Oral history transcript, Robert M. Montague, interview 1 (I), 9/27/1985, by Ted Gittinger

Title:

Oral history transcript, Robert M. Montague, interview 1 (I), 9/27/1985, by Ted Gittinger

Number of Pages:

51

Description:

Montague's involvement in Hop Tac; the intended cooperative nature of Hop Tac; why Hop Tac was unsuccessful; security as the first priority in village pacification; differences of opinion between Colonel Jasper Wilson, General William DePuy and Montague; Special Assistant Robert Komer's staff; the goals of pacification; Komer's personality; Montague's role on Komer's staff projects to stabilize the Vietnam economy; the PROVN (The Program for the Pacification and Long Term Development of South Vietnam) study and General Harold K. Johnson; the purpose of the Office of Civil Operations (OCO) and Montague's role in it; the relationship between Komer and Deputy Ambassador William Porter; why OCO was unsuccessful; LBJ's idea to make Komer an ambassador in charge of MACV (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam); the role of the Office of Civil Operation and Revolutionary Development Support (CORDS); coordination between military and pacification strategies; the Chieu Hoi program; the Revolutionary Development (RD) cadre program; Frank Scotton and John Stervaggio's roles in RD; the Ap Doi-Moi program; pacification efforts by the U.S. Marines; the hamlet evaluation system; the effect of the Tet offensive on pacification; advanced warning of the Tet offensive; CORDS' evaluation of RD in provinces; aspects of the Tet offensive that were unprecedented; the Accelerated Pacification Program; comparing Komer to his successor, William Colby; Montague's return to the U.S. and work in the chief of staff's office under General DePuy; obstacles to Montague's promotion; members of the press who covered pacification; Montague ignoring orders not to talk to the press; the effect of the Vietnam experience on the U.S. army as a whole and the idea of a volunteer force; Montague's interaction with General Bernard Rogers; the success of the volunteer army.

Contributor:

Montague, Robert M.

Collection:

LBJ Library Oral Histories

Collection Description:

Go to List of Holdings

Series:

Transcripts of LBJ Library Oral Histories

See Also:

See all online interviews with Robert M. Montague

Relation:

Go to Interviewee bio page

Rights:

Possibly copyright restricted: see deed at end of transcript for details