Why New Soldiers Didn’t Survive in Vietnam

After graduating from college in 1965, Robert Ferguson enlisted in the United States Marine Corps to escape the draft. Ferguson completed Officers Candidate School, but was rejected from flight training due to poor depth perception. Instead, he trained as a radar operator and deployed to Vietnam in 1966, completed seventy combat missions in seven months. He was then reassigned as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) to coordinate air support in the field. In 1967, Ferguson was severely burned when an armored vehicle detonated an explosive device. He was evacuated and spent the remainder of his military career recovering in various hospitals in Japan and the United States.

[@markwestervelt9708]

My dad was a platoon sergeant in Korea. He told me he would never put a new guy on point. Never. Only a coward squad leader would do that.

[@markwestervelt9708]

Not all squad leaders put new guys up for slaughter. He made it sound like they all did that in Vietnam Maybe that was the thing to do in Vietnam.my dad said doing that was like putting the new guys in charge. Sick. Squad leaders were cowards sending these guys to their death so they can live. Sad. Bad. Leadership.

[@SemperSalam]

This seems to be something more common in nam than other conflicts.

[@markwestervelt9708]

@@SemperSalam last thing I’ll say is my dad said that the most important job of any leadership is to protect and defend your men at any cost. That includes the new guys who didn’t have any experience in battle. I agree. I guess it was a nam thing.

[@dachicagoan8185]

Yeah right! Everyone put newbies in front, don't cap

[@mr.pissedoff1903]

@@dachicagoan8185There’s multiple people in the comments who served in Nam saying you never put a new guy on point.

[@Floridaman1780_]

His platoon put the cherries on point? Tell me your unit's leadership sucks without actually saying it.

[@ebikefe]

​@@Pappy214That really sucks..😐😐😐

[@LordPapula]

Another way would be to say things like “well, it’s a numbers game…”

[@glenclarkchidley3637]

The ultimate act of cowardice… sending a kid to do a man’s job!!! Guarantee he has lived this cowards life ever since.

[@simplyyellow6240]

@@Pappy214 when was the last time american have guts?

[@ld7599]

in the airborne, leaders jump first

[@dannyjones3840]

As a retired Marine, this is pretty fucking sad. You never put a new guy in a position where he can fail and kill himself. Should've had an experienced guy train him. Nope- y'all just let him kill himself.

[@markwestervelt9708]

Exactly. Well said.

[@larrydanadavid2435]

War is hell

[@markwestervelt9708]

Thank you for your service. Well said. 👍

[@Sloppyszz]

@@larrydanadavid2435true but that doesn’t stop a more experienced person from taking point as the new guy gets experience

[@smiley12396]

​@@larrydanadavid2435yeah but in hell there is no innocents

[@TheBLOODSOAKED666]

As an infantry veteran, I feel like he’s hiding a sense of enjoyment that a new guy bit it instead of the people who knew how to disarm the mine. It’s unusual.

[@Victorseafog]

this dude is a low life

[@dethmedic52]

As a prior EOD my jaw hit the fuggin floor. This is not how you treat fresh blood.

[@shiznit9142]

I literally just left the same comment before reading yours! Something is VERY off about how he's discussing such a tragic memory....

[@garretrasmussen5253]

Yeah he doesn’t give a fuck for sure probably one of the dudes who encouraged that shit.

[@carlosrodrigues1641]

Gambling on the kid

[@lewishamilton9577]

This is a good reason to not just blindly respect and trust your elders. Not all are deserving of it.

[@JK360noscope]

It's why guys got fragged

[@brandocalrissian3294]

​@@JK360noscopeexactly.

[@XDaddyBender]

He is so cold and matter a fact about it, he even sounded like it was kinda funny to him.

[@NinjaSushi2]

Men like this run out country now. Yes I know it's "our." Welcome to auto correct. I refuse to change it. Fix it in your brain. Lol

[@willrose5424]

Best comment of March award! 🏅

[@marcblank3036]

What a crap way to treat those without experience.

[@rjacosta1070]

That guy telling that story has to live with that image bet he can still the FNG,

[@marcblank3036]

@@rjacosta1070 he was the new guy too at some point and was lucky. Surely he has plenty of other stuff that brings him nightmares. I can imagine a lot of names on the memorial in Washington DC are extras due to this use of the inexperienced guys and the policies of sending inapt individuals to this complex conflict situation in SEA.

[@MrStaybrown]

I'm sure they all said I Don't Want Point..put the new guy up there.

[@Hiberno_sperg]

The boomer generation lacked any sort of discipline.

[@losttranslation8766]

​@@marcblank3036Vietnam was one of those wars where they needed numbers so they took anyone including those that didn't have the IQ to be consider fit to serve so knowing that yeah it's a fucken travesty that's how they were treated.

[@MonBerry]

So they intentionally sacrificed a kid with no experience. What a bunch of cowards

[@OscarChapman-fw9kb]

You all were and are fucked up

[@testingmysoup5678]

They massacred villages for fun, we already knew they were bad

[@Ram-vt3rm]

This guy is reminiscing like he’s telling the story to the VC at the local Ho Chi Ming bar. Where is the remorse, sadness, anger, regret, etc etc. All we get is a nonchalant story full of smirks and proud storytelling.

[@elijahmutter7394]

I'm sorry, is an event that happened over 50 years ago supposed to constantly tear you down? Maybe if you are weak. It's called coping, learn to do it some time

[@Ram-vt3rm]

@@elijahmutter7394 Sir, do not get offended on the internet. Maybe if you are weak. It’s called coping, learn to do it some time.

[@elijahmutter7394]

@Ram-vt3rm lmfao is that the best you got? Literally copying my own statement to you lol. The fact you made your first comment proves you got upset you weak minded individual lol

[@angkhoanguyen6114]

*Hồ Chí Minh

[@cjcoleman3893]

Wow real smart having a brand new soldier disarm a mine. Id call that incompetence. You need an EOD or someone with experience in de mining not just send the new idiot at the problem. Incompetent leadership got your guy killed and you seemed pretty casual about it

[@mauserwaffen982]

Maybe if you had taken the time and shown the new guy how to disarm the mine, he'd still be alive.

[@odst2247]

Numbers game, eventually you're going to get someone who messes up.

[@macman975]

Well, I guess he disarmed the mine.

[@Nosliw837]

​@@macman975more like the mine dis-armed him tho

[@domosrage5434]

@@odst2247the thing about number games is theres usually a way to affect how those numbers add up. Statistics and common sense will tell you that someone with more experience with a task is far less likely to fail than someone who's seeing it for the first time. Numbers.

[@odst2247]

@INERAZAR doesn't matter. It's war. Men are going to make mistakes.doesnt matter how good you are

[@prestoni]

We tried to avoid sending FNGs as points because they didn't have the experience to detect anomalies..sad your unit threw them out as fodder

[@user-il1bc7zk8p]

Everybody get back now f.ng on the seen

[@theazsecondamendmentaudit7239]

Kinda what I was thinking

[@Gameprojordan]

Now I fully understand why fragging was so common in the Vietnam War. The leadership in that conflict was beyond sinister

[@CastleHassall]

i was thinking the same as the original post on this.. it sounds like they purposefully sacrificed them, and maybe even didn't even need to disarm that mine!, when they should have been mentoring them

[@mikehayes5167]

No emotion while telling that. Either he is just telling "war stories" or he is a sociopath with no feelings

[@debrapalmer9772]

That new kid saved this guy's life. He should be respectful not disparaging.

[@ajg8722]

Boomers man

[@laggismaximus]

He's not being disrespectful....he's being matter of fact.

[@Lemon_Sage9999]

​@@laggismaximus he said things that were factual. He's an irreverent pig nonetheless 👎

[@abdou.the.heretic]

​@@laggismaximuskwoomp, very respectful.

[@jamesbumgardner1469]

​@@laggismaximuseverything is a micro aggression to this new generation

[@Supreme_Saltine]

Usually these guys are like “bothers me still” this guy “yep it’s a numbers game”

[@slopcrusher3482]

Everyone has a different coping mechanism. He probably just chocked it up to bad luck and tried his hardest not to think too deeply about it.

[@HateIncarnate]

"Recruitment is down and we have no idea why"

[@rollinsomethingbutiforgot]

"The enemy is beating us with only sandals and aks and we don't know why"

[@kellykilts6297]

Recruiting is down because of who is in the Whitehouse.

[@rollinsomethingbutiforgot]

@@kellykilts6297 you missed the joke and we don't know why

[@felixmadison5736]

Recruitment was down and that's why we have always had the draft. Even the marines were drafting during the Vietnam War.

[@felixmadison5736]

@@kellykilts6297 Yes, when Tricky Dick Nixon was in Paris Peace Talks, we had cease fires, but the Vietnamese didn't.

[@kelsiewilson]

So, they intentionally sacrificed a kid with no experience. Great guys.

[@Volundur9567]

Sounds about right

[@alphaomega1351]

Well, at least he's with sweet zombie 🧟‍♂️ jesus in the clouds ⛅️ now. 😳

[@michaeld4326]

I know you think it's funny to Mock Jesus until you run into him in this life at which point you'll feel terrible for it. The Bible isn't just all head knowledge it's a completely different life one lives as a Christian once the Holy Spirit comes to them.

[@georgek2574]

@@alphaomega1351wow so brave and enlightened you are….

[@boldmarines]

Not Exactly…. Call it seniority…. Call it ‘your time in the barrel’…. Everybody ends up at Point sooner or later…. It’s usually volunteers…. It’s part of the Cohesiveness of Infantry Platoons/Squads/Fireteams…. Any grunt with ANY combat experience knows that… SFMF

[@peterescalante1207]

This man is devoid of any humanity even after all these years. Imagine what it was like not only serving with him but being in the same family or working with him. The very definition of a monster.

[@johnstuartsmith]

He'd been a new guy himself, just like everybody else. A few months of being in the field didn't make people experts at disarming mines and booby traps.

[@KP-w4gu]

It's in his eyes

[@Bootymcbuttstuff2]

Peter this is your opinion not a definition of this mans character

[@Breezyy906]

​@johnstuartsmith you can research it. Units didn't deplay and go on leave together. In your unit at one time you have an experience range of 1 week to possibly 2 years (on tour in country) if you think none of those veterans didn't know how or what to do and thought sending the 1 week guy was the right thing to do then you're wrong

[@johnstuartsmith]

@@Breezyy906 I did research it personally back in 1968 and 1969. I got to be the one week guy sent on a point squad , also a 2 month and a 3 month guy sent on point squads carrying the radio. By the time I was a 48 week guy, I wasn't going outside the wire if I could avoid it, but that didn't stop me from getting wounded when NVA sappers swarmed through the wire by our section of the basecamp perimeter. Being on a point squad was dangerous. Carrying a radio was dangerous, as was just being in Vietnam doing anything.

[@michaelfae]

I'm not sure a "thank you for your service" is deserved here.

[@finnishyank7413]

It's not

[@elijahmutter7394]

​@finnishyank7413 yall don't understand that the man telling the story, isn't the squad leader. He never had any say over what the poor new guys got told to do.

[@finnishyank7413]

@@elijahmutter7394 I know he didn't order the kid but his utter emotionless reaction to retelling the story and almost glee at what happened is sickening.

[@elijahmutter7394]

@finnishyank7413 if that's how you feel, you're just a weak minded individual then.

[@boosty458]

“It’s a numbers game” when you’re talking about your own comrades life is insane

[@ToyotaTechnical]

That's what you get with conscription and consumer society.

[@magoomba1954]

a game i don't want to play

[@magicjohnson3121]

The reality of war.

[@boosty458]

@@magicjohnson3121 I can say obvious condescending things too

[@krabz9390]

It's a 18 year old conscript. WTF was he supposed to do.....

[@jonpender]

This guy was a failure as a leader. He sacrificed his rookies.

[@NinjaSushi2]

Men like this run out country now.

[@justadummy8076]

@@NinjaSushi2men like this have BEEN running the country, for ages, it’s not new

[@leftifornian2066]

Saved himse😂lf

[@juanshaftpatel7488]

youre a waste that got saved... looka t you

[@floof6896]

​@@leftifornian2066big coward

[@CringeComedyTV]

No emotion. No regret. No remorse. No sympathy. No blinking. Dude is a Sociopath. Very dangerous.

[@Jhu_-cz4nj]

Yeah, seeing traumatic shit for a year or two and getting about 50 years to cope with it will do that. Sociopath is not the proper word. A war survivor is the proper term.

[@ChiquitaSpeaks]

@@Jhu_-cz4nj idk man he’s got more likes than you I don’t think it’s possible for him to be wrong 🫠

[@Jhu_-cz4nj]

@@ChiquitaSpeaks You're right, I concede.

[@zombiekila187]

I think sociopathic is the wrong word to point out his expression. He seems to to be coming off more stoic if anything, im sure it’s made him think like “fuck, that’s fucked up”. Although I believe going through war can desensitize you in a way and make you look at brutality as nothing more then adversity. I do believe this man took many years of thinking and dwelling and him accepting it as “the sad truth” is what’s telling that he isn’t a sociopath otherwise he would of smirked at least or made a joke out of it.

[@empollonamericano328]

@@ChiquitaSpeaksinteresting mindset right there 😂

[@nickwaynick6886]

My Dad was a WWII vet and he dispised most Vietnam vets because of shit like this. He really hated their drug use while fighting.

[@pyme495]

My uncle is a VietNam veteran. He doesn't talk much about it, but since I am a retired veteran myself, sometimes him and I will talk. He said that he always took point by choice. His thinking was that if he was going to get killed, it was going to be because of something he did, not that he died because of something that somebody else did wrong. He would've never put the new guy up front.

[@arogueburrito]

he is a tough man. wants the credit if it's good or bad, not gonna tolerate these weak "leaders." Respect.

[@jackbrady9738]

Nailed the right mindset.

[@TheBlackzman]

Nice

[@timalley3906]

WWII vets talking about new guys getting killed: literally on the verge of tears even 80 years later Vietnam vets talking about sending an 18 year old with no experience to disarm a mine: "kawoomp! it's a numbers game"

[@yingsnnn808]

Yeah

[@samuelspiel8855]

Boomers

[@fishhuntadventure]

The lack of wisdom and unawareness of context in your comment is disturbing. Never mind the logic fallacy of stating two things as if they were true and drawing conclusions from it.

[@Diedwhilemakingwaffles]

Everyone reacts differently

[@chromicm6686]

​@@samuelspiel8855The worst generation

[@jrsmith1998]

That sucks so bad. Arriving to vietnam only for your family to get the news that you have been killed in battle after only 1 week

[@c.o.d.b.l.u2675]

The way he tallked about the fella who made the ultimate sacrifice was disgusting. Rest In Peace to that warrior.

[@user-fg3pf8wy5i]

Sounds like lack of leadership

[@lonniesides9302]

The.Leadership were being decimated

[@MicahNstuff]

@@lonniesides9302probably by their own men. This guys LT was probably friendly fired.

[@ronaldkonkoma4356]

I'm not doing it. Send the new guy!

[@boathemian7694]

I knew guys like this in the Marines. Not surprising.

[@-John-Doe-]

@@MicahNstuff He was an LT. He states the new engineer was highly qualified. The interview was about arriving in country, and how quickly the enemy adapted, rendering their training obsolete. Just prior in the interview he explains his arrival in country, and his men correcting him on his orders - because his orders were based on his training.

[@samcornwell8645]

Any man that would do this to somebody is worse than any enemy. Truly despicable.

[@gshoots4357]

Landmines are as old as gunpowder and very effective but are they any worse than dropping napalm on whole villages or dropping nukes on cities?

[@themagnanimous1246]

​@@gshoots4357he's referring to the platoon leader that ordered brand new recruits on point and to disarm land mines.

[@eltanquedecasma1184]

@@gshoots4357he’s not talking about the landmines

[@gshoots4357]

@@themagnanimous1246 So he's saying they should have no scout or get the guys who have already had to have their shifts doing this awful job to do it again?

[@themagnanimous1246]

@@gshoots4357 probably that over some kid with no experience whatsoever, yeah

[@suffolkmike1]

Friend of mine was new in country and he was shot by sniper while walking point. First bullet hit him behind his left eye and came out his right eye. 2nd bullet hit him in the jaw. His buddies shot the sniper out of the tree. Jimmy survived but was totally blind at 19 years old. He was a huge baseball fan and played every year growing up. The city of Huntington Wv named the baseball field he played on after him. It's called Jimmy Walker field.

[@OCRay1]

When my dad was within a few weeks of going home he said he didn’t want new guys around him at all on missions

[@COMM_DUMPST3R]

as stated in the NCO creed. "I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety." horrible leadership involved in that squad.

[@MikeO8585]

Majority didnt want to be there so they were just trying to survive for themselves

[@donfrandsen7778]

Exactly ...you nailed it

[@D00dman]

@@MikeO8585Fuck boomers. That’s about all I gotta say.

[@dfrost3417]

The creed came out in 73

[@edamitep1533]

There's a reason fragging became so prevalent in Vietnam.

[@The_Honcho]

Imagine setting up new guys to get killed and casually talking about it 50 something years later

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

its the MERICAN! way.

[@BaconSlayer69]

@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425nope boomer way

[@hammer6285]

That's how he survived. Sick

[@ToyotaTechnical]

It's that infamous boomer "I got mine, F you!" mentality

[@MetalDetroit]

Who says he sent the new guy forward ?

[@Zak_How]

The coldness in which he tells this is psychotic. I've seen a few other of these clips, people from ww2 retell things with tears in their eyes and emotion in their voice. I guess by putting the new guy on mine duty you lost less of the more experienced guys. God what a brutal world.

[@jamesdykes517]

Yeah, but you need the noobs to gain experience too, any true commander puts their own ass on the line to protect their soldiers. Leadership isn't about deferring responsibility, it's about accepting it.

[@zerophantomyt433]

​@@jamesdykes517so have them help or watch the guy who knows what he's doing do it first

[@dappa0000]

RIP to all the fallen soldiers !!!

[@scotthollars1555]

I served 6 years and was deployed to Kandahar Afghanistan in 2014. It's unfathomable to me how a group of enlisted soldiers would voluntarily allow the newest in their Platoon to shut off a mine and do that over and over again replacing their head with someone new. Talk about the lack of respect! Your throwing your new guys into a mine field and making the newest step behind the second newest while you all patrol a route that you know was clear. What in the ever living hell. Thats not a soldier that's a fat lard of human waste anyone who would do that.

[@tiggertigerskip]

I was in the military & it took me a very long time to understand "point". Why would you put a young newbie out in front? How mean & uncaring! The poor guy prob didn't even know what he was doing? I know it wasn't you who did it, but your Sgt was a jerk!!

[@scotthollars1555]

@@tiggertigerskip no no it didn't happen to me or anywhere in my deployment. The video the guy said that's what THEY did.... I just stated how I see it as unfathomable how fucked up that is to send the new guy out as an EOD or 12B

[@SGobuck]

​@@scotthollars1555 there's shitty leadership somewhere, wherever you go. That's the only explanation.

[@scotthollars1555]

@@SGobuck I'm assuming that's probably why we have so much to do after back to base. They check and make sure you haven't got hitlers personal photo album that was sold by a soldier lmfao. We are almost the first in history to where we see soldiers don't take what they want after they fight the battle.... The senators, presidents and important people show up to thank us the day after it's won then give us the middle finger on the way out.. yes shitty leaders everywhere but 90% of the USA cowards run as our senators and Congress not the military.

[@markwestervelt9708]

Exactly. In Korea they trained a squadron of soldiers to be demolition men handling the removal of land mines and other claymores devices.

[@mrwolf750]

I bet that kid wasn't the son of a politician or wealthy person.

[@nelsonstrickland8813]

Ccr sang bout this kind of stuff..

[@daxware603]

He definitely ain’t no senator’s son.

[@zanerichter3806]

Ain’t no fortunate son

[@mrwolf750]

@@daxware603No fortunate one for sure.

[@blueberrymcphuckerson9821]

Oh yeah. Most Vietnam War Soldiers were poor and middle-class. The more wealthy classes were able to afford someone else going in their childrens' places, buy excuses, or via nepotism get sweet cushy safe military positions.

[@patrickgreen6902]

Reminds me of a friend of mine, that went to Vietnam, as a Marine, he lasted a week, was killed on the day after my 18th birthday, he stepped on a landmine, don’t know if he was on point. RIP Turtle 😢

[@scottbouchard2673]

I don’t wanna die, let’s put the new guy out there. This just shows how they didn’t give a damn about anyone but themselves.

[@deceivedperceptions4981]

I’m glad I’m not the only who sensed rhat

[@fernandoamy8278]

That's the way it sounds to me, too.

[@ecampos325]

My dad was a point man in Vietnam, he survived the war but he was absent in my life i can't imagine what he had to go through only to come back to the U.S. and be treated like garbage by his own country upon returning. He was a bad alcoholic and died of colon cancer in August of 2013.

[@ROLLIN-DUB]

As well as my Dad and Uncle RIP

[@swagbear9965]

Respect to your father. I’m sorry he was absent in your life. My grandfather was a vietnam vet and when he came back he was never the same and died early from alcoholism

[@sunnybeaches1331]

I'm am truly sorry to hear that. May God Bless him.😢

[@kevinsanders7370]

My dad was a Northern Ireland veteran (british), he was shot twice. He was also absent in my life. He never got the help he needed. Rip dad 1956-2021

[@buzzlightyear2490]

I'm sorry to hear, my father too is a veteran of this war, it had devastated him, i haven't talked with him fir over 30 years now, just got up and left and never sore him Again. I ment many veteran some are OK some are not.

[@safffff1000]

My buddy served in that war and always took the point, as he grew up in the woods of West Virginia and hunted he felt safer by not being led into a trap, since he could see things in the forest no one else noticed. Rest in Peace Fred, died 2023

[@augustinjacob9832]

Bro was a true hunter and trapper, because he could avoid being hunted and trapped himself.

[@michaelkorrek7856]

Ty for your service fred

[@perseusbeatkraken]

Fred bear?

[@Negan-lo7yr]

He, and tens of thousands of other servicemen TRAPPED themselves in an unjust and corrupt war, that's the real land mine here. Wars in the middle east too - you fools were fooled big time. The families of the fallen will never forget. Time to hold politicians accountable!

[@mrp4sch3n4]

May he rest in peace ❤️

[@robertnault5865]

Its good to hear your compassion for him WOW!

[@Jmoneyy365]

Can’t stop thinking about this. These are supposed to be to your people, close to your family, and they send you out there with no experience to watch you die and not care. I’m so disappointed with humanity bro.

[@genghispecan]

C'mon old timer...you came close to saying it, "better him than me."

[@hammer6285]

Get the NFG to pull the handle "Its a numbers game after all" POS serial killer.

[@JayTide]

Of course that's how it is. But putting a newbie on mine detail is barbaric.

[@jacknguyen5677]

Instant section 8

[@user-dz1rc4wk2t]

Shady shady

[@AgileFlow23]

Tip of his tongue

[@warrenbelford6508]

The lack of regret in this guys voice is astounding. We'd never have a new guy do ANYTHING without someone to show them the ropes a couple times. There's how you're trained to do it and then there's how it's done in real situations.

[@timbliss1]

Right? What a piece of trash!

[@mikeiaquinta245]

Fragging was invented for those special squad leaders that liked to take his men in harms way

[@SashaTheDog]

His reaction is truly disgusting to say the least

[@heartandmindovercome3214]

​@@mikeiaquinta245👍🔥

[@heartandmindovercome3214]

​@@SashaTheDog I was thinking the same thing. it's like, yeah I get it, a lot of people die out there. You can tell the average response, where someone shows at least a little emotion, from the sociopathic response of zero remorse.

[@yungma3841]

“It’s a numbers game” how chilling and sobering it is to hear that…

[@matthewortiz7223]

The funny part was some people didn't know the true meaning of brotherhood. Bet most of your platoon hid during fire fights and lied about your tours..

[@BagOfBurgers]

“We put the newest greenest soldiers in the most important and dangerous position” real good fucking job soldier. Luckily that’s not how we operated when I was in Iraq and Afghanistan. Disgusting

[@gratefulguy4130]

I like how universally disgusted everyone is with him. I hope he finds himself at a barbecue with some vets and tries to impress them with this story.

[@porkerpete7722]

He might just be desensitized. I don't think hes making a mockery of him.

[@gratefulguy4130]

@@porkerpete7722 Why? Just because you don't want to believe that? Check out his body language and facial expressions.

[@jonothandoeser]

You find this tactic to be dishonorable?

[@crose1466]

I mean, I think during our modern wars, they essentially used national guardsmen like this

[@yt.silentknight]

i'm glad we're all in unison regarding how we feel about this.

[@laggismaximus]

Only in unison on ignorance.

[@Mishaniss]

sheeple

[@zerophantomyt433]

​@@Mishanissso its ok to send the FNG with no experience to disarm a literal fucking bomb with no guidance and likely very little previous training if any? Ok. Go disarm a mine with no help.

[@Mishaniss]

@@zerophantomyt433 They were all new at some point.

[@John-vm2sq]

Just from a modern take as well, I was a convoy commander for a Distro Platoon in the Stan and our "point man" aka lead vehicle was always my best driver in the Platoon. We trusted him and his Vic to get us to where we needed to go, at the right pace, keep on the roads for his rollers to catch any pressure IEDs, and he was my eyes. Doing platoon and squad tactics/movements earlier on, and you'd never put the idiot up front. You need him to know the azimuth and distance and also be your first eyes up front (if you didn't recon). The way this video comes off is... Shall I say, as whimsical as the dude telling the story. Dude is almost jolly about it all.... Whatever unit that was... They really f'ed up those dudes heads.

[@Horrligan]

Empathischer Typ. Er erzählt es so als wäre es das witzigste, was er jemals gesehen hat.

[@ryant282a]

Exactly.

[@Pillshere31]

absolut ekelhaft der typ.

[@attilakonkoly4329]

During the Golf war 1991 Us specialist for déminage arrived at 9h00. They wanted to demonstrate how to désarmé the mine! 56 dead and more injured! The specialist flew back to New-York the same day!

[@errrmaaa7456]

Maybe the next time Grandpa Windsock goes in to replace his brake fluid, the shop will send the new guy all alone to do it.

[@ghostsamongus3370]

😂

[@gratefulguy4130]

🤣

[@gratefulguy4130]

If they saw this video they might

[@johnnyjericho8472]

Lol

[@adrukova1407]

Karma 😅

[@gemleollc4755]

My father in law was in Vietnam as a 19 yo. Now 81. He told me that he had seen a few platoon officers get fragged by their guys - for this very reason. College types trying to make a name for themselves but let someone take the risk. Cowards.

[@itskarl7575]

It's not the officer's job to take the risks personally. Officers who got fragged were those who sent their men on high risk missions for little practical gain. Though it should be pointed out that most fragging took place in support units, against officers who tried to instill more discipline and crack down on drug use.

[@gemleollc4755]

@@itskarl7575 correct the first part. Incorrect the second part.

[@itskarl7575]

@@gemleollc4755 You can check out the stats yourself if you like.

[@skipads5141]

He was in the VietNam War in 1961 or '62? Wow.

[@DerrelTheReal]

@@gemleollc4755before you start drinking the kool aid. You gotta remember they signed up for the job. Also I understand where the guy (in the video) is coming from. If I was in that leadership position, why would I send my experience guys and risk losing a valued members of the platoon ? “Oh, but back in my day the leader went first” okay you rather risk losing the leader ? Losing the leader would cause disorganized between the troops and morale loss. People tend to forget it’s very important to keep a strong leader alive to keep the platoon alive. You lose the leader and you lose half your firepower.. You rather have the new inexperience guy lead and replace the leader? In modern warfare you can definitely send the leader since everyone is trained up to date now. But back then I feel like you work with what you get.

[@Troglodytarum]

This is why world war 2 veterans are respected. They cried when replacements died in droves, even years after the war. What this is, is evil.

[@prokhor_zakharov]

With leadership like this, it's no wonder we lost the war.

[@u.s.militia7682]

I was a Combat Engineer. We’d find a mine and lay a charge next to it to disarm it. Ain’t no way I’d dig that crap up. Would you???

[@jonjones7137]

F*** NO. It seemed like willful sacrifice

[@chriswalters4326]

If you were ordered to as a young 18, or so, years old you would. My Father survived Vietnam. I respect and love the man and am SO proud of him and to be his son. May GOD bless them ALL!!! All who went through such a harrowing terrible experience and came home to the new rise of turning on your own.

[@jarhead1814]

That mouse trap will get you every time

[@charleschristianson2730]

Maybe, if I had to. I was a Combat Engineer in Iraq and yeah, we just blew them in place. But we were fully trained on how to disarm all manner of landmines and IEDs, and if the mission had demanded it I would've stepped up. A couple guys in my unit had to do it on occasion. Sometimes you have to do crazy s*** in war. If you don't like it, don't join the military.

[@peterblanchard4109]

​@charleschristianson2730 mostly likely the guys in the video didn't join they were drafted.

[@Itchyknee88]

Real noble of them to send the new guys with no experience, to do a job that requires exactly that…real classy, super brave, truly honourable.

[@marccamp6376]

'Duhh, that's war HUHUHU, ITS NORMAL' The fog of war, that's life, it always have been like that, etc etc Arguments for

[@user-qp2uw2im5n]

My uncle instead of waiting for the draft he decided to join the Marines. He left the States July 6th 1966 headed to Vietnam, he got killed August 6th just 1 month later. Our family was told that he was killed by a land mine and seeing this guy tell this story makes me wonder how common it was for new guys to take point? God Bless all these brave veterans

[@rf3495]

Marines did not do that. This dude was Army

[@user-qp2uw2im5n]

@@rf3495idk if my uncle was sent out front of his squad or not. I do know that he was a Marine that got to Vietnam July 6th 1966 and got killed August 6th 1966. My family was told that a mine had exploded and killed him. My father was his older brother. They had a closed casket but my dad said he wanted to see him just to know that it was him, he said it was his brother and looked as if one side of his face had been hit by the blast. Idk if he stepped on the mine or one of his fellow soldiers.

[@morbiussupportivemother5504]

The boomers had none of their fathers' honor. Honor died with The Greatest Generation. Pity.

[@johnhall7475]

I had a friend, Thomas Owens, from Wetumpka, Alabama, who died this way. He is remembered for his kindness and athletic grace. Damn a politician's war.

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

US politicians war. be specific son.

[@poutinedream5066]

Im sorry. This guy's a pig. Hard to believe he's STILL hurting people decades later with his amazing story-telling.

[@Whiskypapa671]

“I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit ,or personal safety” -US ARMY NCO Creed

[@Ronismaximus]

Damn dude. Nice quote.

[@bubble_boy0963]

Summed it up pretty well

[@thundervalley9766]

So, you are implying the squad leader should always be at risk? Ever heard of an ambush? You wait until everyone is in the trap before you spring it. Doesn’t matter where you are in formation. You are in the same danger as everyone else. You’d always put yourself on point if you were in charge? New guys need training too. How did the old guys learn? It’s not like the new guy got off a plane and straight to running point. That would be idiotic. Besides, the squad wouldn’t always have the same guy on point all the time. Rotating personnel throughout the mission is key.

[@bubble_boy0963]

@@thundervalley9766 That is not what he implied, that is what you randomly assumed he mean because you clearly didn’t understand what the quote means.

[@bubble_boy0963]

@@thundervalley9766 And putting new guys on mine clearing duty isn’t training, it’s getting them killed. Thank god you aren’t an officer.

[@melonmusk3650]

The way he talks about this without a hint of emotion is crazy. My grandpa was in Vietnam and all I’ve gotten out if him was his experience is basic training

[@terminalfilms8074]

I also heard from other Vietnam Vets that some cruel squad leaders would put newbies in the front of patrols to keep the rest of them safe.

[@johnstuartsmith]

Keeping the rest of the unit safe is the entire reason for putting a point squad way out in front. It's better for a few guys to set off an ambush than to have the whole company walking into it.

[@stevelauda5435]

How awful it would have been to lose a son in Vietnam but just imagine how awful it would feel to find out he died this way?!!!

[@davidbeach6947]

I disagree I was a marine grunt in 1969 in Vietnam We never put a new guy at point, as that would also increase our risk of being ambushed. I sometimes walked point myself even carrying the radio if I felt better that way. Of course one of the times I got hit was the guy walking point in front of me missed a trip wire and we had spotted the signs that the trail was booby trapped. But he wasn’t a new guy. We never ever put a new guy on point.

[@pekestyxx6674]

Maybe he’s army.

[@tomquinn607]

Look at the narrators tie. USMC

[@vigilantobserver8389]

Semper Fi, OORAH!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@RinkyRoo2021]

Yeah I thought that seems suspicious, everyone else says you wanted a guy who knew what he was doing

[@DT-lr2bi]

That is the way it was supposed to be. My Platoon Sgt made the decision who went out.

[@Paranoidsocialist]

Perfect example to illustrate how you should never blindly thank a vet for their service. Respect is not given it’s earned.

[@shiznit9142]

Came to the comment section to make sure i wasnt the only one disgusted by this guy. He almost sounds PROUD to have this tragic memory....

[@goosemen8152]

Imagine throwing your life away so young in a pointless war. In a place you were never supposed to be.

[@super1million11]

I just hope he was voluntarily there and not drafted.

[@chris2790]

Imagine sitting by and not being in your congressmans face about all the current pointless wars. Remember Afghanistan or have you forgotten that already?

[@RandomPerson-nd2ey]

If you got a better idea, I'm all for hearing it out but war and the young dying to resolve the arguments of the old has been a thing for all of history so... Umm, good luck with that I guess.

[@alejandromata825]

@@RandomPerson-nd2eyThe better idea is to just not go. Why go and fight a war for jerks that are stripping most of your constitutional rights and selling you out back home anyway? Why let your children or grandchildren fight?

[@guyguyver7552]

The politicians want to do the same again in Ukraine...will the young people comply or rebel against them?...😊

[@leborhal7450]

"We sent draftees who had no business there to do the most dangerous and deadly work, becasue we were chicken shit"

[@jamesbarnett527]

They were as likely to be drafted themselves so don't blame them. Blame the demons in DC that conducted the war.

[@steviechampagne]

would you sign it up to do it yourself? think about it before replying

[@AlphaShepherd]

nice, blame the victims. Disrespect the dead, and give the most dogshit perspective.

[@Thestoicstallion]

@@AlphaShepherdhe did none of those things quit your whining

[@zameion90]

Exactly what I came to say. All the airsoft nerds and larpers I see have gathered much more experience than us from running around and playing dressup

[@daryldaryl913]

War is terrible. Only being there would you truly know of it. God bless all their souls. Bless your families. Thank you Brothers and Sisters.

[@outdoorloser4340]

If only we hadn't been fighting there in the first place 😕

[@BabylonGames798]

A war in which your own commanding officer was more of a threat to rookies than the enemy that was being fought. Truly a disgraceful man.

[@iamgermane]

Anyone putting the newbies on point is a a-hole. Let them try that with a woman! There would be a Congressional investigation on the first incident!

[@BabylonGames798]

@@iamgermane Just let them try that in the 21st century in general. This era makes it a lot harder to get away with things.

[@call_me_iori]

“Why does people not wanna join the military?” The military:

[@LordFlashheart.11]

The governments too

[@BarryB.Benson]

The 60s are a bit different than today, but I see what you’re saying

[@sixgunsymphony7408]

These guys were draftees, not professional.

[@vinniepaul182]

Because no one wants to fight for a liberal government who’s anti man

[@antoinegezod]

Joining military is the ultimate cuckoldry, dying for politicians who give zero f**** about you ahahahaha

[@jimstewart2457]

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!!!!

[@jackwild8019]

In memory of Peter Nee, killed in Vietnam 🇻🇳 and member of the Marine Corps, March 1969, aged 21 years. Son of Ireland 🇮🇪 and now buried in the soil of Ireland 🇺🇸

[@fenixfelixx]

Gotta love the coward justifying sending in someone who didn't know what they were doing was the right call, then basically mocking this poor man's death 60 years later.

[@poleag]

KWUMP!

[@ddoherty5956]

Boy, it would have been a kid who should have still been at school.

[@synnove1046]

I don’t think he mocked anyone or anything. I think he seems detached but I think that’s caused by the horror of dealing with Viet Nam.

[@civilprotectionunit8145]

Can you really call someone who presumably fought in Vietnam a coward?

[@UdumbaraMusic]

@@civilprotectionunit8145 If they use their comrades as meat shields, they're more of a coward than most.

[@TheColossalBlanket]

'He was the only guy to get injured' interesting turn of phrase to describe a guy's upper torso raining down next to you.

[@adudecalledtony3731]

So glad the comments are agreeing this is an extremely fucked up thing to do

[@autismobinch135]

“It’s a numbers game” Monster

[@lotusinn3]

“It’s a numbers game.” Ghee, I wonder why young people aren’t signing up anymore 😂.

[@richardgeorge2250]

If it was for defense of this country they would, but for Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan? Ain’t no way I would ever do that.

[@antoniosorge2037]

Not that they aren’t. 77% can’t even join now. To fat, dumb or mental health problems.

[@antoniosorge2037]

Not that they aren’t. 77% can’t even join now. To fat, dumb or mental health problems.

[@21stCenturyDub]

That's just a colloquial way of saying that in war, statistically some will not make it out alive

[@lotusinn3]

@@21stCenturyDub That’s pretty generous. In the context of the conversation, its more likely the side with the greater number of meatshields, has the greater chance of winning, tactically or pyrrhic. Which is of course pretty accurate for the most part.

[@guatobean2869]

What he meant was...the dishonorable cowards made new guys run point. Let us not get it twosted, there are brave men and then there are cowards.

[@RedSeaConsulting]

A B S O L U T E L Y ! !

[@adamr9215]

And most people wanted an experienced person on point because they would be better at knowing all the tricks. The VC knew what they were doing, and often traps were rigged together. That way, if one went off, the whole line would go off and they would get several people. So you wanted an experienced man on point. But, some teams had “experts” with extra defusing training on improvised stuff. And several times the military claimed they had perfected training, but in the field it usually proved otherwise. I’m wondering if an old man’s rambling and some editing put two stories together or something because I don’t see the new guy on point. But, I could see the new guy being the mine expert. Some positions were assigned based on the training you had, others were earned. Point was earned, and took trust.

[@MsggieB.6870]

We should not be angry at this man . If he didn't tell us we would never know!

[@guatobean2869]

@adamr9215 that's good information to know, context is everything.

[@guatobean2869]

@MsggieB.6870 I understand what you're saying, heck he served in a time when many decided not to, the least we can do is give him the benefit of the doubt. And it reveals the terror these guys faced.

[@dr.woozie7500]

Life is strange sometimes. The psychopaths survive unscathed while the naïve die in the most brutal of ways.

[@Arkus123]

To Allah we belong to Allah we shall return and he is the one who is above all and he chooses when we die. Glorious is his plan the lord of all things.

[@pandavelli8176]

My platoon sergeant wouldn’t even eat until he watched every single one of us get chow. My platoon leader stopped me from clearing a rooftop one time and made me let him do it (it was a dangerous area too). I can’t believe they put the new guys on point.

[@basedbane787]

Put the least experienced guy on the most dangerous job. Genius

[@renanbautista6222]

Putting a new guy without any combat experience in my opinion is cowardice. I will not thank you for your service until you say sorry to that poor boys parents.

[@mikesecor6074]

what are you talking about

[@renanbautista6222]

@@mikesecor6074 Don't worry about it. It's way over your head.

[@Thegreatesttoneverlive]

​​@@mikesecor6074 You're in the military, you're 18, you're now put on lead to disable mines, you blow up because you didn't get training, the other guys laugh and say "dumb rookie".

[@mikeaylward4521]

​@@renanbautista6222Your comment is based on the premise that the speaker was the squad leader. The video does not indicate this

[@renanbautista6222]

@@mikeaylward4521 My comment was aimed not at the speaker but at the chain of command that would let an inexperienced soldier take the lead and risk not only his life but the rest of the squad.

[@roderickcornelius206]

These people were so evil to send a new guy to disarm a explosive mine! Unbelievable 😮

[@AaronSimone059]

I'm sorry to hear that, sir.I want to thank you for your service.😮

[@USMC49er]

Even EOD in Iraq/Afghanistan sends the best guys to disarm IEDs and they still might screw up bad. Sending new guys to do the most dangerous job back in Vietnam seems super irresponsible.

[@NinjaSushi2]

It was. This guy sounds like he was the LT or SGT and doesn't want to say..

[@NinjaSushi2]

Men like this run our country now.

[@rmcq1999]

It makes sense.. send someone who knows what they're doing. I think these directives were passed down from on high.

[@stephenkennedy8305]

Really? In Nam we did not have EOD walking patrols with us. We also were in a jungle, we often got ambushed and there were numerous traps. Now lets look at your idea, you believe it is better to get your experienced soldiers killed first. That way you have the raw meat left to fight? What rank were you? Because you did not learn proper warfare.

[@Coach49217]

@@NinjaSushi2 no, women like ilhan omar and AOC run our country now. That's why it's a mess.

[@jm7578]

My father was a platoon sergeant in Vietnam. He was blessed in that not one of his men died throughout the war. He was a veteran of World War II, Korea war in Vietnam. He was a career man. He also received the bronze Star and Purple Heart

[@shrewdthewise2840]

Your father was a true hero

[@derchozenvun83]

He managed to pull an entire platoon through that all alive!?! I'm impressed at not only his heroism but at his leadership as well.

[@skipads5141]

Those supply sergeants were the rich ones.

[@Dj.MODÆO]

If he had already been in WW2 and Korea he had to have been an E6-e7 at least probably in his mid 40s flying a desk in the rear. That explains why none of his subordinates got killed. It’s no disrespect against him though he did his two wars already and it’s best to keep those older upper enlisted in the rear and allow the younger guys to do the fighting.

[@pimentarules9826]

Your dad was a fucking legend

[@gino3006]

“Ahh youtube shorts before bed” *the first short*

[@FoxRacer090]

He’s saying it in a way like “lemme tell you this silly lil prank we played on dave”

[@knatsomitab7376]

My Uncle was a platoon Srgnt in Vietnam: bronze star, silver star and 2 purple hearts. NEVER ONCE LET A NEW GUY DO ANYTHING BUT OBSERVE ON PATROL UNTIL HE COULD TRUST YOU! This guy led the chow haul and hid. 2 tours. RIP Uncle Stu

[@markwestervelt9708]

Brave man. Men like him is what makes our country great.

[@jasonyoung8963]

In the military we would call this guy blue falcon. I now understand why Vietnam vets were disliked so much….

[@DT-lr2bi]

AMEN, a Shitass Blue Fallon. Forgot about that term

[@mgway4661]

The 70’s (afternath of Vietnam) was the statistical low point of the US military. They came back addicted to Heroin and Hookers whether or not they saw actual combat or not (of course, everyone of them claims combat though)

[@jmfs3497]

I had never heard this term, but my manager at my job is like this. I had been there 15 years serving as many as possible, and his first day on the job made everything about himself. I'm still looking for an exit. I've made the analogy that he would likely be a casualty of friendly fire for all the lives he would waste if this were military.

[@pocu321]

Pretty sure you can't fit "all" vietnam vets into your one scenario of 'now understanding' why all VV's were disliked so much.

[@alfredpaquin3563]

Is blue falcon anything like buddy fucker???

[@madtownangler]

I'm thankful that we don't have the draft anymore. Two of my dad's uncles died in WWII, my uncle died in Vietnam.. my grandma's only son her daughter was my mom.

[@metalmeddling]

I don't know anything about this man, but I do know that he's been through something I haven't. Only respect, untill I've walked in his shoes!

[@Grayfox988]

"Better you than me" seems to be the lifelong boomer credo.

[@PatrickPierceBateman]

"I gots mine, so screw you!" Is also one of their faves.

[@TheEvathcebor]

Stop making generational stupid hating through isolated examples that are out of touch, and calling anything older than you boomer as if it was a whole coherent and uniform lot. First, I'm not sure that going to war at all fits the description of ''better you than me''. Tell this about every single human entity who stayed home and spat on the soldiers when they came back instead. Second, the young guy going point and dying horribly was the same generation than this guy...third, let's see how you behave on a time of war when it's your own young neck that's on the line ; easier to comment from the comfortable sofa, isn't it. Finally, this current generation is probably the most self-obsessed ever and casually exposes itself in manners that would have been shameful just a decade ago...I'm not convinced it's wise to attack the elders on this precise matter.

[@hughjass7101]

"can't take it with you"

[@tosgem]

The whole boomer meme needs to die. I'm astounded that some people unironically believe it and make comments like this. The kid who died was a "boomer" as well. As are many other comments from veterans of the Vietnam war expressing their contempt and saying their platoons did not operate like this. Do you really think if all the millenials and gen Z's went to war today, that NONE of them would turn out to be assholes like this? Look at some of these young streamers - they'd be the first to throw anyone under a bus.

[@Grayfox988]

@@tosgemOkay, boomer. The shoe fits more times than not.

[@edwardramirez8550]

My brother served with the 173rd Airbone, Never , Ever put a newbie on point, also if you were 45 days short they kept your ass in the rear unless you're getting overrun!

[@gulliver3644]

I also served with the 173. You had to earn point. 65-68.

[@mumbles215]

My uncle was in the 173rd. Fought the battle Dak Tao. Hill 875. Survived the war but lost the battle to AO in 2015. RIP Uncle Tommy

[@bwayne4656]

Lost my dad to AO too@@mumbles215

[@Raffterman2003]

My grandfather was a WWII south pacific infantry vet and my dad and uncle were 173rd in 69-70 and 70-71. None of them really talked about either war. I served 26 and half years, and I understood why when it was my time and I came back from my war.

[@rf3495]

@@mumbles215 What is AO?

[@chrisomeg3226]

Because of brave young men like him, we are free.

[@Phantom1963]

Rest Peaceful Soldier ❤ And thank you for my freedom....

[@riku12345122]

"Well it's just a numbers game" You LOST that war, big guy.

[@CoupmalaThaThroatGod]

Sure.....little guy🤣🤣🤣

[@riku12345122]

@@CoupmalaThaThroatGod Add all the emojis you want, everyone can still see you're butthurt

[@Jewel_Screaming_Chango8387]

Unnecessary war was lost this coming from a moderate that leans right

[@Outlaw0-4]

Did you actually check the numbers or did you go along with what everyone else says?

[@gmclop2338]

Well he’s still right. You might wanna check the numbers.

[@jarmstrong2843]

I was once one of those 18 year old point Marines in Vietnam. Leadership sucked back then because they always put the new guys out in front. This guy talks like it's a matter of fact without any feeling about a fellow Marine being blown up. All he can say is that it's a numbers game and then Kwoomp. Well, the Kwoomp had a human life attached with it and that's all he can say? That's the problem with training in the Corp has. They show you how to do all sorts of bad things to the enemy, but they don't teach you a dam thing dealing with things years down the road. I still have my bad days and dreams. But, I guess rank has its privileges and he had the rank to send newbies to their death while he sat in the back waiting for body parts to start raining down. I am surprised this guy wasn't fragged. What a cold SOB. Guess he got his KWOOMP when his APC hit a mine.

[@js5584]

Yeah his "numbers game" comment is such a pitiful thing to say. I think you called it right. Well said.

[@user-vm3qf9we2r]

It is what it is. What you want him to do about it, then and now?

[@js5584]

​@@jarmstrong2843No, sir, I have not had the honor of serving, unfortunately. My initial comment was agreeing with your post. My second comment was a response to the other comment, not yours. Thank you for your service.

[@saltyboot1354]

It hasn't changed much, sadly. I remember hearing about my good friend being KIA'd in Afghanistan around 2012. He stepped on an IED while patrolling around a compound. About a year later I was on deployment with the same Doc that was on his squad. Doc told me the next day they made the Marines return to the compound and search for his missing equipment. Sure, EOD "cleared" the area after, but as good as they are, they're never 100%. So they went back to search in a highly dangerous area for an m16 and NVG that got launched into orbit. They were never found.

[@JBAIMARK3]

Probably wasn't fragged because his men were complicit. You might end up thinking; I've risked my life x times, cpt's looking out for us, let the new guy do his share. Leader is thinking; I'd rather lose the new guy, and the vets will kick up a fuss if I keep endangering them. It'd take someone very brave, naïve or mad to allow themselves to be thrown at every IED going forward. Wars ruin bodies, souls and lives, not sure there's any way around it, especially when you're on the raw end of it.

[@ethancargen1470]

My mothers brother died in vietnam because someone picked up a land mine a brought it over. He ended up bleeding to death after crawling away from the explosion. RIP, WAR IS HELL, PEACE AND LOVE

[@paulcampbell5177]

That’s genius. The least experienced doing the most dangerous work. 👍👍