Military Comm. - A Test for Tech. [US Army in Vietnam]

540 Pages·1986·71.583 MB·English

by  J. Bergen

United States Army in Vietnam
Military Communications
A Test for Technology
by
John D. Bergen
Center of Military History
United States Army
Washington, D.C., 1986
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Bergen, John D., 1942-
United States Army in Vietnarn. Military cOl11ll'1unications,
a test for technology.
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Vietnamese Conflict, "l961-1975-Communications.
1. Title.
DS559.8.C6B47 1985 959.704'38 85-26647
Civil 1 Pub 91-12
First Printing
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402
United States Army in Vietnam
David F. Trask, General Editor
Advisory Committee
(As o( "13 April "1985)
Roger A. Beaumont Maj. Gen. Edward j. Huycke
Texas A&M University Deputy Surgeon General,
U.S.A.
Col. Roy K. Flint
U.S. Military Academy Archer jones
North Dakota State University
Maj. Gen. Robert H. Forman
U.S. Army Training and
Jamie W. Moore
Doctrine Command
The Citadel
Col. Louis D. G. Frasche
james O'Neill
U.S. Army Command and General
National Archives and Records
Staff College
Service
john H. Hatcher
The Adjutant General Center Charles P. Roland
University of Kentucky
L. Eugene Hedberg
American Enterprise Institute Donald W. Smythe
for Public Research john Carroll University
U.S. Army Center of Military History
Brig. Gen. William A. Stofft, Chief of Military History
Chief Historian David F. Trask
Chief, Histories Division Lt. Col. Richard O. Perry
Editor in Chief john Elsberg
iii

· . . to Those Who Served

Foreword
The United States Army in Vietnam series is a comprehensive collection of
historical studies that record the Army's role in the Vietnam War. Included are
volumes describing combat operations; the Army's role in pacification, logistics,
engineer operations, medical support. and training; relations with the media; and
activities at the Department of Army level.
In this volume the author develops the thesis that burgeoning technology in
communications faced a severe test in Vietnam. He analyzes the advantages and
drawbacks of new communications systems and the effects these systems had
on decision making and on command. In so doing, he describes the difficulties
that communications systems had in keeping pace with the information explo
sion and shows that command and control do not necessarily improve with en
hanced communications. The study illustrates that the communicator's mission
of "getting the message through" was not only critical to the success of combat
operations but also as challenging as combat itself.
The author's clear understanding and description of these issues make this
a valuable work for those responsible for the future success of command, con
trol, communications, and intelligence. At the same time it serves as a primer
for readers not fully aware of the vital part communications play in every phase
of warfare.
Washington, D.C. WILLIAM A. STOFFT
24 October 1985 Brigadier General, USA
Chief of Military History
vii
The Author
John D. Bergen received his commission in the U.S. Army upon graduation
from the United States Military Academy in 1964. He received a Master of Arts
degree in Literature from Indiana University in 1971 and a Master of Military Arts
and Science degree from the Command and General Staff College in 1975.
Mr. Bergen's military career included assignments as adviser to a South Viet
namese signal battalion, instructor in the Department of English at the Military
Academy, and commander of the 51st Signal Battalion in Korea. During a tour
as a military historian at the Center of Military History he completed the
manuscript of this volume. He then served as an Army staff planner and strategist
and as speechwriter to the secretary and deputy secretary of defense.
In February 1985 Mr. Bergen left public service to accept the position of staff
vice president at RCA.
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