Since the 1940s, during the war against the french colonial forces, the viet cong had created an extensive underground system of. Vietnam brothers forever can coo 2 vietnam memorial wall million do 1 vietnam service ribbon windowbu vietnam veteran 50th anniversary 1 vietnam veteran 50th anniversary 5 vietnam veteran tribute dog tag 1 vietnam warconflict wall map 1 zippo pouches, fluid and flints 2. The tunnel rats were american, australian and new zealand soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the vietnam war. Tunnel rats vietnam war this war book has much of the material used for the self published book no need for heroes. Army, navy, marines, and air force vietnam vet tees. Real tunnel rat patches are rarer then team worn sog patches. 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. Sandy has added extra historical information from his own archives and research which is now more so offered as a military history book. It was a brutal, controversial conflict that had grave consequences for many. They were infantrymen who volunteered to go down the tunnels of south vi. Tom mangold and john penycate, authors of one of the definitive accounts of tunnel warfare in the vietnam war, reported that u.
The author was a graduate of the royal military college, duntroon, as a young captain sandy macgregor commanded 3 field troop in vietnam, where he won the military cross. No dead tunnel rats were left in a tunnel, dead or wounded they were all dragged out with commo wire, ropes, or by a comrade using a firemans crawl. The vietnam tunnel rats association has reserved the australian war memorial last post ceremony for 18 february next year. In a documentary for the film, boll revealed the film did not have a. Two of us were sent into the tunnel that day, myself and benoit. Please enjoy this vietnam tunnel rat shoulder patch. The tunnel rats knew what worked for them and were exceedingly conservative in adopting any new hardware or weapons. Decorated veteran billy heflin shares what it was like for him to be a tunnel rat in the vietnam war. South vietnam and their allies looked to tunnel rats to combat the effectiveness of the cu chi tunnels. Vietnam tunnel rat shoulder patch vietnam shoulder. Overall this a excellent primer on tactics, techniques and procedures of this little know form of irregular warfare that has seen revitalization of tunnel warfare in our current conflict in afghanistan, were todays tunnel fighter carry on the linage of their vietnam tunnel rat brethrens. Tunnel rat pin vietnam war veterans vietnam tunnel rat pin.
Shop vietnam war military veteran patches just for vets. It is the same patch used by the united states armed forces and is of the highest quality. Tunnel rat, ferret patch vietnam war original post. The tunnel rats in the vietnam war the military history blog. To a man, volunteers only volunteers were permitted to join tunnel rat units they would enter the tunnels network systems of the viet cong armed with nothing more than a pistol and a knife. In a documentary for the film, boll revealed the film did not have a script, and instead the actors improvised their lines. Pete rejoruiz, a cubanborn tunnel rat, is shown popping out of a north vietnamese tunnel. Later, similar teams were used by the soviet army during the soviet war in afghanistan, and the israel defense forces. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Mar 14, 2017 decorated veteran billy heflin shares what it was like for him to be a tunnel rat in the vietnam war. 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. During the vietnam war tunnel rat became a more or less official specialty for volunteer infantrymen, primarily from australia, new zealand, and the united states. The tunnel rats faced trap doors which contained deadly spikes underneath, snakes were hung from the ceiling so they would hang down ready to attack anyone passing by and some also contained holes in the side of the tunnel wall, on the other side would be a viet cong soldier holding a spear ready to impale any intruders. It was a very stressful, nerve racking job, pushing the rat s mental state to its limits.
Tunnel rats and dogs soldiers, and a tunnel rat preparing to detonate an explosion in the tunnel. What was the mortality rate of the vietnam era tunnel rats. While tracking down specific statistics on fatality rates among the tunnel rats is not easy, it is not a stretch to venture that. Also on my left shoulder is the americal division patch, the southern cross. Tunnel rat 1st cavalry division airmobile helicopter assault measures 4. The veterans of vietnam motorcycle club is dedicated to honoring the vietnam veterans and keeping alive the memory of those who gave their lives in the vietnam conflict. The tunnel exploration kit was abandoned in service, most tunnel rats wanted nothing to do with it, and it was quickly withdrawn.
Vietnam tunnel rat shoulder patch vietnam shoulder patches. Dec 14, 2009 conflict vietnam tunnel rats ps2 cunftucker. Operations of australian 3 field engineers 1rar viet cong. Our tunnel rat vietnam patch is a full color, embroidered military patch. Records the operations of 3 field troop royal australian engineers 1rar.
The vietcong had been using tunnel systems for many years against the chinese, japanese and french invaders. He served in the 5th special forces group in vietnam in 196970 and subsequently in airborne infantry, longrange patrol and intelligence assignments until retiring after 26 years. Us military vietnam war veteran tet offensive agent orange. See more ideas about vietnam war, vietnam and vietnam war photos. Vietnam war during the vietnam war tunnel rat became a more or less official specialty for volunteer. This photo was taken a few days after we had arrived in vietnam, and a few days before we would be flown south, where we would join our. Feb 09, 2018 sapper jim marett outside the ruins of a rubber plantation mansion in vietnam in 1970. Patch tunnel rat rare ops patch not worth a rat s arse cu chi vietnam war non gratum anus rodendum vietnam war patch underground special operations unit. Members of the armed forces will absolutely love these high quality embroidered military patches. Vietnam war reproduction collectibles 19611975 other militaria.
Sappers war aussie tunnel rats vietnam war books on war. Gordon l rottman entered the us army in 1967, volunteered for special forces and completed training as a weapons specialist. First of all, those ops were certainly not off the book. Those who served in the conflict can never forget the time they spent in the steaming jungles of southeast asia. Their motto was the tongueincheek latin phrase non gratus anus rodentum not worth a rat s arse in the early stages of the war against the french colonial forces, the viet minh created an. Reputation trusted by 1,000,000 military veteran shoppers since 2000. Military unit patches military patches embroidered. This vietnam tunnel rat shoulder patch usually ships in 15 business days. This vietnam war book records the operations of sappers in the 3 field troop royal australian engineers 1rar. Tunnel rats, also known as 1968 tunnel rats, is a 2008 germancanadian war suspense film written and directed by uwe boll. Combine comfort and pride with your american military service when you wear one of our veterans tshirts. Tunnel rats ofvietnam vietnams littleknown underground war and the men and women who fought it sgt. Opinion my life as a tunnel rat the new york times.
The tunnel rats were not spies or saboteur sent to north vietnam or neutral cambodia. Jack flowers, us army vietnam war patch amongst the most revered and feared elements of the allied military in vietnam were the tunnel rats. We believe our total number is somewhere around 700. Veteran patches, acu patches and current military unit patches are all in stock at low prices. For them, thats what they do and only they will do it, normal infantry within australian rank would not go into tunnel system, and they are the only unit tagged with tunnel rat acronym. This is the same patch that is supplied to the military and sold in military base exchanges. Rats tunnel in the war of vietnam learning history. The film is based on the factual duties of tunnel rats during the vietnam war.
The following army divisional patches were used in the viet nam war. Most of us who served as tunnel rats during the vietnam war quickly realized that crawling through. Special us soldiers called tunnel rats would crawl through the systems to find the enemy. By 1969, subterranean combat in the tunnels of south vietnam had been refined by time and experience. A second murder in bangkok links the deaths to a group of vietnam veterans who worked as tunnel rats, one of whom is about to become vicepresident of the usa and cannot have their secret revealed, so he sends a mercenary to take care of any revelations. The tunnel systems could often be huge, and would be filled with all kinds of tricks and traps, not to mention people trying to kill you. Small villages dot this land, worked by peasants, who have lived there. The conflict continued for our nations best and bravest until april of 1975 and the fall of saigon. Their motto was the latin phrase nongradus rodentumnot worth a rat. They were the 1st to find the secret viet cong tunnels.
Tunnel rats were generally men of smaller stature 56 and under, who were able to maneuver more comfortably in the narrow tunnels. The warlocks was an infamous biker group founded in philadelphia in 1967 which attracted a large number of members after the. Tunnel rats as a unit is indeed exist for australian force in vietnam, they are the men of 3 troop, 1st field sqn, royal australian engineer. This patch would be a great gift idea and a wonderful addition to your patch collection. Vietnams littleknown underground war and the men and women who fought it. 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.
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