(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: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP80R01720R000600060034-9.pdf485.4 KB
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 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80RO172OR000600060034-9 Approved For Rele 2004/07/0 - I D080R0172OR00Q00060034-9 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 25X1 PROVED SUFFICIENTLY FARSIGHTED AND FLEXIBLE TO MEET EFFECTIVELY ALL OF THE TESTS AND REQUIREMENTS LEVIED UPON THEM. 25X1 MATURE JUDGMENT, DEDICATION AND DEVOTION TO DUTY WON Approved For Release 2004/07/~EOy CTP80RO1720R000600060034-9 Approved For Rel 2004/07 ~CIIA P80R01720R00 0060034-9 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. - 3 - Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80R01720R000600060034-9 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. 25X1 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 ` 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. 25X1 25X1 - 2 - Approved For Release 2004/(Q r. A DP80R0l720R000600060034-9 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. 25X1 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, 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80RO172OR000600060034-9 Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP80RO172OR000600060034-9 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 :CIA-RDP80R01720p,0600060034-9 25X1 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) -.~CC~-~`~/t a~~tJ i std