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wFrom:  Frank Rogers

wtSent:  August 21, 2013

Subject:  The US Army Advisor in Vietnam

At AFVN many of us were given assignments to show "Vietnamization" was wonderful and working.  Mine was to the Air Force Academy at Nha Trang. 

The brass did not care to hear any comments of failures, but one had only to talk with advisors to see things were going down the toilet in a hurry.  The only real combat units were the ARVN Marines.  Sadly, with Nixon gone, the new "leaders" in Washington did nothing, despite intel reports of the North not honoring the Paris "Peace" accord and were steadily pursuing a winning strategy after our pullout.  I have several Vietnamese neighbors and relatives.  One neighbor escaped from a "reeducation" camp where the education was to clear the forest using bare hands - no tools provided.

Question:  Was it on this site someone reported about LBJ blowing his stack at the military commanders who said the winning strategy for us was aerial and naval bombardment, but he wanted troops on the ground?  I wish I still had that report.  It would make a remarkable movie or TV show.  Who remembers that after Korea, it was "promised" there would never again be American ground troops committed to a war in Asia?

Frank

US Army Advisors in Vietnam

August 2013

Includes a 34-minutes YouTube video from 1963.

AFVN Group Conversations

wFrom:  Ken Kalish

wtSent:  August 21, 2013

Subject:  The US Army Advisor in Vietnam

You have to remember, Frank, that in Washington circles the word "never" means "in the next five minutes."

Ken

wFrom:  Bill Altman

wtSent:  August 21, 2013

Subject:  The US Army Advisor in Vietnam I believe that army advisor experiences were very different for each person with that duty assignment.  After my Armed Forces Radio tour of duty in 1965, I returned to Vietnam in 1970-71 as an airborne infantry officer and adviser to the 1st ARVN Division RECON Company. The company commander was a loser but had his command because the division Commanding General was his brother-in- law.  He was REMF minded, rarely went to the field, and left most operational duties up to the XO.  The XO was a completely different type who aggressively sought the enemy and good recon intelligence.  so in order to be effective, my American NCO and I spent most of our time in the bush with the XO and the recon teams.  However, by the time I  wrapped up my second tour, I was disappointed with the lack of purpose of South Vietnam's government and army, combined with  the ineptness and American bureaucracy we had created,  The Vietnamese seemed to have no idea what they were fighting for and Americans had given up on the idea of winning as a strategy.  Just my experience.

Bill

wFrom:  Bob Morecook

wtSent:  August 18, 2013

Subject:  The US Army Advisor in Vietnam

Hi Bob,

Indeed it was.  I was impressed with its professionalism though and the way it showed the captain doing well but learning from mistakes too It was far more creative that most army training films I have seen best wishes.

Bob M