Westmoreland Humiliates the Marines in Vietnam

[@chipe420]

“The Americans were more interested in continuing the war than winning it.” Now that’s a great quote.

[@XrayxRich]

Politicians are the most heavily invested in the Military Industrial Complex.

[@emmanuelawosusi2365]

Yes

[@emmanuelawosusi2365]

​@@XrayxRichSame thing happened with Korea,irap,Afghanistan

[@jamesgibson4807]

No Profit in curing,The Profit lies in Treating, the patient never Heals,the same in VietNam it wasn't about Democracy, it was a proving ground for New Weapons and Techniques, Big Business was the Only Winner,Political Folks played Both Sides and Use The Military to blame the whole shit show on

[@DBAllen]

That's the way the military industrial complex makes their money.

[@Charles-z1l]

Westmoreland might have tried to humiliate us Marines, but what he did was he created a fighting legend to Marine Corps history. I sat in my fighting hole wet with trench foot SE of Con Thien September, and October 1967. During the night we Marines watched columns of North Vietnamese soldiers moving across the DMZ moving SW of Con Thien with night flashlights ablaze. I was told every few soldier was holding a flashlight. Therefore we knew by the thousands of enemy soldiers passed in review in front of our eyes. No way in hell was my unit going to engage them. It would have been suicide. Nope TET 68 was not a surprise to us Marines, it was a surprise of the in-depth incompetence of General Westmoreland and his staff. Even private E 1’s Marines understood these North Vietnamese soldiers moving nightly into the south were not going on a holiday vacation. 2nd Bn 4th Marine Regiment. Sorry if my statements are not in line with the story. But TET 68 was no surprise to grunts during the summer and fall 1967. Much history was stuffed under the rug about the relief of Khe Shan. My C/O was operations off for the 3rd MarDiv during TET 1968.

[@richardelias2674]

Semper Fi, 68-69. I CORPS, 3/5 1st MARDIV. Wounded several times.

[@jakedominguez-x5k]

@@Charles-z1l jesus christ zip it up when youre done

[@jakedominguez-x5k]

your leadership failed you moron. making this about "marines versus everyone else" shows that even now, decades after the war, you still dont understand just how fucking stupid you really are. semper fi bullet catcher, go suck a crayon muzzle.

[@Charles-z1l]

@@jakedominguez-x5k😂😂 Westmoreland and his hacks destroyed US credibility. To claim TET was surprises is total absolute bullshit. It shows the incompetence of Westmoreland and the US military in Vietnam especially the US army chain of command ! You zip you your mouth your souls sound stupid; you have no idea what combat is. Like today’s military. Westmoreland and his hacks like I said are talking historical fools. If the United States survives history will repeat what I said.

[@Charles-z1l]

@@jakedominguez-x5kI am not done history will continue and teach the incompetence. My family taught me never to use Christs name in vain. Your Vulgar statement using Jesus’s name does not make your statement any more believable or credible. You are too stupid to dialogue so you just troll asshole.

[@JuergenGDB]

My Uncle was a Combat photographer in Vietnam. He served two tours, his last spending much time with the 5th SFG. When I enlisted in the Marines he told me just a little about his time there, how beautiful it was but yet how war can change a man. He told me to always be compassionate when you can, even to your enemy, it will keep you human.

[@keithsimpson2150]

If he was smart he'd have told you never to join the fucking marines lol

[@robertkapernick7376]

Had a friend in MACv-SOG. Went missing in March '67 outside of Tchepone. Outstanding young man. Buried his remains 40 years later in Arlington.

[@grovepeate3316]

Was that young man SSgt Robert Preiss, killed on his second tour in Laos , MIA for 28 yrs, had his parents pass away not knowing the truth. Was my best friend from the 3 rd grade.

[@robertkapernick7376]

@@grovepeate3316 Sad to say that it was not SSgt Robert Preiss but another young soldier Sgt. Alan Boyer

[@grovepeate3316]

@@robertkapernick7376 thankyou, I met with his team members, he was on point and took a . 50 cal in the back, they slide down the hill, he was moaning loudly , they hit him with morphine, he passed, they had to leave him there in Laos. They brought back enough of him 28 yrs later and he's buried at Arlington. His parents passed without knowing what happened to him.

[@OtherlingQueen]

FAFO

[@eugeneogozalek65]

I was seriously wounded by mortar shrapnel in the head, and four other locations on my right arm and leg on Rt. 9, down the hill from Camp Carroll on Jan. 25, 1968. My Marine unit was India Company 3rd bn / 4th Marines / 3rd Marine Division. My brain surgery to remove the shrapnel was performed aboard the USS Hospital Ship Repose. During the 12 months of 1968, the 3rd bn / 4th Marines ( roughly 1,200 Marines ) sustained 88% casualties: 187 killed and 871 wounded. The 2nd bn / 5th Marines fought in the battle of Hue City. During that 28 day battle, 2/5 sustained 45% casualties. For the entire 1968, 2/5 sustained 140% casualties ( killed and wounded ). Amazing and true. I was in Vietnam only 46 days, and in the Marines less than 7 months from the day of my enlistment on June 30, 1967. I received a medical discharge as unfit for further duty due to my head wound, a day after my 19th birthday, July 31, 1968. Attached is a link to an article about my Vietnam experience that I sent to Tulane University which was published in their quarterly magazine, " The Tulanian". I am very proud to have served with my fellow Marines during a very difficult period. I have no regrets. tulanian.tulane.edu/march-2019/vietnam-conflict-and-path-to-tulane-education

[@jeremyperala839]

Thank you for the link to your writing, and your service in the Marine Corps.

[@Charles-z1l]

I spent almost a year in the hospital from shrapnel wounds. It came to my attention that most marines that were killed in Vietnam spent much less than 13 months in Vietnam. So this made me come to the conclusion that I don’t really pay attention to somebody that says they did three tours in Vietnam..

[@lamontpearce170]

I share your birthday, I was 10 on your 19 .My dad was there in 68 and 69.

[@grovepeate3316]

Thank you for what you gave. I was Air Force and only got to go TDY a month or two to drop leaflets out of 123's .But I hated the 4 years I had to serve when I realized they were never trying to win.

[@eugeneogozalek65]

@@grovepeate3316 Great to have comments. Gene Ogozalek

[@HenryGill-bk6mn]

Westmoreland did not like the Marines and tried to keep Vietnam an "Army show" as much as possible. His climb to Army Chief of Staff was tied to Vietnam and the increasing numbers of soldiers assigned to the war. Initially, Westmoreland claimed that the introduction of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division was enough to win the war... Years ago, I went to hear a talk by the late Clark Clifford who became the Secretary of Defense under Nixon in 1968. Clifford told the story of his meeting with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with the Chief of Staff of the Army, CNO of the Navy, Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Commandant of the Marine Corps shortly after his appointment as SECDEF. In the meeting (early 1969), Clifford asked the question: "What is our exit strategy in Vietnam?" Nobody answered and there was a long pause... So Clifford asked: "What are we doing in Vietnam?" Again, nobody answered and there was another long pause. Then one of the Generals said, "Well, we kill a few of them (the Vietnamese) and they kill a few of us (US/South Vietnamese/Allied) and then we do it again tomorrow." Furious, Clifford ordered all of the assembled Generals to come up with a Exit Strategy for Vietnam in the next few weeks and ordered them to leave his office immediately. Ultimately, that is how Nixon's 'Vietnamization Strategy' became the US' exit strategy from Vietnam. According to Clifford, nobody had a plan for victory, a mission or an exit strategy and had been stumbling around for years just killing people. Decades later, Clifford was still very angry at what he found when he first became the Secretary of Defense. Mindless mission-creep at its absolute best.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

That was amazing - a little nugget of history that tells a lot about what was going on in Washington and Vietnam .

[@F15ElectricEagle]

@@gordonlandreth9550 - Decades later, the U.S. is still applying the same approach, i.e. Iraq and Afghanistan. Well, at least they're consistent.

[@Charles-z1l]

As a Marine I like General Hodges the retired US Army Commander in Europe. The Iraq Afghanistan had a cluster eff of grand standing commanders like the shamed former CIA director. To include Mattis . Mattis is no Howlin Mad Smith.

[@joeblow9657]

The messed up part was that the whole body count strategy only made sense if the US was deploying limited troop numbers. The original thinking was that it was supposed to be enough to make sure NVA couldn't overwhelm South Vietnam and stabilize the situation, then it somehow turned into deploying half a million troops (and arguably not enough combat troops) and being unable to maintain sufficient troop levels without calling up the US army reserve and National Guard.

[@TJ_CrayonBeltFeeder]

The pentagon papers did that

[@richardelias2674]

My dad was in Vietnam 61-62, he retired in 1967, 27 3/4 years Lt.Col. I enlisted in the Marine Corps 10/3/67, my tour dates were 68-69, I was last wounded 10/18/68, Medically Retired in 1970. Semper Fi

[@wordword6039]

My Plt Sgt and Company Gunny were Vietnam vets. They spoke to us of places like Con Tien, Rockpile, Khe Sahn, Hue, Dong Ha and Quan tri. We were brought up to believe in the Marine Corps as great fighters and crazy MF's. But they also told us the Green Berets in Vietnam were absolutely nuts but damn good at what they did. They also trained us well and absolutely punished us when our discipline broke down. I later served in Desert Storm and Iraq for multiple tours. I am forever grateful to my NCO's and SNCO's earlier in my career.

[@DawsonsWar]

I lite the LZ for what I was told at the time was the first night insertion of a Marine Battalion. I was impressed by how organized they were coming off the CH-46s.

[@wordword6039]

@@DawsonsWar I was working as a dishwasher (my first job) I was 10. It was at a motel resteraunt. I was walking through the seating area early one morning and this soldier gets up to leave. He had his Green Beret on. I was really impressed. My last tour in the Marines I got to work with several of them and I loved those guys. Some funny stuff happens when you get SF, and Marines together. Thank you for all you've done for our country sir.

[@TheThingInMySink]

This channel has been so informative, partially because I'm not American and don't know anyone who was actually there, or even a person who knows a guy who knows a guy who was there, I've never really had the chance to hear an actual veteran talk about these things. You run into clips of interviews here on KZbin from time to time, but the vast majority of what I know, or rather thought I knew to be true came from very mainstream pop history documentaries, and while they often featured interviews, they were usually short. It's nice to hear your perspective on so many different sides of the war. Considering buying my dad a copy of Dawson's War for christmas, but he's not quite fluent in English so I'm not sure. Your channel really sold me on the book though, I'm thinking of getting a copy for myself at the very least, once I get through my backlog of books I need to read, and have a bit more expendable income.

[@Freedomfred939]

As high school freshmen in 1969 we wondered why our army had not cut the ho chi Minh trail. You didn't need 4 stars to figure it out it would be decisive. Yes, college students protested but the majority of the population still thought the war was winnable if only some decisive action like cutting the trail was taken. Instead the best and brightest did nothing and everyone knew our only option was to leave. So now when June 6 rolls around and DDay is remembered I tease my student protester older brother...oh, you mean the day that FDR expanded the war.

[@david-468]

Actually FDR and Churchill DID EXPAND THE WAR you weirdo war profiteers baffle me, AH Had 8 peace treaties before the war that Churchill and fdr denied

[@boocomban]

easier said than done. Since 1967, multiple campaigns launched into Laos and Cambodia to destroy the Hochiminh trail but failed to achieve any great result. The amount of bomb dropped into Laos and Cambodia to destroy Hochiminh trails is no less than the amount of bomb dropped in Vietnam, as well as multiple assault operations to destroy Hochiminh trails and camps that failed... It wasn't that the US didn't try; it was just not success.

[@stevecox7570]

No, actually he did not. Westmoreland was the sole reason the 26th Marines got stuck out in Khe Sanh. Westy was dead set on making a major WW2 style battle happen, and he thought by forcing the Marines into that highly exposed and untenable position, that the entire NVA military would be drawn into a major battle. he had no concern for the Marines, and they were utterly unimportant and expendable to him. Proof of that was that the Marines ended up there, and not the doggies. Westmoreland was an idiot.

[@jameshepburn4631]

That same try to get the enemy to show themselves by dangling isolated troops as bait is the strategy that lost the French Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and all of Indochina in 1955.

[@guycastonguay9633]

Westmorland was a terrible general and that is why the Viet Cong won the war.

[@aries144]

God man, all of this stuff just makes me angrier and angrier. When I was a kid in the 80s, everything seemed nice. Having read and learned more throughout my adult life, now I think we don't control our government, we haven't for about 100 years, and I don't know what to do to fix that. Common Americans are too busy working to survive and being entertained to agree that there's a problem, meanwhile the people responsible for these kinds of screw-ups do nothing but plot and organize. If I think about it too much, the anxiety eats me up. Hope your life is going well. Take care.

[@rojoloco3911]

Well put and unfortunately very true. I feel the same way.

[@sirg-had8821]

Why do you think the economy is so bad, our work is so intensive, and our entertainment so prevalent? The owners want us fat, dumb, and depressed so they can make off with all the money.

[@stephendaley266]

We allowed corporations to take over our government ages ago. Billionaire capitalists routinely buy US elections. You think you live in a democracy? You live under the dictatorship of Capitalism!

[@JamesButera-s6d]

Spent 20 months ('67-'69) as a Marine Corps officer along all those posts set forth in your excellent presentation including the road clearing in which the Army participated. You are correct that the Marine Corps brass didn't want the Army involved but I can assure you that the junior officers and the men serving under us were glad to see all those helicopters and APCs arrive.

[@DawsonsWar]

As an 02 / 03 in MACV-SOG I know that very well. Thanks for watching.

[@paulstout2980]

In Nam we said war is good for business invest ur son. westmorland was a pos just one old Nam vet Marine's opinion.

[@tommywestmoreland6113]

Really? He was commandant of West Point...you earn that job. Give McNamara and LBJ a little credit for being the warmongers they were. Generals didn't lose the war. Politicians and Walter Cronkite did the real losing of the war. You jarheads need to hit the books a little harder. Learn who really cost us 58,000 of our brothers.

[@tex148th]

"Fuckin' A" !!

[@michealtull9033]

​@@tommywestmoreland6113 Westmoreland was a POS. Most of the troops hated him .

[@FP194]

@@tommywestmoreland6113 Then why didn’t Westmorland resign if he thought the war was being run the wrong way You need to crack a history book

[@davemi00]

This was my era. Waiting to be Drafted. Westmoreland was a complete political POS. We understood why our friends were considering going to Canada. LBJ was as bad as Bush Jr/Cheney.

[@maxiepuddles]

I was in Vietnam when all of this was going on. I always suspected prolonging that war had more to do with someone's stock portfolio than the miliary situation.

[@franksantucci3038]

Your right, lady bird Johnsons family owned major stocks in all the oil companies, and since they were the ones who made the majority of the money by being in Nam, LBJ took out Kennedy and escalated the hell out of the war. Him and his Texas oil buddies made a fortune off the lives of middle class America, shame on them. And as if that wasn't bad enough, Johnson and his CIA buddies took out Kennedy right there in Dely plaza, Dallas Texas. It was truly a nightmare on elm Street. BTW the Vietnam conflict lasted longer than most people think, 1955 to 1975. 20 years, same as Afghanistan and Iraq. And what a cluster f*ck exit that was, worst in US History...

[@stephendaley266]

It was actually about the 1968 election. Nixon reached out to the South Vietnamese to tell them to delay peace talks until after the election. It was a brazen act of treason by a US presidential candidate. It worked, though. Instead of the wat ending in 1968, it dragged on for years.

[@cdnsk12]

Hmmm ... VP Dick Chaney was CEO of Haliburton, one of the major Military Industrial Complex (MIC) Companies that Eisenhower warned the USA about in 1951. The MIC has made enormous amounts of US Taxpayer funded money out of WW2, the Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel since 1947, ISIS wars in Iraq, Syria, the Yemin conflict & Ukraine War.

[@josephkilmer3889]

"“The Americans were more interested in continuing the war than winning it.” As anywhere else, the rot started at the head, in this case with LBJ who never had a plan to win and was more afraid of provoking the Soviets & Chi-Coms than he was of losing the war. Also, as you said, Westmoreland was no Patton. Great video! Much enjoyed.

[@circuscase]

3/75 Ranger here.....Don't even think about issuing Jarheads crayons....Crayons are the first thing to be eaten, especially the purple ones. RTLW and God Bless all the guys and gals that went to Vietnam. Yes, Marines especially.... Oh yeah, also....F!#K Walther Cronkite and Jane Fonda.

[@roaddog7793]

1/9 b co 3rd marine div di bo chet mostly around the d m z wecome home brother

[@Ontos0353]

Purple, Ranger propaganda, Yellow ones!!! (1969 3/3 Marine)

[@BenEthridge]

​@@Ontos0353; The green ones made me feel like I was at home in the hills of Kentuck...semper Fi

[@Ontos0353]

@@BenEthridge Semper Fi,

[@Ontos0353]

@@roaddog7793 Glad you made it.

[@douglasthompson2740]

Westmoreland was a politician dressed up to play soldier. He was an ass kisser incarnate ferocious to those who crossed him or even disagreed with him if they were under him while at the same time a total coward to those above. He had no understanding of the politics, history, geography or nationalities of the area. So he came up with the "body count" to get his next star over tens of thousands of dead and millions of wounded and displaced in his area of command. He was a fool among fools. No one in Washington that mattered had any idea of what Southeast Asia was or what it entailed. Most school children who didn't know much about it knew more than they did. The whole impetus was to enrich themselves and their contractor friends who made huge fortunes from American taxpayers. It was once again an exercise in authority without responsibility. Congress willfully gave up its constitutional right to make war acquiescing to the president their own power. Only Senators Wayne Morse of Oregon and Ernest Gruening of Alaska smelled the BS and voted against the Tonkin Gulf Resolution allowing the president to make offensive war (The US was never threatened). The trend has never stopped but only exponentially increased since then.

[@DawsonsWar]

Westmoreland believed the US could reach a” tipping point” where we were able kill the enemy in higher numbers than replacement. Controversially, he blamed the loss on the fact that Asians placed less value on life than Americans. Thanks for watching.

[@linhdtu]

Couldn't agree more. i read Lewis Sorley's "A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America's Last Years in Vietnam" A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America's Last Years in Vietnam and i cried . Creighton Abrams who actually commanded troops in ww2 (his battalion 1st to enter Bastogne) was a real general that Westmoreland could never be

[@robertscheinost179]

The sad part is Westmoreland thought he was the best thinker in the Army. If you read his book this theme is played over and over. No doubt Westy was suffering from a psychosis known as "Grandoise Narcissism." He was a total joke.

[@tomyoung8563]

All modern officers above 04 are politicians dressed up as war fighters Same for E8’s and E9’s…… and a whole lot of E7’s

[@WmGood]

@@robertscheinost179 hey Robert, You pegged it correctly with "Westmoreland thought he was the best thinker 'in the army' ". He may well have been considering the army as a whole. Not a brain factory of over-troubled with competence or leadership. He was the quintessential army product, a southern redneck who was arrogantly stupid and proud of it. Oh well, the Military Industrial Complex and all 'em contracts to their brother-in-laws and cronies were happy. Even so, it is absolutely never a good idea to have the army running anything. If there is even the remotest chance of screwing up anything, you can rely on the army to find and do it.

[@hectorrodriguez2686]

Well narrated, brief but clear presentation. Gives an excellent historical outline that can be expanded by anyone interested in learning more. The images are well selected to reinforce the story.

[@sugarpuddin]

Col. Bui Tin, a member of the North Vietnamese general staff said, “If the Americans would have cut the supply lines in Laos they would have ended the war. It seemed like the Americans were more interested in continuing the war than winning it.” Why? Answer: Because the purpose of all Americans Wars is not to win; but rather to enrich Wall Street Elites, the heads of the Military-Industrial Government, their political beneficiaries, and to expand government powers. If the Vietnam War was meant to be won, the USA would have simply done what every army has done since the dawn of Civilization: roll into the capital and sack the leadership. Many were cashing in on the Vietnam war - Much of it by fraud. Has the USA people learned anything from the Pentagon Papers? Meanwhile in the news: A top advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly admitted that corruption is so rampant in the war-torn former Soviet state that officials are “stealing like there’s no tomorrow”. “People are stealing like there’s no tomorrow,” the top advisor is said to have told the publication, saying that officials do not “feel any fear” of engaging in corruption because the US State Dept. and Biden Government insisted upon the firing of Reznikov six months after Zelenksy was warned that the Defense Ministry was drowning in graft. Subsequently, there were no mechanisms for preventing the fraud - Soon stealing became a “free for all”! US wars are not meant to be won. They were meant for the wheel-heeled to profit.

[@tonybutts170]

This needs to be read by more people, they need to think!!, that’s why I’ll be voting for Trump, I believe he will keep us out of wars we don’t intend to win

[@fazole]

Marines honor Chesty Puller, but not 2 time awarded of the MOH, Gen. Smedley Butler, who wrote and lectured on "War is a Racket". Going all the way back to at least the Spanish-American War in US terms. Actually, all the way back to Commodore Perry "opening" Japan in the 1850s.

[@sugarpuddin]

@@fazole Amen to that!

[@Testwest78]

Der Wert eines jeden 🤡 Krieges sind die Schulden, die er generiert. #Inflation

[@njesperson7760]

​@tonybutts170 My family has a Military History on my Fathers side going back to the late 1600s. Meaning at first the family fought for British (we got here because the 1st several men were "presssed" into the. Many of these men married Irish women brought over as indentures servant's. No wonder by the revolution over 100 of my ancestors were fighting for what became the USA. We have been in every major war since and several since. All of my great grandfather's and 7Great Uncles and My paternal grandpa were in WW1. My Maternal grandfather and 3 of his 4 brothers were in WW2. ON DADS both of his brothers, 1 sister, and all 4 of his brothers-inlaw were in WW2. 1 of Dads brothers stayed in the Military 30 years, 1st in the ARMY AIR CORPS then the Air Force. He fought in WW2, Korea, and 3 Tours in Vietnam. Dad was significantly younger than his siblings, Grandpa got remarried and my father is the only child of that marriage... Dad did 5 tours in Vietnam. Moms brother and brother-in-law did tours in vietnam. My generation I went against my parents wishes an became a Soldier. I was in the 1st war and a few minor things. Got out when they decided I am 65% disabled. With stupid rules in Afghanistan and Iraq I cant advise anyone to join the Military but i wont tell anyonoe not to either

[@blank557]

Westmoreland bought into the "Body Count" strategy. His military career was as a artillery officer. Hence all the firebases he put up to employ artillery to pound the VC. He fought the VC with the tactics used by General Ridgeway in the Korean war. Problem was, what worked so well in Korea, a country that had little in the way of trees and brush, were the Chinese fought in mass, making them easy targets to hammer, did not work in Vietnam that had triple canopy jungle. There was no way Westmoreland's artillery was going to take out the VC in the same way. He was, fighting a new war based on hit and run insurgents with tactics from the old war. Many of his firebases became besieged fortresses, where the VC could send sappers and fire rockets and mortars to hit all the US troops bunched up in a small area, and then melt away in the jungle. He forgot what Patton said in WW2, that fixed positions was where troops were positioned to die. Oh, and the body count strategy failed, because the bean counters in the Pentagon ignored the fact that the VC counted their entire population as combatants, to replace losses in the NVA and VC units. So short of genocide, there was no way to defeat the Viet Mihn, short of invasion into North Vietnam. There was no way the American people would accept the US losses that would come from a invasion, especially for a undeclared war nobody wanted.

[@jbone9900]

My understanding was it would casue a issue with China.

[@Phoenix_OP]

He also didn’t research how the British Commonwealth defeated Communist in Malaysia.

[@boocomban]

@@Phoenix_OP Well, the British did help to train the US and ARVN tactics in counterinsurgency during the Vietnam War; the problem is Malaysia is vastly different from Vietnam. While both share similar tropical jungle terrains, Malaysia was a chain of islands in the middle of the ocean, while Vietnam has a massive landscape that connects with the Communist bloc that helps to receive supply from the Soviet Union and China, while Malaysia is in the middile of the ocean with minimal and no support from the Soviet bloc. The culture is also different, as the Vietnamese Communist Force is driven by nationalism; it uses communism as a vehicle for the only purpose of receiving aid and support from the Communist bloc with the majority population supporting its cause, while the Malaysian population is mostly Muslim and Christian; it doesn't support the Atheism ideology of communism, so the Malaysian Communist Force didn't get support from its population. And why Vietnam turned to Communism, then look at 1945-1947. Hochiminh asked the United States for assistance to achieve its independence from French colonialism as Vietminh was an ally with the US in Southeast Asia to fight against Nazi Japanese, but instead the United States turned blind eyes and supported the French instead. This led Hochiminh to have no other option but to turn to the Soviets to seek help.

[@johnknorr1140]

Good job on the story. I really appreciate it. Thanks.🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@DawsonsWar]

Thanks for watching

[@erics362]

Excellent narration.

[@janmale7767]

When i was just a kid,my father was outraged by the statement of some American senator that said after the war 'we didn't go into Vietnam to win the war' Now you know why Communism had to be saved, so that the racket could go on and on and on....ad infinitum!

[@georgewilkie3580]

US Army 505th PIR 82nd Airborne Division... I was an SSG E6, patrolled out of Phu Bai, Republic Of South Vietnam. To my recollection, the one thing that stood out about Gen. Westmoreland is that he highly admired MACV-SOG, and always gave them anything they requested. Unlike many of the older Generals, who were of the thought that Special Forces of any particular Branch were not really necessary, and mostly a waste of time. Most of these older Generals had a WW2 mentality, and many times tried to fight the Vietnam War along the line of most WW2 Ground Combat strategy and tactics. Of course, 'Nam was a animal of a Very different color. 'Nam was radically different. From combat Strategy to the confused Politics, 'Nam was a Puzzle sunk in a Quagmire. I will not be critical of Gen. Westmoreland, because he had no "Playbook" what-so-ever to guide him. And, again I give Westmoreland a lot of credit for realizing how vitaly important the Role of MACV-SOG was, and how Special Forces of all types would play a big part of any future Wars. Gen. Westmoreland openly admired Special Forces, unlike so many of the other High Level older Officers.

[@steviedfromtheflyovercount4739]

The prior decade, the British fought the Communist in Burma (?) with SAS and Gurka Regiment. This was the MANUAL...... only volunteers and SOG and Gurka. However, this is alot of Monday Morning Quarterbacking on my part.

[@steviedfromtheflyovercount4739]

You left an excellent post .... Read it and thought your analysis was top shelf.

[@RazvanEpure]

The terrain was too difficult

[@georgewilkie3580]

​@@steviedfromtheflyovercount4739 Stevie! My heartfelt Thank You for your very kind comment. Be assured that I'm grateful for your interest and good wishes...GEORGE.

[@freddiefreihofer7716]

When was the 82nd in Vietnam??

[@jimcaufman2328]

A/227 helicopter pilot 1968. Flew through Tet at Hue, Khe Sanh, the valley and MACV-SOG missions. I agree 100% with what you said in this video. But the thinking got worse. In 1968 I was told that to cut the NVA highway in Laos would require 4 or 5 Army divisions and the morons in charge sent Army helicopters there with the ARVNs and it was a blood bath.

[@DawsonsWar]

Thanks for flying us around. Maybe I had seat in your slick. Operation Lam Son 719 (Feb, March 1971) the ARNV invasion of Laos out of Khe Sanh up Route 9 to Tchepone exactly as Westmoreland planned in 1968. In 68, 30,000 Americans would have faced less than 12,000 PAVN who were short of supplies. In 71, 20,000 ARVN went up against 35,000 PAVN equipped with over 80 tanks and 57mm radar controlled anti-aircraft. 10% of all helicopter losses in Vietnam occurred during that operation.

[@chrishensley6745]

Thank you for your service and stories....I was not born till 72...But ALWAYS admired the Vietnam vets. and stories like this.....Sad knowing the U.S. could had ended the war in 68 if they would had better leadership/The soldiers Did there job for sure.

[@DawsonsWar]

Thanks for watching and your comment

[@jameskata2893]

Please keep up this awesome work.

[@DawsonsWar]

Thanks. I'll try as long as I able

[@markthornhill519]

Had a best buddy was 5th Group SOG. Went thru hell. He would have made Rambo wet his pants. He's gone now...miss him daily. Walking encyclopedia spoke 5 languages and was one hell of a friend.

[@edelachtbare100]

Great production! This is your best video so far. Keep it up my man!

[@DawsonsWar]

Hey, thanks I appreciate that.

[@ChamonixHouse884]

Great story telling as always. GWOT vet here that can't get enough of your stories from the Tri-border area and MACVSOG

[@DawsonsWar]

Thanks. That's good to hear.

[@johnhaines8752]

The US chose to ignore the proven strategic tactical experience of the Brits and Aussies in the Thai/Malaya region, along with Borneo. won by experience of the Brits and Aussies. Then there was the victory won by the US during the TET offensive which was turned into a propaganda defeat by the US media. In short the US didn’t know how to fight this type of war.

[@cyclone8974]

They knew without the Brits and Aussies. They chose to do it wrong.

[@Jim-Tuner]

The Brits strategy in Malaya was to round up all the Chinese. It was an ethnic insurgency in Malaya. That wasn't a strategy that would have worked in Vietnam.

[@andrewgates8158]

UK didn't really wanna advise anyway.

[@jloki9259]

​​​@@Jim-TunerTrue. The US tried to repeat what they had successfully accomplished in the Philippines by standing up and supporting a South Vietnamese government under Ngo Dinh Diem at the beginning of the American phase of the war very early on. Unfortunately, Diem was interested in creating a dynasty in the Diem name and misused his military placing incompetent but loyal Generals in command as he feared a coup more than North Vietnam - believing the US would come and deal with that. His brother, in charge of "intelligence" and police agencies was brutal and hated by the people. They both were eventually dealt with in an American sponsored coup and South Vietnam saw General after General try to stay in power. The top American Generals at the beginning of the US phase began early on to justify their branches (USMC, USAF, etc...) involvement by ignoring American Advisors warning of incompetence in the South Vietnamese military leadership and the USAF commander particularly did not listen when Advisors tried to warn that indiscriminate bombing was hurting the rural civilian population and driving them into the arms of the Viet Cong. So, things got off to a bad start at the beginning and never really improved enough as the brave young Americans who served in the lower officers and NCO ranks were never given a cohesive plan other than "body count". The top officers knew that it was good for there careers if the unit/s under their command had a continuously high body count so the numbers were artificially inflated rendering the strategy of "body count" useless. Perhaps the biggest crime was that Secretary of Defense McNamara knew that the war was "unwinnable" by 1965 but still sent American boys to Vietnam anyway. He admits this himself in his book. Many books were written about this era of American history so those in power could never do this again to a generation of Americans. I don't know if we have been successful though.

[@paulolenski9431]

Excellent presentation with precise evidence and riveting detail. Well done Army - VERY WELL DONE. Regards, Olenski, Corporal, 1st Marine Divn, USMC, deployed 3/10/1968, Phu Bai/Hue City, RVN.

[@FRANCISPOLLARD-r3p]

As a great reporter said, "They were the greatest of their generation." Referring to those who fought in Vietnam.

[@Bronx_Yankee]

Vince Lombardi was an asst coach at West Point, he wanted the head coach job badly, Westmoreland was the Superintendent and did not hire him, that should tell you all you need to know about “MAC-V” and incompetence

[@jloki9259]

At West Point these days the cadets give out an award each year "To the Best Looking Average Cadet". It's called "The Westmoreland Award"....and I can tell you personally, no one wants it but everyone gets a laugh out of it.

[@jamespaul4618]

In my opinion this is the best, most comprehensive video that I have come across describing what really happened in VN. The maps and graphics were excellent. I finally have an understanding of happened up near the DMZ. 22:30 "The Americans seemed like they were more interested in continuing the war rather than winning it" 22:35 the US strategy was to use the Airforce (B52 to bomb the HCM trail) and MACVSOG to cut the supply lines to the south, Two (2) million tons of bombs were dropped in Laos. More than all the bombs dropped during WW2. MACVSOG suffered the highest casualty rates since the American Civil War. A the war continued for five (5) more years at a cost of 28,000 American lives. My comments The warmonger neocons in Washington wanted to prolong the war and not win the war and nothing has changed. The same organization that has failed in yearly audit for the past seven years. This year alone the Pentagon can NOT account for more than 830 BILLION DOLLARS..

[@jakhaughton1800]

A lot of people forget the end of World War II and the defeat of Japan. Those Japanese troops who were surrendered in Vietnam were taken over by British officers and successfully fought and defeated the Viet Minh. Once Vietnam was given back to the French the whole country went to shit. The French battle flag of a white cross on a white background flew very quickly.

[@jamespaul4618]

Thanks for really identifying the ROOT CAUSE of the problem. Look at what France has done in Africa. I rest my case.

[@jloki9259]

​@@jamespaul4618The French colonial era was particularly brutal. Vietnam, Algeria, etc...

[@georgej.dorner3262]

6:00: The Raven Forward Air Controllers were stationed in, and operating in, Laos in the same time period.

[@DawsonsWar]

They sure were. I’m doing some research for a video about Long Tieng. Thanks for watching.

[@DavidBenner-cy4zl]

Dear old dad was there, on an off for about 20 years? 18? After the Korean War (he jumped into Communist China a few times) he was off to work with our contract pilots in Dien Bien Phu. When translating for Hmong guerilla troops coming over as refugees years later, some would tell me some of the stories about dad. He was close with Tony Poe and Gen. Vang Pow. ​There are books withdad in them but even 70 yesrs later, they are not permittedto be released. We did prettystupid and embarrassingthings is my guess. @DawsonsWar

[@kingofthecatnap5780]

Thank you!

[@TrevorWeston-r1h]

Westmooreland was a moron, he had a great asset in the Australian Soldiers, who had just fought in Boneo and Malaya. He refused to listen to their experience, and called them Undisciplined. Couth Drunks. You ever want to know how good the Aussies were......look up the Battle of Long Tan.

[@paullevins5448]

Got my Dawsons war book!... Great book, and yes you learn to like all the characters, and yes it has an ending that was sad for me to bear!!! The vietnam war a terrible waste of human lives, and equipment. With an incompetent general staff!!! My Dad pulled two tours , he never bad mouthed or complained about it. He survived 1965, and 1968, with a bit of shrapnel the second time around!! I am 63 years old and worried every day that my Dad was away!!! RIP Dad.

[@DawsonsWar]

Glad you enjoyed the book. I wrote about telling him I was returning for a second tour. I regret the pain I caused him to this day.

[@paullevins5448]

@@DawsonsWar I spent 20 years in the army 3 years in LRS . The rest 82nd and 101st. I could relate to many of the parts . It was a damb funny book in the begining. With the house of ill repute, to getting assigned to SOG. I had a hard time dealing with the end. I came to like all the characters. Reminiscent of some of my old buddies. I try to watch all of your podcasts, or anything MACSOG, I really liked that book I am sure I will read it again. God Bless You and Keep you safe. Lev

[@tombob671]

God Bless the Rangers too. - 77 year old Jarhead

[@philip48230]

Not knowing these details … as a high school student, just reading a little bit of history and the newspaper reports in1966-1969, I had concluded that going into Laos and cutting the Ho Chin Minh Trail was the only way to end the War.

[@PhilMcCrackin-f3n]

Ironically, the Vietnamese openly admit they were surprised the US never did it.

[@DawsonsWar]

Yes. That's why they were desperately trying to increase the flow of supplies through the port in Cambodia, but they could never get the scale they needed.

[@rhett4060]

Westmoreland and LBJ and McNamra. We're absolute to fools ....Should go to prison for LIFE !!!!!?

[@Freedomfred939]

​@@rhett4060need to read "the general that lost Vietnam"

[@steviedfromtheflyovercount4739]

Spot on comment. Also, mine the harbor in North Vietnam.

[@zulubeatz1]

Too many cooks in a small kitchen ? Very interesting video. Completely changes some things I previously thought about why the war progressed as it did. Even now, many documentaries miss these points that you describe so well here. This series of documentaries has opened my eyes to what really happened at this stage of the conflict.

[@DawsonsWar]

Thank you very much.

[@mauriziomzio2035]

very GOOD, well done documentary!

[@DawsonsWar]

Thanks

[@emmanuelawosusi2365]

We did the same thing with the wars in Korea,irap,Afghanistan,we didn't want too win just keep fighting

[@boondocker7964]

Yupp! The ruling class sends the subject class off to their fate, and gets the subject class to pay for it to boot.

[@jamesking1465]

In 1967 vmo6 gunships were used to support sog missions it was a great honor to participate in many of some of those missions

[@emmanuelawosusi2365]

@@jamesking1465 nice

[@MrSumGuns]

Ya but Korea was a victory for us. Just look how successful they are with LG Samsung KIA Hyundai Deawoo. Korea vets were asked if it was worth it and after seeing South Korea they all answered yes. I spent a couple of tours there myself in the 80,s.

[@emmanuelawosusi2365]

@@MrSumGuns okay thanks

[@OMG_itz_ELCUBANO]

Keep up the great work Sir. Believe me when I tell you you’re reaching many with your videos and we love them!!

[@DawsonsWar]

Thank you

[@CandC68]

Only in Vietnam for one tour, a year. The last 7 months with SOG. Too many instances of commands and actions in the rear making no sense, to the guys on the ground, in front.

[@DawsonsWar]

Thanks for posting my videos in Studies and Observations Group History.

[@CandC68]

@@DawsonsWar They are part of our history. I posted in two groups, Bruce's and Bud's.

[@TillyOrifice]

Excellent history here. Quite objective and very informative.

[@DawsonsWar]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@zilkmusik7652]

Great video! Thanks for your service!

[@boringdude1626]

Wonderful work. If you have a list of sources, having them in the description for future uploads would be nice.

[@DawsonsWar]

Airmobility, 1961-1971, (Vietnam studies) by John J Tolson, Jan 1, 1973 was a key source for this one. When I need to know what the North Vietnamese were doing or thinking at the time I ask a friend of mine who has great connections in Vietnam and can often come up with document translations. Personal experience plays a big role. If I didn’t spend time with SOG I would have no idea what questions to ask. Thanks for watching.

[@boringdude1626]

@@DawsonsWar Thanks for answering.

[@cm-pr2ys]

That's rich when Westmoreland was the originator of the body count strategy. Not only were the communists elusive, but they would retrieve and withdraw their dead comrades from the field of battle so as to prevent the US from being able to positively confirm their kills. How can you defeat an idea? The Marines had a much better strategy with Victor Krulak's "Clear, Hold, Build" plan, as well as the Combined Action Program. Neither Westmoreland's rank of general nor his service in pervious wars mean that he should be free from criticism.

[@3chawkins]

Any 5th grader could have told you the Ho Chi Minh Trail had to be obliterated, as well as all sanctuaries in Laos.

[@Freedomfred939]

Obvious to everyone except LBJ

[@cornbread8246]

Check LBJ’s connection to Halibutton. Haliburton supplied the containers and shipping of such during the Vietnam war.

[@rasuzuki7527]

Back then it was named Brown and Root,Lady Bird Johnson was on the board of directors.

[@MichaelSSmith-hs5pw]

Yeah, and Lady Bird had stock in Bell Helicopters too. Bell Helicopters supplied the Army with Huey Helicopters, Lady Bird was making a ton of money supplying the Army with tools of the trade. She didn’t want the war to stop.

[@DawsonsWar]

RMK was a major contractor in Vietnam. The were offering ex-Special Forces a lot of money to work security.

[@nightfighterfour4468]

I believe Lady Bird owned World Airways, the troop transport airline that she earned the profits of every seat being paid for, going to and coming home from SEA.

[@richardwales9674]

I enjoyed that. Thank you. 🙂

[@DawsonsWar]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks

[@richardmarts2432]

I was with 1/9 at Khe Sanh and the siege had been over for maybe 10 days before the Army flew in with their polished boots. We hardly needed a rescue but Westmoreland had mismanaged the Tet Offensive so badly that he needed something to crow about so he concocted this entire scenario of a rescue. As the Army troops settled into our bunkers we walked out and headed into the hills where we made contact with retreating elements of the NVA Army. Westmoreland was subsequently replaced by Abrams by a very disappointed President Johnson who had lost faith in his ability to conduct the war.

[@anonrubio]

thank you very much for sharing this, keep up the great work

[@DawsonsWar]

Thanks. I'll do the best I can.

[@rgriffinRETIRED_SHEEPDOG]

Excellent video!

[@DawsonsWar]

Glad you liked it!

[@xzqzq]

Committing to supporting France attempting to regain it's Indochina colonies likely the largest mistake USA made post-war, with possible exception of Cuban missile mess.

[@fazole]

France threatened to stay out of NATO if the US didn't help. Remember the Soviets already blockaded Berlin in 1949 and Korean "police action" had just ended 1 yr prior to Dien Bien Phu. Red Scare in US as well. Cold War was underway. Hungary invaded in 1956, British fighting the communists in Malaya in the 50s too.

[@ДушманКакдела]

​@fazole yeah you're right western foreign policy has been a disaster since it's inception.

[@xzqzq]

@@fazole All true, but the France of post-WWII would have been no loss. The France of WWI would have been another matter. Personally, I don't think that France has ever recovered from the loss of her best men in WWI. Their best are still on patrol in the trenches...

[@jeffharrison7003]

Had nothing to do with France. We were stopping spread of communism. Do u people read???

[@lynnwood7205]

Walter Cronkite's remarks from Saigon during the Tet offensive negated the actual military situation.

[@Freedomfred939]

Too bad Westmoreland spent so much time lying about how he was winning that he had no credibility left to counter Cronkite

[@garypiont6114]

Great vid. You did your homework. Thanks

[@stevebishop9928]

My father served in vietnam, 66 67. left just before the tet offensive.. when America pulled out, minus a small contingent of advisors, and a whole lot of us helicopters , the south vietnamese crumbled~

[@theophilosmantzanas9203]

Thank you for the things I learned.

[@henrybucki7813]

Love listening to you talk interesting stories my stay in vn was safe at long binh 1970 .

[@pczapp827]

When I got to Long Binh it was a mud hole in Oct 67. I was in the newly formed 199th Lt Inf from Fort Benning. Our Brigade Hdq was there, as you probably knew. Our three Battalons went their own way, where ever that was. I was west of Saigon, so not as safe as you, as we flew out 2 to 3 days a week into the patties,villages,rubber trees & jungle looking for V.C. & unfortunately removing women & children from their homes & burning them to the ground. It wasn't till I was 70 years old that doing that finally got to me & I have no children. I went to Long Binh once & was pissed when I saw all those wooden barricks. I sleep on the ground 15% of my tour,went 3 days with no food,had a medi vac shot down over my head,walked into a V.C. Base Camp with one other person,got left behind a few times & more. I came here legally from Canada & had skills to offer but that isn't what this corrupt Govt wants. The U.S. has a terrible history going back 200 years & wars is not their strong suit.

[@6komodo6]

amazing vid Dawson, ty

[@bruerR8757]

Excellent video. Great historical perspective.

[@DawsonsWar]

Thank you for watching

[@faithlessberserker5921]

Thats the greatest trailer for a book i have ever seen. Definately going to have to buy it

[@Jewclaw]

Another great video…. We get in depth information but told in a story like format, or something like that I can’t really put my finger on it but you have special way

[@trainknut]

22:22 "It seemed like the Americans were more interested in continuing the war than winning it." *_Ahem_*

[@edwardmiller9611]

Blame the State Department.

[@Freedomfred939]

You mean like ukraine?

[@mikecain3134]

I recently learned that a South Vietnam spy working for North Vietnam was assigned to HQ for SOG in Sigon. Every insertion of a SOG unit was compromised before they stepped off the Helo. This was why so many called a Prarie Fire within days if not hours of starting their mission.

[@poorman2457]

This guy has no idea what he's talking about. Laos was and still is a key strategic ally of China. If North Vietnam fell and Laos fell then Cambodia that would mean China had no buffer states to protect them. They already had troops stationed in Vietnam. Theybwould have intervened in Laos. Second the South Vietnamese army consistently got beat in every engagement and could only win with air support. Even the CIDG hes bragging about would get routed by the NVA. In 1965 the NVA steamrolled through several green beret bases. There was no way America could win the war unless they were willing to fight the Chinese.

[@ljubomirculibrk4097]

Soviets where main alie of Vietnam (North), China invaded after dont forget that. Nixon made a deal whit China, bit naive deal. US helped China than in hope to create war betvene USSR and China. Fifty years later gues who got the sharp end of the stick?

[@richardhurlock4522]

Nothing changes until open eye leadership with logic and determination prevails

[@francis105G]

Ypu summed it up in the beginning of the video when you jump out of an airplane. Washington never pulled the rip cord. they just augered into the ground.

[@TheDoorspook11c]

My father was a 2 tour USMC CAP advisor. He personnally witnessed Gen Lew Walt walk up hwy 1 with a group of kids and dogs or puppies. Westmorland could never pull that off. The location was Camp Kilo 5. USMC CAP advisor site.

[@daleflinchum3244]

Only war ever fought where the country we were at war with was never invaded. We were played for fools back then and the game still continues.

[@vonRichthoven-dv1gg]

Westmoreland was how it was to fight primitive, ignorant teenage peasants by a reporter. He replied "if i had 200 Viet Cong I could win the war in a week".

[@datruth66392]

Great analysis

[@DawsonsWar]

Thanks for watching

[@peggyelchert8340]

“I do not believe that the men who served in uniform in Vietnam have been given the credit they deserve…” General William Westmorland 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@BinaryzeroNYC]

Amazing video

[@daninquin2732]

Its like ever since vietnam the US tries their best to lose their wars, never commiting enough forces to win in afghanistan, iraq and now dont even have the will to supply ukraine just sad the country that was suppose to defend democracy acts like that

[@boondocker7964]

Ever since korea, either it should be unconditional surrender of the enemy, or it isn't worth starting.

[@dougybrownie481]

What fuck you talking about they give them fools in Urkraine 90 billion ever godamn time the ask.What kind shit you talking, when they just announced no money for hurricane relief.GTFOH , these wars are not for democracy fool.

[@rreptile9252]

Not sure if you have a way of contacting other Mike force vets or are aware of a community that can help me, but I’m trying to re connect with an old friend from Mike force and haven’t had any luck yet.

[@LDB670]

Adherence to imaginary lines on a map when your enemy does not, is a disaster. The same thing happened in Afghanistan. We respected the Pakistan border, which the taliban used to rest and refit in between attacks

[@Voots7]

God bless Vietnam vets and their families.

[@fremkiewicz]

You glossed over the incredibly important Treaty that created neutral Laos and Cambodia. The treaty made no difference to the North, which continued to use the Ho Chi Minh Trail. We, on the other hand, observe that treaty almost religiously. It was the commander of the 9th Marine Regiment who pushed Gen Ray Davis to invade Laos. At the time, we (now, me included) moved into Laos, but even then, it was against the Rules of Engagement. That was Operation Dewey Canyon and, by extension Operations Maine Crag, Virginia Ridge, and Idaho Canyon. In May of 1969, Alpha Co. 3rd Tank Battalion and the 3rd Marine Regiment participated in Operation Pink Panther, and we caught the NVA coming from Hamburger Hill and killed a large portion of those running. NOTE: I am not trying to be critical but rather add to the story.

[@DawsonsWar]

Thanks for your comment. I cover the treaty in the video: “Pawns” Killing SOG: Pentagon Lied, Green Berets Died kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWGVpmWVqNFsgrs I was also in Dewey Canyon. I commanded the 2nd Platoon that was left behind in the video: “The Coward of Dewey Canyon:” Green Beret Flees Under Fire! MACV-SOG Used as Bait. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4jKk5idqMtpZ6c Thanks for your service.

[@byronharano2391]

My dad had classmates in Vietnam who did return. However, these men lost a lot of friends in Vietnam. All say the war was poorly operated from the Top.

[@willford9205]

Many of my friends that went to Nam, said westmoreland was a moron PERIOD!

[@miguelservetus9534]

You might read more about the complex geopolitical situation in the 50s and 60s. There are many good books about the topic. This is not defending the Vietnam war, or the decisions made on either side. But the more you read, you begin to realize that leadership is complex and decisions can always be over, analyzed in hindsight.

[@DawsonsWar]

Yes, and having lived through that time and serving as a MACV-SOG ground operator I can tell you that complex situations can also be over analyzed to the point of paralysis in real time.

[@lib556]

Future novelist (recently deceased) Nelson DeMille served in the fighting to relieve Khe Sanh and open Rte 9. He was a Lt in 1st Air Cav.

[@HouseholdDog]

Behind every gread disaster is a Harvard man.

[@Robert-e3l7f]

Living IT LARGE.

[@josebarroso97]

In a war run by politicians, Westmoreland was the ideal guy. A brown nose all the way, he never had any idea of how that war should have been run. Its appalling to think that he was commander in chief for so long. until Abrams replaced him, but then it was too late.

[@jameseaton4593]

"What kind of men ran these dangerous missions?" Better ones than ran the fuckin' war.

[@riftraft2015]

Johnson, McNamara & Westmoreland. A drunken politician lifer, a car salesman, and an accountant, fighting a war. What could possibly go wrong? The idiots were running the asylum.

[@Freedomfred939]

Early version of "the deep state"

[@darbyheavey406]

@@Freedomfred939That’s unfair to Westmoreland. He was no Patton but who is? The system doesn’t produce Pattons- it produces Friendenhalls and Westmorelands.

[@Freedomfred939]

@darbyheavey406 he was good at lying, didn't know how good until I read "the general that lost Vietnam." But you are right about what the army produces.

[@riftraft2015]

Welp, at least Johnson's wife and her familly got richer off the Vietnam war. Ladybirds familly owned the airline that flew all the supplies to Vietnam. And ladybird was on the executive board for Brown & Root. Just like vp dick Cheney was. No conflict of interest I'm sure.

[@dougreid2351]

Subscribed tonight. DOUG out

[@DawsonsWar]

Thanks

[@Robert-e3l7f]

Highway infrastructure still holds Strong

[@engine4403]

This channel called "Story of the Type 56" just recently came out and has began posting quite academic history videos on Chinese Military History. Their video on the Chinese India war points out that the PLA, compromised mostly of infantry was incredibly capable of manouvering through mountains at speed. While i doubt China would have declared war and moved to Laos i do think it worth mentioning that Chinas ability to do just that was not entirely out of question at the time. Most importantly to the US decision makers

[@duhtoolazy6776]

The areas in Vietnam was actually more advantages for the PLA than Korea as it provide much more cover and concealment. China might have let Vietnam fight the proxy war but I don't think they would have also let Laos fall victim was well and that was probably going to provoke a stronger Sino-Soviet relationship

[@MinhNguyen-cn8kx]

Fantastico marines... Respect from Vietnam... Allahu akhbar.

[@tonytaylor8198]

The pentagon knew as early as 1964 before any regular American troops were committed that the war was lost cause. It was reported that the south Vietnamese would never have the will the coordination commitment and spirit to defeat a determined communist enemy. Instead of abandoning the lost cause we wasted 56000 lives delaying the inevitable for 10 years.

[@Freedomfred939]

We only lost because pentagon Wizz kids couldn't figure a way to win it and if they can't figure it out no one can.

[@conradlohutko4930]

Inaccurate as I was there at the time working on the General Staff under Westmoreland.

[@DawsonsWar]

Thanks for you comment I would appreciate reading anything you wish to share.

[@Freedomfred939]

The book "the general who lost Vietnam" you were part of the problem.