The hoped-for words went out to the troops from the staff headquarters of General William Westmoreland, commander of all U.S. forces in South Viet Nam. The order read: "In keeping with the spirit of Christmas and consistent with like instructions that have been issued by the Chief of Staff, Vietnamese Armed Forces, Lieut. General Cao Van Vien, General Westmoreland has directed that U.S. forces in Viet Nam will not fire at or on the enemy except in self-defense during the hours of 1800, 24 December, and 2400, 25 December."
And so, as dusk...
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