RIPPLE SALVO… #832… ON 2 JULY 1968 THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, GENERAL HAROLD K. JOHNSON, HAD COMPLETED TURNOVER OF HIS DUTIES TO GENERAL WILLIAM WESTMORELAND AND WAS READY TO RETIRE… “The next morning, at a small White House gathering, President Johnson awarded him an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Service Medal. On that occasion LBJ recited some words that he said fit General Johnson well, words like ‘gentle, faithful, loyal, wise, and–as the thousands of men who have served him all testify–beloved.’ “… General Johnson’s biographer, Lewis Sorley, continues: “When virtually all American ground troops had been withdrawn (from Vietnam in 1971) and Abrams–a renowned tanker–had only air and naval elements to throw into battle, the South Vietnamese stood up to a ferocious assault by enemy conventional forces amounting to some fourteen divisions in the 1972 Easter Offensive. It took the communists three years to mount another comparable onslaught. By then the United States had withdrawn all its military support, and its financial assistance as well, while China and the Soviet Union continued to supply their North Vietnamese surrogate abundantly. With those prevailing realities, the outcome of the final offensive in 1975 was foreordained, and South Vietnam succumbed…. Johnson lived to see all that… and in his last years Johnson revisited an issue that had long nagged at him: resignation in protest.”… Picked up below In Ripple Salvo… but first…
Good Morning… Day EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO of a critical review of a page of American history from 50 years ago that is rich with lessons for consideration in righting the course of current American foreign policy and the national defense…
HEAD LINES from The NEW YORK TIMES on Saturday, 15 June 1968….
THE WAR: Page 1: “ENEMY RESUMES SAIGON SHELLING–8 WOUNDED SOUTHWEST OF CITY”… “The enemy fired about 20 mortar rounds into southwestern Saigon this morning, wounding eight civilians. In a resumption of the attacks on the capital that began 42 days ago, the enemy appeared to have concentrated his fire on a South Vietnamese police post two miles from the center of the city… In another attack in South Vietnam today, the enemy fired about 60 107mm rockets into the Bienhoa Air Base, 20 miles northeast of Saigon. No casualties or damage was reported… LEAFLETS PREDICT SHELLING… “The Vietcong said they would fire 100 rockets at Saigon each night for the next 100 days, according to leaflets distributed in various parts of the capital. The leaflet quoted the guerrillas as having said that the attacks would start in the next ten days.”…
PEACE TALKS: Page 4: “U.S. OFFICIALS IN PARIS DISPUTE CYRUS EATON’S OPTIMISM–JOHNSON PEACE PLAN IS REPORTED BY TASS”… “American officials took issue today with a forecast by Cyrus Eaton, the 85-year old American industrialist, who recently talked with Soviet leaders, that ‘we are on the threshold of peace in Vietnam. A spokesman for the American delegation that is meeting here in Paris with the South Vietnamese declined to comment on Mr. Eaton’s remarks. But privately, officials said they knew of ‘no basis for that optimism’ about a settlement or for Mr. Eaton’s suggestion that a resolution of the bombing issue was imminent…. BOMBING HALT CALLED KEY… American negotiators reportedly heard from Mr. Eaton as they have through other indirect channels, that if all American bombing of North Vietnam was halted, it was likely ‘that major movement would occur on the North Vietnamese side immediately. The response of some American officials is that this is too vague to justify President Johnson calling off all bombing of the north, especially while the enemy continues the intense pressure against Saigon and North Vietnamese infiltration into South Vietnam continues to be heavy.”… STATE DEPARTMENT. Office of the Historian. Historical Document. Foreign Relations 1964-68 Vietnam. Document 274. A Harriman telegram from Paris to the State Department with an update from the site of the Peace Talks with the latest positions of both parties. Read at…
https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v06/d274
Page 1: “DR. SPOCK GUILTY WITH 3 OTHER MEN IN ANTIDRAFT PLOT–Convicted Of Conspiracy To Urge Evasion Of Service–Raskin Wins Acquittal”… “Dr. Benjamin Spock and three other men were found guilty in Federal District Court today of conspiring to counsel evasion of the draft. A fifth defendant was found not guilty. The four convicted men are expected to carry their cases to the Supreme Court, if necessary, as part of their crusade against the war in Vietnam and the draft…. The maximum penalties are five years in jail and $10,000 fine. The defendants were released on bond of $1,000.”… Page 1: “RIFLE GROUP MOUNTS DRIVE AGAINST GUN CONTROL–900,000 Members Are Urged To Counter Rising Public Pressure For Curbs”… “The National Rifle Association sought today to counter the rising public pressure on Congress for stricter gun controls by suggesting that ‘the sportsmen of America’ lay down a barrage of mail in opposition. “The right of sportsmen in the United States to obtain, own and use firearms for purposes is in the greatest jeopardy in the history of our country,’ Harold W. Glassen, the association’s president, said in a two page letter to the association’s nearly 900,000 members.”… Page 1: “NIXON SHUNS FIGHT WITH ROCKEFELLER–HE POSTPONES RESUMPTION OF CAMPAIGNING–Possibly Till Just Before Convention”… “…postponing indefinitely the resumption of his own campaign and thus avoiding any political controversy with the New York Governor.”… Page 1: “AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT KIRK INSISTS REBEL GROUP WILL NOT SHARE AUTHORITY”… “…has declared that the institution’s trustees ‘cannot be expected to share decision-making power on any subject with a group of students if that group has the avowed policy of destroying the integrity of the university.”… Page 6: “FIRE EXCHANGED ACROSS SUEZ–ISRAELIS AND EGYPTIANS FIGHT FIRST DUEL SINCE JANUARY”… “…an artillery and tank duel that lasted two and a half hours in the same area of Port Taufiq across the canal from the town of Suez. One Israeli soldier was wounded.”… Page 26: “SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FREEMAN DEFENDS FOOD STAMP PROGRAM–Says Poor Can’t Squander Coupons On Bingo Game”…
15 JUNE 1968… PRESIDENT’S DAILY BRIEF (CIA TS/SI) SOVIET UNION/NORTH VIETNAM: Any resumption of bombing around Hanoi would probably result in the dispatch of Soviet “volunteer” air combat units to North Vietnam. The source has long pursued a tough line of Vietnam. He alluded to possible arrival of soviet combat pilots as long ago as 1967. His return to the topic probably is his way of stressing the importance ot the Soviets attach to the bombing halt. Moscow publicly supports Hanoi’s demands for a total halt, and few Soviet diplomats have missed an opportunity to remind us of that. We would expect more threats of this type as the press speculates on a resumption of the bombing.”… NORTH VIETNAM: “Hanoi On the Fighting in the South: Hanoi propaganda is portraying the current fighting in South Vietnamese urban centers as a new “high tide” of the revolutionary struggle which will hasten the collapse of the allies. Hanoi’s army newspaper in an article claimed that the fighting in urban areas, particularly in Saigon, represented a new development in guerrilla warfare. It praised the “infinitely resourceful and fruitful activities” of the guerrillas and claimed that they are “deep rooted” in the southern cities. It said they will play an important role in forcing the allies to accept an entirely new fight. The guerrillas represent all strata of society and have the advantage of surprise and knowledge of the area. It concluded by predicting that the struggle in the cities will grow in intensity and “aggravate the deadly wounds of the US aggressors and their henchmen.” It warned that savage countermeasures could be expected, but said the allies will not be able to extricate themselves from their deadlock in the city battlefields….
15 JUNE 1968… OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER…New York Times (16 June reporting 15 June ops) Page 1: “Despite fair weather, American pilots flew only 82 attack missions over North Vietnam Friday. It was the lowest number of strikes in several weeks and a military spokesman said it ws due to a ‘maintenance stand down” by the Navy. On a typical clear day, Navy pilots fly more than 50 multi-aircraft missions: the day’s total was 12.”… VIETNAM: AIR LOSSES (Chris Hobson) There was one fixed wing aircraft lost over Southeast Asia on 15 June 1968..
(1) LT J.M. WRIGHT was flying an A-4E of the VA-56 Champions embarked in USS Enterprise on a strike on a POL target west of Vinh at Trang Mao and was hit by small arms fire en route to the target. LT WRIGHT judged his aircraft capable of completing the mission, made his diving attack on the target, and while climbing off the target noticed a loss of oil pressure. He was able to get feet wet and within 20 miles of Enterprise before the engine seized and he wa forced to eject. He was picked up by helicopter within minutes…oohrah
SUMMARY OF ROLLING THUNDER LOSSES (KIA/MIA/POW) ON 15 JUNE FOR THE FOUR YEARS OF THE OPERATION OVER NORTH VIETNAM…
1965… NONE…
1966… LCDR THEODORE FRANK KOPFMAN, USN… (POW)…
AMONG THE BRAVE… CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY … COMMANDER THEODORE FRANK KOPFMAN… the SILVER STAR…
“The President of the United State of America takes pleasure in presenting the SILVER STAR to Commander (then Lieutenant Commander) THEODORE FRANK KOPFMAN, United States Navy, for CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY and INTREPIDITY in action on 15 June 1966, while serving as a pilot of a light jet attack aircraft with Attack Squadron FIFTY-FIVE (VA-55) embarked in USS RANGER (CVA-61), during aerial combat operations in Southeast Asia. As leader of a flight of four aircraft, Commander KOPFMAN planned, led and executed a highly successful attack against a Surface-to-Air Missile site. Although the flight was fired upon approaching the target area, Commander KOPFMAN avoided the missiles by evasive maneuvering and visually acquired the target. In the face of intense and accurate heavy and medium gunfire which blanketed the sky, he spearheaded the assault, placing his air-to-ground missiles among the enemy missile launchers as he pulled up and directed the remainder of the flight in acquisition of the target. Commander KOPFMAN’s superb leadership and exceptional weapons delivery resulted in the destruction of a highly dangerous enemy missile complex. His gallant and courageous performance was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”…
Among COMMANDER KOPFMAN’s combat awards: Two awards of the SILVER STAR, the LEGION OF MERIT with Combat “V”, three awards of the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, and a number of AIR MEDALS as a consequence of his 198 Rolling Thunder missions. He was a POW for more than six years and returned honor in February 1973…
1967… CAPTAIN JOHN WILLARD SWANON, USAF… (KIA)…
1968… NONE…
Humble Host flew #186. Led a division to strike a ferry crossing southwest of Vinh. Nice reaction from the gunners on the west side of Vinh as we put a total of 24 Mk-82s on the beaches of the river crossing. Looked for ferry and water craft to strafe but the river was clear.
RIPPLE SALVO… #832… HONORABLE WARRIOR: GENERAL HAROLD K. JOHNSON and the Ethics of Command by Lewis Sorley… Colonel Harry Summers reviewed the Sorley biography and reported: “A significant contribution to our understanding of the Vietnam War and a timely commentary on military leadership, especially the moral dimensions. Harold Johnson very much exemplified the kind of moral leadership that all military services are trying to recapture today.” All’s well, until General Johnson has some time to reflect on his career and life in “his last years” when he asked himself why he had not “resigned in protest.”… From the Epilogue of the Johnson biography:
“…in his last years, Johnson revisited an issue that had long nagged at him: resignation in protest. It is certain that Johnson’s personal example of principled leadership constituted on eo his most meaningful contributions to the Army he led in those troubled times. He characteristically held himself to extremely demanding standards, and sometimes concluded that he had not measured up. During the course of his stewardship as Chief of Staff, he had on a number of occasions contemplated resignation in protest, but each time he drew back, concluding that he could do more good by continuing to serve.
“In retirement, as a frequent speaker at the Army War College and elsewhere, he was invariably questioned on this matter, and answered as he had rationalized it to himself while in active service. Resignation would be a meaningless act, making at best a brief splash in the newspapers, then would be quickly forgotten, while others more amenable would be brought in to do the administration’s bidding. Better to serve on, faithful to the Army and the soldier, and do what one could to make things better.
“Late in his life, however, Johnson reached a different conclusion, one he confided to a number of people. The most fully articulated version was elicited from Brigadier General Albion Knight… He and Johnson had by now known each other well for a number of years, and there came a point at which Knight posed a searching question. ‘General,’ he asked, ‘if you had to live your life over again, what would you do different?’
“General Johnson responded by observing that are sins of omission and sins of commission. He recalled that the Army had reached down quite a number of files to make him Chief of Staff, and he believed that the Lord had pulled him up to do a job. He mentioned resignation in protest, asking, ‘Was that the job He wanted me to do?’
“Then very quietly, Johnson spoke of the conclusion he had reached. ‘I remember the day I was ready to go over to the Oval Office and give my four stars to the President and tell him, ‘You have refused to tell the country they cannot fight a war without mobilization; and you have forced us in the military to violate almost every one of the principles of war in Vietnam. Therefore, I resign and will hold a press conference after I walk out of your door.’
“Then, added General Johnson with a look of anguish, ‘I made the typical mistake of believing I could do more for the country and the Army if I stayed in rather than got out. I am now going to my grave with that lapse in moral courage on my back.'”…
General Harold Johnson made a late life admission of a mistake so great that he had concluded he was going to his grave “with that lapse in moral courage” on his back. Every general and flag officer should ponder the paramount life’s lesson that General Harold Johnson left for them…
RTR Quote for 15 June: JIMINY CRICKET, Pinocchio: “Always let your conscience be your guide.”…
Lest we forget… Bear