RIPPLE SALVO… #963… THE DAYS OF OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER ARE NUMBERED–8 … NOT MUCH STRIKE WARFARE, BUT A BUNCH OF WHITE HOUSE MUSTERS… Fourteen Historical Documents detailing three of the critical days of the President’s decision process that resulted in his cessation of the 44-month bombing campaign on 1 November 1968… See below…but first…
Good Morning…Day NINE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE of remembrance of the events and the service and sacrifice of the nation’s bravest aviators–the men who took the war to the enemy in his home office…
HEAD LINES from The New York Times on Thursday, 24 October 1968…
THE WAR: Page 13: “ENEMY BATTERED IN DANANG REGION–Foe’s Loss Put At 225–Buffer Shelling Resumed”… “Ground action has increased sharply in the last 36 hours, with almost 225 enemy soldiers reported killed in engagements in the Danang area. The actions were the sharpest in about quiet, giving rise to speculations about possible peace moves. Artillery and air strikes called in by United States marines operating near Anhoa, about 18 miles south of Danang, killed 178 of the enemy. Twenty-seven enemy troops were killed by South Koreans operating near Hoian and Diendan, a few miles to the east. More than 450 enemy were sighted. There was no pattern in their direction of movement…American marines operating just south of the demilitarized zone at the border between North and South Vietnam underwent renewed shelling. Enemy artillery had been relatively dormant in recent days. Casualties were light and the marines struck back with counter battery fire and air attacks…. TERRORISM APPEARS TO WANE… According to reports by the National police, during the two weeks ended October 19 there were 446 incidents of terror, in which 197 civilians were killed. By contrast, for the two weeks ended October 5, the police reported 568 incidents, in which 348 civilians were killed.”
PEACE TALKS: Page 1: “MEETING IN PARIS FAILS TO CLARIFY POSITION OF HANOI–American Still Hopeful–See No Categorical Rebuff In Lack Of Response–27th Negotiation Meeting Held In Paris–Washington Sources Report Moscow Is Kept Informed On Efforts For Peace”…
HEAD LINES: Page 1: “CZECH SCHOLARS DENOUNCE SOVIETS–ACADEMY REBUTS MOSCOW’s JUSTIFICATION FOR INVASION BY WARSAW PACT UNITS”… Page 5: “CZECH REFUGEES FLOW TO U.S. TO START NEW LIFE”… Page 1: “HUMPHREY IN L.A. PUSHES TO RECOUP IN WEST–Sees Signs Of Revived Spirit Among Texas Democrats–Pleads For Watts Vote”… Page 1: “NIXON IN MICHIGAN ASSERTS HUMPHRIES CONFUSES VIETNAM TALKS”… Page 1: “GALLUP POLL FINDS NIXON’s IN THE EAST–12 State Area Covered–Polls Here Differ on Trend”… Page 14: “EDUCATION AID BILL FOR G.I.s SIGNED–Widows Included”…
Page 28: “JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER 3rd CALLS FOR SUPPORT FOR ‘YOUTH REVOLUTION’ “… “John D. Rockefeller 3d described student activists last night as ‘in many ways the elite of our young people’ and said that ‘instead of worrying about how to suppress the youth revolution we of the older generation should be worrying about how to sustain it.’ Mr. Rockefeller, a 62 year old philanthropist and the brother of New York Governor Rockefeller, made his comments in a speech delivered at the annual wards dinner for the Family of Man… ‘There are three courses open for the older generation in dealing with the youth revolution,’ he declared. ‘One is backlash and suppression,’ he said. ‘We caught frightening glimpses of what this would be like in Chicago and Mexico City. If we choose this route, the only victors will be the small fringe of extremists who want to see our society destroyed. The second course… is apathy or muted hostility. This response, or lack of response, basically avoids the issue or yield grudgingly in a kind of tokenism. It is not working very well, and if I am right that the youth revolt of today is something more rebellious of the young, then it will not work at all in the long run. We will find ourselves constantly pushed toward the brink of backlash. The third possible response is simply to be responsive–to trust our young people, to listen to them, to let them know that we care deeply about them. In my judgement, the key to sustaining the energy and idealism of youth is more direct and effective action on the problems about which young people are concerned–the problems of our cities, of our environment, of racial injustice, of irrelevant and outmoded teachings, of overpopulation, of poverty, of war. Older persons must re-examine their attitudes, assumptions and goals. We must take as seriously as does the young the great Judeo-Christian values of our heritage. We must be as dedicated as they in fighting injustice and improving our laws. We must take responsibility for resolving the massive problems of our society.”…. Page 32: “STUDENTS SEIZE BERKELEY OFFICE–Protesters Ask Extension Of Cleaver Courses On Race”…
(Webmaster note: The tired, broken record of a wealthy and powerful person, made so by the opportunities of our country, railing against the very country whereby their wealth and power was attained. Humble webmaster highly recommends Orwell’s other masterpiece, Animal Farm)
24 OCTOBER 1968… OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… New York Times: No coverage of air operations north of the DMZ… VIETNAM: AIR LOSSES (Chris Hobson) There was one fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 24 October 1968…
(1) MAJOR GEORGE EDWARD TYLER and 1LT DARRELL L. RICHARDSON were flying an F-4D of the 390th TFS and 366th TFW out of Danang on a night strike mission on a truck park five miles west of Dong Hoi at 3,000-feet when hit and downed by 57mm AAA. Both pilots ejected in the target area and 1LT RICHARDSON was rescued the following morning from a tree where he had spent the night. He was rescued at dawn by an Air Force HH-3 of the 40th ARRS out of Nakhon Phanom. MAJOR TYLER could not be found and the Search and Rescue forces failed to develop any leads or contact. It was assumed that he had been captured and was listed as Missing in Action. However, when he was not returned with the POWs in 1973 his status was changed to “XX”–Presumptive Finding of Death. COLONEL TYLER remains where he fell fifty years ago this day and there is little evidence that our nation has actively pursued the recovery of his remains. A stone monument has been place at Arlington national Cemetery in his honor… He is remembered as he rests in peace; glory gained, duty done…
SUMMARY OF ROLLING THUNDER LOSSES (KIA/MIA/POW) FOR THE FOUR 24 OCTOBER DATES OF THE FOUR YEARS OF THE OPERATION OVER NORTH VIETNAM…
1965 and 1966… NONE…
1967… COMMANDER CHARLES ROGERS GILLESPIE, USN… (POW)… and… LTJG RICHARD CHAMP CLARK, USN… (KIA)… and… LTJG ROBERT FRANCHOT FRISHMAN, USN… (POW)… and… LTJG EARL GARDNER LEWIS, USN… (POW)… RTR of 24-Oct-67, the day of the first Alpha Strikes on Phuc Yen, includes reports on all four of these valiant strike-fighters. Ripple Salvo #597…
RIPPLE SALVO… #963… DIPLOMACY 101: THE PRESIDENT’s BOMBING HALT DECISION… Humble Host is compelled to include the intense diplomatic machinations required in the search for a settlement to end the Vietnam war in this remembrance and commemoration of the Operation Rolling Thunder story. Unfortunately, the work of diplomats is dull stuff for operators. At one point in the 14 documents briefly reviewed here, Secretary Rusk notes that the State Department deals in “debacles.” He says, “We have debacles. That’s why we have diplomats. We are the Department of Debacles.” And the negotiations conducted between North Vietnam and the United States in 1968 leading up to the cessation of Operation Rolling Thunder on 1 November 1968, were one long debacle. The declassification of the documents of the debacle make for arduous reading. But they belong to the chapter of history written in the blood of hundreds of Air Force, Navy and Marine aviators. Their Rolling Thunder provided the diplomats the principle bargaining chip in their endless deliberations, by making the war as painful as the Commander-in-Chief would allow us to make it. Unfortunately, we were only allowed to deliver a fraction of the behaviour changing mayhem that was available to be imposed on the enemy in his homeland.
The State Department’s historical documents chronicling the events leading to the cessation of Rolling Thunder provide a quick study in how the State Department and diplomacy work. As I read these documents, I apply the lessons of the Summer/Fall 1968 Paris peace negotiations, to the debacles being managed, or not, by the Trump Administration in every quadrant of the world in 2018. The paper trail of the 1968 bombing halt negotiations provides a case study for comparison and increased understanding of how the imperfect work of foreign relations is conducted.
Fourteen Historical Documents are summarized for your perusal…
Document 96 is a telegram from Ambassador Bunker in Saigon to Secretary Rusk and the President. Apparently President Thieu is having communication problems with his man Ambassador Lam in Paris and want Bunker to pass the message. The telegram identifies the road blocks for South Vietnam participation in the talks. They remain opposed to equal recognition of the National Liberation Front with the Government of South Vietnam. The Vietcong is not a government is the argument. Thieu challenges the seating and the “procedure of speech. thieu objects to the raising of issues between the DRV and VC on the international stage. These are recurring headaches for Secretary Rusk and Ambassador Bunker… Read at…
96. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d96
Document 97 is a short information memorandum of 21 Oct from Walt Rostow, the President’s Special Assistant, to LBJ. Rostow shares his take on a meeting where the “gap” between the cessation of the bombing and the beginning of “serious talks” can begin. The President is still holding out for one day and the NVN is demanding a week… The other issue that is part and parcel of this series of documents is the seating and how you call it… Our Side–Your Side versus a “four power” negotiation, which Thieu disallows… read at…
97. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07d97
Document 98 is a one-pager telegram of 21 Oct from Secretary Rusk to Harriman in Paris and Bunker in Saigon keeping them posted on his conversations with Dobrynin, the Soviet Ambassador in Washington who is assisting in convincing Hanoi to come to the table. Rusk provides the Russians an update and then updates the two Ambassadors… better to overinform than underinform seems to be the policy for avoiding a debacle… Read at…
98. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d98
Document 99 is a 22 Oct report from Secretary Rusk’s Executive Secretary Read who is passing information from the Soviet Ambassador in Paris, Oberemko, who has a proposed schedule for the announcement of the cessation of the bombing which then sets the clock ticking for the start of the “serious talks.”… “Oberemko said that both sides were showing stubbornness and it was now up to a third party to try to resolve the situation by putting forward a ‘common sense approach.'”…Read at…
99. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d99
Document 100 is a morning of 22 Oct phone call between Secretary Rusk and LBJ that focuses on the length of time between the cessation and the serious talks. Concern is rejection of any delay by Thieu and Ky in Saigon. They believe in the bombing and remain skeptical that the the North isn’t up to creating a pause that they can take advantage of… LBJ… “I just can’t sit here and say nothing for a whole damn week after we stop it (the bombing) with a week before the election.”… Ah, the election and the timing… read at…
100. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d100
Document 101 is another update on 22 Oct from Executive Secretary Read to Rusk, which he bucked to the LBJ with a note: “Here is Cy Vance’s latest, plus a note of mine printed for the 12 o.clock meeting. The Russians are obviously trying very hard to pull this off–and in a hurry.”… Read at…
101. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d101
Document 102 is an information memo of 22 Oct ahead of a 1200 meeting from Rostow to LBJ to prep him for a meeting with the Vietnamese (in Saigon I presume). This is an easy to read bulletized memo. Clarity of issues… Read at…
102. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d102
Document 103 records the notes of a 22 Oct “pre-Tuesday Lunch Meeting” that is mostly conversation that sketches out a scenario for the actual announcement of the cessation. They were getting closer and the details of who would be told when and by whom was being decided. The President was seeking assurance that the decision was endorsed by all concerned. After this meeting, the President took a walk on the South Lawn with two of his JO’s (Johnson and Christian)… Read at…
103. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d103
Document 104 are the notes from the Tuesday Luncheon on 22 Oct… More conversational talk about the details of the announcement. A Secretry Rusk comment is unexplained. He says: “Are the fellows out of North Vietnam?”…. Read at…
104. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d104
Document 105 is a short telegram from Rusk to Bunker and General Abrams in Saigon at the end of the day, 22 Oct, that does a good job of summarizing the earlier meetings. “This is what we would propose to tell the Hanoi delegation in Paris,” whaddaya think?… Read at…
105. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d105
Document 106 is a lengthy phonecon between Secretary of Defense Clifford and the President on 22 Oct. General conversation on the subject with the purpose of sketching in a few thought about the President’s speech to the world announcing the cessation. The President is looking for approval and suggestions from his SecDef… read at…
106. https://history.state.gopv/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d106
Document 107 wraps up the communications for 22 Oct. A telegram from Rusk to Harriman and Vance in Paris that reflects the day’s work in the series of White House meetings… Sharing information, giving a little direction, and controlling the debacle… Read at…
107. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d107
Document 108 is a morning of 23 Oct telephone call between the President and Secretary Rusk. Mostly the President talking to himself with reassuring grunts from Rusk. A picture of what the President had on his mind amid the many loose ends of what the President would later call the toughest decision of his presidency… Read at…
108. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d108
Document 109 is a follow-on 23 Oct phone call to Senator Russell in Georgia. Senator Russell was LBJ’s dearest friend and closest advisor, and at this point, the President needs both… Good read… at…
109. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d109
Document 110 is a memorandum for the record of a meeting of LBJ and General William W. Momyer with Walt Rostow attending. The President is seeking assurance that his impending decision to cease the bombing of North Vietnam is the right thing to do. Momyer is back in town from Saigon where he was running the air war. “The President stated tht he confronted a dangerous decision. It could yield good results or bad. He did not wish to put General Momyer in the position of overriding the judgments of the military of political superior officers, but he wanted his personal best judgement on a wholly personal basis.”… General Momyer tells the President that it can be done without making troops more vulnerable, that if the North violates the “pause” the air forces will react quickly, that reconnaissance will be sustained throughout the periods of no bombing north of the DMZ, and that the sorties not flown north will be well used in Laos and South Vietnam. Good read… at..
110. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v07/d110
RTR quote for 24 October: MAO TSE-TUNG, Quotations: “Revolutions and revolutionary wars are inevitable in class societies, and without them it is impossible to accomplish any leap in social development and to overthrow the reactionary ruling classes and therefore impossible for the people to win political power.”
Lest we forget… Bear