YOUR DUTIES AS MY SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR VIETNAMESE AFFAIRS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T01762A000900010009-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 9, 2001
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: July 16, 1965
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2006/11/05: CIA-RDP79T01762A000*'fff00
SECRET
MEMORANDUM 1'OR:
SUBJECT: Your Duties as my Special Assistant
for Vietnamese Affairs
I.. ( lidve for some time been convinced that a small staff
unit ;>1ir,uId I,t csta1)1isheed, rcnponsible directly to Inc, which would,
concern itself with major aspects of the problem of Vietnam and
our government's involvement there. As I see them now, they
11 re:
2. I am well aware that there are a considerable number of
CIA components, in each of the Directorates, already working full
time or part time on various aspects of the Vietnamese problem.
do riot, wirlh your work t;itlier to duplicate Nucli w',rl< an it, niroarly
untltar w;r.y, not' do 1 wt.tnlt Iltnt, you draw iulder your control Ithose
;L1.ready-cXi sting corrtporicr]t8. Rattler, you and Hit: iiienibers of your
(",011C0t'rii11g Vit'1ii.1111, ;ttid rioPllt: t?I (fl I l~r ;it'll `il I J4 ii ?intl
policies of our gove rnrnent, gericriilly, int;ulor as tlie c
activities and policies are related to Vietnam. This
latter general category would be prit-narily for n-1y own.
consideration and possible use, in discharging my
obligations within the intelligence community and
directly to the President.
a. all forms of CIA activities carried on in
Vietnam, or elsewhere but in relationship to Vietnam,
as well as activities and programs concerning Vietnam
already in existence at the Headquarters level;
la. Ow generaltir:;n of ideas and proposals intended
ttt IIIIlarrlvtt the ,tl tivif.intl of t;IA, rillecilit-.iIIy, Ili ;ttlrl`
GROUP 1
Excluded from automatic
downgrading and
declassification
-?~fi l T h,' T
S
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SECRET
own permanent staff should establish liaison and utilize these
Vietnam.-oriented components where they now find themselves.
On Lh other hand, I feel that you should have a small. staff of
)i,IIdlividlll;d. special.isstrs in v.dridnts fi.d- lds, perrl-lit nently ;assigned
to your Vietnamese Aff.air'i Staff, who will serve hoth as your
points of contact with CIA or other governmental components,
both to keep yourself informed, on my behalf, of the total spread
of U. S. activities and programs concerning Vietnam, present
or planned, as well as to provide points of input to other com-
ponents of CIA proposals or recommendations which I have
approved. More specifically, I would like you to establish the
capability to view the Vietnamese situation in toto and present
a comprehensive and integrated picture for total CIA / DCI
considerations and actions.
`l. In composing your permanent staff, I specifically wish
tImI. you In ivo tyre following Hpeci;,ltins reppr(~HOHtedl:
(1) a. psychological warfare,
b. counterintelligence and deception,
c. those military specialties relevant to the
nature of the war in Vietnam,
d. a political and possibly an economic analyst,
e. in analyst competent in the field of Soviet
;ddrdl tahirimi Ix)li,lical, Hindi Hoologi.lal affairs,
(2) Establish by name, specific liaison with all pertinent
parts of CIA and USIB.
You are authorized to have an executive officer, who shall also be your
deputy, and one additional officer, who both should be competent to
produce such special reports as your staff may itself originate, or as
SECRET
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SECRET
I may require of your staff. A s your staff gets under way,
a few additional specialties, for which personnel may be
required, may identify themselves. Please advise me as this
takes place, and I shall decide the extent to which your staff
may or may not broaden its area of competences. It is of
course assumed that you will acquire sufficient secretarial
and clerical assistance for your initial staff, as well as
appropriate office space for this group. You may deal directly
with DDS in satisfying these needs. In satisfying your needs
for specialists, please work these matters out with the
Directorates or Offices concerned. Where any specific conflict
or (ti.ffi.c:ulty Hhould n rifle, please take it ci I) with the Executive
Director or the DDCl.
4. In summation, I expect your staff to provide me with
a focal and coordinating point for .111 CIA activities concerned
with Vietnamese matters. I shall expect you to be familiar with
those reports, programs, and proposals regarding Vietnam that
are directed to me from within CIA, and to support me with
recommendations or derivative proposals as you may see fit.
Further, I shall expect you to anticipate problems and questions
concerning Vietnam that may be put to me by other elements of
the intelligence community or by the President or his advisors
;arucl, Inuof;ar as 1)o! sibl(e, keep rile ;atlr,1Ht, rifle Hid) ahearl on
fll;LItl11'S I'fil.Llc.,d Ici Vi.c'.tnn,im.
5. In carrying out the duties I have generally outlined in
this memorandum, I shall expect that you will not insert yourself
in any existing lines of conuT and, but shall carry out the tasks I
have assigned you through cooperation and coordination with existing
components, both within and without CIA. Given this approach,
other CIA components are enjoined to render full assistance to you
in carrying out these tasks in my behalf and recipients of this
memorandum will publicize it throughout their elements. As may
prove necessary, I shall accredit you as my Special Assistant for
Vietnamese Affairs to non-CIA elements with whom you must
Best;;thlifll c:lir-taar,I..
W. F.
Director
SECRET
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..
16 July 1965
SUBJECT: Your Duties as my Special Assistant
for Vietnamese Affairs
MEMORANDUM FOR:
1. 1 have for some time been convinced that a small
would
unit should be established, responsible directly to me, m concern itself with major aspects the o~. the I?see hem now etnam
they and
our government's involvement
are:
a. all forms of CIA activities carried on in
Vietnam, or elsewhere but in relationship to Vietnam,
as well as activities and programs concerning Vietnam
already in existence at the Headquarters level;
b. the generation of ideas and proposals intended
to improve the activities of CIA, specifically, in and
concerning Vietnam, and support of the activities and
policies of our government, generally, insofar as these
activities and policies are related to Vietnam. This
latter general category would be primarily for my own
consideration and possible use, in discharging my
obligations within the intelligence community and
directly to the President.
2. I am well aware that there are a considerable number of
CIA components, in each of the Directorates, already working full
time or part time on various aspects of the Vietnamese problem.
I do not wish your work either
draw under your control these already
under way, nor do I wish that you and the members of your,
already-existing components. Rather, you an
GROUP 1
Excluded from automatic
downgrading and
declassification
SECRET
Approved For Release 2006/11/05: CIA-RDP79T01762A000900010009-6
 Approved For Release 2006/11/05: CIA-RDP79T01762A000900010009-6
SECRET IWO
own permanent staff should establish liaison and utilize these
Vietnam-oriented components where they now find themselves.
On the other hand, I feel that you should have a small staff of
individual specialists in various fields, permanently assigned
to your Vietnamese Affairs Staff, who will serve both as your
points of contact with CIA or other governmental components,
both to keep yourself informed, on my behalf, of the total spread
of U. S. activities and programs concerning Vietnam, present
or planned, as well as to provide points of input to other com-
ponents of CIA proposals or recommendations which I have
approved. More specifically, I would like you to establish the
capability to view the Vietnamese situation in toto and present
a comprehensive and integrated picture for total CIA/DCI
considerations and actions.
3. In composing your permanent staff, I specifically wish
that you have the following specialties represented:
(1) a. psychological warfare,
b, counterintelligence and deception,
c. those military specialties relevant to the
nature of the war in Vietnam,
d. a political and possibly an economic analyst,
e, an analyst competent in the field of Soviet
and Chicom political and ideological affairs,
211
(2) Establish by name, specific liaison with all pertinent
parts of CIA and USIB.
You are authorized to have an executive officer, who shall also be your
deputy, and one additional officer, who both should be competent to
produce such special reports as your staff may itself originate, or as
SECRET
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%e SECRET No,
I may require of your staff. As your staff gets under way,
a few additional specialties, for which personnel may be
required, may identify themselves. Please advise me as this
takes place, and I shall decide the extent to which your staff
may or may not broaden its area of competences. It is of
course assumed that you will acquire sufficient secretarial
and clerical assistance for your initial staff, as well as
appropriate office space for this group. You may deal directly
with DDS in satisfying these needs. In satisfying your needs
for specialists, please work these matters out with the
Directorates or Offices concerned. Where any specific conflict
or difficulty should arise, please take it up with the Executive
Director or the DDCI.
4. In summation, I expect your staff to provide me with
a focal and coordinating point for all CIA activities concerned
with Vietnamese matters. I shall expect you to be familiar with
those reports, programs, and proposals regarding Vietnam that
are directed to me from within CIA, and to support me with
recommendations or derivative proposals as you may see fit.
Further, I shall expect you to anticipate problems and questions
concerning Vietnam that may be put to me by other elements of
the intelligence community or by the President or his advisors
and, insofar as possible, keep me at least one step ahead on
matters related to Vietnam.
5. In carrying out the duties I have generally outlined in
this-memorandum, I shall expect that you will not insert yourself
in any existing lines of command, but shall carry out the tasks I
have assigned you through cooperation and coordination with existing
components, both within and without CIA. Given this approach,
other CIA components are enjoined to render full assistance to you
in carrying out these tasks in my behalf and recipients of this
memorandum will publicize it throughout their elements? As may
prove necessary, I shall accredit you as my Special Assistant for
Vietnamese Affairs to non-CIA elements with whom you must
establish contact.
W. F. RABORN
Director
SECRET
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I''M Tic
N 50-73
OCI NOTICE
NO. 50-73
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
THE VIETNAM SUPPORT GROUP
OPERATIONS
12 July 1965
1. The DCI has directed the formation of a CIA Task Force on the
Vietnam situation. In order to insure the most effective OCI effort on
this subject and to provide coordinated support to the Agency Task
Force a Vietnam Support Group is forthwith established within the Office
of Current Intelligence under the immediate direction of
2. The composition of the OCI Vietnam Support Group is as follows:
Area of Specialization Name
Southeast Asia
South Vietnam.
Political & Military
Military
Laos, Cambodia, Thailand
China & Asian Satellites
Communist China
downgrading and
declassification
25X1
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 OCI NOTICE
NO. 50-73
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Area of Specialization
North Vietnam
Military
Soviet Policy
Sino-Soviet Relations
OPERATIONS
12 July 1965
Acting Di ctor, Current Intelligence
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0
0e4 i1=
SECRET/CIA INTERNAL USE ONLY
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT : 'Organization of CIA Vietnam Task Force
1. Pursuant to your oral instructions of 30 June and
in accordance with the general concept outlined in my
memorandum to you of 7 May 1965, subject "Alert Contingency
Plans and Standard Operating Procedures," I submit herewith
the proposed plan for the organization of the CIA Vietnam
Task Force, which supersedes and incorporates the previous
CIA Vietnam Working Group,
2. The mission of the CIA Vietnam Task Force will be
to provide the Director and the President with staff support
on all intelligence aspects of the Vietnam situation, including
the three main functions of reporting, analysis and development
of action recommendations, The Task Force will execute its
mission largely supported by and in coordination with the
Vietnam-related elements of the several Directorates,
3. The Task Force will be headed by a Chairman assisted
by a staff to include an Executive Officer, an Analysis and
Operations Group, and. a Technical Advisory Group serving as
expert consultants. The CIA Operations Center will render
direct support as the Task Force reporting element.
4. Supporting the CIA Vietnam Task Force will be a
newly formed OCI Area Force, the Far East Division, DDP, and
specialists from the Office of National Estimates, the Office
of Research and Reports, the Office of ,
the Office of Basic ntelligence,
and other elements or e four CIA
Directorates. All elements of the Agency and the intelligence
community will be drawn upon as required,
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Chairman
Executive Officer
Analysis & Operations Group
Operations Officer
Chief, OCI Area Force
Estimates Officer
Southeast Asia Officer
South Vietnam Officer
China/North Vietnam Officer
Economic Officer
Technical Advisory Group
Counterinsurgency Warfare
Advisor
Aerial Warfare Advisor
Naval Warfare Advisor
Ordnance Advisor
Geographic Advisor
DDS&T Liaison
Historian
Other specialists as required
SECRET/CIA INTERNAL USE ONLY
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Nko
SECRET/CIA INTERNAL USE ONLY
5. Pending completion and staffing of the CIA Operations
Center, headquarters of the Task Force will be located in
nos temporary telephone numbers are
the CIA Operations Center (telephones
will continue to be the focal point
for spot reporting requirements.
6. A proposed Table of Organization chart is attached.
7. An early requirement for the proper functioning of
the new Task Force will be the completion and staffing of
the CIA Operations Center. My memorandum of 7 May 1965 cited
in paragraph 1 applies.
8. Requests for co-opting of specialist personnel from
outside the Agency may be forthcoming when a survey of personnel
needs and availability has been completed.
Attachments
1. Proposed Table of Organization Chart
2. Provisional Roster
SECRET/CIA INTERNAL USE ONLY
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