Search And Destroy Flashcards
How did US use counterinsurgency tactics?
US soldiers searched jungle for VC camps and supplies and called up helicopters to bomb/spray chemicals.
Why was it a problem that most US missions were on ground?
VC had punji traps
What was VC’s main tactic?
Hit and run
What did Search and destroy tactics reveal about US?
Theyre’ stupid thinking
What was main US counter-insurgency tactic?
Search and destroy
Why did US assume victory after first wave of missions but why was this inaccurate?
Only 100 US troops died and weapons and supplies were found. However, troops left area after missions and VC just moved back in
How did US bombing/chemicals make US less popular?
Damaged villagers and created 4 million S. Vietnamese refugees
When was Operation Cedar Falls?
1967
What is Operation Cedar Falls an example of?
Search and Destroy failure
Who took part in the ‘Iron Triangle’ mission?
30,000 Us and ARVN troops
What was the ‘Iron Triangle’?
Villages where VC were strongest
How did ‘Iron Triangle’ mission work?
Helicopters took troops to Ben Suc village
Villagers taken to refugee camps and village burned
Troops moved around iron triangle with same tactics
How many VC died and how many refugees all from Ben Suc alone?
750 VC dead and 3500 refugees
What happened after US cleared an area?
It became a ‘free-fire zone’ where bombs could be used without warning
How did ‘free-fire zones’ not work?
Many villagers didn’t understand and returned to homes and were bombed
