RIPPLE SALVO… #920… HUMBLE HOST HAS PULLED THE DOCUMENT THAT PROVIDED SECRETARY CLIFFORD THE JOINT CHIEF’S COMMENTS ON A “DRAFT PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM ON STRATEGIC OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE FORCES” AS THE VIETNAM WAR GROUND ON… I couldn’t resist the opportunity to tap into formerly Top Secret policy and plans concerning the strategic side of the forces necessary to deter war with the Soviet Union. I was searching for answers to a pair of questions. While we were expending scarce resources in Southeast Asia fighting a war of attrition at great expense in blood and treasure, how healthy was our strategic ace in the hole–the ability to deter nuclear war and win if deterrence failed? Also, What might be learned about our current strategic policy and plans from a review of the 50 year-old Draft PM on the subject? Notes and document below… but first…
GOOD MORNING…Day and number NINE HUNDRED-TWENTY of daily posts to commemorate a war fought fifty years ago that took the lives of 58,220 American warriors, including scores of friends, ship and squadron mates, and created a divide in our nation that flourishes still…
HEAD LINES from The New York Times on Tuesday, 10 September 1968…
THE WAR: Page 3: “JOINT FORCE BALKS HIGHLANDS ATTACK–U.S. and South Vietnamese Say 47 Of Enemy Died”… “United States and South Vietnamese troops joined yesterday to smash an enemy attack in the Central Highlands, the scene of heavy fighting in the last few weeks. According to the joint military communiques this evening, the allies killed 47 enemy soldiers in a clash eight miles northwest of Banmethuot, 27 miles from the Special Forces camp at Duclap, the target of several recent enemy assaults. The latest fighting began in the morning when two companies of South Vietnamese Regional Forces, which correspond to a provincial militia, were crossing a road from Banmethuot to Quangnhieu. They were supported by a platoon of United States armored personnel carriers. When an enemy force of unknown size opened the attack, it was met by a hail of fire from the armored vehicles which reported killing at least 30 men. South Vietnamese accounted for another 17. By early afternoon American helicopter gunships had joined the fight directing rockets and machine gun fire into the enemy positions. Toward mid-afternoon the enemy began to withdraw. There were no American casualties reported in the action. South Vietnamese losses were one killed and three wounded. In the last few days several sharp clashes have occurred in the Duclap area and high ranking American officers are convinced that the enemy intends to launch a major offensive against outlying allied positions along the Cambodia border…. In other battlefield action yesterday, American infantrymen were reported to have killed 11 enemy soldiers in a short clash near Ducpho, which is along the coast of the South China Sea.”… Page 2: “SEARCH AND DESTROY MISSIONS GAINING FLEXIBILITY–Small Patrols And Electronic Devices Now Being Used To Rout Enemies In Vietnam”… “As American troops streamed into South Vietnam in 1966 and 1967, the peak build-up years, they moved out into the field in massive search-and-destroy operations. Almost immediately critics said this was the wrong way to fight a war in a country of dense tropical jungle, rugged mountains, vast swamps and abundant escape routes to neighboring countries (sanctuaries). Today the military is doing more searching and destroying than ever, but doing it–mainly officers say–with more flexibility and with less ‘thrashing about in the jungle.’ “…
PEACE TALKS: Page 2: “HANOI AIDE PRAISES GOLDBERG ON STAND”… “A Hanoi spokesman said at a press conference today that a call by Arthur J. Goldberg for an immediate halt in the American bombing of North Vietnam was ‘positive’ and ‘realistic.’ But Nguyen Than Le, who speaks for Hanoi at the talks with the United States, indicated that the United States might have to do more than stop bombing to get the talks moving. He implied that reconnaissance flights over North Vietnam would also have to cease. Mr. Le’s comments seemed to be a refinement of Hanoi’s unyielding position since the talks began last May. This is tthat political subjects can be discussed only after the United States has ‘stopped the bombing and other acts of war.’ … He said, ‘the time has come to halt all American bombing of North Vietnam. After that the two parties at the Pairs talks could take up the reciprocal action that the United States wants.’ …Page 2: “COMEDIAN DICK GREGORY, IN PARIS, TALKS WITH NORTH VIETNAMESE”… “…Gregory, the Peace and Freedom party’s candidate for President, met with members of the North Vietnamese delegation here today. The Hanoi group reiterated to Mr. Gregory their view that no substantive questions about the future of Vietnam or a reduction of the fighting could be discussed in the Paris talks until the United States ceases all bombing of North Vietnam.”…
Page 1: “U.S. PANEL ON VIOLENCE AIDE SCORES DALEY RIOTERS, NEWSMEN–Chicago Negroes Lauded–Mayor Defends His City”… “The Director of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders criticized Mayor Daley, the Chicago police, demonstrators and the news media today for their roles during the rioting while the Democratic National Convention met in Chicago.” Page 1: “SOVIET ARMY IN ACTION IMPRESSES WEST”… “The Soviet-led invasion last month Czechoslovakia last month provided Western observers with the first opportunity since World War II to watch the Soviet army in a situation of combat readiness on a large scale. the invasion, especially the lightning occupation of Prague, was a brilliantly and faultlessly executed military operation, in the virtually unanimous judgement of Western observers with military experience.”… Page 1: “DeGAULLE ASSAILS SOVIET BUT BACKS POLICY OF DETENTE–Terms Move Against Czechs Absurd But Makes No Demands Of Moscow–Diplomatic Ties Are Hinted–Firm Stand Is Taken On Student Violence”… Page 1: “RUSK MAKES PLEA FOR NUCLEAR PACT WITH SOVIETS–ASKS SENATE TO BACK IT DESPITE CZECH INVASIONS“… Page 1: “HUMPHREY SAYS DOVES PLANS WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCEPTABLE”… Page 4: “U.S. SAID TO PLAN PUEBLO POLICY–SOUTH KOREANS REPORT BID FOR RETURN OF CREWMEN–Rusk Says U.S. has No Evidence to Confirm Report”… Page 30: “BAIL FOR NEWTON SOUGHT ON COAST–Black Panthers Score Conviction On Manslaughter Charge–Angry panthers Talk of War And Unwrap Of Weapons”… Page 31: “81% IN LOUIS HARRIS POLL SEE LAW BREAKING DOWN–84% FEEL STRONG PRESIDENT WOULD HELP.”…
10 SEPTEMBER 1968… OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… New York Times: No coverage of air operations in the North… VIETNAM: AIR LOSSES (Chris Hobson) There were three fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 10 September 1968…
(1) CAPTAIN D.A. McGRATH and CAPTAIN R.D. UFFLEY were flying an F-100F Super Sabre of the 355th TFS and 37th TFW out ot Phu Cat taking part in a close air support mission in South Vietnam 20 miles southwest of Ban Me Thuot when downed by ground fire. They were hit while making a second strafing pass on North Vietnamese troops and forced to eject when the aircraft burst into flames. An Air Force helicopter rescued them ahead of the searching NVN troops. …
(2) LCOL F.E. PETERSEN, USMC and CAPTAIN K.D. EDLEN, USMC were flying an F-4D of the VMFA-314 Black Knights out of Chu Lai in support of Marine ops in the DMZ when downed by enemy ground fire about 12 miles northwest of Khe Sanh. LCOL PETERSEN was pulling up from his third strafing pass on enemy troops in bunkers and trenches when hit by .50cal gunfire. The port engine caught fire forcing the two aviators to eject in very hostile territory. An Army helicopter made the rescue…
(3) LTJG J.N. QUISENBERRY, flying an F-8H of the VF-51 Screaming Eagles embarked in USS Bon Homme Richard was forced to eject over the Gulf of Tonkin when his engine exploded. He was rescued by Navy helicopter to fly and fight again… Operational loss…
SUMMARY OF ROLLING THUNDER LOSSES (KIA/MIA/POW) FOR THE FOUR SEPTEMBER 10 DATES FOR THE FOUR YEARS OF THE OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS OVER NORTH VIETNAM…
1968… NONE…
1967… MAJOR NORRIS M. OVERLY, USAF… (POW, accepted early release after seven months of captivity)…and… CAPTAIN GAYLORD DEAN PETERSON, USAF… (KIA)…Downing and loss reported in RTR of 10 Sept 67, Ripple Salvo #553.
1966… MAJOR LAWRENCE BYRON TATUM, USAF… (KIA)… and… CAPTAIN DOUGLAS “Pete” PETERSON, USAF… (POW)…and… 1LT BERNARD LEA TALLEY, USAF… (POW)…Downing and loss reported in RTR of 10 Sept 66, Ripple Salvo # 193.
1965… LCDR WENDELL BURKE RIVERS, USN… (POW)… Was flying an A-4E of the VA-155 Silver Foxes embarked in USS CORAL SEA on his 96th combat mission when downed on a strike on the power plant target in Vinh. He was hit as he delivered his bombs in a 45-degree dive. When the resultant engine fire led to control failure he was forced to eject before he could reach the relative safety of the sea. Wendy Rivers would serve seven and a half years of honorable duty in the prison system of North Vietnam and be released in February 1973….
RIPPLE SALVO… #920… HUMBLE HOST wondered how the United States was holding up on the Strategic side of our National Defense while we were employing everything we had in conventional forces to fight the stalemated war in Southeast Asia. I tapped into the State Department’s Historical Documents to put an eye on the 26 August 1968 comments of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the draft Presidential memorandum (PDM) addressing “Strategic Offensive and Defensive Forces.” Here is the lead paragraph of the formerly Top Secret document…I quote..
(TS) The Joint Chiefs of Staff have reviewed the ‘for comment’ draft Presidential memorandum (PDM) on strategic offensive and defensive forces. The tentative recommendations in the DPM could lead to the conclusion that, rather than improving our military capabilities, we are compromising US strategy to accommodate to the Soviet improved posture. The Soviet technical ability and national purpose are demonstrated by their capability to develop and deploy a ballistic missile defense, a new nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles, and the new Foxbat interceptor, while continuing to expand their hardened ICBM force and developing a new ICBM and the fractional orbit bombardment system. The development of these Soviet capabilities without corresponding improvements in US strategic force capabilities continues the shift of the strategic balance away form the United States.”… In a later paragraph…
(TS) The existence of US strategic superiority for the past two decades has deterred a global war and permitted flexibility in international affairs. As the relative strategic position of the United States is challenged–and the increasing Soviet capabilities most certainly reflect a challenge–two principal dangers are identifiable: ….. First, that an increasing confidence in their strength will lead the Soviets to high-risk courses, and, second, the possibility that such courses will escalate into strategic nuclear war. Unless the presently programed strategic force levels of the United States are improved, erosion of our relative strategic position will continue. Concomitantly, flexibility in pursuit of national goals will be constrained by our inability to deal from a position of strength. As this erosion continues, the margin of error in the conduct of international affairs will be reduced, and the risks attendant in each decision will increase at an accelerated rate. The alternative to acceptance of the risks associated with the erosion of our strategic position is to ensure that the Soviets have no doubt of the U.S. determination and capability to deter a deliberate enemy decision to attack and, should such deterrence fail, to insure that the United States and its allies emerge with relative advantage irrespective of the circumstances of initiation, response, and termination. To accomplish this, we must continue a vigorous program of research and development; increase survivable missile throw weight; deploy an effective ballistic missile defense against Soviet threat; continue modernization of forces, including development of a replacement strategic bomber aircraft; and continue to improve strategic command, communications, and warning systems.”…End quote…
Humble Host submits that one of the lessons the Vietnam war era teaches is that the cost of fighting wars is necessarily shared with all of a nation’s investment and expense accounts. It is readily apparent from the above 1968 super-secret assessment of our strategic forces that we were robbing strategic accounts to pay for our conventional warring. I can only wonder what shape our nation’s 2018 strategic nuclear forces are in as we enter the eighteenth year of war in Afghanistan, fight in Iraq, and joust with other enemies in every quarter of the world… If we have allowed to happen in 2018, what we accepted in 1968, we are inviting challenge… Read the entire document, with two additional documents in the footnotes at…
https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v10/d213
RTR Quote for 10 September: Mao Tse Tung’s 3rd Principle of Operation: “Make wiping out the enemy’s effective strength our main objective; do not make holding or seizing a city or place our main objective. Holding or seizing a city or place is the outcome of wiping out the enemy’s effective strength, and often a city or place can be held or seized for good only after it has changed hands a number of times.”…
Lest we forget… Bear