 As the head of the MACV, he was known for highly publicized, positive assessments of U.S. military prospects in Vietnam.However, as time went on, the strengthening of communist combat forces in the South led to regular requests for increases in U.S. troop strength, from 16,000 when he arrived to its peak of 535,000 in 1968 when he was promoted to Army chief of staff.On April 28, 1967, Westmoreland addressed a joint session of Congress.