William Westmoreland Biography

Appointed Commander of US Military Assistance Command in Vietnam

Appointed Commander of US Military Assistance Command in Vietnam

US victory in west-central Vietnam near the Kampuchean border

Arc Light sorties hit Laos. 82 B-52Ds are modified to carry 42 750-pound bombs. B52s are deployed for bombing in tth Vietnam against Battle targets & Viet Cong bases

Highlights greater than expected North Vietnamese penetration into South Vietnam

Requests substantial US combat forces for the war in Vietnam

General Westmoreland requests 2 battalions of US Marines to protect the American air base at Da Nang from 6000 Vietcong

The 1st US combat troops arrive in Vietnam as 3500 Marines land at China Beach to defend the American air base at Da Nang

McNamara & Westmorland agree to use B52s for conventional bombing in South Vietnam

McNamara, Westmoreland, Wheeler, William Bundy & Ambassador Taylor recommend to the President sending another 40,000 combat soldiers

Operation Light I, bombing of Ben Cat Special Zone Viet Cong base, a limited success

Receives expanded US combat forces after Johnson's escalation decision

82 B-52Ds are modified to carry 42 750-pound bombs

Commands US strategy during the Ia Drang campaign

B-52s support US ground forces for the 1st time

Cables Washington requesting 200,000 more troops in 1966

Arc Light sorties hit Laos

Arc Light sorties hit Laos

Urges expansion of ground operations in Laos & Kampuchea. Requests 200,000 troops, rising to 670,000

Tells US audiences that progress is being made in Vietnam

Tells US audiences that the war is showing progress

Appointed Chief of Staff for the US Army

Appointed Chief of Staff of the Army

Orders Operation Niagra after the Viet Cong strke Khe Sanh

Commands US forces as communist attacks hit cities across South Vietnam

Commands US forces during the Tet Offensive

The monthly sortie rate is increased to 1,800

McNamara approves a sortie rate of 1,200 effective from 1st Feb