Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXIX, Part 1, Korea

105. Letter From the Ambassador to Korea (Brown) to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy)¹

Seoul, December 13, 1966.

Dear Bill:

SUBJECT

• U.S. Army Strength in Korea

Following up on our conversation with the Secretary in Tokyo on December 6,² I enclose a self-explanatory table provided by General Bonesteel, showing authorized, assigned and on-board strength of U.S. Eighth Army in Korea as of the end of each month for the period December 31, 1965 through November 30, 1966.

You will note that as of November 30 the on-ground strength was 43,748, on an upward trend from a low of 38,711 on September 30, and with a projected on-ground strength of 49,000 for December 31, 1966.

If this figure can be reached and maintained, and especially if the quality mix in terms of specialties is such as to fill some of our more glaring present deficiencies, we should be in reasonably good shape. We have little hope of getting a good mix, however.³

You can see how disturbing the trend from March through September and even October was to all of us here.

I hope that the assumption in the last paragraph of the enclosed table is correct. We should keep close tabs on it both here and in Washington.

It was good to see you. All best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

Very sincerely yours,

Win

Attachment

EIGHTH US ARMY STRENGTH POSTURE

1. Below are listed Eighth US Army strengths as of the end of each month for the period 31 December 1965 through 30 November 1966.

Authorized	Assigned	On-Ground
Dec 65	51,288	51,267	48,517
Jan 66	50,647	52,278	50,158
Feb 66	50,646	53,843	50,396
Mar 66	50,646	54,061	50,456
Apr 66	50,789	51,242	47,680
May 66	50,747	49,467	45,990
Jun 66	50,782	46,495	43,351
Jul 66	50,588	43,729	41,170
Aug 66	50,588	42,121	39,940
Sep 66	50,588	41,156	38,711
Oct 66	50,588	44,350	39,779
Nov 66	50,121	48,704	43,748

2. Projection for December 1966 from Department of the Army is:

Assigned—51,800

On-Ground—49,000

Department of the Army has given no projections for strength beyond December 1966; however, it is assumed that Eighth US Army will be maintained at approximately 51,000 assigned during the period January–June 1967.

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 19 KOR S–US. Confidential.
2. Rusk visited Tokyo December 5–7 to meet with senior Japanese officials.
3. In a second letter to Bundy, December 13, continuing discussion of U.S. Army strength. Brown stated that “one of our main problems here was that even when we had enough bodies we did not have people with the right qualifications and experience. The result, therefore, is that the combat effectiveness of the forces is far less than would appear from their numerical strength.” Brown attached an in-depth study of the problem done by Bonesteel. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1964–66, DEF 19 KOR S–US)