by Max Hastings
Graham, John Filmore, 566, 570
Graham, Kay, 355
Graham, Brig. Stuart, 464–5
Grauwin, Dr (of Dienbienphu), 67–8
Gray, Gen. Al, 116, 163–4, 647
Great Leap Forward (China), 103
Greene, Graham, 46, 95; The Quiet American, 27
Greene, Gen. Wallace: aggressiveness, 173–4, 178, 182, 195; on size of force necessary for protection, 212; and inter-service rivalry, 222; encourages Johnson, 225
Griggs, Bruce, 282
Griggs, Lee, 135
Gruening, Ernest, 191
Guam, 561–3
Guevara, Che, 329
Guilin Long, Col., 320–2
guns, 350–3
Hắc Báo Black Panthers, 412
‘Hackle’ (agent), 617
Hải Châu, 35
Hai Hoàng (i.e. Nguyễn Văn Điều), 137
Hai Thuần, 635
Haig, Lt.Col. Alexander, 334, 496, 499, 502, 516, 555, 557
Haiphong (Hải Phòng), 287, 288, 291
Halberstam, David, 112, 133–6, 140, 142, 144, 145, 198, 218; The Best and the Brightest, 121
Haldeman, H.R., 476, 503, 555, 579
Hall, Pfc. John, 444
Hall, John, 459
Hallocks, Col. Richard, 353
Halyburton, Porter, 300
Hammond, William, 414
Hanchett, Ted, 571
Hanoi: French leave, 79–80; and US bombing programme, 288–9, 292, 561–9, 572; life under US bombing, 312; austerity, 358, 360; regime changes, 377; British consulate and SIS station in, 485–6; casualties from bombing, 572; celebrates peace settlement, 579; see also North Vietnam
‘Hanoi Hannah’ (radio announcer), 364, 424
Haponski, Maj. William, 444
Hardwick, Bill, 344
Hargis, Billy James, 328
Hargraves, Dave, 261
Harkins, Gen. Paul: announces start of ground operations, 113; and McNamara’s first trip to South Vietnam, 125–6; optimism, 134; authorises Vann’s actions, 136; untruths over Ap Bac operation, 140–2, 169; contempt for Buddhists, 145; and coup against Diem, 149–51; differences with Lodge, 179; retires, 180
Harper, Marine Sgt. Ron, 395
Harriman, Averell: negotiates new Geneva Accords (1962) to neutralise Laos, 111; supports coup in South Vietnam, 146; on government of South Vietnam, 275; on Rostow’s hawkishness, 290; appointed to head peace negotiations, 420; negotiates in Paris, 440, 478, 521
Harrington, Capt. Myron, 402, 410, 412, 418–19
Harris, Louis, 418
Harrison, Lt. John, 264, 392, 402–3, 461
Harston, Julian, 486
Harwood, Richard, 337
Hasluck, Paul, 238–9
Hatfield, Mark, 484
Hathcock, Carlos Norman, 264
Hawkridge, Cornelius, 271
Hayden, Tom, 330
Hedren, Tippi, 630
Heinemann, Ed, 294
helicopters: extensive use in Vietnam, 240; heroic actions of crews, 525; see also Huey helicopter
Heller, Joseph: Catch–22, 372
Helms, Pfc. Michael, 434
Helms, Richard, 290
Hepplewaite, CSM, 467
Herr, Michael, 643
Herrick, Capt. John, USN, 186–9
Hersh, Seymour, 448
Hervouet, Capt. Yves, 68
Hickey, Capt. Frank, 264
Hickman, Dan, 242, 471–5
Higgins, Marguerite, 98, 143, 175, 237
Hill 224, 598
Hills battles, 353
Hillyard, Fred, 346
Hilsman, Roger, 120, 145, 146
Hilton, Lt. Judson, 438
Hồ Chí Minh: birth and background, 5–7; OSS team meet, 9; forms government (1945), 10, 15; charisma and leadership, 11–12, 82, 88, 100; takes control of rural areas, 14; visits Paris (July 1946), 15–16; Leclerc denounces, 16; military strategy, 17; receives Chinese support, 23; witnesses attack on Dong Khe, 25; supports Giap, 27, 71; meets Mao and Stalin, 29; and Dienbienphu campaign, 40, 48; US view of as pawn of China and Russia, 72; and Geneva conference, 75; and partition of Vietnam, 76; accepts Geneva Accords, 79; and repression in North Vietnam, 87; reputation, 88–9; opposes further war, 89; rebuffs Diem, 91; simple lifestyle, 99; favours Russia over China, 103; attempts to mediate between China and Russia, 107; decline, 128, 375, 377; accepts delay to reunification, 147; undefeated on battlefield, 148; and death of Diem, 156; retires from active politics, 156; status, 156; plea for moderation, 167; and attack on Maddox, 192; rejects US peace overtures, 309; flies to Beijing, 376; poem broadcast, 379; Nixon threatens in personal letter, 477; death, 479; embalmed, 481; war aims, 639; Western esteem for, 641
Ho Chi Minh trail: established, 103; and Laos, 111; increased use, 179, 288; US urges attack on, 195, 198; North Vietnam Army uses, 202–5; rice stockpiled, 202; US attempts to seal off, 278, 334, 495; hazards, 367–8; bombed, 407; traffic returns after Lam Son operation, 503; US bombing ends, 584; operating efficiency, 590
Hoà Hảo (religious sect), 20–1, 93
Hoàng Minh Thảo, Lt.Gen., 597
Hoàng Xuân Lãm, Gen., 276, 497–8, 500, 524
Hoeffding, Oleg, 325
Hoffman, Capt. Roy, USN, 492
Hohler, Harry, 123
Holcombe, Robert, 329
Holden, William, 630
Hollingsworth, Maj.Gen. James, 543
Holloman, Emmanuel, 261
Holt, Harold, 462
Home, Alec Douglas-Home, Baron, 122
Hòn Gió (island), 185
Hòn Mê (island), 185–6, 188
Hòn Tằm (island), 489
Hood, Capt. Chuck, 249
Hope, Bob, 200, 247, 512
House, Lt.Col. Charles, 255
House 7 (Saigon radio station; ‘Mother Vietnam’), 240
Hovey, Joseph, 378–9, 383
Howard, Michael, 122, 226, 281, 631
Howard, Steve, 396
Hudson, Maj. Don, 455, 646
Hue: imperial palace, 3; USIS library pillaged, 208; character, 274; attacked in Tet offensive, 381, 387–92, 410–13; Ky orders attack on, 409; US retain, 412–13; casualties and civilian deaths, 413; battle reported, 414; vulnerability, 537; final North offensive against, 596
Huey helicopter: practicality in operations, 470–5
Hughes, Harold, 514
Hughes, Ken, 478, 583
Hughes, Richard, 141
Hull, Col. Milton, 426, 428, 430, 434, 436–7, 439–40
Humphrey, Hubert, 94, 212, 331, 441, 444, 607
Hunt, Sgt. Harold, 262–3, 458
Huntley, Chet, 401
Huỳnh Công Thân, 398, 421, 623
Ia Đrăng Valley, 244–6, 336
Ilinykh, Maj., 316
India: British accept independence, 14; antagonised by Le Duan and North Vietnam, 129
Indianapolis News, 134
Indochina: French rule, 2–5; elections, 14
Indochinese Communist Party, 6
International Control Commission, 80
Iron Triangle, 168
Isaev, Maj. Petr, 318–19
Israel: in US–Soviet discussions, 546
Ito, Kanemitsu, 354
Jackson State College, Mississippi, 483
Jacobson, Col. George, 396
Japan: deploys troops in Vietnam, 7; controls Vietnam after World War II, 9; bombed by US in World War II, 324
JASON study (US), 325
Jessel, Georgie, 460
Johnson, Maj. Allen, 568
Johnson, Maj. David, 456, 551
Johnson, Doug, 158
Johnson, Gen. Harold: as army chief, 180; sent to Saigon, 215; and US troop reinforcements, 222; alarm at special forces’ activities, 244; rebukes DePuy, 255–6
Johnson, Capt. Julius, 342
Johnson, Lyndon B.: briefed on Dienbienphu, 60–1; on Diem, 92; visits Vietnam, 112, 120, 277; impressed by Kennedy’s team, 121; and conduct of US policy in Vietnam, 124;
opposes plot against Diem, 151; succeeds Kennedy as president, 154; policy in Vietnam, 155; inherits Vietnam problem, 170–1; Alsop attacks for irresolution, 175; confirmed as president, 176; popular and media support for, 176, 196–8; in election campaign (1964), 179, 194; on South Vietnam’s recovering from assassination of Diem, 183; orders retaliatory attack on North Vietnam bases, 189; eagerness for aggressive action, 190, 226; aims to postpone actions before election, 193; denies intention to send troops to Vietnam, 196; election victory, 196, 198; and George Ball’s dissenting views, 197; indecision over action in Vietnam, 200–1; commits air power to Vietnam, 208, 283–5, 288; and prospect of long war, 211; makes comparison with Churchill, 214; profanity, 215; sends troops to Vietnam, 215, 222; peace offerings to North Vietnam, 219; on Ky’s appointment as prime minister, 221; vacillations and decision over Vietnam, 221–9, 231; determination to proceed in Vietnam, 223; rejects further mobilisation, 223; questions Ball’s pessimism, 225; secures financial appropriation for Vietnam operations, 228; dominates McNamara, 230; changes codename, 254; meets Ky and Thieu in Honolulu, 273; and funding of war, 282; Rostow praises, 287; advances proposals for peace negotiations, 291; limits area of air strikes, 293; caricatured in North Vietnam, 311; attempts humanitarian restraint, 324; domestic criticism of, 327; and anti-war movement, 328; invites Westmoreland on home visit, 355; and Tet offensive, 375, 401; and honouring of Tet truce, 382–3; installs photomural of Khe Sanh, 382; considers using atomic bomb, 406; and Cronkite’s assessment of US failure, 418; announces decision to retire, 419–20, 441; announces cessation of all bombing of North Vietnam, 444; compared unfavourably with Nguyen Van Thieu, 494
Jones, Sgt. Joe, 428
Jones, Richard, 566
Jordan, Elmore, 473
Jorgensen, Tony, 509
journalists: in South Vietnam, 133–6
Juin, Marshal Alphonse Pierre, 52
Junction City, Operation, 355
Kalashnikov, Mikhail, 350
Kattenberg, Paul, 95
Katzenbach, Nicholas, 179, 220, 290
Kellen, Konrad, 281
Kelly, Bob, 115, 388, 412–13
Kennan, George, 28–9, 274
Kennedy, Edward, 328, 478, 554, 572
Kennedy, John F.: visits Saigon, 29; opposes US intervention in Indochina, 61; Eisenhower briefs on Laos, 109; favours opposing communists in Vietnam, 111; sends US personnel to Vietnam, 112, 171; and RAND Corporation, 122; attempts to influence New York Times, 135; and South Vietnam coup against Diem, 146–8, 151; sends McNamara and Taylor to Vietnam, 150; informed of Diem’s death, 153; assassinated, 154, 170; policy on Vietnam, 154–6; legend, 170
Kennedy, Robert: disbelieves military solution to Vietnam problem, 119–20, 329; and coup against Diem, 151; on McNamara, 175, 282; told of malfunctioning rifles, 354; assassinated, 442; unwilling to advocate US withdrawal from Vietnam, 442
Kennedy family: opposes war, 327
Kent State University, Ohio, 483
Kerrey, Lt. Bob, 488–92
Kerry, John, 493
Khê Sanh, 338, 380–3, 391, 405–6, 407–9, 497
Khmer Rouge, 481–2, 597, 612
Khrushchev, Nikita S., 89, 120, 242
Kiều Chinh, see Nguyễn Thị Chinh
Killen, Sgt. James, 456
Kim, Eva, 616
Kim Il-sung, 29
Kim Loan, 131
Kim Thanh, 631–2, 634
Kim Vui, 645
Kimball, Jeffrey, 583
King, Martin Luther, 327, 442
Kinne, Lt. Judd, 250, 340, 354
Kislitsyn, Col. Yuri, 314, 318
Kissinger, Henry: and proposed peace negotiations, 291–2; on US intellectuals’ cynicism, 328; on Nixon’s aims in Vietnam, 446; as adviser to Nixon, 475–6, 515–16; believes in using Russians to achieve peace, 477; lies on Vietnamisation policy, 478; negotiations with North Vietnamese, 478, 494–5, 521–2; and incursion into Cambodia, 483; and conduct of war, 484; badly informed on North Vietnam, 485; on Thieu’s administration, 494, 586; and South Vietnamese operation against Laos, 496; on failure of Lam Son 719 operation, 499, 502; and impending presidential election (1972), 503, 516; and US prisoners in North Vietnam, 503; and use of air power, 512, 514; and Lavelle scandal, 515; secret negotiations, 515; ready to accept ceasefire, 516; and US détente with China, 517; and Nixon’s visit to China, 520; meets Le Duc Tho, 521, 536; responsibility for ending war, 522; meets Brezhnev, 533; on dismissal of Abrams, 544; warns Thieu to recapture ground, 549; exchanges with Nixon tape-recorded, 552–4, 557–8, 583; negotiates settlement, 552–60, 578, 583; duplicity, 558; public appearances, 558; proposes further air attacks on North, 559; characterises Nixon, 583; shares Nobel Peace Prize, 583; urges resistance to continuing North Vietnamese military action, 585; on reduced US financing of South Vietnam, 593; lectures colleagues on foreign policy, 596; preoccupation with Middle East, 597; and North Vietnam’s final offensive against South, 607; on fall of South Vietnam, 627; flies to Hanoi, 687
Klann, Gerhard, 490
Klein, Lt. Henry, USN, 238
Knight, Capt. Richard, 507, 511
Knowland, William, 6
Koltes, Cmdr. Jim, USN, 212–13, 441
Komer, Robert (‘Blowtorch’), 253, 277–8, 335, 442–3
Kontum, 533, 538–9, 599
Korea: war (1950–53), 29–30, 61, 66, 72; partition, 73, 75; air power in, 284
Koster, Maj.Gen. Samuel, 449–50
Kosygin, Alexei, 209, 219, 546
Krock, Arthur, 141, 210
Kroesen, Maj.Gen. Fred, 524
Krohn, Capt. Charles, 391–2
Krulak, Maj.Gen. Victor (‘Brute’), 112
Lã Ngọc Châu, 246
Lacouture, Jean, 364
Lair, Bill, 109–10
Laird, Melvin, 475, 477–8, 484, 495, 513–15, 517
Lam Sơn 719, Operation, 495–502
Lạng Sơn, 27, 321
Lang Vei (Làng Vây), 407
Langguth, Jack, 364
Langlais, Col. Pierre, 41, 44, 50–2, 54, 58–9, 68–9
Langley (base), 584
Laniel, Joseph, 74
Lansdale, Col. Edward, 80, 92–4, 96–7, 112, 124, 154, 276
Laos: communist activity in, 37, 110; character and conditions, 109–10; Eisenhower briefs Kennedy on, 109; independence (1953), 109; as supply route, 111, 450; US forces in, 111; fighting in, 178; Abrams forbidden to enter, 450; actions near, 451–2; South Vietnam operation against (Lam Son 719), 495–501; North Vietnamese soldiers leave, 638
Lashley, L/Cpl. James, 423, 432–3
Lattre de Tassigny, Gen. Jean de, 25, 30, 36
Lau, Johnny, 392
Lavelle, Lt.Gen. Jack, 513–15
Layton, Gilbert, 184
Lê Duẩn: released from imprisonment, 14; character, 23, 102; marriage to Nguyen Thuy Nga, 23–4, 102; travels in South Vietnam, 79; aims for reunification of Vietnam, 90, 108, 147; on persecution of communists in South, 101; appointed North Vietnam’s Party secretary, 102; favours China over Russia, 103; dominance, 107, 156; political aims, 108; on population of Laos, 110; objects to patronising Chinese attitude, 128; policy-making in North Vietnam, 128–9, 167; incorruptibility, 148; considers peace negotiations and US exit, 157; and post-Diem regime in South Vietnam, 157; Mao offers aid to, 166–7; mission to Moscow, 167; and attack on Maddox, 192; visits Beijing, 193; hopes for political coup in South, 205; Kosygin argues against escalation, 209; caution over outlook, 242–3; wishes for big-unit showdown, 252; believes in winnability of Vietnam war, 308; administrative success, 314; requests technicians from China, 320; inaugurates Tet offensive, 375–6, 378, 383; claims Tet victory, 420; peace demands, 441; inhumanity, 454; power strengthened after Ho’s death, 479; and Chinese withdrawal of personnel, 486; persistence, 493; independence of Soviets and Chinese, 494; and Soviet support, 517; plans major offensive, 519; and Nixon’s visit to China, 521; rejects Paris Accord terms, 585–6; maintains offensive against South, 591; accepts Giap’s
directing of final offensive, 593; and final offensive against Saigon, 607–8; death, 638; Western esteem for, 641
Lê Đức Thọ: at Le Duan’s wedding, 23; Le Duan’s close ally, 101; purges undesirables in North, 104; member of pro-Chinese faction that takes over Politburo; mission to Moscow, 167; urges action, 167; and Tet offensive, 375; as COSVN deputy Party secretary, 378; and peace plans, 441; and Chinese withdrawal of personnel, 486; negotiations with Kissinger, 521, 535, 553–4, 558, 560, 578, 583; declines shared Nobel Peace Prize, 583; sets up HQ at Loc Ninh, 613; optimism about final victory, 619; denies imposing communism on South Vietnam, 631; poem on poverty and suffering, 638
Lê Minh Đảo, Brig., 610–11, 633
Le Page, Col. Marcel, 26
Lê Thị Thu Vân, 615
Lê Trọng Tấn, Gen., 606
Lê Văn Hưng, Col., 540
Lê Văn Kim, Gen., 149
Lê Văn Mễ, Maj., 530
Leclerc, Gen. Philippe, 16
Ledoux, Sgt. Jerry, 349
Lee Kuan Yew, 122, 469
Lehrer, Tom, 162
LeMay, Gen. Curtis: aggressiveness, 173–5, 178; on bombing North Vietnam into Stone Age, 283–4; bombing in Japan, 324
Lennin, Wayne, 605
Leroy, Sgt., 55
Leslie, Jacques, 589
Lewis, James, 612
Lewis, Norman, 4, 20, 33, 81
Lind, Michael, 28, 639
Linebacker, Operation, 544–6
Linebacker II, Operation, 560–1, 566–73
Lippmann, Walter, 72, 148, 176, 227
Liu Shaoqi, 156
Liuzhou, China, 75
Livingston, Capt. Jim, 434–7, 439, 526, 608
Lloyd, John Selwyn, 30
Lộc Ninh, 376, 539, 613
Lodge, Henry Cabot: as US ambassador to South Vietnam, 145, 146, 148–51; and murder of Diem, 153; assurances to Minh, 156; Nes advises, 176; replaced, 179, 327; returns to Saigon embassy, 222; disparages Saigon government, 223; refutes Ball, 224; attends folk-music evening, 276; on conduct of war, 419; negotiates in Paris, 521
Logevalle, Fredrik, 15, 100, 148
Lon Nol, Gen., 480–1, 556, 612
Long An, 252, 610
Long Thành, 620
Lopez, Sgt. Joseph, 458
Los Angeles Times, 559
Luận, Maj., 633
Luce, Henry, 28, 94, 145
Lý Tòng Bá, 139, 141, 533, 538–9
Lý Văn Quang, Col., 239, 549, 635
Lý Văn Quý, 633–4
M-1 rifle (US), 351
