Are you claustrophobic? Are you afraid of the dark? Are you willing to risk your life for the safety of your platoon? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you would not be a prime candidate for the bravest position in the war of Vietnam. Have you ever heard of Tunnel Rats? This position was considered the most dangerous and intense job in Vietnam.
On March 8, 1965, the USA entered the Vietnam War. American soldiers were foreign to the combat of the Vietnamese. Americans started gaining ground in Vietnam, thinking they were making progress. But at the same time, they were secretly being attacked by the Vietnamese. Little did the Americans know, many systems of tunnels were dug out beneath and surrounding the campsites. These tunnels held strongholds with dynamite, weapons, and anything that could break down the American defenses. After realizing that they were being attacked the Americans assigned special operatives to investigate these tunnels and take out munition strongholds in them to prevent any further damage to the American army.
The Americans were successful at first with these investigations. However many Vietnamese soldiers began noticing that their supplies were being stolen & damaged so they started setting up traps: spike pits, explosives, snakes, poison spiders, spring spiked traps, you name it, the Vietnamese threw them in the tunnels. Not only did these traps begin to kill off a majority of the American tunnel rats, but replacements for these soldiers were scared to death of the tunnels.
As time continued in Vietnam it became clear that the probability of the United States winning this war was slim to none. Less and fewer tunnel rats began coming back from their missions, and the ruthless gorilla tactics of communist Vietnam were unbeatable. Eventually, on March 29, 1973, the USA pulled out of the Vietnam War due to war efforts and casualties.
The Vietnam War was one of the only wars in which the United States of America did not win. A major part of this is the style of combat that the Vietnamese used (Underground Tunnels). Tunnel rats were super brave officers of the Army who played a huge role in combating the Vietnamese while we were stationed there. Though the job of a tunnel rat was both physically & mentally challenging it was one of the most terrifying and important jobs that was crucial in the war effort in Vietnam.
Would you volunteer to be a tunnel rat?
What would you be most afraid of in the tunnels?
If not a tunnel rat, what other job would you like to do in the Vietnam War?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdZ9kGwqkTM
Replies
Great topic choice and super job Grant!
Personally, I would not volunteer to be a tunnel rat. I feel like in the tunnels I would be most arfaid of traps. In the war I would have liked to be a doctor or some type of engineer that helped build the weapons.
I personally don't think that I would be a volunteer to be a tunnel rat for many reasons. I think that not only is it dangerous but it is frightening and I don't think I could be able to handle that. It is very risky and with your life on the line, it is a hard job to accomplish.
No, I probably would not volunteer to be a tunnel rat. It's too dangerous and and you don't know if you will survive. I would be most scared of getting shot or blown up. If not a tunnel rat I would like to be a pilot or drive a tank.
I understand why you would decline. I dont think a single person said they would voulenteer to be a tunnel rat. Its a terrible job when you think about it. WIth survival chances slim to none, and ob benifits also being very little, not many people were jumping for this position.
I don't think I would volunteer to do a job like that. There could be so many dangerous things but I think what I would be most scared of is getting caught in a trap in the tunnels. I don't think I would like to do any job in the Vietnam War.
no becuase its too tight of space and too dangerous the roof isnt that reliable. i would be pretty of fraid of them you didnt know if your going to survive or not because the next moment someone could throw somthing in their and kill you
I wouldn't volunteer to become a tunnel rat because I think it is too risky and would die in the tunnels. I would be scared of getting shot or blown up in the tunnels. If not a tunnel war in the war I would like to drive a tank or be perched up in a building or a tree and snipe the enemies.
I conquer. The job of a tunnel rat is far too risky. I would work or do anything else to get out of doing this job. Being a tree sniper would be a very valuble asset in the army as the vietnamese liked to hide in trees. It got to a point where we began to poison trees to spot them better.
I definitely would not volunteer, not being able to see anything would make me desperate and I am afraid of the dark, plus I have a phobia of spiders and I think also snakes, I would be so nervous that I would not be able to do my tasks well, and I honestly wouldn't know what other tasks I could do.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 6 Next