Showdown in Vietnam
Showdown in Vietnam
At Pleiku, 250 miles north of Saigon, a United States airbase was ripped by Vietnamese Communist guerrillas. Eight Americans died in the attack. This brought swift retaliation by US and South Vietnamese forces. From carriers and land bases 49 jets struck back at staging areas just across the border in North Vietnam. First official word of the retaliatory attacks came from Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in a briefing for newsmen. In the first raid land-based planes were forced back by the weather, but the carrier jets completed their strike with the loss of one plane.The confrontation between the Reds and the West was the most critical since the Gulf of Tonkin incident last summer when the U.S. replied just as swiftly to north Vietnam PT-boat attacks. The second raid came the next day when South Vietnamese pilots hit at other bases across the border. Asian reaction was that the two Red powers, Red China And Russia, had lost face in the East-West showdown. Meanwhile, McGeorge Bundy arrives home from Saigon where he had been during the attack and counter-attack. Mr. Bundy confers with the President and the National Security Council and says political and religious factions in South Vietnam and how more united in fighting the Vietcong. Vietnam Pleiku, the airbase was attacked by Vietnamese Communist guerrillas, pictures of the aftermath. The leftover of a jet plane, disintegrated by the heat of the fire. Army barracks after being shelled by motor fire. Some of the personal belongings that belonged to some of the soldiers. United States Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, pointing to a Pleiku in Vietnam. "Immediately following the attack US Representatives in Saigon met with the Representatives of South Vietnamese Government. They jointly agreed that joint retaliatory action was required. The President's approval of this action was given after the action was discussed with, and recommended by the National Security Counsel at a meeting held at between 7:45 PM and 9:00 PM last night." Cue stick pointing to different areas of the map of Vietnam. Vietnam Aerial shot - US Aircraft Carrier making its way through the sea. US Jet taking off the deck of the carrier. US Pilot climbing up to get into his cockpit of his jet. Both Pilot and Co-Pilot in the plane and ready to take off. US Air Force. Plane taking off down the tarmac and gaining altitude. A Hawk Round to Air Missile. A Hawk Round to Air Missile sitting on its launching pad. Different view of the Hawk Missile. Military building - Camp Holloway. McGeorge Bundy shaking hands with high ranking military personal. McGeorge Bundy meets and holds a conference with Lt. General Cann. US Military Officer pointing to the damage done to the air field and planes to McGeorge Bundy at Pleiku Air Field in Vietnam. Eight Field Hospital - Ward III. McGeorge Bundy walking out of the hospital with army officers. Wounded men laying in their hospital beds. Head wound - American Soldier. Washington DC Exterior shot - White House winter time. Newsreel men. McGeorge Bundy speaking at the podium on the White House grounds. McGeorge Bundy, "I finally had an opportunity to talk frankly and freely with them. They again emphasize the overriding importance in South Vietnam of the contest against the Communists. They emphasize what the political leaders have done. The importance and their own dedication to the importance to the task of forming a stable and effective political society under a stable and effective government in that country. A view which of course we share. And I think its fair to say, that the Americans in Vietnam have a very good heart and are prepared to continue even against this kind of danger and this kind of sneak attack. Let me say one more thing about that sneak attack, that in a war of this kind in which there are no fixed lines, in which there are large territories that are lightly inhabited and that are essentially jungle and mountainous in character, I know of no military man who believes that without overwhelming assignment that local defense forces that it is possible to guarantee against this kind of sneak attack. This is the sort of thing that all Americans in the area know it, of which we simply have to contend while we prosecute in company with government and people of South Vietnam a contest against Communisism which is of the highest importance to our National Interest."