RIPPLE SALVO… #907… A POLITICAL PARTY PLATFORM IS A FORMAL SET OF PRINCIPLE GOALS WHICH ARE SUPPORTED BY A POLITICAL PARTY IN ORDER TO APPEAL TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. In the presidential campaign of 1968 the most divisive issue holding up the Democratic Convention in Chicago from approving the party’s 12,000 word Platform, was the “Vietnam Plank.” The Democratic party was split in half. One half sticking with the President and the Johnson Administration that absolutely refused to include the cessation of the bombing of North Vietnam–Rolling Thunder–without North Vietnam agreeing to make some de-escalating initiative first. The other half was calling for the unconditional cessation of the Rolling Thunder Operations. On 26 August the platform committee produced, and passed by a vote of 62 to 35 vote, a compromise for the consideration of the convention a plank that reflected the President’s position, to the consternation of the “doves.” The plank called for a stop in the bombing of North Vietnam, but only when the cessation “would not endanger the lives of our troops in the field.” A second condition in the plank on Vietnam said that any bombing cessation “should take into account the response from Hanoi.” The “doves” opposed any conditions and vowed to carry their disgruntlement to the floor of the convention. The President prevailed. A side-by-side of the Democrats and G.O.P. Vietnam Planks is below… but first…
GOOD MORNING…Day NINE HUNDRED SEVEN of a return to the years of Operation Rolling Thunder to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam war…
HEAD LINES from The New York Times on Wednesday, 28 August 1968…
THE WAR: Page 1: “ENEMY DEATHS IN 8 DAYS PUT AT 7,500″… “A spokesman for the United States military command said yesterday that the enemy had lost more than 11 killed for each allied fatality in the recent increase in fighting throughout the country….about 7,500 enemy soldiers had been killed between midnight August 18 and midnight Monday (26th). Allied casualties were about 650 killed an 2,200 wounded in the period, he said…more than 50 per cent of the Vietcong and North Vietnamese troops had been slain by troops of the South Vietnamese armed forces… In war action yesterday an American infantry fire-support base three miles east of Tayninh was struck by about 150 rounds on mortar fire and about 55 rockets early this morning. The shelling was followed by a ground attack. 27 enemy soldiers were killed and American casualties were described a light….n Air Force C-7 Caribou was downed by enemy ground fire Monday near the Duclap camp and all three crewmen were killed… In three days of fighting five miles west of Tamky in the central lowlands, the Americans reported having killed 511 of the enemy while sustaining losses of 7 killed and 47 wounded.”… Page 3: “THIEU LINKS RAIDS TO POLITICS IN U.S.–Foe’s Attacks Were Timed For Democrats Convention, He Says”… “President Nguyen Van Thieu said today that recent enemy attacks throughout the country had been designed to have an impact on the Democratic National Convention and what a major aim of threatened new assaults was to affect American public opinion before the Presidential election. Thieu responded to Americans who suggest South Vietnam negotiate with the Vietcong. ‘We will never agree to talk to the front. We are willing to talk to Hanoi. I would never accept any Communist to run in an election in Vietnam. When we say one man, one vote, we mean the vote would only be given to Vietnamese citizens who deserve it.”…
PEACE TALKS: Page 1; “U.S. TELLS HANOI AIDES IN PARIS TO STAY OUT OF AMERICAN POLITICS”… “The Johnson Administration told the North Vietnamese delegates to the Paris talks today to get down to serious business and stop trying to meddle in the American political campaign…. Ambassador W. Averell Harriman, the chief United States negotiator in Paris, ‘has been instructed to tell the Hanoi delegation to stop miscalculating or trying to interfere in internal American affairs and get down to the serious business of making peace in Southeast Asia,’ Mr. Robert McCloskey of the State Department said…Hanoi’s statement amounted to an appeal to the American people to reject the Johnson Administration’s war policy…
Page 1: “DEMOCRATS DELAY FIGHT ON THE VIETNAM PLANK–KENNEDY REJECTS A DRAFT TO RUN–Debate Set Today–Adjournment Forced By Jeering Delegates–Humphrey Gains”… Page 1: “DELEGATE FIGHTS TRANSFORM PARTY–Democrats Ousting Bigots And Becoming To Youth”… Page 31: “JOHNSON REMARKS FAVOR HUMPHREY–President Seeks A Candidate Who Backs War Policy”… Page 1: THREE RIVALS MEET IN DEBATE– McGovern Wins Ovations”… Page 1: “NEW HARRIS POLL PUTS NIXON ON TOP–6-Point Lead on Humphrey, McCarthy or Johnson.”… Page 32: “MAYOR LINDSAY DECLARES DEMOCRATS PLANS FOR CITIES BETTER THAN G.O.P.”…
Page 3: “Marine Hero’s Medal of Honor Given To His Parents”… “Second Lieutenant John P. Bobo, USMC, of Niagara Falls was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously, credited with saving his platoon in Vietnam. Secretary of the Navy Paul Ignatius presented the Medal of Honor to his parents at the Marine Corps Barracks in Washington that included a full Friday night Evening parade ceremony… .
TAKING A KNEE… On 30 March 1967 Company I, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, in patrolling around Con Thien, south of the DMZ and settling in for the night when hit by the North Vietnamese with a heavy volume of fire. Second Lieutenant Bobo, 24, helped organize a defense. He moved from position to position, encouraging his outnumbered marines. After he recovered a rocket launcher from a disabled marine and getting back into action, a mortar exploded at Bob’s feet blowing off his right leg below the knee. The intrepid officer refused evacuation. Instead he wrapped a belt around his leg then, with his bloody stump jammed into the dirt, he stayed on the firing line, covering the withdrawal of the command group to safety. ‘I saw him kill at least five North Vietnamese,’ said the company’s first sergeant, Raymond G. Rogers. ‘He killed the NVA who had wounded me in the leg and was standing over me. Bobo’s heavy firing made him a target for the NVA. He was still kneeling there, rifle blazing, when he was cut down… HUMBLE HOST suggests 1LT Bobo’s heroic act provides REAL MEANING TO THE NOW FAMOUS EXPRESSION “TAKING A KNEE.”… oohrah…
28 AUGUST 1968… OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… New York Times…No coverage of air operations over North Vietnam… VIETNAM: AIR LOSSES (Chris Hobson) There were two fixed wing aircraft losses in Southeast Asia on 28 August 1968…
(1) An A-1H of the 56th SOW out of Nakhon Phanom was heavily damaged on a landing at a forward strip in Laos. While undergoing repairs the aircraft suffered additional damage rendering the aircraft beyond repair. The aircraft was scrapped.
(2) LTJG ROBERT RAY DUNCAN and LTJG ALAN FREDERICK ASHALL were flying an A-6B of the VA-85 Black Falcons embarked in USS America on a night Iron Hand SAM suppression flight in the area of Vinh Son, about 20 miles northwest of Vinh. They perished on the flight.
The A-6B was a modified A-6A capable of increased detection of fire control radars and capable of employment of both the Shrike and Standard Arm missile. The employment of the A-6B evolved into launching the Iron Hand with a full cycle of A-6A and A-7 aircraft to operate in the area of coverage of the A-6B, independent but coordinated. The A-6B Buckeye flight would double cycle to cover a second launch of strike aircraft. On 28 August LTJG DUNCAN, pilot, and LTJG ASHALL (on his second combat tour), Bombardier/Navigator were launched on their final Buckeye flight with a covey of a-6 and A-7 strike aircraft. There was no SAM or enemy radar activity on the first cycle. As the first covey of strike aircraft returned to USS America LTJGs DUNCAN and ASHALL headed for the tanker to top off for the Iron hand coverage for the oncoming covey of strike aircraft. They reported “feet dry” after tanking and were held on radar by the E-2c at sea when an A-7A operating 20 miles south of Vinh Son reported 3 surface-to-air missiles lifting off and the E-2A advised the Buckeye flight of the missile danger. There was no response. One minute and thirty seconds later the aircraft disappeared from radar and an A-7 pilot reported observing an explosion above 14,000-feet and shortly thereafter an other explosion on the ground. There was no further response with Buckeye or emergency beeper signals. The two young aviators were gone. They were listed as MIA, LTJG DUNCAN until 1975 when his status was changed to Killed in Action. LTJG, now LCDR ASHALL was declared Killed in Action in 1978. They rest in peace where they fell in North Vietnam 50 years ago this day. They are remembered with highest respect and admiration…
LEAVE A REMEMBRANCE…VIETNAM VETERAN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, WALL OF FACES…
SUMMARY OF ROLLING THUNDER LOSSES (KIA/MIA/POW) FOR THE FOUR 28 AUGUST DATES OF THE FOUR YEARS OF THE OPERATION OVER NORTH VIETNAM…
1968… LT ROBERT RAY DUNCAN, USN… (KIA)… and… LCDR ALAN FREDERICK ASHALL, USN… (KIA)…
1967… MAJOR CHARLES FRANKLIN WALLACE, USMC… (KIA)…
1966…NONE…
1965… MAJOR WESLEY DUANE SCHIERMAN, USAF… (POW)… AMONG THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE…the SILVER STAR…Citation:
“The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the SILVER STAR to MAJOR WESLEY DUANE SCHIERMAN, United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force over North Vietnam on 28 August 1965, as Pilot of an F-105 aircraft of the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On that date, Captain SCHIERMAN led his flight of F-105 aircraft in the employment of a new weapon against the Ban Luc barracks, troop and supply area. he displayed outstanding air discipline and devotion to duty as he guided each flight member in turn on their run to the target and then rolled in himself to attack flak positions which were menacing his wingman. As he passed over the target, his aircraft received a disablinjg hit forcing him to eject. Once on the ground, he mde his way to a hill and heroically continued to call out hostile gun positions and troop concentrations to the attacking aircraft. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain SCHIERMAN has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”…
COLONEL SCHIERMAN became a POW on this day 53 years ago this day. He logged 2,725 in the North Vietnamese chain of prisons including the Hanoi Hilton and has told his story in several venues. Most highly recommended is his superb 13 page “short story” published in the Order of Daedalians’ Spring and Summer 2005 editions of the Daedalus Flyer titled A BAD DAY AT SON LA… Read it here (PDF)…
Colonel Wes Schierman passed on on 4 January 2014… As he “graduated” from his 7 1/2 year course in survival in Hanoi he was asked to contribute to the book project of Captain and Mrs. Frederick A. Wyatt , USNR, Retired, WE CAME HOME… He wrote… I quote…
“During my almost 7 1/2 years in North Vietnam my greatest tribulation was that of overcoming my grief at having subjected my wife and children to the painful and difficult experience that they were to undergo. However, I had great faith and confidence in my wife’s ability to overcome these difficulties and that faith has been rewarded by a strength and steadfastness that far exceeded my greatest expectations.
“Throughout many years of torture, exploitation, deprivation and degradation, my will to live was sustained primarily by this faith and love for my family. I vowed that if it was humanly possible for me to return to them and still do my duty to my country, I would do so. Through this faith and the Grace of God I have been fortunate enough to have endured this trial. Generally speaking, I was quite impressed with the ingenuity and tenacity of the men I served with while imprisoned in North Vietnam. However, I feel that the real heroes in this war are those who unfortunately will not return–those many thousands who gave their lives that we might enjoy the benefits and way of life of this wonderful country in which we live. I must also mention the great sacrifice of those who have been maimed and incapacitated as a result of this conflict. I pray to God that these men will be able to bear their burden and continue on with the same spirit that gave them the courage to participate in this very difficult conflict in the first place.”…
I will conclude with this one thought which is a quotation by William Allen White. ‘Liberty is the thing you cannot have unless you are willing to give it to others.’…
End quote…
RIPPLE SALVO… #907… The New York Times ran a comparison of the Democratic and Republican Vietnam planks on 27 August 1968.
VIETNAM POLICY: Democrats: “We strongly support the Paris talks an applaud the initiative of President Johnson which brought North Vietnam to the peace table.” ; Republicans: “The Administration’s Vietnam policy has failed–militarily, politically, diplomatically, and with relations to our own people.”
NEGOTIATIONS: Democrats: “Our most urgent task in Southeast Asia is to end the war in Vietnam by an honorable and lasting seettlement which respects the rights of all people in Vietnam.” ; Republicans: “We will sincerely and vigorously pursue peace negotiations as long as they offer anyu reasonable prospect for a just peace. We pledge to develop a clear and purposeful negotiating position.”…
SURRENDER: Democrats: “We reject as unacceptable a unilateral withdrawal of our forces which would allow that aggression and subversion to succeed. We have never demanded, and do not now demand, unconditional surrender of the Communists.”…; Republicans: “We pledge a program for peace in Vietnam– neither peace at any price nor camouflaged surrender of legitimate United States or allies interests.”…
STRATEGY: Democrats: “We want no bases in South Vietnam, no continued military presence and no political role in Vietnamese affairs.” ; Republicans: “We pledge to adopt a strategy relevant to the real problems of the war, concentrating on the security of the population, and developing a greater sense of nationhood and on strengthening the local forces it will be a strategy permitting a progressive de-Americanization of the war, both military and civilian.”…
MILITARY: Democrats: “Stop all bombing of North Vietnam when this action would not endanger the lives of our groups in the field: this action should take into account the response from Hanoi.” ; Republican: “The Administration’s piece-meal commitment of men and material has wasted our massive military superiority and frittered away our options. The result has been a prolonged was of attrition.”
RTR quote for 28 August 1968: JAMES MADISON, Letter, 1822: “A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.”
Lest we forget… Bear