21.+The+Vietnam+Soldier

THE VIETNAM SOLDIER!


 * in one mission they were sent to kill as many Indians as possible
 * enemy: "charlie" as code
 * very hot and steamy weather
 * jungle environment
 * taking land was not as important then destorying the enemy
 * if you are a newby, everyone stays away from you
 * success/failure determined by the "kill ratio"
 * exposed to enemy fire, booby traps, and large snakes and other animials
 * there was high elephant grass
 * volunteers: 20-22 years old
 * super hot: dehydration
 * typical grunt's pack: weighed 35-70 lbs
 * platoons consisted of 20-40 privates
 * what they do most of the time: chase charlie (enemy)
 * Operation: AO
 * demilitarized zone: DMZ
 * fire: hot LZ
 * go out: humping the boonies
 * lead the war: point man
 * reached an enemy village: suspected of aiding the VC
 * set houses on fire: zipped the hooches
 * viet cong sniper: from the a spider hole
 * leave vietnam: million dollar wound
 * states: the world
 * 10-20% were african americans: integrated
 * AAs made up 20% of the death
 * trained in boot camps before
 * a commericial jet took them
 * N-16 riffle: primary weapon
 * most carried machine guns
 * explosive devise called claymore shot 700 steal walls and could shred anything from 55 yards away
 * built tunnies underground that usually consisted of hospitals and fuel storage tanks
 * pythons and rats!
 * biggest worry: finding and doing the battle with the enemy
 * the enemy would attack suddenly and quickly- they also blended in well with the terrane
 * many captured: mainly pilots: sent to prisons with terrible conditions and where they were beaten and isolated