Civil Affairs

1.                  This unit’s Civil Affairs/Civic Action Program for this reporting period has consisted primarily of maintaining close liaison with local Vietnamese leaders and developing civic action projects.

2.                  The close liaison is particularly important at this time because of the increasing need for additional land for military use.  The villages were notified of our initial land requirement; however, this requirement for land has increased as more units move into the area.  The villagers have been extremely cooperative and agreed to our use of the land, so long as they are provided time to move their graves and are reimbursed for privately owned land.  The claims for reimbursement for privately owned land have been submitted through Vietnamese channels.

3.                  The civic action projects developed during this period includes the operation of the Battalion Civic Action Out-Patient Clinic, distribution of Project Handclasp supplies, and the establishment of a Self Defense Corps within the village.

a.                   The Battalion Civic Action Out-Patient Clinic provides medical treatment for the villagers on an established schedule (Tuesday and Friday) each week.

b.                  The Project Handclasp supplies available to this Battalion include soap, bulgur, vitamins, toys, sports equipment, buttons, kites, and miscellaneous items.  These supplies have been given to the local village chief who has made fair and equal distribution to the villagers.

c.                  The establishment of the Self Defense Corps on 27 August is believed to be an important step in encouraging the people to protect themselves and to prevent Viet Cong infiltration.  The Corps is composed solely of local villagers who have volunteered for this duty.  The Corps’ primary mission is to patrol each hamlet, holding spot bed checks and apprehending any person moving about between 2000 and 0500, the hours of curfew.

This page last corrected 16 September 2011