0 - The Black Vault

THE RDM CORPORAT!ON
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erwergency manpower needs; therefore, there was a continuing effort to huild
bvt-ong and responsive REserve forcE throughout tlo Vietnam conflict..
The US forces build up in V-etnam caued increased pressure for a
Reserve call-up to replace the regular troops and draftees sert overseas.
In that respect, this chapter will determine the extent to which the mobilization
of the Reserve and National Guard force• was considered by the
Presid:ent and his aoviseis during .he early build up period. In ad'dition,
there will be an examination of the rationale behi:,o the decision not to
mobilize the Reserves until the Pueblo crisis and Tet Offensive in 1968.
Furthe-e. the decision not to mobilize in 1965 and the decision for the
partial mobilization in 1968 will both be contrasted as to their impact on
the war, US armed forces, and US society in general... See Figure 4-1 for
data on US trooo st.rength during crises,
B. MOBILIZATION OF ThE RESERVES: A DIFFICULT PRESIDENTIAL DECISION
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Many military leaders felt that the manner ;n which the Reserve components
were treated during the Vietnam coo'lict was in error. Others
thought their use was appropriate, Li order to have a better understanding
of the mobilization issue, the period of US involvement in Viet,,am i5
reviewed and assessed below, Before beginning the aszessment of the Vietnam
involvement phdse, however, appropriate background information is
provided in rdr tn- set the stage fur this study.
1:. Background
During the Korean War,
the Conqress passed legislation placing a
theoretical military obligation on all physically and mentally qualified
males between
the ages of 18-1/2 and 26 for a total of eight years of
combined active and Reserve military service
The Reserves were divided
into two categories -- The Ready Reserve, which could be ordered to duty on
declaration of an emergency by the P-esider,t and in numbers aitL, rized by
Congress, and the Standby 'eseý,ve, which could be ordered to duty only in
war or emergency declared by Congress.
The system had many weaKnesses; therefore, in 1955, the Congress,
at the urning of -'resident Cisenhow•r, pnased new Reserve legislation.