Vietnam+Soldier

NOTES: -soldiers refered to the country as 'Nam'. -point man is the man in front, first in the line of fire and first to hit traps and snakes. Position usually given to newcomers. -unbearable heat and dust lead to risk of dehydration. heat at all hours of the day. -Those who were shot or hurt were taken to MASH units by helicopter. -When people are going back home, they said that they are coming back to the world. -many feared "two step snakes". if they bit you, you would be dead in about two steps. - Charlie - -soldiers watched for bombs, traps, tunnels, mines, and poisonous punji stakes. -grunts - US Army foot soldiers in vietnam who were often on patrol. in each platoon there was at least one medically trained and one RTO(enemy tried to kill first so they cant send for help) trained grunt. -Training boot camps were necessary for new soldiers, located in places like fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. -As soon as newbies left their air conditioned planes, they were overcome by heat, humidity, and unpleasant smells. Soon all men were taken to base camps "in the bush". -platoons - consisted of 20-40 corporals and privates. A lieutenant or NCO led these. -typical grunt pack weighed 35-70 lb. Included water, food, cooking utinsels, books, socks(!!!!), salt tablets, rope, playing cards, letters, and photos. ALSO weapons!(mainly m-16 rifle or machine guns and grenades and Claymores(700 steel balls shredding everything around it)). -were many large animals that would kill you. Tigers and elephants were common as were snakes(cobras, vipers, constrictors, and pythons). Rats were the most common creatures seen, they ate old grunt meals and after battles, dead bodies. -new soldiers were called newbies or cherries. Experienced grunts stayed away from them. -each platoon pursues the VC and NVA -The VC was nicknamed charlie, chuck, or mr. Charles. -Platoons measured progress in clicks. One click = 1000 meters, almost 11 football fields. A platoon tried to do about 6 clicks a day. -The VC/NVA worked in an elaborate network of tunnels. "tunnel rats" did everything in their power to destroy these networks. These were south vietnamese or hispanic soldiers who used phosphorus grenades and flame throwers to destroy any tunnels. -Some grunts would cut off the ears of dead enemies and keep them in their backpacks. -two main grunt pleasures: beer and letters from home.