RIPPLE SALVO… #409… “Peace demonstrations adversely affect our country’s interests.”… but first…
Good Morning: Day FOUR HUNDRED NINE of remembering the fallen warriors of Rolling Thunder…
18 April 1967… HOME TOWN HEAD LINES from The New York Times on a cloudy, drizzly Tuesday in NYC…
Page 1: “More U.S. troops in Vietnam Moved to Border Area”... “The United States has sent 3,000 additional troops into the embattled Northern provinces of South Vietnam. The action brought to 7,500 the number of Army personnel posted in the five province region, formerly the domain of the Marine Corps and South Vietnamese Government troops. ‘That place is in trouble. They need help,’ said an American diplomat. There is little question that the northern provinces will get the help.”... Page 1: “Justices Rebuff the South on Pupil Integration Stay”... “The Supreme Court refused today to delay the enforcement of a lower court ruling requiring the desegregation of all public schools in six southern states next fall. The action removed the last judicial barrier to enforcement of the historic decision and strongly suggested that the Supreme Court would let the ruling stand without reviewing it.”… Page 1: “Posters Demand the Execution of Liu For Plot on Mao”… “Wall posters appearing in Peking today demanded that President Liu Shao-chi be condemned to death for planning to kill Mao Tse-tung, the party chairman, and seize power in China by a military coup d’etat. The posters said Liu and Teng Hsiao-peng, the party’s General Secretary, were ‘arch conspirators’ in a minutely planned operation launched in February 1966… The posters also implicate Peng Cheng the former Mayor of Peking. The posters said, ‘The people’s war should be waged to unmask thoroughly the February conspiracy and condemn these people to death.. “… Page 2: “Nixon Indicates He Seeks Step-Up in War Effort”… “Former Vice-President Richard M. Nixon indicated today that he would recommend a sharp increase in American efforts to win the Vietnam conflict after his return to the United States next Monday. ‘It can be said now the defeat of the Communist forces in South Vietnam is inevitable,’ Mr. Nixon declared, ‘The only question is how soon?’ “…. Page 9: “Doolittle To Get Air Academy Award”...LGEN James H. Doolittle, the pilot who led a bomber raid on Tokyo during World War Ii was named winner of the Air Force Academy’s Thomas D. White National Defense Award for 1967… given for ‘outstanding contributions to the national defense and security of the United States.’ The award will be presented at the Air Force Academy in May.” HUMBLE HOST notes that today –18 April 1967– marks the 75th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid from USS Hornet to wake up Tokyo…. 18 April 1942
NYT Editorial Page: “HANOI’S REFUSAL”…
“The Canadian peace plan has now been added to the list of proposals turned down by North Vietnam. In recent months there have been President Johnson’s direct approach to Ho Chi Minh, Pope Paul’s pleas, a suggestion from the Wilson Government in London, and Secretary General Thant’s revised plan. Hanoi says: NO. It has to be that for the time being, but it is necessary to seek the reasons…North Vietnam is being offered fair terms.
“It may well be that the Hanoi Government exaggerates the possible effects of the opposition to the war in the United States. There is opposition but it does not extend to an acceptance of defeat or a unilateral withdrawal of the United States from Vietnam. Hanoi may be so ill-informed as to think such a development is possible.
“There is, however, that one proviso which Hanoi, U Thant, Pope Paul, some United States Senators, and some American newspapers, including this one, make: Stop the bombing of North Vietnam and see what happens. It is risky, but to continue an always growing war is even more risky.
“One can only guess the way minds work in Hanoi.”
18 APRIL 1967… OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… New York Times (19 Apr reporting 18 Apr Ops) Page 2: “U.S. Jets Bomb Steel Plant in North Vietnam”... “United States Air Force jets bombed the big Thainguyen steel complex yesterday in what was believed to b the biggest attack so far against the industrial complex 38 miles north of Hanoi…United States spokesmen said they were unable to give details on raids over North Vietnam yesterday, But it appeared the air war had picked up again, at least briefly. For weeks bad weather had curtailed bomb strikes against targets in the North…The raid on the Thainguyen complex–the 10th of the war– was made by Air Force F-105 Thunderchiefs and F-4C Phantom jets. Pilots said their 500 and 750 pound bombs had left the area in flames.”
“Vietnam: Air Losses” (Hobson) One fixed wing aircraft was lost in Southeast Asia on 18 April 1967…
(1) LCOL GORDON H. KELLER, USMC and CAPTAIN HUGH J. JULIAN, USMC were flying an F-4B of VMFA-323 Death Rattlers and MAG-13 were climbing out of Chu Lai on a strike mission in heavy rain and clouds. Their Phantom’s electrical system failed at 28,000 and the two Marines were forced to eject. LCOL KELLER, CO of VMFA-323, was quickly rescued. CAPTAIN JULIAN was in the water for nine hours before a South Vietnamese fisherman pulled him out of water to fly and fight again…
RIPPLE SALVO… #409… Humble Host yields the floor to Admiral Sharp who was in the news 50 years ago on this date…
NYT, 18 April 1967, Page 2… “ADMIRAL CRITICAL”…
“Admiral U.S.Grant Sharp, Jr., Commander in Chief in the Pacific, denounced anti-Vietnam war demonstrations in the United States as ‘damaging our overall position. By encouraging North Vietnam to believe it can outlast the United States, peace demonstrations adversely affect the country’ interests,’ Admiral Sharp said. ‘Such agitation,’ he said, ‘also annoys American combat troops in South Vietnam, lowering their morale.’
“Admiral Sharp, whose headquarters in Hawaii serves as the main executive agency for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Pentagon news conference that he was cautiously optimistic about the trend of the war.’
“The soft-spoken Admiral who has returned here for conferences on Pacific defenses, cautiously praised the idea of a Vietnam barrier along the 17th parallel put forward by Nguyen Cao Ky of South Vietnam. The line would seek to halt enemy troops and supply infiltration. The Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield told the Senate meanwhile that such a line could do more than bombing to halt enemy troop and supply infiltration and could well mark a turning point in the war.
“Admiral Sharp said the enemy had suffered a series of crushing defeats in recent months with both his economy and his ability to support efforts. He warned that Hanoi still had a considerable military capability. He said it had recently concentrated three divisions in an area of the demilitarized zone on the 17th parallel which divides North and South Vietnam.
“Asked whether North Vietnam might try to invade South Vietnam’s northern provinces, he replied quietly: “I wish they would try. They face certain defeat. We look forward to the opportunity to use our firepower and mobility.”
CAG’s QUOTES for 18 April: HUGO VON FREYTAG: “History teaches that nations which are not ready to defend their honor with arms invariably decline.”… PATTON: “Fires are not put out by disbanding the fire department and wars are not prevented by destroying a country’s armed forces.”….
Lest we forget…. Bear.