Lot 1199

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Description:

WILLIAM C. WESTMORELAND GROUPING
WILLIAM C. WESTMORELAND (1914 - 2005) American Army general who commanded U.S. forces in Vietnam (1964-68), Army Chief of Staff. An excellent grouping of Vietnam-related material from Westmoreland. Signed material includes a program from a ca. 1967 veterans event, signed beneath the general's portrait (toned and foxed), and a signed sheet. Of greater interest is a Oct. 22, 1966 directive on his USMAC Vietnam letterhead, signed in facsimile, asking that more press attention be directed towards 'nation building', including 'Revolutionary Development' and 'Civic Action'. Also present are the cotemporary transcripts of five revealing press and officer briefings held by Westmoreland, approx. 100pp. total, all 1966-67, various locations, the text meant for military eyes only. Westmoreland typically makes opening statements before being questioned by the military press. General instructions include the admonition that Westmoreland is not to be quoted directly, but only as 'US military officials' or a 'military spokesman'. Only briefly read by us, but topics include civilian deaths, blame attributed to the Viet Cong and ARVN, inflated body counts, enemy weaponry, anti-mining efforts, an Army guerilla expert's assessment that victory would require five years and up to two million men, the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the black market and pilferage, the necessity of fighting 'a war of attrition', and more. Of particular interest are 'off the record' discussions of air strikes along the Cambodian border, increased Viet Cong troop strength, enemy troops and the extension of American armored forces into Laos and along the DMZ, the effectiveness of B-52 bombings, increasing American troops levels, the poor state of the leadership of the ARVN, etc. With a period photo of Westmoreland reviewing troops. An excellent research grouping!

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August 25, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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