Office of the Historian

74. Letter From the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Felt) to the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Vietnam (Williams)1

Pearl Harbor, May 25, 1959.

SUBJECT

  • Advisory Responsibilities of CHMAAG Vietnam in regard to Vietnamese Anti-guerrilla Operations

REFERENCE

  • (a) Section 102 Mutual Security Act of 1954, as amended2
  • (b) Enclosure (1) to CINCPAC ltr ser 0500 of 13 Dec 1956 (Terms of Reference for U.S. MAAG to Vietnam of 15 Nov ‘56)3
1.
Reference (a) provides that U.S. Advisory efforts will be non-combatant in nature, except that, by Presidential determination, members of the U.S. Armed Forces may be detailed to assist in military matters during a war or a declared national emergency. Paragraph 4. b.(l) of reference (b) states that “personnel of the MAAG are authorized to participate in an advisory or training capacity with Vietnamese field units, training agencies, logistics agencies engaged in operational, mobilization and war planning” … “in order to insure proper utilization of the military equipment and supplies furnished to the VN Government under the aid program.”
2.
Recent anti-guerrilla operations by the Vietnamese Forces, have reemphasized the desirability for U.S. MAAG advisory personnel to participate in the operational planning by these forces at the field headquarters of the VN unit involved. Implementation of the foregoing would permit U.S. MAAG Vietnam to obtain through direct observation, information essential to accurate evaluation of the VN proficiency in anti-guerrilla operations and further, to assess the end result of U.S. advisory efforts.
3.
CHMAAG Vietnam is authorized, subject to the concurrence of the Government of Vietnam, to extend the U.S. military advisory and training operations in Vietnam as follows:
a.
Provide MAAG Advisors down to and including Infantry Regimental level and Artillery, Armored and separate Marine Battalion level.
b.
Place these Advisors in the field with the headquarters of the units being advised in order to furnish advice on the preparation of daily plans, monitor the day-to-day conduct of operations and render on-the-spot advice based on the situation as it exists at the time. This will include tactical advice as well as that provided on logistical matters, including medical support problems, the evacuation of the wounded, transportation problems, road and trail construction, bridging, supply procedures, maintenance of equipment, etc.
c.
Evaluate Vietnamese requests for additional equipment, road building materials, heavy engineering equipment, etc., in the light of the direct observations of on-the-spot advisors as well as upon other information available.
d.
Evaluate the level of cooperation and coordination among Vietnamese Army, Navy and Air Force elements and take necessary corrective action with Vietnamese officials in those instances wherein deficiencies in this area are reported by on-the-spot observers.
e.
The activities of MAAG Advisors must be limited to advisory functions and under no circumstances shall they participate directly in combat operations nor will they accompany units on anti-guerrilla operations in areas immediately adjacent to national boundaries.4
H.D Felt
  1. Source: Center of Military History, Williams Papers, Official Correspondence January–July 1959 (54). Secret. A copy of this letter is attached to a memorandum from Kocher to Parsons, June 5, not printed. (Department of State, Vietnam Working Group Files: Lot 66 D 193, SP Internal Security)↩
  2. 68 Stat. 111. Section 102 provided that Armed Forces personnel assigned under provisions of the act were to assist solely “in an advisory capacity or to perform other duties of a noncombatant nature, including military training or advice.”↩
  3. Not printed. (Center of Military History, Williams Papers, Pentalateral Agreement (130))↩
  4. A marginal note indicates that, at Williams’ instruction on June 4, a copy of this letter was forwarded to Ambassador Durbrow on June 5.↩