The American MEDT had been authorized on 8 January 1971. Of sixty men, sixteen were allowed to billet in Cambodia. The MEDT’s first chief was Brigadier General Theodore Mataxis. On 17 April 1971 an additional fifteen U.S. officers were authorized, though the team was not immediately brought up to strength. In June, General Mataxis requested an expansion to two thousand men. Two weeks later the authorization came through channels, for fifty men in Cambodia and sixty-three to remain in South Viet Nam. The team’s primary mission was to ascertain FANK’s equipment needs, to judge if equipment requested was needed, if the requesting unit had personnel trained in its operation and if the equipment would help FANK pursue its military goals in conformity with U.S. policy.”
Sullivan checked his map
