OKINAWA: ISLAND FORTRESS USED TO TRAIN UNITED STATES TROOPS FOR SOUTH VIETNAM.

Record ID: 337197

  • Title: OKINAWA: ISLAND FORTRESS USED TO TRAIN UNITED STATES TROOPS FOR SOUTH VIETNAM.
  • Date: 8th August 1965
  • Summary: AIRCRAFT AND MISSILE; MARINE BEING PUT THROUGH TRAINING AND SHOWN WEAPONS REPORTER TO BE WIDELY USED BY THE VIET CONG -- NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY -- IN THE WAR IN SOUTH VIETNAM. Initials PBS/S/JH/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 23rd August 1965 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: OKINAWA
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Reuters ID: LVA687TPB4WZNQG4Q095ZZMY52FB
  • Story Text: OKINAWA, THE ISLAND USED BY THE UNITED STATES AS A STRATEGIC BASE IN THE FAR EAST, IS BEING USED AS A TRAINING GROUND FOR AMERICAN FORCES FOR SOUTH VIETNAM.

    THE TERRAIN OF OKINAWA MAKES IT ALMOST IDEAL BECAUSE OF ITS SIMILARITY TO THE TERRAIN LIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED IN SOUTH VIETNAM.

    THE AMERICAN TROOPS, WHO SPEND UP TO SIX MONTHS IN TRAINING AT OKINAWA, ARE INSTRUCTED BY SOLDIERS EXPERIENCED TO COMBAT CONDITIONS IN SOUTH VIETNAM. A NUMBER OF TROOPS TRAINED AT OKINAWA ARE ALREADY IN SOUTH VIETNAM.

    THEY ARE INTRODUCED TO SOME OF THE UNORTHODOX WEAPONS ALLEGEDLY USED BY THE VIET CONG, INCLUDING TYPES OF MAN-TRAPS.

    THE DEFENCES OF OKINAWA HAVE BEEN FORTIFIED SINCE THE BASE HAS BEEN USED BY THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE TO LAUNCH AIR ATTACKS ON NORTH VIETNAM. GROUND TO AIR MISSILES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AT VARIOUS POSITIONS TO DEAL WITH ANY ATTACKS ON THE ISLANDS. THEY HAVE BEEN BUILT IN SPECIAL BUNKERS UP TO 90 FEET (30 METRES) UNDERGROUND.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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