Sample essay on military lessons learned from vietnam war course

The US military attempted to handle the Vietnam War with tactics similar to what they learned in World War II. In World War 2, they learned to make tank divisions and send those tanks as the lead-in attack force. After the tanks had bowed a hole into the rival ranks, the infantry was supposed to follow the tanks and protect the hole. The process was supposed to weaken the two halves and make it easier to handle and force into retreat. The plan was to work perfectly, but in the Vietnam jungle, they were unable to do so because the trees and vegetation kept getting in their way (Rottman, 2014). The Vietnams used guerilla tactics whereby they would hide in the trees, tunnels and attack without the enemies’ conscience.
They used mines to bomb the American tanks and snipers to gun down the foot soldiers; hence, weakening the American troops. Vietnam could have gone down as the Republicans said back then. Nevertheless, to do it would need so much of the army, even following the give-in of North Vietnam since an occupation would be essential for some time pending a Vietnamese government could restore order. Many began to see that financially, and in terms of lives that Vietnam was not worth that much. It would have been a Pyrrhic victory. Many lessons were learned from this war such as secret agents should visit the enemy’s country and assess the terrain. This process is to avoid surprise attacks and plan for the kind of machinery to use and the kind of soldiers that need to be dominant (Rottman, 2014).
Unlike in the Vietnamese’s jungle where the Americans were overcome by the guerilla tactics, the war must also be for a reasonable and a noble cause, whereby Americans realized that after it was too late. They lost many lives through bombings and snipers; hence, it would be a Pyrrhic victory if they won (McMahon, Schulman & Cockburn, 2007). They also incurred lots of losses through the bombings too. Another lesson is that an advance team should deploy for assessing the forefront of the war. It is also very tactical to weaken the enemy by destroying her resources such as food. Whereby, the Americans sprayed the Vietnamese’s crops, making the dry up. Since the country was short on food supply, the Americans got the advantage over the weak. From 1968-1972, the Vietcong was destroyed, the NVA was determined from South Vietnam and crippled in Cambodia. Their supply lines were being pounded by American air strikes; pacification programs in the South had virtually eliminated for activity and held up. Though they had the manpower, they were weakened by the airstrike’s due to lack of weapons (McMahon, Schulman & Cockburn, 2007).
Conclusively, as much as the Vietnamese’s wanted to fight back they were unable due to the lack of weapons. Another tactic is that one must be more advanced in weaponry, machinery, training techniques and technology. Also the adequate supply of armor such that no turning back for more. One should also incorporate lots of manpower inform of drivers, pilots, backup, snipers, stand by and gunmen. The three military groups (navy, army, air force) should also work under one commander in order to enhance coordination and well organized attack quads. Many lessons were learned from this war such as secret agents should visit the enemy’s country and assess the terrain.

References

McMahon, P., Schulman, E., & Cockburn, J. (2007). History: Grade 12. Cape Town:
Pearson/Maskew Miller Longman
Rottman, G. (2014). Vietnam infantry tactics. London: Osprey Pub.