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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-06090 to 363-06095.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-06090 to 363-06095
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Title
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Memorandum about rules on the release of military information
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Description
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Memorandum from U.S. Military Assistance Command Information Office (MACOI) to Vietnam War correspondents about what information journalists can and cannot publish about military operations
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Transcript
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MEMORANDUM FOR CORRESPONDENTS
Jane
Re
RULES GOVERNING PUBLIC RELEASE
23-
accredit.
OF MILITARY INFORMATION IN VIETNAM
(Effective 1 November 1966)
31 October 1966
BACKGROUND
The basic principle governing the public release of military informa-
tion in Vietnam is that the maximum amount of information will be made
available, consistent with the requirement for security.
In past wars a great deal of information could be, and was, denied to
the enemy on the basis that he did not have ready access to it. This is
not the case in Vietnam. By their very nature, subversion and guerrilla
warfare make it impossible to safeguard many types of information that
once were carefully protected. Thus, the arrival of a major US unit is
announced immediately, rather than weeks or even months later. Pin-
point datelines are permitted. In-country strength figures, by service,
are released at regular intervals. Casualty figures are released weekly.
In Vietnam the greatest problem in achieving a full flow of informa-
tion to newsmen and thence to the public is not that of deciding whether
information is releasable, but that of physically gathering, transmitting
and checking information from widely scattered locations linked together
only by air transportation and an almost saturated communications system.
In the past, certain ground rules have defined the items of informa-
tion that are not releasable and those that are releasable. The ground
rules have been reviewed to insure that they are clearly stated, that
they are limited to those required to preserve military security and that
the principle of making the maximum amount of information available to
the public is being followed.
The situation in South Vietnam is such that correspondents may come
into possession of information which has not been released officially under
the ground rules set forth herein. Such information is not to be trans-
mitted or released to the public until officially released by Vietnamese,
American or other Free World spokesmen in regard to their respective
national forces. Official Government of Vietnam (GVN) and US Military
Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) accreditation is issued on this
condition. Deliberate violation of these conditions or ground rules by a
correspondent will be regarded as a basis for suspension or cancellation
of accreditation.
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Correspondents may find that, at times, their movements may be
restricted in certain tactical areas. These restrictions are kept to a
minimum but they may be applied by a commanding officer when in his
opinion the nature of an operation warrants such action. Correspondents
will be advised of such restrictions by the commanding officer of the unit
or by the IO representative of the headquarters involved, or by the unit
G2/S2 if there is no IO representative present.
GROUND RULES
1. The Commander, US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam is
the sole releasing authority for all information material, including photo-
graphy, pertaining to US military activities in Vietnam and gathered or
produced by military individuals or organizations. Local commanders are
delegated the authority to release hometown news material. As authorized
by COMUSMACV, the Chief of Information or his duly appointed represen-
tative is the official MACV military spokesman.
2. Information cleared for release will be made available to the
press by MACV through one or more of the following means.
a. Daily press release.
b. Daily press briefing.
c. Call outs.
d. Special press handouts.
3. Releasable Information
a. General
(1) Arrival of major units in country when officially
announced by COMUSMACV.
(2) Strength figures of US forces, by service, when
announced by COMUSMACV.
(3) Official total casualty figures on a weekly and cumula-
tive basis, as furnished by Department of Defense on the basis of reports
from the Services.
(4) Enemy casualty figures for each action or operation,
daily and cumulatively.
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b. Ground/Naval Operations
(1) Casualties suffered by friendly units in an announced
operation in terms of "light," "moderate" or "heavy" as applied to
the size of the force in that action or operation.
(2) Size of friendly forces involved in an action or opera-
tion using general terms such as "multi-battalion".
(3) Information regarding details of a tactical operation
when release has been authorized by COMUSMACV (See paragraph 1.,
General Notes).
c. Air Operations
(1) Target or targets hit, to include general location and
category of target.
(2) Identification as to whether it was VNAF, US or a
joint VNAF/US strike.
(3) Whether aircraft were land-based or carrier-based.
Names of carriers when their aircraft are involved.
(4) Time of attack in general terms.
(5) General evaluation of success of the mission.
(6) Types of ordnance expended in general terms, such as
250-pound fragmentation bombs, 500-pound general purpose bombs,
rockets, .50 caliber ammunition, 20mm cannon fire.
(7) Number of missions over North Vietnam; number of
sorties over the Republic of Vietnam (RVN).
(8) Types of aircraft involved.
(9) Weather enroute and over the target during a strike.
(10) Pilot sightings of unfriendly aircraft.
(11) Periodically, the number of aircraft downed:
(a) By hostile fire in South Vietnam.
(b) By hostile fire in North Vietnam.
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(12) Volume of enemy anti-aircraft fire in general terms.
4. Information not releasable under any circumstances.
a. General
(1) Future plans, operations, or strikes.
(2) Information on or confirmation of Rules of Engagement.
(3) Amounts of ordnance and fuel moved by support units
or on hand in combat units.
b. Ground/Naval Operations
(1) Exact number and type or identification of casualties
suffered by friendly units.
(2) During an operation, unit designations and troop move-
ments, tactical deployments, name of operation and size of friendly
forces involved, until officially released by MACV.
(3) Intelligence unit activities, methods of operation, or
specific location.
c. Air Operations
(1) The number of sorties and the amount of ordnance
expended on strikes outside the RVN.
(2) Information on aircraft taking off for strikes, enroute
to, or returning from target area. Information on strikes while they
are in progress.
(3) Identity of units and locations of air bases from which
aircraft åre launched on combat operations.
(4) Number of aircraft damaged or any other indicator of
effectiveness or ineffectiveness of ground anti-aircraft defenses.
(5) Tactical specifics, such as altitudes, course, speeds,
or angle of attack. (General items such as "low and fast" may be used.)
(6) Information on or confirmation of planned strikes which
do not take place for any reason, including bad weather.
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(7) Specific identification of enemy.weapons system utilized
to down friendly aircraft.
(8) Details concerning downed aircraft while SAR operations
are in progress.
GENERAL NOTES
1. The initial release of information pertaining to any tactical
operation in the field will be made by the MACV Office of Information
(MACOI) when, in the opinion of the Field Force commander concerned,
the release of such information will not adversely affect the security of
his command. This condition will exist when it can be presumed that
the enemy is aware of the general strength and location of the friendly
force(s), and may occur either before or after there has been significant
contact. The Field Force commander's recommendation for release
does not constitute authority for commanders subordinate to MACV to
effect release to news media. Initial announcement of an operation will
be made only by MACOI.
2. Casualty information, as it relates to the notification of the
next of kin, is extremely sensitive. By Executive direction, next of kin
of all military fatalities must be notified in person by an officer of the
appropriate service. There have been instances in which next of kin
have first learned of the death or wounding of a loved one through news
media. The problem is particularly difficult for visual media. Casualty
photographs can show a recognizable face, name tag, jewelry or other
identifying feature or item. The anguish that sudden recognition at home
can cause is out of proportion to the news value of the photograph or film.
Although the casualty reporting and notification system works on a
priority basis, correspondents are urged to keep this problem in mind
when covering an action in the field. Names of casualties whose next of
kin have been notified can be verified by the MACV Information Office
and by the Directorate of News Services in the Office of the Assistant
Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs).
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3. Only two Viet Cong casualty figures are released "killed in
action and "captured". There is no way to get a "wounded' figure
although there are indications that for every Viet Cong killed, one-and-
one-half VC are wounded seriously enough to require hospital treatment.
The "captured" figure may be broken down into "Viet Cong" and "Viet
Cong Suspects". The total is a firm figure. Any "Viet Cong Killed"
figure released by MACV will have been verified on the scene by US
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personnel to the extent permitted by the military situation. It cannot be an
exact figure, but it is probable that duplications and other errors on the
high side are more than offset by the number of Viet Cong dead who are
carried away or buried nearby, by those who subsequently die of wounds
and by those killed by artillery concentrations and air strikes not followed
up by ground action. Thus, when the briefer announces a specific number
of Viet Cong killed in a particular operation or over a given period, that
figure is not as precise as the popular term "body count" would imply.
Neither is it a guess or loose estimate. It is the best figure that can be
developed and, as noted, probably is conservative in the long run.
4. Members of the Military Assistance Command Information Office
are available to discuss any questions which may arise concerning the re-
lease of military information.
5. Requests for information concerning non-military activities and
Republic of Vietnam military activities should be addressed to the Govern-
ment of Vietnam, the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces, the US Mission
or the Public Information representative of the appropriate Free World
Force or activity.
6. Whenever possible, changes to this memorandum will be brought
to the attention of correspondents before they are put into effect.
Nguyen Bao Tri
Major General, ARVN
Minister of Information & Open Arms
Government of Vietnam
Barry Zorthian
Minister Counselor for Information
US Mission, Vietnam
Rodger R. Bankson
Colonel, US Army
Chief of Information, MACV
Tri
Barry Boutan
Busson
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Date
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1966, Oct. 31
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Subject
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Government and the press; Journalists; Freedom of the press; Censorship; United States. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Office of Information; Defense information, Classified
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Location
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Saigon, South Vietnam
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Coordinates
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10.8231; 106.6311
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Size
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20 x 26 cm
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Container
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B190, F8
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Format
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memorandums
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Collection Number
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MS 363
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Collection Title
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Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
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Creator
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United States. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Office of Information
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Collector
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Copyright Information
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These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
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Publisher
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Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
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Language
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English
