Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume VII, Vietnam, July 1970–January 1972

50. Memorandum From John H. Holdridge and Richard T. Kennedy to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)¹

Washington, October 16, 1970.

SUBJECT

• Admiral Moorer’s Report on Operation TAIL WIND

Admiral Moorer has sent you a report on Operation TAIL WIND (Tab A).² The operation was a reconnaissance in force to collect intelligence information in Southern Laos and took place 11–14 September 1970. It also served as a diversionary action supporting the CAS Operation Gauntlet in the Panhandle.³

Three exploitation platoons with a total of 16 U.S. and 120 indigenous personnel were inserted into the operational area by helicopter and maintained contact with the enemy for 72 hours. Friendly losses were 3 indigenous killed and 17 U.S. and 33 indigenous wounded (only 5 required hospitalization). Three helos were lost. They relied heavily on close air support. Results were excellent:

• —432 enemy killed and wounded, of which 144 were killed in ground action.
• —Substantial quantities of enemy ammunition were destroyed.
• —A large volume of documents representing high intelligence value on the enemy transportation group in the area captured.

The operation achieved its objectives and it is representative of one of the most effective means for obtaining enemy intelligence in Southern Laos as well as of diverting NVA troops and service forces from the enemy LOC.⁴

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 548, Country Files, Far East, Laos, Vol. VI, 12 Aug–Dec 31 ‘70. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. A handwritten note indicates the memorandum was “unlogged, outside system.”
2. Tab A, memorandum DJSM 1499–70 from the Director of the Joint Staff, General John W. Vogt, to the JCS, October 10, is attached but not printed.
3. On October 30, Kissinger sent a memorandum to the President reporting on Operation Gauntlet of mid-September in which 5,000 U.S.-directed guerillas engaged in a major interdiction effort in South Laos. They killed an estimated 600 North Vietnamese troops and wounded 500, but the operation resulted in only minimal disruption to North Vietnamese lines of communication and caused significant casualties to the guerrillas and a decline in their morale and combat effectiveness. Kissinger described the operation as “an illustration of the difficulties we have to face in conducting ground operations in South Laos.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 548, Country Files, Far East, Laos, Vol. VI, 12 Aug–Dec 31 ‘70)
4. Kissinger wrote at the bottom of the memorandum: “Write note to Moorer congratulating him.”