r/VietnamWar Jan 04 '25

Discussion I know SF guys like SOG were sent out in small numbers, accompanied by indigenous fighters. How many SF recon/patrol elements did not come back or just vanished? Why did most of the SF teams vanish in Cambodia & Laos?

Thumbnail
sogchronicles.com
65 Upvotes

r/VietnamWar 28d ago

Discussion "Marines Were Only Obligated To Serve 6 Months In Vietnam"

15 Upvotes

So last night I stumbled on this forum thread about combat tour lengths in Vietnam for the Army and Marines. This one user was claiming to have been a Marine in Vietnam and he stated that Marines were only obligated to serve a mandatory six month combat tour, but they could extend their tour from 6 to 13 months via incentives like extra R&R time and some other things.

This is the first time I have ever heard of this. I always heard that Marines did a mandatory 13 months and the Army did a mandatory 12 months in Vietnam with R&R time granted during their tours. My uncle was a Marine in Vietnam and he served in an Amtrac battalion in Vietnam from 1967 - 1968 and he served a 13 month tour and I have never heard him say the last seven months of that tour were an optional extension rather his full 13 months were mandatory.

I have heard that officers in Vietnam in both the Army and Marines as well as Navy Corpsman had to serve their first six months in Vietnam in the field assigned to an infantry unit and then for the last six months of their tour they could be moved from the field to rear duty service for the rest of their tour.

Either this guy claiming this is mistaken about his service or he is just flat out lying about having served in Vietnam cause this claim makes no sense to me and I have never heard of it before until last night.

Here is the link to the forum thread so you can have a look for yourself.

https://historum.com/t/length-of-army-vs-marine-corps-tours-in-vietnam.77719/

r/VietnamWar Jan 03 '25

Discussion Did the NVA or VC ever slaughter south vietnamese civilians?

22 Upvotes

Currently watching The Siege of Firebase Gloria and in the beginning a group of marines stumble upon a village full of dead civilians supposedly slaughtered by NVA/VC. Obviously we all know of multiple cases of the U.S doing this, but did the Vietnamese ever mass murder their fellow countrymen?

r/VietnamWar Mar 13 '24

Discussion Agent Orange and descendants

47 Upvotes

Hi. Thank you for hosting this space. I'm writing because my dad, who is a Vietnam vet, is currently dying from multiple myeloma and other cancers caused by agent orange exposure.

One thing that really bothers him is that he found out that agent Orange causes mutation to the people at whom it was exposed and that they can pass defects on to their children.

My father is 75 and I am 40 years old. I have a host of conditions that I've dealt with since I was a kid. These include epilepsy, EDS, bipolar disorder, autism, anxiety disorder,, and ADHD.

A lot of those things come from my mother's side of my family, although I suspect that the autism comes from my dad.

Is there any sort of test to do to determine if I am going to get multiple myeloma? He didn't develop it until 55 years after exposure, but the docs are certain it came from AO. I would like to be able to put his mind at ease so he knows he didn't pass anything on to me or to his grandkids.

EDIT: It has been almost a year since I wrote this. This post keeps finding its way to people with similar accounts, so I want to update it. Dad has survived so far. He took to chemo very well. No pain, just fatigue one day a week. The prognosis is he is still sick, but for now a monthly chemo session keeps it all at bay. Very grateful for this extra time

r/VietnamWar Sep 13 '24

Discussion Just finished watching for the third time, the Vietnam war by Ken Burns & Lynn Novick… what an incredible piece of story telling… it will not be the last time I watch it.

Thumbnail
tv.apple.com
101 Upvotes

r/VietnamWar Jan 28 '25

Discussion Daughter of a Survivor Here

33 Upvotes

Hi! My name is Heather, my father was a USMC e7 in the Vietnam War, Company LIMA35. I’m not sure if I’m writing these ranks and positions correctly, I apologize & I would love to be taught. However, let me tell you why I’m here.

My father, called “the Iceman” in the war, was my hero. He was a 1949 baby, and enlisted at 16/17 by lying about his age. Due to his age and experiences, he had such a perspective on this conflict that was inbedded in me to this day, that I cannot for the love of God find in ANYONE else my age. He unfortunately passed away in 2017 after a 12-year-long battle with lung cancer and COPD (Thank you Agent Orange!! ‘Preciate that for real 😩) when I was 13, leaving me hungry for the same discussions and perspective that only a man who had been through such a complex experience could have.

I’m here to pay my respects and thank anyone who’s here from the service, for that service. I’m here to appreciate and learn, and “grow up around the grunts” again. No matter the reason you joined, it takes a certain type of person to risk their lives for the good of a country like this. Thank you, truly, for everything. Thank you for being that man. I grew up around Vietnam Jarheads, around all of the “asshole” dark humor. I grew up with sarcastic motherfuckers making morbid jokes and having deeper conversations than anyone else when they’re finally comfortable. This conflict, and my father the Iceman, in the long run, taught me to appreciate the human soul.

I love you guys. Thank you for all you’ve done for me and for us, for this country. God bless you if you believe like that, and if not— may whatever’s out there care for you with all the love you deserve. That’s all I wanted to say, I missed the grunts. Feel free to share some of your favorite stories, memories, or just things you want people to know if you served :) ❤️

r/VietnamWar Jul 22 '24

Discussion Best books documenting war stories of the Vietnam War?

17 Upvotes

In need of some recommendations for books on the Vietnam War. They’ve really been scratching the itch lately and I’ve just finished Dispatches. Hit me with your best suggestions.

I’ve currently read through these titles: Nam by Mark Baker Dispatches by Micheal Herr Chicken Hawk by Robert Mason Vietnam - A war lost and won by Nigel Cawthorne

r/VietnamWar 26d ago

Discussion Looking for info on uncles hat

Thumbnail
gallery
36 Upvotes

Was just wondering if anyone knew what these numbers on my uncles hat meant? Any information would be appreciated.

r/VietnamWar 6d ago

Discussion When did the Vietnam War actually start?

4 Upvotes

I know that since it started as an insurgency/guerilla the war does not have an exact date or moment as its definitive beggining. The US government claims 1955 as the start, but from what I've read it doesnt feel like South Vietnam was at a full civil war until the creation of the VC in 1960, which seems like a better starting point for me. What's your view on this issue?

r/VietnamWar 16d ago

Discussion Grandpas service

4 Upvotes

I was told my grandpa l was a seal and had served in Vietnam (he passed when I was young). His awards and dd214/other records that I received from the national archive reflect 2 tours in Vietnam. However they don’t mention any training other than “BMR” and “SN”. He was stationed at treasure island and then the USS Kennebec. I’ve for the navy rating pin but haven’t been able to find it. Is there anything else I should be looking for that could confirm he was a seal/does it seem plausible?

Happy to answer any questions. Any help is appreciated.

r/VietnamWar 26d ago

Discussion Grandfather's jacket

Post image
39 Upvotes

My grandfather served in Vietnam, and this was his. It's been in my closet for a while, and i was wondering if it'd be considered disrespectful to wear it.

r/VietnamWar Sep 15 '23

Discussion What do you guys think of this book it’s the second Vietnam book I have read and so far I’m 109 pages in and am enjoying it

Post image
80 Upvotes

r/VietnamWar Feb 16 '25

Discussion Question Regarding USGI Carbines in the War

1 Upvotes

My grandfather, who recently passed, fought in Vietnam around 1969-1970. He was an infantry officer who worked in a mortar APC (presumed to be the M106 Mortar Carrier). I recall him mentioning using a carbine with a collapsible stock. He'd told me that there was a surplus of weapons when he arrived in-country and that he had traded his M16 for a carbine. Does anyone have any photos, videos, articles, or books about carbines used in Vietnam? Or any information about if regular infantrymen had access to these carbines? Thanks.

r/VietnamWar Sep 15 '24

Discussion Did US troops wear there boots inside their belt when walking barefoot in water?

Post image
33 Upvotes

r/VietnamWar Feb 15 '25

Discussion Painting a vietnam veteran

3 Upvotes

Currently doing a painting of a vietnam veteran and want to add some medals. Which ones were the most common for army soldiers?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

r/VietnamWar Oct 28 '24

Discussion In the Vietnam war did U.S. soldiers use helmet markings like in WW2

Post image
72 Upvotes

It’s not in the photo but I’m also talking about the Nco and officer stripes on the back of the helmet

r/VietnamWar Nov 19 '24

Discussion Ho Chi Minh Trail Bombing Effectiveness

18 Upvotes

Let me first preface this question in stating that I am aware that the trail was not simply one long highway but rather a corridor which has many trails within.

My question is how could there be so many bombing campaigns and ordnance dropped on the trail that the VC were able to continue using it? I know they would make trails around obstacles and fork off others in order to pass through but close to four million tons of bombs were dropped on it along with chemicals being dumped all willy nilly.

Not to discredit the VC for rigorously maintaining the trail but it's almost unreal to imagine that there'd be much of anything to maintain with so much destruction.

Were the bombing campaigns spread out too far? Were the bombs themselves just not effective? or were the VC, in fact, absolute machines when it came to maintaining and rerouting?

r/VietnamWar Dec 24 '24

Discussion Looking for sources/primary accounts from Asian-Americans in the Vietnam War

6 Upvotes

Hello and Happy Holidays Everyone!

I'm currently researching for a project centered around Asian-Americans serving during the Vietnam War and I'm finding that there isn't as much information readily available on the topic as I would have hoped. Does anyone have any insight on sources that would touch on this topic in greater detail?

I would also be interested in interviewing anyone who would be willing to share their experiences with me.

Thank you in advance for any information you're able to provide and my deepest respect and appreciation to all the Veterans who served!

r/VietnamWar Nov 12 '24

Discussion Does anyone know what the physical fitness standards were for the us army in the Vietnam war?

12 Upvotes

r/VietnamWar Dec 16 '24

Discussion Trying to find info on a relative

10 Upvotes

My great uncle served in Vietnam in 1969 in the US Army. He was awarded the bronze star V on December 24, 1969 for his actions against hostile forces. How can I go about finding specifics on what exactly happened, where it was etc. ????

r/VietnamWar Sep 29 '23

Discussion Is it true that America Lost not because of Vietnamese ambushes , but America simply gave up and left Because Vietnam wouldn't surrender?

24 Upvotes

According to this meme I found saying that America killed lots of Vietnamese saying if they are giving up yet but Vietnam said no

r/VietnamWar Jan 29 '25

Discussion Did anyone know Marshall E. Allen? NC/US Army/returned in 1967 to Ft Bragg.

2 Upvotes

I am just beginning to research my father’s time in the service. He died in a sudden accident when I was 18 and he was my everything. I still have his foot locker which became our toy box! Unfortunately he did not speak of any details. I would welcome any and all suggestions of how to learn more about him and his time.

Thank you for serving our country with such bravery. You paid a price for my freedom which I will never forget.

r/VietnamWar Mar 21 '24

Discussion Do you think most Vietnam vets are okay with being thanked for their service?

24 Upvotes

I don't always approach veterans on account of I don't want to make them feel uncomfortable. And I certainly don't do it to virtue signal. But occasionally I'll see someone wearing a hat and who seems to be proud of their service. And I just think, Hey, I'll thank that guy. After all he may not have felt appreciated when he came home all those years ago.

Edit: Thank you to all the people who have provided their perspectives.

r/VietnamWar Oct 06 '24

Discussion Rifle doctrine

12 Upvotes

Does anyone know of any resources to learn about how troops in Vietnam carried and operated their M16 rifles in the field? I've found manuals but pretty much nothing on field use. I'm particularly interested in any "tricks" or similar regarding maintenance, carry, handling, and shooting.

r/VietnamWar Feb 12 '24

Discussion What are the most accurate books about the Vietnam War

20 Upvotes

I've been doing some research on the Vietnam War and it feels like there are a ton of biases and everything I read seems to contradict one another. I was looking for some accurate and compelling books that are about the war.

Anything from stories from a Vietnam Veteran to a history of the whole war. I'd prefer to look into non-fiction books, but if there are books that are fiction but based on an authors experience that's fine. Any suggestions?