Posted on Jul 28, 2015
50 years ago today, July 28, in sunny Vietnam-land - Where were you?
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Lyndon B. Johnson: The President's News Conference July 28, 1965 "Flower of our Youth"
I do not find it easy to send the flower of our youth, our finest young men, into battle.
Monthly draft calls to be raised from 17,000 to 35,000!
During a noontime press conference, President Johnson announces he will send 44 combat battalions to Vietnam increasing the U.S. military presence from the present 75,000 to 125,000 men.
Johnson also said that he would order additional increases if necessary.
He pointed out that to fill the increase in military manpower needs, the monthly draft calls would be raised from 17,000 to 35,000 but he declined to activate the Reserve and National Guard.
At the same time, Johnson reaffirmed U.S. readiness to seek a negotiated end to the war, and appealed to the United Nations and any of its member states to help further this goal.
There was an immediate reaction throughout the world to this latest escalation, with communist leaders attacking Johnson for his decision to send more troops to Vietnam.
Most members of Congress were reported to favor Johnson’s decision, while most U.S. state governors, convening for their annual conference, also supported a resolution backing Johnson.
This decision to send more troops was regarded as a major turning point, as it effectively guaranteed U.S. military leaders a blank check to pursue the war.
Johnson's announcement represented a quantum leap in the American commitment and was followed quickly by massive increases in the number of U.S. troops deployed to South Vietnam.
"I have asked the commanding general, General Westmoreland, what more he needs to meet this mounting aggression.
He has told me. And we will meet his needs.
We cannot be defeated by force of arms. We will stand in Vietnam."
"...I do not find it easy to send the flower of our youth, our finest young men, into battle.
I have spoken to you today of the divisions and the forces and the battalions and the units, but I know them all, every one.
I have seen them in a thousand streets, of a hundred towns, in every state in this union-working and laughing and building, and filled with hope and life.
I think I know, too, how their mothers weep and how their families sorrow."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-C57Ap89LI
During a noontime press conference, President Johnson announces he will send 44 combat battalions to Vietnam increasing the U.S. military presence from the present 75,000 to 125,000 men.
Johnson also said that he would order additional increases if necessary.
He pointed out that to fill the increase in military manpower needs, the monthly draft calls would be raised from 17,000 to 35,000 but he declined to activate the Reserve and National Guard.
At the same time, Johnson reaffirmed U.S. readiness to seek a negotiated end to the war, and appealed to the United Nations and any of its member states to help further this goal.
There was an immediate reaction throughout the world to this latest escalation, with communist leaders attacking Johnson for his decision to send more troops to Vietnam.
Most members of Congress were reported to favor Johnson’s decision, while most U.S. state governors, convening for their annual conference, also supported a resolution backing Johnson.
This decision to send more troops was regarded as a major turning point, as it effectively guaranteed U.S. military leaders a blank check to pursue the war.
Johnson's announcement represented a quantum leap in the American commitment and was followed quickly by massive increases in the number of U.S. troops deployed to South Vietnam.
"I have asked the commanding general, General Westmoreland, what more he needs to meet this mounting aggression.
He has told me. And we will meet his needs.
We cannot be defeated by force of arms. We will stand in Vietnam."
"...I do not find it easy to send the flower of our youth, our finest young men, into battle.
I have spoken to you today of the divisions and the forces and the battalions and the units, but I know them all, every one.
I have seen them in a thousand streets, of a hundred towns, in every state in this union-working and laughing and building, and filled with hope and life.
I think I know, too, how their mothers weep and how their families sorrow."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-C57Ap89LI
Posted in these groups: 
Vietnam War
Military History
Vietnam War Military History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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I was 9 years old, living in Texas where my dad was working on B-52s if I remember correctly. I was on summer break and busy falling off a tool shed in our backyard when we weren't dodging twisters and tumbleweed.
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SGT (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see), Lucky you. The 60's-70's wasnt a very joyful time to be in the military. It was three times more terrible in Vietnam, but very terrible when you got back.
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