Bear Taylor 
RIPPLE SALVO… #791… THE NEW YORK TIMES WEIGHS IN WITH A “GRAY LADY” OPINION… RTR CONCLUDES: IMHO, WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES… but first…
GOOD MORNING: Day SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY-ONE of a remembrance of a war fought fifty years ago and the fighting men we left behind…
5 MAY 1968… HEAD LINES from THE NEW YORK TIMES on Sunday, 5 May 1968…
THE WAR: Page 1: “ENEMY MORTARS ASSAULT SAIGON AND MANY CITIES–AT LEAST 44 KILLED, 308 INJURED IN 116 SEPARATE ATTACKS–U.S. POSTS STRUCK–Skirmishes In Capital–Heavy Action In Delta”… “Vietcong and North Vietnamese troops opened a series of mortar and rocket attacks in Saigon and in cities and military bases throughout South Vietnam this morning (May 5)… Initial reports from the United States Command said that 44 persons had been killed and 308 wounded… At least 15 South Vietnamese civilians were reported to have been killed in Saigon by the shelling… While no major ground attacks were reported assaults were reported…there had been several small skirmishes with the Vietcong in the city’s streets…44 Vietcong soldiers were killed near the Bienhoa highway bridge about two and a half miles from the center of Saigon…The Mekong Delta–IV Corps– appeared to be the hardest hit section of the country with 36 attacks in which 14 persons were killed and 1118 wounded. The enemy troops attacked 9 provincial capitals, 12 district towns and 3 American bases…
Page 1: “PLANNING FOR PARIS TALKS BEGUN BY U.S. AND HANOI”… “American and North Vietnamese representatives started separate discussions with the French government today about arrangements for the forthcoming preliminary talks on the war. Mai Van Bo, head of the North Vietnamese mission and its chief representative in Europe, conferred at the Foreign Ministry with Etienne Manac’h, the Government’s leading specialist on Southeast Asia. The United States Embassy conferred with Mr. Manac’h by telephone. There was no contact between the embassy and North Vietnam’s mission.” Page 4: “HANOI SAYS IT IS WILLING TO END WAR ON BASIS OF 4-POINT PLAN”… “North Vietnam said today that its decision to meet the United States in Paris May 10 showed its willingness ‘to bring an end to the war in Vietnam on the basis of the guarantee for the basic rights of the Vietnamese people.’ Hanoi has used this phrase previously to cover its demand that the United States withdraw all its forces and military equipment from South Vietnam. The statement, broadcast by the Hanoi radio, was coupled with renewed demand tha United States ‘stop definitively and without condition’ the bombing of and other acts of war against North Vietnam.”… Page 6: “BUNKER GIVES REPORT TO THIEU–SAIGON IS WARY OF PARIS TALKS”… “Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker met President Nguyen Van Thieu today amid indications that the South Vietnamese Government is deeply worried about the start of preliminary talks in Paris between the United States and North Vietnam.”… Page 1: “SOVIET RATIFIES CONSULAR TREATY FOR U.S. EXCHANGE–Accord Backed By Senate in 1967 Was Delayed By War–Rules for Access Set”… “The Soviet government announced today the ratification of a consular convention with the United States that had been stalled for four years. Implementation of the treaty has been waiting Soviet ratification, a formality by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (Parliament). The United States after considerable controversy and opposition, ratified the consular convention March 31, 1967.”… Page 7: “PEACE-TALK AIMS OPTLINED BY RUSK”… “Secretary of State Dean Rusk said today that the United States regarded a halt in Communist infiltration into South Vietnam, as well as other countries, as necessary for ‘an honorable peace in Southeast Asia.’…’Laos is entitled to full compliance by all parties to the 1962 Geneva accords on Laos,’ Mr. Rusk said. ‘This means removal of all foreign troops, the cessation of infiltration of North Vietnamese troops through Laotian territory, the recognition of the authority of the Laotian Government throughout the country and access to all parts of the country by the International Control Commission.'”…
Page 1: “NIXON DELEGATE STRENGTH IS BELIEVED MAJORITY NOW–Survey Shows 725 Are Leaning or Committed To Ex-Vice President”… “…Nixon’s campaign forces across the nation have quietly taken a commanding lead in the search for delegates to the Republican National Convention.”… Page 1: “DEMOCRATIC INDIANA RACE GROWING TIGHTER WITH KENNEDY GIVEN EDGE”… “… Senator Robert F. Kennedy is generally regarded as the favorite. After playing underdog for several weeks, his backers now admit they have enough potential votes to win if–and they contend that it is a big if–the voters can be got to the polls.”…
Page 1: “COLUMBIA PANEL TO WEIGH NEW STUDENT-FACULTY ROLE”… “The possibility fo greater participation by students and faculty members in the operation of Columbia University will be the first subject of an investigation by the special 12-man executive committee of the university set up after student disorders began april 23.”… Page 1: “SOVIET ADVANCES IN SPACE AWAITED–A RETURN FLIGHT FROM MOON AND SAMPLE OF SOIL EXPECTED BY U.S. EXPERTS”…”…the recent Soviet Union’s recent space exploits has led analysts here to believe that the American public is in for a series of space surprises.”…
5 MAY 1968… OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… New York Times…No coverage of the air war above the DMZ… “Vietnam: Air Losses” (Chris Hobson) There were two fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 5 May 1968…
(1) AND (2) Two AC-47D Spooky Gunships of the 4th ACS and 14th ACW deployed to Phu Cat out of Nha Trang responded to calls to meet the Vietcong thrusts of Mini-Tet that involved simultaneous attacks on 109 towns (see NYT Head Lines article above)… Both aircraft were downed by enemy ground fire as they engaged the rocket and mortar fire aimed at the Pleiku base.and crashed in that area. Nine airman were killed in the crash of the two aircraft: CAPTAIN DONALD LEWIS MERRY; MAJOR RICHARD WILLIAM WACKERFUSS; LCOL LESLILE EARL HARRIS; MAJOR TEDDY JAMES TOMCHESSON; LLT BRRY LYNN B ROWN; CAPTIN EDWARD CHESTER KRAWCZSYK; SSGT JAMES EDGAR BOWMAN; SGT DOUGLAS JOSEPH CRADEUR; and SGT ROY LEO LEDE…
There were survivors, including Sgt NACEY KENT, JR., who was awarded the AIR FORCE CROSS for his extraordinary bravery that night.
Citation: “The AIR FORCE CROSS is presented to NACEY KENT, JR., Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, for EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM in military operations against an opposing armed force as an AC-47 Flight Engineer near Pleiku, Republic of Vietnam on 5 My 1968. On that date, Sergeant KENT and the AC-47 crew were defending Pleiku Air Base against a hostile mortar and rocket projectile attack when their aircraft was critically damaged by a hostile projectile. Although Sergeant KENT’s leg was broken in the ensuing crash, he helped the enlisted crew to evacuate, re-entered the burning aircraft to carry the seriously wounded navigator to safety, and then entered the aircraft again to aid the other crew members and to fight the fire. Through his EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Sergeant KENT reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”…
Humble Host flew #153. Day strike on an occupied mobile SAM site south of Ha Tinh. Put 3 MK-83s on the SAM site, then led division south on 1A looking for trucks. None sighted so returned north along coast looking for coastal battery or “water-borne logistic craft.” Put two pods of 2.75 rockets on small boat underway headed south that I judged to be a military target (was not fishing)…. Good hits on both targets but damage unknown…
SUMMARY OF ROLLING THUNDER LOSSES (KIA/MIA/POW) ON 5 MAY FOR THE FOUR YEARS OF THE OPERATION…
1965… NONE…
1966… 1LT KENNETH DEANE THOMAS, USAF… (KIA) and LT JOHN HELIG, USN…. (POW)…
1967… 1LT JAMES RICHARD SHIVELY, USAF… (POW) and LCOL JAMES LINDBERG HUGHES, USAF… (POW) and LCOL GORDON ALBERT LARSON, USAF… (POW)…
1968… NONE…
RIPPLE SALVO… #791… On 5 May 1968 The New York Times joined the North Vietnamese team in the head-to-head with the United States in seeking a plan for peace in the first negotiations in Paris… that’s my take… what’s yours?…
PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE…
“The Vietnam peace talks that open this week in Paris should mean the beginning of the end of America’s most divisive foreign war. When the end itself will come is unpredictable, as is the precise nature of the political settlement that will enable the fighting to cease. Patience, persistence and great flexibility will be needed for success. But the beginning of the beginning has been infinitely instructive. And it is essential that its lessons be applied.
“The Administration has been vindicated in its insistence on a neutral site rather than Pnompenh or Warsaw. A meeting in Poland, which recognizes Hanoi and the Vietcong’s National Liberation Front, but denied recognition and legitimacy to Saigon, would have prejudiced the most critical issue of the negotiations–the ultimate status and relationship of Saigon and the N.L.F.
“The pressures on President Johnson to yield, which undoubtedly encouraged Hanoi to stand firm for a month stemmed largely from Mr. Johnson’s own ill-considered propaganda statements prior to March 31 of readiness to talk ‘anywhere.’ These statements were bound to introduce confusion in American and world opinion.
“The danger now is that the Administration is digging a similar trap for itself in the Paris meeting. In the past week American forces have been conducting major offensives in South Vietnam. Yet Secretary Rusk told a Congressional committee that a major Communism offensive in the South would bring ‘a big setback for the talks.’
“Other Administration officials have told reporters that renewal of Communist attacks on South Vietnam’s cities would force the President to reconsider the decision to spare Hanoi and Haiphong. The have said that the military ‘restraint’ the President was asking of Hanoi, in return for withholding American bombers, involves ‘reducing’ the level of fighting. But the San Antonio formula, which promises a total bombing halt if Hanoi indicates it will not ‘take advantage’ of the suspension, does not call for a reduction in Communist infiltration or fighting. Secretary of Defense Clifford has said that ‘normal’ infiltration of troops and supplies would be acceptable and that the United States assumed the fighting in the South would ‘continue.’
“It would be a tragedy if Washington stiffens its terms now–as it has in the past–because it reads weakness into Hanoi’s decision to talk before all the bombing has halted and also to yield on the choice of conference site.”….. pause in quote…
Humble Host interposes…here is where the NYT goes off the track…
“Another critical question for the Paris meeting is whether to risk a further long delay in the talks by insisting on concrete assurances from Hanoi against increased infiltration before halting the rest of the bombing. A bombing halt should not be expected to achieve what the bombing itself cannot accomplish. The bombing never reduced infiltration which increased steadily under it; the increased infiltration the Administration now reports is no argument not to halt the bombing that has failed to impede it.
“The bombing is only pertinent to conventional military attacks across the Demilitarized Zone. Indications that Hanoi is prepared to de-escalate in the DMZ region, as the lifting of the siege of Khe Sanh suggested, would justify a complete cessation of the bombing.
“The United States had a reasonable case for holding firm on the site issue. But there would be no justification in delaying serious talks now by again exaggerating the value of the bombing. The air offensive against North Vietnam was a mistake from the start. It has hurt the United States more over the last three years than it has hurt Hanoi. It must not be permitted to block negotiations now as it did so many times in the past.” End quote…
Humble Host contends that the bombing chip was all the U.S. had to force or bargain for a change in North Vietnam’s behavior… if you doubt that, consider the change in North Vietnamese behavior following the Linebacker operations…
Humble Host refers to the series of Historical Documents from the Office of the Historian, U.S. State Department on the subject of positions to be taken by the U.S delegation in the talks contained in Documents 219 through 223 dated 3-5 May 1968… D 219, a letter from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Wheeler, to the head of the American delegation in Paris, Averell Harriman, is of particular interest. It is the first of seven pages in a total reading package of more than 12 pages for “your weekend reading assignment.”… Humble Host notes that time spent on digesting the background documents of the Vietnam peace negotiations provides a unique insight into the background, highly classified communication exchanges ongoing at the present with respect to talks between the parties to negotiations seeking a non-nuclear Korean Peninsula… it will be 50 years before anybody gets to see those documents… we learn from history…documents 219 through 223 are pertinent history… for your reading pleasure… ( punch in the d219 document and then access the following documents by tapping the faint carrot in the right margin of 219 to access 220, etc)…
D219: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v06/d219
RTR quote for 5 May: PRESIDENT JOHNSON, speech 31 March 1968: “Even this very limited bombing of the North could come to an early end–if our restraint is matched by restraint in Hanoi.”…
Lest we forget… Bear
