But Hanoi had grossly misread Nixon, who reinforced the South with additional air power, ordered the mining of enemy seaports and resumed the bombing of North Vietnam. Still, U.S. troop withdrawals continued. South Vietnam committed the entire Airborne Division to stopping the NVA. The division headquarters and two brigades were sent to bolster the defenses in the northern region. The 1st Airborne Brigade, consisting of the 5th, 6th and 8th battalions, reinforced troops defending besieged An Loc. Before the operation, Captain Mike McDermott was assigned as Team 162’s senior adviser to the 5th Airborne Battalion. The battalion commander, Lt. Col. Nguyen Chi Hieu, let McDermott know that he had expected a UWZM[MVQWZ=;WЅKMZIVL\ZMI\MLPQUI[[QUXTaI][Mful functionary. Hieu did not include McDermott in the planning process or share information with him. When McDermott wasn’t directing air support, Hieu had no time for him. The South Vietnamese colonel failed to realize that the American captain had more combat exXMZQMVKM\PIVIVaWЅKMZQV
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When the reconstituted\P*I\\ITQWVZMRWQVML\PM battle on June 4, U.S. Air Force and Navy carrier-based ÅOP\MZ[XI^ML\PM_Ia
U.S. ARMY; OPPOSITE TOP: AP PHOTO/MORITA; OPPOSITE MIDDLE AND FAR RIGHT: AP PHOTO; BELOW: AP PHOTO/KOICHIRO MORITA

Awarded for An Loc: Army Maj. Gen. William Desobry presents the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain Mike McDermott in 1973.

His adroit use of tactical air support saved the day. As the situation stabilized, the American’s tour drew to a close. When he departed, battalion commander Hieu was \W\ITTaQVLQЄMZMV\"VW¹\PIVSaW]ºVWNIZM_MTTVWIVa\PQVO*]\=;WЅKQIT[IXXZMKQI\ML5K,MZUW\\¼[KWV\ZQbutions, awarding him a second Distinguished Service Cross and a Silver Star for heroic actions in An Loc. Hieu’s attitude was not an aberration. Lt. Col. Nguyen Van Dinh, commander of the 6th Airborne Battalion, demonstrated a similar contempt for U.S. advisers. During an April battle on the outskirts of An Loc, the 6th was mauled by an NVA regiment. The 80 survivors, including Dinh and U.S. Army 1st Lt. Ross S. Kelly, withdrew to the south. Kelly kept the pursuing enemy at bay by directing a B-52 strike and multiple air sorties. He also encouraged the battalion commander and his men to keep moving when many were ready to quit. Kelly’s conduct had saved the small force, but Dinh XMZKMQ^MLQ\I[I¹TW[[WNNIKMº¸IR]VQWZ=;WЅKMZPIL JMKWUM\PM]VQ\¼[LMNIK\WTMILMZ¸IVLZM[XWVLMLJaW[tracizing Kelly. The division’s senior U.S. adviser was aware of the problem, but instead of confronting it, he ZMXTIKML3MTTa_Q\PIZMKMV\TaIZZQ^MLQVNIV\ZaUIRWZ Dinh simply transferred his hostility to the new adviser. He did not share situation reports or his plans. The American learned the details of a pending relief operation at An Loc through U.S. channels. The 6th Airborne Battalion was to conduct an airmobile assault about 6 miles south WN)V4WKIVLÅOP\Q\[_IaQV\W\PM\W_V

Pushing back: South Vietnamese troops on an armored personnel carrier watch as airstrikes hit a North Vietnamese force about 45 miles north of Saigon on April 12, 1972.

Evacuations and preparations: A helicopter evacuates wounded South Vietnamese at An Loc on June 16,1972. Left: A U.S. Special Forces adviser works on bunkers at Kontum on April 26, 1972, to prepare for an attack, which came May 14.

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echelons in the armed forces. Adviser-counterpart is[]M[_MZMWN\MV^QM_MLI[\PM)UMZQKIV[¼NI]T\7ЅKMZ[ like Dinh and Hieu even had many American apologists, whose refrains were: “We don’t understand their cul\]ZMº¹QM\VIUM[M could continually resupply and reinforce it. The 5th Battalion, assigned to make the main attack, was not alloKI\MLILLQ\QWVIT\ZWWX[WZOQ^MVXZQWZQ\aQVÅZM[]XXWZ\ Three airborne battalions paid the price for the division commander’s ineptitude. The ill-starred attack was also doomed by Thieu’s meddling. The South Vietnamese president drew an imaginary circle around Quang Tri City to delineate an arbitrary “ARVN-only” zone, where U.S. airstrikes were prohibited. Thieu had been stung by reports that U.S. air power had saved An Loc and Kontum. He wanted to demonstrate that his forces were capable of winning on their own. But the South Vietnamese air force lacked the expertise and aggressiveness to support the campaign. Once the battle began, paratroops were immediately bogged down in house-to-house fighting short of the +Q\ILMT_ITT[
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his tirades, Dinh said the South Vietnamese were only pawns in America’s war. QM\VIUKW]TLVW\ absorb casualties of this magnitude. Only a few replacements arrived to join the ranks. The Vietnamese Marine Corps relieved the battered 2nd Airborne Brigade on July 28, but soon became locked in an attritional slog. Thieu was forced to lift his restriction on U.S. airstrikes. Quang Tri was retaken on September 16, and as at An Loc, the area was reduced to rubble. The psychological victory attained by capturing I[UITTXZW^QVKQITKIXQ\ITLQLVW\WЄ[M\\PMQZZMXIZIJTM loss of well-trained paratroops and marines. ?Q\P\PM-I[\MZ7ЄMV[Q^MJT]V\ML\PM6WZ\P>QM\VIUese delegation at the Paris Peace Conference became less intransigent. Hanoi’s emissary, Le Duc Tho, was an obdurate negotiator when Operation Nguyen Hue was at its PQOP̆_I\MZUIZS6W_I[M\\TMUMV\IXXMIZMLQV\PMWЄQVO5W[\;W]\P>QM\VIUM[MWЅKMZ[PW_M^MZNMIZML\PM United States would betray them. When Nixon’s national security adviser, Henry Kissinger, said in late October \PI\¹XMIKMQ[I\PIVLºQ\KZMI\MLQZZMXIZIJTMÅ[[]ZM[ The bitterness was palpable. Major Hugh Walker, adviser to the 3rd Airborne Battalion, said his ARVN counterpart barely tolerated his presence. Walker was completely shut out. His report explained the issue: “No information on Bn [battalion] activities or missions is WЄMZML°)KKMX\IVKMWNIL^QKMWZ[]OOM[\QWV[Q[VMQ\PMZ ZMY]M[\MLVWZ[WNIZIKKMX\MLQNWЄMZML,Q[K][[QVOWN Bn tactics, ie, that of deploying companies in the attacks instead of platoons and squads, are received almost as insults or disbelief.” 6Q`WVIVVW]VKMLIKMI[M̆ÅZMIOZMMUMV\_Q\P\PM6>) MЄMK\Q^MI\ IUTWKIT\QUM2IV !
TOP: AP PHOTO/NICK UT; RIGHT: AP PHOTO/TRAN KHIEM

XIZML_Q\PW\PMZIZMI[_PMZMÅMZKMÅOP\QVOZIOML4IVL̆OZIJJQVO_I[QVN]TTNWZKM IVL KWV\ZWT WN ^QTTIOM[ [PQN\ML NZWU WVM [QLM\W\PMW\PMZQM\VIUM[MIVL>QM\+WVOÆIO[_MZM XTIV\ML\W[PW_W_VMZ[PQXQM\VIUM[M][ML\PMJT]M̆IVL̆ZML>QM\+WVO ÆIOVW\\PMQZW_VZMLÆIO_Q\PIaMTTW_[\IZ \ZaQVO\WUIQV\IQV\PMNIKILM\PI\\PM_IZ _I[R][\I[W]\PMZVQV[]ZOMVKaTMLJa\PM >QM\+WVO\W\PZW_W]\\PM¹QUXMZQITQ[\[IVL \PMQZX]XXM\[º On February 6, Team 162KWVL]K\MLI UMUWZQIT[MZ^QKMI\KWUUIVLMZNZWU!\W !I\\MVLML\PM[MZ^QKM6W\QKMIJTaIJ[MV\_MZM[MVQWZ;W]\P>QM\VIUM[MWЅKMZ[ NZWU\PM2WQV\/MVMZIT;\IЄ[QUQTIZ\W\PM =;2WQV\+PQMN[WN;\IЄIVL\PM)QZJWZVM ,Q^Q[QWV6LQ^Q[QWV[_MZMWNNMZML;M^MZITZMOQUMV\ITI[[Q[\IVKM\MIU[PIL\W JM X]TTML W]\ JMKI][M KWUUIVLMZ[ IVL [WTLQMZ[ _MZM WXMVTa PW[\QTM )UMZQKIV XTIVVMZ[NIQTML\WIV\QKQXI\M\PMJIKSTI[P LQZMK\MLI\KW̆^IV[:IXXWZ\V]Z\]ZMLW^MZ ILMKILMWNU]\]ITTa[PIZMLPIZL[PQX[LQ[[WT^MLI[\PM)UMZQKIV[¼NQVITLMXIZ\]ZM LZM_VMIZ7VMKWTWVMT[]UUMLQ\]X_PMV PM[IQL¹?MPI^MR][\_Q\VM[[ML\PMZIOOML MLOMWN>QM\VIUQbI\QWVº <_WaMIZ[IN\MZ\PMKMI[M̆NQZM\PM6>) QVQ\QI\MLXZWJQVOI\\IKS[\W\M[\\PM=;ZM[XWV[M?PMV\PMZM_I[VWVMIUIRWZWЄMV[Q^M_I[TI]VKPML6Q`WV¼[ZM[QOVI\QWVIVLI PW[\QTM+WVOZM[[X]\IVMVL\WIQLNWZ;W]\P >QM\VIU?Q\PW]\=;I[[Q[\IVKMIVLIQZ []XXWZ\\PM):>6LQ[QV\MOZI\ML1VQ\QI\Q^M[ \WMV[]ZM\PI\;W]\P>QM\VIU¼[IZUMLNWZKM[ _MZMKIXIJTMWN[\IVLQVOITWVMNIQTMLKWUXTM\MTa
*LHZLÄYL! A headline in a Jan. 24, 1973, Saigon newspaper announces a peace agreement to take LɈLJ[1HU\HY`)LSV^! South Vietnamese troops and civilians gather on the south bank of the Thach Han River to welcome freed prisoners of war on March 17,1973.

2WPV,0W_IZL[MZ^MLQV\PM=;)ZUa NWZ aMIZ[ZM\QZQVOI[IJZQOILQMZ OMVMZIT,]ZQVO\PM-I[\MZ7ЄMV[Q^M !̆PM_I[IJI\\ITQWVIL^Q[MZ_Q\P \PM>QM\VIUM[M)QZJWZVM,Q^Q[QWV JUNE 2016

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AP PHOTOS

A city in shock: Waiters help a man injured after two Viet Cong commandos set VɈIVTIZH[HÅVH[PUN restaurant along the Saigon River in June 1965. Opposite: Bystanders rush to WLVWSLZ[Y\JRI`[OL IVTIISHZ[Z

The Terrorist Attack That Shook the World The Viet Cong’s 1965 bombing of Saigon’s My Canh restaurant killed scores of people from many countries By Rick Fredericksen

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I

n its glory days, it was among the most prominent restaurants in Saigon and a popular attraction for visitors from around the world pouring into South Vietnam in 1965. Moored along the riverfront at the doorstep of Tu Do Street’s entertainment district, the My Canh was perhaps less famous for its food than NWZQ\[IUJQIVKM#\PMÆWI\QVOZM[\I]ZIV\¼[VIUMUMIV[ “beautiful view.” And so, on a pleasant evening in June an international crowd had gathered on the Saigon River for a Friday get-together with friends, family and fellow soldiers. Maybe there would even be a CIA encounter. That serene setting on the river would soon be the scene of the most sensational terrorist incident of the Vietnam War. Viet Cong terrorism was well-established across South Vietnam by then. Especially rampant in the countryside, the violence was moving into the capital as the )UMZQKIVXZM[MVKMQV\MV[QÅML7V\PMXZM^QW][+PZQ[\mas Eve, the VC had bombed the Brink Hotel (often referred to as the Brinks), a residence for American milQ\IZaWЅKMZ[
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that diners used to cross from the riverbank to the WV̆LMKSWXMV̆IQZLQVQVOZWWU7\PMZ]VQNWZUMLIVL XTIQVKTW\PM[WЅKMZ[_MZM_I\KPQVONZWUIVWXMVIZMI opposite the barge; armored vehicles and combat soldiers were manning nearby intersections, and naval vessels patrolled the river. Long was assisted in his plot by Le >IV:IaIVW\PMZUMUJMZWN\PM\P+WUUIVLW=VQ\ The two VC sappers approached the restaurant on bicycles; one was motorized. Long led the way, carrying one time bomb, according to the People’s Army story. Ray, pretending to be a newspaper seller, transported a UQVM
LEFT: BETTMANN/CORBIS; RIGHT; AP PHOTO

Aftermath: The Brink Hotel in Saigon, where a ^V\UKLKVɉJLY is being put into HUHTI\SHUJL was bombed six months before the H[[HJRVU[OL My Canh, at left.

Crime scene: The horrors of the1965 terrorist attack shattered the serenity of a riverside restaurant whose name means “beautiful view.”

VNAFMANM.COM

the streets turned into a scene of chaos,” according to the People’s Army article. “Only the two commandos were filled with a feeling of incredible joy.” Minutes after the twin blasts, the U.S. ambassador arrived on the scene. “The ambassador shook his head hopelessly and sadly got back into his car, seeming to be unable to believe what had just happened,” the article reported.
Q\[\PMI\\IKS_Q\P¹SQTTQVO+1)QV\MTTQOMVKMWЅKMZ[ and wounding many other personnel.” Western reports put the death toll as high as 48. The Joint U.S. Public )ЄIQZ[7ЅKMKW]V\ML\W\ITKI[]IT\QM[UW[\Ta>QM\VIUM[M1\TQ[\ML)UMZQKIV[IUWVO\PMLMIL)LLQVO \PMUQ[[QVOIVLQVR]ZML\PMZM_MZMI\TMI[\ )UMZican casualties. According to newspaper accounts, the U.S. deaths included civilian Air Force employees who repaired damaged aircraft, military advisers in from the ÅMTLIVL\PZMM[WTLQMZ[I\\IKPML\W\PM8P]4IU;QOVIT Battalion. There were also French, German, Swiss and Filipino dead. The shock waves reverberated worldwide. )[NWZKTIQU[WN+1)LMI\P[¹aW]KIV¼\R][\\ISM them at face value,” says Vietnam War historian Erik Villard. “Some of those people may have been inforUIV\[W\PMZ[VW\IK\]ITTaWV\PM+1)XIaZWTTWZ\PM>+ [][XMK\ML\PMaUQOP\JM[WQ\¼[VW\TQSMaW]¼^MOW\ James Bonds.” Nonetheless, the People’s Army XZWÅTM WV4WVOITTMOM[\PI\\PM5a+IVPW_VMZQLMV\QÅMLI[ 8P]4IU¹_I[I\Z][\MLQV\MTTQOMVKMTIKSMaWN\PM+1)° Superiors believed that by destroying the restaurant we would essentially have destroyed an American-puppet source.” Regardless of any proven connection, one can I[[]UM\PI\+1)XMZ[WVVMTNZMY]MV\ML\PM5a+IVP which was a short walk from the U.S. Embassy. Perhaps a bigger reason for the bombing was straightforward payback. The People’s Army article on bomber 4WVOKITTML\PM5a+IVPI\\IKS¹IVIK\WNZM^MVOMNWZ\PM LMI\PWN+WUZILMIV,IVOIKWUUIVLWÅOP\MZ _PWPILR][\JMMVM`MK]\MLJa\PM=;IVL\PMX]XXM\[ I\*MVQM\VIUM[MÅZQVO[Y]ILQVKMV\ZIT;IQgon for trying to bomb an American billet. The restaurant bombing wasn’t the only reprisal. :ILQW0IVWQIVVW]VKML\PMM`MK]\QWVWN)ZUa;\INN ;O\0IZWTL*MVVM\\IXZQ[WVMZWN_IZWV2]VMIVL suggested other Americans might face the same fate: “The punishment serves to warn the U.S. aggressors and their henchmen…that the murderers must pay for their JUNE 2016

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blood debts. The crimes of the bloodthirsty devils are intolerable.” While many Viet Cong had already been exMK]\MLJa\PM;IQOWVOW^MZVUMV\*MVVM\\_I[\PMÅZ[\ American POW put to death during the war. He served as an adviser with South Vietnamese Rangers and was captured at Binh Gia on Dec. 29, 1964, when the unit was overrun. Within hours of the My Canh bloodbath, the North Vietnamese and American governments were exchanging terse rejoinders and propaganda. Radio Hanoi and Viet Cong radio both claimed that hundreds of U.S. aggressors had been killed or wounded, the restaurant seriously damaged and a nearby U.S. warship blown ]X
MI\QVOPIUJ]ZOMZ[IVL[QXXQVOKWЄMM_Q\PW]\PI^QVO\W JMINZIQLIJWUJUQOP\OWWЄTQSMQ\LQLI\\PI\ZM[\I]rant in Saigon a few weeks back. You can get killed here. Get out while you’re still alive and before it’s too late.” On the American side of the propaganda war, the pamXPTM\Q[[]MLJa=;X]JTQKIЄIQZ[WЅKMZ[QVKT]LM[JIKSground on the Vietnamese casualties illustrated with ghastly pictures. The front cover shows an American holding the bloody body of a young boy, visibly in shock. One of the photo captions reads: “Of the 123 people killed and injured, 89 were Vietnamese—cyclo drivers and govMZVUMV\WЅKQIT[[]OIZKIVM^MVLWZ[IVLJ][QVM[[UMV young women clerks and a popular singer, and of course many children.” Taylor is seen visiting patients in a hospital where survivors were interviewed. A 13-year-old boy who had been selling peanuts was recovering from surgery to remove shrapnel from his back and leg. To Thi My, the mother of Saigon singer Phuong Thao, who perished, is pictured weeping. She said her daughter was not performing at the time: “She was dining there with some of her friends. They were there just for a good time.”

JOURNALIST DON NORTH’S LASTING MEMORY OF THE BOMBING: WATCHING FIREMEN WITH STRONG WATER HOSES WASHING BLOOD OFF THE STREET IN CRIMSON WAVES

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A Vietnamese man who provided a crucial service for Western news agencies barely survived and was taken to the U.S. Naval Hospital. “Mr. Thach,” as he was known, handled the all-important radio photo machine at the post, telegraph and telephone WЅKM8<<NWZ[PWZ\IVL\ZIV[UQ\\MLVM_[ photos for the wire services. A false rumor was circulating that Thach would be thrown out of the hospital, and his boss at the PTT called Mike Malloy, a UPI reporter in Saigon, NWZPMTX5ITTWaI[[]ZML\PMXW[\WЅKM¼[LQrector general that Mr. Thach would not be forced out of his hospital bed. “Later, someone at PTT called and said they had a package for us; a sack of piasters [Vietnamese currency],” Malloy remembers. “It was a lot of dough.” The money appeared to be a refund to settle a longstanding dispute with the news agency, which was also granted an exclusive 24-hour outgoing circuit of its own. “Nobody ever told me why we got these favors,” Malloy said, “but it’s obvious to me that they were rewards for saving Mr. Thach’s life, even though the Navy VM^MZQV\MVLML\W\PZW_PQUW]\QV\PMÅZ[\XTIKMº There are others who likely would have been casualties that night but for sheer luck or happenstance. One _I[IaW]VO)ZUaWЅKMZ_PWPILTIVLMLI\
DAVID TURNLEY/CORBIS

a military career capped with his leadership of the multinational force in the 1991 Gulf War. The Majestic was so near the bombed restaurant that he could peer down from the roof and see wounded customers moving over the walkway to shore. “Suddenly another explosion blasted them from the gangplank into the water,” Schwarzkopf wrote. “That was my welcome to Vietnam.” More KPQTTQVO\PM5a+IVPPILJMMVÅZ[\WVPQ[ list of recommended restaurants. The floating eatery was also a hangout for the media. Author and journalist Marvin Wolf and a Time magazine freelancer had lunch on the vessel the day of the disaster. They were joined by the owner, “an enormously rotund Chinese in a white linen []Q\IO]a_Q\P̆QVKPÅVOMZVIQT[ºI[?WTN describes him. “The food was gratis. Six hours later, boom!” Freelance journalist Don North, who had arrived in-country a month earlier, had left PQ[OMIZQVPQ[ZWWUJMNWZMPM[M\WЄNWZI seafood dinner. He was walking toward the My Canh when the whole neighborhood was shaken. North’s most lasting memory? ?I\KPQVOÅZMUMV_Q\P[\ZWVO_I\MZPW[M[ washing blood off the street in crimson waves. “After that,” North insisted, “I never left my apartment without cameras and a tape recorder.” It was an even closer call for armed forces radio announcer Adrian Cronauer, who had ÅVQ[PMLLQVVMZ_Q\PNZQMVL[IVL_I[[\QTTQV the area when the terrorists hit. He dodged the horror and lived to create the story concept that comedian Robin Williams turned into the hit movie Good Morning, Vietnam. Army Spc. 5 Ron Hesketh had two brushes with terrorism. He was heading for the My Canh to celebrate his 25th birthday when he heard the thunderous explosions. “It was the worst thing I saw in the war.” Six months earlier, he had been scheduled to work at the Brink Hotel on the night Viet Cong planted a car bomb there, but Hesketh had suddenly been sent away on temporary duty. Urban terrorism was escalating alongside the U.S. troop presence in the mid1960s, but it was not a new phenomenon. In 1957 the U.S. Information Agency Library, a military bus and a hostel were bombed during an international meeting in Saigon, _W]VLQVO)UMZQKIV[IVLÅ^M>QM\VIUese. By 1965 the terror campaign in Saigon— attacks on hotels, bars, theaters and other strategic targets in the capital—was dwarfed by Viet Cong intimidation in the countryside where civilians had it much worse.

A 1967 study, “Viet Cong Use of Terror,” compiled by the U.S. Embassy, lists page after page of terrorism against noncombatants. In the same year of the My Canh bombing, the report tallied 1,800 assassinations and 8,500 kidnappings countrywide, UW[\WN\PMU\IZOM\QVOZ]ZITWЅKQIT[ The Viet Cong “are very deliberate in what they do,” said historian Villard. “Rather than just say, ‘Let’s go kill a bunch of civilians,’ they had thought it through to achieve IKMZ\IQVMЄMK\º7VM[\ZI\MOaPM[IQL_I[ to drive a wedge between the allies, “to do things that would put the Americans and South Vietnamese at each other’s throat, XWQV\ÅVOMZ["»AW]JZW]OP\\PQ[WV¼»6WaW] JZW]OP\\PQ[WV¼»AW][PW]TLPI^MXZM^MV\ML it.’ That sort of thing.” The actions of the Viet Cong commandos who pulled off the My Canh attack were celebrated. Long was awarded the Combat Achievement Medal, First Class. The entire 67th Commando Unit won the Military Achievement Medal. Correspondent Bang 8P]WVO_PWXZMXIZML4WVO¼[XZWÅTMNWZPeople’s Army, wrote, “This legendary person ÅTT[M^MZaWVM_PW[MM[PQU_Q\PI_MIVLZMspect for the intelligence and courage he displayed when he scored a resounding victory in the attack on the My Canh Restaurant.” Eventually, Long and his wife, who raised three children, were jailed for revolutionary activities. Long even spent time on Con Son Island, the site of a South Vietnamese prison where, according to the profile, he was locked up in so-called tiger cages, notorious French-built torture cells with barred ceilings allowing guards to look down on the inmates. He was released in 1973 in a prisoner exchange after the Paris Peace Talks. In the years immediately after the raid, the ÆWI\QVOZM[\I]ZIV\ZMUIQVML\ZMVLaNWZQ\[ “beautiful view,” despite having an ugly past, and it continued to serve Vietnamese, Chinese and seafood dishes to a forgiving clientele. Fresh-faced young servicemen, like me, enjoyed fried rice and tasted the delectable \ZWXQKITNZ]Q\TaKPMMNWZ\PMÅZ[\\QUMM^MV though it was out of a can. The My Canh also continued to be of keen QV\MZM[\\W\PM>QM\+WVO_PWQV7K\WJMZ 1969 lobbed several mortar shells at the restaurant, only to see them land harmlessly in the Saigon River. V

Welcome to Vietnam: Norman Schwarzkopf, leader of the coalition forces in the Gulf War, was a `V\UNVɉJLYUL^S` arrived in Saigon the day of the bombing.

Rick Fredericksen, a Marine veteran, was an editor and newscaster for American Forces Vietnam network in Saigon in 1969-70 and a civilian reporter in Asia IVL\PM8IKQÅKNWZaMIZ[ JUNE 2016

39

Taking aim: A North Vietnamese militia unit positions an antiaircraft gun in 1965 to face an American attack, as part of the ^HYTVIPSPaH[PVULɈVY[ planned by Communist leader Le Duan, inset.

O

n Aug. 5, 1964, U.S. Navy aircraft struck four North Vietnamese torpedo boat bases and the fuel depot at Vinh, about 160 miles south of Hanoi. Two of \PMIQZKZIN\_MZMTW[\\WIV\Q̆IQZKZIN\ÅZM4I]VKPML in retaliation for a torpedo boat attack on a U.S. destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin on August 2, Operation Pierce Arrow had the ostensible political purpose of demonstrating America’s strength to the North Vietnamese to deter further aggression and additional

40

VIETNAM

support for the insurgency in South Vietnam. But Hanoi’s leaders concluded the relatively small-scale response showed that American intervention would be constrained, not decisive. More important, it energized and unified Hanoi’s political leadership behind new XIZ\aTMILMZ4M,]IV_PWPIL\ISMVXW_MZQV2IV]IZa by marginalizing the Communist Party moderates led by Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap at a party UMM\QVOQV,MKMUJMZ4M,]IVQUUMLQI\MTaWZLMZML “resumption of armed struggle in South Vietnam” and requested assistance from North Vietnam’s two major allies, China and the Soviet Union. He put the military WVI_IZ\QUMNWW\QVOWV2]TaIVLUWJQTQbMLITTKWUXW-

The Rise of North Vietnam’s Air Defenses Rapid mobilization of anti-aircraft guns, missiles and jet fighters provided Hanoi with a potent resistance to U.S. bombers in the early years of the war

TOP: PHOTO BY SOVFOTO/UIG VIA GETTY IMAGES; RIGHT: AP PHOTO

By Carl O. Schuster

nents of society for the coming war. That mobilization and support from other Communist countries enabled North Vietnam to build what would become the world’s strongest integrated air defense at the time. Beijing rushed aid to North Vietnam in early 1964. China’s backing came at a time of Sino-Soviet competition for leadership of the global Communist movement, and Moscow felt compelled to provide higher-technology sensors, better weapons and a larger training package \PIV\PM+PQVM[M_MZMWЄMZQVO
placed in Soviet military training schools. Additionally, Moscow shipped radars, anti-aircraft artillery and coastal defense equipment to Hanoi. Not to be outdone by its rival, Beijing accelerated the training program for the 30 North Vietnamese pilots who were being trained on Soviet-donated Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17s at China’s Son Dong Airfield since early 1963. China also donated training aircraft to Hanoi and initiated a training program for about another 200 pilots. Those pilots, however, were JUNE 2016

41

not expected to be ready for combat operations before late 1964 or early spring 1965. The Chinese and Soviet aid was vital for North Vietnam’s air defense forces. Although Hanoi had been improving its air defenses incrementally since 1957, the system was still grossly inadequate against a modern bombing campaign. To simplify air defense command and control, Hanoi combined the Air Defense Force, which managed ground-based anti-aircraft systems, and the North Vietnamese Air Force into one command on Oct. 23, 1963. At that time, Hanoi’s air defenses consisted of 22 [MIZKPZILIZ[IVLI[QVOTM?]ZbJ]ZOÅZM̆LQZMK\QWVZILIZ that Beijing had supplied in 1954 to control 16 batteries of World War II–era German 88mm anti-aircraft guns, supplied by the Soviets. The country’s 600 light antiIQZKZIN\O]V[LQLVW\PI^MZILIZÅZMKWV\ZWT)LLQ\QWVITTa\PMIQZNWZKMPILVMQ\PMZÅOP\MZQV\MZKMX\WZ[VWZ Y]ITQÅMLRM\ÅOP\MZXQTW\[ The North Vietnamese Air Force, established in March 1956, had been constructed from literally nothing. Not many Vietnamese had even seen an airplane before the pilot training program began that year (indeed less than XMZKMV\PILM^MV[MMVIKIZ0IVWQ[MV\ÆQOP\ candidates to the Soviet Union that month and a similar number each year through 1962.
VIETNAM

SAM men: The crew of an SA-2 surface-to-air missile, or SAM, pose with their weapon.

North Vietnam also lacked runways and maintenance []XXWZ\NWZIQZWXMZI\QWV[1\PILWVTaIPIVLN]TWNIQZÅMTL[ and a 1959 study found that just two could handle jets. In ZM[XWV[MXIZ\aTMILMZ0W+PQ5QVPWZLMZMLIVIQZÅMTL M`XIV[QWVXZWOZIU\PI\_W]TLKWV[\Z]K\IQZÅMTL[Ja 1965. It was a massive project that employed more than 30,000 people, required over 200,000 cubic meters of concrete and involved moving nearly 1 million tons of earth. Like the pilot training program, the maintenance and logistics organization had to start from scratch. The country had only a dozen aircraft “technicians,” and their experience was limited to piston engines on World ?IZ11·MZIIQZNZIUM[6WVMY]ITQÅMLWVRM\MVOQVM[IV*MOW\ \PM6WZ\P>QM\VIUM[M)QZ.WZKM¼[ÅZ[\IMZQITSQTT_PQTM ÆaQVOINWZUMZ4IW\QIV6WZ\P)UMZQKIV<̆ ¸M[[MV\QITTa IVIZUMLXZQUIZa\ZIQVMZ¸_PMVPMLW_VMLI;W]\P>QM\namese Fairchild C-123 over Laos on Feb. 16, 1964.
U.S. AIR FORCE

MiG men: Pilots in North Vietnam’s 1st Squadron, 923rd Fighter Regiment, walk [OYV\NOHUHPYÄLSK VM4P.ÄNO[LYZ

On the attack: A U.S. aircraft leaves the Constellation on Aug. 14,1964, for a raid on North Vietnamese torpedo boat bases.

TOP LEFT: VLADIMIR AKIMOV/SPUTNIK VIA AP; TOP RIGHT: AP PHOTO/POOL

In the USSR: Vietnamese students are trained in military communications at a seminar in Ulyanovsk, Russia, in 1973.

been incorporated into the combined air defense–air force organization. North Vietnam had no centralized air defense system. It possessed some World War II airsearch radars—American-made for the anti-Communist Nationalist Party Chinese and then taken by the Communists after China’s 1949 revolution. But they were unreliable, short-range and almost useless during the frequent heavy rains. The primary air defense detection sensor was a network of 40 visual lookout posts \PI\ZMXWZ\ML\PMQZWJ[MZ^I\QWV[\WI¹ÅT\MZKMV\MZºQV Hanoi. The information was then sent to each district headquarters that controlled anti-aircraft weapons. The transmission method was telephone or Morse code. In November 1963 North Vietnam lacked the technological and industrial capacity to withstand a concentrated American bombing campaign. To alter that equation, Le Duan dispatched thousands of North Vietnamese to the Soviet Union to train on Soviet communications, electronics and weapons systems. Meanwhile, the country’s academics were pressed to learn everything they could about America’s culture, media, political system and military. English speakers were conscripted to teach the language to the most promising students. The program’s scale was immense, the instruction intense and demanding. By 1969 the very best were good enough to intrude into American communications and create convincing fake radio calls. Military intelligence pursued every possible source, both open and covert, to research America’s political XZWKM[[M[IVL¹_IaWN_IZºNZWUUQTQ\IZaMY]QXUMV\\W \IK\QK[IVLWXMZI\QWV[8IZ\aWЅKQIT[IVL[aUXI\PQbMZ[ were directed to make contact with Western media outlets and spokesmen. Le Duan also built upon Ho Chi Minh’s already exten[Q^MMЄWZ\\WLM^MTWX[MK]ZMKWUU]VQKI\QWV[[a[\MU[ ciphers and signals-monitoring equipment. He expanded research and production programs, pursued low-cost solutions to air defense problems and developed deception plans to complicate U.S. force deployment, targeting IVLJI\\TMLIUIOMI[[M[[UMV\
were mobilized and trained, with Chinese assistance, to rapidly rebuild damaged roads, bridges and infrastructure. Recognizing that political warfare would play a critiKITZWTMQV\PMKWUQVOKWVÆQK\4M,]IVQVKWZXWZI\MLQ\ into air defense planning. He developed a strategy to not WVTaZML]KMI=;JWUJQVOKIUXIQOV¼[MЄMK\Q^MVM[[J]\ IT[W]VLMZUQVMKWVÅLMVKMQV\PI\KIUXIQOV
43

NI^WZMLILQЄMZMV\\IK\QK)UWVO\PMKQ^QTQIVTMILMZ[ ;MKZM\IZaWN;\I\M,MIV:][S[PIZML5K6IUIZI¼[^QM_ IVL6I\QWVIT;MK]ZQ\a)L^Q[MZ5K/MWZOM*]VLaNI^WZML IVQVKZMUMV\ITIXXZWIKPTQUQ\QVO\PM[\ZQSM[I\ÅZ[\\W [PW_0IVWQ\PI\\PM=VQ\ML;\I\M[¹_I[[MZQW][º QM\VIU#7X\QWV*I[PWZ\J]\ QV\MV[Q^MKIUXIQOVWN¹[_QN\TaaM\LMTQJMZI\MTaIXXTQMLº [\ZQSM[WVSMa\IZOM\[\WLMTQ^MZI¹PIZLSVWKSº\PI\ _W]TLLMUWV[\ZI\M\PM=VQ\ML;\I\M[_I[[MZQW][#IVL 7X\QWV+I[\IZ\̆[UITTQVKZMUMV\ITIXXZWIKPQM\VIUIVLÅVITTa OWQVONIZ\PMZVWZ\PQN0IVWQLQLVW\KMI[MQ\[[]XXWZ\\W \PM>QM\+WVO )N\MZ\PM>QM\+WVO¼[.MJ!I\\IKSWV8TMQS] QV;W]\P>QM\VIU¼[KMV\ZITZMOQWV2WPV[WVI\ÅZ[\ZM̆ [XWVLML_Q\PITQUQ\MLZM\ITQI\WZaI\\IKSIVL\PMVWV .MJZ]IZa  IXXZW^ML _PI\ _W]TL JMKWUM 7XMZI\QWV :WTTQVO QM\VIU.MIZN]TWN\ZQOOMZQVOI _WZTL_IZWZ+PQVM[MQV\MZ^MV\QWV5K̆ 6IUIZIQV[Q[\MLWVTQUQ\QVO_PMZMIVL _PMV=;NWZKM[KW]TLI\\IKS^IZQW][ \IZOM\[QV[XMKQNQMLOMWOZIXPQKIZMI[ IVL\PMXZM[QLMV\QV[Q[\ML\PI\\PMKQ̆ ^QTQIVTMILMZ[PQXKWV\ZWT\PM[MTMK\QWV WN\IZOM\[QM\VIU=VTQSM0IVWQ?I[PQVO\WVUILMWVTaI[UITT XZQUIZQTaUQTQ\IZăNWK][MLMNNWZ\\WTMIZVIJW]\\PM MVMUaQ\_I[XTIVVQVO\WMVOIOM8]JTQKTaIKKM[[QJTM IVLIKILMUQKUI\MZQIT[_MZMITTJ]\QOVWZML QM\̆ VIUJMNWZM!_MZMTWVŎPI]T[QOVIT[̆QV\MTTQOMVKM UWVQ\WZQVOIMZQITZMKWVVIQ[[IVKMÆQOP\[IVL[PQX̆JWZVM MTMK\ZWVQK[[QOVITKWTTMK\QWVQM\VIUQV!_MZM LZI_VNZWU-]ZWXMIVXW[\[IVLI]OUMV\ML_Q\P;W]\P >QM\VIUM[M-VOTQ[P[XMISMZ[[WUMWN_PWUTI\MZXZW^ML \WJM>QM\+WVOIOMV\[

-^MV_Q\P\PW[MXZWJTMU[IVLTQUQ\MLP]UIV[W]ZKM[ QV6WZ\P>QM\VIUITT\PZMMUIRWZ)UMZQKIVQV\MTTQOMVKM IOMVKQM[¸\PM+1)\PM,MNMV[M1V\MTTQOMVKM)OMVKaIVL \PM;\I\M,MXIZ\UMV\¼[1V\MTTQOMVKM*]ZMI]¸Q[[]ML I[[M[[UMV\[\PI\JWUJQVO_W]TLVW\JZMIS0IVWQ¼[XW̆ TQ\QKIT_QTT)N\MZ[WUM_MI\PMZ̆KI][MLLMTIa[:WTTQVO QM\VIU¼[IQZLMNMV[MJ]QTL]X North Vietnam had [XMV\\PMÅVITUWV\P[WN! [\MXXQVO]XQ\[XZMXIZI\QWV[NWZ\PM)UMZQKIVJWUJ̆ MZ[+PQVILMTQ^MZMLNW]Z;PMVaIVO.̆[5Q/̆[J]QT\ ]VLMZTQKMV[MNZWU\PM;W^QM\[IVL.̆[5Q/̆[ \W8P]KAMV)QZ*I[MQVTI\M)]O][\!+PQVIIVL 6WZ\P>QM\VIUIT[WM[\IJTQ[PMLIRWQV\IQZ_IZVQVO [a[\MUQV;MX\MUJMZ!MVIJTQVO0IVWQ\WUWVQ\WZ IVLQLMV\QNaIQZ\ZIЅKW^MZ\PM/]TNWN QM\VIUM[M]VQNWZU[\WOQ^M 5W[KW_XTI][QJTMLMVQIJQTQ\aIJW]\\PMQZ XZM[MVKMQV6WZ\P>QM\VIUQM\VIUM[M IQZ LMNMV[MKZM_[ZILIZWXMZI\WZ[\MKPVQ̆ KQIV[IVLWЅKMZ[ *a ,MKMUJMZ ! 6WZ\P >QM\VIU PILLQ[KIZLMLITT\PM?WZTL?IZ11·MZI MY]QXUMV\IVLUWZM\PIVLW]JTMLQ\[ IV\Q̆IQZKZIN\JI\\MZQM[IVLZILIZ[
THE GOAL WAS TO ENSURE NORTH VIETNAM’S PILOTS HAD ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEEDED TO EXECUTE THEIR HITAND-RUN INTERCEPT TACTICS

44

VIETNAM

TOP: U.S. AIR FORCE; BOTTOM: U.S. NAVY

Outnumbered by a technologically superior opponent, the North Vietnamese Air .WZKMQV\MVLML\WÅOP\\PMMY]Q^ITMV\WNIV IMZQITQV[]ZOMVKa8ZWTWVOMLLWOÅOP\[_MZM \WJMI^WQLML1V[\MILXQTW\[_W]TLQV\MZKMX\ Q[WTI\ML=;IQZKZIN\_PMV\PMZM_I[IVWXXWZ\]VQ\aNWZ[]KKM[[N]TI\\IKSIVLM[KIXM 1V\PMXZMNMZZML\IK\QKIV¹QV\MZKMX\ÆQOP\º WN6WZ\P>QM\VIUM[MXTIVM[I\\IKSML_PQTM I[QUQTIZ̆[QbM¹KW^MZQVOÆQOP\ºXZW\MK\ML\PM QV\MZKMX\WZ[NZWU)UMZQKIVÅOP\MZM[KWZ\[ QM\VIU_PQTMWJ[MZ^I\QWVIVLTQ[\MVQVOXW[\[ _MZMXW[Q\QWVMLVMIZ=;IQZJI[M[QVQM\VIUM[M[QOVIT[[Q\M[_MZMLQZMK\ML\WZMXWZ\SMaITTQMLIQZKZIN\KWUU]VQKI\QWV[^QI TIVLTQVM\W\PM)QZ.QT\MZQVO+MV\MZIVLIXpropriate ground-control intercept stations. QM\VIU¼[XQTW\[PILITT\PMQVNWZUI\QWV\PMaVMMLML\W execute their hit-and-run intercept tactics. The North’s intelligence preparations _MZMU]KPJM\\MZ\PIV\PM[]XXWZ\XTIVVML NWZ\PMÅZ[\)UMZQKIVIQZKZM_[\WÆaW^MZ North Vietnam. American signals intelliOMVKMKW^MZIOMXIZ\QK]TIZTaMTMK\ZWVQKQV\MTTQOMVKM_I[TQUQ\ML\WIPIVLN]TWN)QZ Force Douglas EB-66B Destroyer light bombMZ[\PM5IZQVM[,W]OTI[-.̆;SaVQOP\ ÅOP\MZ[IVL\PM6I^a¼[,W]OTI[-)̆;SaZIQLMZI\\IKSIQZKZIN\IVL-)̆;Sa_IZZQWZ JWUJMZQM\VIUM[MIQZ[XIKMNWZUW[\WN :WTTQVO
>QM\VIUPILWVTa\PMMaM[WN\PMQZXQTW\[IVL KZM_QM\VIUIVL disrupt American bomb runs to decrease \PMQZIKK]ZIKa_PQTMQVÆQK\QVOTW[[M[[]Ѕcient enough to undermine America’s politQKIT_QTT As Johnson’s January 1965 inauguration IXXZWIKPML6WZ\P>QM\VIUM[MTMILMZ[NMT\ \PMa_MZMIaMIZI_IaNZWUJMQVOZMILa\W _Q\P[\IVLIUIRWZ)UMZQKIVJWUJQVOKIUpaign. Much remained to be done. Pilots and ground-based controllers that guided the ÅOP\MZ[\W\PMQZ\IZOM\[_MZMR][\JMOQVVQVO to practice their tactics. The support proKML]ZM[NWZ[QOVIT[QV\MTTQOMVKM_MZMWVTa \PMVJMQVO_WZSMLW]\QM\VIUM[MTMILMZ[_MZM XIZ\QK]TIZTa_WZZQMLIJW]\\PMXW\MV\QIT )UMZQKIVLMXTWaUMV\WN*WMQVO*̆;\ZI\WNWZ\ZM[[JWUJMZ[QV\PMKIUXIQOVJMKI][M \PMaPILVW_MIXWV[[a[\MU[\PI\KW]TL MVOIOM\PMU\PW]OP\PMQZ;W^QM\ITTQM[IVL media reports indicated that their concern _I[UQ[XTIKML North Vietnamese leaders entered 1965 KWVÅLMV\QV\PMQZXZMXIZI\QWV[IVL[\ZI\MOa QM\VIU
+IZT7;KP][\MZQ[IZM\QZML6I^aKIX\IQV _Q\PaMIZ[WN[MZ^QKM0MÅVQ[PMLPQ[ KIZMMZI[IVQV\MTTQOMVKMWЅKMZ;KP][\MZ _PWTQ^M[QV0WVWT]T]Q[I\MIKPMZQV 0I_IQQ8IKQÅK=VQ^MZ[Q\a¼[,QXTWUIKa and Military Science program.

Defense and VɈLUZL! A North Vietnamese SA-2 SAM, circled top, is launched over an HPYÄLSKH[2LWLHZ[ of Hanoi. Bottom: U.S. Douglas A-4C Skyhawks pass the carrier 2LHYZHYNL on an Aug. 12, 1964, strike against North Vietnam.

JUNE 2016

45

PORTFOLIO

From the Gene Basset Sketchbook In the 1960s and ’70s, Gene Basset was chief editorial cartoonist for the Scripps-Howard newspapers, publishers of several papers across the United States including the now-defunct Washington Daily News in Washington, D.C. In 1965 Basset was sent to Vietnam for three months to sketch war scenes for the syndicate. More than 80 of his sketches were recently published in Gene Basset’s Vietnam Sketchbook: A Cartoonist’s Wartime Perspective, (Syracuse University Press, 2015), by Thom Rooke, author, cardiologist and longtime friend of the artist, who annotates the drawings using his insights on trauma, coping and healing. “I think what people like is the humor and the ‘magic’ of creation,” Basset told Rooke. V

A SHARP EYE “I just drew what I saw,” is how Basset describes his cartoons of the Vietnam War.

MINOR WOUND The young soldier depicted is wide-eyed with concern and perhaps fear as he is treated by medics.

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VIETNAM

CHEAP HAIRCUT 7ЄJI[M[WTLQMZ[ZMTI`MLQV\PMKPIQZ[WNKQ\aJIZJMZ[ who also did a certain amount of chiropractic work.

PHOTO BY KOICHI SAWADA, COURTESY OF GENE BASSET

UNWINDING FROM A TRIP TO HANOI )\\PM5IZQVM7ЅKMZ[¼+T]JQV,I6IVO5IZQVMÆaMZ[ tell of their bombing raids up north earlier that day.

TIME OUT FOR A CUBAN CIGAR Servicemen relax at Junk Base II, a base for patrols searching the Ho Chi Minh Trail for contraband.

UNTITLED )\2]VS*I[M11I[IQTWZ¼[[\IVKM[PW_[LMÅIVKMIVL aggression: “Rev up the engine, boys—we’re going in.” J U NE 2 016

47

PORTFOLIO FATAL FIREFIGHT, VERSION 2 Green Berets and Montagnards patrolling along a [\ZMIU_MZMPQ\JaÅZMNZWU\PMWXXW[Q\MJIVS

SHOESHINE LADY 5IVa=;[WTLQMZ[_W]TLPQZMTWKIT XMWXTM\WLWIV]UJMZWNXMZ[WVIT \I[S[][]ITTaNWZIXQ\\IVKM

CLEAR FOR A BOMBING RUN UP NORTH )VIQZKZIN\JMOQV[Q\[\ISMWЄNZWU\PMKIZZQMZ Bon Homme RichardQV\PM;W]\P+PQVI;MI

A BETTER ’OLE This scene of two Marines reminded Basset of a ?WZTL?IZ1KIZ\WWV_PMZMWVMUIV[Ia[¹1NaW] SVW_WNIJM\\MZ¼WTMOW\WQ\º

SALVO OVER THE 17TH PARALLEL Cutter Welcome Home’s captain told his crew to JMOQVÅZQVOJ]\LQLVW\QV\MVL\WPQ\IVa\PQVO

NEXT TIME DON’T FORGET THE #*!@ BEER )/ZMMV*MZM\aMTT[IVOZQTaI\\PMKZM_WNI[]XXTa XTIVM\PI\NIQTML\WY]Q\MLMTQ^MZITT\PMOWWL[ J U NE 2 016

49

Banners for ILULÄ[Z! Vietnam Veterans Against the War occupied the Statue of Liberty on June 6, 1976, switching its emphasis from antiwar protests to a quest for better ILULÄ[ZPUJS\KPUN an expanded .0)PSS

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LBJ’s GI Bill: President Lyndon B. Johnson, here in a January 1969 photo, signed a GI Bill on March 3, 1966, that NH]LLK\JH[PVUILULÄ[Z to Vietnam vets.

The Fight Back Home Vietnam vets got a lesson in politics as they waited for a GI Bill with benefits that matched those of the World War II generation

OPPOSITE: VVAW.ORG; TOP AND RIGHT: AP PHOTO

By Mark Boulton A GI Bill signed into law in March 1966 provided JMVMÅ\[\W^M\MZIV[_PW[MZ^ML[QVKM\PM3WZMIV?IZ M^MVQN\PMa_MZMQVXMIKM\QUM[MZ^QKMJ]\Y]M[\QWV[ IZW[MIJW]\_PM\PMZQ\_MV\NIZMVW]OPQVXZW^QLQVOILMY]I\MZMILR][\UMV\JMVMÅ\[NWZ\PMVM_OMVMZI\QWVWN ^M\MZIV[ZM\]ZVQVO\WKQ^QTQIVTQNMM\MZIV[º QM\VIU^M\MZIV[ºIVLQVSMMXQVO _Q\P\PMQLMIT[WN\PM/ZMI\;WKQM\a ¹\WMVTIZOM\PMWXXWZ\]VQ\QM[NWZML]KI\QWVITTaLQ[IL^IV\IOML^M\MZIV[°1\ is essential that we convey to them…

W]ZN]TTZMKWOVQ\QWVIVLOZI\Q\]LMNWZ\PMQZ[MZ^QKMQV >QM\VIUIVLQVW\PMZ\ZW]JTMLIZMI[WN\PM_WZTLº 2WPV[WVX]\\PM[MXZQVKQXTM[QV\WXZIK\QKMJaXZWXW[QVO\PM>QM\VIU+WVÆQK\;MZ^QKMUMVIVL>M\MZIV[¼)K\ WN!M\MZIV[)LUQVQ[\ZI\QWV M\MZIV[WN.WZMQOV?IZ[IUWVOW\PMZOZW]X[ XZIQ[MLPQUNWZZM^MZ[QVOPQ[¹IV\Q^M\MZIVº\ZMVLIVL WЄMZMLQ\[¹IXXZMKQI\QWVNWZPQ[UIOVIVQUW][IK\QWVWV JMPITNWNITT^M\MZIV[º But while Johnson was rediscovMZQVO\PM^M\MZIVKI][M;MV:ITXP AIZJWZW]OPI
JUNE 2016

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early in 1967, but it erred far more on the side of generosity than the White House hoped. Yarborough’s new bill, titled S.9, called for similar QVKZMI[M[QVUWV\PTaITTW_IVKM[J]\IT[WWЄMZMLNIZU \ZIQVQVOWV̆\PM̆RWJ\ZIQVQVOIVLÆQOP\̆\ZIQVQVOJMVMÅ\[ )VW_ KWV[QLMZML\PMU]VVMKM[[IZa)?;\ZI\\WVKPQMNJMVMÅ\[LQZMK\WZWN\PM>)LM[KZQJML\PM?PQ\M0W][MJQTT as “the sounder approach” and pushed for its enactment ahead of S.9. Like the administration’s bill, Yarborough’s UILMVWLQ[\QVK\QWVJM\_MMV+WTL?IZIVL>QM\VIUKWUJI\^M\MZIV[#Q\[XZWXW[MLQVKZMI[M[WЄMZMLJMVMÅ\[\PI\ were considerably less generous than those given to previous combat veterans. Further muddying the waters, S.16, a bill introduced by New Mexico Democrat Joseph Montoya on the same LIaI[;![W]OP\\WXZW^QLMN]TT_IZ\QUMJMVMÅ\[M`KT][Q^MTa\W>QM\VIU^M\MZIV[*]\IOIQV\PMZM_I[TQ\\TM KWV[QLMZI\QWVOQ^MVQV?I[PQVO\WV\W\PM[XMKQÅKVMML[ WNZM\]ZVQVO>QM\VIUKWUJI\^M\MZIV[I[LQ[\QVO]Q[PML from the needs of Cold War veterans. )N\MZMQOP\UWV\P[WNVMOW\QI\QWVIVIUITOIUWN\PM three proposals, under the title S.16, passed the House ̆WV)]O][\IVL\PM;MVI\M ̆WV)]O][\ The new bill provided all single veterans a monthly stiXMVLWN _Q\PXZWXWZ\QWVITQVKZMI[M[NWZLMXMVLMV\[ 7V)]O!2WPV[WVPMTLIX]JTQK[QOVQVOKMZ52

VIETNAM

As millions of veterans returned to civilian life during Richard Nixon’s presidency, criticism of the education JMVMÅ\[ZW[MXZWXWZ\QWVITTa)T[WL]ZQVO\PM6Q`WVaMIZ[ newspapers and magazines began carrying stories of returning veterans with drug or psychological problems, ]VIJTM\WÅVL_WZSIVLNIKQVOÅVIVKQITIVLXPa[QKITZMadjustment needs the federal government seemed to ignore. Front-page headlines in the New York Times such I[¹QM\VIU>M\MZIV";QTMV\8MZXTM`ML=VVW\QKMLº and “Postwar Shock Besets Ex-GIs” gave an overall imXZM[[QWVWN^M\MZIV[]ЄMZQVO *MKI][M>QM\VIŬMZI^M\MZIV[I[_MTTI[3WZMIV?IZ ^M\MZIV[ZMKMQ^MLIÅ`MLUWV\PTa[\QXMVLNWZ\]Q\QWV fees and books, many found that attending higher-cost institutions, particularly private schools, left them with QV[]ЅKQMV\N]VL[\WTQ^MWVQM\VIU^M\MZIV\PM6I\QWVIT)[[WKQI\QWV

ART SHAY/TIME LIFE IMAGES COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES

Studious: A Vietnam veteran, making use of the GI Bill, studies for a college course while home with his wife and child in 1967.

emony in the East Room of the White House, and S.16 became Public Law 90-77. Believing the administra\QWV¼[KTIQU[\PI\\PM>QM\VIU^M\MZIV[_MZMVW_OIQVing treatment equal to that of their predecessors, the Wichita Falls TimesWJ[MZ^ML¹?PMVIaW]VO)UMZQKIV fresh out of high school and on the threshold of adultPWWLU][\[XMVLIaMIZWZ\_WÅOP\QVONWZPQ[KW]V\Za he deserves more tangible rewards than praise and medals. He gets them under the terms of the new ‘GI Bill’ signed into law by President Johnson.” *]\\PMTI_¼[JMVMÅ\[NMTT_MTT[PWZ\WN\PW[MQVXZM^QW][ iterations of the GI Bill. Johnson, therefore, continued \W[\]La\PM^M\MZIVY]M[\QWVL]ZQVOPQ[ÅVITUWV\P[ as president. He established further commissions to TWWSI\^M\MZIV[¼JMVMÅ\[WVMQV!IVLIVW\PMZQV ! PMILMLJa,MNMV[M;MKZM\IZa:WJMZ\5K6IUIZI 2WPV[WV[QOVMLPQ[TI[\[QOVQÅKIV\^M\MZIV[¼ML]KI\QWV TMOQ[TI\QWV4I_!̆WV7K\!  That bill incorporated one key provision from previous GI Bills (but absent in the 1966 version): one and a PITNUWV\P[WNJMVMÅ\[NWZM^MZaUWV\PI^M\MZIVPIL [MZ^MLJ]\WVTaIN\MZ[MZ^QVONWZ UWV\P[QM\VIU^M\MZIV[_MZM[\QTTZMKMQ^QVOWVTa UWZM than Korean War veterans, despite the rising costs of tuition. Even though Yarborough had the best of intentions when he fought for a more universal Cold War GI *QTT\PI\UMIV\>QM\VIUKWUJI\^M\MZIV[_W]TLZMKMQ^M\PM[IUMML]KI\QWVJMVMÅ\[I[VWVKWUJI\+WTL ?IZ^M\MZIV[+WUJI\IV\[_PWKIUMPWUMNZWU>QM\nam expecting a full ride to school soon discovered that NWZ\PMU\PM!>M\MZIV[¼:MILR][\UMV\)K\_I[\PM wrong bill at the wrong time.

MARGARET BOURKE-WHITE/TIME LIFE IMAGES COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES

Noteworthy: World War II veterans in 1947 listen to a lecture at the University of Iowa, where the GI Bill boosted enrollment.

WN+WVKMZVML>M\MZIV[WЄMZMLN]Z\PMZM^QLMVKMWN\PM ^M\MZIV[¼\ZW]JTM[QVI!ML]KI\QWVN]VLQVOZMXWZ\ JI[MLWVI[\]LaJa\PM+IVQ[Q][+WTTMOM>M\MZIV[¼+T]J WN*]ЄITW6M_AWZSQM\VIU^M\MZIVKW]TLX]Z[]MIVML]KI\QWVKWUXIZML_Q\PI?WZTL?IZ11^M\MZIV QM\VIU^M\MZIV[][ML\PMQZ JMVMNQ\[\WI\\MVLIX]JTQKQV[\Q\]\QWV_Q\PQV̆[\I\M \]Q\QWV\PMaNIZMLZI\PMZ_MTT*]\\PI\_I[V¼\\PMKI[M _Q\PXZQ^I\MQV[\Q\]\QWV[M^MVI\\PMQV̆[\I\MZI\MQM\VIŬMZI^M\MZIV[ .?+WUUIVLMZQV+PQMN:QKPIZL0WUIVVW\ML\PI\QVILMY]I\M[]J[Q[\MVKMXIaUMV\[ _MZMLQ[KW]ZIOQVO\PW][IVL[WN>QM\VIU^M\MZIV[NZWU MV\MZQVOKWTTMOM¹)[Q\]I\QWVTQSM\PQ[Q[]VNWZ\]VI\MNWZ \PMKW]V\Zaº0WUIV[IQL¹IVLNWZ\PMaW]VOUMV_PW PI^MJMMVÅOP\QVOW]ZÅOP\QV>QM\VIUIVLUIVVQVO\PM JIZZQKILM[WNNZMMLWUQV\PMNW]ZKWZVMZ[WN\PM_WZTLº

For female veterans, \PM /1 *QTT WNNMZML [QUQTIZ XZWUQ[M[WNI[[Q[\IVKM6MIZTa_WUMV[MZ^ML QV>QM\VIUI[V]Z[M[KTMZQKIT[\IЄWZIL^Q[MZ[\W;W]\P >QM\VIUM[M KTMZQKIT []XXWZ\ [\INN )XXZW`QUI\MTa _WUMV¸ZW]OPTaXMZKMV\WN\PMIZUML NWZKM[¸[MZ^ML_WZTL_QLML]ZQVO\PM>QM\VIUMZI=X \PZW]OP\PI\XMZQWLNMUITM^M\MZIV[KWV[Q[\MV\TaKWUXTIQVML\PI\\PMa[\Z]OOTML\W][M\PMQZ/1*QTTJMVMÅ\[QV \PMTQUQ\ML\QUMITTW\\ML*a!NMUITM^M\MZIV[KW]TL KTIQU\PM[IUMJMVMÅ\[I[\PMQZUITMKW]V\MZXIZ\[J]\ \PMa\MVLML\W][M\PMQZJMVMÅ\[I[U]KPI[[M^MVWZ MQOP\aMIZ[IN\MZLQ[KPIZOM )KKWZLQVO\WWVM>)ZMXWZ\XMZKMV\WNUITM ^M\MZIV[_MZM[\QTTQV[KPWWT[M^MVaMIZ[IN\MZ[MZ^QKM KWUXIZML_Q\PXMZKMV\WNNMUITM^M\MZIV[*MKI][M NMUITM^M\MZIV[\MVLML\WJM\PMWVM[\W\ISM[M^MZIT aMIZ[W]\WN\PMQZTQ^M[\WZIQ[MKPQTLZMVUIVaNW]VLQ\ LQЅK]T\\WKWUXTM\MINW]Z̆aMIZKWTTMOMKW]Z[M_Q\PQV\PM ITTW\\MLMQOP\̆aMIZ_QVLW_\WKTIQUJMVMÅ\[*MOQVVQVO QV!_WUMV_MZMITTW_ML\WKTIQU\PMQZP][JIVL[I[ LMXMVLMV\[]VLMZ\PM/1*QTT[\PMZMJaQVKZMI[QVO\PMQZ UWV\PTaML]KI\QWVITTW_IVKMQV\PM[IUM_Ia\PI\UMV PILJMMVIJTM\WNWZ\PMQZ_Q^M[[QVKM\PM!JQTT +WV[]UMZ̆ZQOP\[IK\Q^Q[\:ITXP6ILMZWЄMZMLN]Z\PMZ M^QLMVKMWN\PM^M\MZIV[¼LQЅK]T\QM[_PMVPMKWUUQ[[QWVMLIVM`\MV[Q^MQV^M[\QOI\QWVQV\W\PM>QM\VIU^M\JUNE 2016

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In the hot seat: Controversial Veterans (ɈHPYZSLHKLY+VUHSK1VOUZVUYPNO[ ^HZ^P[O7YLZPKLU[9PJOHYK5P_VUHUK *HSPMVYUPH.V]9VUHSK9LHNHUPU (\N\Z[ ^OLUWSHUZ^LYL\U]LPSLK MVYH=(OVZWP[HSPU3VTH3PUKH

percent, compared with 60.2 percent of white veterans. Although many black veterans might have anticipated using military service as a springboard to a college education, they soon discovered that the government was unwilling to cover the costs, and many of them were forced to abandon their goals.

erans’ experience. Published in 1973 as The Discarded Army: Veterans After Vietnam, the Nader Report on Vietnam Veterans and the Veterans Administration (commonly called the Nader Report), it examined the federal response to the problems of Vietnam veterans with particular emphasis on the role of the Veterans Administration. The report noted that none of the federal programs IVLJMVMÅ\[¹PI[JMMVUWZMXZQbMLJaZM\]ZVQVO[WTLQMZ[ \PIV\PMML]KI\QWVJMVMÅ\[]VLMZ\PM/1*QTTºJ]\Q\KWVÅZUML\PI\¹\PMUIRWZKWUXTIQV\WN>QM\VIU^M\MZIV[° PI[JMMV\PI\\PMK]ZZMV\TM^MTWNJMVMÅ\[PI[TIOOML JMPQVL\PW[MI^IQTIJTMIN\MZ?WZTL?IZ11º 1VWVMWN\PMUWZM[KI\PQVOKZQ\QKQ[U[WN>QM\VIŬMZI ML]KI\QWVJMVMÅ\[\PM6ILMZZMXWZ\[IQL\PMTW_XIaments discriminated against the underprivileged, especially disadvantaged minorities. Veterans who had \WZMTa[WTMTaWV/1*QTTJMVMÅ\[NWZN]VL[PILNIZUWZM limited educational opportunities than middle-class or IІ]MV\^M\MZIV[ African-American veterans faced additional problems. According to one estimate, almost 30 percent of black male veterans between the ages of 20 and 24 were out of work compared with less than 6 percent of white veterans of the same age group. Almost 90 percent of African-American Vietnam veterans came from workingclass or underprivileged families. Moreover, the median incomes of African-American families remained considerably lower than those of their white counterparts throughout the Vietnam era and beyond. Some African-Americans faced a further complication. )[]Z^MaQVdicated that the completion rates for African-American ^M\MZIV[KTIQUQVOKWTTMOM̆TM^MTJMVMÅ\[[\WWLI\ 54

VIETNAM

The New York Times accused the VA WN¹\ISQVOQ\[K]M[NZWUIV)LUQVQ[\ZI\QWV whose idea of economy is billions for war _Q\PK]\JIKS[I\PWUM°C_PQTMNIQTQVOE\WI[SNWZ\PM funding necessary to make a dent in the problems vetMZIV[MVKW]V\MZº Donald Johnson, Nixon’s choice for head of the VA, proved an unreliable friend to the Vietnam veteran, LM[XQ\MIUQTQ\IZaJIKSOZW]VL\PI\QVKT]LMLI*ZWVbM ;\IZQV?WZTL?IZ11IVLXW[\̆[MZ^QKMM`XMZQMVKM_Q\P ^M\MZIV[1V[Q[\QVOI[LQL6Q`WV\PI\>QM\VIU^M\MZIV[ _MZM_MTTKIZMLNWZ]VLMZ\PMQZ/1*QTTIVLKTIQUQVO\PI\ JMVMÅ\[PILSMX\XIKM_Q\PQVÆI\QWV2WPV[WVWXXW[ML UIRWZKWVOZM[[QWVITQVQ\QI\Q^M[\WXZW^QLMQVKZMI[ML ML]KI\QWVITTW_IVKM[1V)XZQT!PM\M[\QÅMLJMNWZM the inaugural hearings of the new Senate Committee on >M\MZIV[¼)ЄIQZ[)UWVOZMKQXQMV\[WNML]KI\QWVJMVMÅ\[¹\PZMMW]\WNÅ^MIZMI\\MVLQVOKWTTMOMº\PM>) ILUQVQ[\ZI\WZVW\ML¹+WUXIZIJTMXMZKMV\IOM[]VLMZ XZQWZ/1*QTT[_MZM!XMZKMV\NWZ?WZTL?IZ11IVL XMZKMV\NWZ\PM3WZMIKWVÆQK\º Moreover, Johnson expanded the argument made frequently in the past by other legislators that educa\QWVJMVMÅ\[]VLMZ\PM/1*QTT[PW]TLXZW^QLMVW\PQVO more than a helping hand. Even though the original /1*QTTPILXZW^QLMLIN]TTZQLMNWZ\PM^I[\UIRWZQ\a of veterans, Johnson claimed that it was never intended to cover all of a veteran’s education costs.

Nader weighs in: 9HSWO5HKLYPZZ\LKH YLWVY[[OH[JYP[PJPaLK [OLSL]LSVM.0)PSS WH`TLU[ZWYV]PKLK[V =PL[UHT]L[Z

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OPPOSITE TOP: EVERETT COLLECTION HISTORICAL/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; OPPOSITE: AP PHOTO

THE VIETNAMERA GI BILLS WERE PROVIDING A GOOD EDUCATION FOR MOST, BUT NOT A GOOD EDUCATION FOR ALL, AS THE PREVIOUS BILLS HAD DONE

5IZS*W]T\WVQ[IVI[[Q[\IV\XZWNM[[WZWN PQ[\WZaI\?M[\UQV[\MZ+WTTMOMQV5Q[[W]ZQ .IQTQVO7]Z>M\MZIV[Q[\PMÅZ[\IVITa[Q[WN\PM TMOQ[TI\Q^MLMJI\M[[]ZZW]VLQVO\PMML]KI\QWV JMVMÅ\[WЄMZML]VLMZ>QM\VIŬMZI/1*QTT[ -`KMZX\MLNZWU.IQTQVO7]Z>M\MZIV["QM\VIU/MVMZI\QWVJa5IZS *W]T\WVKWXaZQOP\6A=8ZM[[ JUNE 2016

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Co N nt o ra ct

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Videos For Vietnam Veterans

SCENES FROM IN-COUNTRY BASES:

‡ Dong Ha Base & $LU¿HOG 1966-68, 50 min. ‡ Assault on Long Binh Tet 1969, 60 min. ‡ Takhli AB 1964-1970, 110 min. ‡ Bien Hoa AB 1964-69, 80 min. ‡ Tuy Hoa AB 1966-1968, 75 min. ‡ Phan Rang AB 1965-70, 60 min. ‡ Cu Chi 1967-70, 50 min. ‡ Phu Bai 1968-71, 60 min. ‡ Tan Son Nhut AB 1965-1968, 60 min. ‡ An Khe, 1965-67, 75 min. ‡ Long Binh 1967-72, 60 min. ‡ Chu Lai AB 1965-68, 75 min. To Talk To A Live Person, ‡ Camp Eagle 1971, 35 min. Or Order Online At ‡ Phu Cat AB 1966-68, 70 min. ‡ Cam Ranh Bay AB 1966-68, 70 min. . ‡ Dong Tam Base 1967-1969, 45 min. ‡ Nakhon Phanom AB 1966-70, 60 min. com

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NSA Da Nang, Camp Tien Sha 1966-71, 60 min.

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‡ 101st Airborne Div: Search/Destroy Missions, 50 min. ‡ 173rd Airborne Div: Search/Destroy Missions, 55 min. ‡ Bangkok, Thailand R&R In The 1960s, 50 min. ‡ National Route 9, A Journey along Route 9 near the DMZ., 60 min. ‡ “Rocket City”: Attacks On Da Nang AB, 70 min. ‡ 1st Aviation Brigade In Vietnam, 60 min. ‡ Op. Pershing, 1st Air Cav., May 1967, 60 min. ‡ Destroyers In The Vietnam War, 65 min. ‡ 3rd Brigade 82nd Airborne In Vietnam, 60 min. ‡ 5th Special Forces Group Vietnam, 55 min. ‡ African Americans In Vietnam, 60 min. ‡ Op. MacArthur, 4th Inf. Div. in the Battle Of Dak To 1967, 60 min. ‡ 1st Air Cavalry, 1965-1967, 60 min. ‡ Southern Man: The Road To Vietnam Training at Forts Jackson, Campbell, & Gordon in the 1960s, 70 min.

‡ Marine Tankers In Vietnam, 60 min. ‡ Road Warriors: Truckers Vietnam, 60 min. ‡ American POWs in Vietnam, 60 min. ‡ USMC Camp Reasoner, Hill 510, 3rd MAF, 45 min. ‡ Da Nang Outer Limits: Dog Patch, Danang 500, 60 min. ‡ 1st Air Cav. Div. Battle For Ia Drang Valley, 70 min. ‡ 25th Inf. Div. Search & Destroy Missions, 45 min. ‡ 4th Infantry Division Search & Destroy Missions, 45 min. ‡ 11th Armored Cavalry, Black Horse Regiment, 80 min. ‡ Army Engineers In Vietnam, 110 min. ‡ Operation Pegasus: Khe Sanh Rescue 1968, 45 min. ‡ Andersen AFB, Guam 1965-75, 70 min. ‡ 9th Inf. Division Search & Destroy Missions, 50 min. ‡ 11th Light Infantry Brigade Vietnam, 60 min. ‡ Combat Trackers & Their Dogs 45 min. ‡ Combat Inf. Soldier: Life In Field, 60 min. ‡ Dogs of the Vietnam War: Scout, Sentry, Patrol, 100 min. ‡ 23rd Infantry Div. “Americal” In Vietnam, 80 min. ‡ NVA Easter Offensive Of 1972, 60 min. ‡ Special Forces With Montagnard Training, 100 min. ‡ Special Forces in Vietnam: Early Years, 60 min.

Navy In Vietnam ‡ Small Boat Warfare, 90 minutes ‡ USS Oriskany Fire Off Vietnam 1966, 60 min. ‡ USS Oriskany Off Coast of Vietnam, 40 min. ‡ USS Forrestal 1967 Fire Off Vietnam, 70 min. ‡ USS Forrestal (CV-59) 1950s-60s, 90 min. ‡ USS Enterprise Fire Off Hawaii, 1969, 45 min. ‡ USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) 1960-70, 90 min. ‡ USS America (CVA-66) 1965-68, 60 min. ‡ USS Midway (CVA-41) 1945-70, 60 min. ‡ USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) 1961-79, 75 min. ‡ USS Constellation (CVA-64) 1964-70, 45 min. ‡ USS Independence (CVA-62) 1960s, 90 min. ‡ USS Princeton (CV-37) 1950s-60s, 80 min. ‡ USS Shangri-La (CV-38) 1944-1968, 45 min. ‡ USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) 1965-70, 50 min. ‡ USS Intrepid (CV-11) Off Vietnam, 60 min. ‡ USS Yorktown (CV-10) Vietnam, 45 min. ‡ USS Bon Homme Richard 1950s-60s, 45 min. ‡ USS Franklin D. Roosevelt 1960s, 85 min. ‡ USS Repose & Corpsmen, 60 min. ‡ USS Ticonderoga, 60 min.

‡ Camp Evans & Op. Delaware 1968, 60 min. ‡ Nha Trang/Camp McDermott 1965-69, 60 min. ‡ U-Tapao, Thailand 1967-72, 60 min. ‡ Korat AB, Thailand 1965-1970, 70 min. ‡ Camp Carroll & Rock Pile 1967-1970, 30 min.‡ Binh Thuy Naval Base 1968-69, 50 min. ‡ Lai Khe, Di An & Phu Loi 1966-1970, 80 min. ‡ Da Nang AB/USMC 1965-1970, 100 min. ‡ Camp Enari (Dragon Mtn) 1968-1969, 30 min. ‡ Ubon & Udorn, Thailand 1966-69, 60 min. ‡ Dau Tieng Base & $LU¿HOG 1965-70, 45 min.

Marines In Vietnam ‡ Marines 1965/ Ops Starlite/Harvest Moon, 90 min. ‡ Marines 1966, Ops Macon/Hastings/Prairie, 70 min. ‡ Marines 1967 with Op Independence, 90 min. ‡ Marines 1968, Op. Baxter Gardens, 80 min. ‡ San Diego Boot Camp ‘69 & 73, 45 min. ‡ Parris Island Boot Camp 1960s, 45 min. ‡ Marine Staging Battalion, Camp Pendleton, 30 min. ‡ Khe Sanh Base with 1st Marines, 45 min. ‡ Con Thien & Op. Buffalo, 60 min. ‡ Battle for Hue City, 45 min. ‡ Marine Aviation: 1st MAW, 90 min. ‡ Siege Khe Sanh & USAF, 45 min.

Sammy Davis Jr. Were you at: ٟ/RQJ%LQK ٟ&DQ7KR ٟ)6%%DVH or aboard ٟ866+DQFRFN when the entertainer visited in 1972? See it all again in the original documentary plus outtakes and photos!

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‡ F-4 Phantom In Combat, 60 min. ‡ B-57 Canberra at Phan Rang, Bien Hoa, Danang, 60 min. ‡ C-130 Operations In Vietnam, 81 min. ‡ C-7 Caribou In Vietnam, 70 min. ‡ Jolly & Super Jolly Green Giants, 85 min. ‡ Tactical Air Recon With RF-4, RF-101, 90 min.

‡ Tet: Attack on Tan Son Nhut AB, 60 min. ‡ C-47, EC-47 & AC-47 Vietnam, 80 min. ‡ Close Air Support & Forward Air Controllers, 100 min. ‡ F-105 Wild Weasel at Korat AB 1966, 20 min. ‡ F-105 Thunderchief In Combat, 75 min. ‡ AC-119 Gunships, 100 min.

‡ 101st Airborne A Shau Valley 1969-71, 60 min. ‡ 101st Airborne Div. In Vietnam, 90 min. A r m y ‡ 5th Infantry Div. Vietnam 1968-70, 45 min. ‡ 1st Inf. Div: Vietnam & Germany, 102 min. In ‡ 196th Light Infantry Brigade, 52 min. Vietnam ‡ 198th Light Infantry Brigade, 60 min. ‡ 173rd Airborne Battle for Dak To, 50 min. ‡ Military Police (MPs) Vietnam, 70 min. ‡ 9th Infantry Division In Vietnam, 60 min. ‡ Huey UH-1: Training to Vietnam, 115 min. ‡ Army Helicopter Units Vietnam, 90 min. ‡ 1st Div. Search/Destroy Missions, 60 min. ‡ 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam, 60 min. ‡ Army Artillerymen in Vietnam: Fire Support & Fire Support Bases, 80 min. ‡ Army Basic at Fort Ord & Advanced Training 1960s, 90 minutes ‡ 199th Light Inf. Bde 1967-70, 60 min. Questions? Call Us Because All Sales Are Final

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A Book Duet in Defense of Kate Abandoned in Hell: The Fight for Vietnam’s Firebase Kate by William Albracht and Marvin J. Wolf, NAL Caliber, Penguin Group, 2016 The Siege of LZ Kate: The Battle for an American Firebase in Vietnam by Arthur G. Sharp, Stackpole Books, 2014 In the last few days of October 1969, thousands of North Vietnamese Army troops surrounded I[UITTLIVOMZW][TaQ[WTI\MLÅZMbase defended by about 150 Special .WZKM[·TML5WV\IOVIZLÅOP\MZ[ and a handful of American artilTMZaUMV.WZÅ^MLIa[\PM6>) X]UUMTML\PMNWW\JITTÅMTL·[QbM ÅZMJI[MVMIZ\PM+IUJWLQIVJWZLMZ with mortars, artillery, recoilless ZQÆM[ZWKSM\̆XZWXMTTMLOZMVILM[ IVL[UITT̆IZU[ÅZM_PQTMXMZQWLically launching ground assaults against the beleaguered defenders. With two of Firebase Kate’s three 58

VIETNAM

artillery pieces knocked out early in the siege, the defenders would most certainly have been overrun without the vital air support provided by Army helicopter gunships IVLJa)QZ.WZKMÅOP\MZ̆JWUJMZ[ gunships and a massive B-52 “Arc Light” saturation bombing mission that blasted the surrounding jungle with more than 300 500-pound and 750-pound bombs. No less important to the defenders’ survival during the ordeal were the resupply and medevac helicop\MZUQ[[QWV[ÆW_VI\OZMI\ZQ[SIVL ]VLMZPMI^aMVMUaÅZMJZQVOQVO in ammunition and water and evacuating casualties. Finally, nearly out of ammunition and water and alerted by reports that the NVA was preparing an overpowering, all-out I[[I]T\\PMÅZMJI[MKWUUIVLMZ Special Forces Captain William Albracht, successfully led the remaining Montagnard and American defenders in a daring escape on foot through enemy lines on the night of November 1. The cost to Kate’s LMNMVLMZ[NWZMVL]ZQVO\PMÅ^M̆LIa ÅZM[\WZU_I[WN)UMZQKIVIZtillerymen wounded, one killed and one missing. About a third of the 5WV\IOVIZLÅOP\MZ[TMLJa)Tbracht (also wounded) were killed or wounded. Additionally, four heli-

copter crewmen were killed. The obvious question that readers will want answered is: Do we really need two books on this combat action? Well, yes, we do. Abandoned in Hell?QTTQIU)TJZIKP\¼[ÅZ[\̆ person account of how, as a young KIX\IQVQVPQ[ÅZ[\KWUJI\IK\QWV he led Firebase Kate’s defense is the most detailed, thorough and insightful presentation of the ordeal. That, of course, is quite understandable given Albracht’s XMZ[WVITQV^WT^MUMV\I[\PMWЅKMZ who made the command decisions and took the desperate actions ZMY]QZML\WLMNMVL\PMÅZMJI[M Indeed, Albracht not only describes what he did but is the only person able to tell us authoritatively and exactly why he did it. He shares with readers the emotions he felt while struggling to keep the \QVaÅZMJI[M¼[LMNMV[M[QV\IK\IVL functioning amid the hailstorm WN6>)ÅZMIVLXMZQWLQK_I^M[WN enemy ground attacks that had to be repelled. Albracht’s personal account stands as one of the Vietnam War’s outstanding combat memoirs by an on-scene commander. Moreover, Abandoned in Hell features a superb foreword by Joseph L. Galloway, co-author of We Were Soldiers Once…and Young.

COURTESY ARTHUR G. SHARP

A gun for Kate: The men of a 105mm howitzer JYL^ZOV^VɈ[OLPY gun at Landing Zone Kate.

Time for a snapshot: Lieutenant Reg Brockwell, who helped design LZ Kate, leans against a 105mm howitzer in this photo taken H[HUV[OLYÄYLIHZL

[]XXWZ\NZWU>QM\VIU¼[]JQY]Q\W][ ÅZMJI[M[_QTTIXXZMKQI\M;PIZX¼[ KW^MZIOMWN\PMQZ^Q\IT[MZ^QKM ¸2MZZa5WZMTWKS US Marine versus NVA Soldier, Vietnam 1967-68 Ja,I^QL:0QOOQV[7[XZMa 8]JTQ[PQVO7`NWZL-VOTIVL In =;5IZQVM^MZ[][6>);WTLQMZ, ,I^QL:0QOOQV[XQ\[\PMPQ[\WZa \IK\QKITLWK\ZQVM\ZIQVQVOIVLUWZITMWN\PMIV\IOWVQ[\[QV>QM\VIU¼[ 1+WZX[[MK\WZQV\PM[W̆KITTML0QTT .QOP\[IZW]VL3PM;IVPWV)XZQT

MEET ME IN VIETNAM JOHN BLACK

Thirty great, original gut-wrenching songs written and sung from the heart. FEATURING









 






 




 






 




 






Go to YouTube for latest John Black Music Videos: Dear Dad, and I’m Just Hangin’ On

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̆!7XMZI\QWV3QVOÅ[PMZ WV2]Tă IVL\PMÅOP\NWZ0]M NZWU2IV\W.MJ! QM\VIUM[M)ZUa_I[VW UWZM][ML\W;W]\P>QM\VIU¼[ZIQV NWZM[\[\PIVPQ[)UMZQKIVWXXWVMV\ _I[6>)[WTLQMZ[_PWUILM\PMQZ _Ia[W]\PPIL\W[XMVL_MMS[_Q\P >QM\+WVO]VQ\[VW\WVTaTMIZVQVO \PM>+¼[O]MZZQTTI\IK\QK[J]\IT[W IKKTQUI\QVO\W\PMMV^QZWVUMV\ )JW]\XMZKMV\WNVWVKWUJI\ 6WZ\P>QM\VIUM[MKI[]IT\QM[_MZM L]M\WUITIZQI ,M\IQT[WVMIKP[QLM¼[_MIXWVZa IVLMY]QXUMV\IZMIKKWUXIVQML JaQTT]UQVI\QVO[\I\Q[\QK[.WZM`IUXTM\PMI^MZIOM5IZQVMKIZZQML SQTWOZIU[XW]VL[WNMY]QXUMV\IVLZI\QWV[KWUXIZML_Q\P NWZPQ[6>)KW]V\MZXIZ\ 0QOOQV[IT[WM`XTIQV[\PI\[PWM[ WZJWW\[Q[[]ML\W\ZWWX[QV6WZ\P >QM\VIU_MZMOMVMZITTa_WZVW]\ WZZW\\MLJa\PM\QUM\PMaUILM \PMQZ_IaLW_V\PM0W+PQ5QVP );WTLQMZ I[QV\MZM[\QVOIVLMVTQOP\MVQVOI[ UIaTIaZMILMZ[TM[[NIUQTQIZ_Q\P \PM>QM\VIU?IZ —Jon Guttman

COURTESY ARTHUR G. SHARP

Yet The Siege of LZ Kate, by Arthur G. Sharp, an author of numerW][VWVÅK\QWVJWWS[IVLIZ\QKTM[ Q[IT[WI^IT]IJTMILLQ\QWV\W\PM PQ[\WZQM[WN\PM_IZ)T\PW]OPWVM̆ \PQZL[PWZ\MZ\PIV)JIVLWVMLQV 0MTTIVLTM[[LM\IQTMLQ\VWVM\PMTM[[Q[I[WTQLIKKW]V\\PI\KW^MZ[ ITT\PMIK\QWV;PIZX¼[JWWS_W]TL JMIOWWLKI[M[\]LaWVI>QM\VIU ?IZKWUJI\IK\QWVNWZUQTQ\IZa[MZ^QKM[KPWWT[XZW^QLMLQV[\Z]K\WZ[ []XXTMUMV\Q\_Q\PIXXZWXZQI\M UIX[#\PMZMIZMVWVMQV\PMJWWS )T[WVW\M_WZ\Pa;PIZXLM^W\M[ UWZM[XIKM\PIV)TJZIKP\LWM[\W \PM\_WLWbMV)UMZQKIVIZ\QTTMZaUMVLMNMVLQVO3I\M"\PMUU PW_Q\bMZKZM_UMVWN\P*I\\ITQWVVL.QMTL)Z\QTTMZaIVL\PM KZM_[WN\PM\_WUUPW_Q\bMZ[WN[\*I\\ITQWV!VL.QMTL )Z\QTTMZa)T\PW]OP)UMZQKIV infantrymen—the grunts at the ¹[PIZXMVLºWN\PMOZW]VL_IZ¸ LM[MZ^MLTaPI^MUWZMJWWS[_ZQ\ten about them, those who spent \PMQZ\W]Z[XZW^QLQVOIZ\QTTMZaÅZM

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Gain insight into how the trauma of war lives on and on for families, friends and communities during the Vietnam War. Back in the Day by Steve Heuton, transports you to the late 1960s to experience life as it actually was, “back in the day.” Steve’s powerful descriptions of the life of Jimmy Reno are founded partially in the experiences had by himself and loved ones who sacrificed for our country during Vietnam.

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+ Meanwhile in the Politburo the struggle between the hawks and the doves reaches critical mass and Mikhail Gorbachev makes move to take control of the situation. + The battle moves to communist territory in World War 1990: Operation Eastern Storm.

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The Tippi’ng Point

Tippi Hedren’s idea quickly and dramatically transformed an industry QM\namese refugee women learned skills that could feed their families for a lifetime, and those lifetimes have become generations. )N\MZ\PMNITTWN;IQOWVQV!UIVa Vietnamese made their way to a refugee camp near Sacramento, California. One of the regular volunteers there was 0MLZMV\PM[\IZWN)TNZML0Q\KPKWKS¼[!ÅTUThe Birds, who PIL^Q[Q\ML\ZWWX[QV>QM\VIUQV!IVL! QM\VIUM[M women at the camp—some of them former teachers, business W_VMZ[IVLOW^MZVUMV\WЅKQIT[QV\PMQZPWUMTIVL¸NW]VL\PMUselves needing new careers. When Hedren noticed they were LZI_V\WPMZVQKMTaXWTQ[PMLÅVOMZVIQT[ITQOP\J]TJ_MV\WЄ

Her trips to Vietnam during the war: I went to the _IZbWVM[1_MV\\WÅZMJI[M[\ITSML\W\PMUMVIVL had dinner with them in their mess halls. I’ve stayed in touch with one of the servicemen, and he told me: “You have no idea the danger you were in when you were PMZM?MITT_MV\\WOZMI\MЄWZ\[JMNWZMaW]¼LM^MVIZrived to keep you safe.” 64

VIETNAM

The movie business in the 1960s compared with today: When I was doing The Birds and Marnie, Q\ _I[ I LQЄMZMV\ \QUM
PHOTOS: COURTESY TIPPI HEDREN; POSTER: CINECLASSICO/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

How a Hollywood movie star became a godmother to Vietnamese manicurists: I had been involved for many years with Food for the Hungry. We went around the world helping people in need as a result of P]ZZQKIVM[ÆWWL[WZ_IZ)N\MZ Vietnam fell, we opened Hope Village in Northern California to take in the Vietnamese refugees at an abandoned tuberculosis sanitarium. It was sort of like a hospital, with lots of rooms and bathrooms. We brought in teachers to help them speak English IVL\ZQML\WÅVLRWJ[IVL[XWV[WZ[NWZ\PMU1JZW]OP\ QV\aXQ[\[IVLLQLW\PMZ\PQVO[\WPMTX\PMUÅVLIKIreer. I became very much aware that they all loved my nails, which were long and well manicured. I thought that manicuring could be a really good vocation for them, so I asked my own manicurist if she would come up and teach them. They loved that and were very conscientious about learning. The whole session took a couple of months, and then they were ready to go to beauty school to get their cosmetology licenses and [\IZ\\PMQZW_VJ][QVM[[M[¸[WWЄ\PMa_MV\?WZLWN their manicuring success traveled to other Vietnamese, and very soon they became the manicurists of the United States. Nail services have now become a huge $7 billion business, and I don’t get a percentage of it. I helped about 20 women who needed a career and a RWJ1\_I[X]ZMTa\WPMTX\PMU

OFFICIAL GUIDE 2016

RT3 WELCOME TO ROLLING THUNDER XXIX RT6 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS RT8 GALLERY Scenes from Rolling Thunder 2015

RT12 ACCOUNTED FOR 40(Z^OVZLYLTHPUZ^LYLYLJLU[S`PKLU[PÄLK are remembered

RT14 A TEACHABLE MOMENT, WITH JIM KNOTTS President of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

RT16 ME AND DAD Two war vets open up to each other By Mike D. Shepherd

RT20 THE GUY ON MY POW BRACELET The Search for Billy Ray Laney By Maggie Ruth

COVER AND INSET: ISTOCK; THIS PAGE: JENNIFER E. BERRY

Go to WWW.ROLLINGTHUNDERRUN.COM for the latest news and updates

RT1

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WELCOME TO ROLLING THUNDER XXIX A Ride for Those Who Cannot Speak for Themselves

PHOTO CREDIT JENNIFER E. BERRY

Why do more than 1 million veterans, bikers and their supporters converge on our nation’s capital every Memorial Day weekend for the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom demonstration? Because our government has forgotten thousands of live American prisoners of war and missing in action from World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The government has not kept its promise that no American will be left behind after a war or conflict. No one in our government has the guts to do what is right. They are all afraid to speak the truth and demand that foreign countries provide answers about what happened to the live POWs they held. Remember the footage of our troops in Hanoi? They never returned. Our legislators made promises about veterans health care and nothing has improved. Many troops are returning with injuries that should be an easy medical claim, but processing takes months and months. The government also is making our retired military pay for health care they had been promised at no cost. People join the military to serve and protect our country so we can all enjoy our freedoms, and they don’t expect anything in return. They put their lives on the line for 20 or 30 years and get nothing in the end but more lies. Our officials in Washington don’t risk their lives but get better pay than our troops and better health care than our retired military and disabled veterans receive. Congress and Senate, remember what you were elected to do. Remember “of the people, by the people and for the people.” Our government may have forgotten that it left live POWs behind. We the veterans will never forget them. We ride for those who cannot speak for themselves, the prisoners of war and missing in action. Sincerely,

Sergeant Artie Muller National Executive Director Rolling Thunder Inc. RT3

Many of our nation’s wounded warriors spend months and sometimes years away from their homes, extended family and friends recovering from severe injuries and trauma. Boulder Crest Retreat for Military and Veteran Wellness is a first-of-its kind country retreat for our nation’s seriously wounded warriors and their families to reconnect and recuperate in peaceful, natural surroundings with free accommodations, recreational and therapeutic activities and programs to support their healing and emotional wellbeing. The 37-acre retreat is a place for families to enjoy time together away from the clinical setting and is located in historic Bluemont Va., in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just 60 miles from Washington, D.C., where many wounded warriors receive outpatient treatment. It will take years and the commitment and support of individuals and organizations to meet the long term needs of our wounded warriors and their families.

Together, we help heal our nation’s heroes. One warrior and one family at a time. To donate or for more information, please call 540.554.2727 or visit www.bouldercrestretreat.org. The Boulder Crest Retreat Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

ROLLING THUNDER XXIX EVENT SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, MAY 27 9 p.m. Candlelight Vigil, Vietnam Veterans Memorial. SATURDAY, MAY 28 9 a.m. Thunder Alley opens. The official vendor site for Rolling Thunder XXIX is on 22nd Street and Constitution Avenue Northwest. Rolling Thunder patches, pins and T-shirts and leather goods are on sale, along with food and drink. Featured speakers will also be at Thunder Alley. 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Barbecue at Harley-Davidson of Washington, 9407 Livingston Road, Fort Washington, Maryland. RT6

SUNDAY, MAY 29 6 a.m. Reveille wake-up call for all riders taking part in the Rolling Thunder XXIX First Amendment Demonstration Run. Bikers rally in the North and South Pentagon parking lots at 7 a.m. for a noon departure. 9 a.m. Thunder Alley opens. 12 noon Rolling Thunder XXIX First Amendment Demonstration Run. Bikes leave the North Pentagon parking lot to begin their run through the National Mall area. MAP: KEVIN JOHNSON, SOURCE: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

After the run, police will direct riders to West Potomac Park, where they will pay tribute to their fallen brothers and sisters. 1:30 p.m. Rolling Thunder XXIX speakers program and musical tribute to veterans, Reflecting Pool, Lincoln Memorial. 8 p.m. Memorial Day Concert at the Capitol.

MONDAY, MAY 30-Memorial Day 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Thunder Alley open. 11 a.m. Wreath-laying ceremony, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery. 2 p.m. National Memorial Day Parade, marching bands and veterans units from 50 states. Begins at the corner of Constitution Avenue and 7th Street Northwest. 3 p.m. National Moment of Remembrance.

Go to www.RollingThunderRun.com for the latest news and updates.

GALLERY

Photos by Jennifer E. Berry

RT8

PHOTO CREDIT

Rolling Thunder XXVIII roared through the nation’s capital on Memorial Day Weekend in 2015 as more than a million motorcyclists and spectators honored veterans and remembered those who didn’t come home. The participants paid their respects with salutes, signs of support, proud displays of military patches and solemn visits to memorials.

RT9

r The 2015 Rolling Thunder Run on Sunday, May 24, began at the Pentagon parking lots, crossed the Potomac River, passed the Lincoln Memorial and continued on to the U.S. Capitol, all the while moving through a sea of flags. One of the spectators was former senator and World War II vet Bob Dole, shown opposite, in tie.

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ACCOUNTED FOR

A tribute to the Vietnam servicemen whose remains were recently identified For a full listing of all POW/MIAs, searchable by name, home state of record or military branch, consult the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office website: www.dtic.mil/dpmo/vietnam/reports See more comments left for POW/MIAs at http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces

Chief Warrant Officer 3 James L. Phipps, 24, of Mattoon, Ill. Lost Jan. 9, 1968, serving as aircraft commander of a UH-1C Iroquois “Huey” brought down in Quang Tri province. WALL PANEL 34E, ROW 9

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Rainier S. Ramos, 20, of Bellingham, Wash. Lost Jan. 9, 1968, when a UH-1C was brought down by groundfire in Quang Tri province. WALL PANEL 34E, ROW 10

Staff Sgt. Warren E. Newton, 18, of Canby, Ore. Lost Jan. 9, 1968, when a UH-1C was brought down by groundfire in Quang Tri province. WALL PANEL 34E, ROW 9

Master Sgt. Billy D. Hill, 21, of Fallon, Nev. Lost Jan. 21, 1968, serving as door gunner on a UH-1D that was brought down by groundfire near Khe Sanh. WALL PANEL 35E, ROW 6

Staff Sgt. Kenneth L. Cunningham, 21, of Ellery, Ill. Lost Oct. 3, 1969, during a surveillance mission in a OV-1C Mohawk flying in the tri-border area of Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam. WALL PANEL 17W, ROW 33

Sgt. Rodney L. Griffin, 21, of Centralia, Mo. Lost May 2, 1970, when an aircraft transporting members of his company crashed in Cambodia. WALL PANEL 11W, ROW 85

For Staff Sgt. Bunyan D. Price Jr.: We waited for you. For almost 40 years my mother and I wore your name on a bracelet. You were finally identified and brought home in 2015. I live in Pennsylvania but go each year to Washington, D.C., as a member of Rolling Thunder National to bring awareness to the POW/MIA issue. I went to your burial in Arlington Cemetery. Your sister gave me your picture, which I wear on a lanyard around my neck so you can come with me everywhere. God Bless your soul; you were only 20. I’ll make sure you are remembered and get to go to lots of places you never got a chance to. Posted on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s Wall of Faces, Jan. 5, 2016, by Katherine Teresa Barna Fentzlaff

ARMY

Maj. Dale W. Richardson, 28, of Cashton, Wis. Lost May 2, 1970, when an aircraft transporting members of his company crashed in Cambodia. WALL PANEL 11W, ROW 87

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Staff Sgt. Bunyan D. Price Jr., 20, of Belmont, N.C. Lost May 2, 1970, when an aircraft transporting members of his company crashed in Cambodia. WALL PANEL 11W, ROW 87

NAVY

Lt. j.g. Neil B. Taylor, 25, of Rangeley, Maine. Lost Sept. 14, 1965, serving as pilot on an A-4C Skyhawk that crashed on a mission over Bac Lieu province. Buried in his hometown on Sept. 14, 2015, exactly 50 years after the crash. WALL PANEL 02E, ROW 83

Lt. Richard C. Clark, 26, of Tacoma, Wash. Lost on Oct. 24, 1967; serving as backseater on an F-4B Phantom II shot down by a surfaceto-air missile over North Vietnam. WALL PANEL 28E, ROW 59

AIR FORCE

Chief Master Sgt. Edwin E. Morgan, 38, of Salisbury, N.C. Lost March 13, 1966, serving as load master of an AC-47D “Spooky” gunship on an armed nighttime reconnaissance mission over Quang Tri near the Laotian border. WALL PANEL 06E, ROW 4

MARINES

1st Lt. Stanley G. Johnson, 25, of Applegate, Calif. Lost Dec. 3, 1965, when a UH-34D was brought down by groundfire in South Vietnam. WALL PANEL 03E, ROW 121

UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, ALL IMAGES COURTESY VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL FUND; PHIPPS: HERALDREVIEW.COM; RAMOS: DPAA.MIL; MORGAN: SALISBURYPOST.COM; TAYLOR: WMTW.COM

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Jim Knotts Position: President

A TEACHABLE MOMENT JIM KNOTTS IS LEADING THE WALL’S NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ON A NEW EDUCATION MISSION Jim Knotts, a former Air Force officer who served in the Gulf War, became president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund last year and took on the challenge of completing a big education and museum project begun by the organization that built and cares for the Wall. The “Education Center at The Wall,” an underground complex next to the memorial, was authorized by Congress in 2003. Its exhibits will tell the history of the Vietnam era, show photos of the casualties listed on the Wall, display items left at the memorial and pay homage to troops who fought in all of America’s wars, including the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Knotts succeeded Jan Scruggs, who started the original campaign to build the Wall, dedicated in 1982, and served as the fund’s president. In October 2014 the daily management of the organization was passed to Knotts, who was named CEO. Knotts had spent five years as chief executive of Operation Homefront, which provides emergency financial assistance, housing and other support to military families. Knotts added the title of president in July 2015 with Scruggs’ retirement. Now Scruggs, as president emeritus, is a consultant to the organization, primarily helping to raise funds for the education center project he has led since 2003. Inevitably, the Memorial Fund would have to be led by someone who wasn’t a Vietnam veteran. How do you show the vets that you understand their personal connection to the Wall? Well, it is a challenge. I grew up hearing about how poorly many of our Vietnam veterans were treated when they returned home. But when I went to war in the Persian Gulf, I could not have had greater support or respect. I knew that was because of the commitment of our Vietnam veterans to never allow our country to send a generation of service members into RT14

and CEO, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Born: December 1967, Winnsboro, South Carolina Residence: Rockville, Maryland Education:

Bachelor’s in English literature, U.S. Air Force Academy; master’s in mass communication, University of South Carolina; MBA, Strayer University Military service:

Major assignments include public affairs officer, 1640th Tactical Airlift Wing, Oman (during the 1991 Gulf War); deputy public affairs officer, 317th Airlift Wing and 23rd Wing, North Carolina; special assistant to the commander in chief, U.S. Southern Command, Republic of Panama; Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, the Pentagon. Left military service in December 1999 as a captain.

harm’s way without the support and respect they deserve. So that’s the primary lesson the Education Center has to teach future generations. I was a bit surprised when I asked what are the lessons we would teach and didn’t hear any simple answers. With the diversity of opinions among Vietnam vets and scholars, figuring out the lessons of the Vietnam era is part of the challenge.

How do you address the challenge? We want to educate people on the impact of the Vietnam era broadly, not just the war itself. The center is not meant to make political statements. That was also one of the original requirements for the design of the Wall.

VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL FUND

What are some of those broad impacts the Education Center will explore? When the nation is at war, our country reflects the conflict in lots of ways—socially, politically, militarily and through the news media. We will examine the Vietnam era with these takeaways: First, honor our warriors, regardless of your feelings about the war. What sets Vietnam apart from every other conflict is that it is the only time our warriors were blamed for the war. Second, politically, we have to understand how decisions, both good and bad, are made. Third, militarily, service and sacrifice should always be honored and respected. Fourth, through the news media, all citizens have a responsibility to remain informed about what decisions are being made so they can make their own decisions on whether or how to become involved. Under these broad areas, we will be able to address a multitude of topics, such as the draft, technological advances like helicopters, the protests and how our troops were treated when they returned. By comparing Vietnam with recent conflicts, we’ll always be able to show the war’s relevance and its lessons for generations to come. What is the estimated cost of the center and how much has been raised? We’ve raised $29.8 million of the $115 million needed to begin construction. However, it has taken more than 10 years to get through all of the design and administrative requirements for building on the National Mall. We now have a “shovel-ready” project that may very well be the last permanent building on the National Mall. When do you think construction might begin and be completed? The legislation requires that we raise

all the money before we can break ground. We hope that will be in late 2018, with dedication in 2020. We know we have a long way to go, but 2015 was a turning point for us through progress in the bureaucratic, programmatic and fundraising requirements. We know these recent successes will draw more support from others. Now is the time for everyone to make their commitments of support. Why has the fundraising been slower than anticipated? Taking so long to get all of the bureaucratic approvals meant the project was in a constant state of limbo. We couldn’t point to something and say, “That’s what your money will go toward.” We had to get congressional approval to even be able to list key donors in the building. Meanwhile, many Vietnam-era veterans who went on to successful careers in business have been spending their time raising support for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. What a great legacy, right? A generation of veterans who came home to jeers and insults is making sure this generation comes home to hugs and handshakes. We have to help people understand that Vietnam does still matter. How will other wars be presented at the museum? We will put Vietnam in the context of the military service of those who came before and those who served afterward. The entry area is our Legacy of Service Hall, which will recognize service all the way back to Bunker Hill. A two-story, 50-foot-wide Wall of Faces will show pictures of the 58,307 people listed on the Wall and will also commemorate significant events from military history, like Pearl Harbor, Armistice Day, the Battle of Chanjin in Korea or events in Iraq and Afghanistan. We’ll also be able to recognize those on our In Memory Honor Roll—Vietnam vets who returned home but later died as a result of their service. That includes thousands of people who have suffered from exposure to Agent Orange or the effects of PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder].

The early decades of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund were focused on the physical wall. Is the organization now shifting its emphasis to education about the war? The first 30 years was about honoring the service of all Vietnam vets, preserving the memories of those who died and educating everyone about the importance of service to our country, especially through the military. The Wall has helped heal a generation and our nation. About two-thirds of Vietnam-era veterans are still alive, and over the next 15 to 20 years we have an opportunity to complete the mission to recognize their service, express our appreciation and continue helping them heal from the wounds of that conflict. That part of our mission doesn’t end, but we are also thinking about the future. And the future is the Education Center? The future is about education, through the center, online and in communities across the nation. We have to capture the stories of our Vietnam vets. We have to distill their experiences into meaning for young people. We have to help our political leaders understand the awesome power they wield and the tremendous responsibility they bear when they put service members in harm’s way. As Americans, we are collectively responsible for ensuring that their sacrifices are meaningful, their service is honored and their wounds are healed. We didn’t always do that with our Vietnam veterans, but through education, we hope we always will in the future. RT

A memorial experience: Vietnam War airman Mike Shepherd, above, and his father, World War II sailor Doyle Shepherd, left, took a trip together to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the National World War II Memorial.

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TWO WAR MEMORIALS CALL FOR ME AND MY DAD

A VIETNAM VETERAN AND HIS WORLD WAR II FATHER, TWO GENERATIONS STRUGGLING WITH THE MEMORIES OF WAR, JOURNEY TO THE NATIONAL MALL

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: JENNIFER E. BERRY; COURTESY MIKE D. SHEPHERD; ISTOCK; COURTESY MIKE D. SHEPHERD

By Mike D. Shepherd

My dad, Doyle Shepherd, was a small man who resembled Richard Nixon, except that he wore glasses. He didn’t look like a combat veteran, but when I was little I suspected he was. Being snoopy, I discovered campaign ribbons with battle stars in a drawer at my grandmother’s house. I asked her what they were for. “The Battle of Saipan in World War II, but don’t ask your father about them,” she said. “He doesn’t like to talk about it.” She told me that Dad was on a destroyer, the USS Phelps, which was in the thick of the action. I knew a little about the war from watching Walter Cronkite’s 20th Century on television. I was enthralled by what I saw—men in combat—and I tried to imagine what it would be like. It wasn’t a game that my buddies and I played in the yard. It was all about life and death. I could see it in the soldiers’ eyes on television as they approached Normandy in landing crafts on D-Day. Unspeakable fear, overcome by unimaginable courage as they went undaunted into action to save the world from tyranny. That was in Europe. Dad was in the Pacific. That was all I knew, except for what Grandma had told me. He didn’t tell me anything himself, and I didn’t ask. Eventually I participated in a war of my own—in Vietnam, where as an Air Force news reporter I experienced firsthand what it was like to be in combat, in a hellhole called Khe Sanh, the scene of a monthslong 1968 battle that saw some of the most intense ground and air combat of the war. When I returned home, thankfully in one piece, I was determined to find out what role my dad played in World War II. So I read about Saipan. In the early stages of World War II, Saipan was inhabited by thousands of Japanese citizens and defended by 28,000 soldiers. If the 15-by-6-mile island were wrested from the Japanese army, its airfields could be used by American planes to launch bomb runs

to Tokyo, 1,500 miles due north. On June 15, 1944, the 2nd and 4th Marine divisions, followed by the 27th Infantry Division, went ashore on a beach at the southwest end of the island. The struggle for Saipan brought on the war’s greatest aircraft carrier duel, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, a fight between 15 American and nine Japanese flattops that began on June 19. The battle ended the next day with a stunning American victory: three Japanese carriers sunk and some 400 planes shot down. Saipan’s desperate defense climaxed on July 7 with the war’s largest banzai charge—by about 3,000 men. During the campaign’s last days, about 5,000 Japanese civilians committed suicide at the Morubi Bluffs. Casualties among the 64,500 American soldiers, sailors and airmen who had participated in the campaign included 3,426 dead and 10,364 wounded, making the battle the costliest operation the United States fought in the Pacific. It was also the Phelps’ last Pacific campaign before being transferred for patrol duties in the Atlantic. I was convinced that my dad suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. He had nightmares and drank heavily, as did I, but World War II vets hadn’t been officially diagnosed with PTSD. After the war, they simply went about their business, working and starting their families (resulting in the baby boom) while suffering in silence. I thought that if Dad could talk about his wartime experience it would relieve the pressure he must have felt all those years of keeping it bottled up, so I invited him to meet me at the neighborhood tap for a few beers, hoping that might loosen him up. At first we didn’t talk about war. We talked mostly about sports and politics. Dad voted straight-ticket Republican. Disillusioned with politics because of the Vietnam War, I didn’t vote at all, which angered Dad. A lot of people had died for the right to do so, he RT17

said. “Remember, Son, you fought for the right of the Vietnamese people to vote too.” His argument made me rethink my lack of participation in the democratic process. We continued to drink, and Dad began to open up about his war. “After surviving kamikaze attacks in open waters, we steamed into a bay at Saipan to attack enemy artillery. The bay was lined with high cliffs. The Japs rolled a big gun out of a cave and blasted our bridge, killing the captain and 14 others. As we began to list starboard away from the island, our gunners scored a direct hit into the cave as the Japs rolled the gun back in thinking that the hit they scored would be enough to sink us, and it almost did. Our return fire touched off their ammo and blew the big gun out of the cave and into the bay, along with a huge chunk of the cliff. “Meanwhile we looked up at Marpi Point and saw hordes of the natives leaping off of a cliff into the jagged rocks in the sea hundreds of feet below. They had been pushed to the brink when U.S. Marines and Army forced the Japanese army up the slopes on the outside of the island. I guess they were afraid they’d be killed by the retreating Japs so they chose suicide instead. Some of those who survived the jump swam through the bloody water to our ship, but we couldn’t take any of them on or we probably would’ve sunk, the way we were listing. We just stood there and watched them drown, Son. There was nothing we could do.” Dad dashed some salt into a beer that he had mixed with tomato juice, his drink of choice. He drank it down and began to weep, draining himself of years of pent-up emotion. Watching him suffer while recalling his wartime experiences hurt me too. I had my own war memories to deal with—something I had begun to do by attending group sessions for veterans. They were

open to veterans of all wars, so I invited Dad to attend with me. He was reluctant at first, being of a generation that considered seeking therapy a sign of weakness. He changed his mind when I told him that the sessions really helped me to readjust. To enhance our healing process, I arranged for us to go on an Honor Flight to Washington in 2005 to visit the World War II and Vietnam War memorials. Some Korean War vets who wanted to see their memorial were also on the flight. At the National World War II Memorial, we celebrated the tremendous victory our armed forces had won in the European and Pacific theaters. Dad nodded in affirmation and smiled in a proud response to what his Navy had accomplished in defeating Japan. My visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was a little more solemn. I stood before it with bowed head, and tears filled my eyes. The gleaming, polished black granite wall bearing 58,300 names of those killed in the war looked more like a tombstone, reflecting what some considered to be a defeat. But remembering what Dad had said about fighting for the democracy of the Vietnamese, I came to see it in a different light. That wall represented a generation of men who gave their lives for a people who were threatened with tyranny, and standing before it was a healing experience for me. Dad and I flew home feeling at peace. RT Mike D. Shepherd was a reporter with the Seventh Air Force Combat News Unit in Da Nang. A retired public information officer and speechwriter for the state of Illinois, he writes about his time in Southeast Asia during the war. He is the author of Like Another Lifetime, in Another World and is a frequent contributor to Vietnam magazine.

local aero club of 300 private pilots. Eleven responded, and Honor Flights are conducted UIFmSTUPGmDJBM)POPS'MJHIUUPPLQMBDFJO.BZ XIFO by the Honor Flight Network, a OPOQSPmUPSHBOJ[BUJPOUIBUXPSLT TJYTNBMMQMBOFTnFXWFUFSBOTUP8BTIJOHUPO with local chapters and other In 2006 Miller started a similar program in North Carolina. groups to provide veterans with He and Morse joined forces in February 2007 to create the free transportation to the nation’s capital so they can visit Honor Flight Network. As participation grew, the program the memorials of wars they participated in. Individual and CFHBOVTJOHDPNNFSDJBMnJHIUT DPSQPSBUFEPOBUJPOTUPUIF)POPS'MJHIUPSHBOJ[BUJPOQBZGPS 4JODFUIFOFUXPSLTJODFQUJPO )POPS'MJHIUTIBWFnPXO the trips. thousands of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War vetThe network was founded by Earl Morse, a physician assis- erans to the memorials in Washington. —Mike D. Shepherd tant and retired Air Force captain who worked in a Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Honored guests: A 4QSJOHmFME 0IJP BOE+FGG.JMMFS UIFPXOFS =PYNPU(TLYPJHÅPNO[ of a dry cleaning company in Hendersonville, [HRLZ]L[LYHUZMYVT North Carolina. :HU-YHUJPZJV[V+\SSLZ After the National World War II Memorial 0U[LYUH[PVUHS(PYWVY[ was completed in 2004, Morse asked patients ULHY>HZOPUN[VU if they were going to see it, and many said yes. But Morse later learned that most weren’t BCMFmOBODJBMMZPSQIZTJDBMMZUPNBLFUIFUSJQ  so he told two veterans that he would personBMMZnZUIFNUP8BTIJOHUPOUPTFFUIFNFNP rial. Seeing how much his offer meant to them, Morse proposed the idea of Honor Flights to a

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COURTESY VIRGIN AMERICA

HONOR FLIGHTS

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THE SEARCH FOR SERGEANT BILLY R. LANEY, THE GUY ON MY POW BRACELET HOW I LEARNED THE FATE OF AN MIA AND CHANGED MY VIEW OF VIETNAM VETERANS BY MAGGIE RUTH

A hunt for answers: A bracelet with the name of a Green Beret put Maggie Ruth on HQV\YUL`[VÄUKV\[ ^OVOL^HZHUK^OH[ OHWWLULK[VOPT

I

f any good came out of American involvement in the Vietnam War, it was that both hawks and doves now agree that the troops of that war were treated poorly when they returned home. The early 1970s saw many protests against the war on college campuses and in our nation’s largest cities. At least one person called a Vietnam vet a murderer, and that person was me. I was 16 in 1972. Liberal politics and music interested me: George McGovern’s candidacy for president, John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas...War is Over.” I was greatly affected by Neil Young’s song “Ohio,” written after four students were killed at Kent State University in May 1970 during a protest against President Richard Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia. But I was naive then and—like some antiwar activists—lacked the maturity to distinguish between the government that “made” war and those sent to fight it. Fortunately, a few years later I learned about a student organization that understood the difference. Voices in Vital America (VIVA) was a Los Angeles–based group formed in the 1960s to counteract campus antiwar protests. In 1970 VIVA member Carol Bates Brown, who was in the California chapter, started an initiative to promote awareness of prisoners of war by making and selling metal POW bracelets engraved with the name, rank, service branch and date of loss. VIVA distributed nearly

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5 million bracelets, selling them for $2.50 to $3 apiece and raising enough money to purchase untold millions of bumper stickers, buttons, brochures, matchbooks, newspaper ads and the like to draw attention to the missing service personnel. Around 1976 I bought one of the bracelets, or was given one, on a visit to Washington, D.C. Inscribed on it was “SFC Billy R. Laney, USA, 6-3-67, LAOS.” I began a search for Sgt. 1st Class Laney in 1990 to find out what happened on June 3, 1967. I wanted to know if he ever made it back home. I reviewed hundreds of pages of documents about Laney and the events of that June day. I bought a list from a company called Find People Fast that provided the contact information for Laneys all across the country (remember, this was before Internet databases!). I probably wrote 50 letters to Laneys. One respondent sent me a page from a family directory that showed a Billy Laney, which was my first real clue. I found out that Billy Ray Laney was born on Aug. 21, 1939, in Blanch, Alabama. He married in 1958 and had three children. Laney joined the Navy in October 1956 and served until Aug. 2, 1960. The next day, he joined the Army. By February 1967 his principal duty was operations and intelligence specialist. Laney was a Special Forces member of an organization set up by the Military Assistance Command, Viet-

KERRI BROWN, RANDOLPH, NY

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nam, and called the Studies and Observation Group. MACV-SOG, or simply SOG, was a covert operations group that incorporated units from all branches of the military, including Navy SEALs, Air Force special operations squadrons, Marine Corps reconnaissance units and Army Special Forces troops, the famed Green Berets. Laney was in the Command and Central Detachment, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. During my research, I found the name of a soldier who was on the same mission as Billy Laney on June 3, 1967: Sgt. Maj. Billy Waugh, a retired Special Forces officer and CIA Paramilitary Operations officer with more than 50 years of service. Waugh was key to uncovering what really happened to Laney, and finally I was able to piece together the story of the events leading to that tragic day in Laos.

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Special Forces sergeant: Billy Laney was shot down in Laos at 27, leaving a wife and three kids.

Romine, the flight leader, flew the first Marine copter in. “Upon being reassured that the surrounding enemy was neutralized by airstrikes, I decided to make the entry into the landing zone after briefing my flight to take sufficient interval so that I could assess the situation prior to their approach into the zone,” he said in a July 3 report from the Marine Aircraft Group to the Marine Corps commandant. The major managed to pick up eight Nungs but had trouble when he tried to lift out of the bomb crater landing zone. “Almost immediately the number two engine quit,” he reported. “I managed to make a controlled crash approximately 150 feet from my objective.” “Sometime after being hit and before I crashed,” Romine added, “I broadcast a mayday and informed the flight to break off and not attempt the extraction at that time.” The other rescue helicopters did not hear the transmission, however, “for reasons unknown to myself,” Romine reported. The No. 2 helicopter successfully retrieved a group of soldiers, mostly from a Nung platoon, but encountered automatic-weapons fire and was hit several times. The No. 3 helicopter, piloted by Captain Stephen P. Hanson, also attempted a troop pickup. Hanson’s CH-46 loaded 15 passengers, including Laney and SOG sergeants Ronald J. Dexter and Charles

COURTESY LANEY FAMILY

In June 1967 Laney was part of a Strategic Air Command/SOG operation that targeted the North Vietnamese Army in an area code-named “Oscar-8,” a rugged, jungle-covered mountainous region in eastern Laos about 12 miles southeast of Khe Sanh. That area was the source of more than 1,500 National Security Agency radio intercepts in one 24-hour period. “The rise in radio transmissions intended for Hanoi high command led SOG to believe NVA General Vo Nguyen Giap was paying a visit to Oscar,” according to Waugh, who wrote about the mission in his book Hunting the Jackal. Oscar-8 “was the absolute headquarters of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, period,” Waugh told me. It contained the largest supply warehouse for NVA outside Hanoi and was a critical transportation area. Waugh said, “The objective [of the Oscar-8 operation] was to kill Giap and all other enemy forces along the way,” using the Strategic Air Command and SOG. First, B-52s would drop 900 high-explosive bombs onto the target area. Within 15 minutes of the last bombing, Marine CH-46 helicopters would drop off an 80-man SOG commando unit, called a Hatchet Force, consisting of Americans and Nung tribesmen, to assess the situation and gather intelligence. “The actual defensive position and helicopter-landing zone consisted of a very large bomb crater,” according to a July 3 memo from the Marine Aircraft Group, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. “It would only accommodate a single aircraft, so the CH-46s had to go in one at a time.” Laney landed on June 2 with SOG forces on the first transport copter, piloted by Major Richard E. Romine. But a mistake in timing authorized the insertion before a command helicopter could sweep the target zone for an initial assessment. Consequently, the commando unit found itself surrounded and under attack. “The B-52 bombing had done significant damage, but it clearly had not destroyed the NVA defenses,” said Waugh, who was at the target area in a fixed-wing aircraft when the Hatchet Force troops and chopper crews loaded at Khe Sanh. That night Laney and the SOG force hunkered down and waited for a possible pickup. After a tactical airstrike at dawn on June 3, three CH-46s came to get the unit.

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COURTESY LANEY FAMILY

F. Wilklow. As the chopper took off, however, Hanson of Laney’s missing person’s status, the Army made a deunknowingly turned into the heaviest concentration termination to change his status from missing in action, of NVA forces. “We began to receive fire as soon as we June 3, 1967, to dead, as of March 20. lifted off,” Wilklow said, “and it became more intense.” The aircraft veered out of control, broke in half and Sergeant Laney’s remains were recovered from the Laos landed about 4½ feet above the ground, suspended crash site and positively identified through DNA testing by jungle foliage. in 1999, as were those of Captain Hanson, who also died The door gunner, Lance Cpl. Frank E. Cius, was able on the ground in Laos. On Oct. 5, 2000, Laney’s remains to get off a few hundred rounds from his machine gun were returned to Alabama, and there was a grand cerebefore the impact, which knocked him on his back. mony in Huntsville, where his widow and children and Dexter, Wilklow and a couple of Nungs were in good an assembly of country music stars, politicians, veterans enough shape to engage the North Vietnamese. Laney and many others paid homage to him. was wounded in the back before they got on the chopAccording to the Birmingham News: “Every veterans per, according to Wilklow. After the crash, “I noticed group in the United States was represented. A camouSFC Laney under a seat,” he said. “He had a badly broken flage rifle, helmet and ammo belt were propped near ankle in addition to his previous wound. When I started the coffin, while a black and white photo of the young to examine him, he said, ‘Please don’t touch me.’ I don’t soldier looked out from the center of a wreath.” Laney, 27, was buried in the New Home Baptist Church Cemrecall seeing or hearing any more from him after that.” Out of ammunition and shot in the leg, Wilklow etery in Houston, Alabama. He received many service crawled away from the wreckage, looking for Dexter, awards including two Silver Stars and two Bronze Stars. When I was researching documents related to Laney’s and passed out. Unknown to him, Dexter, Cius and nine of the Nungs had formed a perimeter about 200 meters military service, I came across a memo from MACV to the from the downed aircraft. Enemy fire continued after 5th Special Forces Group commanding officer, dated the crash with heavy streams of bullets coming in the June 28, 1967—just 25 days after Oscar-8—informing him that the MIA Board had made a determination that helicopter windows. From the next morning, June 4, until late in the af- Laney’s status be changed from MIA to KIA as a result ternoon, gunships and fixed-wing aircraft pummeled of hostile action. This, for reasons unknown, was nevOscar-8 in preparation for additional troop pickups er done. In the interim, Laney’s wife and parents were and resupply attempts, which continued late into the provided with practically no information. His wife even day. Dexter, Cius and the Nungs had been forced away received a Postal Authorization Card in 1972 permitting from the area, and reconnaissance overflights the next her to send a Christmas package to her husband. Even though the Oscar-8 operation has been labeled a day failed to reveal any survivors at Oscar-8, so further failure by some, I am extremely sensitive to any suggesextraction efforts were called off. Billy Ray Laney was officially reported as missing tion that Laney’s service, or that of the other Americans in action on June 3. Other reports indicate that Dexter, who died in Oscar-8, was meaningless. Had this Special Cius and the Nungs were captured on June 5. Wilklow, Forces operation succeeded in its objective to kill Genwho had crawled away from the landing zone with eral Giap, it can be argued that North Vietnam’s military an injured leg, was also captured and wound up in an would have been crippled. The war might have ended NVA base camp but escaped on the fourth day. The next sooner, saving more than 38,000 American lives lost in day, against all odds, Wilklow was spotted by Waugh, the Vietnam conflict in the following six years. Near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington on an airborne observation mission, and rescued. National Cemetery is a memorial to U.S. “The raid on Oscar-8 had been a dispecial operations forces, dedicated in saster,” wrote Robert Gillespie in his book Black Ops Vietnam: An Operational His1995. It’s a gray marble stone, set flush to tory of MACVSOG. “Seven aircraft had the ground under a large oak tree. Etched been shot down. Twenty-three Amerion it are words from Isaiah 6:8, which incans—SOG team members, USAF pilots clude the phrase, “Whom shall I send?” Waugh answers that question in an esand Marine helicopter crewmen—were say he wrote around 1999 titled “Closing lost, along with about 50 of the Nung Reflections”: “And the Lord said, Who raiders.” will go, who will fight for me, and the By all accounts, including those from young Special Forces man, who was with NVA personnel, Sergeant Dexter died in his family, stepped away from his family, captivity on July 29, 1967. Marine Corsaying, ‘I will go, send me.’ ” RT poral Cius was released on March 5, 1973, during Operation Homecoming. He now Maggie Ruth retired from Chautauqua lives in New York and is very active in Before Vietnam: County, New York, as an environmental veterans issues. Sergeant Wilklow’s son Laney dances with cleanup project manager. She writes told me that his father died in July 1992 his wife, Charline, at investigative pieces that focus on after a long fight with cancer. a 1964 wedding in Germany. American historical figures and events. On March 20, 1978, following a review