Annotated+Grunt

The Annotated Grunt Manisha and Nico

The Viet Cong were very sneaky. They hid in the jungle and in underground railroads. We had to use chemicals that ruined the landscape to reveal and destroy the Viet Cong. I remember seeing U.S. planes napalms. I heard that napalms were sposed to be jellied gasoline that burned violently. They also sprayed Agent Orange which was a chemical that kills plants, over the jungles to thin out the forest. These chemicals helped us destroy the hideouts and food supplies of the Viet Cong, but unfortunately the chemicals also harmed innocent Vietnamese villagers. This undermined the villagers’ support for the U.S. Another negative affect is that Agent Orange also harmed U.S. soldiers. Anyone exposed to this chemical suffered from skin diseases and cancer..

Ngo Dihn Diem made fun of the South Vietnamese Communists by calling them the Viet Cong,which meant Vietnamese Communists. The Viet Cong fought to overthrow the Diem government and reunite the country under Communist control. North Vietnam supported the Viet Cong and their goal. They kept sending aid to the Viet Cong. The Viet Cong were mixed with the general population and they operated everywhere, attacking U.S. troops in the countryside and in the cities. Their strategy relied on "guerilla warfare", surprise attacks by small bands of fighters. They would hide in tunnels, jungles, and many other places. They riddled the countryside and jungles with land mines and booby traps. The Viet Cong looked like a dedicated army. They took heavy losses, built up their ranks again, and kept on fighting year after year because they believed in their cause. They were very succesful in fighting.

When President Johnson began bombing North Vietnam, he sent the first combat ground troops o Vietnam. Their numbers grew from 75,000 in the middle of 1965 to 184,000. by the end of 1965. This policy of escalation (increasing military involvement in Vietnam) continued over the next few years. General William Westmoreland, the Commander of U.S. forces in South Vietnam, asked for more and more troops. By the end of 1968, there were more than 536,000 American military personnel in South Vietnam.

On January, 30 and 31, 1968, the Communists launched the Tet Offensive- A surprise attack on U.S. military bases and more than 100 cities and towns in South Vietnam. This attack was during “Tet”, the Vietnamese celebration of the Lunar New Year. To prepare for this attack, the Viet Cong hid weapons in vegetable trucks, food trucks, peddlers’ carts, and even coffins. They smuggled weapons into South Vietnamese cities. Soldiers disguised themselves by wearing regular civilian clothes. They came in buses, motorcycles, and on foot. They were unrecognizable to the people of South Vietnam; they just looked like normal visitors to them. When it was the day of the attack, the Viet Cong killed not only enemy soldiers, but also government officials, school teachers, doctors, and priests. The Tet Offensive was a military defeat for the Communists. They gained no cities, lost 45,000 soldiers, while the South Vietnamese lost 2,300 soldiers and the U.S. 1,100. But the attack stunned Americans. It raised doubts that this war was true. Many Government and business leaders now thought that the U.S. could not win the war, except at too high a price. It many Americans ask whether the U.S. mission in Vietnam was wise. Because of the doubts I raised, the Tet Offense became a turning point in the war. President refused to send more troops because of the Tet Offense. The President also decided that he would stop bombing most of North Vietnam and would seek to bargain for peace. In that same speech, he announced that he would not run for President next term.

Search and Destroy also known as Seek and Destroy was a battle tactic used in Vietnam. The way it is done is very self explanatory. You hold an area of the enemy and you search and destroy it. The helicopter played a huge role in transporting these men quickly and safely. Search was supposed to be the best counter for guerilla warfare. Some other terms for this strategy are clear and hold along with clear and secure. In February 1967, the largest Zippo mission was operated in the Iron Triangle. The area had a lot of and headquarters belonging to the Viet Cong, where they had been operating plans for Saigon. The offensive began where the American units destroyed rice, killed 720 guerrillas, and captured 213. By destroying the headquarters, they disrupted any enemy plans for Saigon. The number of missions mounted, especially after the U.S. was hit by a big attack in 1968. As the war grew more aggressive, so did the missions, to the point where there was lack of distinction between Search and Destroy, and Clear and Secure operations. Although there were some problems with the clearing part of these operations they were said to be pretty successful.

Search and Destroy was also a war strategy game designed by a man with the name of John Young. The game design was based off of South Vietnam. The board was divided into hexagons and was played by moving counters. The counters represent infantry, medics, snipers, and artillery observers. The rules and ways of the game were based off guerilla warfare. The game is full of big choices that the player has to make for better or worse.

**A Soldier's Lament ** I asked nothing for those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness......should I fail. I have seen the stark face of terror; felt the stinging cold of fear; and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moments love. I have cried, pained and hoped.... But most of all I have lived times others would say were best forgotten. At least someday I will be able to say that I was proud of what I was........ a Soldier." //** ||
 * "I was what others did not want to be . I went where others feared to go and did what others failed to do.

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