Office of the Historian

188. Telegram From the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Viet-Nam (McGarr) to the Commander in Chief. Pacific (Felt)1

Saigon, October 23, 1961, 10:55 p.m.

MAGCHKNDP 1943. Serious flood in Mekong Delta area upstream from Can Tho and Sa Dec (worst since 1937) raises possibility that flood relief could be justification for moving in US military personnel for humanitarian purposes with subsequent retention if desirable. Gen Taylor and Ambassador Nolting evaluating feasibility and desirability. State Dept informed of possibility by Embassy-520, 21 [20] Oct, and CINCPAC by Embassy-54 [194?].2 Following data furnished for your information.

Brig Gen Eggleston this hqs made air and ground reconnaissance of delta area 22 Oct and talked with western delegate in charge of all flood relief on the ground and with one province chief. Flooding is widespread and up to 500,000 personnel, mostly civilians, involved. At many towns and agrovilles there is no dry land and water up to eaves of buildings. Current is swift making it impossible for people to live on boats or rafts adjacent to their homes which have not been washed away. Water starting to recede slowly and no upstream indication of a higher crest to follow. Hydrologists predict that waters will recede very slowly.

Greatest future needs appear to be food, seed and other crop assistance, medical personnel and supplies, construction supplies for buildings, water purification and reconstruction of roads and bridges. Strong indication on part of GVN officials that they have the personnel skills for relief work and only need supplies and funds. USOM providing these.

Senior US personnel of opinion that flood relief work is not effectively organized, that officials do not realize magnitude or seriousness of required relief work and that personnel assistance is required. In the event GVN request US assistance in the form of personnel as well as equipment for flood relief, an excellent opportunity immediately is presented for introduction of US military forces for humanitarian purposes. Such action must however come as result of political evaluation and decision.

Types of units which could feasibly be used are: [Page 425]

A.
Helicopter squadrons. A minimum of one H-34 squadron possible carrier based for immediate capability.
B.
Medical teams including preventive medicine control teams (Team LA), medical teams (OA) and medical supply teams (Team
C.
Water supply and water purification units.
D.
Engineer construction battalions. Actual need not too urgent in flood area; however, they could be used to improve counterinsurgency and contingency posture after minimal repairs to roads and bridges in delta area.
E.
Supply maintenance and administrative units to support operation forces.

By utilizing US forces in areas controlled by ARVN, security would not be a serious problem; however it must be recognized that any US troops introduced must be prepared to protect themselves and terms of reference and status of forces agreements agreeable to US and Vietnamese Governments completely spelled out. If as result of Taylor visit and recommendations decision is made to support Diem with US troops, this is an excellent opportunity to minimize adverse publicity.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 851H.49/10-2361. Secret; Priority. Repeated to JCS (J-3), DOD, and the Department of State for attention CTR and Task Force Vietnam. The source text is the copy sent to the Department of State. Received in the Department at 6:01 a.m. on October 25.↩
  2. Not printed.↩