James T. Smith - Province Representative - Phu Huu Hamlet - South Vietnam
Description:
Jeep along dusty road, stops by some villagers. Describes new life development hamlet, "responsible for building of classrooms, construction of roads. Although we, the Americans, try to stay in the background and boost the GVN, it is impossible for us to do this. We are pushed to the front and thanked for our contribution to their effort - not necessarily by the GVN officials (seen shaking hands with 2 villagers from the jeep), although they do, but by the people themselves." Shots of building work in hamlet for new school. "It is a new life development hamlet - the GVN & American program is being concentrated in this hamlet in 1967... the US government will give the money & some of the commodities, the GVN will also put some money. The people will do the work." Shots of villagers, fields, jeep along track to village. Smith walks towards buildings, more building work, kids crowding camera. "They must also find the VC element in the hamlet, identify these people and through observation determine whether they are VC or will come to the GVN... If not, turn them over to the local police to extract them from the hamlet." Talks of cadre team coming under attack from VC a few weeks after it was established, but they fought, killed VC, very proud of the team, villagers proud to have the cadre, wish they had been there before. Shots of cadre talking to old woman. Shots of family inside house, eating rice. Says they hope to form a strong democratic government by grouping the hamlets together. Shots of men playing a gambling game. Boats and water buffalo in the river.
