Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
Body:
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C06787090
TO:
VIETNAM AFFAIR C STAFF
0/DCI
DATE 17 Feb 68
-The Honorable Walt W. Rostow
Special Assistant to the President
FROM: GACarver, Jr.
SUBJECT: Impending VC Attacks
REMARKS:
The attached memorandum is being for-
warded for your urgent attention, together with
the following comment from the Director which
he has asked me to relay:
"This memorandum summarizes
information on the situation in Vietnam
which we have pulled together during
the night. All of it has been receipted
for by Ambassador Bunker and General
Westmoreland who have sent us a
message which reads: 'We are on alert,
and have alerted all regions. t"
Geetrge A. Carver, Jr.
Special Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs
Attachment
cc: Secretary McNamara
General Wheeler
Secretary Rusk
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C06787090
A
0
3.5(c)
EO
13526
3.3(h)(2)
EO
13526
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C06787090
17 February 1968
MEMORANDUM FOR: The Honorable Walt W. Rostow
Special Assistant to the President
SUBJECT : Communist Objectives in "Second Wave" Attacks
REFERENCE
3.3(h)(2)
3.3(h)(2)
1. The referenced intelligence report, which outlines Communist plans
and objectives for a "second wave" attack on Danang, merits your urgent attention.
2. The information in this new report is consistent with that contained in
the 9 February MR V document picked up in Danang, a careful retranslation of
which has been received from our Station. This document had indicated that,
despite the very limited success attained in the initial Tet attack on Danang, all
VC elements were to conduct activity to exploit favorable conditions in preparation
for possible further attacks. The decision on the next phase was to be considered
at a meeting to be convened by MR V on 12 February. In the interim, military
elements -- including three units under "Brother TRUC" -- were to "attack
continuously, fight small and medium actions everywhere, and simultaneously
prepare to fight concerted big actions at the same time, in waves, to make the
enemy incapable of stabilizing the situation again. "
3. This new report would seem to reflect the results of the 12 February
meeting. The attack plan seems feasible, and it is interesting to note that it
refers to three regiments under Le Truc (Chief of Staff of MR V), who may have
the NVA NT2 Division under his direct operational control. The objectives
outlined in this report are significant: to win complete victory, but -- failing
that -- to seize the villages surrounding Danang which would then be used as
stepping stones for subsequent continuous attack.
4. Because of the accuracy of the earlier report from this source, we
place considerable credence in this new report. It would seem that, at least in
the Danang area, the "second wave" will be a major effort with maximum objectives
comparable to those of the "first wave. " Whether there will be a coordinated country
wide "second wave" of similar intensity remains to be seen, but information
sE-GRE-T
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C06787090
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C06787090
SE-WEI
coming in as of thip writing (1630 EST, 17 February) suggests that substantial
coordinated efforts will indeed be made against various urban centers.
cc: Secretary McNamara
General Wheeler
General DePuy
Secretary Rusk
Mr. Habib
Georle A. Carver, Jr.
Special Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs
geir
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C06787090
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C06787090
0/DCl/SAVA:GACarver:mee
Distribution
1@ - A.ddressee and cc's via LDX filed VC Tet Offensive file in
1 - DCI
1 - DDI
1 - D/OCI
1 - COC/IC
1 - D/ONE
1 - C/ONE/FE
1 - D/OER (for Mr. Walsh)
1 - DDP
1 - AC/FE
1 - C/VNO
1 - VA.S/RA.0
1 - VA.S Chrono
Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C06787090