by Robert Pisor
Howard, James J., 14–15
Hré Montagnards, 199, 203, 210
Hue, 82, 111, 134
anti-government protests in, 89
description of, 185
NVA forces in, 185, 188
Tet Offensive in, 178, 185–88, 279
Viet Minh attack on (1946-1947), 161
Huey “Hogs,” 52–53
Humphrey, Hubert, 190
I
I Corps
map of, 113
Marine vs. Army control of, 131, 141, 257
troops moved into, 32, 131
India Company (U.S. Marines), 264, 266; see also Hill 881 South
airlifted to Khe Sanh, 11
ammunition and gear carried by, 16–17
in assault on Hill 881 North, 20, 22–28, 110, 111, 264–66
on patrol, 9, 10, 12, 15–18
Infiltration Surveillance Center, 108
intelligence-gathering
patrols and platoons in, 18–20
sophisticated technology in, 18, 54, 106–8
International War Crime Tribunal, 75
Iron Triangle, Cedar Falls operation in, 55–57
J
Jacques, Don, 238–39, 258
Japan, Vietnam occupied by, 83–84, 156, 158
Jasper, Norman J., Jr., 105, 115
Jessup, Daniel, 26
Johnson, Harold K., 67
Johnson, Lady Bird, 141
Johnson, Lyndon B., 28, 114, 126, 179, 244, 261, 271, 273, 283
casualties as concern of, 126
decision to defend Khe Sanh questioned by, 138, 142–45
haunted by Dienbienphu, 125–26, 138, 208
nuclear weapons and, 182–83
peace desired by, 253–56
popular support for war as concern of, 42, 75, 76, 140–41
reelection bid abandoned by, 76, 126, 255–56
war powers extended to, 39
Westmoreland’s relations with, 63–64, 74–76, 140–41, 182–83, 189, 248, 254–56
Wheeler’s situation report to, 189–92
Joint Chiefs of Staff, 114, 138, 251, 252, 257
guarantee of victory signed by, 143, 144, 244
Junction City, 55, 57–60, 63, 65, 66
K
K Company (U.S. Marines), 105, 115, 116, 136
Kennedy, Robert F., 243, 253
Khe Sanh
coffee plantations in, 80–83, 99
French colonialists in, 80–84, 88, 99, 101
influx of U.S. military into, 80–81, 88, 90–93, 98
initial clashes in, 92–93
landscape of, after siege, 260
roads cut to, 81, 101
before Vietnam war, 81–88
Khe Sanh, battle of (1968)
aerial firepower planned for, see Niagara
aircraft losses in, 217–18, 233, 243
ammunition shortage in, 121, 128, 141
assessments of, 247–48, 283–86
crisis of confidence in, 138, 142–45
Dienbienphu compared to, 77, 104, 114, 123–27, 138, 140, 143–45, 212, 215, 219, 221, 226, 235, 241, 242, 246, 285
disappearance of enemy troops at, 248
distorted reporting of casualties in, 210, 275–81
enemy shelling in, 115, 117–18, 128, 137, 193, 195–96, 209, 217, 223–24, 228–33, 234–36, 238, 246, 254, 261
as enemy trap, 247–48, 284
hand-to-hand combat in, 116, 267
hilltop supply lines in, 129, 233–34
intelligence-gathering in, 12, 18, 96, 97, 102–3, 106–8, 110–14
media coverage of, 204, 222, 225–26, 243–45, 273–74, 277
morale and combat fatigue in, 229–30, 234, 237
NVA buildup before, 11–12, 22–23, 77, 96–98, 102–4, 112–13
NVA informant and, 110–14
NVA troop positions in, 102–4, 112, 118, 123, 188, 208
radio code broken in, 135
recon missions in, 224, 226, 238–41
reinforcements in, 131, 134, 141–42
relief operation in, see Pegasus
revenge raids in, 258–59, 264–66, 276
signed guarantee of victory in, 143, 144, 244
start of, 111, 117–21
suicide attacks expected in, 127
targeting problems in, 119–20, 193–95
U.S. troop positions in, 105, 131, 136
water supplies in, 214, 235, 237–38
weather as factor in, 139, 216–17
Westmoreland’s desire for, 29, 31–32, 52, 77–79, 103, 104, 247–48, 254
Westmoreland’s justification for, 139, 144–46
Khe Sanh Combat Base, 9
abandonment of, 269–74
aerial resupply at, 32, 121, 128, 132, 140, 215–22
airfield at, 93, 96, 105, 120, 121, 147
as bait, 29, 92, 99, 106
bunkers at, 221–24
detonation of stored ammunition at, 117–18, 120, 121
first shellings of, 104
irregulars at, 136
map of, 215
Marine base established at (1966), 89–91
Marines airlifted to (1967–1968), 11, 97, 106, 131
movies shown at, 109
NVA infantry attacks on, 245–46
NVA recon mission, 102
NVA recon mission at, 11
NVA trenches leading to, 241–42, 246
perimeter defenses at, 12
refugees at, 122, 132–33, 210–11
strategic importance of hills around, 105
strategic location of, 36, 93, 94, 139
terrain around, 9–10, 17, 97, 105
trash and stench in, 213–14
Westmoreland’s first visit to, 36
Khe Sanh Village, 9, 98–99, 188
after siege, 260
map of, 100
NVA assault on (1968), 118–22, 125, 197
Khoi No, 87
Kinnard, H. W. O., 124
Kit Carson Scouts, 66, 239
Kitt, Eartha, 141
Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of (North Korea), 137
Pueblo captured by, 133–34
Korea, Republic of (South Korea) (ROK), 134
troops in Vietnam from, 32, 134, 135
Korean War, 44–45, 53, 134, 229
Krulak, Victor, 62, 285
Kublai Khan, 153
L
Ladd, Jonathan F., 198, 205, 208
Landing Zone George, VC attack on (1967), 59
Lang Vei, mistaken bombing of, 92
Lang Vei Special Forces camp, 106, 196–207
attack expected at, 196–97
bunkers at, 95
calls for help from, 200, 202, 204
casualties at, 93, 206–7, 276
counterattacks at, 205–6
establishment of, 91, 94–96
map of, 201
NVA attack on (1967), 92–93
relief plan for, 198–99, 204–5, 208
survivors from, 206–7, 210–11
tank attack on (1968), 196–97, 199–207, 209
troops at, 198–200
weapons and ammunition at, 199–200, 202–3
Lanigan, John P., 14
Laos, 45, 81, 133
ARVN invasion of, 177
bombing of, 147
enemy supply routes in, 33, 107, 140
NVA bases in, 101–3, 119, 137, 147, 223, 231
refugees from, 199, 210
U.S. patrols in, 88
Westmoreland’s plan for invasion of, 33, 63, 93, 95–97, 101, 103, 139
Laotian Army
at Khe Sanh (33rd Elephant Battalion), 136–37, 210, 276
at Lang Vei, 199, 206
NVA battles with, 128
LAPES (Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System), 218–19
La Than Tonc, see Tonc, La Than
LAWs (Light Anti-tank Weapons), 17, 202–3, 209
Leclerc, Phillippe, 160
Le Than
h Dong, 261–62
Le Van Quoc, 203, 207, 211, 278
Life, 243
Light Anti-tank Weapons (LAWs), 17, 202–3, 209
Linares, M., 83, 88, 279
Lindewold, Charles W., 203
Loc, Bui Tan, 85, 98, 99
Loc Ninh Special Forces camp, V.C. attack on (1967), 69–72, 74, 75, 103, 181
Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System (LAPES), 218–19
Lownds, David E., 141, 193, 223, 228, 240, 263, 264, 272, 279
ammunition shortage and, 121, 129
assault on Khe Sanh Village and, 118–19, 121
Congressional testimony of, 210, 275
control of hills as concern of, 20, 96, 105–6, 116–17, 136
Land Vei relief plan and, 198, 204, 205
Miller family and, 99, 103
NVA buildup as assessed by, 11, 12, 18–19, 108–9
pressures on, 225–26
Red Alerts declared by, 111, 245, 246
refugee problems of, 122, 132–33, 210–11
start of Khe Sanh siege and, 98, 104, 111, 114
troop strength as concern of, 131–32, 136
Luong Dinh Du, 197
M
MacArthur, Douglas, 55, 160
mail deliveries, 50–51
disrupted at Khe Sanh, 219–20
malaria, 21–22, 46–47
Malaysia, Communist insurgency in, 35
Mao Tse-tung, 44, 156, 158
Marine Corps, U.S.; see also specific companies and battles
air-ground functioning of, 129–31
ammunition and gear carried by, 16
Army rivalry with, 32, 129–31, 141, 208–9, 257
casualties retrieved by, 26
draftees vs. volunteers in, 21
Green Berets disliked by, 91, 95
tour of duty for, 49, 245
Marshall, S.L.A., 62, 191, 229, 248
Martin, Charles, 220
Masters, John F., Jr., 222
Matthews, Owen S., 235
McCarthy, Eugene, 140, 253
McNamara, Robert S., 37, 42, 53, 55, 63, 75, 126, 137, 189, 190
sensors proposed by, 107
media
Khe Sanh covered by, 204, 222, 225–26, 243–45, 273–74, 277
mercenaries, 35, 69
Tet Offensive and, 249–51
Meyers, Bruce, 264
“micro-Arc lights,” 194
military advisers, U.S., 36, 43
Miller, Carolyn, 85–88, 90–92, 99, 101, 103, 216, 265
Miller, John, 85–88, 90–92, 99, 101, 103, 108–9, 265
Minh, Duong Van, 34
“mini-Arc Lights,” 194
Mobile Strike Force, 199, 210
Momyer, William W., 68, 130, 218, 241
Mongols, Vietnam invaded by, 153
Montagnards, 95; see also Bru Montagnards
abused by Vietnamese, 39
Ca, 210
Green Berets aided by, 36, 39, 68, 70, 91, 95, 199, 202
Hré, 199, 203, 210
as information sources, 106
as plantation workers, 80, 81
Thó, 157
Morris, Richard, 230
M-14 rifles, 16
M-16 rifles, 53
breakdowns of, 13–15, 137–38
improvements in, 15
M-14s vs., 16
M-48 tanks, 56
N
Napoleon Bonaparte, 78
National Guard, U.S., 42, 141, 191, 253
National Press Club, Westmoreland’s speech at (1967), 75
Navy, U.S., 90
Seabees of, 94, 223
Newsweek, 243, 248, 277
New York Daily News, 243
New York Times, 249
Nguyen Cong Tan, 262
Nguyen Hue, 153
Nguyen Thanh Le, 273
Niagara (aerial firepower at Khe Sanh), 226–28, 278
air bases utilized in, 227
bombers used in, 227
bomb tonnages in, 227
chosen as code name, 32, 103
close-in B-52 missions in, 241, 243, 245
first use of, 127–28, 133
targeting in, 228
Westmoreland’s planning of, 32, 79, 103, 127–28, 131, 228
9th Infantry Division, U.S., 65, 66
Niuatoa, Molimao, 232
North Vietnam, see Vietnam, Democratic Republic of
North Vietnamese Army (NVA), 73, 89; see also specific battles
ambush tactics of, 10, 65–67
Cambodian bases of, 40
camouflage capabilities of, 12, 13, 65
commitment to war of, 12
deserters from, 110–14, 197, 236
division-sized operations of, 69–70
entry into war of, 39
firepower acquired by, 67–68, 72
Laotian bases of, 101–3, 119, 137, 147, 224, 231
significant tactical victory sought by, 126
nuclear weapons, 243
discussions on use of, 182–83
Westmoreland’s plans for use of, 28, 146, 148, 182–83
Nungs, 35
O
101st Airborne Division, U.S., 32, 33, 38, 179, 187, 269
175mm artillery, 41
convoy of, ambushed, 94, 119
173rd Airborne Brigade, U.S., 57, 65, 72, 170
O’Neill, Thomas P., 76
Ontos, 105
P
pacification program, 73
Palmer, Dave Richard, 284
parachute supply missions, 219–20
paratroopers, in Junction City operation, 57–58
particle detectors, 54
Patti, Archimedes, 158–59
Pearson, Willard, 124
Pegasus (Khe Sanh relief operation), 146, 184, 257, 269, 271, 274
body count bookkeeping for, 276, 278–80
as charade, 257, 260
declared a success, 263, 268
Marines humiliated by, 257
revenge raid and, 258–59
symbolic value of, 254, 255
Westmoreland’s planning of, 141, 254–55
People’s Army of Viet Nam, see Viet Minh
“people sniffers,” 54, 66, 173
Pershing Sword, 30
Pham Van Dong, 151, 153, 155, 160, 166–67
Phan Van Hong, 262
photographic analysis, enemy detected by, 54, 102
Phu Bai, 134, 141, 169, 213
Phu Loc, 193
Pipes, Kenneth W., 258–59
Poilane, Eugene, 81–84, 88, 90
Poilane, Felix, 80–81, 84, 88, 99, 101, 122, 265, 268
Poilane, Madeleine, 80, 87, 99, 101, 122, 216
point men, psyche of, 10
Poncet, Father, 88, 98–99, 278–79
post exchanges, goods sold at, 51–52
Pouget, Jean, 284
Prek Klok II, 58
“Prepare for the Worst” (Ho), 168
psychological warfare, 54–55, 59
Pueblo, USS, capture of, 133–34
Puller, Lewis B., 21
Q
Quang Tri City, 81, 82, 113, 139, 141, 146
Tet Offensive in (1968), 184
Quang Tri Province, 88, 97, 111
Quick Step, 137
R
racism, in confidence of Caucasian victory, 43
Radio Hanoi, 208, 262
radio-intercept equipment, 54
Rao Quang River, 106, 135–36
reconnaissance missions
enemy counter-reconnaissance screens and, 104
firepower in, 22–23
helicopters in, 22, 24
during Khe Sanh siege, 224, 226, 238–41
stealth abandoned in, 23
Reserve forces, U.S., 42, 191
Rest and Recreation program, 50–51, 112
Ridgeway, Matthew B., 251–52
Roach, Terence R., Jr., 209
Rockpile, 90, 135–36, 209
Rock Quarry, 2
21
Rome Clearing Blades, 56, 58
Rosson, William B., 128, 257
abandonment of Khe Sanh and, 271–73
Rostow, Walt W., 126, 179, 191
Route 1, 89, 184
Route 9
cut off by enemy, 81, 94, 101, 105
destroyed by Marines, 272–73
as enemy supply line, 271
as refugee route, 133, 211, 278
reopening of, 129, 144, 255, 256, 261, 268
Roy, Jules, 123
Rusk, Dean, 183, 190
Russell, Bertrand, 75
S
Saigon
start of warfare in (1964), 39
Tet Offensive in (1968), 178, 180, 182, 188, 190
VC troop movements toward, 141, 145
Sainteny, Jean, 168
Schungel, Daniel F., 199–200, 202–4, 207
Scotland (operation), body count bookkeeping for, 275, 277, 279
Sea Knight cargo helos, 234
searchlights, on mountaintops, 54
seismic sensors, see sensor devices
Self-Defense Militia, 150, 167
Senate, U.S.
Armed Forces Committee of, 182–83, 189
opposition to war in, 76, 126
sensor devices, 54, 107–8
acoustic, described, 107–8
development of, 107
seismic, described, 107–8
sowed around Khe Sanh, 107–8, 193–94, 243, 245
Sharp, Ulysses S. Grant, 40, 42, 44, 94, 130–31, 250
Shoup, David M., 247
Sidle, Winant K., 248, 273
Sihanouk, Norodom, prince of Cambodia, 40, 177
Simard, M., 83
Skyhawk fighter bombers, 234
Sky Spot, 228
SLAM (Seek, Locate, Annihilate, and Monitor), 68
Smith, Agrippa W., 272
Song Be, battle at (1967), 70
South Vietnam, see Vietnam, Republic of
Soviet Union, 252
North Vietnam equipped by, 175
textbook and table wars against, 49
Special Forces, U.S. (Green Berets), 36, 39
attacks on camps of, 69–70, 71–73, 93, 196–207
at Khe Sanh, 90, 91, 136, 278
at Lang Vei, 91–96, 106, 196–207
Marines’ disputes with, 91, 94–96
Special Operations Group, 90
“Spooky,” 53
Stack, C. J., 230
Stamper, Thomas, 98, 118, 120, 132
starlight scopes, 54
Street Without Joy (Fall), 44
“street without joy,” 89
Strela, 176
Stubbe, Ray W., 101, 276, 278
Studt, John C., 267
Styx, 176
suicide tactics
ambush decoys as, 66–67
expected at Khe Sanh, 127
Summary of Military Strategy (Giap), 153
Sun Tzu, 35, 153
Super Gaggle, 233–34, 246
Super SAM, 176
T
Tactical Crushers, 56
Tan Son Nhut Air Base, 127, 221
Task Force Delta, 169–70
Taylor, Maxwell D., 38, 42, 60, 143, 144, 191
Tet (1968), as celebration, 32–33