George S. Patton, son of legendary World War II general of the same name, served three times in the Vietnam War. In this major piece, Robert McBroom considers Patton’s thoughts on the Vietnam War, including the reasons for the conflict and how to fight the Viet Cong. To produce the article, Robert has worked closely with the Patton homestead archive in Hamilton, Massachusetts and met and interviewed George Patton’s wife Joanie Holbrook Patton.
George S. Patton in 1977.
“The war in Vietnam was unwinnable lost before the French expeditionary force fired its first shot, before the south fielded its first soldier in the national Army of Vietnam, before the first U.S. advisor set foot in country. An idea independence and unity would triumph over bullets. “[1] Colonel William C. Haponski, who served with Major General George S. Patton would go on to explain what he believes is the result of the conflict in Vietnam. When the White House got involved in Vietnam, they had zero control during the conflict and had no real foundation of why our boys were fighting in a foreign land. George would later reflect on Vietnam by saying, “There was an absence almost total of a national strategy.”[2] Despite victories on the battlefield, the conflict in Vietnam had no end goal. The Vietnam conflict has had many different perspectives and historians for years have tried to develop an understanding for all. Historian Mark Philip Bradley would explain the Vietnam conflict as “there were many Vietnam wars, among them an anti-colonial war with France, a cold war turned hot with the United States, a civil war between North and South Vietnam and among southern Vietnamese, and a revolutionary war of ideas over the vision that should guide Vietnamese society into the post-colonial future.”[3] The Vietnamese people had been fighting a war of independence since the very start of their existence and have used guerrilla warfare to their success against colonial powers. The separation of North and South Vietnam started with French missionaries in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and would rule Vietnam. While the French would rule the South, China and other communists’ countries supported the revolutionary groups in the North, thus the separation was created at the 17th parallel which was a boundary created by the military in 1954. All of this would make the conflict in Vietnam like nothing this country had seen before, historian Christian G Appy would say that “there has never been a war quite so frustrating as Vietnam.”[4] However, Congress had not technically declared a war since 1942. His frustration is one that is felt by historians of Vietnam. Colonel Harry G. Summers Jr. who was a graduate and an illustrious man of the Army War College, while also being a veteran of Korea and Vietnam would go on to explain to Nguyen Don Tu that, “you know you never beat us on the battlefield.”[5] While his counterpart of the North Vietnamese Army, Colonel Nguyen Don Tu would say “That may be so, but it’s also irrelevant.”[6] Creating this frustrating for all who were a part of Vietnam and the scholars who study the conflict. This paper will examine his experience as a United States advisor in Vietnam, which would end up being his first of three tours involving the conflict. Lieutenant Colonel George S. Patton would reflect on the Viet Cong and their guerilla warfare, and how the United States could find a weakness but also what made the North Vietnam Army so strong along with their leaders and their philosophy in his Army War college thesis.
Major General, George S. Patton IV, was the son of old blood and guts, Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. who was a veteran of both World Wars, would go on to explain what he believes is a cause of the conflict in Vietnam and the history of the area is a direct result of the French rule over time in the region and a lack of leadership from America political leaders. The Major General was born December 24th, 1923 and would later drop the IV legally in 1947 after his father’s passing. George would explain to historian Bill McCloud that, “Lyndon Johnson failed to mobilize either the armed forces or the people at home.”[7] In any time period of war and or conflict, the President of the time must mobilize both the efforts at home, as well as being clear cut orders for the military, which Lyndon Johnson failed miserably at doing so.
After his graduation at West Point a man is famously known for saying “You’ll never be the man your father was but congratulations.”[8] Never less Patton would become a veteran of two significant military conflicts during the second half of the century, the conflict in Korea and the conflict in Vietnam. Historian Lewis Sorley would discuss an incident with General Abrams and Patton to show how understanding a person and soldier George was. “When he arrived Patton could see he was in a foul mood…When he neared it, he asks Patton, you got any whiskey? Paton said he did and got Abrams a scotch and soda.”[9] George knew not to antagonize General Abrams; he was simply there to listen and support his fellow soldier who had just returned from the combat zone. James Dozier, a friend of George's who served with him in the 11th Armored Cavalry regiment known as the Blackhorse regiment would later reflect on Patton’s career by saying, “he just had an instinct for doing the right thing at the right time in combat and many American soldiers are alive today because George Patton was their boss.”[10] George had the instinct that many military leaders of his time did not have and many veterans of the conflict are thankful for George for being their boss.
Vietnam became a large cemetery because of their history of conflict with outsiders was the reason for that. The only way the American political leaders and some military leaders could see success was by body count of the enemy. “To obtain the attrition rate, enemy bodies had to be counted.”[11] Chief intelligence William Westmoreland stated. The Vietnamese wanted nothing more than their culture and lifestyle, but with the strong outside forces controlling the Vietnamese people, Major General George S. Patton would describe it as an open door for communism. “These powerful forces set up the stage for the entry of communist ideology.”[12] A long history of injustice for the people of Vietnam was the issue at hand while George would go on to say that “Most humble were confronted by Frenchman holding exact the same or lower jobs but being paid two or three times more. Thus, the French janitor at Hanoi received a base pay that was slightly higher than that of a Vietnamese professor with a PHD from Paris.”[13] This George believes is one of many reasons for a communist ideology to spread in a place like Vietnam and also a cause for a revolution for the Vietnamese people, the disbalanced democracy that favors a person’s background and not the education of an individual who went to school in a western country. “The French concept of divide and rule which kept the five colonial dependencies politically separated, were contributory to today’s dilemma.”[14] Having the separation between North and South Vietnam all these years, George believes is also a direct cause of the conflict America had become a part of. Vietnam was unlike anything his father had faced before along with military personnel of his time. “In Vietnam there were no lines, Patton pointed out. “It was more a war of the people. And we did not understand that war nor did we have a clear-cut national strategic objective. It was not clearly defined by the leadership of this country.”[15] Our military members during the time did not have a understand why we were their just like the American people watching in their living rooms.
I. Leaders of the Vietnam Conflict
Patton would write several versions of his Army War College thesis on the Viet Cong forces and how they endured their history, and how he viewed success in Vietnam along with his beliefs on the Vietnamese people. Unlike Westmoreland, George did not believe that a body count of the enemy was the simple solution with the conflict in Vietnam. Patton would state that “This early failure to establish a viable political base which would include these important ethnic minorities was to prove costly.”[16] The idea of counting the enemy in body bags, was a cover up for American political problems with not creating a political base for the South Vietnam People. Thus, Communism which was an easy quick government to set up, seeps through and into the Vietnamese lives.
After his first tour in Vietnam, George S. Patton would examine his enemy, the Viet Cong and how Vietnam has been shaped over time and in history. “The very existence of Vietnam as a separate country and the survival of the Vietnamese as a distinct people must be regarded as a miracle for which scores of historians have satisfactory solution.”[17] Vietnam had been under colonial rule since the French got there in 1887 and continued to be under rule for much of their history, yet the people of Vietnam were never going to give up. “Vietnam has everything that others want both geographical and historical should have made the absorption of Vietnam by the Chinese empire and inescapable fate.”[18] The Vietnamese people had no problem with outsiders coming to their homeland, they just did not want to be controlled. George would go on to explain that “They did not mind the French so very much. They just didn't like always being occupied and working for the French.”[19] If the Vietnamese people and the French could have lived together with equal opportunity, they’d be no conflict. Let the Vietnamese have their culture and ways of life, that had been taking away from them for so many years. This unbalance democracy allows for Communists countries to intervene on Western beliefs in Vietnam both North and parts of the South.
II George’s view on the Conflict
When the French backed away and the United States would now take over with the help of the Democratic party of South Vietnam, that had now been established. It was still not going to kill the Viet Cong heart and soul, that their leader Ho Chi Minh and others have put forth to them with Propaganda and radio broadcasts over the years to get the outsiders out, a tactic known as psychological warfare. Revolution had been a part of Vietnam’s history since the people could remember and the Viet Cong used that to their advantage. Their country had been under foreign rule whether it was the Chinese empire, or the French or America acting for western democracy ideology. ”From the perspective of the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese, it was a war to end foreign domination and reunite the two Vietnams.”[20] The people in North Vietnam were under a nationalistic uprising, while the people of the south was in conflict within the Saigon government. Both the North and the South had major issues within their own governments. The United States military was simply trying to make life better and help get the Chinese out of Vietnam, as they were supporting the North Vietnam army. “You fools Don’t you realize what it means if the Chinese stay? Don’t you remember your history? The last time the Chinese came, they stayed for one thousand years![21] Ho Chi Minh would explain to his pro Chinese counter part of the North Vietnam Government. “As for me I prefer to smell French shit for five years, rather than Chinese shit for the rest of my life.” This confusion within the government led the Vietnamese people to a conflicting point of view on both sides of the government in both North and South Vietnam. Some of the Vietnamese people saw American’s as the enemy because of the psychological pressure put on the people by propaganda, put forth by the communist party in North Vietnam. Patton would discuss a situation about his men helping a local village. “Our generosity was often overlooked, “says Patton.
“One time, in a village called Bing Co, elements of the 919-engineer company, which was organic to Blackhorse, were laying foundation for a new school and playground. As a vehicle carrying water and food for the army troops approached, it hit a mine buried in the road, wounding two soldiers and destroying the vehicle. The mine location must have been well known to some of the villagers. Yet, within thirty minutes of the incident other dedicated engineers were back outside to finish the playground job even without orders.”[22]
Despite the political views on either side, the military had developed a reason to be there in Vietnam, and that was helping the people. Try to fix the constant destruction upon it because of the country’s history. Helping the South Vietnamese people was not put forth by the United States government, but rather acts of kindness by Veterans. “Few American’s arrived in Vietnam with a deep-seated commitment to help the people of South Vietnam, but most were convinced that helping the South Vietnamese was a central purpose to their mission.”[23] The simple act of helping them build schools and Patton would go on to say that any operations that was happening in Vietnam, was a chance within itself. “These were very delicate operations and any time one realized that the chances of success were perhaps 50 percent or less.”[24] The Military members never asked questions, and always did what they were told and no matter how difficult the operation sounded, they did it with no questions asked. Marine Lance Corporal Steven Shircliff who was a member of the Third Reconnaissance Battalion, would reflect on a call to battle his platoon got to return to the battlefield where they’d just fought, by saying “I can still remember those insane words to return. Not only I, but everyone else who was left were in tears, shock, and disbelief. It was unbelievable that we were being ordered back into the same hell we had just managed to survive. But we followed orders.”[25] Whether the political leaders of the time, kept sending our military service members back into the Jungle, or the massive media hit the service members got by having the war televised in America’s living room. They could not see what Patton and many other veterans of Vietnam, saw before the conflict ended, including the North Vietnam leaders, one being Bao Dai who said “I saw Ho Chi Minh suffer. He was fighting a battle within himself. Ho had his own struggle. He realized communism was not best for his country, but it was too late. Ultimately, he could not overcome his allegiance to communism.”[26] Communism was the best fit for the Vietnamese people to come together as one people and for the nationalistic side of individual’s became the forefront of their lives. The North Vietnamese Army was not going to give up anytime soon and nothing was going to beat the belief in independence, even if communism was not the right answer, it was a solid starting point for the hope of combining to create one Vietnam.
III. Fighting the Viet Cong
In George’s writings about the conflict, did he ever reflect on how the United States could be successful in Vietnam against the Viet Cong forces? Fighting the North Vietnamese Army was an issue that was very complex. George would explain in his thesis that the “the main force Viet Cong may be of either sex, in our out of uniform and of any age. He may or may not be a communist party member.”[27] The Vietnamese had been in this conflict for a very long time and it became a war of not only communist members, but the people of Vietnam. Viet Cong forces, Patton wrote, were commanded by those before who have survived a western influence over the years and those leaders have used propaganda to gain the trust of mostly peasants. “Communist ideology was not a significant motivating factor other than being the force that developed the propaganda that emerged as the primary weapon of this conflict.”[28] The leaders of North Vietnam over the years, developed a strong hatred, grievances and a sense of adventure for their people to join against the westerns and their beliefs. Although communism would not be good for the people in the long run, to reunite the two Vietnam’s it was the best fit. They did not care if they were poor or rich, they just wanted to live in peace in their corner of the world.
The Major General would go on to explain that the leaders of the Viet Cong, were a heroic figure for the people of Vietnam because they were “effective, dedicated, experienced and product of the law of survival.”[29] Thus they have stood the tests of time and are true Vietnamese patriots. The General would discuss the strong influence of self-criticism for a Vit Cong solider in Mai Xuan Phong’s diary states that “In my heart, I keep loyal to the party and people. I am proud and happy. For two days we have been short of food and had only glutinous rice. The sun is burning hot. Not enough drinking water. But our patriotism and our determination to liberate will help us overcome all.”[30] The General would go on to explain that “these extracts and reports merely demonstrate that complaint continues as a handmaiden of soldiering, and cannot be discounted as an influencing factor”[31] George would explain that when things for the United States did not look good in Vietnam, examine the enemy and find what is not working for them as well for what is working for them. “In the words of our greatest ally, “when things look bad and one’s own difficulties appear great, the best tonic is to consider those of the enemy.”[32] When your plans are not going as the way you wanted them too, George believes that taking a deeper look at the enemy situation and status is a good way to figure out how to overcome one’s own difficulties in warfare.
The North Vietnamese Army never stopped training, no matter if that meant military or political training their minds. “Main force military training consists of forty-five days with five days extra for cadres. Fifteen days are for general military items and ten days are for tactics. There is a separate training schedule for politics, this is about 20 days.”[33] George would explain that in one of Ho Chi Min writings, unknowingly would write what he believes was a “western shortcoming in training for guerrilla war.”[34] In that the North Vietnamese knowingly knew what and how westerns trained for battle. “To Train everybody for guerrilla warfare. But in many localities time is devoted only to training or parade. This is like practicing music for putting out a fire.”[35] However, George believes that is was a political tactic for Ho Chi Minh and for his spread of communist propaganda as the main objective to reach the people and gain their support, since this was a major factor for the Viet Cong forces. “Always returning to the importance of effective propaganda…but encourages go to the people to give them explanations.”[36] He was a man of the people, much like most of the North Vietnam military leaders. Patton also believes that there was nothing new and nothing about the Viet Cong military training that would make them super revolutionary. “There is nothing starkly revolutionary about the Viet Cong military training. On the other hand, it is training for revolutionaries, realistic and simple, reflecting the simple character of the trainee.” That the main Viet Cong forces had not done anything new or different when it came to those before him. The Vietnamese people were fighting for independence and would not stop because the North Vietnam government had made a “big promise”[37] to the people. Another strong belief for the Viet Cong forces Patton believes is that to keep secrets and never reveal information. “The Viet Cong are fairly good at security operations in general, and yet there are the diaries heretofore cited.”[38] The Diaries of fallen Viet Cong forces would be a helpful tip inside of what they were thinking, planning and even sometimes their next moves Patton believes.
The Viet Cong soldier had the idea drilled into them, that to bear torture if captured. Since the North Vietnam army refrains from believing in torture and to not torture others as well, Patton would explain that “Although it is certain that both sides have indulged in some cruelty, especially after sharp engagements, constant RVN efforts have achieved some improvement.” Thus, torture and integrations are a part of warfare, so it some way or from it will make its way onto the battlefield. After intense fighting and both sides are still filled with hate, anger and all kinds of emotions.
When it came to supplies and weaponry, The Viet Cong forces did not have much. George believes that “The Viet Cong are a have not force. Therefore, what they do have they will secure and maintain, paying special attention to ordnance material, critical foodstuffs, and medical supplies.”[39] As the conflict continues, they would try to capture the weapons and supplies they need and had been successful doing so. The Vietnamese people had been in a conflict with each other and had been under a foreign rule for so long, that the need for supplies was always a need as the North Vietnam army would have to rely on civilian population and help. George would explain that for the Viet Cong to have success in the future, they would have “to respect and help the civilian population.” However, this was not always true because the survival of the Viet Cong was so important, George would explain that “The insurgent enemy is a combination of many things. He is known to be a mixer of terror with days of help, murder with general education and falsity with kindness. He is a pillager and a thief, yet sometimes a philanthropist.”[40] The Viet Cong had to be all of this George believes, because they had to hide the political side of their mission, while being for the people like Ho Chi Minh and other Viet Cong leaders.
While reflecting on her husbands’ military career, along with his War College Thesis Joanne Holbrook Patton would say that “My husband was always aware that there could have been other things done. If we had gone further as a government to get to know Ho Chi Minh, might have been possible something better could have happened, wouldn’t have said he was all communist because first he was all Nationalist.”[41] The United States propaganda put forth by the political leaders and their scare of the spread of communism, along with the media had turned Ho Chi Minh into a full blown Communist when in reality, he was all nationalist and wanted to unify the two Vietnam’s anyway he could, as this was the main objective for him.
IV George’s view on Viet Cong philosophy
Patton would describe the Viet Cong philosophy for government as something to be conflicting within its own ideology. That the United States could use the North Vietnam propaganda and beliefs as counter propaganda if it was placed in the hands of an expert. “It’s is Questionable as to whether the reputation of either Ho or his government is indeed founded on fact.”[42] Ho Chi Minh and his government relied on their Propaganda to gain a foundation for nationalism and a movement towards unity, as this was their main objective and hid communism from the people.
Vietnam was being influenced by foreign countries in both the North and the South, while the United States was in the South, the North was facing two different enemies, the Chinese and the Soviet Union, George believes that a weakness could be found if the United States exploits those two countries. “The Chinese intervention problem and this nation’s basic ideological disagreements with the Soviet Union might, if properly pressed and exploited by the free world, enfeeble the insurgency.”[43] The Soviet Union and China had now placed the small nation of North Vietnam and their government into a dilemma, due to the Sino-Soviet split, Patton believes that it will “Force the small nation to cast her lot with one side or the other or follow an independent course which may be economically undesirable.”[44] Doing this will open a weakness within the North Vietnam Government and allow the South and the United States to try to bring North Vietnam to the discussion table which is the only way George believes will be the only way North Vietnam can come out of the conflict with some form of victory. That if the conflict was to continue. The United States military, with the help of South Vietnam would over run the Viet Cong Military force. George would write about how the Viet Cong “Must bring us to the conference table to win because a military victory is completely beyond their power”[45] When it comes to military strategy, George would explain that we must fight the Viet Cong with their own tactics, Beat them at their own game and that the only way for this conflict to end was to meet at the table. The time for that meeting, was never to happen as American political leaders pulled troops out of Vietnam in March 1973.
V. Conclusion
“Find the Bastard and Pile on!” was the standing order that George S. Patton gave his men who were a part of the 11thArmored Cavalry regiment. George was hopefully that this conflict could be turned around with the right leaders in charge. Joanne Holbrook Patton would go on to say “George was hopefully his favorite general Abrams, when appointed to take the place of Westmoreland, he would be able to turn things around. But he hardly got started when everything was shut off.”[46] When General Abrams finally got the command to lead, it was too late. As troops returned home to an unpleasant welcome by American citizens. “George was frustrated by the press showing that the Tet offensive was such a success for the North…not the whole story.”[47] Success in Vietnam is very complex and frustrating, general Abrams finally got his chance to lead, but the effort in Vietnam had to come to an end, because of the pressure from the people at home and media not showing the whole conflict is something that George would take with him for the rest of his life. George was a beloved soldier by so many and a fantastic father. “He was a tolerant father, one time or another one of our children did something that was not what he wanted them to do but never deserted them.”[48] Even after the conflict in Vietnam was over, the veterans who returned home took most of the blame for it because of the media and press of Vietnam. He never let his feelings toward the conflict and political leaders get in the way of what meant more to him in life. His duty to serve his country, and his duty to be the best father and husband he possibly could be. True American hero.
What do you think of George S. Patton and the Vietnam War? Let us know below.
[1] Autopsy of an unwinnable war Vietnam colonel Ret William C. Haponski with colonel Ret Jerry J. Burcham foreword by lieutenant General Ret Dave R. Palmer pg.241
[2] Bill McCloud, What Should We Tell Our Children? Norman: (The University of Oklahoma Press) 1989. Pg.98.
[3] Mark Bradley, (Vietnam at war New York: Oxford University Press, 2009) pg.8
[4] Christian G Appy. Working-Class War: American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam. Pg.237
[5] Ibid pg.236
[6] Ibid
[7] Ibid
[8] Brain Sobel, George Smith Patton, and Joanne Holbrook Patton. The Fighting Patton’s. Bloomington: (Indiana University Press, 2013) pg.7
[9] Lewis. Sorley Thunderbolt: General Creighton Abrams and the Army of His Times. Bloomington, IN: (Indiana University Press, 2008) Pg.300
[10] Ibid pg.120
[11] Gregory A. Daddis No Sure Victory Measuring U.S. Army Effectiveness and Progress in the Vietnam War. New York: (Oxford University Press)2011
[12] (George S. Patton Thesis US Army War college April 1965) portrait of an insurgent: a study of the main force Vietnamese communist force 02.1591 pg.4
[13] Ibid pg.14
[14] Ibid pg.15
[15] The Fighting Patton’s pg.xv
[16] (Thesis US Army War college April 1965) portrait of an insurgent: a study of the main force Vietnamese communist force 02.1591 pg.10
[17] Briefing on my AWC thesis (the VC) 19 September 1964 1st version Patton family homestead archive file 02.289.02
[18] Ibid
[19] Ibid
[20]James Stuart, and Randy Roberts. Where the Domino Fell: America and Vietnam, 1945-2010. Malden (Mass.): Wiley Blackwell, 2014. Pg113
[21] William Appleman. America in Vietnam: a Documentary History. W.W. Norton, 1985. Pg.94
[22] The Fighting Patton’s by Brain M. sobel pg.146
[23] Working Class War by Christian Appy pg.212
[24] The Fighting Patton’s. Pg.104
[25] Lawrence C. Vetter JR Never without Heroes Marine Third Reconnaissance Battalion in Vietnam. pg250
[26]Williams, William Appleman. America in Vietnam: A Documentary History. W.W. Norton, 1985. Pg.94
[27] (Thesis US Army War college April 1965) portrait of an insurgent: a study of the main force Vietnamese communist force 02.1591 pg.4
[28]Ibid pg87
[29] (Thesis US Army War college April 1965) portrait of an insurgent: a study of the main force Vietnamese communist force 02.1591 pg.84
[30] Ibid pg.67
[31] Ibid pg.68
[32] Ibid
[33] (Thesis US Army War college April 1965) portrait of an insurgent: a study of the main force Vietnamese communist force 02.1591 pg.69
[34] Ibid pg.28
[35] Ibid
[36] Ibid
[37] Ibid pg.94
[38] Ibid pg.71
[39] (Thesis US Army War college April 1965) portrait of an insurgent: a study of the main force Vietnamese communist force 02.1591 pg.73
[40] Ibid
[41] Joanne Patton reflects on her husband’s war college thesis and his service. In person with author February 28th, 2020, Interviewer Robert L McBroom Jr. interviewee Joanne Patton at 4:40
[42] (Thesis US Army War college April 1965) portrait of an insurgent: a study of the main force Vietnamese communist force 02.1591 pg.94
[43] Ibid pg.92
[44] Ibid pg.92
[45] Ibid pg.97
[46] Personal interview Joanne Patton reflects on her husband’s war college thesis and his service. 28th February 2020, Interviewer Robert L McBroom Jr. interviewee Joanne Patton 8:09
[47]Ibid 8:36
[48] Ibid 12:02
Bibliography
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Patton Family Archive collection
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Personal interview Joanne Patton reflects on her husband’s war college thesis and his service. 28th February 2020, Interviewer Robert L McBroom Jr. interviewee Joanne Patton
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