July 28, 1965 | LBJ Speaks on Vietnam

July 28, 1965 - President Johnson acted today to increase American forces in Vietnam from 75,000 men to 125,000 “almost immediately” and ordered doubling of draft calls to support the move. Draft quotas will rise from the present 17,000 men a month to 35,000, Johnson told a nationally televised news conference at the White House.
The President said he had ordered the 15,800-man air mobile division from it station at Fort Benning, Ga., as well as “certain other forces” to provide a quick 50,000-man reinforcement.
“Additional forces will be needed later, and they will be sent as requested,” Johnson said as he sketched his plan to strengthen the U.S. posture in Vietnam without declaration of an all-out national emergency.
An apprehensive Congress generally applauded Johnson’s decision to push ahead in Vietnam, but several legislators suggested that an even greater effort will be required. While some members of Congress are known to be troubled by the U.S. involvement, critisicms expressed today were limited.

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