ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED 10 JULY 1967

RIPPLE SALVO… #492… “GANG WAY, FIGHTER PILOT”… but first…

Good Morning: Day FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-TWO of an Operation Rolling Thunder journal fifty years after the fact…

10 JULY 1967… HEAD LINES from The New York Times on a sunny, hot and humid Monday in NYC…

Page 1: “McNamara Views Actions in Vietnam”… “Since the first of the year the mountains and valleys south of the demilitarized zone have been settings for some of the bloodiest battles of the war. In all, about 9,000 Marines have been killed or wounded there. Secretary McNamara said in Danang: ‘Our casualties are high, but we have also inflicted very high casualties on the Vietnamese army units. I anticipate that the enemy will continue to receive a very heavy pounding.”…Page 2: “Komer’s Critics Concede Gain in Vietnam and Pacification–Say He Is Off To A Good Start...in his first two months on the job…Critics of Robert Komer, the controversial former Presidential assistant concede that he has accomplished more than had been expected during his first two months in South Vietnam…his abrasive personality has led to a nickname, ‘Blowtorch’...he is responsible for the anti-guerrilla pacification drive in-country.”… Page 2: “U.S. Troop Billet Attacked”...”The Vietcong struck at the biggest American troop billet in Saigon tonight (9th) setting off a shrapnel spraying mine and following with sniper fire from across the street. No casualty report.”…

SIX-DAY WAR: Page 1: “UN Council Backs Thant’s Proposal On Watch At Suez–Authorizes Thant to Proceed With Plan For Observers On Cease-Fire Line–Russia Assails Israel–Federenko Asserts Soviet Will Support Sanctions if Aggression Doesn’t End”… “The Security Council agreed early today to authorize Secretary General U Thant to proceed as he has suggested with his plan to station United Nations observers on both sides of the Israeli-Egyptian cease-fire line along the Suez Canal.”... Page 1: Soviet Warships to Visit Two Egyptian Ports”... “Soviet warships will visit tomorrow in the ports of Alexandria and Port Said in an apparent show of support for President Gamal Abdel Nasser.”… Page 1: “Israeli Is Killed By Mine at Suez…jeep ran over a land mine…Seven more mines were found in the area.”…

Page 1: “President Faces Balky Congress On Aid and Taxes–Lawmakers Cool to Appeal to New Levies to Pay for War and Limit Deficit–Troop Build-up Is Key”… “Further strain on economy is threatened by possible need for additional men. President Johnson rested and buoyant by 10 days rest at his ranch, headed back toward Washington and a bundle of problems with Congress and the war in Vietnam. The President’s high spirits reflected satisfaction with his handling of the Middle East crisis and its diplomatic consequences, which he is said to have thought a good deal about while swimming, bicycling and deer watching on the ranch.”… Page 9: “Houston Reservists Fight Peace Pickets in Houston”… “An American Legion parade turned into a fight today between 150 Marine Reservists and 30 peace demonstrators. No one was hurt. Some 5,000 persons, most waving American flags, marched in the parade–a demonstration of support for the troops in Vietnam.”… Page 12: “Kansas City Police Disperse Negroes….use tear gas to disperse an unruly crowd of 200 to 300 Young Negroes in Swope Park”… Page 12: “Wilkins Cautions Whites on Riots–Sees New Disturbances if Negroes Are Not Helped”… “Roy Wilkins, executive director of NAACP, said today that there would be more racial riots unless Negroes get more jobs, housing, and economic opportunity…the term ‘black power’ is ‘provocative, antagonistic, and it tends to rouse opposition.’ “…

10 July 1967… The President’s TS Daily CIA Brief… CONGO: The near panic among European population is subsiding, especially in Lubumbashi…Mobutu, shocked by his soldiers’ (mutiny) behavior, has sent his top military confidant to the city to be sure the army stays in line…Even if calm is restored, many Europeans will decide they have had enough…Mobutu may not allow a mass departure of technicians, which would shut down Katanga’s copper mines and cripple the country’s economy…. NIGERIA: We have conflicting reports from Lagos and the Eastern region (Biafra) as to how the civil war is going in Nigeria… NORTH VIETNAM: The sudden death of Senior General Nguyen Chi Thanh presents Hanoi with a double-barreled problem: replacing him as head of the Communist apparatus in South Vietnam, and filling his place in the North Vietnamese Politburo…Picking replacements could cause bitterness…MIDDLE EAST: Saturday’s clash between Egyptian and Israeli forces along the Suez Canal was probably another Egyptian effort to spark UN action…Egyptian artillery appears to have begun the incident, which mushroomed into an engagement involving aircraft, tanks, and heavy artillery. The stepped up Israeli response o the harassment however indicates that Israeli patience is beginning to wear thin…

10 JULY 1967… OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… New York Times (11 July reporting 9-10 July ops)…In the air war…Air Force and Marine pilots bombed North Vietnamese gun positions in and North of the demilitarized zone during the 137 missions flown over the North.

“Vietnam: Air Losses” (Chris Hobson) There were two fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 10 July 1967…

(1) MAJOR M.E. SEAVER was flying an F-105D of the 34th TFS and 388th TFW out of Korat as a bomber in company with Iron Hand hunter aircraft on a SAM hunt between Yen Bai and Thainguyen when hit by automatic weapon fire. MAJOR SEAVER was able to continue flying the damaged aircraft out of North Vietnam but was forced to eject over Laos where he was rescued by an HH-3.

(2) An O-1E of the 21st TASS and 504th TASG out of Nha Trang suffered an engine failure and was destroyed in a forced landing. The FAC pilot walked away….

RIPPLE SALVO… #492… Humble Host pauses to honor the passing of VICE ADMIRAL DIEGO E. HERNANDEZ, United States Navy (Retired)…

Wings of Gold 1956; Nugget Fighter Pilot-tailhooker Cougars/Crusaders; Red Ripper 1960 (and shipmate on USS Roosevelt); Dog-Robber and Looper; VF-21 Freelancer Phantoms Combat 147 missions, two helo rides home (Rolling Thunder: 1966-1968) Warrior Leader; School House 68-70; Hardcore Phantom RAG: XO-CO VF-84 Jolly Rogers; CAG-7 INDY 74-75; E-Ring EA Horse Holder; Skipper AO-147 USS TRUCKEE; Carrier Command JFK 80-81: More Looping as C/S–FLAG SELECTION 82 then ten years as an Admiral in senior commands. Fleet Air Caribbean, Carrier Group, Third Fleet, Space Command, North America Aerospace Defense Command… Retired 1991 to continue his exemplary life in the service of God, country, family and humankind. … Duke, well done, Fighter Pilot…

Duke died 7 July at the age of 83. His Funeral Mass will be held in Miami Lakes, Florida on 15 July. Internment in Arlington at a later date.

RTR QUOTE for 10 July: WOODROW WILSON, 1916: “There is no question what the roll of honor in America is. The roll of honor consists of the names of men who have squared their conduct by ideals of duty.”…

Lest we forget…     Bear