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How did American soldiers feel about the Vietnam war?

How did American soldiers feel about the Vietnam war?

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 were young men drafted into the Vietnam war?

Although only 25 percent of the military force in the combat zones were draftees, the system of conscription caused many young American men to volunteer for the armed forces in order to have more of a choice of which division in the military they would serve.

Why did people come to hate the draft during the Vietnam war?

They harshly criticized the draft because poor and minority men were usually most affected by conscription. In 1965 and 1966, African Americans accounted for 25 percent of combat deaths, more than twice their proportion of the population.

How did American soldiers treat the Vietnamese?

In reality, however, U.S. soldiers, who found themselves fighting in an inhospitable environment thousands of miles from home to protect people who often resented their presence and aided their enemies, came to regard the Vietnamese as backward, cowardly people and the government of South Vietnam as hopelessly …

How did some Americans resist the draft during the Vietnam War?

Members of The Resistance publicly burned their draft cards or refused to register for the draft. Other members deposited their cards into boxes on selected dates and then mailed them to the government. They were then drafted, refused to be inducted, and fought their cases in the federal courts.

What were some ways the people could avoid being drafted to fight in Vietnam?

Here are 11 ways people beat the draft in the 1970s.

  • Be a Conscientious Objector.
  • Make up a health condition.
  • Have children who need you.
  • Be a homosexual.
  • Run away to Canada.
  • Go to college.
  • Have a high lottery number.
  • Hold an “essential” civilian job.

What was the main goal of American combat soldiers in Vietnam?

As far as official US policy is concerned their main goal or objective was to help the South Vietnamese defeat the communist Vietcong and North Vietnamese army. This was an example of a central thread of US policy since 1945, expressed through containment, the Truman Doctrine and The Domino Theory amongst others.

Why did America fight the Vietnam War?

The U.S. entered the Vietnam War in an attempt to prevent the spread of communism, but foreign policy, economic interests, national fears, and geopolitical strategies also played major roles. Learn why a country that had been barely known to most Americans came to define an era.

What challenges did American soldiers faced in Vietnam?

The US military did little to combat drug abuse until 1971. 1. Soldiers on both sides faced many difficulties and challenges during the Vietnam War – including climate, terrain, the complex political situation and unclear military objectives.

What was the draft like during the Vietnam War?

While many soldiers did support the war, at least initially, to others the draft seemed like a death sentence: being sent to a war and fight for a cause that they did not believe in.

How did American soldiers react to the Vietnam War?

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.

Who are the American soldiers in the Vietnam War?

A large proportion of the U.S. troops consisted of African American men from the inner cities, the sons of immigrants from factory towns, and boys from rural farming communities. Upon arriving in Vietnam, American soldiers found themselves in a strange land of watery fields and dense jungles.

How did Vietnam veterans adjust to life after the war?

Difficulties readjusting to American society Many Vietnam veterans built successful lives after they returned home from the war. They finished their educations, established good careers, and had families. But many other veterans had a tough time readjusting to life in the United States after they completed their military service.