THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00472A002300010005-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 6, 2012
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: November 5, 1965
• Content Type: MEMO

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LOA!
5 November 1965
HIGHLIGHTS
US air strikes in North Vietnam have damaged a
bridge on the rail and highway link betWeen Hanoi
and the port of Haiphong. Another strike in the
Haiphong area destroyed a van and possibly a mis-
sile and launcher at a SAM site. There are indica-
tions that the rail line between Hanoi and Lao Cai
may have been restored to limited service. Commu-
nist truck traffic has been observed on Route 23 in
the Laos panhandle for the first time since the
?start of the rainy season last June.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
MACV has provided additional details concerning Op-
eration LONG REACH, the clearing action initiated
by the 1st Brigade/US 1st Cavalry Division (Air-
mobile) on 23 October near the embattled Plei Me
Special Forces camp in Pleiku Province; cumulative
?Viet Cong losses in this phase of the Plei Me en-
gagement stand at 342 killed (158 confirmed by
body count) and 101 captured, as against 143 Ameri-
can casualties (Paras. 1-2). An estimated Viet Cong
company yesterday attacked and overran a company-
strength ARVN Ranger outpost near Ben Tre, the cap-
ital of Kien Hoa Province, inflicting heavy casual-
ties on the garrison's defenders (Para. 3). Ad-
ditional Communist attacks were reported(early to-
day against government positions in the northernmost
provinces of Quang Tri and Thua Thien (Para. 4).
Nine American military personnel were., killed yester-
day when two UH-1D helicopters of the US 1st Cavalry
Division (Airmobile) crashed and burned following a
mid-air collision near An .Khe (Para. 6). Staff
Sergeant Jasper Page, one of four USAF enlisted per-
sonnel captured by the Viet Cong near Vung Tau on
31 October 1965, escaped from his captors on 2 No-
vember, and has since returned to US control (Para.7):
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II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
Premier Ky, in a regular meeting with the press to-
day, reportedly denied that he had any plans for
an early visit to the US or for an imminent re-
shuffle of his cabinet (Para. 1).)
III. Military Developments in North Vietnam:
US aircraft struck an important bridge on the rail
and highway link between Hanoi and the port of
Haiphong for the first time on 5 November. Some
damage was inflicted butboth spans of the structure
remained standing. One aircraft was lost to ground
fire during the attack (Para. 1). A strike on a
SAM site in the Haiphong area inflicted moderate
damage, including destruction of one van and pos-
sible destruction of/one missile and launcher
(Para. 2). One USAF F-105 Thunderchief and one re-
connaissance drone vehicle were downed by missiles
nort4 ofThanh Hoa (Paras. 3-4). The Bai Thuong
airfield, northwest of Than Hoa, was damaged by a
US air strike on 5 November (Para. 5).
IV. Other Communist Military Developments:
Nothing of significance to report.
V. Communist Political Developments: The
Hungarian Communist Party delegation that visited
the Far East last month to push Moscow's position
in the Sino-Soviet dispute received a more cordial
reception in Hanoi than in Pyongyang. according to
the Hungarian deputy premier (Paras. 1-2). The
North Vietnamese have issued an official statement
condemning the US build-up in South Vietnam but it
5 November. 196
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appears routine and contains no hint of a shift in
DRV policy toward the war in the South (Paras. 3-4).
Peking's propaganda hails recent Viet Cong
"victories" in South Vietnam but the People's
Daily editorial on 5 November appears generally de-
fensive (Para. 5).
_VI. Other Major Aspects: Communist truck
traffic has been observed 'on Route 23 in the
Laotian panhandle for the first time since the start
of the rainy season in June (Para. 1).
5 November 1965
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104
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REPRESENTATION IS
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I, THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. MACV has provided additional details con-
cerning Operation LONG REACH, the clearing opera-
tion initiated by the 1st Brigade/US 1st Cavalry
Division ?(Airmobile) on 23 October near the embat-
tled Plei Me Special Forces camp in Pleiku Prov-
ince. Platoon-strength elements of the 1st Bat-
talion/9th Cavalry killed an estimated 93 Viet
Cong in two ambushes during the night of 3-4 No-
vember, while taking friendly casualties of four
killed and 27 wounded.)
In a day-long engdge-
ment on 4 Novem er with a Viet Cong company 12
miles west of Pleiku town, elements of the 2nd
Battalion/8th Cavalry killed an estimated 98
guerrillas (13 confirmed by body count) and cap-
tured 21 weapons. American losses totaled 11
killed and 19 wounded. In addition, the bodies
of 36 Viet Cong, believed killed in the initial
20 October enemy assault on Plei Me, were dis-
covered by units of the 2nd Battalion/8th Cavalry.
2. Operation LONG REACH has thus far re-
sulted in cumulative Viet Cong losses of 342 killed
(158 confirmed by body count), 101 captured, and
63 weapons seized. Twenty-seven members of the
1st Brigade/US 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)
have been killed and 116 wounded to date.
3. An estimated Viet Cong company yester-
day attacked and overran an outpost manned by
an ARVN Ranger company near Ben Tre (True
Giang), the capital of Kien Hoa Province, 45
miles southwest of Saigon. Sixteen government
defenders were killed, 30 wounded, nine MIA/
captured, and 33 weapons seized; enemy losses
were unknown. An ARVN reaction force has been
dispatched to the area.
5 November 1965
I - 1
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4. Additional Viet Cong attacks were reported
early today against government troops guarding a
bridge along National Route 1, 18 miles southeast
of Hue, the capital ?of Thua Thien Province, and
against an ARVN field position five miles south of
Quang Tri. Friendly casualties in both engage-
ments were described as "light."
5. On 3 November, in Vinh Long Province 12
miles east-northeast of Can Tho, two platoons of
Regional and Popular Forces soldiers engaged an es-
timated Viet Cong platoon, killing 15 guerrillas and
capturing six weapons.
6. Two UH-1D helicopters of the US 1st Cavalry
Division (Airmobile) crashed and burned following
a mid-air collision yesterday two miles west of
An Khe, in central coastal Binh Dinh Province. All
nine Americans aboard the two aircraft were killed.
The helicopters were reportedly returning to the di-
vision's base camp at An Khe from a close air sup-
port mission in the embattled Plei Me area, 50 miles
to the southwest, when the incident occurred.
7. Staff Sergeant Jasper Page, one of four
USAF enlisted personnel captured by the Viet Cong
near Vung Tau on 31 October 1965, escaped from his
captors on 2 November, and has since returned to
US control. The quartet was captured while en'
route by automobile from Vung Tau to Saigon Along
National Route 15. .Page reportedly escaped during
the course of a forced march to a Viet Cong prison
camp "somewhere to the north."
5 November 1965
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II. POLITICAL SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Premier Ky, in one of his regular weekly
breakfasts with the press, stated today that he
planned no early visit to the US, but might send a
"citizens' committee" to help counteract the demon-
strations of US students against involvement in
Vietnam. Ky denied rumors that he planned an immi-
nent reshuffle of his cabinet, but said changes
might be necessary in the future to cope with "new
developments." He also disclosed that a joint com-
mittee had been set up to study the problem of cer-
tain goods and items which are in short supply or
have undergone price rises because of the US buildup.
5 November 1.965
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III. MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH VIETNAM
1. US aircraft struck the Hai Duong rail and
highway bridge between Hanoi and Haiphong for the
first time on 5 November. Pilots report light dam-
age to the deck of the eastern span but both spans
were still standing. Smoke precluded further dam-
age assessments. One US aircraft was lost to enemy
ground fire during the attack. The pilot bailed
out but no rescue operations were attempted be-
cause he landed in a densely populated and heavily
defended area.
2. Moderate-damage was inflicted on a SAM site
in the Haiphong area (probably site 21) by support-
ing fighters. Pilots reported good hits in the re-
vetment areas with500- and 1,000-pOund bombs. At
least one secondary explosion was noted and one van
was destroyed. One missile and its launcher are
also believed to have been destroyed.
3. In other air action one USAF F-105 Thunder-
chief was downed by a SAM north of Thanh Hoa. Three
missiles were launched at a flight of fOur aircraft
and one of these exploded approximately 50 feet be-
hind the flight leader who went down. No chute was
observed and the plane was last seen going down
through the clouds.
4. A US reconnaissance drone was also downed
by a SAM in the same general area. 2
/ To date
5 drones and seven US aircraft have been lost to
SAMs over North Vietnam,
5. Bai Thuong airfield northwest of Thanh Hoa
was attacked by US aircraft on 5 November and the
runway was reportedly cratered in twenty places.
This airfield has been under construction for the
last few months. This was the second strike against
this target.
5 November 1965
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LOA]
7. At least six bridges on the Lao Cal Rail-
road were destroyed by bombing attacks. Recent
photography reveals that these have been replaced
by wooden structures which, although flimsy, are ap-
parently capable of supporting limited traffic. This
railroad serves the northeastern part of North Viet-
nam and has been used to ship apatite ore to port
for export as well as for China-to-China traffic
routed through North Vietnam.
5 November 1965
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IV. OTHER MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
1. There is nothing of significance to report.
5 November 1965
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V. OTHER COMMUNIST DEVELOPMENTS
1, Hungarian Deputy Premier Jano Fock in a
television interview on 4 November confirmed
earlier indications that one of the main pur-
poses of the visit by a Hungarian Communist
Party delegation to the Far East in October was
to present :its pro-Soviet views on the Sino-So-
viet dispute to Hanoi and Pyongyang. Fock made
some unusually frank comments on North Vietnamese
and North Korean attitudes toward the dispute
and indicated that he had a much better recep-
tion in Hanoi than he did in Pyongyang.
2. He described the Vietnamese reception
as "exceptionally cordial" whereas his talks
with North Korean leaders only "gradually be-
came more cordial" as the visit progressed. He
failed, however, to identify any specific is-
sues in the dispute on which there were signifi-
cant differences between North Vietnamese and
North Korean views. Fock indicated that the Hun-
garians would increase their political support
for Vietnam, but was noncommittal about the pros-
pects for any increase in economic or defense as-
sistance to the DRV.
3. Hanoi issued an official Foreign- Ministry
statement-today condemning the buildup of US com-
bat. forces in South Vietnam, and the "feverish"
American intensification of the fighting there.
This is the first official DRY statement on the
US buildup in over three months'. The statement
is routine in the wording of its charges, how.-
ever, and contains no hint of a shift in DRY
policy toward the war in the South. Hanoi's terms
for an end to the fighting are routinely restated,
and the. question of timing Was not raised in the
discussion of the requirement for a withdrawal of
US forces.
- 5 November 1965
V- l
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-
SOUTHEASTERN LAOS
12
Ban
Phao
Ban Kayak
Mu Gia
Pass 101
NORTH.
VIETNAM
an Som Dong Ho
Peng ?.
Quang Khe
107
Muorig
Phalane
Ban Phone.?
Mouaiig /42
Trucks observed
4 Nov.
?..) Ban
*.TcheponeVen S ang
? ? r
NEW Bo Ho Su
TRAIL
.o
?
NO PHOTO
COVERAGE
uong \en
'Do
Ban
Nab
105
'9 103
1031
If
term e
98an
Don
Muong Phine
A
Ban Houei Mun
'b
?
Ban
,Nalan
Khong
Sedone
K. hong
49552 5/8
?
KSE
Muong Nang
0
Ban Bun
23/16
3
ampassak
1..1
921
`c.41 Sa Moi
922
?
s Pe ching
Nang Kon,
Road built since 1964
? ? ? Road under construction, 1965
Road existing, 1964
? Track or trail existing, 1964
101
Approximate area of Communist control
Vinh Linh
DEMARCATION LINE
Dong Ha
Quang Tri
R. Pahvil.
??'
? HUE r
NBan Bac,
Banthraakveau Nua
Sa
Ban
T aten
Pak Song
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Phon
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923
Ban Bouang ??
Nam
S.?
165
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0
Statute Miles
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r?
Phu Loc
Ben
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0.1
DA NAN
Dai Lo
uong
Duc
Ro
lA
An Hoa
Que Sen
Hiep Du?
e
Dak Nhe
Lane
SOUTH
IETNAM
Dak Sut
?
ak To
KONTUM
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4. The statement may represent an effort to mark
time on the part of the DRV. There have been uncon-
firmed rumors that top-level DRV leaders were visit-
ing An Moscow and Peking during the past month, and
the pattern of appearances by the North Vietnamese
politburo has suggested that high-level meetings may
have been under way in the DRV sometime during the
same period. It is probable that decisions on future
strategy in the war would have been taken at any
such meetings and as a result of conversations with
Moscow and Peking. Until these decisions were im-
plemented, it is likely that the'? DRV -public position
would be kept on dead center.
5. After a period of relative silence regard-
ing specific "victories" by which the Viet Cong were
allegedly winning the Vietnam war, the People's Daily
editorial on 5 November asserted that the "magnifi-
cent" Viet Cong successes at Plei Me, Chu Lai, and
Da Nang in late October had proved the validity of
the rules of "people's war" and "shattered" US claims
that the situation in Vietnam had been stabilized.
The editorial concluded with a new formulation of the Chi-
nese promise to back the DRY, implying that Peking
would not provoke a war with the US, but would re-
spond to a US attack. The editorial asserted that
if "US imperialism is willing to offer itself, the
people of Vietnam and the nations and peoples who
support them will strike and strike hard."
Comment: The over-all thrust of this editorial
appears defensive and it may. reflect Chinese concern
over the mounting effects of the US buildup in South
Vietnam.
5 November 1965
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VI. OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS
1. Communist truck traffic has been observed
on Route 23 in the Laotian panhandle for the first
time since the onset of the rainy season in June.
One truck was spotted moving south on 4 November
by a roadwatch team located on the northern section
of Route 23. Farther south on the same day, 13
trucks moved past a team located some 30 miles
north of Ban Phone Mouang. Last year, Route 23
did not open up to truck traffic until late Decem-
ber.
_5 November 1965
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