Office of the Historian

315. Memorandum From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Taylor) to the Secretary of Defense (McNamara)1

Washington, November 12, 1962.

CM-104-62

SUBJECT

  • Status of National Military Campaign, South Vietnam
1.
During your meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 29 October,2 you requested information on the status of implementing plans or orders and the initiating dates for the “explosion” concept which was discussed by General Harkins at the 8 October conference.3 As of 3 November, General Harkins reports that the operation is still in the planning stage as amplified below; that operations will be intensified in critical areas during December, January and February with nationwide intensification anticipated in mid-February. The exact time has not been determined.
2.
The purpose of the plan is to conduct a nation-wide offensive against the Viet Cong, bringing to bear the full military potential of the RVNAF, paramilitary and citizenry of South Vietnam in an integrated campaign. The plan is phased as follows:
I.
Planning Phase: Involves adjustments in the Vietnamese command structure to streamline channels of command as well as the development of a comprehensive RVNAF operation plan.
II.
Preparatory Phase: Includes preliminary operations with the preoperational preparations. This phase is not necessarily dependent upon Phase I planning but is a continuation of current operations and shall proceed concurrently with and beyond the planning phase.
III.
Execution Phase: Full scale coordinated operations, utilizing the talents and capabilities of every loyal citizen and every paramilitary organization with the regular military establishment.
IV.
Follow-up and Consolidation Phase: Restoration of full control by the Government of South Vietnam, banging into the plan all elements of the civil government.
3.
Plans for reorganization of the military command structure are being finalized and have been submitted to President Diem for signature which is considered necessary as a legalizing procedure. President Diem informally approved the over-all concept in early October.
4.
Highlights of the Vietnamese reorganization include: [Page 731]
a.
Readjustment of the Joint General Staff and the creation of three service component commands.
b.
Creation of an Unconventional Warfare Directorate to coordinate and control the efforts of special forces and irregular fighting elements of the country.
c.
Elimination of the Field Command Headquarters from the command structure.
d.
Establishment of a fourth Corps for operations exclusively in the Delta region.
e.
Assignment of the necessary tactical and logistic support elements for each corps by attachment or in direct support.
5.
General Harkins expects the reorganization to be completed by late December. Implementing plans by the RVNAF and operational planning by the Corps are proceeding concurrently.
6.
As further developments materialize in the foregoing outline, I will keep you informed.
Maxwell D. Taylor
  1. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 66 A 3542, Vietnam 1962, 380-385. Secret.↩
  2. No record of this meeting has been found.↩
  3. Regarding the Honolulu meeting on October 8, see Document 298.↩