Its Neighbors

In mid-November of 196, approximately three and a half months after the arrival of the Fourth Infantry Division’s advance elements, the Division began its civic actions program in support of Vietnam’s Revolutionary Development Program.

Beginning as the "Hamlet Visitation Program," it incorporated 13 hamlets, within the immediate vicinity of the Ivy base camp, which were brought under the sponsorship of seven base camp support units. Each unit conducted weekly visits and was responsible for making known the important needs of its specific village.

The civic action program is essentially a self-help program designed to improve the living standards (to include medical attention) of the people of the Central Highlands people, and at the time introduce a program of nationalism, thereby

making them aware of their government’s interestin them.

In January 1967, under the Commanding General’s direction, the program underwent a complete revamping and the name was changed to "The Good Neighbor Program." Under the new program the medical visitation phase was cut from daily visits to five visits a week in order to break the regularity. Training programs were set up to teach the Montagnards the fundamentals of first aid, construction and updated agricultural techniques, including vaccination of cattle.

The program was also extended to include the 1^st and 2^nd Brigades operating in the forward areas. It was here that the Edap Enang program evolved. As enemy activity increased around already established villages, the need to evacuate these people to safer areas became apparent. The Vietnamese government appropriated secure land within the Ivy Division’s tactical area of operation to resettle the villagers, and the Ivymen provided transportation and security for the moves. In each move, the entire village, minus permanent structures, was moved to the new location. The program has enjoyed immense success.