To provide much-needed distraction and entertainment to the war-torn soldiers, the government would invite U.S. military troops to concerts and other events by local performers. It was an effort to help these soldiers deal with the loss of their comrades and friends and the many other atrocities of war.
As the U.S. soldiers mingled with Vietnamese locals during these occasions, most of them started intimate relationships with Vietnamese women and went on to father children. Unfortunately, as some died in the war, and the U.S. government sent the others back to their country, these American/Vietnamese children never had the chance to meet their fathers.
The Active Marches
This image is of a female activist marching on the streets on December 26, 1966. She has a bandage on her mouth with the writing Vietnam on it. The protests against the war started on the streets and very fast escalated to other layers of society.
The street protests began with peace activists, then onto college campuses, and eventually achieved national prominence after the big 1965 bombing.
The Iconic Dumbo Drop
It is not a surprise that animals provide great aid to human living, and it was most evident during the Vietnam War. Both parties (the north and south of Vietnam) utilized these animals for jobs that humans and machines were not capable of doing. One particular animal that helped them traverse rivers and carry extremely heavy ammunition and supplies was the magnificent elephant.
In a strategic operation named "Operation Bathroom," the U.S. Army Special Forces dropped two elephants to help a South Vietnamese village survive. It was such an iconic event that there was a movie adaptation entitled "Operation Dumbo Drop."
When Two Ideologies Collide
As seen in the photo above, this is what happens when two equally strong forces collide. There was a big fight going on in this photo. While the U.S. military tactics included a massive amount of aerial bombardment attacks, the North Vietnamese Army commanded an air force from the Soviet Union, along with some Chinese planes.
All we can see here is the desolation of one country. There is a fire consuming everything in its wake, a used-to-be village now in ashes, and inhabitants that have either fled or met their demise at the hands of two opposing powers.
Pain Does Not Hinder Tough Men
Governments train their soldiers to be ruthless and powerful fighters that can withstand pain and trauma for extended hours. In this photo, a U.S. soldier bandages an injured comrade who seemed rather unbothered by the painful procedure.
The Vietnam War called for highly-resilient men to rise against any adversity a war brings. Discomfort, pain, and traumatizing sceneries are nothing but mere human emotions that shouldn't shake their will, at least until the war is over. The suppression of emotions among soldiers during the war takes a pricey toll the moment that everything ends.