MACV memo on Vietnam and winning the war (1965)

By mid-1965, US troop levels in South Vietnam were nearing 50,000 men. The Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) drafted a secret memo on Vietnam, suggesting how the war there could be won:

“Our strategy in North Vietnam is to take the war to the enemy by unremitting but selective applications of United States air and naval power. Military installations and those industrial facilities that generate support for the aggression will be attacked. Movement within, into, and out of North Vietnam will be impeded. The enemy will be denied the great psychological and national advantage of conducting his aggression from a sanctuary.

This relentless application of force is designed progressively to curtail North Vietnam’s war-making capacity. It seeks to force upon him major replenishment, repair, and construction efforts. Hanoi’s capability to support military operations in South Vietnam and to direct those operations will be progressively reduced.

In South Vietnam, our strategy is to seek out and destroy Communist forces and infrastructure by expanded, offensive military operations. United States and Free World Military Forces, in coordination with the KVNAF [South Vietnamese armed forces] will take the fight to the enemy by attacking his main force and interdicting his lines of communication on land, along the coast, and on inland waterways. Reconnaissance operations into enemy areas will be increased. Intelligence collections will be improved. Bombardment of enemy base areas will be intensified with increased ground follow-up.

These operations will result in progressive destruction of enemy forces and infrastructure.”