Search and Destroy Flashcards
What was search and destroy?
An aggressive military tool where force, transported by helicopter, invade villages where enemies where and destroy them and their base.
What was used as a measuring tool for the success rate of the operation?
Body count
What were the soldiers given freedom to do?
The soldier were gave freedom to kill anyone the came across
How many VC were killed in the first operation?
1106
What was the first operation called?
Operation Attleboro
What was the point of search and destroy?
To destroy Communists, their weapons and their crops
Why did the tactic fail?
Because no matter how many the USA killed the Communist leaders would just recruit more
How may did the Communist leaders recruit a year?
Over 200,000
What was another problem with search and destroy?
The VC would dress up like villagers so that the USA could not identify them from the villagers.
What was caused by the VC by them hiding in villages?
The USA troops killing innocent civilians
What was Zippo raids?
The USA troops would torch the straw huts of the villages which they suspected to be harbouring Vietcong soldiers
By doing this what did America lose?
They lost the battle of hearts and minds of the Vietnamese driving them to support the Communists
What did the USA do successfully?
Destroy thousands of weapons and supplies of the VC
What did the search and destroy make the Communists be?
They had to be on constant guard and could not stay in a village for to long
