SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-553-9-19-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 28, 2012
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: June 28, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/28: LOC-HAK-553-9-19-8
MEMORANDUM
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
CONTAINS CODEWORD June 28, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT
FROM: HENRY A. KISSINGER
SUBJECT: Situation in .Vietnam
South Vietnamese Marine and Airborne units have launched an offensive to
regain Quang Tri Province.
The Marine division , reinforced with armored cavalry elements, has
attacked toward the north. Thus far they have met light resistance. The
Airborne division attacked to the northwest and gained almost immediate
contact with the enemy resulting in 164 enemy killed. US and VNAF TacAir
and US naval gunfire are supporting the attack. One reinforced ARVN
division remains behind to defend Hue.
In Military Region 2, activity was at a low level with no significant contacts
-reported around Kontum City. Some progress was reported in the Konturn
Pass clearing operation.
In Military Region 3, ground combat was at a low level around An Loc. To
the south of An Loc along Route 13, ARVN units report killing 259 enemy
troops over a 24-hour period ending yesterday morning while sustaining
light casualties.
In Military Region 4, no significant combat actions or major changes were
reported.
A total of 503 US TacAir sorties were flown, 224 of which were directed
against targets in North Vietna NSA, ARMY, NAVY, USAF, & osD -52 sorties, all flown
against targets in Military Regi reviews completed
Military Region 1
In northern Military Region 1, ARVN initiated operation Lamson 72 this
morning with the objective of regaining control of Quang Tri Province.
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
CONTAINS CODEWORD
MORI PER C05079560
C03232294
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TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
CONTAINS CODEWORD -2
Marines attacked northwest with one division , reinforced with armored
cavalry elements, leaving one division (ARVN 1st ) to defend Hue. The
Marine division along the coast began its attack over land after cover and
deception maneuvers at sea yesterday. The Marines have met light resistance
so far. The Airborne division attacked northwest in a zone extending from
the vicinity of Route 1 to high ground on the west. Airborne elements made
immediate contacts and have reported 164 enemy killed and 73 weapons
captured, including five 37mm guns. Friendly casualties were five killed
and 41 wounded. US and VNAF TacAir and US Naval gunfire are supporting
the attack.
- - Enemy attacks by fire were at a reduced level along the My Chanh
defense line.
-- Near Fire Support Base Nancy, three enemy tanks were destroyed
and another was captured, 53 enemy soldiers were killed.
- - In other activity,
that enemy units north of the My Chanh River are experiencing morale an
desertion problems.
the enemy anticipated South Vietnamese attacks into uang .
-- Southwest of Hue, activity continued at an increased level as
enemy units launched five major shelling attacks and two ground probes
resulting in 85 enemy and 11 ARVN killed.
Military Region 2
Ground combat activity was at a low level in the region yesterday.
t
-- Contact continues to be light around Kontum City and some
progress was reported in the Kontum Pass clearing operation.
Military Region 3
Enemy-initiated activity continued at a low level in Military Region 3.
-- Enemy shelling of An Loc decreased as friendly units reported only
170 rounds. One ground action resulted in 40 enemy and six ARVN killed.
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
CONTAINS CODE WORD
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 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/28: LOC-HAK-553-9-19-8
lp V
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
CONTAINS CODEWORD -3-
- - South of An Loc on Route 13, friendly forces with artillery
and tactical air support have killed 259 enemy on June 26-27 while taking
very light casualties.
- - Elsewhere in the region no significant activity was reported.
Military Region 4
Activity continued to be light and no significant actions were reported.
-- In Military Region 4, intelligence indicates that enemy forces
continue to plan attacks on population centers in the southern Delta, specifically,
Chuong Thien and Phong Dinh Provinces, including Can Tho City. The overall
strategy is to maneuver main force units into position to attack the population
centers, spread ARVN units as thin as possible, and deny ARVN the opportunity
to organize a concerted resistance. Attacks will not be coordinated and no
attempt will be made to hold fixed objectives. The primary objective is to
force the residents to flee to rural areas where they can be controlled by
Viet Cong/NVA forces.
US Air and Naval Activity
The following sorties were flown June 28:
MR-1
MR-2
MR-3
MR-4
Total
TacAir US
132
29
88
30
224
503
TacAir VNAF
54
20
47
26
0
147
ARC LIGHT
101
0
0
0
101
-- Forty USAF F-4's were targeted against the Phuc Yen and Kep
airfields. Results of these attacks are not yet available. An additional 62
aircraft are to carry out armed reconnaissance missions in southern North
Vietnam.
-- A total of 122 USN aircraft flew strike sorties against the Cap Mai
AAA repair/storage facility, the Da Mon Toi transshipment point and performed
armed reconnaissance in the central and northeast sections of the country.
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
CONTAINS CODEWORD
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 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/28: LOC-HAK-553-9-19-8
w
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
CONTAINS CODEWORD
-- Linebacker operations over North Vietnam yesterday resulted
in 13 trucks, one gun, and ten boats destroyed or damaged. There were 43
secondary explosions and 53 secondary fires.
-- Over South Vietnam yesterday, air activity destroyed or damaged
from Hai Duong. When the new system is fully operational, petroleum supplies
unloaded at the recently expanded Ping-hsiang petroleum storage area in China
will flow directly into North Vietnam. This new system will thus give the North
Vietnamese a complete pipeline link from China through North Vietnam to the
DMZ and southern Laos.
-- Photographs of the Viet Tri thermal power plant and the adjacent
paper combine, hit by eight USAF F-41s on June 25, show extensive damage.
The power plant's boiler house and control building were damaged. The
paper combine's boiler house was destroyed and its warehouses were damaged.
One of the first targets in the current campaign was the Hai Duong railroad
yard, which was heavily damaged when hit in early May. Photographs show
that there has been no attempt to repair this transshipment point along the
Hanoi-Haiphong rail line. The North Vietnamese have chosen instead to
expend their major repair efforts on the northeast rail line.
31 trucks, and eight guns and caused 127 secondary fires and 96 secondary
explosions.
photograph has revealed that the
North Vietnamese are rapidly completing their petroleum pipeline link with
China. Some 41 additional miles of pipeline have been constructed since
June 14 between Dong Dang and Kep, where it joins the line extending north
Political/ Diplomatic
TOP SECRET/ SENSITIVE
CONTAINS CODEWORD
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/28: LOC-HAK-553-9-19-8
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/28: LOC-HAK-553-9-19-8
TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE
CONTAINS CODEWORD
President Thieu Addresses Province Officials
In remarks to a meeting of provincial officials on June 24, President Thieu
repeated that the period from now to the end of the year will be one of the most
challenging and critical ever faced in Vietnam. He predicted that the Corn-
munists would throw in all of their forces in a new effort to gain additional
territory.
TOP SECRET/ SENSITIVE
CONTAINS CODEWORD
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/28 : LOC-HAK-553-9-19-8
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/12/28: LOC-HAK-553-9-19-8