European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 22, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                                St -1 a us Waw i Juriw �i9ik los  a Ste a America settled Down to its longest War logistics became crucial and workmen transformed Sandy wastes of Cam Ranh Bay into Busy efficient port. Support with changes in perhaps with  Ica Ted to diem that he Wasing support from his own that at the same time he the Confidence of american ays Charles Vonluttichau ivorian in the army s office history. Diem suddenly Elf in isolation and he was about  urn indicated to the general Der diem that if they did t inst him and especially brother Ngo Dinh Nhu t have support and under Vonluttichau says. On nov. 1, 1963, the key generals of the South vietnamese armed forces Laid siege to diem s Palace in Saigon. Diemand Nhu fled but were caught and assassinated by rebels. Gen. Harkins who was a Friend of diem in that turbulent time says after the diem demise things got Little worse out in the country and we could see that the vietnamese weren table to hold their own this is when the americans started to come in an they went into the search and Clear operations and search and destroy with larger , americans were advisers teach ers of defense As Well As helpmate in building South Vietnam so it would Havethe internal strength to resist communist takeover. Then came August 194 Ami the events in the Gulf of Tonkin that changed America to a Warrior. The destroyers Maddox and c. Turne Joy were attacked by North vietnamese it boats the United states retaliated with a massive air strike against their bases and president Johnson got con Gressional authority to take All Neces sary measures to repel any armed at tack against the forces of the unite states and to prevent further Daggres  americans had become aware of Viet Nam of such places As the la Drang Valley of Khe Sanh Plesku Dak to con Thien Hue. They became familiar with the Iron Triangle opera Tion Cedar Falls operation Junction Junction City. Troop strengths went from Gen. Wil Liams 481 advisers to Harkins 1,500 they were 22,000 when he left in 1964 to 208,800 in 1965, to 460,300 in 19h6, to More than 500,000 today. The weekly casualty reports became larger. One Hundred. Two Hundred. Four  weekly average this Spring is push ing 500 and the total figure since to Davis died is near 25,000. Ian a. 1968 of bulb he Hbl bomb by a Hiim him a a p \ Rundus Vietnam chief Gen. Westmoreland directed major buildup of . Forces in . Paul d. Harkins Here trying local wine was second u.5. Vietnam crier. The stars and stripes Page 13