The Soldier’s Experience

1. The Soldier’s Experience SWBAT: what it was like for American soldiers fighting in Vietnam. Homework: Diary Entry. Chose either during the war or after the war and write a reflective piece that demonstrates your understanding of what it might have been like to be involved in the Vietnam War. Do Now: How do the events in Haditha compare to those at My Lai? Explain.

2. The Average Soldier • The average (drafted) American male was 19 to 26 years of age. • There were men who were 18 and well over the age of 26, but the conscripts (draftees) mostly feel in between. • Most had never been out of the US before, so being in a foreign country was an experience by itself.

3. Conditions • One of the biggest issues was the climate. • Most were not used to the heat of South East Asia. • It was nota dry heat of a desert, but a humid heat, one sweated just standing there. • It took a week or more for US soldiers to acclimateto the country. • When it rained, the dirt roads turned to mud. • There were no flush toilets or modern bathroom facilities (except at some of the modern Air Force or Navy bases) out houses were used.

4. The Beginning of Duty • Most American troops in Vietnam had completed eight weeks of basic training, followed by 8-26 week specialist courses in infantry, artillery, engineering and other specializations. • On arrival in Vietnam, these newcomers – colloquially known as ‘cherries’ – were also given another couple days training and orientation. • Despite the short intro course, America’s combat troops formed the most powerful offensive battlefield force on the planet.

5. A Frustrating Fight • The very nature of the war brewed confusion and self-doubt in the minds of US soldiers. • Though trained to follow orders and disregard external factors, most American GIs were acutely aware of the tremendous difficulties of their job. • Their mission to secure South Vietnam, gain the trust and loyalty of the people and eradicate the Viet Cong often seemed impossible. • Many combat operations had no discernible outcomes other than ‘body counts’, which were often no more than estimates. • An area could be cleared of Viet Cong today but be back in their hands immediately after US troops left. • The villagers were sometimes welcoming, sometimes treacherous, but largely indifferent to the Americans, very few of whom could speak their language.

6. The Toll on the Mind and Body • Disillusionment with the war was coupled with psychological trauma. • Most US soldiers had seen fellow servicemen, sometimes their friends, killed or disfigured by sniper fire, mines or booby-traps. • But the Viet Cong who laid these traps were reluctant to engage in conventional warfare, so American soldiers felt deprived of the opportunity for retaliation or ‘payback’. • Illicit drugs were commonly available in Vietnam, including marijuana, opium, morphine and heroin. • In some combat units, up to 80% of men were casual or regular drug users.