Military background research notes

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363-01628 to 363-01651.pdf
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363-01628 to 363-01651
Title
Military background research notes
Description
Original title: "Mil. Backgrd. Dec/ 67. (for 2pt Series)." Research notes of background information on the U.S. military
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Draft transcripts were automatically generated via Google Document AI and are currently under review. Please report significant errors to Archives & Special Collections at archives@unl.edu.
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American optimism based on view that the Allies can beat the VC/NVA [Viet Cong/North Vietnamese Army]. MA[?] on situation- press battles- arithmetic [illegible] and assumption DC of VC really wanted to hold for North
Dak to- drive to Saigon- assumption is wrong
US assume with confrontation they can orient VC/NVA military force
VC/NVA can't sustain such [shorthand] casualties in 2 years while US accelerating the pacification of VN/AF[Vietnam Navy/Air Force?] to take over [shorthand] US in 2 years.
US General invited VN army officials to a reception- Senior officials- They show VN how US operates 1st Cavalry 25, prime force 9th-199th turned to units
Now reviewing the whole year of ‘67- US asked VN, VN promised US- they hope to re-[shorthand] the defense of territory for US RF, PF, and RD [Regional Force, Popular Force, and Revolutionary Development]. Combat youth- chief fear distract chief. to cripple VC infrastructure and anti-corruption campaign at the lower level in order to accelerate Paris [shorthand] ‘68
In ‘69 they hope the foundation laid- re- the ARVN [Army of the Republic of Vietnam]. Then ARVN can replace US allied troops [shorthand] main force war. Rest of VC main force but up ‘67-‘69
Westmoreland [illegible] 1st Cavalry field force company [shorthand] Korea. Westmoreland was jubilant home [shorthand] states 2 years. Withdraw US had [illegible] pressure on VN about that
Actually Komer plan- coincide with VN plan
War college re[shorthand] VN/AF [illegible]
PF-RF-RD to carry pacification
5 year timetable
Kennan Government proposal encloses
McNamara proposed aggressive strategy in SVN- NVN [South Vietnam-North Vietnam] is just pressure
re-[shorthand] political apparatus in 5 years after Democracy
re-[shorthand] loud [shorthand] SH[?] shattered administrative apparatus. use military as [shorthand]
McNamara estimates 350,000 men and 5 years.
Westmoreland [shorthand] Hawks [shorthand] 550,000 [shorthand] 500,000 to create steady buildup to beat communists strong enough- then turn over to VN
But war won't end. ultimatum to NVN. If NVN [shorthand] respond VN to land in NVN.
Unfortunately plan failed in 2 1/2 years. VN still war.
In 1968 US can withdraw troops- turn over to VN
After election NVN infiltration bring [shorthand] troops [shorthand] raise conduit neg[?].
Then can land in NVN.
Now with 480,000 US re-[shorthand] not [shorthand] progress going. Not reached little of objective and US still [shorthand] to carry brunt of war [shorthand] respond to VC initiative.
So now talk about 2 [shorthand] years VN can take over- dropped talk of NVN invasion.
2AB originally of 201,000 [shorthand] in
Now US [shorthand] 4-25 and 1st Divisions until recently US had 1 unit. Had 3 flied companies and 1 headquarter company- Each company had 1 heavy weapons platoon and 3 platoons is 200 men.
Now 3 platoons of heavy weapons and to create support company with headquarter company to [shorthand] companies lighter
But [shorthand] still [shorthand] strong enough.
1 US additional company [shorthand] U.S. newly trained but in to [shorthand].
But US [shorthand] the new headquarter company reinforced with 3 heavy weapons platoons called combat support so 1 company headquarter is [shorthand] strong.
So 4 [shorthand] companies and the reinforced company headquarter is 1 battalion
Battalion is fixed up [shorthand] 700 to 850 men to 900 men.
Now in process.
Only 2 101st A/B originally is [shorthand].
525,000 men deadline is June ‘68- Westmoreland wants sooner
If NVA sent in 3 divisions, US troops not enough.
Assume NVA cannot afford to sustain these casualties, NVA [shorthand] best to hold onto positional warfare.
Phu hoi [Phú Hội] battalion based there Do Mot[?] area on fringe of D-zone. 30 miles North of Saigon.
Intelligence experts said Battalion this combat inefficient and disappeared [shorthand].
But, VN sources pessimistic [shorthand] the 3 companies [shorthand] been infiltrated with a NVN regiment all 3 NVN regiments to the NVA 7th division in Lone Dare.
600 men Phu Loi Battalion.
Here US 6 VC infiltrators been hit so hard that they suffer depletion of force that NVA sent [shorthand] in 2 years. NVA can't continue to feed the cannon fodder.
400,000- 2.5% of total population of 16 million
This reinforced with reserve 80 division in NVN of 10,000 men
Army of 300,000 men and para-militia units of 100,000
54,000 NVA in SVN now.
Pessimism
VN say US too [shorthand] to technological [illegible] mobility with mobility only [illegible].
1)Military force only a Saigon military and only US political armed war.
2)[shorthand] not pushed [shorthand] to phase 2 [shorthand] that they can sustain longer battles.
Bigger and bigger battles and on armies number of all fronts.
3)VN officials [shorthand] observers [shorthand] in body count communist units not showed up.
272 regiment D
[shorthand] 9th division in for North war considered US as crushed and not fit for action for a [shorthand] period. 1 month later they attack another [shorthand] unit 20 miles [shorthand] that ARVN [illegible] 272 regiment and 9th Division.
Bu Dop [Bù Đốp Camp] [shorthand] Bu Dop in neighboring period.
B) in the Delta after [shorthand] of Fighting know VC casualties [shorthand] US casualties VN casualties
Heavy #4 is so damaged to reserve a sent 2-3 weeks. A plane to control road is so badly damaged.
Road in past took [shorthand] to drive [shorthand] Saigon to Communists 16 miles. Took bus 1 day- now is 3 days.
Originally 160km 6 hours military 2 fewer now 1-2 [shorthand] lucky 12 hours. Bus on 1 side or another.
1st [shorthand] in [shorthand] war- rt[?] 4 was so [shorthand]
VC village chief PF until report
Quong Dur [Quang Duc Province?] isolated airbase isolated.
VN [shorthand] US responding to VC initiative.
[illegible] September VC have seized 1 unit the battle, the battlefield, the length of battle.
Oct 25-29/’66
Last year VC phase was to launch winter and spring campaign to wear out US aggressor. Puppets (VN) and satellites (Karems). [shorthand] year after the president meeting Oct 20-22 '67 to launch into spring comp is to launch continuous offensive in all fronts in order to [illegible] and decimate enemy. US puppet and satellite troops [shorthand] as possible in order to advance impetuously.
The SVN [shorthand] (Liberation Front) communique often [shorthand] of [illegible]
Political economic- Social cultural military
Last year when they launched a [shorthand] campaign regiment military force played 2nd role while military force played main role. Military force hardline prop[?].
When rains came Summer [shorthand] autumn in '67 they let regiment rest [shorthand] build up supply
And gave the headline to gla.[?] force to harrass US install SVN in fixed position.
As fort- regiment military [illegible] combination well-orchestrated.
Combination on all fronts political situation is ripe. VC see war in forest. Economic inflation close to Tet, New year’s, Christmas
politics
dimensions of war
end of July
Hard to point consolidated and build 1123 nation-wide in all of 1967.
[shorthand] of July 30 they are complicit only 243 all categories.
Change from reform
A+B+C
A+B-C=
A+B+C-D=
US if military force destroyed can money gla.[?]
VC-[shorthand] as [shorthand] a political first [shorthand] until story in carry [illegible] into military force-
Date
1967, Dec.
Subject
Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Strategy; Research
Location
South Vietnam
Coordinates
10.8231; 106.6297
Size
15 x 20 cm
Container
B45, F1
Format
research notes
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
Language
English