50 years ago today, July 28, in sunny Vietnam-land - Where were you?

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:17:19 -0400

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

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.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 9:18 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:18:21 -0400

I wasn't even born yet.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Jul 28 at 2015 9:23 AM

SSgt Terry P. — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:23:28 -0400

i was less than 2 weeks from being 18 yo and wandering how long it would be before i got drafted

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 9:47 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:47:19 -0400

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.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jul 28 at 2015 8:22 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 20:22:26 -0400

Sweet indeed! History coming alive.

Response by MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht made Jul 28 at 2015 9:07 PM

MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 21:07:09 -0400

Yep, the dumb bunny got us into it and used Social Security money to do it. We were going to do what the French could not. WRONG. I was in and out of Nam. I Don't remember where I was 50 YEARS AGO. Hell if I don't go to church on Sunday, I don't even know what day it is --or care. They are all the same. 82

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 9:52 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 21:52:30 -0400

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S., I wasn't in Vietnam yet. In December, 1965 I was drafted.. On June 3, 1966, I was in Vietnam. Were you in Vietnam in 1965?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 28 at 2015 10:24 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 22:24:41 -0400

I was a gleam in my father's eye.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Jul 29 at 2015 1:52 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 13:52:27 -0400

I was still being carried by my father in his nether regions while he was IN Nam.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Feb 2 at 2016 4:16 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 16:16:45 -0500

As I remember we were two months away from boarding the troop ship Gordon for our all expense paid trip to sunny when not raining RVN oh the memories!