Office of the Historian

237. Action Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Bundy) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson)1

Washington, June 10, 1966.

SUBJECT

  • Shinning Brass

1. Defense has requested Department approval of the expansion into Phase II Cross Border Operations in Laos (Shinning Brass) as detailed in JCSM–378–66 at Tab A.2

[Page 469]

Discussion

2. Present Phase I Shinning Brass Operations are limited to reconnaissance missions by 11 man teams (3 US personnel in each team) in the area of Laos east of the blue line on the map at Tab B.3

3. The proposed expansion into Phase II would authorize exploitation operations by specially trained platoon size Nung units accompanied by not over 3 US advisors in each instance. Each operation would be limited to approximately 5 days and the penetration into Laos limited to 10 kilometers (east of the red line on the map at Tab B). The normal ground rules for these type operations with respect to deniability would be observed, i.e. altered maps would be used and the teams briefed that the operations are conducted only in RVN. Phase I operations would continue with their present limitations.

4. Ambassador Sullivan concurs in the operations as proposed to include a 48-hour advance notice of intent to launch an operation. This would amount to a confirmation of an operation shown in the monthly schedule published by MACV (the first exploitation operation, scheduled for June 10, is in abeyance pending Washington approval of the concept).

5. We believe the proposal to be reasonable in view of the restrictions of time and distance, size of forces, and deniability precautions. However, so that we may monitor the program (and veto if necessary), the Department should also be an addressee of the 48-hour advance notification of intent to launch an operation.

Recommendation

6. That you approve the proposed Shinning Brass exploitation operations with the understanding that the Department would receive the 48-hour advance notification of intent to launch all future operations.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 6–12 US. Top Secret; Sensitive. Drafted by Cowherd and cleared by Trueheart, Weiss, and James F. Leonard of INR/RES. This memorandum was originally directed to Rusk through Johnson, but Johnson approved it for the Secretary on June 11.↩
  2. Dated June 11; attached but not printed.↩
  3. Attached, but not printed.↩