"‘Don’t Shoot the Rubber Trees!’ – Vet Recalls Absurd" Topic

… Rules-of-Engagement GIs Faced in Vietnam War

"ANY VIETNAM vet will remember an instance – either hideous or embarrassing – when the character of the war and the American involvement became plain.

It happened for me in 1970 at a briefing for the press where the combat situation was described by a colonel who suffered from pretensions of literary scholarship. It was in the town of Xuan Loc where I was assigned to a particularly disorganized MACV office. The enemy – Viet Cong and NVA – also seemed to have offices in town; they came and went as it pleased them.

During the briefing, the colonel admonished the press not to report on the negative side of recent combats events, but instead to emphasize the hopeful elements…"
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Armand

At Phuoc Vinh in 1969 we were in the Michelin plantation there near troops from the 1st Infantry Division. I don't know what the grunts in the Big Red One were told but the combat engineers in the 31th were told that USA had 7 bucks to pay the French company for every tree injured. I'm sure that the sniper who hit trees almost every night never lost half a dong.

LT- my initials not rank

Thanks

Armand

I recall guys saying that towards the end of VN when on perimeter watch they needed to get the CO permission to throw grenade. Maybe because if you are bored on guard duty tossing a grenade is a way to liven things up.

Wolfhag

Wow!

Armand