5.11.2011

Thursday, May 11, 1961: Vietnam

President Kennedy approves National Security Action Memorandum 52 "to prevent Communist domination of South Vietnam; to create in that country a viable and increasingly democratic society, and to initiate, on an accelerated basis, a series of mutually supporting actions of a military, political, economic, psychological and covert character." It authorizes several means to that end, including sending in 400 U.S. Special Forces soldiers and 100 military advisers to teach the South Vietnamese guerrilla-type tactics.

* Contents of memorandum (from JFK library): @
* "A Program of Action to Prevent Communist Domination of South Vietnam" (from Vietnam Task Force, May 1961): @
* "Guerrilla Warfare and Special Forces Operations" (U.S. Army publication, September 1961): @

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