Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report. USAF Civic Action in Republic of Vietnam
Abstract
Divided into two periods, the Seventh Air Force Civic Action Program in South Vietnam in the initial phase was limited largely to informal, voluntary humanitarian activities, medical aid, and some construction projects. In the second phase, during May 1966, Civic Action became an official part of the Air Force mission. Its meaning and scope were defined, and an organizational structure was established to carry out the mission which, in importance, was considered second only to combat operations. The Air Force resources committed to Civic Action were limited, however, and the program needed greater professionalism, which would have allowed a more meaningful contribution to the GVN Revolutionary Development Program. Air Force Civic Action was only a small part of the overall U.S. effort to help the Revolutionary Development Program. This program of "nation-building" was confronted with formidable problems of armed aggression, poverty, corruption and apathy. It was being carried out in a country of 66,000 square miles and 16 million people whose race, culture, and language were dramatically different from those of the United States. While the majority of the population was ethnic Vietnamese, there were also substantial minority groups of Chinese and Cambodians, plus some 800,000 primitive mountain tribesmen known as "Montagnards." A history of mutual antipathy existed between the Vietnamese and Montagnards, and the latter had not yet been absorbed into the mainstream of Vietnamese life. More than 75 percent of the population was Buddhist, approximately 10 percent Roman Catholic, and the remainder belonged to various exotic sects. Religious animosity had been a contributing factor in the political turmoil disrupting the nation for years.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- ADA486932
Entities
People
- Lee Bonetti
Organizations
- Pacific Air Forces