Harrison Salisbury, assistant managing editor of the New York Times, files a report from Hanoi chronicling the damage to civilian areas in North Vietnam by the U.S. bombing campaign. Salisbury stated that Nam Dinh, a city about 50 miles southeast of Hanoi, was bombed repeatedly by U.S. planes starting on June 28, 1965. Salisbury's press report caused a stir in Washington where, it was reported, Pentagon officials expressed irritation and contended that he was exaggerating the damage to civilian areas. On December 26, the U.S. Defense Department conceded that American pilots bombed North Vietnamese civilians accidentally during missions against military targets. The spokesman restated administration policy that air raids were confined to military targets but added, "It is sometimes impossible to avoid all damage to civilian areas."
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Dec 25, 1966:
Harrison Salisbury reports on damage caused by U.S. bombing
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This Week in History, Dec 25 - Dec 31
- Dec 25, 1966
- Harrison Salisbury reports on damage caused by U.S. bombing
- Dec 25, 1972
- Linebacker II resumes after Christmas pause
- Dec 26, 1967
- Laos says communists launched an offensive
- Dec 26, 1971
- U.S. jets strike North Vietnam
- Dec 27, 1966
- U.S. and South Vietnamese troops attack Viet Cong stronghold
- Dec 27, 1969
- U.S. and North Vietnamese forces battle near Loc Ninh.
- Dec 28, 1964
- South Vietnamese win costly battle at Binh Gia
- Dec 28, 1972
- Hanoi announces return to the Paris peace talks
- Dec 29, 1962
- Saigon announces success of strategic hamlet program
- Dec 29, 1966
- Johnson Administration responds to Harrison Salisbury's charges
- Dec 30, 1970
- U.S. Navy transfers some responsibility to South Vietnamese
- Dec 30, 1972
- Negotiations to resume in Paris
- Dec 31, 1968
- Bloodiest year of the war ends
- Dec 31, 1971
- U.S. annual casualty figures down
- Dec 31, 1972
- U.S. and communist negotiators prepare to return to the Paris talks
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