The challenges of fighting in Vietnam

North Vietnamese General Giap said of American patrols in the jungle of Vietnam, they often walk into ambushes because of inexperience. The same thing could have happened to me, but luckily it didn't.

Giap said, "they often walk into traps that wouldn't fool a baby." U.S. Army and Marine patrols remained novices because of the one-year rotation, while the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese had years of experience.

Giap said American troops didn't fight in Vietnam for 10 years, they fought in Vietnam for one year, 10 times over. I and others would agree with that. Westmorland adopted the one-year policy to keep morale up, but unfortunately, the result was lower combat efficiency and a higher death rate.

After one year, the more experienced soldiers rotated home and were replaced by inexperienced troops. Worse yet, most officers in command of platoons and companies only served six months, to give others a chance for combat command, also resulting in poorer results from most new officers. A fact is that twice as many Americans died in their first six months versus their last six months.

For all living through 365 days rather than defeating the enemy often became an all-consuming concern among many, but I disagree. Our Army and Marines did the best they could under the circumstances. 

As I recall, they only started counting days, maybe a couple of months before they rotated home. Another reason was every time a unit got familiar with one place they were moved to another one and thus had to learn the terrain all over again. 

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran and business owner in Priest River.