Chapter 2

The Formative Years

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this chapter is derived from: MajGen Edward G. Lansdale, USAF (Ret.), _In the Midst of Wars: An American’s Mission To Southeast Asia_ (New York: Harper & Row, 1972), hereafter Lansdale, _In the Midst of Wars_; George McTurnam Kahin and John W. Lewis, _The United States in Vietnam_ (New York: Dell Publishing Co., Inc., 1967), hereafter Kahin and Lewis, _The U.S. In Vietnam_; Joseph Buttinger, _Vietnam: A Dragon Embattled_, 2 vols (New York: Praeger, 1967), Vol. II, _Vietnam at War_, hereafter Buttinger, _Vietnam: A Dragon Embattled_, v. II; Robert Scigliano, _South Vietnam: Nation Under Stress_ (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1963), hereafter Scigliano, _South Vietnam: Nation Under Stress_; Fall, _Two Viet-Nams_; Pike, _Viet Cong_; Gravel Edition, _Pentagon Papers_, vs. I & II; Vietnam Histories Comment File, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC, hereafter Vietnam Comment File; U.S. Marine Activities in RVN, 1954–1964 Project Interview Folder Hist&MusDiv, HQMC, hereafter 1954–1964 Project Interview Folder.

_Origins of U.S. Marine Assistance_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from: Bernard B. Fall, _Street Without Joy: Indochina At War, 1946–1954_, (Harrisburg, Pa.: The Stackpole Company, 1961), hereafter Fall, _Street Without Joy_; Col Victor J. Croizat, USMC (Ret.), “Vietnamese Naval Forces: Origin of the Species,” _USNI Proceedings_, v. 99, no. 2 (Feb73), pp. 48–58, hereafter Croizat, “Vietnamese Naval Forces”; Col Victor J. Croizat, USMC (Ret.), intvw by Hist&MusDiv, HQMC, dtd 10–11 Feb70 (OralHistColl, Hist&MusDiv, HQMC), hereafter _Croizat Interview_; Col Victor J. Croizat, USMC (Ret.), Comments and supporting materials on Draft MS, Jack Shulimson, “U.S. Marines in Vietnam,” pt. 1 (Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Croizat Comments and Supporting Materials_; Col Victor J. Croizat, USMC (Ret.), Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities in Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Croizat Comments On Whitlow MS_; Col James T. Breckinridge, USMC, Comments on Draft MS, Capt Robert Whitlow, “U.S. Marine Activities In Vietnam, 1954–1964” (Vietnam Comment File), hereafter _Breckinridge Comments_; MajGen William B. Fulton, USA (Ret.), _Riverine Operations_ (Washington, D.C.: Department of The Army, 1973), hereafter Fulton, _Riverine Operations_; Croizat, _A Translation From The French Lessons_.

[2-1] Col Victor J. Croizat, USMC (Ret.), “Notes on The Organization of the Vietnamese Marine Corps,” p. 3 (_Croizat Comments and Materials_), hereafter Croizat, “Notes on The Organization.”

[2-2] _Ibid._, p. 5.

[2-3] _Ibid._, p. 6.

_Political Stabilization and its Effects_

Unless otherwise noted, the material in this section is derived from: Buttinger, _Vietnam; A Dragon Embattled_, v. II; Gravel Edition, _Pentagon Papers_, v. I; Fall, _Two Viet-nams_; Robert Shaplen, _The Lost Revolution_ (New York: Harper, 1965); Kahin and Lewis, _The U.S. In Vietnam_; Lansdale, _In The Midst of Wars_.

[2-4] Col John T. Breckinridge, telephone conversation with Capt Robert Whitlow, dtd 21 Feb 74, subj: Early Experiences with the VN Marine Corps (Addenda to _Breckinridge Comments_, Vietnam Comments File), hereafter _Breckinridge Conversation_.

[2-5] Croizat, “Notes on The Organization,” p. 5.

[2-6] _Breckinridge Conversation._