The+Vietnam+Soldier

media type="custom" key="6259301"CHASING CHARLIE
 * conditions very difficult
 * injury bad enough you could be sent home
 * Viet Cong had mines, bombs, booby traps, and sharp poisonous punji stakes- all hidden by twigs, thick vegetation, or dirt
 * Experiences in Vietnam like no other American War
 * Average army foot soldier was white and came from rural or small- town America- volunteers were 21-22 years old- 10-12% were African Americans
 * New arrivals overwhelmed by conditions
 * Platoon consisted of 20-40 corporals and privates- Lieutenant and non commissioned officer led a platoon
 * at least one grunt in every platoon had some medical training
 * one or two grunts were trained as the radiotelephone operator (RTO)- main targets because without them platoon good as dead
 * typical grunt pack weighed between 35-70 lbs- included canteens of water, food, cooking utensils, books, extra socks, salt tablets, rope, playing cards, letters, and photos- weapons, main was M-16 rifle
 * had trouble fighting VC and NVA because their attacks were so quick, because they were so quick the US couldn't use there superior weapons and more men to their advantage.
 * men were assigned to destroy these intricate tunnels
 * some tunnels were even under American installations

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