10 Interesting Vietnam War Facts You Probably Didn’t Know
- President Kennedy wanted to get the US Army out of Vietnam. …
- The US didn’t lose the war on-ground. …
- The US troops preferred to use AK-47’s over government issues M-16’s. …
- The war wasn’t just between US and Vietnam. …
- Most of the men that fought in Vietnam weren’t drafted.
Then, What was the most dangerous job in the Vietnam War?
Vietnam’s deadliest job
“I can tell you that the engineer corp lost more people, killed and wounded, than any other corp in Vietnam — proportionate to the number of people who were over there,” he said. Mr McGregor said the engineers were highly regarded during the war but were ignored when they returned home.
Why was Vietnam so deadly? The jungles were so thick, it was nearly impossible to see your enemy. Conventional tactics were a loser for North Vietnamese forces. Americans won those battles through superior firepower and training. … American victories in Vietnam were overshadowed by the divisive nature of support for the war at home.
Keeping this in consideration, How did Vietnam win the war?
More than 3 million people (including over 58,000 Americans) were killed in the Vietnam War, and more than half of the dead were Vietnamese civilians. … Communist forces ended the war by seizing control of South Vietnam in 1975, and the country was unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam the following year.
What was the life expectancy of a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam?
According to popular legend, the door gunner on a Vietnam era Huey gunship had a life-span of 5 minutes. This was obviously exaggerated but displays the hazards of this particular military job at the time. Today, helicopters like the UH-60 have two machine guns firing out of two windows located behind the pilots.
What unit lost the most soldiers in Vietnam?
The Army suffered the most total casualties, 38,179 or 2.7 percent of its force. The Marine Corps lost 14,836, or 5 percent of its own men. The Navy fatalities were 2,556 or 2 percent. The Air Force lost 2,580 or l percent.
Why did the US fail in Vietnam?
Failures for the USA
Failure of Operation Rolling Thunder: The bombing campaign failed because the bombs often fell into empty jungle, missing their Vietcong targets. … Lack of support back home: As the war dragged on more and more Americans began to oppose the war in Vietnam.
Why was fighting in Vietnam so difficult?
Explanation: Firstly most of the war was fought as a guerrilla war. This is a type of war which conventional forces such as the US army in Vietnam, find notoriously difficult to fight. … The Americans, laden down with conventional weapons and uniform were not equipped to fight in the paddy fields and jungles.
Why did we go to war with Vietnam?
The U.S. entered the Vietnam War in an attempt to prevent the spread of communism, but foreign policy, economic interests, national fears, and geopolitical strategies also played major roles.
Why did America fail in Vietnam?
Failures for the USA
Failure of Operation Rolling Thunder: The bombing campaign failed because the bombs often fell into empty jungle, missing their Vietcong targets. … Lack of support back home: As the war dragged on more and more Americans began to oppose the war in Vietnam.
Why did the Viet Cong win?
They were extremely successful because they had very good and vital knowledge of the forests and jungles and were able to protect their supplies from damage by using the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Can you fall out of a helicopter?
When the blades of a helicopter rotate, they generate lift. When the helicopter turns, the force of lift includes two specific components. … The centripetal force keeps outer objects pressed inward toward the center. Along with centripetal force, soldiers avoid falling out of helicopters thanks to harnesses and straps.
What was the life expectancy of a 2nd Lieutenant in Vietnam?
For the average life expectancy to be 16 minutes, it would mean for every 2nd Lieutenant that survived a year (525,000 minutes,) 30,000 or so would have to die in 1 minute. Did hundreds of millions of 2nd Lieutenants die in Vietnam?
How many helicopters were lost in Vietnam War?
According to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, a total of 11,846 helicopters were shot down or crashed during the war, resulting in nearly 5,000 American pilots and crew killed.
How old would a Vietnam vet be today?
“Of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam, Less than 850,000 are estimated to be alive today, with the youngest American Vietnam veteran’s age approximated to be 60 years old.” So, if you’re alive and reading this, how does it feel to be among the last 1/3rd of all the U.S. Vets who served in Vietnam?
What is the life expectancy of a Vietnam veteran?
For US Vietnam Veterans it’s about 66 years vs just about 78 years for non vets.
How many soldiers died on their first day in Vietnam?
997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam. 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam.
Is Vietnam still communist?
Government of Vietnam
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a one-party state. A new state constitution was approved in April 1992, replacing the 1975 version. The central role of the Communist Party was reasserted in all organs of government, politics and society.
How bad was the Vietnam War?
The facts not in dispute by either side are just as harrowing: Over 20 years, more than 58,000 Americans were killed in Vietnam and more than 150,000 wounded, not to mention the emotional toll the war took on American culture. …
Why were Vietnam soldiers treated badly when they returned home?
Many American soldiers were exposed to Agent Orange and other chemicals during their time in Vietnam. Upon returning home, some of these veterans began to experience health problems that they blamed on their exposure to herbicides.
Why was it so difficult for American troops to identify their enemy in Vietnam?
First of all, it was extremely hard for ground troops to distinguish who the enemy was in South Vietnam. Massive refugees due to Operation Thunder, South Vietnamese military deserters gone rogue, and North Vietnamese militia living in South Vietnam caused great confusion.
Why did Vietnam cause so much PTSD?
Looking back, Roy thinks soldiers from the Vietnam era were particularly susceptible to PTSD because of feelings of isolation. “In earlier wars,” he says, “a group of men trained as a unit, were sent to fight as a unit, and returned home as a unit. That meant you had an instant support system.
What were the worst years of the Vietnam War?
U.S. troop numbers peaked in 1968 with President Johnson approving an increased maximum number of U.S. troops in Vietnam at 549,500. The year was the most expensive in the Vietnam War with the American spending US$77.4 billion (US$ 576 billion in 2021) on the war.
What were the 3 main causes of the Vietnam War?
In general, historians have identified several different causes of the Vietnam War, including: the spread of communism during the Cold War, American containment, and European imperialism in Vietnam.
Is Vietnam safe for tourists?
Vietnam is a friendly and safe place to travel. With a sprinkling of common sense, your trip should be smooth and trouble free. Tourists usually complain about over-aggressive street vendors, tour operators with a bad attitude and dangerous driving.