Office of the Historian

26. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of Defense (McNamara)1

JCSM-228-61
Washington, April 11, 1961.

SUBJECT

  • Recommendations on South Vietnam
1.
On 28 March 1961, Lieutenant General T. J. H. Trapnell submitted to the Joint Chiefs of Staff a report and ten recommendations on the situation in South Vietnam.2 These recommendations were:
a.
US should support Counterinsurgency Plan and promote its acceptance by the Government of Vietnam.
b.
Decide and direct military matters through military rather than Country Team channels.
c.
Avoid reduction in MAAG strength.
d.
Provide Defense Support funds on same basis for 170,000 force as for 150,000.
e.
Provide MAP support for entire 68,000 Civil Guard.
f.
Provide MAPPOL support for Civil Guard.
g.
Provide MAP support for British-made personnel carriers and scout cars.
h.
Expedite immediate shipment by air of 12,000 M1 carbines.
i.
Expedite shipment of 625 AN/GRC-9 and 2245 AN/PRC-10 radios; 80 RS-6 radios and 80 GN-43 generators.
j.
Expedite shipment of 3000 Claymore anti-personnel mines.
2.
On 31 March 1961, the Joint Chiefs of Staff approved the recommendations listed in subparagraphs 1 a, b and c above and requested the Secretary of Defense to take action deemed appropriate.3 The recommendations listed in subparagraphs 1 d, e, f and g above were forwarded to CINCPAC for comment and recommendation. The recommendations listed in subparagraphs 1 h, i, and j above were referred to CINCPAC for action deemed appropriate, with advice to the Joint Chiefs of Staff of action taken, and of requirements for further assistance on such action.
3.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff have received and considered the comments of CINCPAC, and his reports on action taken.4 The Joint Chiefs of Staff approve the Trapnell recommendations below subject to the following considerations: [Page 67]
a.
Provide Defense Support funds on same basis for 170,000 force as for 150,000. The Joint Chiefs of Staff have taken due cognizance of the primary functions and responsibilities assigned to the State Department and ICA in determining the source and allocation of Defense Support funds. However, the Government of Vietnam apparently feels it cannot provide the financial support required in the Counterinsurgency Plan. Furthermore, the Joint Chiefs of Staff feel that prompt acceptance of the Counterinsurgency Plan by the Government of Vietnam is a matter of overriding concern in that country’s present critical situation. Therefore, the Joint Chiefs of Staff request the Secretary of Defense to take action to the end that Defense Support funds are provided for a 170,000 man force on the same basis as that now provided for 150,000.
b.
Provide MAP support for entire 68,000 Civil Guard. The Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend approval for provision of MAP material and supplies within the limits of the current FY 61 MAP, to carefully selected Civil Guard units beyond the 32,000 ceiling currently authorized MAP support. Furthermore, the Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend full MAP support for 68,000 Civil Guard be initiated in FY 62, and approximately $20 million be added to the Pacific Command FY 62 MAP ceiling to support this.
c.
Provide MAPPOL support for Civil Guard. The Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend approval for provision of MAPPOL to the Civil Guard.
d.
Provide MAP support for British-make personnel carriers and scout cars. The Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend approval for MAP support of British vehicles in Vietnam to the extent only of providing general supply and repair parts of items common to the MAP.
4.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend that the increased US contributions to the Government of Vietnam, proposed above, be appropriately exploited by US representatives in Vietnam to induce that government’s acceptance of the Counterinsurgency Plan.
5.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff note that CINCPAC has taken appropriate action to implement the recommendations of General Trapnell:
a.
To airlift 12,000 carbines.
b.
To expedite shipment of needed radios and generators.
c.
To expedite shipment of Claymore mines.

For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

L.L. Lemnitzer
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
  1. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 71 A 6489, VN(Sensitive). Secret. Printed also in United States-Vietnam Relations, 1945-1967, Book 11, pp. 19-21. The source text bears the stamp “Sec Def has seen.”↩
  2. See footnote 3, Document 24.↩
  3. A copy of JCSM-202-61, March 31, is in Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 71 A 6489, VN(Sensitive).↩
  4. Not further identified.↩