THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03010096
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: April 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: December 1, 1967

Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
NNW
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
MEMORANDUM
The Situation in Vietnam
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
1 December 1967
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
Tjillswvr
WARNING
This document contains classified information affecting the national security
of the United States within the meaning of the espionage laws, US Code
Title 18, Sections 793, 794, and 798,
IwS-ecret
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C030100961
. . � .
3.5(c)
Information as of 1600
1 December 1967
3.5(c)
HIGHLIGHTS
Heavy fighting has been reported near the Marine
outpost of Con Thien for the first time in several
months.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
Fighting continues near the Cambodian border in north-
ern III Corps (Paras. 1-3). US Marines engaged an enemy
company near Con Thien on 30 November. There are sug-
gestions of an enemy buildup near Khe Sanh in western
Quang Tri Province (Paras. 4-9).
III. Military Developments in North Vietnam: There
is nothing of significance to report.
IV. Other Communist Military Developments: There
is nothing of significance to report.
TO CRET
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
vie
NORTH
VIETNAM
Demifiterized Zone
%Io Lin
Khe Sa
USMC
Ha OPERATION
KENTUCKY
THAILAND
QUANG
NIG Al
KONTUM
BINH DIN
PLEIKU
PHU
BON
Bu Dop
Special Forces
Camp
Bo Duc
KHANH
HOA
LANG DUC
LA-M DONG
NINH
THUAN
GIANG
LONG
KHAN F-1
PH UOC
TUY
V ng au
BINH
TUY
EN
DIN'
AN G/\ NH
HINH
E.HITONG
THIEN
BA XITTEN
SOUTH VIETNAM
68821 11-67 CIA
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
I I 11-� H I I
3.5(c)
I. THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Sharp fighting was reported near the Special
Forces Camp at Bu Dop for the third consecutive day
on 30 November. A 1st Infantry Division patrol came
under heavy enemy fire while moving into the rubber
tree groves adjacent to the Bu Dop airstrip. No
casualty figures have been reported in this latest
flare-up. Bu Dop is located along the Cambodian
border some 80 miles north of Saigon.
2. Delayed reports reveal that South Vietnamese
irregulars and their US Special Forces advisers have
had several sharp contacts during the past three
days while patrolling in the vicinity of Bu Dop.
In these clashes, the South Vietnamese claim to
have killed 40 enemy troops while losing 18 men
killed and 12 wounded. In addition, one US adviser
and 41 irregulars are listed as missing in action.
3. During the past three days nearly 150
Communist troops have been reported killed near
Bu Dop and in an assault on the nearby Bo Duc dis-
trict capital.
Increase in Enemy Activity in Quang Tri
4. A US Marine rifle company on patrol about
two miles northeast of Con Thien, just south of the
Demilitarized Zone, on 30 November encountered an
estimated company-size Communist force in well-
fortified camouflaged positions. Three addi-
tional Marine companies were committed and a co-
ordinated assault was made against the enemy positions.
1 December 1967
I-1
CRET
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
swot 1 PA�, _Mr, 1 Nuole
3.5(c)
5. Fighting raged for more than four hours
during which 15 Americans were killed and 53 wounded.
The enemy unit--believed to be a subordinate of the
803rd Regiment of the North Vietnamese 324B Divi-
sion--lost 26 killed and nine weapons which were
picked up after the battle.
6. The American forces are part of Operation
KENTUCKY which began on 1 November. Four US Marine
battalions have been patrolling the areas surround-
ing the US strongholds at Con Thien, Cam Lo, Dong
Ha, and Gio Linh. The operation is geared to pro-
vide security for these bases, to seek out and de-
stroy enemy infiltrators and to prevent further in-
cursions by enemy main force units into Revolution-
ary Development areas. Maximum air, sea, and ground
firepower is being directed at Communist base camps
and supply points in the area.
9. On 29 November, enemy forces to the north
and west of the American garrison at Khe Sanh staged
five separate incidents including mortar attacks on
friendly partols. This increase in enemy military
activity,
suggest the Communists may be planning
a large-scale assault in the Khe Sanh area soon.
1 December 1967
1-2
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
TD.B-SwER ET
3.5(c)
1 December 1967
2-C)-13-MCRET
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C030100961
TaP--SECZET
3.5(c)
III. MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH VIETNAM
IV. OTHER COMMUNIST MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
1. There is nothing of significance to report.
1 December 1967
III-IV - 1
RET
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
3.5(c)
3
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
I r.
3.5(c)
1 December 1967
V-1
1,2D-P-8ECRET
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
.3(h)(2)
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096
ret Noy,
ecret
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03010096