Soldier's Stories. Their book, “Last Draftees,” was released last month. Ehrhart, the son of a Protestant minister, joined the Marines at 17, and while he had no strong political reasons, he felt passionately that he ought to do his bit. "The land itself could kill you," remembered Tim O'Brien. The other agony is much like the 9/11 survivors experience. Some of these men were career military officers. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. They walked with heavy rucksacks, carrying everything they would need to survive in the difficult terrain. This page contains the first-hand experiences of Vietnam War Veterans Albert French - He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1963 after graduating from high school. The New York Times described heroin addiction as "the Army's last great tragedy in Vietnam." Over the course of the Vietnam War, the military prescribed more than 225 million tablets of speed to U.S. soldiers, earning itself the title of American's first "pharmacological war." According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about 30% of soldiers who saw combat in Vietnam experienced PTSD in their lifetime. These Vietnam War photos are a key part of understanding soldiers' experiences during the conflict and provide insight into operational specifics that were unknown to the press. But in Vietnam, it was the most sought-after goal of every soldier, the beacon of light at the Soul Shaking Experience It was August 1968, and I had been in Viet Nam less than 20 days with no idea how quickly my life was going to change. They walked without a bath, a hot meal, or a good night's sleep. Home / History / Modern History / Vietnam War / What Was Daily Life Like for Soldiers in the Vietnam War? Most crucially, they carried mosquito repellent and dry socks. Instead of being stationed on the front lines, they might be assigned a support detail on one of the rear bases. the Vietnam War, historians have found varying answers to questions about the war. Vietnam War Veterans share a common bond. "It was as if I got to see it like a real country, to see the real people. What's New > Overcoming PTSD: 3 Vietnam War Veterans’ Stories. "I spent three weeks in the hospital," he says, "and then went right back.". Some of 2020's best military movies are 50% off for the rest of the year from streaming service Vudu. According to James Fallows, these loopholes "were designed to allot American talent in productive way," but resulted in "the starkest class division in American military service since the days of purchased draft deferments in the Civil War.". HANOI, VIETNAM—Forty years ago, on April 30, 1975, Nguyen Dang Phat experienced the happiest day of his life. They described their feelings towards the war they were being made to fight: We here at the 86th Maint. "I said to my mom, 'Is this the way you raised me, to let other sons' mothers go through this?' SOLDIERS TELL TRUE STORIES OF THEIR WAR. "I had seen a documentary about the war in 1983, and a man who was about my age talked about how beautiful Vietnam was, how vivid the colors were, how they seemed to vibrate," he said. ", Said Ehrhart, "I call that my trip of the heart.". That’s a lot of people and a lot of heartache. Whether in the thick of the jungle or deep in the rice paddies, the landscape was strange to the U.S. soldiers, but it was familiar to the Viet Cong, who expertly hid themselves in the land. However, infantrymen whose successes were determined by enemy body count were untrained and ill-equipped to make the cultural advances that would win people over. That idealism faded away as the war progressed, as the U.S. sent more troops, more resources, and more money overseas, as more and more young American men failed to come home in one piece. If they weren't miserably wet or miserably hot, they were miserable hacking through the jungle brush and elephant grass with leaves so dense and so sharp they drew blood. As time went on, civilian casualties continued, American soldiers grew increasingly frustrated with the locals' reluctance to help, and suspicion and mistrust increased on both sides. Rations were dismal. The 1980s was a time to tell the stories of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War claimed the lives of more than 58,000 American service members and wounded more than 150,000. Veteran Stories . Here's what life was like for U.S. soldiers in the Vietnam War. B: John William Baber War: World War, 1939-1945 Branch: Army Air Forces/Corps Service Location: European Theater Theme: First, Serve: Athletes in Uniform Joe Baca War: Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Army Service Location: United States; Vietnam Theme: Patriotism Theme: Voices of War John Philip Baca War: Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Army Service Location: Phuoc Long Province, Vietnam ‘Last Draftees’ details experiences of Vietnam War veterans Three Vietnam War veterans from Las Vegas say the draft should be abolished. Reported cases of mental breakdowns among troops dropped to just 1% during the Vietnam War compared to 10% during World War II. Shortly before Dave deployed, he … Bucks County poet Bill Ehrhart, 68, recounts his experiences in Vietnam in several poems as well as his 1983 memoir, Vietnam Perkasie. Drug use had taken its toll on troops. "I didn't have any political views either way. The Vietnam War was The average age of U.S. soldiers in Vietnam, nineteen, was three years lower than for American men during World War II and Korea. All rights reserved. Be the first to submit a tribute honoring a vet from the Vietnam War! "We were each teamed up with a student studying history," he said. Yes, the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army were trying to kill them. ... Veterans Memorial is names — more than 58,000 names of men and women who were killed or missing in action during the Vietnam War. By 1969, more than half a million Americans were stationed in Vietnam. The Selective Service was organized as a random lottery in which men's birthdays were assigned a lottery number between 1 and 365, one for each day of the year. The Americans fought back with bombing campaigns that laid waste to villages, and sprayed napalm that burned the skin off fighters and civilians alike. We look forward to meeting you. Vietnam veterans were more likely to have begun using heroin during their military service, and they were more likely to say that their service experiences had affected their use of drugs, usually citing relief of fear and tensions of war. For Cohasset, Mass., 1969 held the worst eight months of the Vietnam War, when 5 of the town’s soldiers were killed in action. I also traveled with a long bamboo pole. Regardless of what you thought about the Vietnam war, the fact is 2,709,918 Americans served in Vietnam, representing almost 10% of their (very large) generation. Since large-scale warfare was rare, soldiers could go for weeks without encountering enemy forces, but far from being a respite, the quiet only heightened the tension. The land was a dangerous enemy by itself, but its biggest threat was the dangers it concealed. Viet Cong were adept at blending in, sometimes taking cover in villages. Upon hearing the news of MLK's death, some white soldiers paraded around the base at Cam Ranh Bay in KKK robes, openly cheering the news. At first, there were C-rations, ready-made wet meals served in cans, but those proved to be too heavy for special operations that required long treks on foot. The most common loophole was the college student deferment policy, which excused any man enrolled in college or graduate school. That morning, as communist troops swept into … When he told his parents, they were livid, not for any ideological reasons, but because of concern that he'd be hurt or lose his life. Even in the midst of an active, bloody war, downtime was a frequent, if not always welcome, occurrence. They lived when the people they loved and knew did not. Larry Michael, a former infantryman in Vietnam, reported that "if you really wanted it hot, you broke up a claymore mine ... took the C-4 (explosive) out, lit it and then warmed it up. Others died of overdoses before they could even make it back. Nowhere is the heaviness of the presidency clearer than in Obama's descriptions of deciding to authorize military action. I was able to replace all those memories of the war with memories in color. Still, tensions between black and white soldiers were low at the onset of the war. John "Chick" Donohue in 1967, on his way to Vietnam (inset). On the military's dime, soldiers could fly to any number of exotic locales in search of beaches, bars, and a good time. "Not bad for a 17-year-old," Ehrhart said, laughing. The army headquarters at Long Binh boasted such amenities as a go-kart track, swimming pools, weight rooms, mini golf, an archery range, an amphitheater that frequently hosted live shows, and even a brothel — officially unsanctioned but well-trafficked. That's not to say the drugs deserved all the blame for the difficulty veterans faced after returning home. PTSD was not known until after the Vietnam War; before Vietnam it was known as Shell Shock or Combat Fatigue. Usually, it was in the jungle, where you had to look for ambushes. Between the rain and the sweat the grunts were never completely dry. What Life Was Like As A Soldier In The Vietnam War, paraded around the base at Cam Ranh Bay in KKK robes, deliberately avoided large-scale conflicts, could fly to any number of exotic locales, "the Army's last great tragedy in Vietnam. But that's the only way you had a hot meal.". They carried food rations, flak jackets, rifles and ammunition. But in the meantime, there were hours and even days where there were no Viet Cong to be found, no fights, and nothing to distract them from the monotony. Hawaii was the most popular destination for soldiers who had families, since dependents were allowed to meet them in Honolulu and spend some time with them. Their book, “Last Draftees,” was released last month. But this was the first city we were fighting in. Both the government that had drafted them and the public that resented their participation in Vietnam abandoned the men who had served their country, leaving them few options to cope with the aftermath of all the trauma they had experienced and caused. Trish Wood. He said his first return visit in 1985 changed his perspective on Vietnam. After returning home, Vietnam War veterans experienced PTSD in record numbers. But many faced challenges back home, and some still do today. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Besides weapons, each of us carried an extra 30kg of personal material and food. "To be honest, I wanted to know what it was like to shoot at someone and have someone shoot at you," he said. Now, 40 years later, we must try to understand. His name is etched on Panel 13E, Line 123 on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. It helped them mellow out, it helped them continue fighting. My brothers were both in college, they were doing their thing, and I felt this was my own thing to do.". Of course, whether they could vote or not, the U.S. government viewed these men as potential soldiers the minute they turned 18 and became eligible for the draft. Drug use had taken its toll on troops. Soldiers were permitted six days and six nights of leave during their one year tour of duty. The seemingly endless war, fought by American GIs thousands of miles away, had lost whatever sheen it might have had in 1955, when Americans at the height of the Cold War, committed to the Western ideals of freedom and democracy, were determined to stop the spread of communism in Asia. Some of these men were career military officers. Morale was understandably low during monsoon season, for example, when heavy rains would drench the soldiers and flood the rice paddies for the better part of six months. Wallace Terry, a black war correspondent for Time, described seeing "thousands of Americans who found their common humanity on the front, where they shared the last drop of water, where they gave their lives for each other. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about 30% of soldiers who saw combat in Vietnam experienced PTSD in their lifetime. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate in asking or come over to r/AskHistorians , which is … phase of war and young American ales intent on asserting their superiority, their potency, their manhood…raping a woman in a combat zone is something a man has to do, needs to do, has the right to do. Continue Reading Below. Somewhat pejoratively called REMFs ("Rear Echelon Mother F*ckers") these soldiers had a comparatively cushy experience in Vietnam. For the Americans, every casualty, every dollar spent, and every anti-war protest back home chipped away at the conviction that this could ever be a winnable war. Soldiers who landed mechanical or logistical support roles had a much different experience in the war than those in combat zones. I stood on the spot where I had been shot, but it's so different now. Military personnel also liberally prescribed antipsychotics such as Thorazine, which numbed the psychologically traumatic effects of combat. They walked until they got jungle rot, infected skin lesions that came from "humping the boonies" too long without adequate footwear. 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Their goal was to locate and defeat the Viet Cong, but often it felt like there was no real goal except providing human bait to provoke the guerrilla fighters into revealing their positions. The draft lottery proved to be unfair in another significant way. During the war in Vietnam, soldiers faced intensely extreme conditions, including hunger, disease, and of course, having to see close friends and other soldiers die. Although the official goal of the war was to prevent communism from spreading into South Vietnam, American soldiers felt they had reason to mistrust everyone, North and South Vietnamese alike. The Vietnam War killed more than 58,000 Americans. Learn the stories of the brave soldiers whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. American troops didn't know if the villagers were aiding the Viet Cong, harboring enemies, or laying traps that could kill American troops. Ironically, one of the most agonizing parts on the Vietnam War for many soldiers, including my husband, was returned home – the long, shameful walk through the airport as strangers shied away in quiet judgment. He had been to that very same battle [at Huế]. I was 17, so I couldn't go over there for another year.". About 75% of the 2.5 million soldiers fighting in Vietnam worked in support roles as clerks far away from the front lines. The taste, however, left a lot to be desired. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com. We've got an advance excerpt from the 15th Pike Logan novel. The veterans had returned. And for the men who served in Vietnam … By Staff Writer Last Updated Mar 25, 2020 7:28:07 AM ET American soldiers stationed in Vietnam were met with an unexpectedly horrific experience. One thing soldiers didn't have to take their mind off things — the one thing that was almost impossible to come by — was a good, hot meal. They carried the fear that at any moment, a surprise attack could kill them. Marijuana was cheap and easy to come by, but commanders were more concerned with the surge of heroin usage among enlisted men, which reached epidemic levels by 1971. African American Sergeant Lewis B. Larry … But many others were poor or working-class teenagers who enlisted or were drafted into the military right out of high school. Although the research from various historians is necessary for Americans to understand the events of the war, we must also take time to appreciate the complicated experiences of those who participated in Vietnam. What's New > Overcoming PTSD: 3 Vietnam War Veterans’ Stories. The veterans had returned. Vincent Gabriel, Jr returned from his tour of duty in Vietnam thirty eight years ago. But many others were poor or working-class teenagers who enlisted or were drafted into the military right out of high school. The Vietnam War was the first American war in which its troops were fully integrated, a development that was supposed to turn the page on a ghastly history of … Our focus is on friendly, helpful advice and great service for every customer. While drinks and companionship were always a draw, recreational drug use skyrocketed during the Vietnam War. They hid landmines and booby traps to inflict casualties and heighten the fear American GIs felt with every step. Most who join the military and go to war are young—18, 19 years old—and many have never been away from home. The next year, officials improved the randomization process by drawing birthdays and lottery numbers from different capsules, but men could still get out of serving. We weren't soldiers: growing up with Vietnam War stories on screen. We look forward to meeting you. These Vietnam War photos are a key part of understanding soldiers' experiences during the conflict and provide insight into operational specifics that were unknown to the press. According to the New York Times, African Americans were drafted at a disproportionately higher rate than whites, representing more than 16% of all draftees and 23% of all combat troops, despite being only 11% of the civilian population in 1967. "I quit high school at 16, and on my birthday in 1966, I enlisted. The 1980s was a time to tell the stories of the Vietnam War. Overview. Some Viet Cong soldiers were uniformed and highly trained, however, most were volunteers and reservist farmers who received only occasional training, if any at all. Since World War II, little research had determined whether amphetamine had a positive impact on soldiers’ performance, yet the American military readily supplied its troops in Vietnam with speed. And if the land wasn't actively killing them, it was making them miserable. So the grunts kept walking. They fought together and returned home to build lives, families, and communities across the country. And you lived through the maybe the closest thing this country had, even if only for a few short years, of being at peace. [3] In honor of National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29, signed into law in 2017 by President Donald J. Trump, AARP spoke with six veterans of the war about their most vivid memories — and about what they want Americans today to know or remember. "I met him on the street one day, and I spent the night with his family. We weren't soldiers: growing up with Vietnam War stories on screen. Soldiers on leave with their wives and children made up a large chunk of Hawaii's hotel room traffic during the Vietnam War. Vietnam was the first major U.S. war in which black and white soldiers were fully integrated, but fully integrated did not mean fully equal. When you see someone shot, whether it's your buddy or whether it's the enemy, it's a life-changing moment. we run into the enemy concealed and dug in — death of Thompson — we return, enemy flees — the face of death — Thompson’s body lost at Đà Nẵng — our FO shells enemy night convoy — After Action Reports. For "Huế 1968: A Turning Point of the American War In Vietnam," Mark Bowden interviewed more than 100 men and women from both sides of the fighting. The Vietnam War helped shape a generation of Americans, none more than the 2.7 million who served in Southeast Asia. Instead, they waited in the vegetation for nightfall or awful weather or other convenient moments. The Viet Cong were frequently one step ahead, hiding in the trees or blending in with the locals, so the villages were never really secured, and the locations of the guerrilla fighters remained uncertain. If you are a veteran, know a veteran, or are related to a veteran, and would like to place a personal story on the Online Veterans Tribute, please mail it to: American Veterans Center 1100 N. Glebe Rd. Unsurprisingly, this did not sit well with black soldiers, and discord only worsened as the war dragged on. Veterans encountered unprecedented levels of hostility from a public that had long objected to U.S. involvement in Vietnam. They had to bear the dual burden of guilt for the brutal atrocities that had been committed and shame for the failure to bring home an American victory after such a drawn-out war. In addition to speed, officials also supplied soldiers with painkillers and steroids to increase their stamina, strength, and aggression on long-range missions. The roll contains information from the Service records of more than 60,000 military members who served during the Vietnam War. The refugees had reached Australia. Men like Troyer had to deal with several frustrations particular to the war in Vietnam. In contrast to World War II, American soldiers in Vietnam served individualized tours of duty rather than remaining attached to their units throughout the war. Photo by Brandi Redd Few American military conflicts of the 20th century were as controversial as the Vietnam War. NBC journalist Frank McGee, who spent nearly a month living with soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division recalled that "Nowhere in America have I seen Negroes and whites as free, open and uninhibited with their associations. Neas went on a recent tour of Vietnam, including a visit to Huế in March as part of an educational trip sponsored by College of the Ozarks in Missouri. But many faced challenges back home, and some still do today. I had only seen the war. Places like the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Thailand were popular among the younger crowd who wanted to have less family-friendly fun. The American Soldier in VietnamMore than 2.5 million American men served in Vietnam during the war. The New York Times described heroin addiction as "the Army's last great tragedy in Vietnam." "I wanted to be a Marine for all my life," he said. "War is hell" declares the handwritten slogan on a young GI's helmet in one of many famous photos of the Vietnam War. “Bill” Ehrhart joined the U.S. Marines when he was 17. In June 1970, a group of American soldiers stationed in Vietnam huddled together to write a letter to an antiwar newspaper in Berkeley, California, called the Ally. By 1971, 10-15% of lower-ranking troops were returning home as addicts, and over 1,000 were returning as criminals, having been charged with heroin-related crimes. On the ground, American soldiers and diplomats confront the same moral quandary: whether to obey White House orders to evacuate U.S. citizens only–or to risk treason and save the lives of as many South Vietnamese citizens … Most grunts passed through the rear bases on their way into or out of the field, but they didn't stay long. All three were interviewed for Bowden's book. In Vietnam the task force had no sense of defeat. Soldier Recalls Vietnam War Battle Experiences U.S. veteran Caesar Smith gives a first hand account of the fighting conditions in Vietnam. ‘Last Draftees’ details experiences of Vietnam War veterans Three Vietnam War veterans from Las Vegas say the draft should be abolished. In 1982 the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., inscribed with the names of 57,939 members of U.S. armed forces who had died or were missing as a result of the war. When the grunts weren't walking or being shot at or eyeing the locals with suspicion, they were waiting around for something to happen. They had their own jobs to do. Soldiers knew there would be another surprise attack, they just didn't know when, and the not-knowing could drive them crazy. Contact Us Contact Us Now I was fighting 24 hours a day, seven days a week.". Today, he is surprised at his sophisticated response. “Pep pills” were usually distributed to men leaving … HANOI, VIETNAM—Forty years ago, on April 30, 1975, Nguyen Dang Phat experienced the happiest day of his life. He fought in the Tet offensive of 1968. The Booby Trap … Call us at . The belief that the antiwar movement was antagonistic toward Vietnam-era soldiers still has a deep grip on popular memory and political culture. American troops, with their vastly superior firepower, had the upper hand face to face, but the Viet Cong deliberately avoided large-scale conflicts where they could be outgunned. Retired Trenton ironworker Carl Dileo, 69, was 18 when he was drafted in 1966. And after seeing the images of the Vietnam War on television, after seeing the pictures taken by war correspondents, and after hearing accounts of war atrocities, most of the American pubic in the 1960s was inclined to agree. The U.S. military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died in the war. Upper-class men could afford to stay enrolled in university or get a doctor's note from a hometown physician to obtain a get-out-jail-free card that poorer men couldn't access. ", By the time he arrived at Huế in Feburary 1968, he was "already a seasoned infantryman, having fought for months in the jungle. But after Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, the racial violence that had been bubbling up in cities across America finally reached Vietnam. There were booze and drugs if they could get them, but for the most part, the hours ticked by, only breeding more anxiety. The ways we remember the Vietnam War concern more than just the past. But the success was short-lived. Vietnam War Veterans share a common bond. Hal Kushner joined the Army and served as a … That morning, as communist troops swept into … In honor of National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29, signed into law in 2017 by President Donald J. Trump, AARP spoke with six veterans of the war about their most vivid memories — and about what they want Americans today to know or remember. A FilmReference.com article noted that American filmmakers "appeared more confident to put Vietnam combat on screen for the first time" during that era. He was treated on the field and continued to fight. 58,318 names of American men and women who died in the war are etched on the black granite slabs of the Vietnam Veterans … I saw no eyes clouded with resentment." Regarding your father's viewpoint of American soldiers, I have written a post about the truth vs. reality of popular depictions of Vietnam War era American soldiers. Caesar Smith was a career military officer who served two tours in Vietnam. Medical professionals could also declare someone "unfit for service" for medical conditions ranging from ulcers to anemia. War helped shape a generation of Americans, none more than 60,000 members... The brain. some still do today were drafted into the fight because of (! Where you had to look for ambushes the sweat the grunts were completely... Leave during their one year tour of duty the night with his family look for ambushes n't have any views. ” Ehrhart joined the U.S. Marines when he was drafted in 1966 the... Night 's sleep lottery proved to be desired white counterparts high school at 16, and realized... Or other convenient moments NVVM is exploring an oral history project to record veteran stories '' Tim. 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