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FGl/l/A4-J 31 Serial: 055 15 June 1955

Subj: Emeua~ion Operations in Vllil'NiUl; report of

R~r: (a) CTF 90 Itr }~3/1)A4-3 serial 4 of 3 Jan 1955

Encl: (1)

(2) (3) (4) (5) ~6) (~l (9)

StllJlllary of Operations Part I - Narra ~i va p=~ II - Chronology Part III - S~atis~ical Summary Command Structure Comments and Recommendations - Intelligence ~ Comments and Recommendations - Loeistics COim!\ents and RceolJt:1endations - Hedical Cor:rnents and Recommendations - Communications Com'lonts and Reconuendations - Public Information Swmnary of Recommendations Photographic Coverage

1. On 1S I·;ay 1955 the DmOCHINA evacuation known as the nPassage to Freedom" >/as completed. A rep~rt, of operations of the U. S. Navy's sea lift during the first three months (8 August 1954 through 15 November 1954) is contained in reference (a). This report is a continuation of reference (a), and covers the remainder of the operation. COI,lPHIBGRU ONE's recommendations are sllllt:!arized in enclo=e (8).

2. For a~~strative reasons, on 1 April 1955, the task force nlll'lsrical designator of the forees involved ,·ras changed from TF 90 to TG 50.1. This report is limited to the participation of TF 90/ TG 50.1 and does not include the activities of other U. S. agencies such as HAAG I1llJOCHIIIA, USIA, USOH, etc., which presumab1;r will be covered by their reports.

3. During the en~ire operation, the U. S. Navy evacuated 310,g48 persons 63,757 tons of military cargo, and .8135 military vehicles. Th~re ,·/ere 1S4 births and 66 deaths aboard ships under U. S. Navy .:lontrol.

4. The operations spocifically covered by this report have served to reaffirm the conclusions set forth in paragraph 6 of reference (a),

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and hence l.zil.l not be repeated hare.

FG1/l/I.4-J )1 Serial: 055 15 June 1955

5. Th" Hr.JOCHINA evacuation "Gain Cmph"3ized the aboolu~c nccoc.oity for tl," closest possiblo coordination and mutual, cooperative effort between participating forces. The orderly and highly successful acco~pli3hment of this evacuation was in no small part due to the excellent te~ork achieved by the commands and agencies involved.

J2 ~~A-~ IRVING T. DUKE

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Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHIBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3,1955

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PART I

NARRATIVE

1. Background. First Phases of INDOCHlNA Evacuation.

a. A great many factorn underlay' the U. S. decision to provide shipping to nsslst in tho c7nc.uution of NOliTll VIETNAM, in implcrncntaUon of the GonflVa. Conference Agreement of 21 July 1954. These factor!], exi3ting against 0. bac!cgr'Ounc.1 of almost c~rtain inadequacy of available FHENCH shipping fonned the basis for the detennination of the miseions of Task Force 90 Shipping deployed in INDOCHINA waters and of CTF 90. Briefly, they may be set down:

(1) The humanitarian desire to provide transportation for thos .. civilian residents of NOHTH VI~NAM who desired to live under ~he government of SOUTH VIETNAM. rather than the VIET MINH conquerors and who otherwise might not be able to achieve this goal.

(2) The desire to prevent military equipment, most importantly military equipment purchased through U. S. Mutual Defense Assistance Program funds, from falling into the hands of the VIET MINH.

(3) The desire to demonstrate to the people of SOUTHEAST ASIA the U. S. detennination to assist them in combating and escaping Communism wherever it appeared.

(4) The need to m~intain close liaison with FRENCH and VIETNAMESE authorities in order to accomplish the above aims.

The U. S. position in regard to the Geneva Conference Agreement was somewhat anomalous; the U. S. was not a signatory power; and yet, once the Agreement was in effect, the aecomplishment of the above goals which rell within its purview was elearly in the best interests of the United States. U. S. authorities in INDOCHINA, however, remained in a purely advisory and aSSisting position, necessarily so because of the de facto political relation which the U. S. government had toward the Geneva Conference Agreement.

b. Perhaps the most important provisions of the Agreement with I

respect to the effect on the employment of U. S. shipping, were those which established evacuation ~ones &.~d evacuation schedules. At the time of the signing of the Agreement virtually the whole of the industrial and heavily-populated TONKIN DELTA wee in FRENCH-VIETNAMESE hands. The Agreement provided that by 10 October 1954, FRENCH-VIETNAMESE military forces must withdraw from the greater portion of this area, including the city of HANOI; and that qy 30 October 1954, a further withdrawal of FRENCH-VIETNAMESE~itar.r units must be made behind a new line which excluded the city of HAIDUONG. The remaining, or third zone, which became known as the HAIPHONG perimeter, was a relatively small area,

ENCLOSURE (1)

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aY~;r:\!:.inr. 15 to 20 mile:J in radius, which W<\3 to be eVilCua ted prior to 18 Poy 1955. It was implicitly underotooc\ by all partie3, th.~t concurrentlj" wi.t.h the withdrm,,,l of military units, the tot"lity of FIUJICIIVH;TP,NESje influence would disappear; while the treaty provided for the frl.:~t~ p.;\,ssar,c of civilirulS at nwuerOU:l desienated points between the FRENCH :md the VIET MllH zones of influence and looked toward the continuance of reasonably normal trade relations, the degree to which these provisions would be implemented remained in doubt until the actual withdrawal.

c ~ In the earliest dnys of the evacuation, therefore, the emphasis was on the rapid movement of as lnany personnel and as much military equipment as possible-if movement all the way to SOUTH VIETNAM was impossible, then at least movemen~ into the next evacuation zone. Estimates of the numbers of persons and amount of equipment requiring removal ran high. This resulted in the movement to INDOG~INA of more U. S. shipping than actually was required; nonetheless, the numbers of persons and amount of equipment moved in the earliest days exceeded anything that came after; and to some extent left little time or opportunity for overall coordinated planning. Thus, by 30 September 1954, U. S. shipping alone had moved o"er 115,600 passengers. Very little in the way of evacuation of civilian cargo, or civilian equipment was to be seen on the HAIPHONG docks. Evacuation of military cargo, which remained throughout the operation primarily a FRENCH shipping problem, proceeded at a regular pace, though the movement of vast amounts of military cargo into the HAIPHONG per,imeter from the more distant zones presented inventory problems that did not appear as operational difficulties until some months later.

d. Refugees throughout this period were primarily vr?:TNAi-:ESE peasants--rice farmers. It is true that large numbers of the residents of urban areas, principally HANOI, also' emigrated to SOUTH VIETNAI,;, but most of these moved by purchased transportation or qy taking advantage of the FRENCH airlift. All of these persons were able to leave their respective zones without any great restraint on the part of the VIET MINH. In brief, the problems of refugee movement in those days were problems of escape, evasion, and restraint. Atrocities were to appear later.

2. Period 10 October 1954 through 15 November 1954.

a. \1ith the closing of the HANOI and the HAIDUONG withdrawal areas, the unrestricted influx of large numbers of refugees, from inland areas into HAIPHONG dwindled to the near stopping point. It began to become clear that, the VIE'! IUNH were taking a iirm stand in opposition to tha rr.ove:nent of civilian personnel to SOUTH VIETNAM. Hethods used to restrict overland movement were not violent, especially in the days immediately following 10 October. The denial of "laissez passer" (written permission to proceed from one village to another), frequent political harangues, currenc.y and other economic restrictions, and other forms of administrative restraint were employed. By and large they were effective. In turn, however, they caused the opening of a new evacuation route. CommenCing in late October, and extending into the first 10 d~s of November, ap~roximately 20,000 refugees came to HAIPHONG qy sea. These people had literally esca~d the VIET MINI! qy proceeding to FRENCH naval vessels

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lying off the o.o"ct of NOHTI! vmTNAH in the vicinity of nUl CIIU and VAN LY in t>Tn..1.11 {;Nnpan5 tul<.i bamboo rnfts. This technique was am;J.?inely succe~~sful, parti.1.11y bccaU3e of the close co-operation between the FHE~CIl naval forcoo and the CATIlOLIC Church undereround. In several in.tonces, f'HENGIl shipo of landin(l ship type actually beached in the aroa; nnd in one case, aU. S. 'fAP acted as "hotel ship" off the VAN LY coast to receive refUGees arrivinl~ via this route. Durine this period, thcrefore, re.fullee influx roso and fell erratically but maintained a farly hiGh level.

b. Tho evacuat.ion of rt!gulnr military pcroonnel contil1u~d t.o procct~d at 3.bout tho n':UltC dnily rate. The I,'H.£NCH Arnly was oreani'l.cd to include a substantially larger number of vehicles than would nor-IMlly be organic to a force of similar size. For this reason, the FltEi';CH r,uthorities had a Great pred"ilection toward the us. of LST in the movement of th.ir units; the LST allowed them to move units intact with their vohicles and to offload them easily at the city of TOURANE, which is without normal pier facilities for deep-draft vessels. This movement of orGanized units constituted one of two important military movements going on at this time; the other had to do with the JOOvement of "depot st.ocks." As each unit moved into the HAIPHONG perimeter, it turned in its excess equipment and supplies to Base Operations, TONKIN, the }'RENCH Army Quartermaster and Engineer Depot situated in HAIPHONG. These goods, plus those already in the logistic stockpiles at HAIPHONG, at the close of the war, were regularly evacuated. This was the primary_mission of the U. S. cargo type vessels assigned to the operation; the major burden of this movement however, was borne by FRENCH commercial shipping specifically commit ten to this mission.

c. In connection with the military evacuation, two matters are worthy of special mention. U. S. authorities had earlier proved, it was thoueht, to FRENCH Army authorities, that vehicle loading aboard cargo type ships was far more practical than aboard LST. Nonetheless, throughout the operation, FRENCH Army authorities desired to obtain U. S. LST, or to retain those that were already committed. Secondly, the principal outloading port for all personnel, military and civilian, and for all cargo throughout the operation was HAIPHONG. On occasion, minor ports in the HAIPHONG area, prinCipally HON GAY and CAMPHA PORT, were used to load refugees and mili:;ary units by small craft. Principal offloading port wao SAIGON; until approximatelY 1 December 1954, however, most FlliCliCH milita.ry units (though no depot stocks) were transported to TOURAHE. (On a few occasions, other SOUTH Vll."I'NAH ports, such as CAPB ST. JACQUES, PIlAN THIET, and NHA TRANG were used.) In December 1954, however, FRENCH military build-up at TOURANE ceased, concurrently with the commencement of plans for a revised and reduced FRENCH Expeditionary Force. From that time on Virtually the only ofDoading port used Was ShlGON, a factor which arlditionally complicated LST employment.

d. It waS during this period also, that the matter of the evacuation of civilian goods and cj vilian capital equifJJ\ent first assumed importance. The industrial potential of NAl-: DIN'll, HANOI, and other large cities of the first two withdrawal zones had been largely abandoned, primarily through the lack of time, hut perhaps also because some business firms and in.dividuals felt that a "business as usual" policy with the VIET MINH could


ENCLOSURE (1)

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be f'!fl't!ctuaLctl. After 30 October, however, with the clonlnp, of the IIAIIlOllN,; sector, t.ho I\ttention of civilIan and military official" Wo1"

Mt.ul'"lly drawn to tho possIbility of removin£: the maxumllD possible amount of e'luipment of potenti..11 U"e to the V n;T t41NH. As noted nuove, however, the mRtter first became one of jmport.ancc during this period. In carlJr November, a survey Hn,5 made of the heavy minine equipment, especially the extremely large trucks, reguVlrly employed in the mines at liuN GAY. The equipment was obvIously of both mUitary and indllstri(ll value; in addition, much of it wan U. S. funded. Every effort. wa::; to be put for.;:trd to move this equipment south. It was during this sarne period th,t the prop".al of U. S. movement of approximately 150 fishing families, and their boats, from BAlE D'ALONG to SOU'rH VIb'TNAM was first presented. This proposal, attractive as it was in overall objective, proved on clos!! examination not to be fea,ible.

e. By 15 November 1954, a total of 159,654 civilian passengers, 1),657 military passengers, 5,791 vehicles and 2S,102 short tons of CareD h~d been evacuated by U. S. ships. These figures constituted approximately one-third of all personnel and materials that had been moved from the TONKIN DELTA. Refugee influx had dwindled to the point where it was believed that one TAP would be sufficient to meet U. S. shipping commitments in that area. The remaining two TAP still under the operational control of Commander Task Group 90.S had been profitably employed in transporting the large group of sea escapees that had come from BUI CHU and VAN LY. Increased VIET MINH vigilance and beach patrol had effectively closed that route, however. These two TAP were tem~rarily retained beyond 15 November 1954 in view of recurring reports of an extrL~ely large group of VIETNAM>;SE civilians (estimates ranged from 20,000 to 40,000) that had congregated in the vicinity of the city of PilAT DIE!~. These people reportedly.had originally come to PHAT DHM to present specific complaints to the INTERNATIONAL OONTROL COMlHSSION that had been created to enforce the Geneva Conference Agreement; reports further indicated, however, that now their intent was to emigrate to SOUTH VIETNAM. When the influx from PHAT DIEM did not take place, the re~~ining two TAP were released from the INDOCHINA operation. Ultimately, approximately 11,000 persons came from the PH AT DIEM pool to HAIPHONG for further evacuation, but arrivals were fairly evenly spaced and did not commence until 24 November.

f. The FRENCH A~ had evacuated the majority of the vehicles and organic units that were to be evacuated until the final months of FRENCH occt!pation. FRENCH Art!'J' authorities in HAIPHONG join~d, t.hArefore, in the view that the further employment of U. S. Navy LST was unnecessary, although th~y requested the privilege of re-call on short notice. Emphasis in November, December and January waS therefore to be placed on the evacuation of "depot stocks"; this consideration warranted the retention of 4 CI~~VI type vessels in the INDOCHINA theater. As a result of the above analysis, Commander Task Force 90 determined that the composition of Task Group 90.8 after 15 November. should consist of one TAP, 4 C]}~VI types, no LST, no LSD, and 1 APD for flagship purposes. This organi2ation went into effect shortly after 15 November. U. S. authorities fully realized thRt the final months of tho evacuation would probably reouire the commitment of additional U. S. shipping, but the task organization outlined above was deemed surficient for the intermediate months; in the

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m.:\in, this conclurdon was jl15ti fi.f!Cl Ly even ~,? n3 thoy dcvelopr~(L On 15 November 195h, Comnander hmphibious Sf}uauron ONg asswncd corm,und, ns Conm:U\c!er Tn:Jk Group <)0.8, of local oca operations. Commrtndcr Tank Force1 90 dep"rted the INIXJCHINA urea, while retaining overall command of the INOOCHINA evaCu1\tion under the oper1\tional control of Conrnander in Chicf, Pacific Fleet.

3. Period 16 Novonber 1951, through 23 January 1955.

a. Throup,hout this period, refugee influx from out"ide the perimeter remained fnit'ly constant, nVt.'l'at~inlj about 300 persons p~r day cturine the earl~' p.1.rt. of the period, and Gradually mounting to about 500 per.!;on:::; per day tOl'o'n.rd the end. These refugees were those who, by some deviou~ moans man<l(;od to reach HAIPHONG overland, generally through the use of fulee or rc-used passports. The most comman device was to proceed to HAliOI or HAIDUONG, obtain in some fashion legitimate or illegitimate permission fe'r rail travel, and ride the train into HAIPHONG. Grimly enour,h, it was now for the first time that refugee influx from outside the perimeter could be predicted "ith rca30nable certainty. The factor that ensured some certainty was the strictness of the VIl.!."'T MrrlH measures to prevent large scale overland movements. There were, however, three separate incidents during this period which affected the refugee influx picture. The first of these was the arrival of approximately 12,000 of the "PHAT DIEt-! GrrOUp" who reached HAIPHONG over a period of 10 da:;s comnencing 24 November 1954. This group "as assimilated into the refugee camps, and into the TAP schedule without undue difficulty. The second was the last successful coastal pick-up operation which occurred in the region of VINH, and which brought approximately 3,000 refugees into HALoHONG in the last week in Decffinber. These also would have been assimilated into refugee camps and shipping schedules without difficulty had it not been for the delay in the return of the GENEl!AL HO'tiZE from her logistics period in SUBIC BAY-. That period had been carefully scheduled after a close scrutiny of all available refugee information. The original schedule, which called for the absence ·of the GENllRAL HO'II'ZE from the INDOCHINA area for logistics from II December to 23 December, .'Culd not have unduly crowded refugee camps; however, the necessity to rewind a vent motor servicing engine room spaces delayed the return of the HO~ZE until 27 December. Those few days were fairly critical, and it was at that time that the most crowded conditions existed in the camps. The FRENCH alleviated this condition by re-instituting their airlift of refugees.

b. The third and most important occurrence in the refugee picture, '\-!~S the beginning, about 1 December 1951"" of an lIeva.cuation spiritlf in HAIPHONG. Prior to that time, very little of either personnel or material permanent.ly in HAIPHONG had been moved. On that date, however, H. CONI'AIGN, who formerly had exercised all civil authority of the FRENCH government in NORTHERN VIETNAM, relin~uished his powers to General COGNY, who thereafter was both civH and military head of FRr;NCH interests. On the same date, General COGNY announced that the FRENCH government would not guarantee the security or tho ~rderly evacuation of any civilian in HAIPHONG after 1 February 1955; prior to that date, they would assist in every way possible. The result was a new kind of "refugee"-the per~~nent HAIPHONG resident, or perman~nt resident of the territories rema;ning within the HAIPHONG perimeter. A great many of these were

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CHINi;;,.,E. On 29 D~cm!ber, tho GENERAL 1l0WZE carried a pa,.engcr load t.1"t HUS largely made up of this eroup. Estimates varied as to the nu:nber of persons in this eroup who would desire to emigrate, but tho fiVlre of 100,000 was accepted by many conservative officials having to do wH.h the refueee movement. Coupled with the steady influx from outside the pC'rimeter, tho totol number of expected refueee. exceeded the capacity of one tJ. S. TAP. It was for this re·ason that Conrnander Task Group 90.8 recommended to Comnnnder Task Force 90 in early JanuarJ that an additional TAP be made available for INDOCHINA operations. Thi. recom:>tenc\ation was approved by Con"Mder Task Force 90 follo>ling personal conference with CO:l1lIl:mMr Task Group 90.8 on 22 January and CHMAAG INDOCHINA on 26 January 1955.

c. Evacuation of intact military units with organic equipment proceed8d at. a regular pace by means of FRENCH merchant shipping during the early part of the period. Orir,inal FIl.l!:NCH plans called for the maintenance in the HAIPHONG perimeter of a force of 22,000 men and about .3,500 vehicles from 1 February 1955 until the final months of the evacuation. On 22 November U. S. authorities were informed that plans had been revised to provide for the evacuation of an additional 1,500 vehicles prior to 1 February, reducing the number of vehicles to be retained correspondingly. (However, one of the most uncertain factors about military evacuation in INDOCHINA was the fact that at virtually every inventory of vehicles, the n\~ber of vehicles on hand in NOIl.TH VIETNAM increased by substantial numbers.) On the basis of this additional evacuation requirement, imposed by General ELY, over-all FRENCH commander in INDOCHINA, FRENCH military authorities requested, on 24 Novanber that four HSTS LST (JAPANESE manned) be deployed to INDOCHINA for a period of six weeks, C<lmnencing about 15 Dec ... ber 1954. The use of this type of shipping \ias initially opposed by CT.F 90 because of logistic and language difficulties, but most importantly because the INDOCHINA evacuation, administrative in character, was sim~ly not suited to a profitable employment of LST. On the other hand, FRENCH authorities had good reasons for the request; LST were the most convenient form of shipping for evacuating t!1eir vehicles with the units to which the vehicles were regularly assigned, and since the offloading port was TOURANE, the problem of offloading was considerably simplified. The FRENCH request was favorably endorsed by Chief Military Assistance Advisory Group, INDOCHINA, and appro'/ed by Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet. The first MSTS LST arrived in HAIPHONG on 14 December 1954, and all four had loaded and sailed by 17 December 1954. Language barriers were eliminated by virtue of the fact that Co~~nder Military Sea Transportation Service, Western Pacific Area, had provided three shore-based liaison officials of the American Shipping Co.mpany ,all of whom spoke English and performed their function most competently; and three EngliSh-speaking radio operators per ship. Very little in the way of communications difficulties was experienced.

d. Rumor persisted for many weeks that the FRENCH intended to cut drastically their forces remaining after 1 February 1955, far below the '-2,000 figure. Eventually, U. S. authorities learned that the revised plan called for a reduction to 18,000. The evacuation of military personnel neVer posed a problem.

6 E.'1CLOSURE: (1)


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e. f.hjor mi.lit:1t"y evncunUon emph,,::;i3 during tho per:iod" tl.G notl'Jd" \ .... no on the rcrnov:ll of dCPJt. t.t~oc!-::J. The over-nil plan c:Jll(!d foI' the CV:l.Cu.lti.on of 1" 500 lOlltj tons pm~ dny ctnring November" 2,,(1)0 lonG t.l"' ... ns per d,1Y duri.ng December and 1,,000 long t,ono per d<l.y during Jo.nu:'ll'"}·. No difficulty W..l5 encountered i.n mcel..ing thi& schedule; November eonls \"'l~rc: excoeded, which r(.~d\lced tho amount of mat.erial evacuated dllrine December. I3y tho end of December, F!{~NCH authorities indeed were in the position of di[;ging for CareD. Other. than specific loads of cement and asphalt (3 each), it was clear qy the beginning of December, that if the FIll<:''1CH would not accept tho proposition of vehicle loadine on CIM/,VI type vessels, only 2 of these ships could be profitabl.v employed. Ouring December and the early p<,rt of January, U. S. CII~AVI ships were employed in the lifting of available remaining milita~ equipment, plus the cement and asphalt that belonged to the FRENCH Army or VIETtlAl-lESE government. On the completion of these latter missions, Commander Task Group 90.8 recommended to Commander Task Force 90 that the number of CIl-fAVI types b. reduced to two. By the end of Janu~, "depot stocks" other than those required for the support of the troops to remain after 1 Februa~ 1955, were for all practical purposes evacuated. The issue of milita~ evacuation from that time on was therefore primaril.Y a matter of vehicles.

f. During December, the term "evacuation" took on a new significance. The TONKIN DELTA operation was proceeding satisfactoril.v. The overriding consideration at this time, however, grew to be the question of how much milit~ material should remain in INDOCHINA itself to suit the needs of the revised and re-oreanized FRENCH Expeditiona~ Force and the new VIETNAMESE Army. Some reduction was required. U. S. authorities "ere forced in the main to awa.it the completion of both FRENCH organizational planning and FilENCH invento~ of available e'1uipment. Directives to the Task Force commander indicated that this issue of "excess stocks" was of highest import. Designated vessels being released from evacuation duties were made available for this assienment, that' is, the removal of U. S. title equipment declared excess bw the FRENCH to some other area in which a military assistance adviso~ 9roeram was in effect. This basic problem of course was quite distinct from the mission of Task Force 90 units in INOOCHINAj in late December, Comnander in Chief, Pacific Fleet assigned the sea transportation aspects of the removal of such excess stocks from SOUTH VIETNAM, where virtuall.Y all were located, to the Milita~ Sea Transportation Service.

g. Commander Task Force 90 did become concerned with this issue, however, with respect to specificcargp still remaining in HAIPHONG, in connection with t.he employment ofi;he tints chartered SS DIDDO, which arrived at HAIPHONG on Christmas Day, 1954 to outload excess Air Force ammunition from INDOCHINA.

h. Throughout the period, the movement of civilian cargo from the HAIPHONG perimeter assumed increasing importance. The degree and manner in which U. S. shipping should participate was the cause for some confusion in the early part of November. Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet established the basic policy on 11 November 1954. This policy was that the use of U. S. controlled ships to evacuate civilian material WaS authorized, when necessa~ as a last resort, to prevent material of

7 ENCLOSURE (1)

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,":\lno flQm fo.llinr, into the hands of tho VIE'r l.aNI!. 1I0\'/1)vor, tho [>11rpon·: or thl.!-l authorization \i;\D not to provide free tran:.sportntion to civili"n concerns nor to competil with FRENCI! ohipp;'ng activities but to ( ro-oloin" " Jr.e"n" for cV-lcn:Ltion of "uch '""terial as ','auld be beyond the· C<li',hl1:lty of FRENCH sea lift and that payment of standard r.rS'fS shipping eh"r::o» ",,,s desirod from all concerns ablo to pay. Under no conditions, ,,:no civilian owned proporty to take priority over I,IDAP material. Various a.nt,lwritieG concerned "ith tho eV:\cuation adopted slir.htly (liffering int.crr'l'ct,rt.tions of this policy mesRa~o. Differences were resolved upon tl10 is"",'U1ce of Chief HAAG, INDOCHINA lctter of 30 November 1954. Thereafter, no ci,,"1.1i<1.n carGo \ ... .:1.0 to be accepted unlO:3s: (1) It \oms specifically 0stn"lislwd that the carGo l1as offered to the FHEIICI! ,mo had to declare it beyond the capOlCity of normal FIlE/ICll shipping facilities; and (2) 'r:,C shipment '''''s specifica~ approved by Chief Hilitary Asdstance and Advisory Group, INDOCHINA, representat,ives; and (3) C'IT 90 delegated authority to cro 90.8 to give 'final approvnl as to meeting the requirements of CmCPACFLT. These measures were rcgarded as necessa.r-,f to prevent anta,',onisn on the part of reGular "'!lilIlCH shipping companies" with attendant unfavorable reflection on the U.S. The end result was that only a very ne::li:;ible nmount of civilian careo, other than the barges which constituted LSD loads, was ever offered to be carried by U.S. ships. U.S. ships continued to be available, for o.ctual use, and as stimulants to the FilliNCII, to load al\V nnd nil military cargo; FRENCH Shipping of commercial nature was thus free to handle civilian car~o tmder normal procedures.

i. The shipment of civilian careo involved of course, the matter of the tl<O most important industrial facilities of the HAIPHONG perimeter; n"-"ldy, tho coal minos at llONGAY and the cement plant at HAIPHONG. Equipment in these t110 establishments was of both military and industrial usefulness. !t should be noted, .however, that to some extent its employment in its primary purpose was necessarily limited to the places where it l1as in fact located; thus, 'there are no substantial coal deposits ... in InDOCHINA other than along the HON GAY - CAHPHA coast. These questions involved, natura~, the entire future of FRENCH business interests in the VIST I;nm zone, and were the subject of lengthy conferences bet>reen FmNCH and \'DT HINII officials and businessmen. The direction toward >Thieh ne(:otio.tions \'lore tending to move "ppeared to be that U.S. funded equip-ment at the coal mines would be evacuated; and all. other equipment >lOuld be left in place. This proved to be the case. The cement plant >/as left· intact, and the coal rninine equipment >Tas evacuated in Uarch. The VIET lUI!!! naturally opposed removal, not only" of this equipment but of al\V capital producing goods or technical equipment in the HAIPHONG perimeter. The mannsr of opposition >Tas propaganda on potential unemployment, and the organization of demonstrations; these became not infrequent occurrences in HAIPHOm. It should be noted, h01<rever, that at no time ,/as there anythin::: approacl1iT1;l civil or military disturbance in HAIPHONG, for this cause or for al\V other. In m~ ''''ys it may be said that HAIPHONG during this entire period MIS one of the safest places in nlDOCllINA.

j. U. S. forces ""re intimately concerned with the removal of certain flontin.~ equi)ment that was civilian o.med. Concurrently with their request for LS'C. FRENCH authorities requested the deployment of one U·.S. lIavy LSD for tho 11ft of this equipment. The request was concurred in (

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(

I.

by lOGill U. S. conunnndnr:1, ;1.nrl :\PJlrov~d by Commander Ta~k ForCH 90. The U3S GU~3TON HALL (LSD 5) "rrived in HAIPHONG 10 Janu,lry 1955, anel rcmRined until 2$ ""bruary 1')55, completing all her "ch"duled runs.

, k. The overall situation at that tlme can be slllttnarizcd as follows:

Durins the period 16 Nov~mber 195/, through 23 January 1955, U. S. shipping lined a total of 822 milU.ary passeneers, 38,861 civilian passengers, 952 vehicles, and 31,054 short tons of cargo.

4. Period 23 January 1955 to 18 May i955.

n. On 23 January 1955, Commander Amphibious SqUadron ONE wa, relieved a5 Com,andcr Task Group 90.a by Captain A. R. ST. ANGELO, U. S. :;wy, this change of command took plnee during the lull accompanying t.he Chinese New Ycar. The lull in the evacuation extended for several d,ys beyon<i the original four day celebration period, however, by the end of the month the HOWZE was able to depart HAIPHONG on her final trip with 1,253 passengers among which was the 50,OOoth passenger evacuated aboard thnt ,hip. During February the only ship to carry passengers was the ""1m;;,; 3~:1?ilNT and she made two trips carrying 5266 refugees on 8 Feb,'u-'<ry and 5170 on 16 February.

b. Although registrations remained high, refugees actually ready to de,1art were few. On 18 February the Refugee Committee officially closed registration for the sea lift until 1 Harch. The president of the committee gave as reasons: (1) PsychologiCal effect - it was hoped to induce persons registered for evacuation to depart, and (2) time was nec~s"ary to proceGS the 17,256 local and camp refugees already regiotored for the sea lift. The tent camps were gradually closed and the refu",,,,s were moved into vacant public buildings in HAIPHONG proper.

c. On 20 February the CODINGTON suffered a main engine casualty and was to\,ed by the PICTOR into TOURAHE BAY where temporary emereency repairs ,,;.","<: effected. By the end of February, CODINGTON was sailed for 3UBIC BAY !'ar perm.r,ent, repairs. The CODINGTON was released to COMSTS,.'EST?AC on 3 r:.lrch.

d. On 6 Harch Governor LE r:UANG LUAT presided at ceremonies celebrat.ine the 500,OOoth civilian refugee to be evacuated from NORTH VnmlAM by both FH~NCH and U. S. lifts.

e. Refugee camps continued to close until by 20 Harch only CAMP UCH TR,\y remained. The. population of CAMP LACH TRAY at this time waS 2,165 with no one ready to leave. The camp population remained fairly c.)nstant and on 13 April was closed but maintained in a state of readiness to acco"modate any overflow from the newly opened CAl-iF I~RINE. It >las a3nin re~pen.d on 14 April to accommodate 1300 escapees from VINH area. CI,J.:P LACH TRhY was closed on 2/, April due to unsanitary cond!-tions and the population moved to CAMP 9 HUE DONAL. Finally on 9 Mayall refugees were evacuated frorn. the cnmpo and all campa were closed.

f. On 1 April the numerical dcsiena tors of forces engaged in the . Hi!XJCI!I!lA ev.cu"tion were changed for acbnlnistrative reasons from TF 90 to TG 50.1. CTF 90 became CTG 50.1, CTG 90.S become CTU 50.1.1 and CTU 90,8.2 became GTE 50.1.1.1. No change in personnel or composition of force. was involved. '

9 ENCLOSURE (1)


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Box 141 - PHmGRPI Serial: 4, January 3,1955

c. On 11 April Captain WALTr;R C. WINN, USN, relieved RAOM L. S. SARIll, US~, as CTG 50.1.

h. A turn around schedule of eillht days was maintained by the I'.ARINE Sr;np;;;I;T and MARINE ADDER throughout April. GENERAL Bllli)/STER joined TU 50.1.1 on ;12 April and was assigned the same type schedule. By the end of !.p.il cnmp population had dropped to 1300 and the total registered f0r sea lift was under 10,000. Throughout th~ month the FflimCH continued to air lift 200 refugees a day so the total registered for air lift at the one! of April WaS just under 16,000. In late April four T-LST joined TU 50.1.1 to assist in the evacuation of FRENCH security forces "nri org"nic equipment from the HAIPHONG perimeter to TOURANE and SAIGON. On 2$ April units of TU 50.1.1 were refueled and replenished for the fin.:U. phase of the operation.

i. On 2 May CTG 50.1 received orders at YOKOSUKA, JAPAN from CIllCPACFLT to proceed to INDOCHINA and asoume on the sCene command of the evacuation forces. On 3 Hay DIACHENKO relieved COOK as flar,nhip for CTU 50.1.1. crG 50.1 with an operational staff departed YOKOSUKA by air on 5 Hay. On 6 l-by CTG 50.1 broke hia pennant in COOK at SANGU,'Y POINT, P. I. and proceeded to HAIPHONG, arriving a Hay. Following a brief orientation by CTU 50.1.1 and a pQysical reconnaissance of the refusee Situation, CTG 50.1 assumed local command of sea operations. After conferences with RADI1 QUERVILLE and General OOGNY, CTG 50.1 in COOK departed for SAIGON on 9 May. By this date three TAP had sailed with less than 2,000 passengers e~ch since 1 May. All refugee camps were closed. No U; S. funded equipment remained in HAIPHONG.

j. On 11 and 12 May CTG 50.1 conferred in SAIGON with ALUSNA SAIGON, CI'MAAG INDOCHINA, and the oommander of the FRENCH naval forces in INDOCHHJA, VADH JOZAN, regarding U. S. naval assistance for a possible sea rescue of refugees prior to the evacuation deadline, 18 M~.

k. On 13 H~ the last U. S. ship departed HAIPHONG and the evacuation scene was shifted to DO SON. On:u. Hair crG 50.1 arrived at DO SOli to observe the final loading. During the embarkation of FRENCH securHy forces and equipment, ten refugees including a man and his infant daughter arrived for evacuation. Barefoot, hungry, and with the clothing on their backs as their only worldly possessions, these refugees had fled the city of HANOI at the last possible moment. The father with· his baby daughter had chosen freedom despite the fact that his wife refused to accompal\Y him. They were the last official refugees of the "Pas.age to Freedom" in U. S. transportation and were embarked in the GEiiC.i!A1 BREWSTER.

1. On 15 Hair CTG 50.1 assumed operational control of all U. S. ships present. Final plans were made for the sea rescue operations to be conducted 16-18 May. One TAP and one LST in excess of requirements were released. The remaining ships; COOK, DIACIlENKO, and MARINE ADDER shifted to BAlE DE LANHA where they were joined by the FRENCH naval units still in the area.

m. On 16 May all ships took stations in international waters off the coast of llIDOCHINA seaward of VINH and THANH OOA. Essentially. the plan WB" to rescue al\Y refugees who were able to escape the limits of territorial waters. By the morning of 18 May no refugeee had appeared for

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post 1 January 1946 Box 141 - PHIBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3,1955

fo ENCLOSURE (1)

(

99

, \

,

tr.:lllSl'vrtation ':1.nJ all [:hip3 dop:\rt.ud I-iOHTII VIE'il'!A1i. Rcle<lnc ordara t';~i:C ism.l..Jd to U. S, ohip::Jj oht:,ri ,dth lot.\dti llOrc reloaoed. on 'completion of offloadin:;, t,.ooo ,rithout londo tlore l'clcascd on dcpnrturc. C'fG 50.1 proeeJuerl to SAllGU,'Y and on arrival 20 Hay dissolved TG 50.1, terminating U. D. p..1.rtinipat.ion in Operation 1I1'as~[L:c to Prcedomll •

n. nnt.! cvucuation totnls for the on~ire operation by U. S. shippl.nt:: Nore:

Civilian pD.sscn;;crn l':ilitary f'~ssen:;orG.

Total passengers Careo (tons) Vehicles DarGes Denths Births

II

293,002 17,81,6

310,8411 68,757 8,135

36 66

184

h"NCLOSUllli (1)


98

Box 141 - PHIBGRPI Serial: 4, January 3,1955

r ,

p;~1],'.e :1":\ ..... ".-

'J" ;'o ......... ; .... ~, ."" 1 or:;'. ;! ... ., ........ ~; • ..:.,:~

CT:' '" ttlr~rl ov,,!" 100:1.1 co"'"~,,rl of tho :.)('~ ph~.oe of th~ IIi:)CCHI1;.\ OI"~Wl.U.C;l to C'i\} 90.8 bu~ l"Qk,i!.:x\ O'J'.:Jl'all CO''1lll<lI1rl of th'3 cr.:, o;r-orntiona m:.i,':!" CInCl',,\CFl:r. AdditioInl ol'(;;\!.'i:~.~t:io:c~l changes ware a~ f'01lo'f3: All ~h.i:.)~ and unitn lIn:;a.~~Jd. in :Uj~:CClnrL\ u"r.'\Cuacion li"9rO sa:.Ji[f,r.ad to th3 O,:;)l'",UOlul control of C'i'G ,)O.H; Cl'U 90.1:1.1 cJ.o"iL',Ila~od Cormnander l'lnbarka.tl0;1 U:1.H, IL\TI'HOM~j CW ,)0.8.2 C:J3ign:\ted CCl=dor Debarkation Unit., 5:,,:CO:J. III uthttr i:.a3k ut).3i[(tla:i:.ionfJ nul functions ware a.bolished. 'the Co;n:~'1d structura liaS ll3cabll"had as follows: CTF 90, ILWM L. S. SABm in ESTES. cm 90.8, CA.DT n. J. ,'RUIK, Jr., in USS BALDUCK. CTU 90.8.1, COP. J. H. DAVIS, on temporary ndditional duty from the st.at! o! COl-!STS, Pa.cific Arsa. CTU 90.8.2, LeDR W. !,lUnRAY, Commanding OUicer, MSTS CUtice, SAIGON, VIEWAM.

Composition. Task Group 90.8 as o! this date:

USS BALDUCK (APD 132) USS IST 855 uss IST 772 USS LST 840 USS IST 1159 USNS GENE.1.t\L HG/ZE (TAl' JJ4)

USNS MARINE LnlI (TAP 194) USNS 11ARINE ADDER (TAP 195) USliS FlillTIlESS (TAl!: 180) USNS mmmA (TAK 200) USNS BBrmPIN (nJ: 187)

Summ!Il7 ot evacuation totals as ot this da.tu (U.S. shippiDg o~)

JJ,657 Military passengers 153.807 Civilian passengers

5,791 Vehicles 27.977 Short tons cargo ~ Deaths 92 Births

Total re!ugees. HAIPHONG Camps: 11,127

15 ~rovembElr 195!i, . CTF 90 in ESTES departed IlIDOCH!llA area. cro 92.3 (Log:!.:rt:!.e 5-.lPPOrt.

Group) released by CTF 90 and disestablished,

IST 855 embarked remaining beachmast.er and boat unit personnel attached to CONNAVBCIIGRU 1, and was released. Departed HAIPHOlIG nth these personnel plus helicopters and crews from ~!a.rine Air Group 16. H.mnm Anon 'was r_ leased and departed area. BEGOR (APD 127). fonner flagship of cro 90.9. departed s.uGON tor SmGAPORl3.

16 November 195!i,

IST 772 was releaaed and departed nlDOCHIlU. area. First refugees !rom gl'oup, congregated at PIL\T DIEM. arrived in HAIPHONG atter cireuitOUB journey

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ENCLOSURE (1)

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in vn:r ;·,Il!H b~".:l.t and truck. The tot.1:1.1 reful}-:'!o influx. "'/aD very ::;ma.ll wH.1 o~l,y 61 persons in till, [7oup. lI5H5 IlERKD·1ER (TAK 108) arrivod in _1.i:o\.\::nU:A N.:l.tt:ll'O and reported to c'm ?D.tl. fIERKn-1ER commenoed reprovisio:-d;-...;: 01 other JAPM!3SE 11".anncd 'rAJ( in 'rack Group 90.8 "Idth fresh pr.wlgions from JAPAN.

17 Novo;nb~

[!(\~ 90.ct) after confo"oncc \>r:tth l'ltEr,1CB and HAAG r(.,pr~~~l)l1t.atiV'o'.)s~ reco ;.;<!nrlcd relD.::~:::e of L..Uli:j~ LYHh. a,ul l'Ji':1~'rIlliS3. Three CL-!..WI aru one TAP \:c:'c cO:1.;,idel'(Hl sufficient. Only anu loadinB b-i)~"1;..h \-ro.s a.vailable fv:!' t.he CI: -WI an1 the influx of refUeElEl3 \-I3.S 109B tht.n a.nticipated becnuse of VTET Lnm :interference.

C'i':~ 90 concurred ill rclea.::'9 of I-iARINE LYNX, but not FEN'l'RESS until :"l")c .. -~luJ.tion.

1ST 1159, enroute 'l'OIIi:L\1Jt after clearing fouled line from screw with ilsGisti.:l.ilCO of USS ASl~\1U (AUI. 30) fonnor member Logistic SUpport:. Oro'J.p. )'SKA.n departed Ii:llOCilINA arca.

ltJ l~o',Tcmbor 1954

200 PI!A'r DIEtl refug.e. embarked at PflAT om·! for trt\Il.port to HAIPHOln via ::I. circuitous inlar.d \-later route. LST 840 'Waa released. Poyil.a.t1on of •• "ps SHELL and PAGOOr;; i3 5,000 with onl¥ 1,700 Idlling 1;0 go.

19 Novcmbor 1954

15', 1159 rele"oed. 430 PHAT OIEH refuge •• arrivo4 IlAIPHOIK}. E1ch r2fugeo paid 250 VETNAl:i piast.ars for transportation to ?..AIPHOf!G via V1'::'I' !·:Ilni faoilities.

20 Uovcmber 1951k

Two rlli';tIcH fishini; cOntractors, acting a3 spokesmen for fish9r:a.an in the :lAD DIALONG area, a!'rived HAIPHONG seeldng AHERICAN assistance in' the MiGration of approxir.!at.~ 100 fishing families, with their boat.,· to thu sout.h. '11ley wore 'Placed in oonta.ct with HA.\G and USGl peroonrAl... This was the first notice U.S. authorities had of any desire on th~ part of the fisher.nen of BAIE D! AJ .. or:G, al.-nost all of whom were CHINESB" to moye to the south. TheY' conditioned their desire to move on being allowod to bring their boats with them.

Initial plans were discus.a<! by FRElICH Navy t\Ild local CATIIOLIC aut;-:orities to effect coastal re.t'ugee picIc-up in the vicinity ot vnm .. si:rllllr to the BUI eHU opera't.ion. VINH operation was schedulod to be last nl3jor effort of CATHOLIC a.uthorities who, as ot this dat.aJ resU'd1Jd PHAT OIL:·! incapablo, beacuse of VIET NIIIH rostrlLinta, of producing ""'" than a token number of r.fug.... VINH operation ooh.4uled to basin about 30 November 19S4, expected to produce 1 ••• than 6,000 refil8aeo. Rofugoe. report conate.nt propaganda and int:lmid~tion along tho circuitous VmT MlIrd route. Also cI1rt1culty in obtainina: VIST HINII "" .. port. and

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( 1\.:1.\"lnr, t.o pay 7,000 piaot.r!.'!3 for tran~port.ation, \dl1ch aUcgcd.l:.r is !roa~ hJ.s cffcctive~v h.:.\m~;t.rnltf, tho effort.

U~;,~~ BAI.,['H",,'('!i\ pr(\~cert .. :d to U:o:rm.r.WI'rE PA3~E for rocroil.tlon of th., erow Jond to <.H°rait lo~~i!ltle~ from the l·jAaUm "LUIX.

C1'G 90.8' l\',:urLcd ILHr;IOI~G for SIAGON via FH.iJ-:NCH rn:.i..litary aircraft on 3 rl:\yn to~"pol'<1ry additJ annl dut.y for coniorcHlcos ,'lith FRENCH and U.S. aut.!~o!'i~io5, and to S'lll)crvise special opora.tional pl.:uming d.1rcctod bjr Cli{(:PJ~CFLT.

22 November 1951t

~~or!·:crs at a llAIPHOUG acotyl~nc plant otruck when ~CH triad to rc::tO\"O C(Tti.pm~nt. \'101':';:01'5 clal;.'led rOI:'!oval of equipment would dsstro;r their jobs. RED inspired strilcee aro e.xpl:)cted wherever FRENCH Attempt. to re."l1ove machinery from ILUPHONG plants.

USS BllDUCK remained in HEWlIE'lTE PASSE. Qll;r ship loading in HAIPHC.NG was the USN'S PEHBINA.

23 No'<o.1lber ~954

USNS 1·!ARINE LYNX arrived HilNRIE'£m PASSE, fualed and replenished BALDUCK.

24 Novernbsr 1954

USNS :<A.'UNE LYNX r.:31caflsd from nmOCHDTA operations and sailed tor JAPA1i. BIILDUCK returned to HAIPHONG from HENRIETI'E PASS!!.

cro 90.S returned from 3 days temporary additional duty :In SAIGOll, in company lath Chief H.AAG, nUXX':HDIA.

Long expected influx of large llUQber refugees from FRAT OlE{ com",anced with ru-rivo.l of 800 via VIET IUNH boat tronsport to boundary line a, BAC CUU on SONG VAN UC. Temporary re1'1lgee oamp established at = Ali church, 7 miles southwest or HAIPHONG.

F:t.shine colony TP.pre~9nt,a.t.:i:ve stated tha.t solution to fishing boat probleIJ. proposed by Fl1El'fCH Navy JI 'Which was to sail boats south in cccpan;r and u.,der escort in April, 'WaS unsu.tisfactory in viow of growmg VIET HII:H infiltration of fishing oommunitios. cro 90.8.1 was direoted to a.scert>in state of junks and foa.ibility of loading them on CIl·L\VI type vessels.

Chief I.IAAGJI INDOCHUIA, in conference, e.'Cpressed desiro tor the following: (1) HarJ./<J1I1 .ffort to move fishing conmnmitYl (2) Reduction to three Cn'.AVI type vessels. At the same conferences, FRENCH representatives gave first indlcation that they ,<ill request employment of 4 U.S. LST for us. commencing about 15 December on the HAIPHONG-TOURANE run, Request 1d.ll be

3 ENCLOSIJl1E (1)

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based on a recent directivE'! from General ELY that 1500 more vehiclos than origi .. ,'l.1.l.ly' pl.:l.nned urust be moved out of the perimctor by 31 January, and on m..'\rkod F~:NCH preference, especi:~lly when 'fOlmANE is offloading point, tor LST as opposed to cargo types for vehicle movement.

f\.Cccnt refugee llrrivals from PlIA1' DIDI related VI."2:t },:nm tactic!:! to the CONTR.OL CQ'flHSSION. They Baid they rece~vcd HED lectures on tho horroro of HAIPHONG refuGee camps and ,.,ere told that tho Y01mZ men '-lQuld be forced into the VIE'ruM~ Army and z~nt. to HOROCCO.

A refugee CATHOLIC priest told of his torture and deeradlltion in lmioh CHmF..sE Army officers jammed chop sticks in his ears and beat him with bamboo poles "fter accusing him or tellilll; lie. to the people.

1IE:RJCI11ER completed transror of JAPANESE provisions to all TAK ldth reprovisioning of PJ:I!BIIIA at IIAII'1I0NG.

25 November 1954

Conversations with lata arrived rofugees disclose they want to leave RED-dominated TONKIN DELTA less for reliBious reasons than because ot harcl work without pay, higher taxes, constant lnar<1uding ani lawlessness, and intense indoctrination in communiot philosophy.

!o'La.1V' r"3t'ugees now in HAIPHONG CGr.1pS gave reasons for not l'rantill3 to loave as "they are waiting for fa"dlies and to .""hange VIET l-lIlnl money tor VIETNAl.f". CHMAAG believes there may be m3l\Y other significant reasons.

26 November 1954

FRENCH cargo-liner, ST NICIIEL, :outloaded 700 refugees in conformance to FRENCH policy of placing refuge •• on Shipping capable of carr,ying them after cor.clusion of ca.rgo or troop loading.

liafuge. e.rrivals at KIEN AN church from PIlAT Om1 reached 1,000 mark for one day on this date.

A CemlICAN priest at IlAIPllOllG has been ordered by his superior to depart the oity pennanentJ,y along ldth all other OCJ.!DIICANS in the area. DaW/ICANS have played a major role in the evacuation, being especially belp1'tll in retagee camps.

27 Nov!=l'mbAr 1 q'i 't

W-lllnIA col'llpleted loading and sailed to SAIGON ldth cargo containing m ... J..l.oDeouo equipment of CATHOLIC church authorities in IlAIi'HO~'G. cm $O.C protested the ohara.cter of the careo to senior l'..AAG repre-•• "bt1 .... IIAIPl!OlIG. Material was mootJ,y junk and did not moko for good D~~.

cr~ reconmeJXled all U.S. shipping now in IC area remain and th.:lt I, 11.31.'3 LST be made avallabl. from 15 Docember to 31 Janus'7 or po •• ibJ,y l:\t..r.

FnEnCH ore losing 80me of their shipping to redeployment of troops ~ FIWICAl, &Ill! ae""ral, ELY has ordered an acooleration of rolling stock

4 ENCLOSU1UI (1)

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and depoe sl:.oclc lii'tt>.

~n November 195ft

c'm 90.g concurrcd Hlth CIfi.!AAG'n rccoTt1mondnt:i.on to rot:.ain I~ ClllAVI pr\)yid:in~ l'''ll~tlC!l nl.:o~iDn bcrt.I\G in I~AIPH()NG without \.umoce~sary dclaYB.

C'_iX} 90.8 ~t.n.tcd tho .i.ncre~\Se in influx of ro.f'lIZeos l'rarrants rel:.cnt.ion of GErI:.~lU\L J(O~'JZi.!:.

Slo':':LiO\fn ~. long shoremen offlo.:'..d:i.ne I-'EN'l'nESS at TOURAHE required utili:;a.tion of FiiElICH Arm;y personnel. This proved very satisfactory, ilm;'ever, the 14 days rcquirl3d to offload this ship is excessive.

F~~iICII promised that HSr:NEPIN, next scheduled to offload TOURANE, '''ould bo the last ClllAVI to use TOUEWJE as offlo3.ding port.

CTU 90.8.1 visited villages of BAlE DE ALONG fishermen to discuss the problem of mavin:; their fishing boats south. After survey, he concluded it \;'.:15 impossible to lif·t. boats by CTI-IAVI" but that the fishermen oust be eV3cl1.a.tcd soon" as they fear retribution after I·ray it they do not trade nO\'1 \lith tho VI::i:T ~IINH. Construction and size ot boats precludes hoisting or profitable deck or hold stowage. LSD regarded only \"8soe1 capable of l!'.aldng lift. em 9O.B recommended LSD not be employed because he did not consider the situation warranted the use of such critical. type shippinz.

29 November 1954

'l'y)lhoon TILDA passed IDURAllE without damage and continued tOl<ard NHA TllAI':G.

Srurl.tary' conditions in HAIPHONG camps now rated good, due in part to LINDANE spraying and DDT dusting by U.S. Navy medicaJ. unit.

Among yesterday! s arrivals at HAIPHONG was a patriarch ot 102 years \>lho traveled 2~' months on toot to bring his family from THANH HOA home to PHAT DDlU anu thon to freedom. IIis family nwnbered 42 and consisted of 5 generations, the 5th represented by a 2 day old infant.

An attempt by VIETNIU,rESE officials to remove goverrtment owned dt'~tal :"J.nd X-r09.y f3quiprtlent~ from t.h" denta.l clinic of the HAIPHONG city hOGpitaJ. hod to l,e "bondon.d. City police broke up a gathering of nUl"sas" technicians, other employees, a.n:l hundreds ot friends demonstra.ting atiainst th~ loss of jobs. 111is io second known incident ot" ucmonstration protcstill.G rer:\ovnl of IIcapitaJ.'1 goods .from area. No que stion but '·1ha.t VUT i-ilml . tiYI!1pathizars arc attempting to induce as m.l.l\Y dcmonstro.tions as possible.

COI:S'IS',[lSTPAC npproved the request by CTF 90 to BaU 4 J,ISTS LST to IlAIPH01:G to roport to CTG 90.8 at earliest date. COlISTSWESTPAC aJ.so approved'tho reque.t for JAPAl::;SE interpreters for HAIPHONG, 'l\JURAN~ and any othGl," oftloading port.

s

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHmGRPI Serial: 055, June IS, 1955

ENCLOSUliE (1)

51

f:nerG(,l'.C~· refugee co,;ap flet up in IundorCclrtcn in centcl~ of IfJUFJtnlKi .. nnd USI~ct int.elTolittontly pilst. scrveroll H(!eh~J are no\'( beine abnndon'Jd by VB·fN:\I.J::;;J.:: officials on rltronc rcco~1lon-jo.tion of U.S. }f<l.V",f merlical officer, I~AAG Ilnd U30j·; representative lIAIPIJOUG. ·i!efugeoo Ql"C moviI1b to new ea~np situated in ideal locut ion ncar the ceJ:1ent plant on outskirt.s of HlUPHONG.

CTC 90.S ropo:·ted th~t the prohlem of ,"ovlnr, the VIETiIAi-i fi5hinG fleet to the south could be prolCtico.lly :::olved by either or bot.h of ttro methods listed below:

1. A .FIlliNCH fishing contractor had e-,q>roGsed a desire to nrrall::;C tr.l.Il3portiltion for nbout thirty to l'OUU.ANE where he would establish a b.:\dly needed fiahing floet.

a. The FRENCH have refused to tranaport any but )Ul.ve aereed to exart. the soaworthy fishing boat:;; south betwoan the monsoons. TIlis would loave an indetenninate nurnb,;:r to be lifted. In Al'\Y ovent CIG 90.S recommended the U.S. not tranoport thorn bocl.\~se it "'lOuld set a. precodont not hitherto afforded othors. JIo recornrnerrlod tho entiro !:latter be left up to the FRENCH and tll(1~ HAAG caret,1lly follow the negotin.tions.

GcnerJ.l COCUY announced viol press) radio and bulletin boards that FRE!-!CH e;:)"· ... e.rr:'r3ent w:il.l not be rasponsibla for the military security or orderly evacua.tion of FREUCH nationals who choose to remain within P.AlPEG:'·} pcrlJteter after 1 February 1955.

Evacua.tion atmosphere is beginning to penneate HAIPHONG with the closing of m~ shops.

C-er .. ral. CCGIII aS3\llJled all £unction. of Fll&llCH civil government (except consular t"",tiona) trom H. COl.fl'AIGN, delegate to IIORn! VlE.'.r.r.".!!. Co."lPAIGN e.."Qected to dep;'\rt shortly.

At pre.ent the population in campa at HAIPHONG is 10,123. or the.e o~ 3.550 are willing to leave.

cm 9O.S reported that many young men entering the VIET/IAl·lESE' Arm; and othora b.1ng a •• 1m11ated into the HAIPHONG population haw cau!Jed. 5O~what of a decrease in camp population.

2 Deccmbe~ 195~

Hon,dell!" CCHP/.IGlI, tonoor ~CH dele~ate to NORTH VIETIIAH, informed lL\A.G cft'.i.ccra or nogot1atione then in proe;res9 bot.lfBen VIET MINH and Fi(i~:Cil bu.iM5",nen o.nd otticiw. H. COl·lPAIGM stated purpooe ot nallotiati~ns "0' ~o attompb to reach a tinancial ssttlement thAt would Allov FR:'JICH to sal vago s_ valua from buDin... properties falling umer VIET !Will colltr<>l..

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHffiGRPl Serial: 055, June 15, 1955

ENCLOSURB (lo)

50

Refu$e6 int.'lux f>t.{!:1.dbd :.t. 150 1")1' day a8 backlo!~ of rl)rU,~o)e3 who h;..d congr~'!g .. \ted at rHAT D.n:~,{ b;;c:I!:\;,) 1~'X.:l""U:ltod. IN'fFJ!,NA'rrOUAL Cmi'J'ftOL COw.aSSIOtl publinh<!d riGUrc~1 of'lO / OOO rc·f'l\LV!.,:J t.hat had been brought from PHAT D!E!l last 10 da.y~ through cQ!,n.tISSlm! efl'.Q!'t3.

Only ships lo~ding in HAIPHONG :u-e HENNEPDl and HERlCDlliR.

Refugees in very B!l1ill numbers continua to arrive from PHAT DIm.

5 December 1954

HEP.UMER cOlllplei.ed loading c.".,nt, the fir.t ship during the period to carry thi. type load. Cement had been purcha.ed by FRENCH Army for delivery in SAIGON.

6 DJcerrber 1954

CTC 90.S reported that the FHENCH h..va only 3 LS'r load. ready for the 4 1!STS LST. scheduled ~o arrive the middle of the month. Majority of FRENCH LST are reported to be in overhaul status.

No loading this date.

7 Poc.~l>.r 1954

CTG 90.8 departed HAIPHONG. by air for 3 dare temporary additional duty in SAIGON.

BALDUCK refueled and repleni.hed from GENERAL HOWZE at HENBIBTTA PASSS.

8 Doc ember 19 54

BALDOCK enroute SAIGON.

9 Decemb~r 1954

PElIBIIIA relea.ed. To be replaced by AIlI.O OLSON e.rrinng HAIPHONG 13 nacArnbRr~

The problem of fishing boats came up again. CHlIMG. SAIGON :!nrormed CIIICPAC that the ownor. of about 180 regist.red v •••• l. at AP~All will not be ready to leave until the end of th' April monsoon. Ho turther stated that traosporting them aboard :ship \'jaB not practicable.

10 Docembor ~

BALDUCIt arrived SArcON and r.eJclJarked CTG 90.8.

11 December 1954

GENERAL HO'IIZE .urived SAIGON. or£loaded r.rug •••• and .ailed for SUBlC


7 ENCLOSURE (1)

49

BAY :Cor lo&istica. Schedulod refueling of BALWCK from. GENERAL Jl()\'IZE C:lllcolled because of delay in arrival of GEN~RhL HOWZE in SAIOOn.

12 Dec('mb~r 195h

The sch3dulod pick-up or rofugl"C\S otf VnlH ag::lin failed to produ.ce results, due primo.rily to rough weat.hllY' along coast which precluded lift by oa...-npans to anchored vessels £Illd prevent,Gd bOllching or landing ship types.

l~ Dscemb'!ft" 1951&

No loading this date.

Air ovacuation irom HAIPHOnG has slowsd, the intention is to use TAP as primary meana of evacuation.

14 December 1954

CTG 90.8 deported SAICON by air for HAIPHONG in order to be presont when USTS LST arrive irom JAPAN.

HENNEPni final17 received dockside off-loading berth after 3 day. dela7 in SAIGON'. ReaDon tor delay 'Was short-lived Dtrike ot stevedores against. one shipping compan7 partiall7 tieing up SAlOON docks, including one schoduled for HElmEPIN.

LST 47, 176, 546 arrived HAIPHONG, r.ported to cre; 90.8 for operational control.

Atter conferences with FIIEtlCH Arm,.. and Nav7. CTG 90.8 r.camended that tho U.S. furnish 1 LSD irol& 10 Januar7 to 1 lIarch and have 1 LSD available about 1 lIa7 if requir.d. Also th.re wao a po .. ible r.quir .... nt tor not IlION than 1 AKA about 1 11°7.

15 llocember 1954

LST 520 arriVed JlA.IPHONG, report.d to CTG 90.8 tor operational control.

!laco .... ndation for LSD and AKA approved both b7 CTF 90 and CnlCPACFLT.

16 DaCt'llDbe.- 1954

BALDOCK u.~derwa7 tor IUIPHONG trom SAIGON.

GENERAL HOWZE d.partur. tram SUBIC BAY dol.,.ed until 23 Decemb.r 1954 bocauae of dela7 in tho arrival of tho provioion eh1p until that dat ••

CTG 90.8 report.d that if agrs.m.nts are roached b.tw.en privato VIRTII A!1JlSl! and FIIFJlCH companies and tho VIE.1' IIIllH Govornmont, there will b. a cono1dorabl. reduction in tho • .,ount ot civilian equipaont to bo oneaated.

17 J)8c"ftlber 1954

lISTS LST 171> coaplet.d tirst KSTS LST evacuation laadin" doetinat1""

B

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post 1 January 1946 Box 141 - PHIBGRPI Serial: 055, June IS, 1955

ENCIOSIIRI (1)

48

, \

, I

SAIGON. LST 546 ""d 520 loaded for TOURANE.

As a result ot the roduction in rofugeearea.ching HAIPHONG only 800 are ready to depart.

IS Dec03mbs!" 195h

I!STS LST i47 loaded and sailed for TOURANE.

R~tugee orrivals averaging 500 per day. VINH operation again postponed because ot heavy seas. Uost arrivals this period utilizing tals. and re-used -laissez passer" ~

CHMAAG, SAIGON recommended that sinee the FRENCH Government intend. charging 400 pia.tre e por square meter to nove civilian barge. from IlAIPHClIG to SAlOON, the U.S. ehould appl.,. siJllil.ar rate. for the ue. of LSD.

19 December 1954

cm 90.8 reported evacuation totals to date ae: 6125 vehi.lu, 43,598 tens of cargo and 184,530 pae .. nger ••

2900 refugees, of a total or 10,223 in HAIPHONG c .... p., are raad,. to leave.

'!he majorit,. of recent arriv.ls filtered through the VIET lIlNH border on their own initiative using !alse or re-used passports.

FRENCH Arm,. authorities informed MAAG that lOading or cargo first 15 da,.. or December averaged 1,527 long tons of depot .tocke. Original goal "as 2,000 long tons per clay; however, FRENCH tar exceeded November outloading goal of 1,500 long tone por cia,..

!aLC OLSON completed first load and sal.lei SAIGON. l.oad. was principilly cement. This was second TAl< load or cement moved by U.S. shipe.

20 December 1954

FP.8liCH lIav,. had 2 coastal pick-up ohipe oft VINH coast. No pick-up ...... eUocted tho night or 20 Decembor.

'lba Fl'elCH estimate 16,,000 parlOLilllant re3identa or the prsMnt NORTH VIETliAli porilutor will want to move south b.fore 1Ia:r. .

'!ho FR!NCH are attempting to perouads all possible to "",'Ie prior to ClIINESl 110. Year, 25 January.

21 Decembar 1954

em 90.8 Clparted HAIPHo.'G b,. air in ordsr to b. present during Admiral RADPOBll'. vioit to SAIOON.

First arrivals or rorugoo. rroll VINH reachod HAIPHONG. 525 person. pick.' up orf coast b,. FH!!ICH obip night or 19 Decembor.

9 ElICLOSUR15 (1)

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post 1 January 1946 Box 141 - PHffiGRPI Serial: 055, June 15, 1955

47

G'!OIERAL HO\1ZE reported departure SUBIC cay bo furthel' d.layed d'lO to t:,,.d·,d ~.pl\lre, CllNEllAL 1l0WZR di,sct.d to GC1jlloy 24 baur >Jorking day to eA~a~\t~ all rnpairs as camp populntion thin date reached 11,161 persons tdth 3,050 randy to go.

Z2 C'l~·~mbal" 1951\

F112NCn nuthoriUe. assured Cl'U 90.8.1 that LS'r lands "ouldbo .nUable for !FSTS L5T throughout th",i't" r:-o:Jpec:~}i""B pariod of 1)'.lploS'%Q6nt.

Il;;mmp:m released from IFIJOCIIIlIA operation. on completion or ot!loading in SAIGON.

GlID1tAL HOWZE departed SUBIC BAY tor HAIPHONG.

2,350 rerug •• e arrived HAIPIIONG tram VINH. FREIICH outloading about 300 refugees bY' air per day to keep CmDP population dOlfll.

About lOG r.ruge •• per day are joining the VIETlIAIIESB }:rm7 and another 200 a •• r •• ntering tho VIET UL~H zan. Ll •• arch or thair famili.o.

S.curity hal notioeably tighteno<l at HAIPHCNG mllitar;r in.tallationa due to rumors of pOlsib19 RED damon3~ration3.

Aftor 3 day. in SAIGcrI C'lG 90.8 returned to BALDUCK at H.UPHONG with 1,200 pounds (''hri.tm •• mail for U. S. peroamol in HAIPHONG. I.!ail. delivery ",.<:. pos.ible by spocial ettart COWlAVPHlL and 1Ir. Leland BARRO'HS, Chiof, . USC!!, DIDOCHINA.

H.UPHOllG streets preeonted appear""c. of ar ... d camp. Special militar;r . polic~ursD patrolled all do"ntown area in larg_ group"_ Personnel C'l'U 90.8.1 directed to remain near billete aahol'ft J radio joop made available to otho .. U.S. poroocnel a.hare for .... rg..,c7 call1llWlicat1an with nagsbip dud.ng houre of darkne81.

55 DIDDO arrivod HAIPHONG tor apocial load, and reported to CTG 90.8 tor operational control.

No VIET IIINH demonstrations developed 24 or 2$ Decollber.

26 Dec.mh.,. 1254

Fl!ZIfCR lIavy diepatchod on. frigate to VINR area to .. pooa1ble piclo-up but all. authoritio. ngreed virtually all refug ••• !rcA that .... a hano oJread;r reached HAIPHONG. Iloaoon w .. o nat exhauotiall of .... fug .. pool but 1I1creasod VIBT IIINR eurv.illanco.

vmntAlmSB authorit1a. dolaTed 103d1n0: of GI!2lERAL HOI1ZS until 29 Docollb ... do.pite urgl.na for earlie .. loading b7 U.S. lAd FBaCS autborit1a.. VIJn'-


10

Box 141 - PHIBGRPI Serial: 055, June IS, 1955

lIIICLOSUIIB (1)

46

( r:A;;ESE dc • .lil'" nt,\[;..:l fipccic.l d()~l()Il~;!:,r.::..l>j.on 2$ D,::cc:,\bcr for Vl;!iI rc!~ot:.:3 tlo;:;t oZ "rhom havo JiV0d lln:1Gr COnU'I\lniG~ 1'1110 for 0 yonrJ

G::-:;~i:;~.AL JIO'ir.:;~ arrived HAIPi-I(;}rll~ (~:::,r ~:[\ ,U" : IO':r,::!;.

DALOUCK fueled and rc)lcnishccl froTa

?l:':'::!JGlI t!~~C~;J;Lil~~; C:!.l:"t3O [;Onl~l i:-l !,;ovCi'!bor, confirm.!) requir(!'-:J.ent. for J"".:.!.:c.~ll::n of 2 CJ~ .. \V! ty'po voa5cl:l~ C1G 90.~ cOI~v"~cncod averill.. rcQ\-:t:;'1.·:\~·i0n 0:' r.hip.-ill,:; lle~d:>jo includin;~ LST, LSD and Tl!.P.

S',:0:<D Ki~Ol' and COJlilC'l'ON nrrived IklIPHWC as rolior for HEI,,:::;PIlI o.nd r'3::'::'~~:Jg, and reported to C'IQ 90,0 for operational. control.

FE:!T;:ES3 rolcasod from I!DOCIIJJ·:.'I. operation.

5:'[0.1D KnOT con;,·;enced lo.:!.dir.~ drums or asphalt purchased through USQ.r funds.. CO:JIHGTOH commenced loadin.; cement.

Totals evacun.ted to date is as follm'rs: lC9,,25l passengers" 6,343 vehicles" and 46,703 tons of cllr[,;o.

2'; Docc::lber 1954

Rc:fup;ces loaded on GE[-::';UJ"l.L !Ia;l(::;:~ inclwlcd about 500 of CHDl"ESZ descent i'ro:n EO;!' GAY re.::;ion nnd abOl.lt eoo permanent HAIPHONG residcmts o This is first rcal exodus of these [;rou;:>::> ,-rhorn Fai!:i-!C!l are urging to depart early'. RefuGees carried nwnerous large b~e5 \>Ihich seriously hampered loading.

?W::~:CH krmy int.ell.ieence sourC05 stated on excellent authority that VI.;T LIml have fonnulated definite policy tOl-,ard evacu<1tion of capital enterprises from HAIPHONG enclave. Policy w:Ul be to oppose removal" but ~ethods to be used are heavy propaganda, strikes, peaceful d~monstrations" ho;-rcver no violence.

HAAG representative, HAIPHONG reported the early January saW.ng ot 4 carGo ships \d.ll leave only 16000 tons of depot stocks to be moved. tho rC::lainder of the month. Also that an estimated in1"l\DC ot 30~COO refugees during the next two months m8Jf necessitate two TAP. vice one.

30 December 1954

Thorough check of all avail"b1o FHENCII and VIlfflIAHESE authoritie. in HAIPHWG by the ABsisto.nt U.S. A~ attache indicated that ><hUe the potential for civil or military disturbance ldthin the perimeter will continue high, VIET MIl>nI policy of no violence h<1S been so well established that...probabUity of serious inciden~s are virtuaJ.ly non-existent.

C1G 90.8, representa.tive of liAAG" SAIGON at HAIPHONG" and usmt all. di~cou.."1.t the optimistic prediction by- tha V:e:;'I'NAlIESE cha.irma.n of the :='V.".CUA'i'ION CO}IHI'l"I'EE thnt 200,000 people will be reruly for evn.cu~tion by l.hc cn:! of l~obrno.ry if the CONTHOL Ca·!1-iISSION can do nn of"!ootive job at prevcnti..na VIET HINH opposition. -

1.1 ENCLOSIll1ll (1)

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHIBGRPI Serial: 055, June 15, 1955

45

'31 DAcembAr 195tk

Yoar's end ~lalysiD of total eVAcuation picture revealed that throu~~ 31 l:'ccpn:b.r 19,4, U ,S, .hiH,ing hnd lifted 175,227 civilian paooongor3, 14,OS9 nilit~ry passen~r3, 6,3G8 vehiclos, and 50,239 Short tone of cargo. 5!t dll:ltho and 1~1 hirthD have occurred aboard U.S. ships. As of thin date, 1 U.S. Navy nnd 10 U.S. Navy controll~d ships ~ra engaged in tho evacuation. U.S. participation had equalled approximately ono-third ot all

. civlliM personnel, military cargo and m.i.litary vehicles transported from the TO~KIN DELTA. Evacuation ot military cargo was virtuD.11y complete as of this date. Evacuation of military personnel "Was proc6eding according to cchedule. Refugee influx continued an indeterminate factor, a category into which mil1tar1 vehicle ... ere tending to fall. The plcture on the HAIPHONG dock. wao beccm1ng 1ltcreasingl1 one ot evacuatioll of civilian cargo.

1 Januarr 1955

DIDIXl continued loading dosplte general .toppag. at work ovar this holiday.

2 JlUluarz 1955

Last VINH pick-up ship returned IlAIPHClIG with no retuge •• aboard. VINH operation cona1dered ended due to effect.iva VIET IIINK restraint..

3 J anuarx 1955

aefugee arrivals continued to average 500 per day. including about. 200 per day from HON GAY region.

CTU 90.8.1 ,advised b1 FRENCH Ariny authorities t.hat. CODIllGTON load, now enrout.e SAIGClI, was final ot three cement load., and that Whell /lEI!!CDO!R and ARLO OLSON complete asphalt loads (second and tbird of t.hroe loads), all asphalt will have !:Bsn evacuated.

4 J anuau 1955

CTG 90.8 departed HAIPHONG by air tor 5 da,.. in SAlOON during vla1t of Cardinal SPELLI.!AN to that area.

GENERAL I!ClWZZ loaded refUg .. s thi. date, completing ... cord 6 da1 turn around from load to load. 500 of refugees aboard GENERAL IIO\\ZE "'ere member. at tho VIETNAllESS Confederation at Christian Workers, the largest lobar un10Q in VIEI'NA!.I. Union ofticial ••• timo.tod a total of 25,000 at their membsr. thon within the perimeter would desire to move BOuth and WI ... planning epecial recoptloll for this first contingent at 500.

A FRENCH trigato dispatched to VIIIH coast on 26 December to embark relugee. reported deoiring evacuation returned ompt1 to HAIPHONG. FIlSIICH 11."1 attribute. roaDOn tor tolluro due incra.oed acti'Yit1 or VIET IIINK.

6.7 January 1955

Load1ng cootlnlwd in DIDDO ... d /IIIIUaIIE1I,

12

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post 1 January 1946 Box 141 - PHmGRPI Serial: 055, June 15, 1955

IHCLOSUS (1)

44

• •

9 "'n,"" 1255

C'l'G 90.8 N~ \e BALaJOI a~ 1WiBJII. DlJ)ID OOII'PleilllCl ~ _ .a11ecl ~o tbn _ ..... 4 oftloaAl1DI pe\.

IS'!' 546 -.ftaNc! orack 1D 81n deok .. \e IIHY7 .. ather.

'!ba N1'qe •• dapart1q tbl IIOIIU OIl 4 JIIlIW',. _N aD .. 811.11,. MbH &N1IP. III Iddit1C1l to tba 1101'11&1. talwiq tulU •• , tbaN _N IIOJICI8. tr_ aa10a .... l'I, and JW'Ohant. (pracipall,. CH"W).

'1M trade ludOll "'.1'. &Del _rcbII1t. po_d another ot the alw.,.. 8Ooarml p1"OblAa. wbeD the,. ... it kDo1ID the,. did DOtte.l the,. Iboald olean their 01IIl ooapertunt.. '!'he BV'ACOA'rI(II ccaIftil -baa bMD recpeated, a the tutue, to a8llN tull I8ldarnand1a& OIl t.bt part ot all re~ •• that cleeal of 0_ coapartMnt. i. nece.Ar,. duI to larp DUllber ot retuae •• oerriacl.

BIporh haft be_ rec.hed of aneN clalh •• bet_. VDmII1IB troop. and _ftral hundred VIB1Wa peuant. a 'l'IWIR 11)1 area the pan tew da,p. '!ba pea.antl had cODll'egated a the area to "ek .00II'1'B0L (lOI!MTSSD as.1n.. anoe a tra'ytl1Dg to HAIPR(JfG tor eucuat1OA, ad when the OOITBOL CC'8IITB8IaI te .. tailed to arrive the peasuh deterJdn.d to .. cape bT torce.

lD J!!Il!1IEJ 19:;§

GIJIS'1'(Jf HALL arriftcl HAIPHafG area and reported to C'l'O 90.8 tor operational cOlltrol. Intended period ot • .,lo,..nt i. throup 28 P.b1'l1ar,.195S.

IST 47 IlUttered crack in hull (ena1D. 1'00II plat1Dg). Roup weather torced I.S'l' 47 and 176 to return to CAP S'1' JAC~, dIl~d G!!U'II, iUiZi 1 tull a7 and to reed 1RLO CI.SON to uchor rtc1D1t,. PADU> CICIR m 1Bl. LS'l' 546 required repair. to radio .qUpaent and grocOllPA88 a I4d1tiCil to hull repair ••

PBlRCH est:1aate lOO,OOO retuge.., 1'8IIa1D who wilh to b. eucuated, but President DIll place. the tigure at 200,000.

HAIPIDfG pollee ha.,. .. ized eome 20 VDT J1DH agenh posing u BU·DDHISf _ke and using BUDDHIST pagoda, containing o_n1 catioa. equip!I8Dt, a. haadquarters.

LST 47 returned to SAIGOI tor hull repe1r ••

Allba.sador COLLINS arrived HAIPHOHG tor tour ot retua:ee cups.

, Chiet Statt Ofticer and 2 additional otticers ot the statt ot COJIrRANSDIV 32 arrived a HAIPHClfG and C_Rced reUev1llg COJIPHIBBJI 1 .tatt.

l' Japuarr U§§

HOIIZI ea1l1ng scheduled tor toda7 c:l.el.aled until tomorrow due to CRJ)!ISI br1llging a great nWllber ot large bODe. HOIIZI CN! working on 24 hour basi. 111 order to secure tor _a. Task is d1tt1cul~ c:l.ue to tl1ms7 constructiCil ot bo.DlI ot 1Ihich there are about 200 long tons.

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHffiGRPl Serial: 055, June IS, 1955

1~

43

IlAAG IDeS USOKhave been requuteeS to again aak the RBPUGEB COJOIIT'fBI to inetruct refugees that HOWZE is not a cargo ship.

Seven large lunks that were proceeding up the SONG BIl have been lIiled bl PHBHCH and retumed to HAIPHC.1fG. Junks 1181'8 enroute to VIET KINH and _re carr1U1g cemant. gaaoline. and lube oil loaded at HAIPHONG. Bvent conaidllred important because it implicated large number of CHDJR.SS merchants md SOlllS VD'ltfAMESB goverDll8nt otticials.

About 300 nine to fifteen 18ar old children of CHINESB deecent departed HAlPHmG tor PEKING. CHIli.ESB BEDS and VIET KINH arranged transportation and have pl'Olllised free education in PEKING. '

!he clash reported 9 JanuarY' turned out to be between 10.000 peaaants and 4.000 VIET KINH regularl. The plannts ermed only with stick I were dieperlld and the CONTBOL COIIIISSION apparentll accepted VIET KINH version that the incident walone ot aupprelsion 01' illegal. uprising.

FHENCH r61W118d their intermittent air litt 01' retugees.

14.15 January 1955

Contilll1ed high winds and heavl lIaa del&1Sd TO 90.8 shipa enroute HAIPHarG trOJll SAIGai. UlT 176 becl&III8 third lISTS LST to sutter crack in lmll and wal cl1rected to retum to SAIG<lI tor repairl bl FmCH NavY'. UlT 520 anchored in lee ot CAP ST JACQUES tor 4.8 hourI. Sloan KNQf was delaJed ,'30 hourI in reaching HAIPHONG. AIW) Otsm, underway since 9 JanuarY' had made 01117 80 lIiles good atter leavmg CAP ST JACQUES, and atter anchoring tor 65 houri in lee ot PAULO Cl!Xlm DE MER.

16 January 1955

u.s. authoritiee in HAIPHONG received their tirst notice ot a letter dated 28 December 1954. tl'Olll CHAlIBONNACB du TONKIN Co/llP&ll1 to COJIIIIIarlder FRlNCH Naval Forcel 'l'OHKDl requeating lhipaent on FRBNCH Naval veslles ot approximate17 100 pieces ot very heavl equipaaent during Karch, AprU and Kq. Director ot cOlllPanl has stated that the negotiaticxa which continue in HANOI between FRlNCH business and government representatives, and the VIBT' KINH, carrl the etipulation that U.S. tunded equipnent wUl be evacuated ll'OIIl the HOB GAY and CAIlPRA PORr regionl withollt incident. All tt. equipaaant tor which lhipping requestl have been made is U.S. purchased, but the total list did not includll all U.S. purchalld equipaaent at the JIine ••

, Propolld schedule tor GUHS'l'C!l HALL included litt ot berges owned bl Cement CoIIIpanl at HAIPHONG, which 1s 01ll1ed bl 8&IIl8 intereets at CHARBONNACB du 'l'OHKDl. '

17 January 1955

LST4.7 entered FRBNaI Naval drl clock at SAIG<ll. ,

GUNSTm HALL reported starboard engine inoperative but that repairs could be eftected bl ship'l torce in two dals in HAIPHONG.

"" ",1.,- .,'. ", .. Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHIDGRPI Serial: 055, June IS, 1955

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• 18 Jan!l!£T 19$$

Conmander FRENCH Naval Forces '1'ONKIN advised cm 90.8 that the Ce_nt Companyat RAIPlDNG had received _seage orders trom PARIS to leave barges at HAIPHONG. .

19 Januarl 19$5

USB TAWGA (AO 62) arrived HENRIETTE PASSE tor purposes of replenishing . Task Group 90.8.

LST 47 completed repairs. South CHINA Sea gale conditions abating, allowing mare regular mave_nt ot units returning trom SAlGON.

Loading ot HOWZE and K1RINE SKRPBNT, IICheduled tor 20-21 January. w:11l take an extra day due to FRENCH landing craft being cOllllldtted to training exercises at Island ot CAOOA.

FRENCH LSI[ picked up 4 retugees ott SA LANG coast and brought them to HAIPHONG. Retugees were participants in the peasant-VIET lIINH troop clash reported earlier. VIET lIINH now have mortars placed along the shore making further pick ups in that area impossible.

20 January 1955

USB COOK (APD 130) arrived HAIPHONG, reported to CTG 90.8 tor o~rational control as reliet ot BALDUCK.

GENERAL HOWZE and GUNSTON HALL tueled and provisioned trom TALUGA. GENERAL HOWZE loaded refugees from SAlOON.

Captain A. R. ST ANGELO. U. S. Navy. arrived HAIPHONG as prospective relief ot ,Captain N. J. FRANK, Jr., U. S. Navy. COl4PHIBRON 1 as CTG 90.8 •

.. illatatt personnel transferred to COOK. BALDUCK underway tor IlENRIE'l"l'E PAS,S! Ipld released.

UARINE SERPENT arrived HENRIETTE PASSE and reported to CTG 90.8 tor operat.1cnal control. It was tueled and replenished trom TALUGA.

GENERAL HOWZE passenger list included the 2OO,OOOth person carried in U.S. ships during operation Passags to Freedom. '

21 Jll\Uarl 19$$

BALOOCK fueled and replenished trom TALUGA.

FRENCH stepped up air lift. Almost 10,000 refugees HAIPHONG camps despitE air lift and two TAP sailings. .

Remainder ot staft personnel ot COlLTRANSDIV 32 arrived HAIPHONG and embarked COOK.

Confirmed reports trom several sources indicated an increasing

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHmGRPI Serial: 055, June 15, 1955

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reAlAalMaa UIODI cidlilD pepalatioa in the VII! mH sou. BUJ)1lII8'l'8 arl Joining Cl'l'HOLICS in rea1atancl to new gO'f'll'DIIIDt IDd d .. i" I.,..OI1&tioa.

Seiling of JWtINB SIBPBR'l' dala,.d elM to refugeea cont.'""in, to 1.1'1'1 ... with aoee81ft b...... S1H ot bmdl .. h .. been Cllt 40a lIllt_QIIlDtit7 baa .1Iaorea .. d accordin&l7.

GlIIS'l'OR HALL cOlI,Pletld repair. to Ingine; reported BPS.

C'l'G 90.8 intoraed that rmCH authorities deaire extension of period of eapl.o1Jllfll1t ot lISTS LS'l' to allow COllPl8101Ol1 at all originaJ.lT planned loads.

22 JID!W'l 1955

LS'l' 176 collpl.eted hull repairs 11'1 SAlOON. All units of 'l'aak Group 90.8 operationall7 read7.

II!RKIll!R rella .. d 01'1 colIIPletion ot ottloading at SllGOJl.

UBS ES'l'IS (AGe 12) arriTect HENRIET'lB PASS with C'ftP 90 embarked. COOl proceeded to HZRmm PASSB tor rendezvous with ESTIS.

PllMing and e:valJlaUon conterence held aboard ES'lZS, arF 90 and statt, CTG 90.8 and statt, otficer in charge JU.AG HAIPHOOG, prospective cro 90,8 present, Conterence was tor purpose ot supplying prel1min&r7 est1mates ot tuture shipping needs to C1rF 90, to form basis for canterences between CTF 90 and FRENCH and VIETNAMESE govemment officials leading to final evaluation ot U.S. shipping needs.

COOK tueled and replenished from TAWGA.

FlBNCH air lift reached SOO per dq.

23 JanuarY 1955

TAllJGA tueled and replenished !.ST 520 and 546. Taek: Group 90.8 repleni"; ehment concluded. TAU/GA deJ)arted HENRlET'lE PASSE •

. CHINESE New Year holl_ conmenced throughout VIETNAJ.{. All actiVities' suspended tor 4 day period, except otfioading ot MARINE ~T.

Captain A. R. ST ANGELa, U. S. Navy, relieved CaptaiA N. J. FRANK, JR., U. S. Navy, as CTG 90.8. Captain FRANK and statt enroute KOBE, JAPAN, by air to rejoin flagship.

CTF 90 in ESTES departed HAIPHONG for SAlOON.

Overall evacuation totals as of this date:

14,479 Military passengers 192,668 Civilian passenger.

6,743 Vehicles 59,031 Short tons cargo

15 Barges 123 Births 60 Deaths

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Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post 1 January 1946 Box 141 - PHffiGRPl Serial: 055, June 15, 1955

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·e COIIpoIllt1on, Tallk Gr.p 90.8 a. ot thi. datal

USS IlARINI SBltPl!B'l' (TAP 202) USNS GBRIHAL HCMZE (TAP 134) UDS ARLO OIBOli (TAl 245) lIS SWORD 0'0'1' lIS CODING'roN USHS LST 47 USNS L8'1' 520 USNS LST 546 USIS ISl' 176 USS QUNSTCIl HALL (LSD 5) USS COOl (APD 130)

26 January 1955

CTF 90 in ESTES arriYed SAIGON. CODterence wa. held with CHlUAG. AWSHA, SAIGON and FlINCH military repre_ntaUvea.

28 JanUary 1955

Although there are an eatimated 10,373 retuaee. in HAIPHClJG cape, on17 100 appeared to embark in HOWZE 27 Januar7. Conferences with FB.INCH and REFUGEE OOJIII1"I'1515 indicate holidays as prime NaBOD tor non-readineas.

30 JlAUary 1955

HOWZE departed HAIPHOlIG with 4253 passengers, among them the 5O,000th carried on board. illis represents about one tourth total carr1lld b7 U.S. shipa. 1h1a i8 HOWZE's last trip prior to phase out.

lW!INE SIlIPBNT s.1Bng delayed in order to get an &cceptable load. Although there are over 7000 refugees in HAIPHONG CUIpI SIRPJD1T ia still Bhort about 1500.

CTF 90 in ES'mS departed SAIGON tor OI!:LUHG to COGt.,. with VAIIl PIWB in preparation tor the TACHlDIS evacuatiorl.

1 Februan 1955

Total I evacuated b7 U.S. lhips to date: 14,748 m1l1tar7 pal_ngerl, 199,255 civilian paesangers, 61,456 short tons cargo, 7,112 vehicles.

There have bean 129 births and 60 deaths in U.S. ships.

Present total remaining in HAIPHONG CUlpS 7214.

5 FebrUarY 1955

2000 local retugeea have Ngiatered at HAIPHONG tor evacuation, •• lr1ng a total ot 807( in camps, with 1353 read;r to go.

8 FebruarY 1955

MARINE SImPaIT sailed trom HAI1"IDlG with 5266 retugees, atter delay of


39

24 havl ill ordir t.o 10111 laat. 1230 who wre ill raCK LSII unllbl,e to reotorlCt. fl'Oa beach.

lp r.,"VI 1955

jppl"O'd-·t.lT 100 II1l1t.UT IDd quasi. lIll1t.arT vm mil de .. rt.erl arriwd. RAIPIDIG. 1 apcmtU'OUI de.-onatration took plac. at c1tT hall. bip. lighted by speech •• detailJna II\l!t.r1n& \Ulcler V:err JIDIH ud ehout. ot prai .. tor tba 'ncuatiGll. Sn.ral de .. rt..r. cla1Md to have tought in the VIET IIINH I.rtq sl.ent 1946. 111 hid grinuc •• againat the vm JIDIH regillle and decided to l,ea-n wban the1 learned •• cape wal possl.bl. through HAIPHOlIG.

General. COGNY pmlilhed in the pr... u ofticial procluation Itating that nmRCH c1v1 l1 lal .at evacuate HAlJ'HOIG b1l5 April. After that date th'T will b. considered al deeiroul ot at.qing past 18 JIq.

16 "brum 1955

IIARIII SlRPDT aailtd with 5170 retug ....

CDR J. H. DAVIS ecru 90.8.1) d.tached and C'1'G 90.8 aseumed. additional dIlt1 al CTU 90.8.1.

18 l.bruary 1955

DFUGEB COlOIITmI!l otticial.l7 clolld registrations tor .. a lift until lilarch. Pree1dent of comittee gave reasons as tollows: (1) PS1Chological ottect; (2) Aftord time to process 17.256 local and camp retugees alread7 registered tor sea 11ft.

20 FebrUarY 1955

CODlNGTC5 wtt.r.d main engin. caeualt1 and was tow.d by PICTOR to eat. anchorage in 'l'OURANl!: BAY.

2lt FebruarY 1955

JWUNB AOOER arri.,ed HAIPHONG tordut11111.th TG 90.8.

PFIZER phll'l\laC.utical COlllPlD1 donated 100.000 magn~in tabl.ts to DR. DOOLEY tor UII in refugee cups.

28 February 1955

CAJIP PAOOIB o1088d and retugees moved to CAMP CEYENT and city. '1'h1. is part or REFUGES COlOIITTl!B plan to Clell tent campe and move refugees to vacated cit1 buildings.

FRENCH ~nced moving AKERICA!I' aid machinery and material from HON GAY and CAl( PHA coal mines.

CODING'l'OO departed 'l'OURANE BAY tor SUBrc BAY tor repairs to main engin ••

Total. evacuated to date by U.S. ships: 14.837 military passengers. 220,515 civilian pas.engers, 63,250 abort tons cargo, 7362 vehicles. There have been 147 birth. and 61 deaths in U.S. ships.


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3 Verch 17'''

CODIlfG'lCII relea.d. and. enroute mlCoH.Ul1 to report COJIST9IZSTPAC.

7 vprnb 1955

CAUl' SIE.L clo_d. '!here are three approved cups remaining: (1) CAJIP ;DIINT (tents); (2) CAW' 173 RUE BONAL (eJMB1ll.tary barracks); (3) em LACH TRAY (ex-military barracks).

Total camp population about 6500.

GOVERNOR IE QUANG WAT presided. ya.terday at ceremonies celebrating the 5OO.00Ot.h civUian refugee to be evacuated !l'CIIL NORrH VIE'lNAM. Offici&.1. ceremony w1th full guard. and band opened with VIE'lN.u&9E. FRENCH and. AlIERICAN National Anthems. VIE'lNAKESE, FRENCH and. AlIERICAN offioials presented gLfts to honored family.

15 Vercb 1955

Total refugee OIIIlp population now 447 with none ready to go. However. the RJmJGTI:E COIAIITTE! reports 25,157 local refugees tegistered for asa lift. and 24,783 for air lift •

Camp 173 RUE BOOAL now c1oasd..

20 March 1955

lIARINE Sl!:RPENT departed HAIPHONG with 5,078 refugees embarked. Also embarked was Robert S. ELEGANT. AIlERICAN accredited OOD correspondent representing AMERICAN NDlSPAPER ALLIANCE, NE, who is obtaining material for refugee story.

Camp CEMENT closed and all tents dismantled. CAllI' LACH TRAY is now the only camp remaining. Camp population is 2,165 with no one ready to leave.

28 }(arch 1955

MARINE SSRPENT departed HAIPHONG with 3,976 refugees embarked. Among these was the 1OO,OOOth refugee to be evacuated from NORTH VIE'lNAM in 1955.

Population of CAMP tACH TRAY is 2,626 with none ready to depart.

31 }(arch 1955

MARINS ADDER departed HAIPHONG with 1,981 refugees embarked (poor load).

Population of CAMP tACH TRAY is 2,820 with none ready to depart.

Totals evacuatsd to date by U.S. ships: 14,837 military pasBengers, 252,216 oivilian passengers, 65,310 short tons cargo, 7,448 vehicles. 1'}-;cre have been 166 births and 61 deaths among refugees evacuated in U .5. sr.i~".,.


19 ENcw;:,um: (i)

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1 Aprilm'

For e.dm1n1strative reasons the task torce J1\IIII8ral. des1gcator ot US naTal eVIIDuation torces was changed traa TF 90 Oamnander Sea Operations INDOCHINA. to TG 50.1 (Oc-n"'!dG" INDOCHINA Evacuation Group. om 90.8 (IJommaMel" Evacuation Group) became OTIJ 50.1.1 (OCllllll8Mer Ewaou1;ion Unit).

l April 1955

USS OHlKASW (40 54) arrived BAIE DE LA.NHA to replen1eh and fuel TIJ 50.1.1.

•

Population CAMP LACHTRAI is 5,112 with 2,000 ready to depart.

There are 31,099 and 22,061 retugees registered 'to depart HAIPHOlll by S8& and air respective~.

5 Aprll1955

MARINE SERPENT departed HAIPHOll} with 5,721 civ.Uian passeDgers.

SW01iD -KNOT departed. HAIPHONG with 67 short tons- cargo and 118 vehicles.

Population CAMP LAOH'fRAY is 2,800 with none ready to depart.

8 April 1955

MARINE ADDER departed HAIPHONG with 4,006 civilian passeDgers.

Population CAMP LAOHTRAY is 2,300 with noM l'8&q to depart •

There are 24,691 and 20,829 retugeea regiRered .to depart HAIPHCliG by sea and air respectiV8~.

SWORD DOT and MARINE ADDER completed repleDishllent traa CHIlCASIIA at BAIE DE !.ANI".

6 April 1955

CHIKASKIA., baY1zlg compl.e\ed repleDistnnent. C!f '1'U 50.1.1, departed BAlE DE WHA.

. 10 lmj1 1955

Population CAMP LACH'lBA.Y 1s2,3:37 with SOO read1' to depart.

'l'here are 26,010 and 19,955 retug888 registered. to dep&rt; HAIPHOlIJ b,. sea and air respecti~ •.

11 ArrU 1955

CAPT W. C. WINN reliewd RAmI 1. S. SABIN as C'lF 90, em 50.1 &lid

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CCIIPHlBGlm ORB.

USS RBGULUS (AP 57) &1"Z'1't8d. IAIE DB LABH1 to reproTiaioJl ID 50.1.1.

12 J.prU 1955

13 AprJJ. 1955

MARm SERPENT departed HAIPHO!U with 6,289 c1nJ1q paesengere.

CAm' LAOH'l'HAY closed but being ma:1Ixt.a1nsd ill state ot read1nass tor possible overtlow from ll8W~ established CAMP MARINB. Population ot CAMP MARINE is 1,005 with 500 ready to depart.

there are 22,248 and 18785 refugees registered to depart HAIPHOOO by sea and air respectively.

14 April 1955

Ref'ugee arrivals, including 1,300 escapees !ran VINH area, made it necesslU'7 to place some in recently closed CAMP LAOH'l'R.A.Y.

Total population both c8.ll\Ps is 2,490 with 250 ready to depart.

16 April 1955

MARINE ADDER departed HAIPHONG with 4,966 c1T.1.l1an passengers.

SWORD KNOT departed HAIPHOO with 31 military passengers, 84 vehicles and 870 short tons ot cargo.

Population ot camps is 3,526 with 1,500 ready to depart.

18 April 1955


There are 18,239 and 18,084 retugees registered to depart HAIPHONG by sea and air respectively.

19 April 1955


There are 18,634 and 17,642 retugees registered to depart HAIPHOm by sea and air respectively.

20 April 1955

6,120 :refugees loaded in MARINE SERPENT at HAIPHONG.


21

Box 141 - PHffiGRPI Serial: 055, June IS, 1955

ENCLOSURE (l)

35

Camp population is 1,425 nth none readT to depart.

There are 13,060 and 17,$00 refugees registered to depart H.UPHONG by sea and air respeotbel,y.

FRENCH haft been air lifting from 150 to 300 daily.

21 April 1955

MARINE SERPENT departed IWl'HONG nth 6,120 civilian passengers.

Camp population is 2,100 with 500 ready to depart.

22 April 1955

USNS GI!:NERA.L A. W. BREWSTER arrived HAIPHONG and reported for duty in TO 50.1.1.

23 April 1955

MARINE ADDER departed HAIPHONG with 2,636 oivilian passengers.

Camp population is 1,556 with none ready to depart.

bre are ll,769 and 17,on refugees registered to depart HAIPHONG by sea and air respeotivel;r.

FRENCH oontinue to air lift an aftrage of about 200 per day.

24 April 1955

T-I.ST 535 and 548 arrived HAIPHom and reported for duty in TU 50.1.1.

CAMP LACHTRAY closed due to unsanitary conditions and population moved to CAMP 9 RUE BONAl.

Population of camps is 2,553 with 1,200 ready to depart.

25 April 1955

T-I.ST 578 and 629 arrived HAIPHOID and reported for duty in TU 50.1.1.

GUADALUPE (AO 32) arrived BAIE DE LANHA to fuel and replenish TU 50.1.1.

26 APril 1955

GENl~ BREI'fSTER departed HAIPHONG with 2,526 civilian passengers.

Camp population is 1,573 with none ready to depart. ,

COOK replenished from GUADALUPE at BATE DE LANHA and returned to HAIPHONG.


ENCLOSURE (1)

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27 April 1955

Departed HAIPHONG for TOURANE - T-LBT 548 with 71 veh1des and 100 military passengers aDd T-LST 535 with 60 vehicles and 100 mdlitar,r passengers.

SWORD KNOT and lWUNE SERPmT replenished from. GUADALUPE at BAlE IlE LANHA.

28 April 1955

MARINE SER.PTINT departed HAIPHONG with Z,772 civilian passengers.

Camp population is 435 with none ready to depart.

There are 9,187 and 16,109 refugees l'8gistered to depart HAIPHONG by sea and air respectively. FRENCH air continues to lift about 200 daily.

GUADALUPl;; completed replenishment of TU 50,,1.1 and departed BAIE DE LANHA.

29 April 1955

T-LST578 and 629 depa.rted HAIPHONG for TOURANE with 78 vehicles and 116 military passengers, and 55 vehicles ani 200 military passengers respectively.

30 April 1955

No !1epartures from HAIPHONG.

Totals evacuated to date: 15,464 military passengers, 287,262 civilian passengers, 66,935 short tons cargo, 7,914 vehicles, 15 barges, 66 deaths and 182 births.

Camp population is 1,200 with 900 ready to depart.

There are 9,569 and 15,941. refugees registered to depart HAIPHONG by sea and air respectively.

1 Hay 1955

HARINE ADD&t departed HAIPHONG with 1,941. civilian passengers.

Camp population is 992 with none ready to depart.

~1ere are 8,176 and 15,474 refugees registered to depart HAIPHONG b~' sea a.nd air respccti vely.

2 Hay 1955

No departures H;;.IPIDNG.

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Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHIBGRPI Serial: 055, June IS, 1955

ENCLOSURE (1)

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CAMP ~!ARINE closed leaving CAMP 9 RUE BONAl onl;r camp open. Camp population is 1,750 with 350 ready to depart.

3 Ma;y 1955

No departures HAIPHONG.

Among 250 refugee arrivals were 90 escapees from VINH a.rea.. All 90 arrived in 2 junks.

DIACHENKO (APD 123) arrived HAIPHONG to relieve COOK (APD 130) as flagship for CTU 50.1.1.

COOK released.

4 Mat 1955

No departures HAIPHONG

Camp population is 200 with 150 ready to depart.

5 Hay 1955

No departures HAIPHONG.

Camp population is ~ with 200 ready to depart.

There are 8,078 and 14,180 refugees registered to depart HAIPHONG by sea and air respectively.

FRENCH airlift increased to about 275 daily.

CAPT IV. C. ,li"INN, USN, cro 50.1 and C(}!PHIBGRU ONE with operational staff departed YOKOSUiCA via air to embark in· COOK at SANGLY POINT and proceeded HAIPHONG.

6 May 1955

GENERAL BRb"'WSTER departed HAIPHONG with 1,549 civilian passengers.

Carap po;:,ulation is 274 with 100 ready to depart.

There are 8,328 and 13,900 refugees registered to depart HAIPHONG by <03a and air respectively.

7 May 1955

SWOIlD KNOT departed HAIPHONG with S vehicles and 2,510 shor·~ tons cargo including 3 escapee junks.

Camp population is 429 vlith 200 ready to depart.


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8 Vay 1955

CAPT W. C. WINB USB, C'l'G 50.1 and statt arrived HAIPHONllin COOl[ alld assumed on scene OO'P"l!J)d ot sea operatlol18. CAPT WIIIIf oonferred with RADM QUERVlLLE and CAPT ST JJ1<BLO.

E8timate .3,000 to 4,000 refugess remainirlg desiring eY&Ouation. Additional. reluctant to lea ... beMuse ot ov.rreut unst.b1e sit_ion in South and raol'e in circulation ot .3,000 ref'u&". retlll'll1lll Worth na o~st. ehipping.

UCOIIIIIittee ot Experts", otticial vm MINH 'V&DgIW'd arrived in HAIPHONG tor indoctrination in operation ot public utll1t:lss.

CHINESE st.ill in HAIPHONG indicate they intend to l"'Da1 n.

1ooaJ. merchants manufacturing and disp1a;v:Lng VIKT MDIH tlags.

FRENCH sector is deeerted and sanitation ooDditioDl!l are de-terioratiDg.

VIET MINH demoDl!ltratiOl1s oontribute to tension ae deadline draws near.

No HDAP or US funded equipment remains on docks or in ware houses.

IDoal refugee oOllllDittee terminated fol1llal administ.rative prooedures and most otfioials departed.

FRENCH I1&val bue ie oomplet~ stripped and closed.

9 Maz1955

. C'l'G 50.1 departed HlIPHClfG in COOK tor SAIGal.

MAHINE SlmPENT departed HAIPHONG with 1,778 oivl l1 an passensere.

All camp refug.s e"f'IICuated &lld, oamp olosed.

10 HaY 1955

No departllrlle IfAIPHONG.

II Maz19SS

C'l'G50.1 arrived SAIGON in COOK at WOH.

C'l'G 50.1 conferred with ALt1SHl SAIGON, CIIMllG SAIGON and V.lDM JOZAH.

No loading, 110 departurle HAIPHONG.

100 refugees arrived na road trca. BUI CHU all bearing ,VIlT MDIH

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHIDGRPI Serial: 055, June 15, 1955

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LAISSEZ-PASSER papers. Refugees reported VmT MINH would a.l.low 2 lIIOre r,roups through. one on 12 and one on 15 Mair.

12 Hay 1955

cm 50.1 conferred with ALUSNA SAIGON, CHMAAG SAIGON and VAIJo! JOZAN.

cm 50.1 departed SAIGON for DOSON in COOK at 1530H.

LTJG DOOLEY, HC awarded meda.l "OFFICER DE LORDRE NATIONAL DE VIE'mAM" by FRESIDENT DIEt.r, for his outstanding work W!i.th the refugees the past 10 months.

13 Mar 1955

T-13T 548 departed HAIPHONG for SAIGON with· 65 vehicles and 126 military passengers.

14 Na,y 1955

cm 50.1 in COOK arrived DOSON.

Ten refugees, including infant Girl, arrived DOSON from HANOI at 1400H. Refugees had no baggage or personal belongings. i'lother of infant girl chose to remain under VIET HINH and was deserted by husband. Father and child last official refugees to leave NORTH VIETNAH and were embarked in GENERAL BRElfSTEa .•

FRENCH stated they had shipping to evacuate any later arrivals.

T-13T 578 departed DOSON for SAIGON with 69 vehicles and 189 military passengers. T-LST 629 departed DOSON for SAIGON with 75 vehicles and 134 military passengers.

15 Nay 1955

om 50.1 and CTU 50.1.1 he,d luncheon conference with il.ADM'QUERVILLE aboard the JULBS ~JRNE at DOSON.

Evacuation of DOS ON and NORTH VIE'lNAH completed with the embaj.'kation by the FRENCI-! of 707 military passengers and 120 vehicles.

GENERAL BR11.,rSTER depa.rted DOSrn for SAIGON with 1,933 military and 472 civilian passengers.

All US and FRENCH ships moved to BAlE DE LANHA frOll\ DOSON upon completion of evacuation.

HARIliE SERPENT and T-LST 535 relea.sed.

16 Hay 1955

US ships COOK, DIACHENKO, and MARINE ADDER departed BAIE DE LANHA

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHlBGRPl Serial: 055, June 15, 1955

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• to a .. ilt ,.011 toro .. 1& the •• aoa.atiOil ot refllp •• at .a.

17 It! 1925

C'!U 50.1.1 1& DIACH!IIO detaob.ed and ...u.4 tor SAlIGl.KY POD!.

18 Ity 19"

Speoial operation te1'lll1nate4. no refugee a eabarked.. C'fG 50.1 in COOK departed tor S.AR~Y POlIT. VARIJDt ADIBR aaUecl to SAIOOX.

20 lip 1955

'l'G 50.1 dia aol.ad..

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHlBGRPl Serial: 055, June 15, 1955

_CID8D1II (1)

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PART III

STATISTICAL SUMMARY

1. Total personnel and material evacuated b,y U. s. shipping from 15 November 1954 through 18 May 1955:

15-30 1-18 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Totals

Military Passengers 0 432 659 89 0 627 2382 4189

Civilian Passengers 13983 7437 24028 21260 31711 35036 5740 139195

TOTAL Passengers 13983 7869 24687 21349 31711 35663 8122 143384

Vehicles 39 558 724 250 86 466 221 2344

Short Tons Cargo 5558 16703 10841 2374 1857 2263 1184 40780

Barges 0 0 22 14 0 0 0 36

Births 8 11 18 18 19 16 2 92

Deaths 0 6 6 1 0 5 0 18

2. Daily averages of personnel and material evacuated during period 15 November 1954 through 18 May 1955:

15-30 Nov Dec

~Initary Passengers 0 14

Civilian Passengers 932 240

TOTAL Passengers 932 254

Vehicles 2 18

Short Tons Cargo 370 539

Barges 0 0

Births .5 .3

Deaths 0 .2


Jan Feb

21 3

775 759

796 762

23 8

349 85

.7 .5

.5 .5

.2 .03

1-18 OVerall Mar Apr May Average

0 20 132 23

1022 1168 319 757

1022 1188 451 780

2 15 12 13

59 75 79 235

0 0 0 .2

.6 .5 .1 .5

0 .16 0 .1

ENCLOSURE (1)

28

3. Total personnel and material evacuated o.r U. S. shipping from 17 August 1954 through 18 May 1955:

17 Aug-15 Nov 54 15 Nov 54-18 Mar 55 Overall Totals

Military Passengers 13,657 4,189 17,846

Civilian Passengers 153,807 139,195 293,002

TOTAL Passengers 177,464 143,384 310,848

Vehicles 5,791 2,344 8,135

Short Tons Cargo 27,977 40,780 68,757

Births 92 92 184

Deaths 4S 18 66

4. Complete Tabular Data of Ship Employment, Task Group 90.8, period 15 November 1954 through 18 May 1955: .

Sailing Loading Date Ship Name Date Destination

- 11/16 MARINE LYNX (TAP 194) 15 Nov Saigon 11/17 FENTRESS (TAlC 180) 15-16 Nov Tourane 11/21 GEN HOWZE (TAP 134) 12-20 Nov Saigon

ll?Z PEMBINA (TAlC 200) 17-27 Nov Saigon 113 GEN Ho\-IZE (TAP 134) 30 Nov Saigon 12/6 HENNEPIN (TAlC 187) 26 Nov-6 Dec Saigon 12/7 HERKIMER (TAK 188) 28 Nov-6 Dec Saigon 12/8 GEN HOWZE (TAP 134) 8 Dec Saigon 12/14 FENTRESS (TAK 180) 7-14 Dec Saigon

- 12/18 LST 176 17 Dee Saigon . 12/18 LST 546 17 Dec Tourane . 12/18 LST 520 17 Dee Tourane "·12/19 LST 47 18 Dec Tourane -12/19 ARLO OLSON (TAJ{ 245) 14-19 Dee Saigon

12/23 LST 546 21 Dee Saigon 12/23 LST 47 23 Dee Saigon 12/23 LST 520 23 Dee Saigon

, 12/29 I GEN HOWZE (TAP 134) 29 Dee Saigon 12/31 LST 176 30 Dec Tourane

1/2 LST 546 2 Jan Tourane 1/2 MS CODINGTON 28-31 Dec Saigon 1/3 LST 47 3 Jan Saigon 1/4 GEN HOWZE (TAP 134) 4 Jan Saigon 1/4 SS SWORD KNOT 28 Dee-4 Jan Saigon 1/4 1/6

LST 176 4 Jan LST 520 6 Jan

2

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post 1 January 1946 Box 141 - PHIDGRPI Serial: 055, June 15, 1955

Saigon Saigon

Cargo

5,847 Civ Pax 630 S/T/15 Veh 3,109 Civ Pax 2,452 S/T/24 Veh 5,027 Civ Pax 2,526 S/T/10 Veh 3,967 SiT 2,888 Civ Pax 2,297 S/T/20 Veh 51 Mil Pax/58 Veh 39 Mil pax/67 Veh 45 Mil pax/68 veh 60 Mil Pax~72 Vah 3,749 SiT 7 Veh 50 Mil pax/68 Vah 61 Mi1·Pax/72 Veh 61 Mil Pax/71 Vetl 4,549 Civ Pax 65 Mil Pa;{45 Veh

1 Hcptr 100 Mil PU/59 Veh 3,139 SiT 47 Mil Pax/58 Vah 4,401 eiv Pax 3,009 SiT 83 Mil Pax/52 Veh 90 Mil Pax/38 Vah

ENCLOSURE (1)

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Sailing Date Ship Name

Loading Date Destination

.... 1/9 1/11 1/11

- 1/12 1/14 1/21

~ 1/21 1/22 1/23 1/24 1/24 " 1/28 1/28 1/29 1/29 1/30 2/1 2/2 2/5 2/5 2/8 2/10

2/14 2/16 2/22 2/23

- 2/26 3/3 3/6 3/10 3/11 3/15 3/20 3/23 3/25 3/28 3/31 4/5 4/5 4/8 4/13 4/16 4/16

4/21 4/23

_4/26 - 4/27 - 4/27 -4/29

SS DIDDO 26 Dec-9 Jan Saigon LST 546 11 Jan Saigon HERK~ (TAK 188) 5-10 Jan Sai8:ln GUNSroN HALL (LSD 5) 11 Jan Saigon GEN HOWZE (TAP 134) 13 Jan Sai8:ln GEN HOWZE (TAP 134) 20 Jan Saigon MARINE SERPENT (TAP 202)21 Jan Saigon GUNSTON HALL (LSD 5) 22 Jan Saigon SS SWORD KNOT 19-22 Jan Saigon LST 520 24 Jan Tourane LST 546 24 Jan Saigon LST 47 27 Jan Saigon LST 520 28 Jan Saigon LST 176 28 Jan Saigon GEN HOWZE (TAP 134) 29 Jan Saigon GUNSTON HALL (LSD 5) 30 Jan Saigon MARINE SERPENT (TAP 202)30-31 Jan Saigon ARLO OLSON (TAK 245) 22 Jan-2 Feb Saigon MS CODINGTON 28 Jan-4 Feb Saigon LST 546 5 Feb Touraneo MARINE SERPENT (TAP 202)5-8 Feb Saigon SS SWORD KNOT 9-10 Feb Saigon

GUNSTON HALL (LSD 5) 14 Feb Saigon MARINE SERP]1JT (TAP 202)15 Feb Saigon GUNSTON HALL (LSD 5) 21 Feb Saigon MARINE SERPENT (TAP 202)22 Feb Saigon MARINE ADDER (TAP 193) 26 Feb Saigon MARINE SERPENT (TAP 202)3 Mar Saigon MARINE ADDER (TAP 193) 6 Mar Saigon SS ~RD KNOT 28 Feb-9 Mar Saigon MARINE SERPENT (TAP 202)9-11 Mar Saigon MARINE ADDER (TAP 193) 14-15 Mar Saigon MARINE SERPENT (TAP 202)19 Mar Saigon MARINE ADDER (TAP 193) 23 Mar Saigon SS SWORD KNOT 23-25 Mar Saigon MARINE SERPENT (TAP 202)27 Mar Saigon MARINE ADDER (TAP 193) 30-31 Mar Saigon

. MARINE SERPENT (TAP 202)4 Apr Saigon SS SWORD KNOT 3-4 Apr Saigon MARINE ADDER (TAP 193) 7 Apr Saigon MARINE SERPENT (TAP 202)12 Apr Saigon MARINE ADDER (TAP 193) 15 Apr Saigon SS SWORD KNOT 13-16 Apr Saigon

MARINE SERPENT (TAP 202)20-21 Apr MARINE ADD:ER (TAP 193) 23 Apr GEN BREWSTER (TAP 155) 26 Apr T-LST 548 27 Apr T-LST 535 27 Apr T-LST 578 28 Apr

3

Saigon Saigon Saigon Saigon Saigon Saigon

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post 1 January 1946 Box 141 - PHIDGRPI Serial: 055, June 15, 1955

Cargo

4,171 SiT 70 Mil Pax/68 Veh 2,608 SiT 8 Barges 4,947 CiT Pax 4,468 CiT Pax 3,625 CiT Pax 7 Barges 80 Veh/2,272 SiT 71 Mil P8x/88 Veh 58 Mil Pai/63 Veh 65 Mil Pax/70 Veh (;J) Mil Pax/')4 Veh 15 Mil Pax/94 Veh 4,253 Civ Pax 7 ~g.s 2,334 CiT Pax 1,520 S/T/31 Veh 2,208 S/T/36 Veh 70 Mil Pax/69 Veh 5,266 CiT Pax 19 Mil Pax/ll4 Veh

, /725 SiT 7 Barges 5,170 CiT Pax 7 Barges 5,514 CiT Pax 5310 CiT Pax 3,797 Civ Pax 5,980 CiT Pax 53 Veh/2,Q42 sIT 5,660 CiT Pax 3,066 CiT Pax 5,078 CiT Pax 2,163 CiT Pax 33 Veh/18 SiT 3,976 CiT Pax 1,991 CiT Pax 5,721 CiT Pax 118 VSh/67 SiT 4,006 CiT Pax 6,289 Civ Pax 4.966 Civ Pax 84 Veh/31 Mil Pax

/870 SiT 6.120 Civ Pax 2.636 Civ Pax 2.526 Civ Pax 71 vsh/l00 Mil Pax 60 Vsh/l00 Mil Pax 78 Veh/196 Mil Pax

ENCLOSURE (1)

26

SaUing Date Ship Name

Loading Data Destination Cargp

- 4/29 4/29 5/1 5/6 5/7 5/10 5/13 5/14 5/14 5/15

T-LST 629 28 Apr Saigon MARINE SERPENT (TAP 202)28-29 Apr Saigon MARINE ADDER (TAP 193) 1 May' Saigon GEN BREWSTFR (TAP 155) 4-5 May Saiel'n SS Sl<{ORD KNOT 28 Apr-7 May SaiePn MARINE SERPENT (TAP 202)10 May' SaiePn T-LST 548 13 May Saiel'n T-LST 629 14 May Saigon T-LST 578 14 May SaiePn GEN BREiSTER (TAP 155) 12-15 May Saigon

55 Vah/200 Mil Pax 2,772 Civ Pax 1,941 Civ Pax 1,549 Ci v Pax 8 Veh/2,510 SiT 1,778 Civ Pax 69 Veh/126 Mil Pax 75 Veh/134 Mil Pax 69 Veh/l89 Mil Pax 472 Civ Pax/l,9JJ

Mil Pax

5. Utilization of Shipping~ Utilization of U. S. shipping approached 100% of statistical expectations subject to the following limitations:

a. Extended employment of LST types required a number of availabilities for the accomplishment of emergency repairs. It is considered that in ships of this type such breakdowns are normal and sb:luld be anticipated in computing shipping requirements.

b. ClMAVI type vessels were dello/ed on the average 1 da;y per month per Ship in obtaining an of'noading berth in SAIGON.

c. HeavY weather during the northeast monsoon season increased turn around timesignif'icantly on several occasions. .

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post I January 1946 Box 141 - PHlBGRPI Serial: 055, June 15, 1955

FnCLOSURE (1)

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COMMAND STRUCTURE 8 AUGUST. 11&4 - I APRIL. 11&&

I Executive I I

I SecretarJ of Defense I Foreign Operations I

Administration [Joint Chiefs of Staff I

ISecretary of Navyl

IC ~ I CINCPAC 1

ICINCPACFLTl

Chief I--~ _______ +- ________ ChiefMAAGl U. S. Overseas Mission __ - Indochina

Indochina I- - - _ CTF-90 1----- '" --- Commander Sea Operations Indochina

CTU-90.8.1 Commander Embarkation Unit

Command -------------------Coordination

Enclosure (2)

CTG-90.8 Commander Evacuation Grou

,/ ,/

,/

,/ ,/

,/

'"

CTU-90.8.2 Commander Debarkation Unit

•

• COMMAND STRUCTURE

I APRIL - .. MAY, 18aa

I Executive I

I Secretary of Defense I L_Oreign Operations

Administration lJoint Chiefs of Staff I ---_. ---

I Secretary of NavyJ

~ ICINCPAC I

ICINCPACFLTI

Chief Chief MAAG J U.S. Overseas Mission b---------

1 -------- Indochina ,,- -Indochina --...... - .....

CTG-50.1 - ---- ,/ -..... - Commander Indochina Sea f--- /' .... Evacuation Group /' .... .... .... /' - ,/ .... .... /' ..... ..... CTU-50.1. 1 ./ ..... , Commander Evacuation V./

Unit

CTE-50.1.1.1 Commander Debarkation

Element

Command ---------------------- Coordination

Enclosure (2) Page 2

• CamDmTIAL

C<J!lII!:NTS AND RECOWENDATIOOS - INTELLIGENCE

1. Uap - }JlS 5202

2. INOOCHINA Situation

a. General YiJ.j.tary and Political

(1) The political situation in South VIETNAM conthlued to deteriorate throughout the final period, reaching a critical low in late April, when the tension between the religious sects and the govemment erupted into open violence. Throughout this period, CTF 90/r:rG 50.1 kept abreast of the rapidly changing situation, taking into consideration possible effects on the assigned mission. Close attention was given to such aspects as possible incidents in the'transfer or ref'ugees in U. S. shipping and possible damage to ships or injury to personnel at the debarkation point

. in SAIGCI'l. Close liaison between CTF 90/OTG 50.1 and CHMAAG, SAIGON. greatly aided in maintaining an uninterrupted flow of' refugees to the South, in spite of VIET MINH pressures in the North anci internal conflicts in the South.

(2) Communist capabilities remained essentially the same as those contained in the initial report.

3. Intelligence Collection

a. Subsequent to the transfer or local area command to CTG 90.S/ r:rU 50.1.1 on 15 November 1954, one intelligence officer f'rom the staff' of COMNAVFE waS attached to C(l!EVAC:;'OR with the specific duties of collecting information from all sources regarding numbers and movements of refugees, threats toward the evacuation operation by VIET 1JNH activity, and material of coo tinuing intelligence value to the Navy. This officer was returned to his permanent duty station in mid-March 1955, and no intelligence officer Was with the Evacuation Forces from that date until 8 May, when CTG 50.1 arrived at HAIPHrnG and assumed command or sea operations.

b. While CTG 90.8/CTU 50.1.1 held local area conunand, photographic intelligence collection was handicapped by a lack of experienced photographers. However, after the return of OTG 50.1 to HAIPHam in May additional ground photography was obtained of the following subjects on the DO SON Peninsula:

(1) Detail of French landing craft embarking troops at the beaching ramp on BLtIE: BEACH, BAlE DE CLATEAU.

(2) Detail of the interior of the DO SON airfield and fuel storage area.

(3) Detail of hospital area.

This material was forwa1'lied as Information Report

CrnFIDENTIAL

Naval Historical Center - Operational Archives Command File, Post 1 January 1946 Box 141 - PHffiGRPl Serial: 055, June 15, 1955

1

5-55, a supplement to

Enclosure (3)

22

CONFIDENTIAL

COMPHIBGRU ONE Information Report 1-S-54.

c. (h 7 June an 1nf'ormation report was forwarded to 00 by COMPHIBGRU ONE concerning photography and activity of an unidentified merchant ship observed in the South China Sea on 18 ~ 1955.

d. On 12 May CTG 50.1 forward8d an 1nf'ormation report t.o CINCPACFI:r (DTG 121053Z) concerning the political situation in VIETNAM.

4. Interpreters

a. As shipping requirements lessened, interpreters assigned from COllNAVPE were phased out ~d in the final month of operations only one remained with CC1!1WACFCR.

5. Recommendations

a. In view of the continuing opportunity for collection of 1nf'ormation of intelligence value to the Navy, it is recommended that in any future operations of this type at least one intelligence officer be retained on the staff of the Commander Evacuation Forces at all times.

b. Photographic material to supplement 1nf'onnation reports is invaluable to intelligence collection. It is recommended that at least one photographer with necessary equipment be assigned to assist in the colleetion effort.

CQI'FIDENTIAL 2


Enclosure (3)

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!. ~j - vietnam center and archivessified ni\vhistdivinst 5~;oo.1 by: op.09b92c ....

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