TRUTHS ABOUT THE VIETNAM WAR

“Do not fear the enemy,

for your enemy can only take your life.

It is far better you fear the media,

Author unknown

Virtual Vietnam Wall

Click on the following link, then by state, then name, to find each person listed on the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. 

You will find their service information, awards, 

and information regarding their death.

Help your Brothers. Join Vietnam Veterans of America

Check online for a Chapter near youu!

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapters in Alabama

 

 

	VVA Chapters in Alabama
Chapter	Address	City	State	Zip
VVA ALABAMA STATE COUNCIL	3121 APPLE VALLEY LANE	OXFORD	AL	36203
VVA CHAPTER #502 / Website	PO BOX 2326	ANNISTON	AL	36202-
VVA CHAPTER #511 / Web Site	PO BOX 604	ATHENS	AL	35611
VVA CHAPTER #190 / Website	HOLMAN UNIT 3700	ATMORE	AL	36503-0037
VVA CHAPTER #864 / Website	PO BOX 1081	FAIRHOPE	AL	36533
VVA CHAPTER #637 / Website	PO BOX 164	GADSDEN	AL	35902-
VVA CHAPTER #701/ Website	PO BOX 850775	MOBILE	AL	36685-
VVA CHAPTER #607 / Website	220 2ND STREET	MONTGOMERY	AL	36110-
VVA CHAPTER #373 / Website	PO BOX 1112	DALEVILLE	AL	36322
VVA CHAPTER #416 / Website	P.O. BOX 1354	LEEDS	AL	35094
VVA CHAPTER #740 / Website	565 E RENFROE RD	TALLADEGA	AL	35160-
VVA CHAPTER #301 / Website	2621 7TH STREET	TUSCALOOSA	AL	35401-1803
VVA CHAPTER #786 / Website	PO BOX 1032	WINFIELD	AL	35594
VVA CHAPTER #742 / Website	P.O. Box 195	Sheffield	AL	35660-0195

  

 Nobody Knew His Name

By Colonel John A. G. Klose, USA (Ret.)

 

His call sign was "Music One Six". His voice was very deep, clear and

unforgettable. Everyone there knew who "Music One Six" was, but nobody knew

his name. His remains, and those of his copilot First Lieutenant Alan

Boffman, came to the United States on 19 July 1990, 19 years, four months

and one day after being shot down in Laos, 18 March 1971.

    It was during LAM SON 719. "Music One Six" was the leader of an attackhelicopter section from "D" Company, 101st Aviation Battalion. He and hissection were assisting in the extraction of 1st ARVN Infantry Division's 4/1Battalion after six weeks of heavy combat in Laos.

    The 4/1 Battalion had a strength of 420 when they had been inserted 40kilometers into Laos by helicopter combat assault. After six weeks ofcontinuous contact with North Vietnamese Regulars, the battalion had beenreduced in strength to 88, 61 of which were wounded. An English-speakingsergeant whose call sign was "Whiskey" was in command and had the onlyoperable radio. They were surrounded in a bomb crater at the base of a 1,500foot escarpment near the Xe Pon River. The enemy had loudspeakers and wascalling for the unit to surrender.

Sixty-eight U.S. Air Force airstrikes were used to keep the enemy forces

from overrunning the 4/1 Battalion's final positions. U.S. Army Cobra

gunships fired in direct support of the unit. Often, the effects of their

fire were on the perimeter of the bomb crater.

"Music One Six" and his section had refueled, rearmed a number of times,

returning to the battle and expended their ammunition throughout the

afternoon in support of "Whiskey" and his unit. The last smoke grenade to

mark the friendly position has long since been used. "Music One Six" knew

exactly where the 4/1 survivors were. It was he who volunteered to lead the

troop carrying helicopters into the bomb crater to extract the unit. He said

"Spasm Two Two (Operations Officer of the 173 Aviation Company) this is

Music One Six, follow me and I will lead you to the friendlies".

On final approach to the bomb crater, "Music One Six's" Cobra came under

intense enemy ground fire. He aborted the approach and told the other

helicopters to follow him around for another approach. His aircraft was on

fire and he had lost his hydraulic controls. He brought his gunship into a

slow 360-degree turn back toward the friendly unit. He calmly stated, "My

mast is on fire and I've lost my hydraulics. There they are twelve o'clock.

100 meters, I'm going to try to make it to the river."

Smoke and flames could be seen trailing from his gunship as it turned toward

the river. His rotor RPM was decaying as the rotors noticeably began to slow

down. "I've lost my engine and my transmission is breaking up. Good-bye.

Give my love to my wife and family", were "Music One Six's" last words as

his helicopter crashed and became a ball of fire.

Everyone in the air over the bomb crater knew that they had witnessed an

unparalleled act of courage and selfless devotion to duty; that one aircrew

had given their lives so that 88 other soldiers might live. Everyone there

will always remember "Music One Six". But nobody there that day knew his

name. The urgency of a situation involving fellow soldiers on the ground,

had everyone together that day.

To paraphrase General MacArthur, "I know not of the dignity of their births,

but I can attest to the dignity of their deaths..." No heroes ever died more

courageous deaths. I was proud to be with them on the field of battle that

day. I was privileged to be at Travis Air Force Base on 18 July 1990 when

"Music One Six" Captain Keith Brandt (age 31 at death) and his copilot 1LT

Alan Boffman (age 24 at death) came home. I was proud to salute their

caskets on behalf of their many comrades who served with them that day in

Laos. None of us will ever forget them.

 

 

 

 

 

 1968 Tet Offensive and the News Media

 

 

 

 

 

 

            As with much of the Vietnam War, the news media misreported and misinterpreted the 1968 Tet Offensive. It was reported as an overwhelming success for the Communist forces, and a decided defeat for the U. S. forces. Nothing could be further from the truth.

          Despite initial successes by the Communist forces, the Tet Offensive resulted in a major defeat of those forces. General Vo Nguyen Giap, the designer of the Tet Offensive, is considered by some as ranking with Wellington, Grant, Lee, MacArthur as a great commander. Still, militarily, the Tet Offensive was a total defeat of the Communist forces on all fronts. It resulted in the deaths of some 45,000 NVA troops and the complete, if not total destruction of the Viet Cong elements in South Vietnam. The organization of the Viet Cong units in the South never recovered. Years later, it was announced that Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap concurred that the Tet Offensive was a major defeat for his forces.

 

          The Tet Offensive succeeded on only one front and that was the News front and the political arena. Particularly, prior to Tet, the majority of Americans were in favor of the war in Vietnam, but the misrepresentation of the truth gave momentum to the anti-war factions in the United States. Instead of the U. S. military being allowed to deliver the final knock-out blow to the Communist forces, politicians caved in to the anti-war activists. This was just one example in the Vietnam War of an inaccuracy becoming the perceived truth.

  


101st A/B  -  173rd A/B Brigade  -  82nd A/B
"Screamin' Eagles" - "The Herd"  -   "All American Div."


MYTH: The United States lost the war in Vietnam.

 

                    FACT: The U. S. military was not defeated in Vietnam.

 

            The American military did not lose a battle of any consequence. From a military standpoint, it was almost an unprecedented performance. Quoting Douglas Pike, a professor at the University of California at Berkley, Gen. Westmoreland stated the war was a major military defeat for the VC and the NVA.

            The fall of Saigon happened 30 April 1975, two years AFTER the American military left Vietnam. The last American troops departed in their entirety 29 March 1973.

          How could we lose a war we had already stopped fighting? We fought to an agreed stalemate. The peace settlement was signed in Paris on 27 January 1973. It called for release of all U. S. prisoners, withdrawal of all U. S. forces inside South Vietnam, and a commitment to peaceful reunification. The 140,000 evacuees in April 1975 during the fall of Saigon consisted almost entirely of civilians and Vietnamese military, NOT American military running for their lives. There were almost twice as many casualties in Southeast Asia (primarily Cambodia) the first two years after the fall of Saigon in 1975 than there were during the more than ten years the U. S. was involved in Vietnam. Thanks for the perceived loss and the countless assassinations and torture visited upon Vietnamese, Laotians, and Cambodians goes mainly to the American media and their undying support-by-misrepresentation of the anti-war movement in the United States. 

More Myths and Facts about the Vietnam War

 

Myth: Common belief is that most Vietnam veterans were drafted.

 

Fact: 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. 2/3 of the men who served in World War II were drafted. Approximately 70% of those killed in Vietnam were volunteers.

U. S. Special Forces    -  MACV

Vietnam War facts from the VA

 

 

 

 

 

 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the official Vietnam era from August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975

 2,709,918 Americans served in uniform in Vietnam

 

Veterans represented 9.7% of their generation

 

240 men were awarded the Medal of Honor

 

58,148 were killed in Vietnam

 

304.000 were wounded

 

75,000 were severely wounded

 

23,214 were 100% disabled

 

5,283 lost limbs; 1,081 sustained multiple amputations

 

Of those killed, 61% were younger than 21

 

11,465 of those killed were younger than 20

 

Of those killed, 17,539 were married

 

Average age of men killed was 23.1 years

 

Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old

 

The oldest man killed was 62 years old

 

97% of Vietnam veterans were honorably discharged

 

91% of Vietnam veterans say they are glad they served

 

74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome

 

There is no difference in drug usage between Vietnam veterans and non-Vietnam veterans of the same age group.

(Source: Veterans Administration study)

 

Vietnam veterans have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet groups.

 

Vietnam veterans’ personal income exceeds that of our non-veteran group by more than 18%.

 

Vietnam veterans are less likely to be in prison – only one-half of one percent of Vietnam veterans have been jailed for crimes.

 

 

            Some ask how the Viet Cong could fight so well against the U. S. military forces who obviously were better equipped and better trained. Those who were there know first-hand that, although from American standards the Viet Cong seemed like an unlikely formidable military force, they were just that .

On the Viet Cong

Remarks by

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Paul F. Smith,

173^rd Airborne Brigade

 

“In the context in which we consider morale as a factor affecting the performance of our soldiers, I do not believe morale to have been important in measuring performance of the VC soldier. I believe indoctrination and

discipline induced subjugation of all personal feelings. Discipline within the VC was outstanding until a situation arose that had not been covered in instructions or indoctrination – then it broke down. VC small-unit tactics lacked the element of fire and maneuver. This was probably so because the VC units were not designed for confrontational warfare nor were they structured or trained to engage organized, aggressive, well-controlled and supplied enemy forces. Their hit-and-run, ambush, infiltration, and harassing tactics were outstanding – particularly against the impatient American…”

 

 

  On the fighting ability of the Viet Cong and NVA

 

Remarks by

Gen. (Ret.) W. B. Rosson

Chief of Staff, MACV

Commanding General, Task Force Oregon (later Americal Division)

Commanding General, I Field Force

Commanding General, Provisional Corps, Viet Nam (later XXIV Corps)

Acting Commander, III Marine Amphibious Force

Deputy Commander, USMACV

 

          “Generally speaking, I found the VC and NVA soldier to be tough, courageous, well-motivated, dedicated, and competent. His overall quality diminished during the U. S. involvement due primarily to heavy combat losses. Units on the whole were well led, reliable. Commanders displayed considerable ingenuity in making do with little and in overcoming the harshness of jungle camp life. Unit effectiveness also diminished as the war progressed and as casualties took their toll. The VC and NVA excelled in the guerrilla role, and were able to surmount the challenge of operating and surviving in difficult terrain – jungle, mountains, and delta. The VC, for obvious reasons, operated more easily among the people in populated areas than did the NVA, but once the NVA personnel became acquainted with an area they blended in effectively.

          One came to admire, possible envy, the VC and NVA for their stealth, mastery of camouflage, ability to move and operate at night, noise and light discipline, and removal of bodies and weapons from the battlefield. They were impressive at times in breaching wire obstacles by stealth, demolition, or wave assault. Conduct of ambushes became a specialty.…the VC and NVA demonstrated convincingly their ability to withstand the physical and psychological hardships of campaigning ‘for the duration’ in an environment of uncommon severity and danger.”

Comments



After seeing this website, a friend of mine who served in the 173rd in Nam in 1967-68, sent me the following comments, which are his observations, and are presented for discussion:

    Activated in 1915, as the 173rd Infantry Brigade the unit saw service in World War I, but is best known for its actions during the Vietnam War. The brigade was the first major United States Army ground formation deployed in Vietnam, serving there May 1965–1971 and losing almost 1,800 soldiers. Noted for its roles in Operation Hump and Operation Junction City, the 173rd is best known for the Battle of Dak To, where it suffered heavy casualties in close combat with North Vietnamese forces. Brigade members received over 7,700 decorations, including more than 6,000 Purple Hearts. The brigade returned to the United States, where it was inactivated in 1972.





The above memorial, patterened after the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D. C.,
was erected by the VFW Post in Athens, Alabama, and is located in the
southbound rest area of I-65 in north Alabama (where the big missile sits).
This beautiful memorial lists the names of all Alabamians who made the
ultimate sacrifice in the Vietnam War.


A Military Prayer


I saw a soldier kneeling down,
for this was the first quiet place he had found.
He had traveled through jungles, rivers, and mud.
His hands were scarred and toil-worn.
He had fought for days from night 'til morn.
He folded his hands and looked to the sky.
I saw his tears, as they welled in his eyes.

 

He spoke to God, and this is what he said:


"God bless my men, who now lie dead.
I know not what You have in mind,
but when You judge, please be kind...
When they come before You,
they will be poorly dressed,
but will walk proudly, for they have done their best.
Their boots will be muddy and their clothes all torn...

but these clothes they have so proudly worn.
Their hearts will be still and cold inside, for
they have fought their best and did so with pride.
So please take care of them as they pass Your way...
the price of freedom they've already paid.  

 

 

 

 

                Those Who Didn’T Return

 

If you are able, save for them

a place inside of you

and save one backward glance when you are leavingfor the places

they can no longer go.

 

Be not ashamed

to say you love them,

though you may or

may not have always.

 

Take what they have left

and what they have taught you

and keep it with your own

and take one moment to embrace

those gentle heroes

you left behind.

 

For they are the true heroes

of their generation.

These indigenous people of the central highlands of Vietnam 

gave courageous and unselfish service to the United States 

military, especially MACV-SOG Special Forces. 

Contrary to the promises made to them, they were abandoned 

when the U. S. forces withdrew from Vietnam, 

and were slaughtered by the thousands. 

They are still being persecuted. 

Efforts are finally being made to save these people. 

Check out the following website.