Ernest Graves
Part II
Vietnam Interview5
[Q:
Would you describe the most challenging part of the engineer effort in the delta?]
A:
Some tentative estimates of the effectiveness of engineers in the delta have been that
it takes about twice as many engineers in the delta to accomplish a mission as elsewhere
in Vietnam. This estimate has not been confirmed by any detailed analysis. It's just the
impression of the people that have been following it.
When you look into this, you might be
inclined to think that it is because of the
hostility of the environment to engineer work.
I would say that in the dry season this is
definitely not the case. The conditions are as
favorable for engineer work in the dry season
as they are anywhere in Vietnam, perhaps
more favorable.
In the wet season, they are very difficult, but
I don't think that they are any more difficult in
the delta than they are in many other regions.
The real problem, and this is the real challenge
in the delta, is the support of these operations,
and the basic support problem is movement.
The road system will not support movement
to all the construction sites primarily because
the bridges are too low in capacity.
Colonel Graves in Vietnam, 1969.
5
Part II is not strictly speaking an interview. On 11 July 1969, Colonel Ernest Graves, commanding
officer, 34th Engineer Group (Const.), Binh Thu, Republic of Vietnam, on 11 July 1969 responded to a series of
questions that Captain Raymond F. Bullock had submitted in a memorandum.
The original questions from the memorandum are enclosed in brackets.
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