Prince and his handler Ed Reeves served together in Vietnam for a little over one year. Years later after having to leave......
vietnam war etiketine sahip kayıtlar gösteriliyor. Tüm kayıtları göster
vietnam war etiketine sahip kayıtlar gösteriliyor. Tüm kayıtları göster
27 Eylül 2019 Cuma
20 Ağustos 2016 Cumartesi
Kaiser: 1st Vietnam War Dog to Die in Action
Kaiser became famous in history as the first war dog killed in action during Vietnam while leading his men in a search......
3 Haziran 2016 Cuma
Nemo: One of the Few Vietnam War Dogs to Return Home
Only about 200 of the more than 4,000 heroic dogs who served in Vietnam made it out - those that did not die were euthanized......
8 Nisan 2016 Cuma
Vietnam War Dogs: Heroes Left Behind
Vietnam War dogs became famous in history for saving thousands of lives, then being left behind when US troops pulled out.......
8 Temmuz 2009 Çarşamba
AMAZING VIDEO: Napalm attack on Vietnamese villagers
In the clip below is shown Vietnamese children burnt by Napalm bomb, dropped mistakenly by South Vietnamese planes on a village near Saigon. Gruesome stuff.
I wonder how could some one make such a stupid mistake.
The Vietnamese villagers suffered for no fault of theirs. The poor old lady running around clutching that little boy in her arms, probably dead. Who is responsible. That stupid South Vietnamese pilot? Or the US? May be the US was fighting for a noble cause. Spreading democracy. But why should that poor Vietnamese villagers suffer? They did not ask for it. It is the always the common people who suffer.
Sad.
I wonder how could some one make such a stupid mistake.
The Vietnamese villagers suffered for no fault of theirs. The poor old lady running around clutching that little boy in her arms, probably dead. Who is responsible. That stupid South Vietnamese pilot? Or the US? May be the US was fighting for a noble cause. Spreading democracy. But why should that poor Vietnamese villagers suffer? They did not ask for it. It is the always the common people who suffer.
Sad.
THE NAPALM ATTACK: PERSONAL ACCOUNT
Vietnamese photographer Nick Ut describes the day in June 1972 when he photographed a nine-year-old girl, Kim Phuc, fleeing her village after a napalm attack - a picture that won him a Pulitzer prize.
The picture shows Kim, when her skin is burned so badly.
Behind Kim, you see all the South Vietnamese armies running with her, together.
And next to Kim, her older brother and one young brother looking back to the black smoke, and another two [members of] her family.
She looked ever so bad - I thought that she would die.
You know, I had been outside the village that morning and I took a lot of pictures. I was almost leaving the village when I saw two aeroplanes.
The first dropped four bombs and the second aeroplane dropped another four napalm [bombs].
Water
And five minutes later, I saw people running, calling "Help! Please help!"
Listen to Nick Ut
As soon as she saw me, she said: "I want some water, I'm too hot, too hot," - in Vietnamese, "Nong qua, nong qua!"
And she wanted something to drink. I got her some water. She drank it and I told her I would help her.
I picked up Kim and took her to my car. I ran up about 10 miles to Cu Chi hospital, to try to save her life.
At the hospital, there were so many Vietnamese people - soldiers were dying there. They didn't care about the children.
Then I told them: "I am a media reporter, please help her, I don't want her to die."
And the people helped her right away.
Source: BBC
20 Ocak 2009 Salı
United States and Vietnam War
United States and Vietnam War
The Vietnam War actually started right after World War II, but American involvement did not start until much later. On December 19, 1946 Ho Chi Minh, who recognized the Indochinese Communist party and was also the president of Vietnam, declared war on France.
The French fought the Viet Minh, officially Viet Nam Doc Lap Dong Minh (League of Independence of Vietnam), from 1946 – 54 until fall of the French at the bloody battle at Dien Bien Phu.
The reason North Vietnam was fighting the French was to break away from colonial rule, which went back over a hundred years before.
The Vietnam War that was fought between 1946 – 54 is now commonly known as the “First Vietnam War”. Many of the mistakes made by the French in that war would be made again by the American forces in the years to come.
In 1954, the French surrendered to the Communists, so the Geneva Conference was held and Vietnam was formally separated into North and South Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh was the president of the Communists North and Ngo Dinh Diem became president of the non-Communist South.
On January 1, 1955 the United States started to aid Ngo Dinh Diem’s South Vietnam government after already helping out the French with military equipment. Unites States aid to France and to non—Communists South Vietnam was based on a cold War policy of President Harry S. Truman.
When the North Vietnam patrol boats attacked the U.S warships, the Maddox and the Turner Joy, in the Gulf of Tonkin, Lyndon B. Johnson ordered first U.S air strikes on North Vietnam, on August 4, 1964.
The first American combat troops were sent to Vietnam in 1965. It is important to remember that the Vietnam Conflict was not declared a war.
On January 31, 1968, the oriental New Year (Tet), the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the Viet Cong (VC) led a surprise attack throughout South Vietnam. They strategically attacked most major cities, including U.S Embassy, Saigon, once thought to be the safest place in Vietnam. This action known as Tet Offensive.
Although the American won all of these (Tet) battles military, it ultimately helped the North Vietnam win the war. It changes the American opinion about the war because after Tet Offensive, that it could drag on much longer.
United States and Vietnam War
The Vietnam War actually started right after World War II, but American involvement did not start until much later. On December 19, 1946 Ho Chi Minh, who recognized the Indochinese Communist party and was also the president of Vietnam, declared war on France.
The French fought the Viet Minh, officially Viet Nam Doc Lap Dong Minh (League of Independence of Vietnam), from 1946 – 54 until fall of the French at the bloody battle at Dien Bien Phu.
The reason North Vietnam was fighting the French was to break away from colonial rule, which went back over a hundred years before.
The Vietnam War that was fought between 1946 – 54 is now commonly known as the “First Vietnam War”. Many of the mistakes made by the French in that war would be made again by the American forces in the years to come.
In 1954, the French surrendered to the Communists, so the Geneva Conference was held and Vietnam was formally separated into North and South Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh was the president of the Communists North and Ngo Dinh Diem became president of the non-Communist South.
On January 1, 1955 the United States started to aid Ngo Dinh Diem’s South Vietnam government after already helping out the French with military equipment. Unites States aid to France and to non—Communists South Vietnam was based on a cold War policy of President Harry S. Truman.
When the North Vietnam patrol boats attacked the U.S warships, the Maddox and the Turner Joy, in the Gulf of Tonkin, Lyndon B. Johnson ordered first U.S air strikes on North Vietnam, on August 4, 1964.
The first American combat troops were sent to Vietnam in 1965. It is important to remember that the Vietnam Conflict was not declared a war.
On January 31, 1968, the oriental New Year (Tet), the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the Viet Cong (VC) led a surprise attack throughout South Vietnam. They strategically attacked most major cities, including U.S Embassy, Saigon, once thought to be the safest place in Vietnam. This action known as Tet Offensive.
Although the American won all of these (Tet) battles military, it ultimately helped the North Vietnam win the war. It changes the American opinion about the war because after Tet Offensive, that it could drag on much longer.
United States and Vietnam War
12 Temmuz 2008 Cumartesi
AMAZING! VIETNAM WAR: Tet Offensive
AMAZING....
THE CLASSIC IMAGE THAT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE VIETNAM WAR AND EPITOMISES WHAT WENT WRONG
On February 1, 1968--during the Tet Offensive--General Nguyen Ngoc Loan, director of South Vietnam's national police force, executed a Viet Cong prisoner on the streets of Saigon.
The Tet Offensive saw the North Vietnamese change their tactics in their war against the SVA and America. The Tet Offensive witnessed a huge conventional attack by the North. Every year on the last day of January, the Vietnamese pay tribute to their ancestors. The Tet New Year is a very important day for the Vietnamese and nearly all-normal day-to-day activities stop to allow those who can the opportunity to celebrate the lives of their ancestors.
In January 1968, the NLF had brought forward Tet by two days. On January 31st 70,000 NLF soldiers attacked over 100 targets, including the capital in the South, Saigon.
The Americans had been fighting classic guerrilla tactics since 1965. Though the US had faced a number of conventional attacks in late 1967, most US military thinking was still oriented around the concept of guerrilla warfare. Therefore the Tet Offensive took them by surprise, especially the sheer scale of it.
The US Embassy in Saigon was attacked and a few members of the NLF got into the embassy compound. Five US Marines were killed but the attack was repulsed. The NLF also captured the main radio station in Saigon, which acted as a major shock to US morale. Though the station was only occupied for a few hours, it showed to the US military that they were not just dealing with a ramshackle army of amateurs.
However, in military terms, the US could claim victory in the Tet Offensive. The North Vietnamese could not afford major losses in terms of manpower. During the Tet Offensive the NLF lost 37,000 soldiers while the US lost 2,500 men. Yet the Tet Offensive was a major blow to US military pride. In late 1967 the US had been told by General Westmoreland that the NLF had taken such heavy losses in open combat that they would be incapable of maintaining any military momentum in 1968. Yet during the Tet Offensive the NLF had entered the US Embassy and occupied the main radio station for three hours before being repulsed.
The impact of the Tet Offensive is difficult to gauge. The NLF and the government in North Vietnam would have played heavily on their successes in Saigon – the very heart of US influence. Yet their losses would have had a major impact of their ability to fight. The impact of the Tet Offensive on America was stark. President Johnson was told by his advisors that the war could not be won and he was advised to negotiate a withdrawal from the region. In late 1968, Johnson announced to the US people that he intended to seek a negotiated peace settlement in Vietnam.
THE CLASSIC IMAGE THAT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE VIETNAM WAR AND EPITOMISES WHAT WENT WRONG
On February 1, 1968--during the Tet Offensive--General Nguyen Ngoc Loan, director of South Vietnam's national police force, executed a Viet Cong prisoner on the streets of Saigon.
The Tet Offensive saw the North Vietnamese change their tactics in their war against the SVA and America. The Tet Offensive witnessed a huge conventional attack by the North. Every year on the last day of January, the Vietnamese pay tribute to their ancestors. The Tet New Year is a very important day for the Vietnamese and nearly all-normal day-to-day activities stop to allow those who can the opportunity to celebrate the lives of their ancestors.
In January 1968, the NLF had brought forward Tet by two days. On January 31st 70,000 NLF soldiers attacked over 100 targets, including the capital in the South, Saigon.
The Americans had been fighting classic guerrilla tactics since 1965. Though the US had faced a number of conventional attacks in late 1967, most US military thinking was still oriented around the concept of guerrilla warfare. Therefore the Tet Offensive took them by surprise, especially the sheer scale of it.
The US Embassy in Saigon was attacked and a few members of the NLF got into the embassy compound. Five US Marines were killed but the attack was repulsed. The NLF also captured the main radio station in Saigon, which acted as a major shock to US morale. Though the station was only occupied for a few hours, it showed to the US military that they were not just dealing with a ramshackle army of amateurs.
However, in military terms, the US could claim victory in the Tet Offensive. The North Vietnamese could not afford major losses in terms of manpower. During the Tet Offensive the NLF lost 37,000 soldiers while the US lost 2,500 men. Yet the Tet Offensive was a major blow to US military pride. In late 1967 the US had been told by General Westmoreland that the NLF had taken such heavy losses in open combat that they would be incapable of maintaining any military momentum in 1968. Yet during the Tet Offensive the NLF had entered the US Embassy and occupied the main radio station for three hours before being repulsed.
The impact of the Tet Offensive is difficult to gauge. The NLF and the government in North Vietnam would have played heavily on their successes in Saigon – the very heart of US influence. Yet their losses would have had a major impact of their ability to fight. The impact of the Tet Offensive on America was stark. President Johnson was told by his advisors that the war could not be won and he was advised to negotiate a withdrawal from the region. In late 1968, Johnson announced to the US people that he intended to seek a negotiated peace settlement in Vietnam.
AMAZING! VIETNAM WAR IN BRIEF
American agression! Tan Dinh Island, Mekong Delta, Vietnam, 1965 (Image by Huynh Thanh My)
The war that was fought in South Vietnam was unlike any other experienced by American forces up to that time. Whereas the Korean War had been to all intents a conventional war on the ground, the war in South Vietnam became a “war with no front” where guerrilla fighters could not be distinguished from the local populace who might, in fact, have been guerrilla fighters. The US found itself at war with an enemy that could disappear within minutes of an attack, one that might appear at any moment on a patrol or not at all. All this was very debilitating for any US soldier out on patrol and was used to explain why massacres of innocents did take place such as the one at My Lai in 1968.
(Image: Terry Fincher) American soldiers in Vietnam. 1968
The NLF had learnt its tactics from the Chinese Communists who had perfected the art of guerrilla warfare against both the forces of Chiag Kai-shek and during World War Two against the Japanese. Mao Zedong had specifically explained to his followers that there was a two-fold approach to guerrilla warfare – fighting the enemy and befriending the local population to get their acceptance and support. There can be little doubt that the North Vietnamese succeeded in the latter as President Kennedy acknowledged in the early days of the Vietnam War that large areas of South Vietnam were sympathetic to the NLF and that guerrillas in the South were willing to fight with the NLF to defeat the Americans.
The South became a classic fighting ground for guerrilla warfare. The jungles or the river deltas such as the Mekong gave the guerrillas fighting for the North huge advantages over the Americans. US patrols were under constant psychological pressure that each step might be the last for a young US soldier. Known patrol routes were ridden with booby traps such as the infamous ‘Bouncing Betty’ or the punji traps that were found by the thousand on routes used by the US military. Known patrol routes could be booby trapped with the aforementioned punji traps or trip wires attached to a grenade or mined etc. Whatever was used, it had a debilitating impact on many US soldiers. What could not be known was if a patrol route was, in fact, booby-trapped. Many were not – but American patrols were not to know this. Guerrilla warfare was such that the unknown was often more difficult to handle than the known.
The VC and NLF also had the major added advantage of knowing the lay of their land. This meant that they had the knowledge to build, for example, 250 kilometres of tunnels in the South safe in the knowledge that some might be found but the majority would be functional to the detriment of the US.
Image
Initially the American strategy to countering the NLF and VC was to build a system of heavily fortified supply bases from which patrols could operate. These patrols were frequently sent out near to the Ho Chi Minh Trail to disrupt movement along it. Khe Sanh was one such base. Heavily protected around the perimeter and capable of being supplied by air, it acted as a base for patrols near to the 17th Parallel. These large bases also acted as supply bases for smaller strongholds located away from the likes of Khe Sanh. However, these bases had one major disadvantage – they were static and open to attack. At Khe Sanh, for example, the North Vietnamese were quite capable of getting to the outer perimeters of the base seemingly at will.
US troops were expected to patrol in towns, villages, delta regions, paddy fields that were found throughout the South and in jungles and the bush. The climate alone could be a major drain on a soldier’s physical capabilities let alone the fact that he was searching for an enemy.
“It is a terrible country for fighting. The jungle trees and vines that cover the sharp ridges and deep valleys in the mountains make military movement difficult.”
“The heat and rain and insects were almost worse than the enemy. Drenched in sweat, the men waded through flooded paddies and plantations, stopping from time to time to pick leeches out of their boots.” (S. Karnow)
The US used armoured personnel carriers where they could but this was not always easy in South Vietnam. The M1 13 could travel in water as well as on land and it gave good protection to those it carried – but ultimately it could not be used everywhere in South Vietnam.
The majority of US troop movement in South Vietnam was via helicopter. Helicopters allowed for the swift and accurate deployment of troops to where they were required. Helicopters were also used to remove the wounded from a battle zone. The very geography of South Vietnam made troop movement difficult at best and the easiest way to overcome this was to use helicopters. By the time American pulled out of South Vietnam, they had lost over 2,200 helicopters in battle.
Countless Vietnam War Veterans have recalled the sheer hostility of the environment they were required to fight in. This was combined with the knowledge that they were fighting what was effectively an unseen enemy.
“Without uniform, it is difficult to tell a Vietcong fighter from a loyal South Vietnamese (especially when the ‘loyal’ Vietnamese is a VC sympathiser).”
“You kill because that little SOB is doing his best to kill you and you desperately want to live, to go home, to get drunk or walk down the street on a date again.”