Exhibit 1004

National Security Action Memorandum No. 328, Presidential Decisions Re U.S. Policy in Vietnam (FRUS 1964-1968, vol. II, doc. 242)

Exhibit 1004 · Declassified memorandum

National Security Action Memorandum No. 328, Presidential Decisions Re U.S. Policy in Vietnam (FRUS 1964-1968, vol. II, doc. 242)

The President's desire is that these movements and changes should be understood as being gradual and wholly consistent with existing policy.

Top Secret. Approves an 18-20,000 increase in support forces, two additional Marine battalions and a Marine air squadron, and a change of mission for all Marine battalions to permit more active use. Para. 11 directs that premature publicity be avoided and that official statements on the troop movements require the direct approval of the Secretary of Defense in consultation with the Secretary of State.

Source: White House (McGeorge Bundy)
Date: 6 April 1965
Quoted from: Para. 11
Grade: Primary record
Document: https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v02/d242
Accessed: 2026-11-10
Cited by: Findings citing this exhibit
Note: Text matched between the FRUS page and the FAS copy (irp.fas.org/offdocs/nsam-lbj/nsam-328.htm). FRUS notes it is also printed in the Gravel edition, vol. III, pp. 702-703.

Cited by

Finding INF-2.6: Primary record National Security Action Memorandum 328 of 6 April 1965 approved two more Marine battalions and a change of mission for Marine battalions in Vietnam and stated that the President desired the movements "be understood as being gradual and wholly consistent with existing policy"; on 21 October 1964 President Johnson had said "we are not about to send American boys 9 or 10,000 miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves."