VietnamVoicethread


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Three annotations about the challenges you faced in guerilla warfare ** -We were greatly outnumbered. As Ho Chi Minh said, we could kill 10 men for every one they killed of ours and they would still win. -Carrying 70 pounds in hot, humid, and sweltering heat makes the top 5 list for worst things about war. -There were land mines and booby traps everywhere. Walking from field to field, we were bound to run into a fatal punji pit and lose men. **Two annotations describing** **the enemy (the Viet Cong and/or NVA)** -The Viet Cong were dedicated to their cause. They knew exactly what they were fighting for and believed deeply in it. -We never knew who was really our enemy because the Viet Cong mixed with the general South Vietnamese population. A stranger walking in the street could throw a grenade into our troops. **One annotation describing the tunnels** -We had to be on the lookout for suprise attacks from the underground tunnels. They were impossible to beat because we couldn't shoot into the tunnels. They were a series of twists and curves, never straight lines. -The chemical napalm was dropped in the jungle to destroy any hideouts or food supplies. The burning chemical also damaged the villages of Vietnamese, losing their support. -Search and destroy missions were unsuccessful because the Viet Cong returned to any village we burned. -Bases were high on the priority list for the Viet Cong. If we could find their headquarters, it would be a step closer to winning the war, so search and destroy missions were an incentive. -The Tet offensive did nothing to help the Viet Cong; they lost an estimated 33,000 soldiers and gained no cities. -Although we lost only 1,100 men, the American morale here and at home decreased greatly. It raised questions about whether the price to win the war was worth it. -Although Johnson had promised to keep us out of Vietnam, the attack in the Gulf of Tonkin brought us into the war. More and more men came every month and our numbers doubled in 6 months. -When my birthdate was picked fourth, I was devastated. I did not want to leave my home and fight for foreigners. -The war seemed a lost cause as even the South Vietnamese army did not want to fight. I'm not even sure what exactly we're fighting for and I see my buddies die every day because of the climate and booby traps.
 * One annotation describing the use of chemicals by the military**
 * Two annotations describing search and destroy missions**
 * Two annotations describing the Tet Offensive**
 * One annotation describing escalation**
 * One annotation describing the draft**
 * One annotation describing your feelings as a soldier**