by Max Hastings
Spencer, Sgt.Maj. Jimmie, 231, 236, 248, 646
Spilberg,Capt. Paul, 506–10
Spock, Benjamin, 327
Stalin, Josef: Ho admires, 12; meets Ho, 29; death, 34
Station 85, Pha Thi mountain, Laos, 293, 295
Stennis, John, 401, 578
Stennis sub-committee (US Senate), 291–2
Stephens, Lt. Mel, 470, 493
Stevens, Sgt. Jim, 423
Stilwell, Dick, 182
Stockdale, Cmdr. James, 324
Stoner, Eugene, 351
Strangle, Operation (Korea), 284
Strategic Air Command (US), 512, 564, 572
Strauss, William, 331
Students for a Democratic Society, 331
Suez crisis (1956), 66
suicide bombers, 383
Sullivan, George, 351
Sullivan, Capt. Gordon, 126–7, 144, 161, 232
Sully, François, 133, 135
Sutherland, Lt.Gen. ‘Jock’, 497–9
Sutton, Sgt. Mike, 232, 256, 261, 279, 343, 371
Swain, Jon, 481–2
Sweden: US draft refusees in, 332
Syracuse University Research Corporation, 163
Tạ Vinh, 273
Tâm, Corporal, 218
Tân Cảnh, 532–3, 538
Tân Sơn Nhứt (Saigon airbase), 186, 280, 383, 399–400, 584, 613, 615, 619–21, 623
Tân Thời, 137
Tate, Lt.Col. Clyde, 510
Tây Ninh province, 443, 625
‘Tây Ninh source’, 555, 609, 617
Taylor, Gen. Maxwell: on dangers in Vietnam, 112; Colby disagrees with, 116; favours increasing US troop numbers in South Vietnam, 117; McNamara visits Vietnam with, 121, 150, 176; believes Harkins’ accounts, 141; condemns media reports on Vietnam, 145; and coup against Diem, 146, 149; and Diem’s death, 153; and US military options, 173–4; rebukes Khan, 177; LeMay and Greene accuse of caution, 178; replaces Lodge as ambassador in Saigon, 179–81; at Honolulu strategy summit, 181; on US ignorance of communist leadership, 192; Nguyen Khan discusses with, 194; urges US going into North, 195; declines Johnson’s offer of ground troops, 198; conflict with South Vietnam generals, 199; and Vietcong terrorist attacks in Saigon, 200; and RAND report on Vietcong, 207; favours bombing North, 208; on arrival of Marines in Vietnam, 212–13, 215; opposes US assuming fighting responsibility, 215; recalled, 222; rivalry with Marine Corps, 222; opposes US reinforcements for Vietnam, 227; military aims, 273–4; on US bombing policy against North Vietnam, 284; at president’s briefings, 419; favours continuing fighting, 419
Taylor, Lt. Vic, 436
Templer, Lt.Gen. Sir Gerald, 24
Tenney, Capt. Joe, 344, 349
Tết offensive: genesis, 336, 375–7; aims, 378; US ignorance of, 378–9; conduct, 383–401, 407, 409–10; NVA preparations for, 390–1; US prevails in, 414–16, 420, 454; North’s morale falls after battle, 415; casualties, 416; destructive effects, 416–17; communists claim as political victory, 420; third wave planned, 443
Tết truce, 381
Thailand: US air bases in, 294; troops in Vietnam, 461
Thanh Giang, 366
Thanh Hải, 130
Thanh Hoá railway bridge, 307
Thạnh Phong, 489–92
Thích Quảng Đức, 144
Thích Trí Quang, 143, 632
Thiện Lê, Gen., 635
Thompson, Maj. Bob, 412
Thompson, W/O Hugh, 449
Thompson, Sir Robert, 123–4
Thompson, Wayne, 324
Thoms, Cpl. Bob, 412
Thomson, James, 211
Thorne, Christopher, 223
Thorne, Lt. Landen, 342, 451–2, 457, 479
Time magazine, 142, 145
Times, The, 16, 153–5, 219, 572
Tompkins, Maj.Gen. Rathvon McClure, 439–40
Tonkin (northern Vietnam), 2, 7
Tonkin Gulf Incident (and Resolution), 189–93, 417, 497
Total Victory (history of Vietnam war), 639
Tozer, Lt. Eliot, 325
Trail Dust, Operation, 267
Trần Bạch Đằng, 384, 386–7, 393, 401–2, 405, 420, 481
Trần Độ, Gen.: and transport to Dienbienphu, 43; and Tet offensive, 387, 415
Trần Hội: and family differences, 17; moves to Saigon, 83; on death of Diem, 153; as pilot, 239; on US generosity, 361; family escapes abroad, 616
Trần Hữu Thanh, 617
Trần Kim Tuyến, 97
Trần Ngọc Huế, Col., 389, 497, 500
Trần Quốc Hoàn, 104
Trần Quý Hải, Senior Col., 186, 192
Trần Tân, 398, 621–2
Trần Thiện Khiêm, Gen., 149, 171, 194, 618
Trần Trọng Trung, Col., 70
Trần Văn Đệ, 399, 543
Trần Văn Đôn, Gen., 149–50
Trần Văn Hương, 618
Trần Văn Trà, Gen., 378, 510–11, 597
Trenet, Charles, 18
Trullinger, James, 100
Truman, Harry S., 15, 28, 30, 61, 147, 419
Trump, Donald, 330–1
Trường Chin, 40
Truong Huy San (pen name Huy Đức): The Winning Side, 650
Truong Mealy, 100, 132
Trương Như Tảng: meets Ho in Paris, 15; on land-owning peasants, 87; studies, 96; on lack of leadership in South Vietnam, 208; under B-52 attacks, 269–70; imprisoned as secret NLF cadre, 358–9; contracts fever, 367; released from prison, 369; and incursion into Cambodia, 483; derided for bourgeois background, 486; on US view of Thieu, 617; on post-war treatment of South, 628–9; life under communists, 635–6; on superior communist appeal, 642
Tư Khuê, 137
Tua Hai, 140
Tuấn Anh, 359
Tucker, William, 491
Turkestan (Russian ship), 291
Turley, Lt.Col. Gerry, 353–4, 523–4, 526–8, 586
Turner, Katie, 570
Turner, Nick, 140
Turpin, Lt. Frédéric, 51
Tuy Hòa, 608
Tyler, ‘Bojo’, 459
Tyrell, Cpl. Richard, 430–1
U Thant, 193
U-Tapao, Thailand, 562
United States Air Force (USAF): aircrew in VNAF cockpits, 134; ‘collateral damage’, 169, 242, 279, 324; airstrikes after Tonkin Gulf Incident, 190–4, 197; special forces killed in Vietcong attack, 209; airstrikes on North, 210; Rolling Thunder II, 215, 283–92, 298–308, 314, 324–6; ‘Arc Light’ sorties, 220; bombing raids in South, 220, 281, 285; intensity of air bombardment, 279, 281; and Gouré’s RAND study, 279–81; Operation Strangle in Korea, 284; aircraft losses, 286–7, 292–3, 308, 571, 573; air-to-air missiles, 289, 298, 299, 305; fires on Russian ship in Haiphong harbour, 291; aircraft, 294–5, 301; bases in Thailand, 294, 295, 301, 303–5; air war personal experiences and tactics, 297–306, 561–71; airmen captured and imprisoned, 300, 302; black servicemen, 300–3; rescue feats, 305–7; Basic Doctrine Manual, 308; jamming pods captured by North Vietnam, 317; inaccuracy of bombing, 324; secret B-52 bombings in Cambodia/Laos, 476, 484, 512; inability to block Ho Chi Minh Trail, 484, 495; Lavelle Scandal, 513–15; Rules of Engagement (RoE), 513–15; Linebacker, 544–7; Linebacker II, 560–73; crew desertions during Linebacker II, 571; evacuations from Saigon, 613, 615–16, 618, 622
MAJOR UNITS: Seventh Air Force, 281, 287–8, 305, 495, 513–15, 573; 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, 286
United States of America: post-world war interest in Indochina, 9; supports French, 14–15, 28–30; and threat of communism, 28, 60–2; proposes bombarding China, 46; proposes pro-French intervention in Indochina, 57–8, 60, 62–6, 74; at Geneva conference (1954), 72; declines to sign 1954 Geneva agreement, 78; finances South Vietnam, 92, 95, 97, 112; reform demands on Diem, 107–8; questions increasing troop numbers in Vietnam, 117–18; favours bombing rather than ground troops, 127; supports anti-Diem coup, 146–7, 153–4; and military options in South Vietnam, 172–9; election campaign (1964), 17
9, 184, 194, 196; commits ground troops, 182; covert operations in North Vietnam, 184–5; Resolution authorising involvement in SE Asia, 191, 193; popular view of impending action in Vietnam, 197–8; divisions over war, 211–12, 227, 428, 441; anti-war protesters, 215, 234, 327–8, 332–3, 336, 451, 479, 483; policies and proposals on Vietnam, 278–80; cost of Vietnam war, 282, 644; peace overtures rejected, 309; media report Tet campaign, 401, 404–5; media reports on war, 454; reduces resources in Vietnam, 479; popular opposition to incursions into Cambodia, 482; political opposition to war, 484–5; inadequate intelligence on North Vietnam, 485; prisoners in communist hands, 493, 503, 574–6; presidential elections (1968), 441; (1972), 503; withdrawal from Vietnam, 517–18; desire for final settlement, 559; aircrew rebel, 571–2; prisoners’ culture shock on return, 580; reduces funding to South Vietnam, 591, 593; reaction to North Vietnamese 1975 general offensive, 596; denies support to South Vietnam in final campaign, 602; and South Vietnam’s collapse before North’s advance, 606–7; evacuates refugees from South Vietnam, 613; South Vietnamese refugees in, 630; Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act (1975), 638; restores diplomatic relations with Vietnam (1995), 638; effect of involvement in war, 640–5; inability to share with Vietnamese, 643–4
United States Army: ‘fragging’, 63, 457–60, 468, 506; culture clashes with ARVN personnel, 119; soldiers’ attitudes to Vietcong, 130; racism in, 136; soldiers’ attitudes to ARVN soldiers, 159–60, 213–14, 216, 371–2; troops supplant ARVN at forefront of war, 214–15, 334; infantry equipment, 232; troops’ behaviour, 232–4, 237–8, 258–60, 263; early military engagements, 234–6; village burnings, 236–7, 260–1, 643; Ia Drang Valley battles, 244–7, 336, 352; artillerymen, 249; length of tours, 249; experience of fighting in Vietnam, 249–69; black servicemen, 250, 262–3, 329, 457–60; Operation Whitewing, 254–5; number of troops in Vietnam, 282, 376; drug abuse among troops, 329, 348, 454–9, 505; draftees and draft-avoiders, 330–3; desertions from, 331, 332, 457; chaotic allied chain of command, 336–7; soldiers’ fieldcraft and experiences in action, 338–50; equipment carried by soldiers, 339; friendly fire, 343–4; and poor fire discipline, 344; and M-16 (AR-15) rifle, 351–4, 373; losses at Hue, 412; atrocities committed by, 448–50, 643–4; Hamburger Hill, 451, 478; collapse of discipline, 454, 456–60, 505–12; racial tensions among troops, 454, 457–60, 505; incursions into Cambodia, 480, 482–3; long-term impact of war, 644–5; disillusionment of veterans, 646
BATTALIONS: 1/7th Cavalry, 245, 352; 2/7th Cavalry, 246; 1/9th Cavalry, 262; 2/27th Infantry, 262–3; 2/18th Infantry, 268–9; 1/26th Infantry, 334; 2/12th Cavalry, 391–2; 716th MP battalion, 395; 3/5th Cavalry, 399; 1/20th Infantry, 448, 449; 4/3rd Infantry, 449; 4/21st Infantry, 484; 1/46th Infantry, 505–11
BRIGADES: 173rd Airborne, 212, 252, 518
CORPS: II Field Force, 383, 399–400; XXIV, 497
DIVISIONS: 23rd Americal, xxi, 448–50, 505–11; 1st Cavalry, 218, 245–7, 250, 254–5, 347, 352, 355, 361, 391–2, 399, 405; 82nd Airborne, 228; 1st Infantry, 255–6, 497; 25th, 262–3, 334, 487, 492–3; 101st Airborne, 265, 335, 348, 451, 478; 9th, 335, 443, 447, 448, 474–5; 502nd Airborne, 396
REGIMENTS: 7th Cavalry, 245–7, 352, 399; 9th Cavalry, 262; 27th Infantry, 262–3; 18th Infantry, 268–9; 26th Infantry, 334; 12th Cavalry, 391–2; 5th Cavalry, 399; 11th Armored Cavalry, 422; 20th Infantry, 448, 449; 3rd Infantry, 449; 21st Infantry, 484; 46th Infantry, 505–11
United States Army Air Force (USAAF), 10, 324
United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets), 112, 250; A Teams, 119, 163–4, 251, 257–8; Vietcong attack on at Pleiku, 209–10; Vietcong/NVA raids on camps, 244, 245, 255, 257–8, 407; operations ineffective, 244–5
United States Marine Corps: and intelligence community, 116; Danang mission, 212–13; two battalions sent to Vietnam, 215; in Dominican Republic, 228; Operation Starlite, 235–6; casualties, 236, 250, 412, 423, 442; village burnings and killings, 236–7, 260–1; acts of brutality, 237–8; in Quang Tri province, 253; black servicemen, 258–9, 261, 447, 456–60; ‘friendly’ fire, 259–60; atrocities committed by, 260; desertions from, 271, 458; morale, 293, 424, 645; Hills battles, 353–4; and M-16 (AR-15) rifle, 353–4; at Khe Sanh, 380–2, 407–8; at Hue, 390–1, 409–12, 414, 418; defence of Saigon embassy during Tet, 394–6; attitude towards ARVN, 409; battle at Daido, 423, 426–40; disaffection in, 505; helicopter crews, 525; amphibious brigade, 608–10; and Saigon embassy compound, 621, 622; long-term impact of war on, 644–5
REGIMENTS: 9th, 212, 250; 3rd, 235–6, 237–8, 353–4, 439; 7th, 246; 1st, 390–1, 429; 5th, 402, 410–12, 418–19; 4th, 451–2
BATTALIONS: 3/9th, 212; 3/3rd, 235–6, 237–8; 1/3rd, 236; 2/7th, 246; 1/9th, 250; 2/3rd, 353–4; 1/5th, 402, 410–12, 418–19; 2/4th, 423–40; 4th, 423–40; 1/4th, 451–2
United States Navy: Cuban blockade, 125; C-in-C Pacific, 175, 180, 215, 228, 287, 291, 496; Tonkin Gulf Incident, 185–92, 193–4; Operation Market Time, 219; and Rolling Thunder II, 284–90, 292–3, 295–300, 305–8; aircraft, 294–5, 297; ‘Yankee Station’ in Tonkin Gulf, 295–7, 578; air combat missions, 295–300; Top Gun course at Miramar, 299; air-to-air missiles, 303; rescue crews, 306–7; elite SEAL Teams, 488–92; Thanh Phong episode, 489–92; during 1972 fighting, 544; humanitarian assistance to refugees, 611–12; Seventh Fleet, 621, 622
VESSELS: Boxer (carrier), 61; Essex (carrier), 61, 295; Maddox (destroyer), 185–92; Constellation (carrier), 187, 190; Ticonderoga (carrier), 187, 190, 305; Turner Joy (destroyer), 187–9; Henrico, 212–13; Enterprise (carrier), 295; Forrestal (carrier), 295, 296; Independence (carrier), 295; Kittyhawk (carrier), 295, 305; Oriskany (carrier), 296; Hancock (carrier), 299; Pueblo (electronic surveillance ship), 380; Iwo Jima (assault ship), 425, 428–9; Hornet (carrier), 451; Midway (carrier), 621
United Women’s Troupe (performers), 4
Urban, L/Cpl. Doug, 429
Uren, Tom, 572
US News and World Report, 282
USAID, 270
Vampatella, Lt. Phil, 299
Văn Ký: background, 8; life under Vietminh, 35–6; on Vietminh victory at Dienbienphu, 69; ballads, 168; on US bombing, 309
Văn Tiến Dũng, Gen., 187, 376, 523, 597, 599, 613, 618–19
Vance, Cyrus, 290, 351
Vang Pao, 110
Vanguard Youth movement, 13
Vann, Lt.Col. John Paul: as adviser in Vietnam, 127; Ap Bac engagement, 136–42, 169; briefs journalists, 141; influence on war, 141; character and qualities, 160–1; Ramsey works with, 160–1, 357; loves life in Vietnam, 162; on inadequacy of battlefield success, 181; writes report criticising pacification methods, 237; on obsession with body-counts, 335; on progress of war, 503; change to aggressiveness, 529–30; in defence of Central Highlands, 529, 533, 538–9; killed, 539; on Vietnamese dislike of communist government, 587; on US involvement in war, 640
Vanuxem, Col. Paul, 37
Vargas, Capt. Jay, 425, 430–1, 433–5, 438
Verdun, 56
Versace, Capt. Humbert, 575
Viên, Sgt. (Vietnamese trumpeter), 1–2
Vientiane, Laos, 110
Viet Thanh Nguyen (Vietnamese name Nguyễn Thanh Việt), 637
Vietcong: name of, 100; attacks in south, 105, 108, 126, 131, 167; COSVN orders uprisings, 106–7; supplies and munitions, 130, 132, 137, 167, 168, 235, 242; indoctrination sessions, 130–1; brutality of, 131, 161, 205–7, 256, 403, 404, 413–14; defectors from, 131, 169, 335, 358, 377, 443, 489; Ap Bac victory (January 1963), 136–42; main force units, 137, 167, 168; conscription system, 167; attacks on civilian vehicles, 168; sappers, 168, 236, 383, 394; logistical and travel system, 168–9; Matthias on, 176; casualties, 195, 242–3, 407–9, 412; B-57 flightline attack, 196; December 1964 attacks, 198–200; early 1965 surge in terrorism, 205–6; RAND report on, 207, 223, 278; Pleiku raid, 209–10; early American clashes, 235–6; austerity drive, 240; shooting at helicopters, 240; fortitude on battlefield, 240–1; Giong Dinh attack, 241; raids on special forces camps, 244, 245,
255, 257–8; tensions with Vietcong, 252; capture of Doug Ramsey, 254; booby traps and mines, 261–6, 333, 341, 343, 456, 465, 468; ‘Hate America Month’, 276; battles 1967–68, 334–6, 361–2; tunnel systems, 343, 369, 467–8, 620; ammunition shortages, 344, 398–9; respect for property of others, 360–1; soldiers’ everyday lives, 362–70; attacks in advance of Tet offensive, 376–7; impact of Tet on, 415–16; eclipsed by NVA after TET, 422, 453–4; Phoenix programme against, 487–8, 492, 493; failure to recover from Tet, 590; see also National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (NLF)
BATTALIONS: 514th, 136–41, 169, 243, 335–6; 261st, 137–41, 142, 243; C-10, 394–6; D445 mobile, 462
‘Vietcong Motivation and Morale’ study (RAND Corporation), 207, 279
Vietminh: formation of (May 1945), 9; guerrilla warfare, 14, 17, 19–20, 57; Giap’s regular forces in north, 17, 22, 25; and Japanese deserters, 17; Chinese military/political aid, 23, 24, 37, 42, 71; northern ‘liberated zones’, 23, 25–7, 35–7, 72–3; equipment shortages, 25; Dong Khe falls to, 25–6; Giap’s soldiers, 33; brutality of, 34; strategy of grignotage, 36–7; Nghia Lo battles, 37; Dienbienphu deployment, 42–8; night commando attacks on airfields, 44–5; Dienbienphu assaults, 48–56, 58–60, 62–4, 68–71; Katyusha multiple rocket-launchers, 68; exodus of troops from South (1954), 89–90
DIVISIONS: 312th, 48–50, 54; 308th, 51–2
Vietnam: area, 2; under Chinese rule, 2; under French rule, 2–5; ethnic groups, 3; land ownership, 4; revolts (1930s–40s), 6–7; famine (1944), 7–8; influenced by Ho, 7; Japan takes control after world war, 9; communism in, 12, 229; terror attacks against French, 19; rural life and activities, 31–6; killings and punishments, 33–4, 256; partition, 73–9, 90; US troops’ view of, 118–19, 130, 232, 236–7, 259; US troops arrive in, 231–2; booby traps, 261; heat and hostile environment, 321–2; and body-count, 334–5; fieldcraft and conditions, 338–40; everyday lfe during war, 357; US air dominance in, 512; reunification, 648; present condition, 649; consequences of war, 650; see also North Vietnam; South Vietnam
Vietnamese Liberation Army Propaganda Unit, 9
Vietnamese people: stoicism, 165; Americans’ opinion of, 181
Vietnamisation: as US policy, 477–8, 484, 493–5, 497, 519; threatened by Le Duan’s major offensive, 519–20; Edward Kennedy attacks, 554
