The tunnel systems in Vietnam were used by the Viet Cong guerillas as hiding spots during combat as well as being used for communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon storage, and living quarters.
Living conditions within the tunnels were harsh. It was difficult to obtain food or water, and there wasn’t a lot of air flow. There were numerous bugs that infested the tunnels, such as ants, poisonous centipedes, spiders, scorpions, and mosquitoes. There were also snakes and bats, although those were harmless. People in the tunnels were also prone to sickness, especially malaria.
Tunnels rats were soldiers ordered to go into the tunnels and kill any remaining soldiers in the tunnels, as well as to plant explosions to destroy the tunnels. They were only armed with .45 caliber pistols and a flashlight. Usually, they were allowed to have a different weapon of their own choosing. Tunnel rats were always small people that would be able to fit into the narrow tunnels.
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This might sound weird, but on the show Man Vs Wild, I believe Bear Grills actually found one of the tunnels and had to eat a raw frog in one! I remember him talking about the Vietcong actually living down in the jugles and tunnels. They are more like crazy tunnels of death I think. Those soldiers were crazy and the rats were crazier. How scary would that be?
ReplyDeleteI think it is pretty interesting that these hand made tunnels had living quarters, hospitals, and wepon storage.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't imagine being in those kind of conditions. I am not a big fan of small confined places, so I am not sure if I would be able to do what these people did.
ReplyDeleteJust reading this it made me wonder if so many of these types of strategies were used during this time period, how do we keep moving forward? They must've spent a whole lot of time on medical issues as well as battles. Health is a big issue in war, and it definitely turns the tide of battle. Are conditions really this bad? Even today?
ReplyDeleteThere is a great show on the history channel called cities of the underground. One of the shows was about these tunneland showed crazy things! I couldnt imagine living somewhere like that.
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