Tunnel rats were american, australian and new zealand military soldiers who went inside viet cong vc tunnels to kill any vc inside. The box would be rigged with a trip wire, the tunnel rat tripped the wire and the scorpions would fall on him stinging him in the process. The tunnel rats were not spies or saboteur sent to north vietnam or neutral cambodia. The nook book ebook of the tunnel rat in vietnam by gordon l. Direction for how to book and pay with vietnam mice travel. Flights on delta, china eastern airlines and vietnam airlines. I need contacts of trusted travel agencies to book our day trip to phong nha sightseeing and.
Is there anyone out there who knows the correct latin phrase. Vietnam has a rat king and this is what he does to catch them by. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Most of us who served as tunnel rats during the vietnam war quickly realized that crawling through underground enemy bunkers would be the least of our worries. Payne, a tunnel rat, bravely searches a tunnels entrance during vietnam war. It was long known that such complexes existed, but it was not realized just how extensive they were in some areas, how important they were to the viet cong, and how difficult it was to detect and neutralize. Rats tunnel in the war of vietnam learning history.
Note that other localities may put similar restrictions in place andor change. The vietcong had been using tunnel systems for many years against the chinese, japanese and french invaders. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Loosely translated, it was supposed to mean not worth a rats ass. Vietnam tunnel rats with a colt and flashlight in hand, wearing a gas mask, tunnel rat richard winters of battalion, infantry, infantry division cautiously lowers himself into a viet cong tunnel found in vietnams iron triangle. Later, similar teams were used by the soviet army during the sovietafghan war and by the israel defense forces in campaigns in the middle east. Disrespectful occupiers alienated lo cals, so revolutions developed. In a documentary for the film, boll revealed the film did not have a. Vietnam is considered primitive by more advanced countries, which do not respect the peasants ways. They did underground search and destroy missions to gather any intel, recover arms and finally demolish the tunnels by planting explosives. Vietnam has a rat king and this is what he does to catch them by the kilo.
The underlying nature of the role created very particular requirements for who would be a rat. It was long known that such complexes existed, but it was not realized just how extensive they were in some. Our last tour of the trip, we took advantage of our riverfront location to cruise by speedboat to see the famous cu chi tunnels historical site, a vast network of underground passageways built and used by the viet cong to evade detection as they moved troops and supplies throughout saigons northern. Vietnam tours, vietnam visa on arrival, mice services in vietnam, airport. Later, similar teams were used by the soviet army during the soviet war in afghanistan, and the israel defense forces. Chris masters, a great tv journalist, did this story for page 1 channel 10 more than 20 years ago in 1988. The people of vietnam al ways considered occupiers temporary. A tunnel rat might therefore choose to enter the tunnels wearing a gas mask donning one within was frequently impossible in such a confined space. Now, in an unfinished, unsupported tunnel like he was in, a rainstorm usually meant death for a tunnel rat. The tunnel rats were american, south vietnamese, new zealand and australian soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the vietnam war. Hi, i booked hanoi dong hoi train tickets through, thinking that i was dealing directly with vietnamese railways.
The tunnel rats were american, australian and new zealand soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the vietnam war. If youre trying to get home, and can still book commercial. Comme on hoodedheifer, if you dilike vn, and in doubt about its cleanliness, just stay home or travel in. These weapons were used in against some of the most lowtech forces the us military had faced in a long time. These were the terrifying dangers of being a tunnel rat in. Tunnel rats motto the firearms forum the buying, selling. Catching the train in vietnam expert transport tips on getting around vietnam by train getting around vietnam by train lonely planet hi there, we use cookies to improve your experience on our website.
With the experienced team in travel industry for years, vietnam mice travel brings you the most memorable moments in vietnam and other indochina countries. Feb 20, 2012 buy tunnel rat in vietnam warrior by gordon l rottman isbn. Nov 16, 2017 to clear out the dangerous enemy tunnels, brave infantrymen from australia, new zealand, south vietnam and the united states volunteered for this unenviable job. Dec 22, 2014 vietnam has a rat king and this is what he does to catch them by the kilo. During the vietnam war, if a us tunnel rat got injured or. Tunnel rats, also known as 1968 tunnel rats, is a 2008 germancanadian war suspense film written and directed by uwe boll.
Aug 06, 2017 vietnams littleknown underground war and the men and women who fought it. Vietnams littleknown underground war and the men and women who fought it. The tunnel rats who paid the supreme sacrifice in vietnam are resting in peace in capital cities and remote towns across australia and in one case malaysia, where our first kia is buried in terendak cemetery. The largest tunnel systems in south vietnam some under us bases could be as vast as 200 kilometers 125 miles long and were built to withstand bombings, explosions, poison gas etc. Authorities ban entry to individuals traveling from china as of february 15, due to ongoing coronavirus covid19. Tunnel rat in vietnam warrior book 161 and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Book your flight find a cheap flight by using skyscanner or momondo. Wikipedia commons in 1946, the viet minh were the viet cong resistance fighters who began digging the tunnels and bunkers to combat the french, whom they would eventually defeat.
You will not be able to depart australia to travel overseas. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. He served in the 5th special forces group in vietnam in 196970 and subsequently in airborne infantry, longrange patrol and intelligence assignments until retiring after 26 years. Buy tunnel rat in vietnam warrior by gordon l rottman isbn. Long after the french packed up and left vietnam, the rats remain.
Cockroach and rat in vietnam vietnam forum tripadvisor. Special us soldiers called tunnel rats would crawl through the systems to find the enemy. Would love to see some pics of real rats no not the rodents. They played such an important role during the entire us involvement in vietnam. The book was written to give the forgotten river rats a voice. Opinion my life as a tunnel rat the new york times. We will use this occasion to honour our 36 comrades who lost their lives while serving as tunnel rats with 1 troop, 2 troop and 3 troop of 1. In 1965, soon after the first us combat troops had arrived in vietnam, it was realized that in some areas the viet cong had developed. Who are the tunnels rats of vietnami wanted to know more about these soldiers and came across this pretty cool site to read with stories and pics. We will use this occasion to honour our 36 comrades who lost their lives while serving as tunnel rats with 1 troop, 2 troop and 3 troop of 1 field squadron 35 kia and with 3 field troop 1 kia. Merchandise get the simple history vietnam war book on amazon.
Payne, a tunnel rat, bravely searches a tunnel s entrance during vietnam war. Small villages dot this land, worked by peasants, who have lived there for centuries. With the state department issuing a do not travel advisory and a. Book deals and enjoy awardwinning comfort on your vietnam flight on.
In 1965, soon after the first us combat troops had arrived in vietnam, it was realized that in some areas the viet cong had developed vast tunnel complexes in which to hide from the enemy. The vietnam tunnel rats association has reserved the australian war memorial last post ceremony for 18 february next year. Rottman, served in vietnam with the 1st cavalry division in the late1960s, and witnessed some of what tunnel rats did personally. Its a great, detailed reference for all us army units there are sections on the usmc and allied units, too, down to battalion level.
In our vietnam community travellers from all over the world discuss things to do in vietnam, places to stay, best restaurants and more. The bodies are brutally mutilated, an ace of spades impaled upon their chests. Vietnam to ban entry of tourists from uk, schengen nations. First of all, those ops were certainly not off the book. Eightyfive percent rural, the few large cities and towns. If you are going to do a lot of vietnam war reading, i also recommend shelby stantons vietnam order of battle. They had an amusing latin motto which i am trying to remember. These include travel advisories and further restrictions on travellers coming into singapore.
While tracking down specific statistics on fatality rates among the tunnel rats is not easy, it is not a stretch to venture that they had one of the most dangerous jobs you could undertake as a soldier in vietnam. Pete rejoruiz, a cubanborn tunnel rat, is shown popping out of a north vietnamese tunnel. There were numerous underground guerilla bases in south vietnam that had been built and supplied by forced labor from the surrounding villages. The largest tunnel systems in south vietnam some under us bases could be as vast as 200 kilometers 125 miles long and were built to.
Most of us who served as tunnel rats during the vietnam war quickly realized that crawling. The vietcong used elaborate tunnel systems to store food and ammunition as well as housing medical and combat facilities. Those were the guys who wriggled their way through the ridiculously narrow tunnels the viet cong used to transport personnel and weapons, set boobytraps, and all that. Years ago i read a great book about the tunnel rats who served in vietnam. I know there were soldiers who had to go through these tunnels. Feb 09, 2018 attacking underground bunkers in vietnam was the least of my worries. This isnt something that every soldier could do and i wanted to know more about the soldiers who volunteered to do this. Hi, i booked hanoi dong hoi train tickets through vietnam, thinking that i was dealing directly with vietnamese railways. What was the mortality rate of the vietnam era tunnel rats. The river rats of vietnam christine purdy, mark purdy on. To clear out the dangerous enemy tunnels, brave infantrymen from australia, new zealand, south vietnam and the united states volunteered for this unenviable job. The job was time consuming, difficult the tunnels were a tight squeeze for a typical vietname. Another short osprey book that i read quickly for a section of my dissertation.
Vietnams capital city, hanoi is home to the sombre ho chi minh mausoleum. In washington, a us senator receives photographs of the corpses. Being stripped to the waist and slowly crawling along on their stomachs also exposed the rats to bites from fire ants that inhabited the underground labyrinths. Now usually black guys managed to avoid becoming tunnel rats on account of them being so tall, but benoit was burdened with the double misfortune of being short and black during the vietnam war, a curse i wouldnt wish on my worst enemy. See more ideas about vietnam war, vietnam and vietnam war photos. Gordon l rottman entered the us army in 1967, volunteered for special forces and completed training as a weapons specialist. The services are vietnam tours, indochina tours, landing visa, airport services. Vietnam has a rat king and this is what he does to catch. The film is based on the factual duties of tunnel rats during the vietnam war. Vietnam tours, vietnam visa on arrival, mice services in vietnam, airport services, hotel booking, indochina tours and others. Army combat and support forces in vietnam 19611973 book. During the vietnam war, tunnel rat became an unofficial specialty for. Those on a tourist visa might also consider contacting a local tourist company that. Sapper jim marett outside the ruins of a rubber plantation mansion in vietnam in 1970.
It was long known that such complexes existed, but it was. We hope this book gives not only the returning rats some pease. Attacking underground bunkers in vietnam was the least of my worries. Two of us were sent into the tunnel that day, myself and benoit. The tunnel rats who paid the supreme sacrifice in vietnam are resting in peace in capital cities and remote towns across australia and in one case malaysia, where our first kia is. It was long known that such complexes existed, but it was not. How safe is to travel to vietnam with corona virus. Since there were no tunnel rat units as such, they being ad hoc teams and volunteering individuals, there are few separate studies and reports other than those buried within unit records. There are two more videos tunnel rats 2, vietnam and tunnel rats 3, vietnam. The tunnel rats by stephen leather goodreads share book. I have paid for these with credit card and the company has assured me the tickets will be waiting for me at my.
When traveling in vietnam, you should avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. Sep 05, 2011 there are two more videos tunnel rats 2, vietnam and tunnel rats 3, vietnam. I watched this movie the other day called tunnel rats somewhat bizarre but anyways, are there any real tunnel rat patches or are they just made up post war. In a documentary for the film, boll revealed the film did not have a script, and instead the actors improvised their lines. Hed heard horror stories from the squadmates whod lost others underground, never to be seen again. Vietnam war during the vietnam war tunnel rat became a more or less official specialty for volunteer. Jan 01, 2012 another short osprey book that i read quickly for a section of my dissertation. If you are booking travel for children who are travelling alone, please check the age restrictions set by the operating carrier prior to. Read the safety and security section on the country information page if you decide to travel to vietnam. Peter clayton and john hoskin were among the men who went bush with the armoured and infantry corps in vietnam, staying out for four to six weeks, operating as infanteers plus carrying out specialist duties of mine and booby trap detection and clearing, tunnel and bunker searching and demolition, plus bomb disposal. You may need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to.
They would gain the nickname tunnel rats please do not reupload. By kevin dockery during the vietnam war, the united states fought the viet cong and north vietnamese army forces with some of the most hightech weapons the us could produce. What was it like to be an american tunnel rat in vietnam. The great hanoi rat massacre of 1902 did not go as planned. Who are the tunnels rats of vietnam i wanted to know more about these soldiers and came across this pretty cool site to read with stories and pics.