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
I could never be a tunnel rat. That is to risky and you could easily get caught. I also don't really like tight spaces. The worst part would have to be having the chance to get caught. If i had to have a job in the war i would have to chose protecting our base or something.
I think I would volunteer to be a tunnel rat. If I was a tunnel rat I would most scared of people jumping out at me and them try to kill me. Also I would be scared of traps set up in the tunnels. Another job I would like to have would have to be a medic because I get to help people with their injuries.
I would not want not be a tunnel rat because I would not volunteer myself to get blown up. I would not like to be in the dark tunnels because I don't know what is on the floor or if they have traps anywhere. If I had to choose what I would do it would be a sniper, they don't have to rush and get into the gun fights.
Agreed. The thought of being blown up in a hole in communist vietnam is not one that I like to imagine my future. There were several other jobs that I could do aside from this one. The bravery is admirable, however I would not be the man for the job.
I am claustrophobic I feel like I would have a panic attack and start to freak out. I wouldn't want to be a rat because it is basically suicide your running in the tunnels waiting for you to blow up.
I personally wouldn't be a tunnel rat because I am claustrophobic. The number one thing that I would be afraid of to come across is the possibility of getting shot.
Getting shot down in the tunnels would be terrible. There were so many intertwining tunnels in vietnam that it was difficult to map out, and navigate without getting lost. Being a tunnel rat not many survived and made it out of these tunnels.
I think that being a tunnel rat would be pretty cool, because no one knew they were down their and they did like sneak attaks thats pretty cool. The only part that would be scary would be if you heard like a bomb close above that would be scary. Also if I wasnt a tunnel rat I would want to be a comat photographer.
I would not want to be a tunnel rat. All of the dangers involved outweigh the small chance that I make it out alive. I would most likely be afraid of the tunnels themselves. Once you go into the tunnels, you don't know what you are going to get, and you can't get out easily. I would choose any other job, even being on the front lines rather than being a tunnel rat.
I'm very claustrophobic so I think my mind would be going crazy if I had to be a tunnel rat. I'd be afraid of getting injured down there and then dying slowely. I think I'd go crazy if that happened. I think I could do any other job in the war besides being a tunnel rat.
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