-
derivative filename/jpeg
-
363-08097 to 363-08098.pdf
-
Digital Object Identifier
-
363-08097 to 363-08098
-
Title
-
Letter to Louisa Messolonghites
-
Description
-
Letter to Louisa Messolonghites, for The Reporter
-
Date
-
1962, Apr. 10
-
Subject
-
Vietnam, 1961-1975;
-
Location
-
Saigon, South Vietnam
-
Coordinates
-
10.8231; 106.6311
-
Size
-
20 x 26 cm
-
Container
-
B1, F8
-
Format
-
dispatches
-
Collection Number
-
MS 363
-
Collection Title
-
Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
-
Creator
-
Keever, Beverly Deepe
-
Collector
-
Keever, Beverly Deepe
-
Copyright Information
-
These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
-
Publisher
-
Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
-
Language
-
English
-
extracted text
-
Saigon
APril 10, 1962
Louisa Messolongbites
The Reporter
660 Madison Avenue
New York 21, New York
Dear Madam:
Your letter of March 2nd arrived while I was traveling extensively
in the southern delta and northern plateau regions of Viet Nam.
I propose to write a 4000-word article ? which might be entitled,
"Viet Nanr--Country in a Crossfire."
It would explain the problems of
the populace in supporting either the government or the Communist Viet Cong;
the problems of the Vietnamese military in oombatting the enemy and the
problems of the U. s. military in their del ate position of advising, but
not leading troops.
The article would be illustrated by my visit to Cao Lanh, the
0
oapital of Kien Phong province, an area almost completely under Viet Cong
control near the Cambodian border.
Until three.months ago Major John K. Munson, of Groton, Mass., was
the only American advisor in the province. He lived with the Vietnamese,
ate their food and ta ht them English with a Boston Accent. Two
Midwesterners and two Southerners then arrived not only to complicate his
linguistic accomplishments, but also to expedite the training of looal
militia uni ts.
Within two months a 30-ma.n barracks will be built for more
of the build-up of American personnel even in the
.Amerioans--an indicatio
most remote areas.
One of the first large-scale operations Major Munson advised was the
sanding of two battalions to encircle a known Viet Cong encampment.
Government forces captured only three Viet Cong and ninety suspects, who had
thrown their weapons into a oanal so they oould not be held as prisoners.
"It's their ability to change from fighter to farmer status that th.rows me,"
the Major emphasized.
0
With heavy military escort, I visited a small hamlet near Cao Lanh.
"We are caught in the crossfire," said an old man in white blouse and baggy
pants. 11 V are afraid to go out at night; the soldiers think we are v. C."
The most serious complaint in the village was not the Viet Cong, but the
rice shortage--an illustration of the need for economic improvement in tho
rural areao to undercut the Communist arguments.
To expand the· Cao Lanh story to the wholo oountry, I talked with
Vietnamcoo milit
dV'iso:rs
erican military
y division or corps commanders and
I hevo been aosur-ed of having e.n in·t;e:rview ,ti th ei -ther President
ligo Di
Diem or his :po mttful brother and political advisor, Ngo Dinh
Nhu, oometime in April.. My article will be r ady for airmailing a 1reek after
recoipt of' your reply unless you specify my waiting longer for
Thank you for your oonsidora.tion of' this lette:r.
ither intervie,v.
D.
Sincerely yours,
(Miss) Beverly Dacpe
% Associated Press
Rue Pastnur 158 D/3
Saigon 9 Viot Nam
Cable:
Assoointod Saigon
saigon 1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
april 1:0,0,0,0
10, 1:0,0,0,0
1962 1:0,0,0,0
louisa 1:0,0,0,0
messolongbites 1:0,0,0,0
the 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
reporter 1:0,0,0,0
660 1:0,0,0,0
madison 1:0,0,0,0
avenue 1:0,0,0,0
new 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
york 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
21, 1:0,0,0,0
dear 1:0,0,0,0
madam: 1:0,0,0,0
your 1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
letter 1:0,0,0,0
of 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
march 1:0,0,0,0
2nd 1:0,0,0,0
arrived 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
while 1:0,0,0,0
i 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
was 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
traveling 1:0,0,0,0
extensively 1:0,0,0,0
in 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
southern 1:0,0,0,0
delta 1:0,0,0,0
and 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
northern 1:0,0,0,0
plateau 1:0,0,0,0
regions 1:0,0,0,0
viet 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
nam. 1:0,0,0,0
propose 1:0,0,0,0
to 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
write 1:0,0,0,0
a 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
4000-word 1:0,0,0,0
article 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
which 1:0,0,0,0
might 1:0,0,0,0
be 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
entitled, 1:0,0,0,0
? 1:0,0,0,0
"viet 1:0,0,0,0
nanr--country 1:0,0,0,0
crossfire." 1:0,0,0,0
it 1:0,0,0,0
would 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
explain 1:0,0,0,0
problems 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
populace 1:0,0,0,0
supporting 1:0,0,0,0
either 1:0,0,0,0
government 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
or 1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
communist 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
cong; 1:0,0,0,0
military 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
oombatting 1:0,0,0,0
enemy 1:0,0,0,0
vietnamese 1:0,0,0,0
s. 1:0,0,0,0
ate 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
position 1:0,0,0,0
advising, 1:0,0,0,0
u. 1:0,0,0,0
their 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
del 1:0,0,0,0
but 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
0 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
not 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
leading 1:0,0,0,0
troops. 1:0,0,0,0
cao 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
lanh, 1:0,0,0,0
illustrated 1:0,0,0,0
by 1:0,0,0,0
my 1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
visit 1:0,0,0,0
kien 1:0,0,0,0
phong 1:0,0,0,0
province, 1:0,0,0,0
an 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
area 1:0,0,0,0
almost 1:0,0,0,0
completely 1:0,0,0,0
under 1:0,0,0,0
cong 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
oapi 1:0,0,0,0
tal 1:0,0,0,0
control 1:0,0,0,0
near 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
cambodian 1:0,0,0,0
border. 1:0,0,0,0
until 1:0,0,0,0
three.months 1:0,0,0,0
ago 1:0,0,0,0
major 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
john 1:0,0,0,0
k. 1:0,0,0,0
munson, 1:0,0,0,0
groton, 1:0,0,0,0
mass., 1:0,0,0,0
only 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
american 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
advisor 1:0,0,0,0
province. 1:0,0,0,0
he 1:0,0,0,0
lived 1:0,0,0,0
with 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
vietnamese, 1:0,0,0,0
food 1:0,0,0,0
ta 1:0,0,0,0
ht 1:0,0,0,0
them 1:0,0,0,0
english 1:0,0,0,0
boston 1:0,0,0,0
accent. 1:0,0,0,0
two 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
midwesterners 1:0,0,0,0
southerners 1:0,0,0,0
then 1:0,0,0,0
complicate 1:0,0,0,0
his 1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
accomplishments, 1:0,0,0,0
also 1:0,0,0,0
expedite 1:0,0,0,0
training 1:0,0,0,0
looal 1:0,0,0,0
linguistic 1:0,0,0,0
militia 1:0,0,0,0
uni 1:0,0,0,0
ts. 1:0,0,0,0
within 1:0,0,0,0
months 1:0,0,0,0
30-ma.n 1:0,0,0,0
barracks 1:0,0,0,0
will 1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
built 1:0,0,0,0
for 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
more 1:0,0,0,0
build-up 1:0,0,0,0
personnel 1:0,0,0,0
even 1:0,0,0,0
.amerioans--an 1:0,0,0,0
indicatio 1:0,0,0,0
most 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
remote 1:0,0,0,0
areas. 1:0,0,0,0
one 1:0,0,0,0
first 1:0,0,0,0
large-scale 1:0,0,0,0
operations 1:0,0,0,0
munson 1:0,0,0,0
advised 1:0,0,0,0
sanding 1:0,0,0,0
battalions 1:0,0,0,0
encircle 1:0,0,0,0
known 1:0,0,0,0
encampment. 1:0,0,0,0
forces 1:0,0,0,0
captured 1:0,0,0,0
three 1:0,0,0,0
ninety 1:0,0,0,0
suspects, 1:0,0,0,0
who 1:0,0,0,0
had 1:0,0,0,0
thrown 1:0,0,0,0
weapons 1:0,0,0,0
into 1:0,0,0,0
oanal 1:0,0,0,0
so 1:0,0,0,0
they 1:0,0,0,0
oould 1:0,0,0,0
held 1:0,0,0,0
as 1:0,0,0,0
prisoners. 1:0,0,0,0
"it's 1:0,0,0,0
ability 1:0,0,0,0
change 1:0,0,0,0
from 1:0,0,0,0
fighter 1:0,0,0,0
farmer 1:0,0,0,0
status 1:0,0,0,0
that 1:0,0,0,0
th.rows 1:0,0,0,0
me," 1:0,0,0,0
emphasized. 1:0,0,0,0
heavy 1:0,0,0,0
escort, 1:0,0,0,0
visited 1:0,0,0,0
small 1:0,0,0,0
hamlet 1:0,0,0,0
lanh. 1:0,0,0,0
said 1:0,0,0,0
old 1:0,0,0,0
man 1:0,0,0,0
white 1:0,0,0,0
blouse 1:0,0,0,0
baggy 1:0,0,0,0
"we 1:0,0,0,0
are 1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0;1:0,0,0,0
caught 1:0,0,0,0
crossfire," 1:0,0,0,0
v. 1:0,0,0,0
v 1:0,0,0,0
afraid 1:0,0,0,0
go 1:0,0,0,0
out 1:0,0,0,0
at 1:0,0,0,0
night; 1:0,0,0,0
soldiers 1:0,0,0,0
think 1:0,0,0,0
we 1:0,0,0,0
c." 1:0,0,0,0
pants. 1:0,0,0,0
11 1:0,0,0,0
serious 1:0,0,0,0
complaint 1:0,0,0,0
village 1:0,0,0,0
cong, 1:0,0,0,0
rice 1:0,0,0,0
shortage--an 1:0,0,0,0
illustration 1:0,0,0,0
need 1:0,0,0,0
economic 1:0,0,0,0
improvement 1:0,0,0,0
tho 1:0,0,0,0
rural 1:0,0,0,0
areao 1:0,0,0,0
undercut 1:0,0,0,0
arguments. 1:0,0,0,0
- 2:0,-0,0,0
expand 2:0,0,0,0
the. 2:0,0,0,0
lanh 2:0,0,0,0
story 2:0,0,0,0
wholo 2:0,0,0,0
oountry, 2:0,0,0,0
talked 2:0,0,0,0
erican 2:0,0,0,0
vietnamcoo 2:0,0,0,0
mili 2:0,0,0,0
t 2:0,0,0,0
y 2:0,0,0,0
division 2:0,0,0,0
corps 2:0,0,0,0
commanders 2:0,0,0,0
hevo 2:0,0,0,0
been 2:0,0,0,0
aosur-ed 2:0,0,0,0
having 2:0,0,0,0
e.n 2:0,0,0,0
in.t;e:rview 2:0,0,0,0
,ti 2:0,0,0,0
th 2:0,0,0,0
ei 2:0,0,0,0
-ther 2:0,0,0,0
president 2:0,0,0,0
dv'iso:rs 2:0,0,0,0
ligo 2:0,0,0,0
di 2:0,0,0,0
diem 2:0,0,0,0
:po 2:0,0,0,0
mttful 2:0,0,0,0
brother 2:0,0,0,0
political 2:0,0,0,0
advisor, 2:0,0,0,0
ngo 2:0,0,0,0
dinh 2:0,0,0,0
nhu, 2:0,0,0,0
oometime 2:0,0,0,0
april.. 2:0,0,0,0
r 2:0,0,0,0
ady 2:0,0,0,0
airmailing 2:0,0,0,0
1reek 2:0,0,0,0
after 2:0,0,0,0
recoipt 2:0,0,0,0
of' 2:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
reply 2:0,0,0,0
unless 2:0,0,0,0
you 2:0,0,0,0;2:0,0,0,0
specify 2:0,0,0,0
waiting 2:0,0,0,0
longer 2:0,0,0,0
ither 2:0,0,0,0
intervie,v. 2:0,0,0,0
d. 2:0,0,0,0
thank 2:0,0,0,0
oonsidora.tion 2:0,0,0,0
this 2:0,0,0,0
lette:r. 2:0,0,0,0
sincerely 2:0,0,0,0
yours, 2:0,0,0,0
(miss) 2:0,0,0,0
beverly 2:0,0,0,0
dacpe 2:0,0,0,0
% 2:0,0,0,0
associated 2:0,0,0,0
press 2:0,0,0,0
rue 2:0,0,0,0
pastnur 2:0,0,0,0
158 2:0,0,0,0
d/3 2:0,0,0,0
viot 2:0,0,0,0
nam 2:0,0,0,0
9 2:0,0,0,0
n 2:0,0,0,0
cable: 2:0,0,0,0
assooi 2:0,0,0,0
tod 2:0,0,0,0
