Intrepid (CVS 11) - Naval Cruise Book

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The New Struggle Bids Her: With the decision to make a sizable increase in the num- ber of U.S. forces in that small, war-torn country, the Com- mander-in-Chief spoke to the nation on July 28, T96 : Why must young Americans--born into a land exultant with hope and golden with promise-toil and suffer and sometimes die in such a remote and distant place? The answer, like the war itself, is not an easy one. But it echoes clearly from the pain- ful lessons of half a century. Three times in my lifetime, in two world wars and in Korea, Amer- icans have gone to far lands to fight for freedom. We have learned at a terrible and brutal cost that retreat does not bring peace. Most of the non-Communist nations of Asia cannot, by themselves and alone, resist the grow- ing might and grasping ambition of Asian com- munism. Our power, therefore, is a vital shield. If we are driven from the field in Vietnam, then no nation can ever again have the same con- fidence in American promise, or in American protection. ln each land the forces of independ- ence would be considerably weakened. And an Asia so threatened by Communist domination would imperil the security of the United States itself. We did not choose to be the guardians at the gate, but there is no one else. Nor would surrender in Vietnam bring peace. We learned from Hitler at Munich that success only feeds the appetite of aggression. The battle would be renewed in one country and then another bringing with it perhaps ever larger and crueler conflict. Moreover, we are in Vietnam to fulfill one of the most solemn pledges of the American Nation. Three Presidents-President Eisenhower, Presi- dent Kennedy, and your present President-over ll years, have committed themselves and have promised to help defend this small and valiant nation. Strengthened by that promise, the people of South Vietnam have fought for many long years. Thousands of them have died. Thousands more have been crippled and scarred by war. We can- not now dishonor our word or abandon our com- mitment or leave those who believed us and who trusted us to the terror and repression and mur- der that would follow. This, then, my fellow Americans, is why we are in Vietnam. Robert S. McNamara P0Ul H- Nlfle Admiral David l. McDonald Secret fD f . ' - my 0 e ense SeC'elU'Y of NUVY Chief of Naval Operations ,, ,,,, ,, , , ,, I

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RET R Even as the President spoke INTREPID was being readied for the role that she was to play in this new conflict. Though she had been remodeled and her crew had changed many times over, she was still the same valiant lady. Her performance still bespoke her very name-INTREPID-and for those who had stood her decks through the years and the other conflicts it seemed only fitting that this new struggle should bid her return .... N -?f.s:-1.+gt,4 rv fu Q ff Q- nw- LYNDON B. JOHNSON President of the United States A