McNamara Folly The Use of LowIQ Troops in the Vietnam War eBook Hamilton Gregory
Download As PDF : McNamara Folly The Use of LowIQ Troops in the Vietnam War eBook Hamilton Gregory 
In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson and Defense Secretary Robert McNamara were desperate to find additional troops for the Vietnam War, but they feared that they would alienate middle-class voters if they drafted college boys or sent Reservists and National Guardsmen to Vietnam. So, on October 1, 1966, McNamara lowered mental standards and inducted thousands of low-IQ men.
Altogether, 354,000 of these men were taken into the Armed Forces and a large number of them were sent into combat. Many military men, including William Westmoreland, the commanding general in Vietnam, viewed McNamara’s program as a disaster. Because many of the substandard men were incompetent in combat, they endangered not only themselves but their comrades as well. Their death toll was appallingly high.
In addition to low-IQ men, tens of thousands of other substandard troops were inducted, including criminals, misfits, and men with disabilities.
This book tells the story of the men caught up in McNamara’s folly.
McNamara Folly The Use of LowIQ Troops in the Vietnam War eBook Hamilton Gregory
…at the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial in Washington, DC were once in a group regrettably referred to as “McNamara’s Morons.” Hamilton Gregory, a college graduate, was being inducted into the Army, in Nashville, in the summer of 1967. Initial destination: Fort Benning, Georgia. Since he is a college grad, the sergeant takes him aside, and places him in charge of a man called Gupton, for the journey to Georgia. The sergeant explains that Gupton can neither read nor write, will need help filling out the paperwork at Fort Benning, and adds: “Make sure he does not get lost. He is one of McNamara’s Morons.”From that initial introduction, Gregory became concerned, even haunted by the fate of these men, and he has produced this well-researched book almost half a century later. Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara conceived of a “win-win” plan that was launched in October, 1966, called Project 100,000. The military would lower its admission standards, primarily by taking those whose IQ’s were so low that they would previously have been unqualified for military service; they also took those who were physically unfit, as well as those with criminal records. One half of the “win”: lifting citizens out of poverty; providing them an education via high-tech audiovisuals, and giving them skills to succeed in life after their military service. The other half of the “win”: not create greater anti-war sentiment by ending college deferments, primarily for the children of the middle class, and not activating Reserve or National Guard units where many of the upper class “served,” knowing they were avoiding the war. Under this plan, 100,000 would be inducted each year; a grand total of 354,000 were inducted, with numerous others brought in outside the official plan.
The first third of the book relates Gregory’s personal experiences in basic training, as well as his time in the “Special Training Company.” In ways, it was familiar territory, in others ways there were revelations – for example – how the first sergeant and another sergeant implemented a plan whereby they would identify those least likely to complaint, and then stole their money one evening. If you failed basic training (which I did not), one went to the “Special Training Company” (STC). Gregory went, primarily because he was overweight, and failed the physical. Many in the STC were in the Project 100,000, and simply did not have the intelligence to pass… and no matter how long they were in the STC, they still would not be able to. The solution? Pass them all “administratively,” that is, declare they were deliberately faking it, and “could” pass, if they really wanted to. In some cases, other career sergeants would take the test for them, wearing their fatigues and name tags.
The other two-thirds of the book reflect Gregory’s current research on the Vietnam War and Project 100,000. There are an impressive 281 footnotes, which included the dates that he accessed various websites. Consider: of the approximately 27 million draft age men between 1964-73, 68% would never serve in the military. Out of every 100 draft age men during this period, only 12 would go to Vietnam, and 9 of those 12 would serve in non-combat support roles. In fairness, Gregory does detail that even those nine could still get killed, but with much less likelihood. The author details the various ways one avoided the draft; and notes the ones who did so, and went on to leadership roles, such as Clinton, Romney and Cheney. He also notes those that went, such as McCain, Kerry and Hagel.
Virtually all the professional military, from the top generals to the buck sergeants, opposed Project 100,000, for reasons that seemed obvious if you were implementing it instead of being in a “social engineering ivory tower.” Gregory details the numerous acts of kindness, in a profession not noted for same, by which various soldiers in Project 100,000 were protected by a superior who served as a “guardian angel.” But there were not enough, which is why “McNamara’s Morons” died at a rate that was three times higher than those in similar situations, not in that category. Joe Galloway, the only reporter who was with the First Air Cav in its battle in the Ia Drang valley in 1965, and would co-author We Were Soldiers Once...and Young: Ia Drang - The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam, would write an article shortly after McNamara’s death entitled: “100,000 reasons to Shed No Tears for McNamara.”
I had completely forgotten about Project 100,000, for decades even, and it was only Amazon that prodded my memory (bless them, and the profit motive) by suggesting this book. I was drafted, and became a medical corpsman, in the field, with the 1/69th Armor, 4th Infantry Division, for one year, 1968-69, in the Central Highlands and Binh Dinh province. I still recall the drill sergeant at Ft. Sam Houston reading out the answers to the test, and threatening anyone who deliberately marked an answer wrong, with “KP” (kitchen police), just as Gregory describes… yet that sergeant’s actions had nothing to do directly with Project 100,000, it was simply SOP to ensure that everyone passed, and some officers “efficiency report” looked good. Also, as Gregory describes, numerous individuals were persuaded to join the military, and promised “electronics school,” or such, when the recruiter KNEW they did not have the intellectual capability, and would fail out, and be sent to the infantry, but with a three year commitment, as opposed to two for the draftee (all too many were sent to be medics). Many of those could not remember the dosages for various treatments and immunizations – and could not write it down either. But one medic in the 1/69th was simply declared to be too dumb to treat anyone for anything, and was only permitted to perform “field sanitation” and drive the jeep. Thus, the 1/69th Armor also had “guardian angels,” who were at least as concerned about the men in the unit as the “moron” medic. We were always short-staffed, both in terms of tankers, as well as medics, and this particular Project 100,000 medic was the “100,000 plus one” reason why no tears should be shed for McNamara. 5-stars plus for Gregory’s well researched “refresher course” on one more aspect of that war that deserves to be looked back in anger over.
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McNamara Folly The Use of LowIQ Troops in the Vietnam War eBook Hamilton Gregory Reviews
This should be on the NY Times best seller list, not just because it slams McNamara but because it lays bare the notion of many at the time that mixing those at the bottom of the IQ test and otherwise ineligible for enlistment would be enlightened if they were exposed to brighter soldiers. This puts the issue of environment far above the impact of heredity. Of course McNamara never himself mixed with any than the best and brightest. But they were bright only in the sense of their ability to mask solving manpower shortages with their focused liberalism and close connections with the seat of power. In the process they did great damage to the Army and, to a lesser extent, the Marine Corps. While the book makes the case with anecdotal evidence of just how slow "McNamara's Morons" were, the book would fail with only statistics. Sadly, we witnessed worried politicians hoping to boost enlistments during the war in Iraq by saying (literally) even American has the right to
be a great soldier. What nonsense.
Soldiers who can't even tie their own boots without help, fire a rifle accurately or obey simple commands may not be human trash, but they have no place on the battlefield putting themselves and others at risk, just to meet end strength. This country has been so poorly led by so many, sometimes I feel we're lucky to have survived intact as long as we have. There may be reasons of diplomacy to stretch the truth on occasion, but to consistently lie to the American people to create a legacy stirs emotions I'd rather not address.
An excellent book that shows just how despicable was Robert McNamara. I remember seeing these guys - McNamara's Morons- in the Special Training Company when I was in basic training. They could be seen running around their barracks, holding their footlockers over their heads, in the Army's attempt to make them into soldiers. Later, as an MP, I ran into yet more, as prisoners. I was sworn into the Army with both high blood pressure and flat feet as a 20 year old in 1969---which was also an example of the relaxation of standards in the quest for warm bodies. This is a great read, well researched, and a must read for any Vietnam Vet for whom this book will be some insight into the reasons why some of us picked up the slack for and others turned their backs on these sad cases. The casualty rates for these guys is a national disgrace, as is the fact that the architect of so much horror-robert McNamara- died peacefully in his sleep.
…at the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial in Washington, DC were once in a group regrettably referred to as “McNamara’s Morons.” Hamilton Gregory, a college graduate, was being inducted into the Army, in Nashville, in the summer of 1967. Initial destination Fort Benning, Georgia. Since he is a college grad, the sergeant takes him aside, and places him in charge of a man called Gupton, for the journey to Georgia. The sergeant explains that Gupton can neither read nor write, will need help filling out the paperwork at Fort Benning, and adds “Make sure he does not get lost. He is one of McNamara’s Morons.”
From that initial introduction, Gregory became concerned, even haunted by the fate of these men, and he has produced this well-researched book almost half a century later. Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara conceived of a “win-win” plan that was launched in October, 1966, called Project 100,000. The military would lower its admission standards, primarily by taking those whose IQ’s were so low that they would previously have been unqualified for military service; they also took those who were physically unfit, as well as those with criminal records. One half of the “win” lifting citizens out of poverty; providing them an education via high-tech audiovisuals, and giving them skills to succeed in life after their military service. The other half of the “win” not create greater anti-war sentiment by ending college deferments, primarily for the children of the middle class, and not activating Reserve or National Guard units where many of the upper class “served,” knowing they were avoiding the war. Under this plan, 100,000 would be inducted each year; a grand total of 354,000 were inducted, with numerous others brought in outside the official plan.
The first third of the book relates Gregory’s personal experiences in basic training, as well as his time in the “Special Training Company.” In ways, it was familiar territory, in others ways there were revelations – for example – how the first sergeant and another sergeant implemented a plan whereby they would identify those least likely to complaint, and then stole their money one evening. If you failed basic training (which I did not), one went to the “Special Training Company” (STC). Gregory went, primarily because he was overweight, and failed the physical. Many in the STC were in the Project 100,000, and simply did not have the intelligence to pass… and no matter how long they were in the STC, they still would not be able to. The solution? Pass them all “administratively,” that is, declare they were deliberately faking it, and “could” pass, if they really wanted to. In some cases, other career sergeants would take the test for them, wearing their fatigues and name tags.
The other two-thirds of the book reflect Gregory’s current research on the Vietnam War and Project 100,000. There are an impressive 281 footnotes, which included the dates that he accessed various websites. Consider of the approximately 27 million draft age men between 1964-73, 68% would never serve in the military. Out of every 100 draft age men during this period, only 12 would go to Vietnam, and 9 of those 12 would serve in non-combat support roles. In fairness, Gregory does detail that even those nine could still get killed, but with much less likelihood. The author details the various ways one avoided the draft; and notes the ones who did so, and went on to leadership roles, such as Clinton, Romney and Cheney. He also notes those that went, such as McCain, Kerry and Hagel.
Virtually all the professional military, from the top generals to the buck sergeants, opposed Project 100,000, for reasons that seemed obvious if you were implementing it instead of being in a “social engineering ivory tower.” Gregory details the numerous acts of kindness, in a profession not noted for same, by which various soldiers in Project 100,000 were protected by a superior who served as a “guardian angel.” But there were not enough, which is why “McNamara’s Morons” died at a rate that was three times higher than those in similar situations, not in that category. Joe Galloway, the only reporter who was with the First Air Cav in its battle in the Ia Drang valley in 1965, and would co-author We Were Soldiers Once...and Young Ia Drang - The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam, would write an article shortly after McNamara’s death entitled “100,000 reasons to Shed No Tears for McNamara.”
I had completely forgotten about Project 100,000, for decades even, and it was only that prodded my memory (bless them, and the profit motive) by suggesting this book. I was drafted, and became a medical corpsman, in the field, with the 1/69th Armor, 4th Infantry Division, for one year, 1968-69, in the Central Highlands and Binh Dinh province. I still recall the drill sergeant at Ft. Sam Houston reading out the answers to the test, and threatening anyone who deliberately marked an answer wrong, with “KP” (kitchen police), just as Gregory describes… yet that sergeant’s actions had nothing to do directly with Project 100,000, it was simply SOP to ensure that everyone passed, and some officers “efficiency report” looked good. Also, as Gregory describes, numerous individuals were persuaded to join the military, and promised “electronics school,” or such, when the recruiter KNEW they did not have the intellectual capability, and would fail out, and be sent to the infantry, but with a three year commitment, as opposed to two for the draftee (all too many were sent to be medics). Many of those could not remember the dosages for various treatments and immunizations – and could not write it down either. But one medic in the 1/69th was simply declared to be too dumb to treat anyone for anything, and was only permitted to perform “field sanitation” and drive the jeep. Thus, the 1/69th Armor also had “guardian angels,” who were at least as concerned about the men in the unit as the “moron” medic. We were always short-staffed, both in terms of tankers, as well as medics, and this particular Project 100,000 medic was the “100,000 plus one” reason why no tears should be shed for McNamara. 5-stars plus for Gregory’s well researched “refresher course” on one more aspect of that war that deserves to be looked back in anger over.
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