Bear Taylor 
RIPPLE SALVO… #731… PARADOX: A TENET CONTRARY TO RECEIVED OPINION… Reston writes: “We have never had more prosperity and poverty at the same time as we have now, never more problems or opportunities existing side by side.”… but first…
Good Morning: Day SEVEN HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE of a blogger’s remembrance of great men in harm’s way–the air war in Vietnam 1965-1968… It was secretly called Rolling Thunder…
HEAD LINES from The New York Times on Wednesday, 6 March 1968…
THE WAR IN VIETNAM Fifty Years Ago Today: Page 1: “VIETCONG ATTACK CITY IN DELTA; FIGHTING IS HEAVY–ALLIED UNITS RETAKE HOSPITAL AFTER HOURS OF BATTLING–Report 250 Foe dead, 1,000 Homes Destroyed–North Vietnamese Continue Shelling Khe Sanh Base–Shipyard Near Hanoi Hit”... “Vietcong guerrillas stormed into the capital of South Vietnam’s southernmost province yesterday and occupied a hospital for several hours. In fighting that raged most of the day, the hospital, the military compound and some public buildings were extensively damaged. More than 1,000 homes were destroyed. Though the night sniper shots echoed in the streets of Quanlong, the usually quiet capital of Anxuyen province in the Mekong Delta, the city formerly known as Camau, has a population of 6,000 to 8,000….Near the demilitarized zone North Vietnamese troops continued to shell the United States Marine outpost at Khe Sanh despite steady pounding from American artillery and bombers (Humble Host included…see #114 below)… Page 3: “U.S. IDENTIFIES MEN KILLED IN VIETNAM”… “The Pentagon today (5th) identified 120 American servicemen killed in combat in Vietnam…”… Page 2: “Expert’s Report Assails Saigon On Land Reform”...”…has concluded that the absence of effective land reform in South Vietnam ‘is costing the lives of large number of American soldiers and is significantly prolonging the Vietnam war.”… Page 3: “U.S. Troops In Vietnam Are Said To Get Pep Pills–John Steinbeck IV Alleges Amphetamines Are Issued in Combat Survival Kits”… Page 2: “U.S. AIDE SAYS ALLIES ARE ABOUT TO SEIZE THE OFFENSIVE”... “A senior United States military aide today depicted allied forces about to go on the offensive in the two northern provinces of South Vietnam. He said that the massing of four North Vietnamese divisions, perhaps totaling 60,000 to 70,000 men, including Vietcong elements, presented the United States command with ‘silver platter’ opportunities for conventional battle in the area.”...Page 10: “Marine Chief Says Foe’s Drive Failed”… “The Commandant of the Marine Corps in his first speech since the Lunar New Year offensive in Vietnam, said yesterday that the enemy had failed in their objectives. They did not persuade the South Vietnamese people of troops to defect and they did not discourage American. ‘I predict we will stick it our and see it through.’ he said.”…
Page 1: “RIOT BILL ADDED TO BILL ON RIGHTS BY SENATE WITH 82 TO 13 VOTE–AMENDMENT WOULD MAKE IT A CRIME TO CROSS STATE LINES TO INCITE DISORDER–Liberals Are Defeated–Chamber Later Turns Down Plan To Weaken Provisions Calling For Open Housing”…”…the Senate rejected, 48-43, move that would have drastically weakened the open housing provisions of the bill.”…Page 1: “Johnson And The Riot Panel’s Report–Reasons For Silence In Public”… “No day passes the White House now without someone asking for President Johnson’s reaction to the grave warnings and far-reaching recommendations of his National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders. But Mr. Johnson sits silent and his official spokesmen keep ducking and dodging. The reason–though no one at the White house thinks it at the moment–is that Mr. Johnson thinks the pleas for action are being wrongly addressed to the President.”… Page 1: “French Airliner Crashes With 62–Hits a Guadeloupe Mountain and Bursts Into Flames–No Survivors Found”… “An Air France jetliner with 62 persons aboard crashed into the side of a mountain near the village of Saint Claude last night and burst into flames… The plane, a Boeing 707 carrying 51 passengers and 11 crew members, crashed into the mountain called Sousfriere at an altitude of about 3,900-feet.”…
6 MARCH 1968…THE PRESIDENT’S DAILY BRIEF (these formerly Top Secret CIA briefs for the President are available on-line in the CIA Reading Room) SOUTH VIETNAM: Close to 20,000 North Vietnamese are estimated to have infiltrated south Vietnam in January–the highest monthly total of the year. …The US Embassy has taken a preliminary look at damage done by the Tet offensive to the South Vietnamese economy and concluded it has been severe. Aside from the serious disruption to movement of goods and products, industrial facilities have suffered extensive damage, and most business activity has been suspended. As for the offensive itself, there have been no major clashed reported so far today… LAOS: The week-long lull in fighting continues, although the Communists still threaten government positions…. NORTH VIETNAM: Conditions in Hanoi: The morale of the people of Hanoi appears high and they seem mo less willing to support the regime’s war effort… The electric power supply in the city is now restricted to three days a week for ordinary residents, but foreign embassies have no restrictions placed on them. Gasoline and oil are in very short supply, with embassies allowed a monthly ration of 400 liters; requests for additional supplies are frequently turned down….
STATE DEPARTMENT, Office of the Historian, Historical Documents,Foreign Relations, 1964-68, Volume VI, Vietnam. Three documents are attached for your consideration dated 6 March 1968. Document 107 is a timely “forty-second weekly message” from Ambassador Bunker in Saigon that gives a very good set of facts and suggestions for the President’s consideration as the Administration ponders “what now” coming out of the Tet embarrassment… Document 108 is a jim-dandy piece of smart staff work by Walt Rostow, the President’s special assistant. This is an example of a good right-hand man at work. Rostow gathers ideas from the folks on his rolodex, goes into think-mode and produces the best set of ideas he can muster. Something else that has merit for the President to consider … Not all Rostow’s inputs are what the boss wants to hear, but they are explained by Rostow and successfully stir the President to reconsider his position… Rostow includes mining Haiphong and all North Vietnam ports in his page of suggestions… Document 109 is an Editorial Note that records a unique three-hour evening conversation in the White House as the President gathers five senior Senators to tell them why he is doing what he is doing… Great exchange of words between LBJ and Senator Fulbright… This is a great history lesson unto itself… LBJ provides words on how he came to pursue the Tonkin Gulf Resolution… I read it twice, but I’m a history nerd… Read at…
Document 107: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v06/d107
Document 108: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v06/d108
Document 109: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v06/d109
6 MARCH 1968… OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER… New York Times (7 Mar reporting 6 Mar ops) Page 1: “U.S. PLANE CARRYING 49 DOWNED NEAR KHE SANH”… “North Vietnamese gunners shot down a United States Air Force transport plane carrying 44 passenger and five crewmen near the Marine outpost at Khe Sanh yesterday (6th) afternoon. There was ‘no sign of life’ in the wreckage of the plane, a twin-engine C-123. It was the third large transport plane shot down near the outpost in northwestern South Vietnam. (See details below in Hobson)… In the air war over the North Air Force pilots struck the Phucyen airfield 18 miles northwest of Hanoi. There were no immediate reports of damage.”… “Vietnam: Air Losses” (Chris Hobson) There were Five fixed wing aircraft downed in Southeast Asia on 6 March 1968…
(1) 1LT W.V. TOMLINSON was flying an F-100D of the 510th TFS and 3rd TFW out of Bien Hoa was returning to Bien Hoa from a combat mission when downed by ground fire in his approach to the field. 1LT TOMLINSON ejected about one mile from the home plate… The bad guys were everywhere…
(2) CAPTAIN C.D. SISSELL was flying an F-100D of the 90th TFS and 3rd TFW out of Bien Hoa and strafing enemy troops in the southern tip of South Vietnam when hit by ground fire forcing him to eject at the target. CAPTAIN SISSELL was rescued in the nick of time, again. He had ejected from another Super Sabre 26 February 1968… “Living Lucky”…
(3) CAPTAIN F.E. PECK was flying an F-105D of the 333rd TFS and 355th TFW out of Takhli in a flight of four Thunderchiefs on a Steel Tiger mission against a road about 20 miles west of the DMZ and was hit by ground fire. CAPTAIN PECK was forced to eject and sustained serious injury in the process. He was rescued by a USAF helicopter…
(4) LCOL FREDERICK JORDAN HAMPTON, 1LT ELLIS EUGENE HELGESON, SGT JEFFREY FRANCIS CONLIN, SSGT WILLIAM FRANK ANSELMO, SSGT NOEL LUIS RIOS, and 45 PASSENGERS were killed in action at Khe Sanh in a C-123K of the 311th ACS and 315th ACW out of Phang Rang. LCOL HAMPTON was piloting the aircraft through the ground fire for a landing at the steel runway and forced to go-around due to a helicopter on the runway. The additional exposure time proved fatal as the enemy gunners were able to knock out and inflame his port engine and wing. He attempted to get back to Danang but the aircraft became uncontrollable and crashed a few minutes later killing all aboard. The passengers were 44 Marines and one civilian
“Lieutenant Colonel Frederick J. Hampton distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force as Aircraft Commander near Khe Sanh, Republic of Vietnam, on 6 March 1068. The citation to accompany the Award of the Silver Star goes on to say: “…on that date Colonel Hampton led his flight in support of friendly ground forces engaged in defense of their beleaguered outpost. Despite the continuous threat from intense hostile fire, Colonel Hampton’s leadership, exemplary foresight, and ceaseless efforts resulted in significant contributions to the effectiveness and success of the commitments of the United States in Southeast Asia.” Lieutenant Colonel Hampton had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary heroism on 22 January 1968, the Bronze Star for his heroic actions in February 1968 and the Purple Heart. All awarded posthumously. He left behind a wife, Anne, and four children fifty years ago this day… Our thoughts are with the family… “They also serve who stand and wait, and wait….”…
(4) LT RICHARD CRAWFORD NELSON and LT GILBERT LOUIS MITCHELL were flying an A-6A Intruder of the VA-75 Sunday Punchers embarked in USS Kitty Hawk and were lost during a night low-level strike on the railyard at Haiphong. Hanoi reported the aircraft shot down on 7 March, indicated that LT NELSON and LT MITCHELL had been killed, and published pictures of an attempt to salvage the wreckage of the aircraft. The remains of LT NELSON were recovered and returned on 1 July 1984. The remains of LT MITCHELL have not been located and the young warrior remains missing… left behind… the search goes on… and is remembered on this 50th anniversary of his last flight…
From the compilation “34 TFS/F-105 History” by Howie Plunkett: “The four pilots in Pistol flight from the 34TFS bombed a target in northern Laos… LCOL Sam Armstrong was scheduled to lead the flight.” From LGEN Armstrong’s “100-mission combat log”…”I was mission commander again today and got all the way through the briefing. We finally executed 1`st alternate and had a radar drop near Sam Neua. I let Gene Beresik pinch hit for me and lead. It was an uneventful drop. We then made an armed recce of Rte #7 and didn’t spot anything though it was partially clear”...It was LCOL Armstrong’s 80th combat mission…..Humble Host Flew #114. Notes from my kneeboard card: “A pinkie cat shot (again) with a twilight delivery of three MK-83, 2,000-pound ojive headed, delay-fused bombs to blow trenches northwest of Khe Sanh marked by FAC smoke. Start the dive at 12,000 in the sun, release at 4 and out by 2 in the haze, as the sunsets in the west. Nite trap OK-2(dntl)”…
RIPPLE SALVO… #731… James Reston: Washington: “THE PARADOXES OF AMERICA”… NYT, 6 Mar 68, Page 46… I quote:
Washington, March 5–Go across the full length of this great country and what do you find? Material progress beyond the dreams of kings. Vast soaring commercial palaces of glass even in middle cities. The bulldozer and pneumatic drill, energy, noise, change, the fantastic beauty of the Los Angles Art Center and the slums of Watts. The lowest national unemployment rate in many years and the highest Negro teen-age rate of unemployment and crime on record.
The paradoxes are endless. We have probably never had so much moral concern or moral indifference at the same time in our history. But business in America has never been more savagely competitive or more conscious of its social responsibilities. It is filling the central cities with some of the finest architecture of the age and the suburbs with some of the most vulgar monstrosities in the long sad story of commercial construction.
We have never had more prosperity and poverty at the same time as we have now, never more problems or opportunities existing side by side. It is impossible to go across this country without being impressed by the fundamental decency and fair-mindedness of the American people. They want to do what’s right, when they are really confronted with the hard facts. They are deeply divided about the war in Vietnam and the war in the cities, both of which are far away from their daily personal and professional lives, but they hear about it on the TV and in the newspapers, and they are talking about it in the privacy of the family much more than is generally realized.
THE THREE QUESTIONS
Three things seem to get in the way of a rational conclusion about what should be done about the war in Vietnam and the war in the cities. The first is that the war in Vietnam is thousands of miles away and the Negro revolution is on the other side of town. They know both exist but they don’t feel it. The new circular highways around the cities fly over and bypass the slums. The mysteries about Vietnam are beyond comprehension. The people are worried about Harlem in New York and Hough in Cleveland and Watts in Los Angeles, but most of them know little more about life in these places than about life in Saigon.
Second, when the people turn to their institutions for help, they feel abandoned. The churches are divided about the war and even about the Negro revolution. The Universities are in turmoil. The military draft is obviously unequal. The press is a confusion of advice between hawks and doves on the war, and pro-Negro and anti-Negro arguments in the cities.
Finally, the Johnson Administration asks for confidence and trust for policies which are not succeeding either at home or abroad, so there is no trust or confidence, and the people are left to their own doubts and suspicions.
“A demoralized people,” Walter Lippmann wrote in 1932 at the height of the economic depression, “is one in which the individual has become isolated… He trusts nobody and nothing, not even himself. He believes nothing except the worst of everybody and everything. He sees only confusion in himself and conspiracies in other men, That is panic.That is what comes when in some sudden emergency of their lives men find themselves unsupported by clear convictions that transcend immediate and personal desires.”
There is a lot of this in the nation today. And yet, despite all the doubts and confusions and prejudices, there is also a lot of honest debate in America about great issues. The country, one feels, is looking for a new lead, for somebody who will come forward with a new philosophy and it is not finding the answer in Johnson or any of his political opponents.
THE FATAL DIVISIONS
Washington is now the symbol of helplessness of the present day. The Congress is up in arms against the president’s policies, but is impotent to deal with the present trend toward more men and arms for Vietnam. The Republicans are dividing once more between the Rockefeller and Goldwater factions. Even the President’s own aides are beginning to have the most serious doubts about a policy which rests on an ineffective and corrupt government in Saigon.
Yet the political opposition offers no alternative that commands the confidence of a “majority of the people. The main crisis is not Vietnam itself, or in the cities, but is the feeling that the political system for dealing with these things has broken down….. End quote…
Humble Host opines that what goes around comes around… Reston’s 50-year-old essay is as fit for today as it was in March 1968… brilliant…
RTR Quote for 6 March: SUN TZU: “To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.”
Lest we forget… Bear…
