Search and Destroy: Vietnam War Tactics 1965-1967 (Documentary)

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At this period ,my grandfather was a Vietnamese college student in Hải Phòng. Once day some military guys showed up at school and told him to go with them, they said they had looked into grandpa profile and he was fitted to be a pilot. And he nearly completed the training, flying a Mig from Hải Phòng to Hà Nội himself but then he was outed from the pilot program because he got diarrhea. He later became a SAM air defenses missiles operator. He was injured during Rolling Thunder, an air to ground radar seeking missile flew in the operator mobile cabin. He described getting a sudden blast, falling unconscious and then waking up in a devastated scene. All his comrades lying lifelessly, their bodies either twisted by shock waves or pierced with shrapnel, grandpa miraculously survived but losing his teeth , shattered by shock wave, nevertheless continue serving for the rest of war. I can't speak for all Vietnamese but in my province,Hải Phòng, at that time people was like " high on ideologies". Many kinds of ideologies not communist alone that commonly described as "Lý tưởng" which motivated people to do all sorts of crazy thing. Hai Phong is the most strategic port of North VN so its ports often mined by USAF. For ship caring aids from Soviet able to enter , naval mines must be cleared from port so they did it by driving small high speed boats over the area. Some dudes were selected/volunteered ,then their close relatives would be invited to attend "living funeral" for those "dead men walking". Finally they hopped on boats ,cruised them around, stimulated mines to explode and just hope the deadly blast wouldn't catch up with their speed. For you to imagine the sacrifice, throughout the war with American, not a single day the port of Hai Phong ceased from operating. Those are undoubtedly the greatest generation of Vietnam.

My parents were both born in 1956, which meant that this war defined their childhoods. Their families are from different parts of Vietnam, but because of the partition, both families moved south to Saigon, where they both mostly grew up. It wasn't until much later after evacuations and the end of the war did they both happen to meet at a university party for Vietnamese students in Boston. Life got pretty interesting for them ever since then, but it's very hard sometimes to watch this footage and not think of what they went through.

My dad was in AirForce during 60s. He was offered 2 choices: Vietnam medic or nurse in NORAD Alaskan radar station.My dad sent me nice pictures of polar bears in 1968.

This post brings back numerous memories of my service in Vietnam during 1965. My ship arrived in March and our patrols ran from the DMZ, south along the coast to the Gulf of Thailand then north to Phu Quoc Island just south of Cambodia. We had several roles. Most common was boarding suspicious merchant vessels, junks and sampans. In addition, we provided gun fire support at the request of friendly forces. That gunfire was directed by an observer in a helicopter or light aircraft who observed our rounds and made recommendations for correction.

My grandfather was a medic for 10th battalion garrison in Tay Ninh jungle. My grandmother was a commissioner. During one American’s S&D mission half of my grandma’s platoon members were killed, she was shot in her leg by a Huey, her company left her behind and the whole battalion have to move backwards 10km. At that time only my Grandpa left, he decide to carry her 10km through the dense jungle, back to the base. Imagine the level of suffering and enduring of guirrela fighter in such hard condition, fight with an enemy who have supreme firepower. Those are the greatest generation in my country. After the war my grandfather agree Vietnam War was unnecessarily and could be avoided, many lifes were lost.

Arrived in Vietnam on Nov 1, 1965 - assigned to an Infantry platoon of the 1st 503rd 173rd Abn Bdg - hard to believe it was almost 60 years ago - ancient history.

Randomly came across this channel. Really enjoyed the commentary and especially the use of footage etc from the era. Thanks for the hard work!

I am really appreciating this latest series. As an American born in the 60s, the Vietnam War informed my early childhood. However, most of my understanding was from the American perspective and it is valuable to hear how the Vietnamese saw the conflict, something you are doing an excellent job covering. One of my closest friend's father was a chopper pilot who was shot down during the war. Sadly, he has very few memories of his late father.

Delivered as promised! Excellent work once again. I try to not take this sort of free educational content for granted, but you guys make it really difficult with your high standard of quality. Your work deserves way more recognition!

This was a first class doco…….the best short film explaining war I’ve ever seen…..and I watch everything. Trust me this is first class.

My dad, an Air Force radar guy was in Vietnam on temporary duty when Tet happened- they issued him a weapon and was told to defend the radar station. The VC didn’t come his way. They always got him out before they had to give him hazard pay- never could join the VFW.

We won the battles and lost the war in Vietnam and at home. We came back with 60k body bags hundreds of thousands injured, physiological problems, suicides etc. The violence was unacceptable with almost 2 million vietnamese deaths, people suffer till today from the orange agent and undetonated bombs.

Can you do the conventional war in Vietnam of 1971-75? It’s probably the most destructive and game changing that is often ignored because it didn’t involve US ground troops at the same levels as 1965-70

Thank you for this VIdeo

my father born in the south and my mother born in the north all live in the same war with differents perspective, its bone chilling when hear stories of both side

Incredible, always learn something.

Love the content. I would love a documentary about the Korean war. Cheers from Estonia

Yeah, yeah President Johnson bought a lot of Huey stock, and then magically Huey was the #1 weapon in Viet Nam and then Magically Johnson Became very, very rich. Funny how these things work like that.

Very nice presentation, thank you. Looking forward to the "later years" on the War.