THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03029761
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 19
• Document Creation Date: April 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: November 8, 1967

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DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
MEMORANDUM
The Situation in Vietnam
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8 November 1967
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WARNING
ilounniew contains classified inionnation atfeetin, the national security
tne Lnited Statt's within the meaning of the espi nage laws, US Lode
IA, is. sections 193. 194. and 798.
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Information as of 1600
8 November 1967 3.5(c)
HIGHLIGHTS
North Vietnamese Premier Pham Van Dong has once
again reaffirmed Hanoi's terms for talks with the US
and a settlement of the war.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam: Wide-
spread fighting was reported on 7-8 November. The re-
cent upsurge in enemy activity may signal the beginning
of the Communists' "winter-spring" offensive (Paras. 1-8).
The WeeklyReview of South Vietnam Battle Statistics
(Charts) (Para. 9).
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
The Senate has approved almost all
articles thus far presented by the rules committee,
and some senators hope that work on rules can be
completed within two weeks (Para. 5).
IV. Other Communist Military Developments: There
is nothing of significance to report.
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V. Communist Political Developments: North
Vietnamese Premier Pham Van Dong has reaffirmed
Hanoi's standard terms for a settlement of the
war and for talks with the US (Paras. 1-2).
VI. Other Major Aspects: Prince Sihanouk has
announced that three American prisoners held by
the Viet Cong would probably be sent to Cambodia
when released (Para. 1).
ii
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8 November 1967
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TO PfiErC RE'r
I. MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Heavy fighting was reported on 7 and 8 Novem-
ber in what may signal the beginning of the Communist
"winter-spring" offensive.
2. Two days of intense activity in the highlands
of Kontum Province near the Dak To Special Forces camp
resulted in 116 enemy soldiers killed. Enemy losses
also include 65 individual weapons, 15 crew-served weap-
ons, and more than 300 hand grenades. American losses
have been relatively light.
3. In southwestern II Corps, enemy forces hit two
allied positions. An estimated 25 rounds of mortar fire
were directed at the Ban Me Thuot East Airfield in cen-
tral Darlac Province. The parking ramp and fuel storage
area were hit, two helicopters were destroyed and six
were damaged. Gia Nghia, the capital city of Quang Duc
Province, was the target of an enemy mortar and ground
attack early on 8 November. South Vietnamese defenders
forced the attackers to withdraw after a 15-minute fight.
4. In an hour-long engagement with an enemy bat-
talion on 7 November some six miles east of Loc Ninh,
US forces killed 66 Communists while losing 18 killed
and 20 wounded. The enemy force was probably a sub-
ordinate of the 272nd Regiment of the Viet Cong 9th
Infantry Division which participated in the attacks
last week. This unit may be moving eastward from Binh
Long Province to regroup and possibly join other Commu-
nist forces for new offensives in Phuoc Long Province.
5. Another Communist arms cache has been located
about 70 miles east of Saigon by a South Vietnamese
battalion pursuing an enemy force. The cache, dis-
covered in an enemy base camp in northern Phuoc Tuy
Province, contained 33 individual weapons, 18 mortars,
an assortment of ammunition, and a machine shop for
weapons repair. The mortars seized are equivalent to
the normal allotment for three Communist infantry
battalions.
8 November 1967
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6. US Army troops in Operation WALLOWA in the
Quang Nam - Quang Tin Province border area reported
killing 77 enemy in a series of engagements on 7-8
November. Since this five-battalion operation began
on 14 October, 787 enemy soldiers have been killed
compared with 57 Americans killed and 188 wounded.
7. Just to the west, US Marines in Operation
ESSEX engaged enemy forces--tentatively identified
as elements of the 3rd Regiment of the North Viet-
namese 2nd Division--in actions which resulted
in 36 enemy killed. This newly initiated operation
is penetrating a series of ridges in which el- -2:Its
of the 2nd Division have recently withdrawn to avoid
US forces in the coastal flatlands. There has been
active enemy resistance since the operation began on
5 November.
8. In northernmost Quang Tri Province US
Marines in Operation KENTUCKY killed 13 enemy
soldiers during an encounter on 7 November just south
of the Demilitarized Zone. Thirteen Americans were
wounded in the action. Just east of Gio Linh, a
South Vietnamese battalion discovered a series of
six caves each containing 20 Communist 140-mm. rockets.
A small quantity of mortar ammunition was also found.
8 November 1967
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TOP,SEGRET vow'
9. Weekly Review of South Vietnam Battle
Statistics
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The week of 29 Oct - 4 Nov compared with the week
of 22-28 Oct:
I. Casualties
VC/NVA
US
22-28
Oct 29
Oct-4 Nov
22-28
Oct 29 Oct-4 Nov
Killed
1,389
1,894
166
178
Wounded
966
793
Missing/
Captured
TOTALS
1,389
1,894
1,132
971
GVN
FREE WORLD
22-28
Oct 29
Oct-4 Nov
22-28
Oct 29 Oct-4 Nov
Killed
210
160
60
10
Wounded
648
533
120
8
Missing/
Captured
21
60
0
0
TOTALS
879
753
180
18
II.
Viet Cong Incidents
Attacks
22-28 Oct
29 Oct-4 Nov
85
69
Battalion or Larger
1
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3
Small Unit
84
� � . �
66
Harassment
406
297
Terrorism
36
29
Sabotage
56
27
Propaganda
15
8
Antiaircraft
199
84
TOTALS
797
514
8
November
1967
1-3
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"""""'" Viet Cong
GVN
1,877 500
1963 1964 1965 1966 1967
Casualties
AUG SEP OCT
1967
16000
Viet Cong/NVA
GVN/US/other Free World
12000
6,354
1,664
1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 AUG SEP
US Casualties to Date: Killed 14,557 Wounded 91,120 Captured 214 Missing 577
*Due to a change in the reporting of personnel losses, beginning 12 February 1967, the weekly and monthly
figure will represent only personnel killed.
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1964 1965 1966 1967 AUG SEP OCT NOV
1967
tet COI) Incidents
Excluding Atte ks)
3000
750
2000
445 Total
84 AA Fire
8 Propaganda
64 27Sabotage
29 Terrorism
297 Harassment
1964
1965
SEP OCT NOV
1967
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III. Weapons Losses
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VC/NVA
GVN
22-28 Oct
29 Oct-4 Nov
22-28
Oct 29 Oct-4 Nov
Individual
559
Not
149
92
Crew-Served
94
Reported
2
0
TOTALS
653
151
92
8 November 1967
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II,, POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
8 November 1967
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3.3(h)(2)
Progress on Drawing up Senate Rules
5. During its session on 7 November, the
Senate, with all 60 members present, approved
22 of 23 articles covering Senate organization
presented by the rules committee and set up a
working schedule for further plenary debate on
the committee's draft rules. The article not
approved dealt with powers to be vested in the
Senate's officers. Debate on that question was
deferred until a later session. Also remaining
to be accomplished are the drafting and approving
of parts two and three of the rules--Senate
regulations and procedures. Some optimistic
senators believe that work on all the rules, which
may eventually have as many as 200 articles, can
be completed within two weeks.
8 November 1967
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8 November 1967
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IV. OTHER COMMUNIST MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
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1. There is nothing of significance to report.
8 November 1967
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V. COMMUNIST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. North Vietnamese Premier Pham Van Dong
has reaffirmed Hanoi's standard terms for talks
with the US and for a settlement. At a reception
on 7 November honoring a visiting Soviet anniver-
sary delegation, the premier told his audience
that the basis for settling "the Vietnam problem
is the four points of the North Vietnamese Govern-
ment and the political program of the Liberation
Front--the only genuine representative of the South
Vietnamese people." He further declared that if
the US wants talks with North Vietnam it "must act
on the statement of 28 January of Foreign Minister
Nguyen Duy Trinh." That statement said that con-
ditions for talks were that the US halt uncondi-
tionally the bombings "and all other acts of war"
against North Vietnam. Dong gave no indication
that Hanoi now demands that such a bombing halt be
"definitive," i.e., finalor permanent, as did party
First Secretary Le Duan in a speech before the
Supreme Soviet on 3 November.
2. The premier also provided a similar state-
ment on negotiations and a variety of other subjects
to a British reporter. These were published on 8
November. Dong told the reporter that the North
Vietnamese expect further escalation of the war and
that they are ready to cope with it. He pointed
to the forthcoming second session of the Bertrand
Russell war crimes tribunal as an event of "great
international importance" and claimed that it will
throw more light on the "monstrous crimes of the
US." Dong also went to some length in stressing
the importance of the Liberation Front's new program
and that organization's claim to be the "only true
representative of the South Vietnamese people."
Dong termed the present Saigon administration
"Quislings" who are not taken seriously and as-
serted that the struggle against the Americans
compels everyone to take a stand--either in favor
of or against the US--"there is no third road."
8 November 1967
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VI. OTHER MAJOR ASPECTS
American Prisoners May Be Released in Cambodia
1. Prince Sihanouk told a news conference on
8 November that the three American prisoners of war
the Liberation Front says it is going to release
would probably be sent through Cambodia. Sihanouk
said he was awaiting a decision on the matter from
the Front. He also stated that the Cambodians are
always willing to act as intermediaries and that
"we will take care of the prisoners and send them
back to America." On a previous occasion the Front
released captured Americans in Cambodia.
8 November 1967
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