(UNTITLED)
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP80R01720R000600060034-9
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
K
Document Page Count:
11
Document Creation Date:
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date:
May 24, 2004
Sequence Number:
34
Case Number:
Publication Date:
April 9, 1970
Content Type:
MEMO
File:
Attachment | Size |
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Body:
`VIETNAMESE AFFAIRS STAFF
oved FqD MbfQj68R A& QFjAjjL?R 00600
DATE: 9Apr 70
Per our various conversations, I have
redone nomination and
proposed citation. I hope this meets your
needs, but will be pleased to revise it yet
again if required. He deserves this
decoration and I want to do all I can to see
that he gets it.
George A. Carver, Jr.
Special Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs
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PROPOSED CITATION
FOR AWARD OF
THE LEGION OF MERIT
IMILITARY INTELLIGENCE
WHO DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS
ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS AN INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH AND
OPERATIONS OFFICER DURING THE PERIOD JANUARY 1966 TO AUGUST 1968.
DURING THIS PERIOD HIS PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE POSSIBLE
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EFFICIENCY AND QUALITY OF THE
U. S. GOVERNMENT'S INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS, OF VIETNAM DEVELOPMENTS.
HIS CONTRIBUTIONS WERE ALSO OF DIRECT BENEFIT IN IMPROVING THE
CONDUCT OF SIGNIFICANT INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION AND/OR ACTION
OPERATIONS AND IN FOSTERING EFFECTIVE LIAISON BETWEEN MILITARY
AND CIVILIAN COMPONENTS OF THE U. S. GOVERNMENT WITH VIETNAM
INTELLIGENCE RESPONSIBILITIES. HE ALSO PROVIDED INVALUABLE
ASSISTANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNIQUES OR DEVICES OF PROVEN
UTILITY IN COUNTERINSURGENCY OPERATIONS. DURING THIS ASSIGNMENT
HE WAS GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DEVISING, DEVELOPING AND
SUPERVISING A FACILITY, FOR WHICH THERE WERE NO PROTOTYPES OR
PRECEDENTS ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, THAT
COULD SUPPORT THE OPERATIONAL AND ANALYTICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Approved For Release 2004/07 MR, P80R01720R000600060034-9
? Approved For Reba 2004/07/Q 1(' QP80RO1720ROOQR00060034-9
IN THE VIETNAM AREA AND PROVIDE CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR THE
WHITE HOUSE STAFF AND OTHER SENIOR UNITED STATES CIVILIAN AND
MILITARY OFFICIALS. FROM THE BASIC CONSTRUCTION TO THE
COMPLETION OF THE CENTER, HE SUPERVISED AND HELPED DESIGN ALL
ASPECTS, TO INCLUDE THE FINAL EMPLACEMENT OF ELECTRONIC, GRAPHIC,
CARTOGRAPHIC AND OTHER DISPLAY EQUIPMENT. UNDER HIS SUPERVISION
THE CENTER HAS PROVED TO BE OF INESTIMABLE VALUE TO THE SENIOR
LEVELS OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IN MAKING AVAILABLE A
FACILITY THAT PRODUCED ON THE SHORTEST NOTICE A GRAPHIC,
FACTUAL, ALL-SOURCE PRESENTATIONOF FREE WORLD AND ENEMY
ACTIVITIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. HE EFFICIENTLY ANDSKILLFULLY
INTERFACED AND MESHED THE WORK OF THIS CENTER WITH THE NATIONAL
MILITARY COMMAND CENTER, THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY, THE
STATE DEPARTMENT, AND THE WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM TO SUPPORT
THE TOTAL UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT VIETNAM EFFORT. THE
CENTER MAJOR BLASCAK DESIGNED HAS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE
INVALUABLE SUPPORT TO THIS TOTAL EFFORT SINCE
DEPARTURE AND THE OPERATING PROCEDURES HE DEVELOPED HAVE
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PROVED SUFFICIENTLY FARSIGHTED AND FLEXIBLE TO MEET EFFECTIVELY
ALL OF THE TESTS AND REQUIREMENTS LEVIED UPON THEM.
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MATURE JUDGMENT, DEDICATION AND DEVOTION TO DUTY WON
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FOR HIM THE RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE OF ALL WITH WHOM HE WAS
ASSOCIATED. HIS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS WERE IN KEEPING WITH
THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND REFLECT
GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND THE MILITARY SERVICE.
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SECRET
Approved For Ref e 2004 PA.-RDP80R01 720R00060034-9
Military Intelligence,
United States Army, distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious
achievement during the period January 1966 to August 1968, while
serving as Intelligence Research Officer, Vietnamese Affairs Staff,
achievements and contributions covered a wide spectrum of functional
and substantive areas. Drawing on his wealth of personal experience in
various types of military responsibilities in Vietnam, he was able to
make a continuing series of valuable suggestions for improving the
conduct of certain activities for which the CIA was then responsible in
Vietnam and in Laos. He quickly became thoroughly familiar with
all aspects of Agency procedure and methodology and through his
detailed knowledge of the problems and outlook of both the Agency and
the military services, particularly the US Army, throughout this
assignment, ade a continuing series of effective,
valuable contributions to working level liaison between Agency officers
and their colleagues in the military services.
Office of the Director of Central Intelligence.
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also played a direct and essential role in the
development of several techniques and devices that have more than
proved their worth in counterinsurgency operations conducted by the
Agency in the Indochina area and have potential applicability and utility
for counterinsurgency operations conducted by any component of the US
Government in many parts of the world. To cite but two of the many
examples that could be adduced, played a key role in the 25X1
development of a device that makes it possible for primitive tribal
guerrilla-type teams operating deep in enemy territory to report a
wealth of sophisticated, complex intelligence information on a near-real
time basis. He also played a key role in developing what is now the best
extant device /technique for screening large groups of ostensible civilians
to determine who among them are the guerrillas by pinpointing those
who have recently handled or fired weapons (and, in many instances, 25X1
identifying which weapons they have handled or fired). In assisting
worked closely with the technical inventors or designers (often drawing
on his own experience to keep them apprised of the actual conditions
under which their innovations or inventions would have to be used), helped
set up and handle the administrative mechanics involved in such
developmental projects, helped structure the optimum, most realistic
possible test situations in the United States and in the field, and parti-
cipated personally in the conduct of their successful field tests in the
Indochina area.
the development of these (and other) devices and techniques,
Approved For Release 2004/q) RDP80R01720R000600060034-9
,C-7_t T
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CIi-RDP80R01720R600060034-9
Approved For Rise 2004$r/08,
During his period of assignment to the Agency,
made a contribution to this Agency's, and the US Government's, total
Vietnam effort of particular importance and lasting effect. During
the early part of his assignment, it became apparent that some
facility would have to be developed to enable the Vietnamese Affairs
Staff to handle the enormous flow of all-source intelligence, cable and
other media traffic, factual holdings, graphic presentations, and other
inputs of developing data on the Vietnamese situation. The facility
had to be capable of collating and integrating this vast data flow in a
meaningful way that would support the operational and analytical
responsibilities in the Vietnam area, which included the provision
of continuing support to the White House Staff and other senior US
civilian and military officials. was given the respon-
sibility of devising, developing and supervising this, facility, for which
there was no prototype or precedent anywhere in the US Government.
With only the most minimal supervision, he began the research and
planning for the facility. He spent literally hundreds of research
hours personally working with architects, design engineers, and
building contractors in planning the most efficient facility possible
to meet the unique and expanding needs. From the beginning of the
basic construction to the completion of the Center, he supervised and
helped design every aspect of it, from heavy construction to the final
emplacement of electronic, graphic, cartographic, and other display
equipment. He laid out the work flow pattern for greatest efficiency
and delimited the specific work requirements for the personnel who
would work under his supervision in the Center. Since the opening
of the Center, it has proved to be of inestimable value to the senior
levels of the United States Government in making available a facility
that could produce on the 'shortest notice a graphic, factual, all-source
presentation of US and enemy activities in Vietnam and Laos. The
Center has been visited, used and praised by many senior US Govern-
ment officials, including those of Cabinet and sub-Cabinet rank and
General and Flag rank military officers with Vietnam responsibilities.
The Center also provided effective working level support and assistance
to officers and offices with Vietnam responsibilities throughout the
Washington community. I has efficiently and skillfully
interfaced and meshed the work of this Center with the National Military
Command Center, the National Security Agency, the State Department
Operations Center, and the White House Situation Room to support the
total US Government Vietnam effort.
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Approved For F ease 206 /07/08..f 1A-RDP80R01720PWO600060034-9
Since return to his parent service in August
1968, the Center he designed and created has continued to operate
efficiently and usefully under the policies and procedures
personally developed and devised, which have prove
farsighted and flexible enough to meet all the many demands placed
upon them. Without this Center, much that the Agency has done in
both the operational and analytic field to support the US Government's
endeavors in Vietnam and, for that matter, throughout Indochina
simply could not have been accomplished. Furthermore, this Center
and its attendant operational procedures that Idevised
will serve as a model of precedent for any fu ure responses to
intelligence /operational problem areas of a complexity (or magnitude)
similar to the struggle in Vietnam.
One could go on at considerable additional length citing other
specific exam les of contributions to this Agency and the US Govern-
ment made by during his period of assignment here. The
above, however, should be amply illustrative of the caliber and
effectiveness of his performance. Day in and day out,
intelligence, capacity for handling and synthesizing complex problems
and his efficient address to tasks large or small, all coupled to his
integrity, mature judgment, dedication and devotion to duty won him
the respect, confidence and admiration of all with whom he was
associated. His outstanding achievements were in keeping with the
highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit
upon himself and the military service.
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25X1
25X
-3-
Approved For Release 2004/0'A OE ~DP80R01720R000600060034-9
25X1 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80RO172OR000600060034-9
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80RO172OR000600060034-9
Approved For
GJw.~.?tip,
easj/Qf T M DP80R0172 00600060034-9
FOR AWARD OF
THE LEGION OF MERIT
TO
25X1
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE
WHO DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING
AS AN INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH OFFICER DURING THE PERIOD JANUARY 1966 TO AUGUST 1968.
DURING-T HIS-PERT09. HE WAS GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DEVISING, DEVELOPING- AND
SUPERVISING A FACILITY, FOR WHICH THERE WERE NO PROTOTYPES OR PRECEDENTS ANYWHERE
IN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, THAT COULD SUPPORT THE OPERATIONAL AND ANALYTICAL
RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE VIETNAM AREA AND PROVIDE CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR THE WRITE
HOUSE STAFF AND OTHER SENIOR UNITED STATES CIVILIAN AND MILITARY OFFICIALS. FROM
THE BASIC CONSTRUCTION TO THE COMPLETION OF THE CENTER, HE SUPERVISED AND HELPED
DESIGN ALL ASPECTS, TO-INCLUDE THE FINAL ZPLACEMENT OF ELECTRONIC, GRAPHIC, CARTO-
iRAPHIC AND OTHER DISPLAY EQUIPMENT. UNDER HIS SUPERVISION THE CENTER HAS PROVED TO
BE OF INESTIMABLE VALUE TO THE SENIOR LEVELS OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IN
MAKING AVAILABLE A FACILITY THAT PRODUCED ON THE SHORTEST NOTICE A GRAPHIC, FACTUAL,
ALL-SOURCE PRESENTATION OF FREE WORLD AND ENEMY ACTIVITIES IN'SOUTHEAST ASIA. HI-
s r.en pT~n~rrnT n-~ ECTIViu-~nrORi{ T x-LEVETT--SUPPO-ITI -A~~~D- SSI,S'I'A~TCE`TTO"OFFICES~FTITt? V3~ 'AL`r?~"
P SPO BIL7TI~S TH3ROUCTYJT UL.E r, RING O1? Ci` 'u';vTT ., HE EFFICIENTLY AND SKI LLF J LY
INTERFACED AND MESHED THE WORK OF THIS CENTER WITH THE NATIONAL MILITARY CCM` A D
CENTER, THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY, TEE STATE DEPARTMENT, AID THE WHITE HOUSE
SITUATION ROOM TO SUPPORT THE TOTAL UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT VIETNAM EFFORT.-, ?-.IS--
MATURE JUDGMENT, DEDICATION AND DEVOTION TO DUTY WON FOR HIM THE RESPECT AND
CONFIDENCE OF ALL WITH WH~. ASS v _ .` .:, . MD~`~~G ACHIEVEMENTS TA=`E
C' . HE r'E WAS =S O'~_ ..,L~.: ..~,~2
TG WITH Tom' HIGHES,~.. UNITED S_:-_1.~~ i'.SRTES nS~~.r AND 'u- ~rECn
IN KEEPING .. T.baT wT.:IvONS l~ OF THE L?_~~..~~. GaEAT
REDIT UPON LMSELF AND T!2'MZLITA2Y SERVICE.
'Approved For Release 2004/07/08?: CIA-RDP80RO172OR00060 ~ u^
' A,", 7E3 FFOM
CLASSIFIED Di~CU~::E;J7
R Pi,
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Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt
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cr ,.ai'z~t~?ancLtnp m,1, tar.r.service a. _ _.,..~
.
c rr id ire -o wy=w-~,ri y-Thom-he??was....associated.-.__-His?-outst&nding...-achievemr ,s c,
i keeg .~ h he-h , hes'~ racy ti or~s'W o~~?` he?Und ed S a e's~A?rmy~and- _-cflect 1Teat
rr tturca--~ c.g~.en , dedication_,_ .a_nd dgzrot :: ->c,-duty tin" o `r
;m't'tie?r"espec
P--t l% item 30 (Continued)
efficient facility possible to meet the unique and expanding needs. From the
beginning of the basic construction to the completion of the Center, he supervised
and helped design every aspect of it, fr. heavy construction to the _ T- c-~:,,~,_ .,ce-
ment of electronic, graphic, cartographic, and other display equiumer_t.~ JHe Laid
out the work flow pattern for greatest efficiency ana de: _::.-' ed the specific y:: :
requirements for the, personnel who would work under his sugorvision in the Cepstar.
Since the opening of the Center, it has Proved to be of inestimable value to
senior levels of the United States Governments in available a facility _, t
could produce on the shortest notice a graphic, factual, all-source presentation of
U. S. and. enemy activities in Vietnam and Laos. The Center has been visited, used
and praised by many senior U. S. Government officials, including those of Cabinet
and sub-Cabinet rank and General and Flag rank military officers with Vietnar.
responsibilities. The Center also provided effective working level support ____w
assistance to officers and offices with Vietnam responsibilities throughout the
Washington Community. I Ihas efficiently and skillfully interfaced
and meshed the wo7k of is enter with the National Military Command Center, the
National Security Agency, the State Department Operations Center, and the Wh.- -%
House Situation Room to support the total U. S. Government Vietnam effort;:' =ct-.
1 t Z item 31 (Continued)
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