Leroy (Roy) Wehrle earned a Ph.D. in economics in 1959 from Yale University, then joined the U.S. State Department. He served on President Kennedy's Council of Economic Advisors before he and his wife were sent to Laos where he worked for the Agency for International Development. In 1964 he was sent to Vietnam and served as an economic advisor to three U.S. ambassadors until 1967, while also serving as the Assistant Director of the aid mission.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
“We had to destroy the village in order to to save it.”
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early life, education, and work in Laos with the U.S. State Department
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Development of economic policies for U.S. effort in S. Vietnam in 1964-1965
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Service with top ranking diplomats in crafting economic policy for S. Vietnam
Interview Session 04 (Audio)
Work with J. Killen
Interview Session 05 (Audio)
Working conditions and diplomacy while in South Vietnam with State Dept.
Interview Session 06 (Audio)
Reflections on overall economic policy and military strategy in S. Vietnam
Interview Session 07 (Audio)
Related Materials
See also the interview with Roy's wife JoAnn, also in the Veterans Remember-Vietnam collection.
Photos
Caption
Roy Wehrle stands with wife JoAnn as he is congratulated on his assignment to Laos by the Assistant AID (Agency for International Development) Administrator for the Far East.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Roy Wehrle's Volkswagen crosses a river north of Vientiane, Laos, circa 1962.
Where:
Laos
When:
1962
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Roy Wehrle driving his Volkswagen off the ferry, during his inspection trip to Laos, circa 1962.
Where:
Laos
When:
1962
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The hill-dwelling Meo people gather around their leader, Col. Vang Pao, on the hills of northern Laos, circa 1963.
Where:
Northern Laos
When:
1963
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Dick Crist stops to take a picture with a young Laotian woman in front of one of the ubiquitous ox carts found throughout the Laotian countryside, circa 1963.
Where:
Laos
When:
1963
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
It's time for a bath as this Lao mother washes her child in 1963.
Where:
Laos
When:
1963
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
JoAnn and Roy Wehrle stop for lunch while on a field trip in Laos, circa 1963. They are flanked by two U.S. aid technicians and surrounded by Laotian officials.
Where:
Laos
When:
1963
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Women of rural Laos were still threshing rice in the age-old fashion when Roy and JoAnn Wehrle served there with the State Department in the early 1960s.
Where:
Laos
When:
Early 1960s
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Roy Wehrle stands beside a Lao farmer near Paksong, Laos, 1964.
Where:
Paksong, Laos
When:
1964
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Roy Wehrle crosses a swollen river in Laos to inspect aid projects in the countryside, circa 1964.
Where:
Laos
When:
1964
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Roy Wehrle, along with a Laotian government technician, is inspecting an agricultural project in southern Laos with in 1965.
Where:
Southern Laos
When:
1965
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Roy Wehrle sits with Congressman Melvin Price of Illinois in Price’s D.C. office while Roy was on home leave in 1965.
Where:
Washington, D.C.
When:
1965
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
President Johnson consulting with Don McDonald, Bill Guad, Roy Wehrle, Bob Komer, and Rud Poats, circa 1965.
Where:
Washington, D.C.
When:
1965
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Administrator of AID Bill Gaud presenting Roy Wehrle with the Jump Award for meritorious service to the U.S. government in 1965.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1965
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
The Superior Honor Award was awarded to Roy Wehrle by the Agency for International Development (AID) in 1965.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1965
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Deputy Ambassador to South Vietnam William Porter autographs his portrait in tribute to Roy Wehrle in 1966.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1966
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
President Johnson personally autographed this photo, and wished Roy Wehrle a successful tour of service in Vietnam.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
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Caption
Roy Wehrle shakes hands with the President of South Vietnam, General Nguyễn Văn Thiệu at a reception in Saigon 1967.
Where:
Saigon
When:
1967
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
A photo of Ambassador to South Vietnam Henry Cabot Lodge with his inscription to Roy Wehrle, circa 1967.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1967
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
A photograph of the Mission Council, the top U.S. leadership in South Vietnam, circa 1967.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1967
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
The Ambassador to South Vietnam presents the Honor Award to Roy Wehrle upon his reassignment to Washington in 1967.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1967
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
This cartoon gently commemorating Wehrle’s service in South Vietnam was given to Roy upon his departure in July 1967.
Where:
Unknown
When:
July 1967
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
While in Washington D.C. in 1968, Roy Wehrle meets with Pres. Johnson. With them are Director of AID mission Don McDonald (seated), AID administrator Bill Guad, Special Asst to the President Bob Komer, and Asst Administrator for the Far East Rud Poats.
Where:
Washington D.C.
When:
1968
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Nguyen Hoang Cuong was Roy Wehrle's best Vietnamese friend and a South Vietnam patriot. He died tragically when his boat capsized in 1975 as it was heading for Indonesia to escape the Communist takeover.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1975
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Unknown