NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
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Chief of Staff as well as staff discussions between Vietnamese officers and members of my mission. Discussions were also held with both political and military representatives of Cambodia and Laos. At training centers visited, representatives of the Associated States were playing a prominent part and participated extensively in the activities of my mission.
53. Participation of MAAG Indochina in Activities of the Mission: General Trapnell, in addition to supervising all administrative arrangements concerning our activities in Indochina, worked in close coordination with the mission at all times. Members of MAAG accompanied the mission on all trips and briefings. General Trapnell was informed of his responsibilities in following up actions of the mission.
54. Attitude of New French Command in Indochina: During my stay in Indochina I became more and more impressed with the sincerity of General Navarre and his top commanders to see this war through to success at an early date. Progress in offensive planning and increased aggressiveness in attitude and follow-through were noted even during our brief stay. Once the French became convinced of the soundness of our original recommendations they were not only very receptive to all subsequent recommendations which we advanced but actually appeared to be groping for any new ideas which might contribute toward winning the war in Indochina. Furthermore, their repeated invitations for me to come back in a few months "to witness the progress we will have made" is, in my opinion, concrete evidence that the new command has brought a new, aggressive psychology to the war in Indochina. As a closing thought I propose that henceforth we think in terms of the "Navarre concept" in association with the war in Indochina.
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JOHN W. O'DANIEL
Lieutenant General, USA
Chief of Mission
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