BASIC TRAINING VIETNAM ERA Part 2

[Melendr3z]

Dude i freaking love his ascot

[rustyschackleford100]

I wonder if any of these guys died in Vietnam.

[dwtpa97]

Since around 2% of the guys who went to Vietnam wound up being killed, that might mean that 1 or 2 of the guys in this basic company perhaps didn't make it. I hope they did all make it through all right. Thanks for your post, rustyschackleford100, and to all of the soldiers who lived and died for us in Vietnam.

[Doug19752533]

i keep expecting to see GnySgt Hartman yelling at Pvt Pyle lol!

[centurion180ad]

M14 is an excellent weapon, much better than M16 in every catagory except weight.

[dwtpa97]

Yes, and there was a lot of jamming with the M16 during the early phases of the war. Thanks for your comment, centurion180ad.

[RMBELARDO]

@centurion180ad I agree with you. I trained with the M-14 when I was drafted in Dec. '65. It was a great rifle.

[zgomer1]

They look like kids...

[dwtpa97]

They were kids for the most part. The draft age was 18, and many young men facing the draft went ahead and volunteered in order to have a choice in assignment. (It wasn't a guaranteed choice, as many found out.) I haven't seen the age figures for today's military, but I suspect the average age today is several years older than during Vietnam. Thanks for your post, zgomer1 -

[sgtcrab1]

There are two things you will never forget: Your service number and your DIs name!

[dwtpa97]

Amen, sgtcrab1, those things will be burned into our memories forever. (Along with a few other things from basic!) Thanks for your post -

[DONUTBUZZCUT]

Go Joe!

[nakanmbytbudallenjt]

70's the era of Kung-Fu lol. Great video it's allways good to watch vintage videos. Today they use personal cellphones and cameras. These unvoluntary draftees in the video were probably deployed to Vietnam right after bootcamp where so many died FOR NOTHING for a war to road "Nowhere".

The survivers became the biggest hippies and drug addicts of our time.

Although spoiler, the bootcamp today is so much higher in both standards and training. Not just anyone can join, have to be smart

[dwtpa97]

Technology has certainly reduced the isolation of war. Combat patrols in Vietnam frequently went weeks without any contact with the outside world, under the harshest of conditions. When they finally received something, it was just a simple letter. Today's troops are tops when it comes to their professionalism and conditioning, and they deserve our appreciation. But there's no denying they have it easier in the area of communication with home. Thanks for your post, nakanmbytbudallenjt.

[marcusos1111]

is army bct still like that in 2010? i heard it got a hell of alot easy :S

[darklion53]

@marcusos1111 we didn't have to run 5 miles everyday in our combat uniform when we first started shooting, but we did run anywhere from 3-4 miles ever other in PT's with AGRs and 60/120s. also they could hit ya back then. but now BCT for Army in 10 Weeks and 1 week of reception = 11 weeks. (They started doing the full 10 week training these past summer cycles.). PT also is nice. especially Muscle Developement/Strengthening (Muscle Failure haha)

[dwtpa97]

Yes, I imagine there's a lot of things that haven't changed in basic training! Thanks for your post and your service to your country, MrRanger1987 -

[capufool]

My uncle served 4 tours in vietnam, and was a marine drill seargant.. Im proud to be related to him

[dwtpa97]

Thanks,capufool, for your post. We owe much to men like your uncle who served their country so bravely.

[capufool]

@dwtpa97 We sure do. We are in infinite debt to them.. Im trying to carry on with it by joining the army, which im in the proccess of doing

[dwtpa97]

Good luck to you, capufool. It will probably be one of the most important experiences of your life. It is a proud career. Thanks for your upcoming service.

[spareaxe]

Were some of these guys drafted into service?

[dwtpa97]

I think in Part 1 they mentioned that most of the guys in this group were drafted. Also, I recall from back then that some of the men who volunteered did so in order to avoid the draft. If they were drafted, they had no choice of specialty or assignments.

[dwtpa97]

Many thanks to our Native Americans who served so gallantly in the various wars which our nation has fought. The nation owes them much.

[123123psy]

BIG TIMErespect 4 people like R.BOZZ.

[killme1990]

My father was in the 173rd Airborne brigade during Vietnam. he rarely talks about it. but he stayed in after being drafted and retired as a Command Sergeant Major... he got a bronze star in vietnam and many unit citations.

[dwtpa97]

Your father certainly did well for himself, and served his country well. We thank him for his long service to his country.

[williamwagener]

I remember rifle range.  and Viet Nam...

[dwtpa97]

Thanks, Williamwagener.  Looking back, those were good times and bad times, depending on the unit and happenings.

[TehLAWL1]

hey can you tell me about how vietnam was please id like to know im very interested im 14 and people around here dont look up the soldiers who serve their country. well i do so please?

[dwtpa97]

ILIGANO has posted a reply to your question in Basic Training Vietnam Era Part 3.