Bear Taylor 
RIPPLE SALVO… #819… ON SUNDAY, 2 JUNE 1968, ABC WITH FRANK REYNOLDS as moderator, TELEVISED A PACKED HOUSE DEBATE BETWEEN SENATORS ROBERT F. KENNEDY and EUGENE J. McCARTHY, who were locked in a race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
REYNOLDS: You, both Senators, really, you are presenting yourself tonight to the American people and to the voters of California as candidates for the Presidency. If in fact you were President, what would you do at this time that President Johnson is not doing in order to bring peace in Vietnam?
McCARTHY: There are two or three things that I would be doing, or at least recommending, if I were President at this time. I would be de-escalating the war in Vietnam, drawing back from some of our advanced positions while still holding strength in Vietnam. I would not have the Secretary of State making statements about how we would have no coalition government come out of the conference in Paris, nor have someone say that the Vice President made a slip of the tongue when he talked about involving the National Liberation Front. I think these are the important positions that have to be taken: one, de-escalation of the war, and secondly, recognition that we have to have a new government in South Vietnam. I’m not particularly concerned whether it’s called a coalition or a new government of some kind. And we have to recognize that the government would include the National Liberation Front. I think this is prerequisite to any kind of negotiations that may move on to talk about what the nature of that new government might be. We’ve not really made any significant changes that I can see in terms of our activities or our words. We’re calling up more troops, we say we’re going to send more troops, we have intensified the bombing. Taken all together, I don’t see either inaction or in words any significant change on the part of the Administration since the negotiations began….
KENNEDY: Well, I’d pursue the negotiations in Paris at the same time and make it quite clear that we would expect Saigon, the Government of Saigon, to begin their own negotiations with the National Liberation Front. I would be opposed to what I understand is Senator McCarthy’s position to be of forcing a coalition government on the Government of Saigon, a coalition with the Communists, even before we begin the negotiations. I would make it quite clear that we were going to the negotiation table not with the idea that we want them to unconditionally surrender but–and that we expect that the National Liberation Front and the Vietcong have a place somewhere in the future political process of South Vietnam–but that should be determined by the negotiations and particularly by those people in South Vietnam. I think that’s terribly important that we accept that because without acceptance that what we’re really asking for is unconditional surrender, and they’re not going to turn over their arms–lay down their arms–and live in peace if the Government is going to be run by General Ky and General Thieu. The next point, I would demand privately and publicly an end of public corruption that exists in Vietnam, a land reform program that’s meaningful so that they can gain the support of the people themselves; I would pull back from the Demilitarized Zone–I think that’s an important area– but I would permit the troops of South Vietnam to remain there–rather than American troops– where a third of our casualties have occurred–half really– and I would end the search-and-destroy missions by American troops and American marines and let the South Vietnamese soldiers and troops carry that burden of the conflict. I would make it clear as we went along that the South Vietnamese are going to carry more and more of the burden of the conflict–I’m not going to accept the idea we can draft the young men of the United States, send him to South Vietnam to fight, and maybe die, while at the same time a young man, if he’s wealthy enough, can buy his way out of the draft in South Vietnam….” THIS EXCHANGE IS CONTINUED, BRIEFLY, BELOW…but first…
GOOD MORNING… Day EIGHT HUNDRED NINETEEN of a return to the four years of Rolling Thunder, including 1968–“The Year the Dream Died”…
HEAD LINES from THE NEW YORK TIMES on a rainy Sunday, 2 January 1968…
THE WAR: Page 7: “VIETCONG CLINGING TO TWO SAIGON FOOTHOLDS IN SAIGON REGION–Bombers Hammer Suburbs–Foes Shells Kill Three in Center of City”… “…the United States command said that 11 rounds of ‘indirect fire’–presumably from rocket launchers or mortars–exploded in the streets between 1:40 and 3:27 A.M. Two of the shells struck within a mile of the Presidential Palace at the center of Saigon, about four blocks from the main business section. Three South Vietnamese civilians were killed and 10 wounded…. Allied commanders have said they believe the enemy’s recent aggressiveness is intended to strengthen his position during the talks in Paris… The South Vietnamese command announced that 300 enemy dead had been counted in metropolitan Saigon since Thursday…. In two battles near Khe Sanh United States marines reported having killed 127 of the enemy. American paratroopers operating seven miles east of Hue said they had killed 143 and captured 44… In another action 12 miles northeast of Saigon American infantrymen reported having killed 24 of the enemy while losing five men.”… Page 1: “PACIFICATION ROLE SHIFTS IN VIETNAM–Emphasis Is Now Being Put On Security In Hamlets”… “…The shift in emphasis marks a quiet but dramatic change in pacification, which had been considered as important as the military task.”…
PEACE CONVERSATIONS: Page 44: “McCARTHY ASSAILS PEACE TALKS’ PACE–Says Administration Shares Blame for Lack of Gains”… “Senator Eugene J. McCarthy placed on the Administration today at least part of the blame for the slow pace of the Paris negotiations on Vietnam. In a television interview taped yesterday for Sunday showing, but released today by NBC. Senator McCarthy said that the Administration was not saying or doing anything different ‘from what it was saying and doing before the negotiations supposedly began.'”…
Page 1: “KENNEDY DISPUTES McCARTHY ON WAR IN TV DISCUSSION–RIVALS DIFFER OVER WHETHER PEACE PARLEYS SHOULD URGE A COALITION GOVERNMENT–Agree On Most Issued–High Level Confrontation Is First Of Their Campaign for Democratic Nomination”…Page 1: “CALIFORNIA PRIMARY; A POLITICAL TEST FOR NEWNESS–Contrasts And Conflicts Of A Make-Believe Land and Doubts To Company”… Page 1: “STAGE DOOR JOHNNY BEATS FORWARD PASS In Belmont”… Page 1: “GAULISTS OPEN DRIVE FOR VOTES–APPEAL FOR CALM–Pledge Voice For Workers of Industry and For Students In the University’s–More Return To Work–But Extreme Leftist Youths Demonstrate In Protest Against Election”… Page 1: “TWO TENSE DAYS IN ELYSEE PALACE–Challenge To de Gaulle’s Plan In Crisis Disclosed”…
2 JUNE 1968… OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… THE NEW YORK TIMES (3 June reporting 2 June ops) Page 2: “…Bad weather prevailed for the second day over North Vietnam, limiting American pilots to 81 raids.”… VIETNAM; AIR LOSSES (Chris Hobson) There was one fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 2 June 1968…
(1) LCDR PETER A. CARROLL and LCDR E.P. SIERRA were flying an F-4B of the VF-92 Silver Kings embarked in USS Enterprise and suffered a double failure of the power control hydraulics system and ejected when the aircraft became uncontrollable. They were rescued to fly and fight again…
SUMMARY OF ROLLING THUNDER LOSSES (KIA/MIA/POW) ON 2 JUNE FOR THE FOUR YEARS OF THE OPERATION IN THE SKIES OVER NORTH VIETNAM…
1965… LTJG DAVID MARION CHRISTIAN, USN… (KIA)… LTJG M.D. McMICAN, USN; LTJG GERALD MICHAEL ROMANO, USN; PO3 WILLIAM HARRY AMSPACKER, USN; and ATN3 THOMAS LEE PLANTS, USN… (5 KIA)… LT JOHN B. McKAMEY, USN… (POW)…
2 June 1965 was a disastrous day for USS MIDWAY and her Air Wing. LTJG CHRISTIAN was killed in action while executing aggressive rocket attacks on the North Vietnamese radar facility at Sam Son a few miles southeast of the Thanh Hoa Bridge, one of the most heavily defended areas in North Vietnam. LTJG CHRISTIAN was awarded the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS for his intrepid attacks on the site…”…for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a jet aircraft in Attack Squadron TWENTY-THREE (VA-23) aboard U.S.S. Midway (CVA-41). During a combat strike against heavily defended radar installation 10 miles south of Thanh Hoa, North Vietnam, on 2 June 1965. LTJG CHRISTIAN pressed home successive attacks against the target in the face of intense hostile anti-aircraft fire scoring direct hits which destroyed the radar site. When his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire as he climbed off target, he stayed with the burning plane and established a glide toward the safety of the sea five miles away. However, he apparently was unable to escape the burning aircraft before it crashed in the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin”…
LTJG CHRISTIAN was listed as missing in action due to the uncertainty of an ejection. On 11 October 1965 a Soviet Union Pravda article referred to LTJG CHRISTIAN in the same article with COMMANDER JAMES STOCKDALE giving some credence to the possibility LT CHRISTIAN was in POW status. When the POWs were released in 1973, LTJG CHRISTIAN was not among them. His remains were returned to the United States in 1984 and positively identified for burial 20 April 1987… Her came home on his shield and rests in peace; glory gained and duty done…
The bad day on Midway continued with the downing of an EA-1F of the VAW-13 Detachment A aboard the ship. Four fearless warriors were lost when the aircraft was lost shortly after crossing the coast near Sam Son coincident with the loss of LTJG CHRISTIAN. Killed in Action were LTJG M.D. McMIKAN, Pilot; LTJG GERALD ROMANO, Navigator; Petty Officer 3 WILLIAM HARRY AMSPACKER, and ATN3 THOMAS LEE PLANTS. The remains of LTJG McMIKAN, LTJG ROMANO and PO3 AMSPACKER were returned to and positively identified for burial in November 1988. The remains of ATN3 PLANTS, who may have bailed out of the EA-1F, was not found, returned and positively identified until 1991… They all came home, no man left behind.
The final loss on 2 June 1965 was LT McKAMEY, who was downed on an armed reconnaissance mission northwest of Vinh. He was at low altitude and high-speed searching for a camouflaged ferry on the Song Ca river when hit by small arms fire. The A-4E Skyhawk burst into flames and LT McKAMEY was forced to eject. He was quickly captured and spent eight years imprisoned as a POW. He returned home in March 1973 to resume a distinguished career, including two years as Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Pensacola. Humble Host was fortunate to relive old Nav Cad 34-55 days with “J.B.” during our cruising as shipmates on USS Saratoga when he was Navigator and I commanded the Air Wing in 1975-77… CAPTAIN McKAMEY went west in February 2010, a greatly admired officer and gentleman, who epitomized “the Happy Warrior every man should wish to be.” He is remembered on this day, 53 years after he met a fate just a tad better than death–eight years of brutal treatment by animals… Loveyaman…
1966… NONE…
1967… NONE…
1968… NONE…
Humble Host flew a maintenance test flight on 2 June 1968 followed by combat mission #173; a section lead through lousy weather to Steel Tiger for a FAC controlled attack on a red road with our 12 500-pounders. Road cuts. I always figured the FACs gave the Air Force the real targets in Steel Tiger — the trucks and troops — and the Navy tailhookers got trees and roads…
RIPPLE SALVO… #819… THE SUNDAY, 2 JUNE 1968 KENNEDY-McCARTHY DEBATE ON ABC … the final comments by each of the two candidates for the Democratic nomination for president… Fate would take a hand two days later with the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. His comments here were his last to a national audience…
FRANK REYNODS, Moderator: I’d like to give each of you a couple of minutes too speak to the country and to say why you should be the next President of the United States. Senator Kennedy.
SENATOR KENNEDY: I’ve had the, as I have mentioned, the experience in the executive branch of the Government, the National Security Council. As Attorney General of the United States I was involved in the three great questions that affect our country–the problems of peace, the problems of races, getting along together, and the problems of the developments of–the problems of riots and violence in this country. I think that based on the experience and the work that I’ve done in the Senate of the United States, as well as in the Executive branch of the Government that–and experience I’ve had to test-ban treaty–that perhaps there is something that I can contribute in the cause of peace and trying to end the conflict that now exists in Vietnam and, as Thomas Jefferson said, standing for the last best hope of mankind, which we are in this country. Here in America I have dealt with the problems of riots while I was Attorney General of the United States and we also dealt with the problems of equal justice. I think it’s very easy to talk in generalities. But I’ve sponsored specific pieces of legislation. In the last analysis, however, it’s up to the people of California and it’s up to the people of the United States to make their judgement and determination about any of us. I am going to dedicate myself, no matter what happens, to the betterment and improvement of the country and the people. And the choice really is up to you, and I’m glad to have it that way.”
FRANK REYNOLDS: Senator McCarthy…
SENATOR McCARTHY: I’ve served in the Congress for 20 years–10 years in the House and 10 years in the Senate. In that time, I think I have served on nearly every one of the critical committees–I’ve served on Agriculture, I think I know something of the problems of rural America. I’ve served on the Committee on Interior, and I think, therefore, I know something about the problems of the resources of this country. I’ve served on the Banking and Currency Committee, and also my background is economic, so therefore, I think I am really fully qualified to deal with the very complicated economic problems, both domestic ones and the international trade problems and the balance-of-payments. I’ve served on both the Ways and Means Committee of the House and the Finance Committee of the Senate, which I think gives me a full familiarity with the tax problems of this country. And on Foreign Relations for some five years. In addition to that, since 1949, I’ve been involved in the problem of civil rights. Not only that, but with the problems of migratory workers I was the first–back in 1952–to begin to raise the questions about them. And where as I may not get the same kind of immediate response from them I think that when they begin to look at my record, they will say here is someone who has been concerned about us for a long time. He may not have received any publicity, but he saw what our needs were and he began to anticipate that something had to be done about those things. And I believe that on that basis the problem of reconciliation with the races will no particular problem. Secondly, I think that in the last year I sensed what the country needed. Namely, that it needed and wanted a challenge to the President of the United States on the policies of Vietnam and priority for America. And I think there’s something to be said for a Presidential candidate who can somehow anticipate what the country wants, especially when what they want is on the side of good and justice, and to provide–not real leadership to in the sense of saying you’ve got to follow me–but at least to be prepared to move out ahead, somewhat, so that people of the country can follow. And thirdly, I think that I sense what the young people of this country needed. As young students were dropping out and were saying the establishment was no good, we’ve had a genuine reconciliation of old and young in this country, and the significance of that is, I think, that through the country now there’s a new confidence in the future of America. It’s a projection of this country in trust, which has always been the character of this country, and its in that mood and that spirit that I would act as President of the United States. END QUOTED TEXT FROM THE NYT…
You be the judge… a couple of ramblers, I’d say…
RTR Quote for 2 June: LYNDON JOHNSON’s characterization of the Presidency: “SPLENDID MISERY”….
Lest we forget…. Bear
