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Posted: 2/8/2006 2:55:50 PM EDT
[#1]
how about change in tactics due to moving from m-14 to M16.
when you finish it please post it |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 2:58:52 PM EDT
[#2]
 what happened? meaning the mil went from conserving ammo in patrols to spray and pray or something? |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 2:59:18 PM EDT
[#3]
Kinda along the lines of your SOF/SOG operations but....
I would do the "unconventional warfare" in general. Talk about SOG, Special Forces, Navy Seals, LRRP's, Recondo School, the need for Guerrilla Warfare and it's devastating effects on the enemy. Unlimited amount of information out there. 
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Posted: 2/8/2006 3:01:51 PM EDT
[#4]
Son Tay.
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Posted: 2/8/2006 3:05:33 PM EDT
[#5]
+1 for SOG and Son Tay suggestions. Siege of Khe Sahn would be good also. |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 3:06:50 PM EDT
[#6]
How the war was winnable, despite the conventional wisdom of such military minds as Kerry.
Start with "On Stragety-a critical analysis of the Viet Nam War," whcih makes a good case that the same number of men/divisions cuold have done the job if used properly. |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 3:06:56 PM EDT
[#7]
lots more meat there than that but it's a start. look at height of sigh above bore... accuracy penetraction. consealment vs cover. the nature of the way we wage war changed when they shifted over. |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 3:33:19 PM EDT
[#8]
How about how Hanoi Jane committed treason when she went to Hanoi or how John Kerry committed perjury when he testified before the Senate in 1971 or how the Viet Cong was essentially beaten in 1973 but the ball-less Congress cut off the money and strangled the war?
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Posted: 2/8/2006 3:35:12 PM EDT
[#9]
You should write an essay examining the effects of the anti-war movement/political micromanagement on the ability for our troops to conduct their missions.
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Posted: 2/8/2006 3:37:09 PM EDT
[#10]
Battle of Hue.
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Posted: 2/8/2006 3:39:15 PM EDT
[#11]
Tonkin is a good one, lots of new information has come out concerning the shenanigans there.
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Posted: 2/8/2006 3:55:20 PM EDT
[#12]
The role of coastal bombardment by battleships.
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Posted: 2/8/2006 4:05:52 PM EDT
[#13]
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Posted: 2/8/2006 4:08:31 PM EDT
[#14]
Captain Lance P. Sijan
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Posted: 2/8/2006 4:13:56 PM EDT
[#15]
You might try 1-7 CAV....
lz xray Lots of stuff written on it. "We were soldiers" I got to meet Harold Moore. I was the medic for A/1-7 at the time. I got to meet the meidc for A/1-7 then. Humbleing god damn experience. |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 4:17:22 PM EDT
[#16]
There was a captain in Ordnance that put the Son Tay raid together by careful study of where supplies were goiong, and asked the Col. in charge how the raid was going while it was running. Good oppurtunity to tell the story of Son Tay, and how enough 'open source' material can uncover almost anything.
Ops |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 4:18:23 PM EDT
[#17]
Focus on 1975.
Few people remember the armored invasion of south vietnam by the North. |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 4:19:39 PM EDT
[#18]
Write about the Navy's only helicopter gunship squadron, The Seawolves. Their web page is here. There is a forum on the site. You need primary sources? Those folks are very proud (rightfully) of what they did and in my experience, very willing to give interviews if asked.
You would probably be the only one in your class writing on that subject so it wouldn't be something that your teacher has read about 87 times - a big plus if you can put a decent paper together. 
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Posted: 2/8/2006 4:21:43 PM EDT
[#19]
On how SecDef. McNamara screwed the pooch and how much of a complete imbecile he was.
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Posted: 2/8/2006 4:27:40 PM EDT
[#20]
The Battle of Ia Drang Valley would be a good one. It was the first major battle between US forces and the NVA. It also occurred in late 1965, a period before all of the hippy anti-war crap gained such momentum.
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Posted: 2/8/2006 4:32:27 PM EDT
[#21]
Hathcock
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Posted: 2/8/2006 4:46:55 PM EDT
[#22]
Why did the US get involved in Vietnam?
Trace the history of the country back at least until the beginning of the Phrench invasion and colonization. Discuss how the Frogs exploited the land and the people. Discuss the country and the emerging leaders like Ho during WW II. Discuss how and why the country was returned to the Phrench. Discuss the Indochina war of liberation with the Phrench. Discuss the politics of the spliting of the country and the creation of North and South Vietnam. Discuss the role of the Communist Party in the north and the terrible subjigation of the people. Discuss the evolving war with the United States. Discuss the politics of propping up the corrupt South Vietnamese governments. Discuss Tet of 1968. Discuss what a great loss it was for the enemy on the battlefield but a great victory here in the United States because of the hand-wringing, panties in a bunch, pussified traitorous socialists on the Left here in America. In those days the main stream media still was the only voice in America. WE lost that war right here...we were NOT beaten. Discuss the Hanoi Hilton and the politics of using POWs to drive policy. Discuss the factors that ultimately brought the enemy to the bargaining table. Discuss the abandonment of South Vietnam by our Left-Wing socialist Congress in 1974-75 and the ultimate victory by the regular forces of the NVA. There is a wealth of material out there. I recommend you start with Stanley Karnow's book on Vietnam entitled "Vietnam: A History". A very good read and lots of pics too.   |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 5:26:58 PM EDT
[#23]
I am currently majoring in Unconventional Warfare, so I have some experience in this.
An examination of the importance of political resolve in a 4th generation war, then you could tie that in with expected confontion in the future( China) or current operations ( Iraq). PM if you need any help or are hurting for sources. BTBOB |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 5:44:22 PM EDT
[#24]
Yeah.  Good fucking post dude. Not like I'm any judge.....But...Yeah. |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 5:52:45 PM EDT
[#25]
Discuss the effects of B-52 raids on North Vietnam, specifically Linebacker I and II. I think the stats are sky high on the amount of ordnance dropped in those raids.
Talk about the Ho Chi Minh trail - how poorly it was interdicted or how well it was reconstructed Talk about the Phoenix program and how it was turning the tide in the south Talk about the Raven program in Laos... Lots of good stuff... |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 5:55:40 PM EDT
[#26]
What school are you at majoring in unconventional Warfare? |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 6:56:43 PM EDT
[#27]
Websites abound for references and research on the war, and these can give you new ideas for a topic. For starters check out these, including their link pages:
Vietnam: Yesterday and Today National Archives U.S. Army Center of Military History Wikipedia on Vietnam Virtual Wall GL |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 7:05:24 PM EDT
[#28]
whoa, got a lot more topics than i can read up on on one night.....
USN chopper squadron runs sounds pretty unique... will do on karnow's book and will do btbob |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 7:09:14 PM EDT
[#29]
What kind of class.
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Posted: 2/8/2006 7:39:07 PM EDT
[#30]
Or how about:
1. The way the politicians in the Executive and Legislative branches, the "statesmen" and the hippies kept the military from winning the war. 2. How Ho Chi Minh once was an admirer of the U.S. until we turned our backs on him (vis-a-vis the French, I believe) back in the late 40's or early 50's. 3. How the A-1 & its poeple excelled in it's role.  4. How the f-8 was one damn fine fighter.  5. The idealistic psycho-political photographic style of their propanda pictures. I'm particularly thinking of one showing a team of doctors working around a table or stretcher on a wounded NV soldier, all in the middle of a bunch of skinny trees, in a foot or two of water. 6. Kent State students: how did they provoke the shooting? Some of the suggestions are worthy of book-length treatment (and some have been done ). I'll venture that you'll do better with a generally more narrow topic, exhaustively researched and properly documenting your sources. |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 7:44:18 PM EDT
[#31]
5.56 vs 7.63 X 39 or M-16 vs AK-47 It's AR15.COM.....what did you expect? 
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Posted: 2/8/2006 7:48:25 PM EDT
[#32]
When you think of the Vietnam War, you think of helicopters. When you think of helicopters, you think of the 1st Air Cavalry Division. When you think of the 1st Air Cav, you think of the 1st Squadron/ 9th Cavalry/ 1st Air Cav Div....otherwise known as the 1st of the 9th(1/9).
Col John Stockton Col George Burrows CWO Lou "Rocket" Rochat CWO David Bray CWO/ Capt Larry Burrows Are just a few of the badasses that either spawned the unit(Col John Stockton) or the unit spawned them. Their tactics changed warfare forever. They were relentless in tearing up the enemy. They wiped out the NVAs 66th Regiment 7 times. They had the firepower and the means to destroy the enemy, and they did with excellence, moxie, and a cavalier attitude(blue Stetsons). There are several really good books on the unit, but two really come to mind... Headhunters and Hunter/ Killer Squadron both by Matthew Brennan. Another subjectis a "what might've been". What would have happened had the gubment not tried to fight a limited war. What if the Linebacker Raids(1 and 2) had taken place in 1965? North Vietnams air defences werent as sophisticated then as they were later on. Arc Lighting the fuck out of Hanoi, Hai Phoung Harbor, Vinh, etc. Another subject could be both, the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of the ARVN(Army Republic of Vietnam). When supplied with leaders that were just that, leaders, ARVN could more than hold its own against the toughest of NVA units. Sadly most of the ARVN was so corrupt , that leadership was a sign of wealth, nothing more. And yet another subject would be John Paul Vann. I need to say no more. Cambodia Incursion 1969 and later, to a much lessor degree, in 1971 The debacle that was Lam Son 719. The way the war varies. Hard places like Tay Nihn where mortars were a nightly occurence. Compare that to places like Bear Cat, Pleiku, Da Nang where luxory was a given. Lessons learned. |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 9:29:28 PM EDT
[#33]
"America's Vietnam War" 4000 level |
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Posted: 2/8/2006 9:40:32 PM EDT
[#34]
Hooah. +1 |
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Posted: 2/10/2006 10:45:07 AM EDT
[#35]
although i would have liked to have done the SOG/SOF topic or the small arms develpmennt/tactic change....they were deemed "too broad"
i think that i am going to do it on the "son tay" raid and 'operaition ivory coast'--besides, they involved SFs, USAF, USN, USA forces anyways, so i can get some of their info out too so son tay....any ideas on good books on them? i have done a little reading, besies allowing the US to show the world on the VC's treatment of our POWs and the US's bold incursion, any conseqenses that have had lasting, globlal/national affects? thanks again all |
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Posted: 2/10/2006 5:36:08 PM EDT
[#36]
1966 1968 1969 Oh...Alphaghost...if you have not done so...visit the wall. Spend some time there watching us Old Farts. You might learn something... |
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Posted: 2/10/2006 5:45:55 PM EDT
[#37]
Or the Black Ponies  
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Posted: 2/11/2006 12:53:21 AM EDT
[#38]
Nice post. We read the book "Brennan's War" my senior year of High School in my Vietnam class I took. Really awesome book. My history teacher actually met Brennan at a seminar-thing he was speaking at. One of those classic movie scenes where the speaker is sitting in the audience and someone sits next to them and has no idea who they are. My teacher just kinda asked him a couple questions, made small-talk waiting for Brennan to come up.....well the guy gets up and goes on stage and is like, "I'm Matthew Brennan".....  I really loved the book. And I cant believe your teacher said that SOG was "too broad"? WTF?  |
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Posted: 2/11/2006 1:09:54 AM EDT
[#39]
Everybody talks about Cambodia incursions. what about Laos and LRRP teams? Nobody talks about that. Good times there.
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Posted: 2/11/2006 1:15:37 AM EDT
[#40]
lam son 719 and the ventures into laos
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Posted: 2/11/2006 5:06:47 AM EDT
[#41]
Another vote for the Cambodian Incursion, Rock Island East.
Several good books on it, few know much about it. |
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Posted: 2/11/2006 6:18:04 AM EDT
[#42]
Son Tay Article- Parameters Son Tay bibliography at bottom of page Another bibliography |
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Posted: 2/11/2006 8:13:15 AM EDT
[#43]
Another book on the Son Tay raid came out about 3 or 4 years ago. It was on a man named Gallen Kittleson. He was an Army Alamo Scout in WW2 that helped in freeing the prisoners ay Cabanatuan. He stayed in the Army, and was requested to join the Son Tay raid. Its pretty interesting.
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Posted: 2/11/2006 9:44:49 AM EDT
[#44]
i have no idea....thats just what she said (my guess is that its b/c she is more of an straightforward, conventional infantry fan.....) will do everyone, thanks whenever i get a chance to get to DC, i visit the wall LWilde, thanks |
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Posted: 2/11/2006 9:59:53 AM EDT
[#45]
Operation Pocket Money and Operation Endsweep
www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/pocket_money.htm www.amcm.org/prelude.html and Endsweep Cold War Operations Including Vietnam War Operations |
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Posted: 2/11/2006 12:48:11 PM EDT
[#46]
Interview a wounded vet. Follow his life from high school to basic training, advanced training, deployment to Vietnam, Vietnam battlefield, wounded in action, evacuation to hospital or hospital ship, then home. Follow his life up the the present day.
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Posted: 2/11/2006 12:54:13 PM EDT
[#47]
I haven't read the whole thread, so it may already have been suggested, but how about something to with how the American left was an active ally of the murderous communist North Vietnamese regime?
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Posted: 2/11/2006 4:42:57 PM EDT
[#48]
If you do something on Cambodia I can put you in touch with a man who was a SF guy commanding a company of local tribesmen in Cambodia.
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Posted: 2/11/2006 6:46:43 PM EDT
[#49]
I tried posting yesterday but it didnt go through. Your teacher is a fucking moronic idiot if she really believes that 'straightforward, standard-infantry tactics' were best used in Vietnam.  The only time it was ever useful on the battlefield was in the Ia Drang Valley and LZ Xray. In the years after that, our troops were consistently fought to a standstill in open field fighting. Guerrilla Warfare was the ONLY answer to combatting the VC/NVA. SOG units and Seal Teams were some of the best performing units, ever. I have read that Special Forces/SpecOps teams accounted for like 40% of all kills in Vietnam, while only making up like some 10% of the total force in Vietnam. If you want a good subject to write it, write about the tactics and mindset of the White House during Vietnam and compare it to the same mindset/tactics being used today and see how similar they are.....only updated for 30years later. Also, be sure to mention why they failed in Vietnam and why they'll fail today. 
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Posted: 2/11/2006 6:49:30 PM EDT
[#50]
That is a freaking awesome idea, as well as possibly being an 'independent study' subject/project. You'd have to find one that was willing to talk about it. I have a good family friend who was in Vietnam as a Ranger who did some stuff every once in a while with SF teams who will talk about it a little bit. Said that Col. Moore was a great man.
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