RIPPLE SALVO… #432… 1 May 1967…The Senate Republican Policy Committee staff white paper: “The Vietnam War.”… Two questions still looking for answers… but first…
Good Morning: Day FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO of a labor of like, remembering the bold and brave of Rolling Thunder…
11 MAY 1967… HEAD LINES of The New York Times on a dark and cloudy day in NYC…
Page 6: “Tribunal Finds U.S. Guilty In War”… “Earl Russell’s so-called International War Crimes Tribunal being held in Stockholm, Sweden, gave as its opinion today that the United States was ‘guilty of the crimes of aggression…and widespread, deliberate and systematic bombardment of civilians in Vietnam.’ It also asserted that the United States was guilty of violations of the ‘neutrality and territorial integrity of Cambodia. Australia, New Zealand and South Korea were named as accomplices…the crimes were defined as ‘crimes against humanity.’…The opinion was read by Paul Sarte, the French philosopher who is the body’s executive president. The eight-day tribunal has actually been not so much a trial but a commission of inquiry. It examined evidence submitted by five international teams totaling 27 persons, studies produced by medical, scientific and legal commissions, and statements by witnesses brought from Vietnam.”... Page 6: “U.S. Declines To Comment”…”…but cited the opinion of Sweden’s premier Tage Erlander who said he did not think the tribunal served the cause of peace in Vietnam.”… Page 1: “U.S. Court Voids New York State 1961 Law on Redistricting”… “A three-judge court ruled unanimously yesterday that the Legislature’s 1961 apportionment of congressional districts in New York state violated the United States Constitution. The judges said the current plan with its seemingly bizarre structuring of congressional districts should be scrapped and a new one drawn up… the court ruled the current plan violated the one-man-one-vote rule…Congressional districts must as nearly as practicable, be equal in population.”... Page 1: “Collegians Test in Draft Halted”...”The Selective Service System has discontinued college qualification tests pending a decision by President Johnson on whether to continue the present policy of educational deferments from the draft…General Hershey, Selective Service Director was testifying on the administration’s request for a four-year extension bill expected to pass tomorrow.”…Page 1: “Navy To Recommission World War II Battleship For Use Off Vietnam”… “the Defense Department has decided to recommission a Navy battleship for service in the Vietnam war. The New Jersey, one of four World War II veterans in the Navy’s reserve fleet, will probably be selected for modernization and overhaul, scheduled to start shortly. The New Jersey and her sister ships, the Iowa and Wisconsin are in the Philadelphia Navy Yard. the fourth Battleship is in Bremerton (Washington) Navy Yard.”
Page 2: “Greek Junta Acts to Purge Bishops and Rule Churches”… “The Greek military junta has enacted a law that gives almost total power over the Greek Orthodox Church, removes the entire ruling panel of bishops, and forces out of office the primate, the Archbishop Chrysostonanos of Athens. The new law constitutes a drastic purge of bishops and is a radical assertion of state supremacy even for Greece, where the Government has traditionally played an important role in regulating religious affairs.”… Page 1: “U.S. Destroyer In Far East Bumped By Soviet Warship”... “In the Sea of Japan. The Soviet warship was said to have maneuvered despite ‘repeated warnings,’ too close to a United States naval task group engaged in a training exercise. Soviet destroyer Bessledyni bumped USS Walker.”… Page 1: “General Dynamics Gets F-111 Award Worth $1.8-Billion”... “…the cost does not include engines, other electronics equipment. Number of aircraft said to be 395…331 of the basic F-111A fighter-bomber version for the Air Force and 24 F-111B long-range interceptor models for the Navy. In addition, 24 of the airplanes are for Australia and 50 for the British Air Force. Delivery of the 493 planes would begin his year and continue through early 1970.”
Page 3: “Largest Draft Call of ’67″… “The Defense Department today issued a July draft call for the induction of 19,900 young men to serve in the Army. It is the largest draft call of 1967. The call will increase as calls for 1965 complete their service and must be replaced”... Page 9: “Peace Teach-ins Held Across U.S.”… “John Galbraith, the Harvard economist asserted tonight that so many millions of Americans were critical of the Unite States policy in Vietnam that there was ‘very little chance of shutting them up,’… His statement was recorded and heard by several thousand persons on 20 campuses as part of a Teach-In program. More than 80 campuses across the country are involved.”… Page 9: “Clay Explains His Stand”... “At a University of Chicago rally of 1,600 said that he refused to be drafted because ‘in war its kill,kill, and kill some more.’ He said it was different from boxing. ‘In the ring, for one thing, you have a referee to stop the fight. Doctors and managers are nearby. And thousands of people watch the fight. In the ring my intention is to fight a clean fight.’ “…
Page 8: “Thant Again Asks Halt of Bombing”... “A new appeal to the United States to ‘take a calculated risk’ and halt the bombing of North Vietnam–cessation would result in peace talks in a few weeks time. Thant declared his belief that so long as the bombing continued ‘there will be no talks.'”…
The Rolling Thunder Rambler …Another great: “There I was…. “
OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER…HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT…LIEUTENANT COMMANDER WILLIAM HARRELL GREENE, JR… AIR MEDAL (Gold Star in lieu of 23rd Air Medal)… 25 APRIL 1967…
“The President of the United States takes pleasure in awarding the AIR MEDAL to LIEUTENANT COMMANDER WILLIAM HARRELL GREENE, JR. for HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT in aerial flight while attached to and serving with ATTACK SQUADRON TWO HUNDRED TWELVE embarked in USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA-31) in action against hostile enemy forces in North Vietnam on 25 April 1967. As leader of the surface-to-air missile suppression division on a strike against the Haiphong ammunition Depot, Kien An, Lieutenant Commander GREENE used his thorough knowledge of enemy capabilities as well as his extensive knowledge of his own equipment to plan the most effective tactics to protect the strike group during its attack. The target was heavily defended by both anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles. As his flight was taking position to protect the strike group, four surface-to-air missiles were fired at the missile suppression division. Lieutenant Commander GREENE successfully evaded these missiles, split his division, and took position with his section behind and above the strike group as it approached the target. As the strike group neared the roll-in point, Lieutenant Commander GREENE attempted to silence a radiating missile site. With outstanding courage and devotion to duty, he maneuvered into an attack position even though the enemy had launched a missile at his section of aircraft. Unfortunately, his weapon system malfunctioned, and he was forced to maneuver violently to avoid the oncoming missile which passed between him and his wingman.. Quickly passing the lead of the section to his wingman, Lieutenant Commander GREENE directed him in an attack against the missile site which he had been unable to attack successfully. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States a Naval Service.”
Humble Host is in awe of the impromptu tactics employed by Bill Greene on this mission… Responsible for the suppression of SAMs and stuck with a bent weapon, he just cruised around decoying, drawing fire and ducking the enemy hardware… brazen, bold, brave, an resourceful… “Where do we get such men?”… I just know this sortie told at the bar would be worth the listen… oohrah, Bill…Bear
11 MAY 1967…OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER…New York Times… No coverage of the air war, but there was this: “Five Planes Down, Hanoi Says”… Hong Kong. “The Hanoi radio reported today that North Vietnam had shot down five planes, four of them with anti-aircraft fire and missiles from Haiphong. The broadcast asserted the total number of planes shot down by North Vietnam now amounted to 1,872…the press reported that ‘Haiphong has been converted into a giant battle ground, an immense sea of fire to consume the reckless sea of pilots.‘ The agency said anti-aircraft guns are manned by men and women workers and peasants in the port and neighboring areas. It added that the fire-fighting bucket brigades were constantly ready and that workers arrived on their jobs with bundles of leaves to be used for camouflage.”… (bear#74bargesBenThuyferX)
“Vietnam: Air Losses” (Hobson) There was one fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 11 May 1967…
(1) CAPTAIN G.R. ROMANO flying an A-4E of the VMA-121 Green Knights and MAG-12 out of Chu Lai was downed by automatic weapons fire while making a napalm run on Vietcong 15 miles west of Chu Lai. CAPTAIN ROMANO ejected and an Army helicopter picked him up as the VC were closing in… (another great war story!!!)
RIPPLE SALVO… #432… Into May 1967 among the President’s most reliable supporter in the Senate was Republican Senator Ev Dirksen, the Minority Leader, and the Republican minority followed the leader, as a rule. And then…
“At a luncheon held sometime during late March, or early April, Jacob Javits, Charles Perry and Margaret Chase Smith from Maine met to chart a new course away from the administration policy on Vietnam. Previously, the president had encouraged senators to speak privately with him about their reservations on the war, therefore, the dissent remained private and no extra fuel was added to the public criticism. This tactic also allowed for no outward display of disunity. But some members of the United States Senate were becoming restive–which was not surprising, considering the national mood at that time–and the luncheon held that spring resulted in publication of a report entitled, “THE WAR IN VIETNAM.” Issued under the auspices of the Senate Policy Committee on May 1, 1967, the report was similar in nature to the documents released by House Republicans. The Senate narrative reviewed American policy towards Indochina since World War II, but it lacked any substantial alternatives to the current policy. However, it did ask Republicans to answer two fundamental questions:
(a)What precisely is our national interest in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos?
(b)What further lengths are we prepared to go in support of this interest?
“From a historical perspective this report sought to clarify the American involvement from Eisenhower to Johnson. In its conclusion, the report recognized the complexity of events within Asia, and Vietnam in particular. It noted the vast internal differences in political structures, religious variations, and philosophical attitudes in Vietnam. Finally the report listed basic statements of party philosophy for public consumption.
- Does the Republican Party serve America best by saying that politics stops at the water’s edge?: that we must rally behind the President? Does bipartisanship mean that Democrat mistakes are Republican responsibilities?
- Republicans–for two decades–have believed the United States must not become involved in a land war on the Asian continent. We are so involved today.
- Republican have believed that no American military intervention should be unilateral. Our commitment today in Vietnam is primarily unilateral.
- Republicans in 1954 made a limited commitment to the South Vietnam government. Under the Democrats our commitment has become open-ended.
The white paper was not intended for public consumption but it made its way into the Congressional Record for both the House and the Senate. By May 10 the paper was in every member of congress’ hands and the subject of countless luncheons–and committee meetings. At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting Senator Gore suggested to the Chairman: “I wish to promote another great debate so I move we adopt the Republican Policy Committee statement as a policy statement of the committee. Senator Pell seconded and others did likewise. Pell: Isn’t it up to us to determine whether we have a true national interest and responsibility in Southeast Asia? I think can all agree about that.” …Chairman: I think, coming back to the Policy Committee report. I think they really asked the crux of the matter. What is the national interest in Vietnam?”…Gore: “Maybe we should have a hearing on that.”...Chair: “Yes, I think we should.”…Senator McCarthy: “I think we ought to find out what it is because if you are going to pledge the national interest, that is pretty serious. That is the national honor, and once you put the national honor on the scales you have to declare war to preserve it.”…
Humble Host has pasted the above few paragraphs from government records to make two points:
1. In May 1967 the Congress of the United States was still asking themselves: “What is our national interest in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia and: “What further lengths are we prepared to go in support of this interest? (And at that point the first 10,000 American warriors lives had been lost!!!)
2. Fifty years later to the date, May 2017, the Congress of the United States needs to ask themselves: “What is our national interest in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen?” And the companion question from a whitepaper of 1 May 1967: “What further lengths are we prepared to go in support of these interests?” Do you think anybody has an answer?
As Senator Gore (circa 1967) said: “Maybe we should have a hearing on that?….”
CAG’s Quotes for 11 May: E.B. BROWNING: “Happy are all free peoples, too strong to be dispossessed; but blessed are those among nations who dare to be strong for the rest.!”… PATTON: “I believe a man to become a great soldier it is necessary for him to be so thoroughly conversant with all sorts of military possibilities that whenever an occasion arises, he has at hand, without effort on his part, a parallel.”…
Lest we forget…. Bear