Page 55 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

The rnost pressing task tvas to assist war victirns. Presi-
dent Thieu, in an address to the nation on Z February, started a rnonth-
long fund-raising carnpaign to which each governrnent ernployee and
servicernan contritruted one- thirtieth of his rnonthly pay. The central
Relief Cornrnittee was rnade the responsibility of Vice President
Nguyen Cao Ky.

These rneasures, as well as what the corrrrnon people had
witnessed during the battles in the cities, resulted in a most encoura-
ging developrnent, Frorn a peaceful situation in which ";eople had been
cornplacent enough to believe the country was safe, li i;--: in the cities
was exposed to intense and sudden dangers. Awareness of the real
situation and seeing the fighting spirit of governrnent soldiers rnade
thern feel rnore confident in the possibility of defeating the enerny.
The new psychological reality was rnost evidently reftected
in the attitude of the young generation in response to callup orders.
Prior to Tgt it was a rnatter of public knowledge that Vietnarnese youths
dreaded nothing rnore than being drafted into the Arrny. Following the
V. C. attacks on the citi e s,thous ands of draft-aged boys did not even
'$'ait for individual callup papers. Tens of thousands joined the Arrny
voluntarily.

lVithin one rnonth following the Cornrnunist attacks the
Vietnarnese Arrny not only had enough replacernents {or its depleted
ranks but also found rnost of its rnanpower problerns solved, as if by
rnagic. Most units becarne overstrength after years of being under-
strength. In addition to forrner servicernen and new recruif,s, who
voluntarily joined in the fight, quite a few delinquent servicernen
i.rnprisoned for petty crirnes were given the chance to redeern thern-
selves if they 6hou1d volunteer for cornbat duties, Many of thern did.

Another encouraging sign was the equipping of all cornbat
troops with the new M. l6 rifles. With this ne!r' standard weapon,South
Vietnarneee troops not only attained rnuch better individual firepower
but seerned also to acquire a new fighting spirit that had been lacking
with the obsolete M. l.

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