Questions on Vietnam war

[Wagjvlsj]

1. How american soldiers viewed the enemy? Who to them was the enemy and why?
2. what affect did brutalization of war have on them?
3.Result?- conduct of american soldiers in vietnam war.
4. Long term impact- life after nam.
thanks guys

[mars]

Recommand you this book "Search and Destroy: The Story of an Armored Cavalry Squadron in Vietnam: 1-1 Cav, 1967-1968"
http://www.amazon.com/Search-Destroy-Ar ... 014&sr=1-1

[John G.]

Wagjvlsj,
I certianly can't speak for any other American's who served in Vietnam....but I can speak for myself. I spent 13 months there with the 1st MP Company, 1st Infantry Division from Nov. 1968 thru Dec. 1969. We were considered "Combat MPs" in that we escorted Convoys, set up "Resorce Control Teams" out in the countryside, and actually did Ambush patrols against the VC & NVA as well as preformed normal "MP" duties.... dealing with fellow GIs (and Australian, S. Koreams, and an occassional Thai soldier.....all of who shared our bases camps or were in our Area of Operations.

I had occassion to "talk" to several VC & NVA prisoners (they spoke english!)...all who said they believed in freedom and liberty and didn't understand why "we" were there.....they wanted to liberate thier country from what they said was a puppet government set up by the French and to reunite the two Vietnams....

I also had occassion to see what the VC could do to American Prisoners....I won't elaborate, but certainly it did eventually brutalize many of us....but I also saw what some GIs were capable of doing to the VC/NVA or some poor Pappa San or Mamma San ......

The suicide rate was also quite high amoung GIs in Vietnam (usually listed as KIA) as was the incidents of "Fragging", Drug & Alcohol abuse, and physciatric breakdowns.....

The great majority of American soldiers (all branches) performed thier duty with honor and dignity, many will carry the wounds (physical and emotional) for the rest of thier lives.....I know I will.

I have nothing but respect for the "Enemy"....he fought hard and died hard for what he believed in.....if I'd been born there, I'd probably have been fighting along side them!

The only "Nightmares" I have are for those of my fellow warriors who died there....friend and foe.....and to those still carring the scars. I was lucky...usually I sleep well at night.
John G.

[South]

Good morning Wagjvisj,

I was a soldier in Vietnam.

Re 1;

I viewed the enemy like a WWII American would view the enemy. I also included as enemy or potential enemy all those in civilan clothes. My father and most all uncles - and my friends' fathers and neighbors - served in WWII. I received much free advice. .......Even had an uncle who fought in Vietnam during WWII (flew a P-40 based in Kunming)......They told me not to trust "anyone".

Re 2;

I insulated myself against brutalization. I used the methods taught me. They worked.

Re 3;

My unit had superior conduct. I once shot some enemy and they were captured. They received the immediate care of our medics and Battalion surgeon who, by fate, was present.

re 4;

My long term impact - life after Vietnam - was not negative. In the early 1980s I nearly opened a branch office in Vietnam to support my Asian-based company. My requirement was the Vietnamese manager who got hired should be a veteran of the Viet Cong or regular army (PAVN). I never developed any resentments or hatred against my former enemy.

I do hold resentments about the US domestic matters regarding military exemptions from the Vietnam War.


Warm regards,

Bob

[Paddy]

I would recommend this book:

Everything We Had by Al Santoli.

"An oral history of the Vietnam War by 33 American soldiers who fought it."

There is another book calls CAP Mot (Một means one in English).

http://www.amazon.com/CAP-Mot-Special-1 ... 1574410040