What did American soldiers go through in Vietnam war?

Answer 1

South Vietnamese pilots were trained in South Vietnam and the United States, and were taught to speak English so that they could communicate with US instructors. North Vietnamese jet fighter pilots were sent to the Soviet Union for 2 or more years where they learned to speak Russian (to communicate with their instructors) and fly the MIG-17 & MIG 21 jet fighters. North Vietnamese pilots were also sent to Communist (Red) China where they learned to fly the Chinese J-6 (MIG-19) jet fighter plane. South Viet ground troops were taught in South Vietnam, North Vietnamese troops learned by OJT (On the job training by fighting US Forces in South Vietnam). An example of the NVA's first experience was the Battle in the Ia Drang valley fought in 1965 against the US Army's experimental 1st AIR Cavalry Division, depicted in the recent film, "We Were Soldiers...".

Answer 2

Temperature was similar to US combat experience in the South Pacific during WWII. Living conditions were also similar. Combat consisted of smaller scaled exeriences of WWII, in the Pacific; with some portions, such as the TET offensive in 1968, bordering WWII experiences in Europe, with house to house, and street to street fighting.

The largest factor that separated the Vietnam War from WWII, was it's SMALLER SCALE of fighting, and it's weapons. The Vietnam War was (and is still today) the only war in US history in which EACH individual US rifleman (Infantryman) had a fully automatic weapon (M-16). Today's (21st Century) M-16 TYPE weapon has been modified to fire in a short burst only; Not fully automatic. Korean War and WWII servicemen were armed with M-1 semi-automatic rifles. The Vietnam War had JET BOMBERS, the B-57 Canberra and the B-52 Stratofortress, and plenty of HELICOPTERS. The Korean War (1950-1953) was fought with primarily WWII B-29 Bombers, and NO helicopters, other than some infrequent medical evacuations (when compared to Vietnam).

Answer 3

{| |- | Yes, the United States fought in the Vietnam War. The early involvement was providing advisors to the South Vietnamese. But it didn't take long and the US was providing troops, air misstions and Naval Bombardment in the fighting. |}

Answer 4

The same things most soldiers went thru in wars up to Vietnam. Primitive living conditions (no bath rooms, no showers, no baths, no toilets, no sink with running water to brush your teeth, no laundry, no toilet paper, no tooth brush, no clear clean drinking water, etc.). C ration accessary packets had one tiny roll of toilet paper in them. Ask any Viet GI vet, that wasn't enough. It was about 1/2 an inch thick worth of paper rolled up into a roll the size of your thumb. The toothpick inside the accessary package was a "wooden toothpick" with directions to "bite the end of it, to form a brush, then brush your teeth." But credit must be given to Uncle Sam for TRYING to take care of his men...and some of that stuff worked...but it took patience and experience...but nothing can replace the comforts of civilization.

Sleeping in the rain, sleeping in the mud, sleeping in dirt (dust). "Some" GIs when they returned home couldn't sleep in a bed...they had to sleep on the floor, until they got used to civilization again. The bed was too soft.

Answer 5

Often American soldiers in the Vietnam war were trained only for a 3 months basic period, in fact the average age for front line privates was only 19!