civil rights movement, 173
Clancy, Tom, 238
Clanton, Norman G., 137
Clausewitzian concept of Mass, 60–61
Clinton, Bill, and Vietnam War, 172
Coker, George, 194
Colvin, John, 188
Connally, Bartholomew, 104
Connolly, Keith B., 44
Cooper, Barrie, 176, 177
Corsair II, A-7, 76–77
Cronkite, Walter, 169, 182
Crusader F-8, 17, 32, 72–73
French Navy and, 74
for photo reconnaissance/problems, 73–74
Cuba
Bay of Pigs incident, 5, 6
torturing/murdering Americans and, 190
US normalization of relations, 190
Cuban Missile Crisis, 5, 13, 73–74
Cultural Revolution, 25
Cunningham, Randall W. (“Duke”), MiGs and, 233–237
Cunningham, Randy, 91
Czechoslovakia, invasion of, 201
Daniel, Jim, 179
Dao Ngo Ngu, 38
Daughtrey, Robert N.
Dragon’s Jaw attacks, 63
ejection/capture, 63
Davis, Brent, 127–128
Skyknight strike/death, 127, 128–129
Davis, Joseph, laser-guided bombs and, 210
“death rays,” 209
DeBellvue, Chuck, 238
Decker, George H., 6
Demansky Island, 25
Democratic Convention (1968), 184–185
Denton, Jeremiah A., Jr.
attack on port facility and, 96–97
background/Sunday Punchers and, 95–96
plane damage/capture, 96–97, 164
as POW, 193, 194
Dereliction of Duty (McMaster), 6–7, 13
Desert Storm, 267
Destroyer, 126, 129–130
Dethlefsen, Merlyn, 56
Diem, President, 2–3, 7
Distinguished Flying Cross, 255–256
Dixie Station, 81, 150
Do Van Sot, 143
Dong Phuong Thuong Bridge, 26, 32
Doppler radar, 121
Doremus, Robert, 87, 99
Dragon’s Jaw attacks and, 87, 88, 90, 99–100
ejection/capture, 99–100
Douhet, Giulio, 66, 244
Doumer, Paul, 1–2
Draeger, Walter, 46
Air Force Cross and, 50
Dragon’s Jaw attacks/death and, 46–47, 50
Draft, 171, 172–173
and Canada, 172–173
Dragon’s Jaw attack (April 3 and 4, 1965), 34–36, 37–40, 43–45, 46
aircraft losses, 35–36, 39–40, 41, 42, 43, 46, 47–48
crews captured, 36, 41, 48, 50
MiGs and, 36–39, 40–41, 42, 43–46, 50–51
results/photography confirmation, 51
search-and-rescue effort, 41, 42, 46, 47
Dragon’s Jaw attack (April 21, 1972), 225–227
SAMs and, 225–226
search-and-rescue/celebration, 227–228
Dragon’s Jaw attack (April 27, 1972), 229
Dragon’s Jaw attack (January 28, 1968), 174–180, 184
AF-USN coordination, 174–175
MiGs and, 178
photography confirmation, 177, 180
Dragon’s Jaw attack (May 13, 1972), 239–242
celebration, 243
LGBs, 238, 242, 243
results/photography confirmation, 242–245, 246
weather and, 238–239, 241
Dragon’s Jaw attack (May 1967), 162–166
crew capture/as POWs, 166
fire/crash, 164–165
MiGs and, 163
need to destroy/US attacks on, 167–168
original mission, 162
reconnaissance following crash, 164–165
search-and-rescue effort, 166
Vietnamese taking/as exhibit, 168
Dragon’s Jaw attack (October 6, 1972), 252–253
damage/destruction, 254, 255, 256
destruction confirmation, 253–255, 256
Dragon’s Jaw Bridge, xvi (map), 3–4, 216–217
following Vietnam War, 267
repair during bombing halt, 216–217
as symbol, 169, 170
“theories” on, 103
Dragon’s Jaw Bridge attacks, 160–162
damage (May 13, 1972), 242–245
following May 13 attacks and, 250
heavier ordnance experiment (1965) and, 104–105
last half of 1966 and, 144–147
losses summary (by 1968), 184
Navy’s first (June 1965), 81–85
nights and, 120, 122
predictable schedule and, 160
reputation/as challenge, 81, 103, 145, 154, 169, 170
status after first year of war, 67
status end of 1965 and, 109
US taking off list of targets and, 145
Dragon’s Jaw Bridge defense, x, 20, 21–22, 247
AAA weapons/installations, 22–23, 103
crew changes and, 21, 22
defenders description, 21, 101, 248
regiment change (1965), 20–21
repair during bombing halt, 216–217
symbolism/significance and, 20, 169–170
Dragon’s Jaw Bridge history (before Vietnam War), 2, 4
dedication (1954), 4
French and, 2
rail structure and, 2, 3
rebuilding, 3–4
Viet Minh blowing up, 2, 3
Vietnam status/pride and, 4, 103
Driscoll, William P. (“Willy”), 91
MiGs and, 233–237
status/MiGs, 235, 237
Duong Van Le, 107
Dye, Rufus, Jr., 178
Easter Offensive/Operation Nguyen-Hue (1972), 205–206, 218–219
bombing ban and, 216
Dragon’s Jaw Bridge and, 217
end, 229
US response, 218, 219, 221
Edmonson, William R. (“Rocky”)
Carolina Moon missions, 137, 140
death, 140
Eglin Air Force Base
Air Force Special Air Warfare (SAW) Center and, 131
innovative weapons and, 131
See also Carolina Moon
Eighth Tactical Fighter Wing
morale/parties, 224
Ubon, Thailand and, 136, 204, 221, 222, 224–225, 228, 238, 239, 242, 255
Wolfpack, 222, 228, 229, 232, 238, 255
Einstein, Albert, 209
Eisenhower, Dwight, 3, 5, 6
Ellis, Bill, 167
Estocin, Mike, 56
Failor, Dean, 215–216
Flaherty, Bart, 244–245
flak suppression, 23, 168–169
Vietnam gun crew deaths and, 169
Flynn, Robert J.
as Chinese POW, 198
release/after release, 264
shoot-down, 197–198
Fonda, Jane, 22, 190, 191
American POWs and, 190
Vietnamese weapon/photos, 22, 191
Ford, Gerald, 264, 265
Foster, Gary Wayne, 20
Foster, Wynn, attaack on Dragon’s Jaw/secondary target, 103, 105, 106
Fox, Jim, 234
Fox Two (Cunningham), 236
France
Dien Bien Phu defeat, 2
following World War II/war with Vietnamese partisans, 2–3
Vichy France and, 2
Vietnam/French Indochina and, 1–2
World War II and, 2
Franke, Bill, 98–99
Dragon’s Jaw attack (August 1965), 98, 99–100
ejection/capture, 99–100
Navy Dragon’s Jaw attack (June 1965) and, 90
as POW, 194–195
POW release, 197
Franks, J. D., lasers/LGBs and, 222–224
Frazier, H. Early (“Hank”), 250
French Indochina, 1–2
fuses. See bombs/bombing
Galanti, Paul, 197
gallows humor, 102–103
Gates, Bill, 75
Geneva Convention (1954)
dividing Vietnam/DMZ, 2–3, 25
US support of South Vietnam after, 3
Giap, General (Vo Nguyen Giap), 182, 206, 216
Glenn, John, 73
global positioning system (GPS), 266
Glory Days (Samuel), 129
Gold, Ed, 114
Goldwater, Barry, 12
Gore, Al and Vietnam War, 172
Graber, Jack
Dragon’s Jaw attack, 42–43
mission statistics, 43
grade inflation (college/late 1960s), 172
Grant, Brian, 233
Gray, Stephen R.
on flak suppression, 23
memoir by, 151
Phy Li bridge complex attacks, 157
power plant/near Dragon’s Jaw attack, 151–153
Great Leap Forward/consequences, 25
Great Society, 24, 51
Green, Ronald R., 44
Greene, Jay
downed Phantom/pilot’s death and, 149
Dragon’s Jaw attack and, 149–150
Greene, Wallace, 66, 67
Gruters, Guy, 197
guided missiles (US), 16n.
Gulf of Tonkin incident, 10–12
carrier aircraft and, 81
Johnson and, 11–12, 81, 196
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, 12, 12n
Gulf War (1991), 267
Ha Gia Bridge, 126
Hai Duong Bridge, 114
Halberstam, David, 13
Hanson, Robert Taft, Jr., 118
Harcrow, Bob, 225, 227
Harris, Carlyle (“Smitty”)
capture/as POW, 36, 50, 192
Dragon’s Jaw attack/hit and, 35–36
Harris, Hunter, Jr., 142
Hart, Gary W. and Vietnam War, 172
Hart, Johnny, 163, 213
Harworth, Elroy E., Carolina Moon mission/death, 140–141
Hawkins, Charles D.
Hai Duong Bridge attack, 114
plane fire/ejection, 115–116
rescue/hospital ship, 116
Hayes, Emmett L.
Dragon’s Jaw attacks, 43–44
Sidewinder use, 43–44
Heinemann, Edward, H., 46
Henry, Larry, 225
Hercules C-130 airplane, 133–134. See also Carolina Moon/Hercules airplane
Herrick, John J., 10
Herrold, Ned, 141
Hibbard, Hall, 133
Hilton, Rick, 222–223, 242, 243
Dragon’s Jaw attack (May 13, 1972), 238, 239, 240, 241–242, 243
History of the 228th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, 106–107
History of the Peloponnesian War (Thucydides), 188–189
Hitler, Adolf, 259
Ho Chi Minh, 3, 4, 17, 26, 112, 149, 160, 182, 185, 197
HOBOS (Homing Bombing System), 214
Holm, John, 162
Holmberg, Eugene (“Basic Mule”), 128
escorting Skyknight attack/SAMs and, 128, 129
Homing Bombing System (HOBOS), 214
Hong Hoi Bridge, 26
Horatius, 1
Horne, Richard G.
Dragon’s Jaw attack (May 13, 1972), 239, 240, 241, 242
on losses/Dragon’s Jaw, 243
Houser, Bill, Dragon’s Jaw and, 145, 146
Humphrey, Hubert H., 185
Hurlburt Field, 131
Ickle, Harvey, 230
In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam (McNamara), 9
Indochina, France and, 1–2
Intruder A-6 aircraft, 75–76, 114, 119
fuses/premature detonations, 96–98
Iron Hands, 54, 55, 56–57, 82, 91, 112, 151, 262
Japan, 2
Javits, Jacob K., 264
Jenkins, Harry
Dragon’s Jaw and, 105
as POW, 194
Johnson, Kelly, 133
Johnson, Lyndon B., 7–8
bombing halts/“negotiations” and, 57, 123, 148–149, 150, 180–181, 183, 184, 187, 214, 216
China/Soviets Vietnam involvement fears and, 24–25, 108–109, 230
criticism of his Vietnam policy and, 59, 110–111
declaration of war and, 189
election (1966), 24
Gulf of Tonkin incident and, 11–12, 81, 196
leaving White House and, 186–187
MiG shoot-downs and, 51
military professionals and, 189
removing self (1968) from reelection, 111, 183
Tet ceasefire, 148, 150, 180
Tet Offensive and, 182–183
on US support for Vietnam, 259
Vietnam War and, 7, 8–9, 11–12, 14, 24–25, 26, 50–51, 59, 81, 111, 144, 145, 159–160, 171, 183, 186–187, 230
Vietnam War escalations and, 11–12, 11n, 55–56, 100, 148, 150
Vietnam War failure summary, 50–51, 219
Vietnam War mistakes summary, 189, 233n
Vietnam War plan, 25, 51, 67, 159, 182, 183
Jones, C. R., reconnaissance flights/Dragon’s Jaw, 244, 245
Keeney, Jimmy C., 250
Keller, J. E., 117
Kelley, James S., 250
Kennedy, Joe, 153
Kennedy, John, 227–228
Kennedy, John F.
assassination, 7
communism and, 3, 6–7
Dereliction of Duty on, 6–7
military capabilities and, 5
presidential election/inaugural address, 5
staff and, 5–6
Vietnam and, 6–7, 189
Kennedy, Robert F., assassination, 172
Khrushchev, Nikita, 6–7
Kien An Bridge, 229
Kilgus, Don
air-to-air kill and, 45–46, 50–51
Dragon’s Jaw attacks/MiGs and, 44–45
North Vietnamese losses and, 45–46
King, Martin Luther, Jr. assassination, 171
Kissinger, Henry, 199, 200–201
American foreign policy control and, 199–200, 201
on attacks on Nixon, 260
China relations and, 199, 202, 206
on Johnson, 183
on military victory, 267
negotiations with North Vietnam, 201
negotiations with Soviets, 201
“peace is at hand” and, 259–260
realpolitik and, 199
Soviet relations and, 199, 206
on Thieu, 259
Vietnam negotiations and (October 1972), 258–259
Vietnam visits, 200
Vietnam War and, 183–184, 258, 259–260, 267
Klusmann, Charles F., capture/escape of, 81
Koons, Dale F., shot-down/death, 204–205
Korean War, 5
aircraft/aircraft carriers and, 72, 74
China and, 24
dogfighting and, 17
POWs, 141
Skyknights and, 126
Kovaleski, Victor
rescue of, 250
as Ringwood’s escort, 248
Krone, Bob, 109–110
Kulla, Vernon M.
Dragon’s Jaw attack and, 37, 38, 39, 40–41, 42
“hit the brakes” maneuver and, 40
MiGs and, 37, 38
Laing, Jim, 163
Laird, Melvin, 199, 260
Lam Van Lic, 89, 90
Lambert, Robert A.
Dragon’s Jaw attack/hit and, 58
ejection/rescue, 58, 184
landing signal officers (LSOs), 69, 70–71, 150, 253
Lang Bun Bridge, 229
Lanphear, Wayne, 44, 45
Laos fall to NVA, 265
laser-guided bombs (LGBs), 210–211, 243
accuracy and, 214, 215–216
altitude and, 212–213
costs and, 212, 214
Dragon’s Jaw destruction and, 242, 243
Failor on, 215–216
in flight, 212–213
Mark 80 series bombs and, 211, 215, 223–224, 238, 239, 242
military interest and, 210
Nellis Fighter Weapons School, 223
Pave Knife, 211, 213–214, 215, 223, 238
Paveway system, 211–216, 219–221
Rowen’s experience with, 219–221
success examples, 243
Texas Instruments and, 209, 211, 216
weather limitations and, 214
Zot (Pave Light), 213, 220, 223
lasers, 209, 210
Le Duc Tho, 201
Le Thanh Nghi, 4
Le Trong Long, 90
leaflet drop, 59–60
LeMay, Curtis, 66–67
Vietnam War advice, 67, 261
Lenin, Vladimir, 18
LGBs. See laser-guided bombs
Linder, Jim, 175, 178
Linebacker II (“The Christmas Bombing”), 260–264
Hanoi area deaths and, 262
Linebacker (operation), 218, 222, 250, 260
Lodge, Henry Cabot Jr., 200
Long Bien (Paul Doumer) Bridge, Hanoi, 1–2, 2, 232
attack/results (May 1972), 232
Long, Steven W., Jr.
Dragon’s Jaw attack, 178, 179
rail cars attacks and, 179
Ludendorff Bridge, 1
Luftwaffe, 209
Luti, William J., 181
Ma River, 2, 3
McCain, John, 129
McCarthy, Mary, American POWs and, 190–191
McCoy, Ivy
Dragon’s Jaw attack and, 32
LGBs and, 219–220
Rowen and, 219–220
MacDonald, David, 145
McDonald, Emmett R., 140
McGovern, George, 191
Machiavelli, Niccolò, 187
McKnight, George, 194
McMaster, H.R., 6–7, 13
McNamara, Robert S., 5, 53, 66, 81, 186
appointment/Kennedy administration, 5
bomb shortages and, 124, 125
on bombing successes, 144
departure from White House, 183
graduated response/problems, 12–13
military aircraft and, 46, 77
North Vietnamese SAMs and, 53
numerical quantification of results, 66
predictions for war end, 144
Rolling Thunder halt and, 59
thwarting rescue attempt, 81
Tonkin Gulf visit and, 100, 101
unit reports phrasing, 100
Vietnam/failure and, 8–9, 12–13, 26, 46, 50, 53, 59, 66, 67, 77, 81, 100, 101, 123, 124, 125, 148–149, 171, 183, 186–187, 189
“Whiz Kids” and, 5–6, 49, 183, 189
World Bank, 183, 187
McNaughton, John T., 53
McPherson, Everett, Skyknight strike/death, 127, 128–129
McWilliams, Bill, 125
Magnuson, James A., Jr., 37
Dragon’s Jaw attack/death and, 37, 38, 39–40, 41, 42
Mandeville, Bob, 146
Mao Zedong, 202, 203
Mays, Kenney W., 178, 179
Medals of Honor, 56
Merritt, Raymond J., 64–65
ejection/capture, 65