Why was the Vietnam war difficult for US soldiers?

Why was the Vietnam war difficult for US soldiers?

Explanation: Firstly most of the war was fought as a guerrilla war. This is a type of war which conventional forces such as the US army in Vietnam, find notoriously difficult to fight. The Americans, laden down with conventional weapons and uniform were not equipped to fight in the paddy fields and jungles.

What did American soldiers encounter when they first arrived in Vietnam?

American troops were at first expected to fight a defensive war, even though most of their training was of an offensive nature. They discovered a weak and corrupt South Vietnamese government as well as an underefficient allied military force.

What did American soldiers experience in Vietnam?

The tense atmosphere and frustrating nature of the war eventually caused a significant decline in the motivation and performance of American forces in Vietnam. Some American soldiers reacted to their situation by lashing out violently against the Vietnamese, while others took out their anger on U.S. military leaders.

Why did the US fail to defeat North Vietnam?

The Amercians bombed strategic targets in North Vietnam to stop the supply of troops and weapons to the South. There were not many industrial targets in the North so this was ineffective – bombs often missed targets and hit schools and hospitals.

How were soldiers affected by the Vietnam War?

Although most veterans were not permanently damaged by the war, some 15 to 25 percent of Vietnam veterans (between 500,000 and 700,000) suffered from a stress-related impairment known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychological disease brought on by acute combat experience.

Why did the US pull out of Vietnam?

The Army had to fight in unfamiliar territory, was lacking in moral, were not prepared for the conditions, could not shut down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and were untrained to respond to guerilla warfare. This combination of disadvantages and the loss of public support led to the United States withdrawing from Vietnam.

What problems did the US face during the Vietnam War?

This is because America faced many problems as it attempted to conduct the war in Vietnam. These problems ranged from the difficult combat conditions to growing anti-war sentiment stateside. Ultimately, these problems forced the US to withdraw its troops from Vietnam, resulting in the ultimate victory of Communist forces in Vietnam.

What was it like to be an American soldier in Vietnam?

Additional experiences the American soldier experienced upon their arrival in Vietnam: American troops were at first expected to fight a defensive war, even though most of their training was of an offensive nature. They discovered a weak and corrupt South Vietnamese government as well as an underefficient allied military force.

What are 5 terrifying things US troops faced in Vietnam’s jungles?

5 terrifying things US troops faced in Vietnam’s jungles 1 Giant insects. As seen in the cover photo of this post, the creepy crawlers of the jungle have the space and the food necessary to grow to an insane level. 2 Weaver ants. 3 Debilitating plants. 4 Venomous snakes. 5 Large wildlife.

What was the Cold War mentality in the Vietnam War?

This Cold War mentality meant the U.S. entered into a war from which there was only one possible exit: the defeat of Communism in Vietnam. This caused American leadership to keep troops in Vietnam long past the point at which such a victory was an attainable goal.