Vietnam: A Television History; Westmoreland Tet Press Conference

The events of the last several months and those of the last several days and particularly as I reconstruct the situation it seems to me that the plan that we have seen on goal during the last several months was drafted and annoy and approved by the authorities there. During September of last year. As I reconstruct the plan. It was in three phases the first phase which started the latter part of October and continued through the middle of January

involved both a military and a psychological warfare campaign. For psychological war campaign had two major parts. The first was an international campaign designed to stop the air strikes in north Vietnam. The second was focused at the people of those countries providing troops to assist South Vietnam and their struggle against communism and toward the people of South Vietnam itself. And this involved the throwing out of a peace feeler

at annoy and secondly starting rumors suggesting that a coalition government was in the offing. The military campaign. During this first phase. Involved attacks in four places within South Vietnam designed to inflict casualties. On the government of Vietnam forces the Americans and the free world forces to force us to deploy large numbers of troops to counter their

offenses. And hopefully to secure a peace is a real estate that they could call our own. These four places. Or a northern province around Doc talk as the first objective in securing onto a province starting at its northwest extremity. And through the erosion process. Dominate militarily the entire province. If they failed in that regard as alluded to earlier as a minimum they would force us

to. Counter by deploying troops and if they did succeed in their objective. And seizing province the large numbers of troops would be required to regain control. The next story. WAS IN SOUTHERN I Corps and then on the i promise is no other than to four and then from these well coordinated attacks were designed to secure a population that had been lost. By the enemy during the previous several months. And also designed. To force us to dissipate our military strength. The next area was north of Saigon along the Cambodian border.

And poke along and then along provinces where they hope to see district towns of the two provinces capitals. And again force us to deploy a large number of forces. To recapture this area thereby thinning out the forces in the populated areas. Also during these attacks they had hoped to inflict large casualties. All right. The third area was and then boom province. Then two provinces important because through it passes highway four from the capital city to the fertile Delta. This campaign was designed to dominate the province.

And effect complete control. Over a highway for. The next phase of this master plan. We have seen on full during the past several days. D-day for this plan was set at Tet despite the fact that the Communists had made quite a point that they would observe a cease fire that. This was a deceitful and treacherous act by the enemy. So out of denying a whole Yann already been

considerable action in order to root out the enemy that infiltrated that area the Republic of Korea Marines now perform well in that area. But to attack them and have been unsuccessful and have been driven back. We're watching this situation carefully. And I'm confident that any further initiative can be blunted. The enemy has paid dearly. For

having lost the day. At least 58 hundred men. How long will he be able to keep up this temple. I give them the capability. Of continuing. The blaze of the campaign for several more days. There is however. He knew full well that that the traditional

Oriental New Year was a time for visiting with families and relaxation. He assumed that security would be at a low ebb during that period. This second phase was designed to infiltrate populated areas with emphasis on seats of government for eventual and district towns to disgorge destroy government installations and military headquarters. At the same time through shell and attack airfields in order to influence

our ability to react to his initiative. This marks a change in strategy by the enemy. Where he is using North Vietnamese forces to spearhead his terroristic attack. Momentarily I shall make an assessment throughout the country. What is France barred during this phase two. His phrase is yet is yet to come. This will be his main effort.

And will involve the commitment of the largest number of troops ever committed by the enemy today. This will involve a major campaign and a long three to a 10 provinces. Not completely. I felt. That. There would be far worse. During that period. And therefore have my command and I a degree of alert. In addition to that. We foresaw the initiatives in the populated areas and certain redeployments were made in anticipation of that. Redeployment.

We had a number of troops committed. In the Bennelong long northern Canaan areas. When it appeared evident to me that the enemy were changing its strategy and was redeploying his forces so as to disrupt the civilian population and to penetrate populated areas which I thought he would do during that period. Well I'm frank to admit I didn't know he would do it on the occasion of Tet itself. I thought he would die either before or after but it appeared evident that during this time frame that he would take the initiative in the populated area upon learning that troops will withdraw on the border area and reduce

both unit around the populated areas and 3rd Corps. Likewise some of the dispositions were made in the second core area to a lesser degree because of the. The nature of the problem being different. The units committed to this campaign we carry on our order of battle. A number of these battalions committed had been hurt by previous campaigns anywhere up to strike. Now this whole campaign is a go for broke proposition. As a matter of fact we had a defector that came in with troops up in Kuang three province who stated this campaign was

quote all or nothing. So it's been a it's a go. I'm sorry I didn't quite understand what. I have received no information that the population have been receptive to his intrusion and that they have become a party to this general uprising. On the contrary he seems to be more of an attitude of outrage which certainly is understandable when his methods and tactics are concerned. Of course phase one was diversionary for phase two and phase two is diversionary for

phase three. So implicit in his master plan was the principle of diversion. I would get a very poor art part me pretty well set now. I think it built up to their plan level. They may have planned to do that. It is conceivable that our air strikes were disrupted. It will set back some of the problems without question. The government is now going to be faced with rebuilding and

a number of the towns and cities are going to be faced with a refugee problem and without question some of the revolutionary development areas will be a setback. But I think all of these losses are recoverable and in a reasonably short time. It resulted from house to house fighting. Conceivable but I cannot forecast that much stronger posture logistically and.

Yes which is a major effort as I see the situation. At any time. Since eighteen hundred hours or 6pm on the twenty ninth of January which was the which was the official beginning

of the truce the enemy has lost fifty eight hundred men killed in action. GV enforces the government of Vietnam forces the US and free world forces. Take on twenty five hundred detainees. Many of these will subsequently be qual classified as prisoners of war. As you well know they are initially classified as detainees and after they're screened many of them will be released having been declared innocent civilians many will be

classified as prisoners of war. One of the unusual characteristics of this number of detainees would appear at this time to be the high percentage of prisoners of war. Now during this period. Servicemen. Starting in in the northern part of the country and the First Corps. Let me briefly review with you the situation. The enemy infiltrated contrie products. SAfter known. It was reported to me that he is moving out of town

most of the troops seem to have changed into civilian clothes. It is reported that approximately 300 enemy I have been killed. The enemy has infiltrated way with a sizable force he now holds a portion of the city. Aravind forces are now in contact with the enemy attempting to clear that city out of enemy units. Denying is quiet enemy force was reported shot of denying this morning.

And attempts were being made to establish contact. There was some rocket far into the way food by area today with very light than. A lock. It's a small settlement. That's the tip of my pointer is reported to be under enemy control and reaction forces are now in the process of surrounding this area. On the other hand the enemy did infiltrate into the hospital at KONG eye and secured it for a period of time.

And let me say prime statically that characteristic of this campaign has been the practice of the enemy to take refuge in hospitals churches schools and to use a civilian population as a shield with utter disregard for human life a life of his own soldiers and the welfare of the civilians is by treachery and deceitful and it showed a callous disregard for human life and it brought about. Considerable disruption in a number of towns and cities as I pointed out earlier the enemy has massed the number of troops and

the Langtry to attend every since the 17th of January. I have concentrated heavy airstrikes into the area. The intensity of these airstrikes was intensified starting on the 22nd of January and since that date namely the 22nd of January. And forward air controllers have observed over 2000 secondary explosions are part.

These massive airstrikes I have no doubt hindered the enemy's plans but I still give him the capability of attacking in force at any time in that area. When he does attack he will have to accept great risk. The preparations we have made and the firepower available to us. Gentlemen I will now for a few minutes entertain questions.