His hunt for a motive takes him to the tunnels in vietnam, where the american tunnel rats fought the dirtiest battle of the war against the viet cong. There was a tunnel to the right, and one to left, and i could see that each side doubled back, making an mshaped tunnel complex. This is a story that needs to be told as there is very little written about the tunnels in vietnam by the men tasked to search, and sometimes, fight in them. They were infantrymen who volunteered to go down the tunnels of south vi. One particular favourite pistol of tunnel rats was the. These were the terrifying dangers of being a tunnel rat in.
Malcolm young of firefly films, a film and television production company in singapore, is developing a documentary about the vietnam war that will look at the system of tunnels the viet cong had in south vietnam and the role of the american tunnel rats. Tunnel rats were us, australian and newzelander soldiers who went inside viet congvc tunnels to kill any vc inside, gather any intel, recover arms and finally demolish the tunnels by planting. If you ever see a flashlight coming your way, you can fire away, but more than likely, you are already a dead man. I seem to remember a book my friend read in high school about 20 years ago that was about or had a section on the tunnel rats, i can picture the cover but i cant see the name in my minds eye. 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. After they discovered them they were eventually sealed off and they made a tunnel rat school for future tunnel rats. 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. He liked it as it was lighter, but ammunition was hard to get since we only had.
For the bulk of the war there were three troops, each of around 40 men, a total of 120 tunnel rats in vietnam per year, for around five years, making 600, plus the first year when 3 field troop alone was there, with about 70 men. Years ago i read a great book about the tunnel rats who served in vietnam. Press button download or read online below and wait 20 seconds. Eightyfive percent rural, the few large cities and towns. Tunnel rats would often carry soviet pistols which they found. During the vietnam war our government never anticipated that tunnel warfare would be so prominent or important in waging ground combat. Tunnel rats were all volunteers as they soon realized that if a person really didnt want to do the job, he would just report the tunnel as a dead end. Originally called tunnel runners by the 25th infantry division, and ferrets by the australian army, the term tunnel rat became the official accepted name during the vietnam war for men who would descend into a pitch black, claustrophobic, dank hell, to play a. Have a look around this website and the books this is a great slice of genuine australian history featuring 67 forgotten heroes of the vietnam war.
Ive been through cu chi town before now, im going back in january so this time i think ill actually do the tour. The tunnel rats were american, australian and new zealand soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the vietnam war. Armed with only a pistol and a knife, these soldiers would navigate the tiny tunnels and risking fighting close quarters combat alone. The vietcong had been using tunnel systems for many years against the chinese, japanese and french invaders. The tunnel rats were not spies or saboteur sent to north vietnam or neutral cambodia. In a documentary for the film, boll revealed the film did not have a script, and instead the actors improvised their lines. Tunnel rats were considered to have the most dangerous roles of any combatant in vietnam. I bought this book after my holidays in vietnam and i have never thought that this country would made me such a wonderful delight. Some tunnel rats used silencers with their pistols to reduce the bark when fired. What was it like to be an american tunnel rat in vietnam. Home vietnam war digger diary stories biographies sappers war aussie tunnel rats vietnam war. Tunnel rats in vietnam cherrieswriter vietnam war website. 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. Aug 06, 2017 vietnams littleknown underground war and the men and women who fought it.
They had an amusing latin motto which i am trying to remember. Based on the tunnel rats of the vietnam war, 1968 tunnel rats is a thrilling low budget war film. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Their main mission is to cleanup the vietcong network of tunnels found in the cuchi district outside the south vietnamese capital of saigon. 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. If there were vent holes that we had not seen from outside, the concussion from the grenades explosions wouldnt necessarily have. Tunnel rats motto the firearms forum the buying, selling. Trailer for this war drama about man to man combat in the tunnels underneath the jungle in vietnam. During the vietnam war, if a us tunnel rat got injured or. The film is based on the factual duties of tunnel rats during the vietnam war. These were the terrifying dangers of being a tunnel rat in vietnam. Armed with only a pistol and a knife, these soldiers would navigate the tiny.
I am a veteran and i am trying to help a fellow veteran who served in vietnam as a tunnel rat his army records from that time are missing. And yet, if your wounds are often formed keloids excessive growth of scar. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. The tunnel rats, those who survived, did not tell their own story.
Vietnams littleknown underground war and the men and women who fought it. The job was time consuming, difficult the tunnels were a tight squeeze for a typical vietname. Photograph taken april 24, 1967 courtesy of wikimedia commons. Another short osprey book that i read quickly for a section of my dissertation. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Here is another good book by osprey publishing, tunnel rat in vietnam. Attacking underground bunkers in vietnam was the least of my worries. 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. The tunnel rats in the vietnam war the military history blog. A sappers war by j thomson with s macgregor new book. Tunnel rats, also known as 1968 tunnel rats, is a 2008 germancanadian war suspense film written and directed by uwe boll. The war in vietnam was raging and the united states had only just begun sending. Jul 22, 2008 years ago i read a great book about the tunnel rats who served in vietnam.
American, australian, and new zealander soldiers who performed underground search missions. Stephen shorty menendez was a tunnel rat in vietnam. Even today, the united states marine corps faces similar issues in fighting the taliban in the cavelike kyareses, or irrigation tunnels of afghanistan. Oct 02, 2015 american, australian, and new zealander soldiers who performed underground search missions. Nov 16, 2017 they would gain the nickname tunnel rats please do not reupload our content. Due to the intense and dangerous nature of the job, many tunnel rats became so emotionally desensitized that entering a spider hole was just another day at the office no big deal. It was long known that such complexes existed, but it was not realized just how extensive they were in some. Soldiers designated as tunnel rats were given the job to clear out vietcong tunnels. 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.
Is there anyone out there who knows the correct latin phrase. That excellent website is predominantly by and for aussie vietnam. The nook book ebook of the tunnel rat in vietnam by gordon l. One of these was master sgt flo rivera who acquired and used a 9mm german luger. A harrowing account of americas tunnel rats in the underground battlefields of vietnam. Two of us were sent into the tunnel that day, myself and benoit. Sorry to say i havent read it, but its author did serve in vietnam. Tunnel rats ofvietnam vietnams littleknown underground war and the men and women who fought it sgt. Tunnel rat in vietnam download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. What was the mortality rate of the vietnam era tunnel rats. First of all, those ops were certainly not off the book. He takes you deep into those enemy tunnels, making you taste the acrid gunsmoke and feel the cold black earth. The vietnam tunnel rats association has reserved the australian war memorial last post ceremony for 18 february next year. The tunnel rats by stephen leather goodreads share book.
American officers in vietnam viewed the short, wiry combat engineers as swat teams to be. Sappers war aussie tunnel rats vietnam war books on war. Read online tunnel rat in vietnam pdf book by on juggernaut books. These were the terrifying dangers of being a tunnel rat. The cold war had been drifting on for a number of years with the east and west ready to launch a tirade of nuclear warheads at each other. Simple history merchandise get the simple history vietnam war book on amazon. If you have heart disease, allergies, diabetes, skin disorders or are pregnant, before making the vietnam tunnel rat tattoo, contact your doctor and ask whether you need to take some precautions. Jan 01, 2012 another short osprey book that i read quickly for a section of my dissertation.
Loosely translated, it was supposed to mean not worth a rats ass. Download tunnel rat in vietnam or read tunnel rat in vietnam online books in pdf, epub and mobi format. Pete rejoruiz, a cubanborn tunnel rat, is shown popping out of a north vietnamese tunnel. Special us soldiers called tunnel rats would crawl through the systems to find the enemy. 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. Carl kenneth cory, a tunnel rat of the us 25th infantry division, actually liked the mystique that came with being a tunnel rat including other troops thinking he was mad. Selection of the best hotels with cheap rates in vietnam to book on hotellook. Jun, 2017 it was the duty of the brave tunnel rat to slide alone into the tunnels entrance then search for the enemy and other valuable intelligence. Buy the tunnel rats coronet books new ed by stephen leather isbn. There were numerous underground guerilla bases in south vietnam that had been built and supplied by forced labor from the surrounding villages. Tunnel rat patch, 25th infantry vietnam war, x rare. Whilst thankfully it had not yet turned hot, there were certainly sparks flying around the world.
Opinion my life as a tunnel rat the new york times. Click download or read online button to get tunnel rat in vietnam book now. Army brass decides to create a special unit called the tunnel rats. Feb 19, 2014 it seems crazy that men actually volunteered to go into these tunnels, but the tunnel rats were motivated by many different things.
Read this book and over 1 million others with a kindle unlimited membership. The tunnel rats were american and australian soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the vietnam war. Surprisingly, tunnel rats had a higher than normal rate of signing up for second. The pistols that were carried by the tunnel rats were varied, the. Buy tunnel rat in vietnam warrior by gordon l rottman isbn.
They would gain the nickname tunnel rats please do not reupload our content. During the vietnam war, if a us tunnel rat got injured. The tunnels have become a major nuisance for the u. Rottman, served in vietnam with the 1st cavalry division in the late1960s, and witnessed some of what tunnel rats did personally. Tunnel rats is a surprinsly accomplished film from director uwe boll. They came to be known simply as tunnel rats with the unofficial motto non gratum anus rodentum not worth a rat s ass. He would have been in country somewhere in the 6870 time frame. See more ideas about vietnam war, vietnam and vietnam war photos. Most of us who served as tunnel rats during the vietnam war quickly. 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. This vietnam war book records the operations of sappers in the 3 field troop royal australian.
These weapons were used in against some of the most lowtech forces the us military had faced in a long time. We believe our total number is somewhere around 700. In their 1985 book, the tunnels of cu chi, bbc reporters tom mangold and john penycate told the story of the american tunnel rats, a saga they learned about for the first time from the viet cong, who admired the tunnel rats as the best soldiers among the american forces. Unfortunately this book is almost entirely a recitation of the equipment used by tunnel rats, or how many tunnel rats you might find in a battalion, or how tunnel rats might have used gas or explosives or flashlights in a tunnel. Small villages dot this land, worked by peasants, who have lived there for centuries. Shorty s belowground battles are nothing less than incredible. The country, the people and all the things we were able to visit there and of course in one of the first place i would place the tour to the tunnels of cu chi. Feb 20, 2012 buy tunnel rat in vietnam warrior by gordon l rottman isbn. Did the tunnel rats make much of an impact in the war. Please consider supporting our videos on patreon simplehistory to clear out the dangerous enemy tunnels, brave. This particular books almost gets there but ultimately falls short as the ending is pure fiction and unbelievable. This tongueincheek expression was the motto of the tunnel rats. Other tunnel rats procured their own personal firearms to suit their own needs. In a documentary for the film, boll revealed the film did not have a.