Office of the Historian

252. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staffs’ Special Assistant for Counterinsurgency and Special Activities (Krulak) to the Secretary of Defense (McNamara)1

Washington, July 30, 1962.

SUBJECT

  • Support for Paramilitary and Irregular Elements in Vietnam
1.
One matter which was discussed at Honolulu2 was the care of the Montagnards, some of whom are hungry, most of whom need assistance in some form. The GVN, for many reasons, has done less than they might have to care for these people, despite the great importance of their good will and their potential usefulness as combatants.
2.
It is my belief that Montagnard fighters, along with the village defenders, the Civil Guard and the Self Defense Corps are going to be the decisive factor in the war. While the ARVN will ultimately be the mobile mechanism that attacks the hard VC concentrations, the battle will largely be won in the hamlets and the countryside by the less sophisticated elements.
3.
It is plain, in supporting these irregular and paramilitary elements, that there should be no restraints anywhere. Unfortunately, there are. The United States can give them hardware and training, but it is not easy for us to give them pay, pensions, family gratuities or other support which embodies gold. The GVN, on the other hand, is reluctant to spend its cash on these same support projects.
4.
Perhaps there is a way out. I suggest this sort of reasoning: [Page 565]
a.
The GVN would like very much to have some of the more sophisticated hardware items, which they do not really need—more tanks, aircraft, etc.
b.
We are quite able to produce and deliver these items.
c.
We should therefore tell the GVN that:
(1)
We do not think they need the articles; but
(2)
We will build and sell them to the GVN at 10-20% of their cost; understanding that
(3)
They will make payment to us in piasters.
d.
These piasters should then be applied, at our discretion, to meeting the currency needs of the irregular and paramilitary elements mentioned in paragraph 3 above. We could even make the disbursements through Diem, if to do so would enhance his prestige.
V.H. Krulak
Major General, USMC
SACSA
  1. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 65 A 3501, Vietnam 092, July-Dec 1962. Secret. On the source text McNamara wrote: “8/4 To Bill Bundy-Bill, please talk to Gen. Krulak and see what what [sic] can be done to make better use of the Montagnards.”↩
  2. Document 248.↩