Memorandum from General Omar Bradley for the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense Robert Lovett

THE SOTNT CHIEFSTOF STAFF WASHINGTON 25, D. C. 26 September 1952 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE Subject: Augmentation of the Wartime Republic of Korea army and Marine Corps 1. The Commander in Chief, Far East (CINCFE) has requested that the wartime Republic of Korea (ROK) Army be augmented by 2 divisions and 6 separate regiments, and that a corresponding increase in ROK troop ceiling be authorized for logistic support. This ceiling should include support for 28,000 Korean augmentation to U. S. Army forces, of which an average of 13,000 have been bolstering U.S. forces since the outset of the war. He has also requested that the ROK Marine troop ceiling be raised from 12,376 to 19,880. As result of CINCFE's operational requirements he has pre- viously been granted authority for logistic support of a combined ROK Army and Marine troop ceiling of approximately 379,000. The augmentation requested above plus that granted as an interim measure in light of his operational requirements total 463,000 ROK Army and Marine personnel. 2. U. S. logistical support to a ROK Army of 10 divisions was auth- orized by the President's approval of Secretary of the Army memorandum, "Logistical Support to the Army of the Republic of Korea," dated 1 November 1950. Development of the ROK forces during the past two years has been within that 10 division structure. CINCFE's request exceeds the approved structure for logistical support. 3. Equipping the contemplated units and furnishing logistic support for the corresponding troop ceiling will contribute toward requiring a continuation of the present 50 per cent ceiling on critical items to be supplied U.S. units in the Zone of the Interior. In addition, certain critical items, specifically the 105 mm Howitzers, which will not be available until the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 1953, would have to be diverted from supplies programmed for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries. No increase in over-all ammunition consumption in Korea can be supported prior to the third quarter, Fiscal Year 1953. Certain other critical items will have to come from mobilization reserve stocks. All such support is at the expense of other approved programs including Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP) for NATO countries. A correspond- ing increase in the deficiency appropriation for 1953 will result. 4. Nevertheless, the augmentation of ROK forces would permit re- inforcement of the present thin defensive lines in Korea and provide reserves essential for flexibility of operation. The additional forces would serve to some degree to counteract the effect of the Communist build-up which has taken place since the Armistice negotiations started. In addition, TRUMAN S. NATIONAL RECORDS SERVICE" DECLASSIFIED ARCHIVES E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or 4.27:77 COPY Es c OSD letter, NJ77-39 8% BILT- HC NARS CK5729