Humphrey Bids U.S. Stand Firm on Vietnam

Apr. 22, 1965 - Vice President Humphrey warned in Norfolk, Va., today that unless Americans had the patience to “work and bleed and die” in Vietnam, the Communists might conquer the world “bit by bit.”

The Vice President did not mention Vietnam by name in his speech at a Norfolk civic luncheon. But his allusion was apparent when he asked, “Have we the patience to work and bleed and die 5,000 miles from home?”“If we don’t,” Humphrey continued, “the Communists do. I’ve often thought that the Communists don’t want to blow the world to pieces. They want to pick it up bit by bit. And they will if we let them.”The luncheon was in honor of Luci Baines Johnson, the President’s 17-year-old daughter. This week, Miss Johnson is queen of Norfolk’s 12th Annual Azalea Festival.

In related news, a band of Communist guerrillas challenged a U.S. Marine patrol in a valley outside Danang today and set off the Marines' first extended ground action of the Vietnam war.

The skirmish ended with the Viet Cong guerrillas in retreat.

One Marine, a radioman, suffered a scalp wound from a sniper’s bullet. Two others collapsed from heat prostration. The guerrilla casualties, if any, were not determined.

The Marines involved in the skirmish near Danang were part of a brigade that landed six weeks ago to reinforce the air base 380 miles northeast of Saigon.

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