0 - The Black Vault

THE BDM CORPORATION
thus releasing French forces for mobile operations. General Navarre also
intended to form more light mobile battalions, and he expected reinforcements
from France. With additional US arms and equipment for his forces,
Navarre planned to hold the Red River Delta and Cochinchina while building
up his mobile reserves. By avoiding decisive battles during the dry season
from October 1953 to April 1954, Navarre hoped to assemble his mobile
strike forces for an offensive that by 1955 would result in a draw at
least.
The military plan had a pacification counterpart that would secure
the dreas under Viet Minh influence.
His plans were unsuccessful, however, despite increased US
shipments of arms and equipment. The French politely but firmly prevented
American advisers and General O'Daniel from intervening in what they considered
tneir own business.
Following instructions from Paris to block the
communist advance into Laos, General Navarre in November 1953 decided to
occupy and defend Dien Bien Phu.
This fatal decision was based on grave
miscalculations, and the Viet Minh overran Dien Bien Phu on 8 May 1954.
Their tactical victory marked the end of effective French military operations
in the first Indochina War, although fighting continued until 20
July, the date the Geneva Accords were signed.26/
After the Geneva Accords and the signing of the SEATO treaty
the US moved to replace the French in South Vietnam, Ambassador Heath
presented Ngo Dinh Diem, then premier, a letter from President Eisenhower
wherein the president asserted the willingness of the US
South Vietnamese
to assist the
"in developing and maintaining a strong, viable state,
capable of resisting attempted subversion or aggression through military
means," but he hinged the offer upon "performance on the part of the GVN
undertaking needed reforms "27/ Furthermore, the president directed thdZ
American assistance would go direct to Diem's government and not through
the French as before.
Although several key advisers 28/
to President Eisenhower
felt Premier Diem should be replaced because he seemed to lack the leadership
qualities needed to overcome divisive elements, Diem was able to
dominate the opposing religious sects (Cao Dai and Hoa Hao), put down the
in
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