Carroll H. Dunn
requirements as well. As to electricity-we never calculated electrical requirements to
the degree that we did in Vietnam. Then we had to consider the question of
maintenance and the need to have a post engineer force-also a new addition to active
combat theater requirements. It was a different war in more ways than just jungle
fighting and drug problems.
Q ..
What would you say about the functional component system?
A ..
It didn't work. Just why it didn't work is a matter of conjecture. In the first place, we
had an idea but we never procured it. Second, because it hadn't been procured, it really
hadn't been tested. While theoretically we could order a battalion camp, in reality we
couldn't. Somebody had to put that together; the procurement and the equipment never
got to Vietnam in one shipment. The shipping situation would have made it very
even if we had had functional components in stock. In my opinion it would
have been much better to have standardized components that could be bought and
shipped to Vietnam where they could have been assembled in any combination or
configuration as needed. This would have made more sense than the component system
as it was originally conceived. My understanding is that there's been a lot of work done
on this since Vietnam. I'm not up to date on what has happened in the last few years.
Q ..
With the Vietnam experience in mind, perhaps.
A ..
I would hope so.
Q ..
But no one's talked to you about it?
A ..
Right. We did prepare some after action reports, particularly a report prepared by
General Raymond. And later there were a number of studies at the JCS [Joint Chiefs
of
level on this subject and on control of construction in an active theater.
Q ..
Were you involved, say, in the JCS study?
A ..
I met with the people making the studies, and I critiqued some of their results. I was
not deeply involved, although he [Raymond] was.
Q ..
What about the Seaman Board in OCE? That was in February 1968.
A
Again, I was aware of that and met with the group and provided some input. I must
admit that at this point my memory is hazy on the actual results.
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