Valley of Death: A Shau, Vietnam War, William Whorton
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- This is a continuing episode in the William Whorton series "Vietnam: Insane Asylum." Today, Capt. Whorton (ret) discusses what many called the "Valley of Death," A Shau Valley in Vietnam, on the Lao border and not far from Hue. Whorton discusses what The Valley was to Americans, its ruthlessness, its dangers, and that it came to be known as a feeling of foreboding, a place of dread.
The series itself profiles the insanity of the Vietnam war from the perspective of a former Marine who did two wartime tours there. Former U.S. Marine and Silver Star award recipient Bill Whorton did two wartime tours in Vietnam, one as an Infantry Platoon Commander for sixteen months, ten of those months as a Platoon Commander in Vietnam. He characterizes the war which he will tell us about as an Insane Asylum, hence the series name.
Whorton was both enlisted and an officer in the Marines and is a polyglot, fluent in Vietnamese, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, & Teochew), Japanese, and several other languages including both ancient and classical Greek. His other awards include the Bronze Star (Meritorious Service in Combat), Purple Heart, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (with silver star), Navy-Marine Parachutist, Eagle Scout, and KARATE (Okinawa) Black Belt 1st Dan.
A true Warrior and Renaissance man, Bill taught at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok for over a decade and reaching mandatory Thai retirement age, became a special lecturer for another 19 years. He is co-translator & co-author with Assistant Professor Tassanee Sinsakul of the recently published THE BHAGAVAD GITA: Lord Krishna’s Sacred Teachings on the Battlefield-of-Life, a translation taking 24-years to realize.
Whorton’s BHAGAVAD GITA can be found at Amazon www.amazon.com...
And at uppsalabooks.com. You can see an interview with Whorton at jamesboagyoga.com.
@CarterOnConflict
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Bill and Paul, I love the Vietnam : Insane Asylum series and this is the best installment to date. You guys make a great team, keep ’em coming please… thank you!
@@timothyadams9282 Tim, be careful - there is a tough moto cy gang up in your neck of the woods, I have a pic of them in my VP video. Thank you for this.
Thank you for your encouragement. I deeply appreciate your response.
@@CarterOnConflict 😁
@@CarterOnConflict Thanks for the headsup... I'll keep a sharp lookout for those hoodlums on bikes!
@@TADAMS-zt4zz ha ha - sick ‘em captain!
Thank you, Dr. Carter and Cpt. Whorton. I was born and raised in the Rep. of Panama, in the former Canal Zone. Ft. Sherman and the JOTC training areas were a bicycle ride from my house. I watched my uncle transit the Gatun locks aboard the USNS Upshur along with the rest of the First Air Cav. aboard the USNS Geiger and the USNS Gordon in 1965. I saw many, Mariens transit as well. We were the little boys they saw running around in their training area's. I enlisted in the Army out of Balboa HS, and served as an infantry man with the 82nd ABN. DIV. and a tour back in Panama. Often back with the JOTC as aggressors. For some reason I knew that the boogie man was real and lived in places like the A Shau. Again, thank you for reminding us all about this Valley of Death.
Wow Airborne, thank you for sharing this. What a great journey you have had. I really appreciate you watching and commenting, call me Paul, and I too was enlisted before becoming an officer and 9 of my 21 years was at Fortress Bragg, 5 in the ole 80 Duece like you ;-) Your story is a remarkable one, and I thank you for posting.
@@CarterOnConflict My pleasure Paul. I really enjoyed your work and I am looking forward for your next project.
I join Paul by saying, "AIRBORNE!!! ALL THE WAY!!! I hope I made clear the respect I have for the AIRBORNE soldiers in the 101st and especially their helicopter crews. I believe you have had great experiences going AIRBORNE. Good for you and GOOD LUCK!
I drove an army boat and went to Panama after a tour in Honduras and El Salvador in 83-84. Tied our boat up at the Navy base near the bridge of the Americas. Some trips to Ft. Clayton and Ft Sherman. Went to the Ancon Inn in the old city. The old man bartender was telling us John Wayne used to hang out there. Said he was in real life just like he was in the movies.
@@bhoran1152 that must have been a trip! Thanks for sharing this.
Lt..Bill Wharton was my platoon commander in Vietnam when I was with Delta Company 1/9. Hello Lt. Glad your still kicking. You transferred me and my fireteam to Golf 2/9 in 1965. I came home with two purple hearts and a lot of bad memories. My name is Harry Knickerbocker. I used to walk point because I was a good navigator. I was discharged as a sergeant squad leader. I went to college, received an MA in economics and then taught college for a number of years. I've written a book: Shadow Warriors, A Marine in Vietnam.
@@harryknickerbocker9889 Harry…..Bill will be happy to hear from you. Can you post a link to your book? Thank you for watching and commenting.
I am looking at your picture as I write this in our battalion book. You were a Lance Corporal. I do not remember transferring you and your fireteam to Golf 2/9. A group of us ended up in Hotel 2/9. I was wounded March 31, 1966 along with Jack Cooke and several others. I was supposed to get an evening flight out of Da Nang on March 31 but got hit at 1400. You beat me because you got hit twice. After my second tour in Vietnam, I resigned my regular commission as Captain and went to university for almost six years to study Philosophy. In January 1975, I returned to the USMC as a Staff Sergeant with two master degrees in philosophy, I had a wonderful ten years before retirement as a Gunnery Sergeant (Master Sergeant selectee) in 1984. We have had interesting lives. Please let me know if you would like to continue a communication. I will go on Amazon and order your book. Thank you so much for your response.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤💕💕💕💕 ✌️✌️✌️🕊️✌️✌️✌️🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️ BLESSINGS 🙏🙏🙏🙏👼😇☺️😊💞THANKYOU❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for the perspective Cpt. I was in the Ah Shau from Feb - May 69 with the 101st. I still feel it was a state of mind too. A lot of Marines, 1st Cavalry and 101st served there. Thank you for sharing your story.
@@michaeleffler6717 thank you Michael for watching and commenting.
I always feel kinship with a comrade who served in A SHAU. We seem to share a same kind of sense or feeling about having been there. Thank you for your comment.
Great presentation. Side story - deployed 1965 with 1st Cav. We were feeling our oats. Until our own “Valley of Death”. - Ia Drang. We were blooded badly but felt we had carried the day. In Jan 1966 we were having problems finding large forces to fight and heard about the Marines struggling in A Shau.
We volunteered to commit the entire division to take over the Marine mission and “get the job” done.
The Marines turned us down. RETROSPECTIVELY - THANK YOU.
Ironically, the 1st Cav got into the mission as you mentioned. But, no place in Nam brought chills comparable to A Shau.
@@kenweitzel2377 Ken…I am in awe of all you guys. Can’t thank you enough for sharing these warriors stories.
What an honor to hear from you! We MARINES in November 1965 were so impressed by your fight in the IA DRANG VALLEY. I love the 1st Cav. because of the support they gave me on July 25, 1968 on Hill 492, QUANG TRI. Elements of my battalion and I survived and won a very tough fight only because of the gallantry and professionalism of the 1st. Cav. I will talk about this later. You SOLDIERS are the greatest and thank you for your comment. You made my day.
Khe Sahn, Hue and the Que Son Valley Southwest of Danang in 1967-68 ring a bell! From May of '67 through September of 1967 more than 1,000 Marine "Grunts" were KIA alone in a 7-mile X 10-mile rectangle called the Que Son valley! Almost all of the '67 battles took place within 4 miles of each other! In 7 months of heavy combat, in an area smaller than most medium sized cities....1,000 American Marines KIA! Only 20 miles by air SW from Danang. 2 Marine Corps MOH's in one mission. Ever wonder why Danang, the 2nd largest city in South Vietnam at the time, was NOT heavily attacked during TET of early 1968 like the rest of the country? That's because the Marines stopped most of the NVA's infiltration into the Danang area during the heavy fighting of 1967 in the Que Son valley against the NVA's 2nd (Yellow Star) division which was "destroyed" again by the Marines in operations Union and Swift in '67! Mentioning a mission into the Que Son would make any Gung Ho Marine Grunt melt with "DREAD" after 1967! Don't believe me? Ask any Army Grunt from the Americal Division, 196 light Inf. who replaced the Marines in late '67 in the Que Son area! (Rocky Bleier, who won a Superbowl or even two with the Pittsburg, Steelers was badly wounded twice in August of '69 at Hiep Duc village area, in the Que Son valley!) The Americal Division got the SHIT kicked out of them in the Que Son valley in late '67 and all of 1968-69-70! The Marines were moved farther North towards Hue, Phu Bai and Dong Ha before TET of early 1968. You wouldn't have wanted to be with the 1st Cav and a Brigade of the 101st who fought around Hue to keep the NVA from reenforcing their troops in Hue City in February through May of '68 either. Yes, things were tough for the Cav in the Ia Drang and Bong Son but the Heaviest, Nastiest fighting by the Cav during the Vietnam war was probably with the many fierce battles with well-equipped, heavily reenforced, and trained NVA troops around Hue in Early 1968! Vicious, "take NO prisoners" on either side type of combat! If you'd enjoy reading about the costly battles in the Que Son valley in 1967 with the US Marines a good title would be "The Road of 10,000 Pains", I believe is the title. Author is, Otto J. Lehrack? The NVA leadership in Hanoi after the war stated that they KILLED more Americans in the Que Son valley in 1967 than they did in any place, or time during the Americans role in the war! The 1st, 5th and 7th Marine Regiments and the Army's Americal Division made up almost all those American casualties! What was the Americal Division notorious for..........The My Lai-4 massacres of over 500 innocent Vietnamese civilians on March 16th of 1968. Lt Calley. the Army's 1st lieutenant leading that sweep-n-search operation just died less than a week ago. 9/24.
@@kenweitzel2377 Ken, thank you so much for this history. Much appreciated.
@@jon-jo5pn WOW!!! You are a fountain of information and I appreciate receiving it. I went all over that area again this past December 2023. Of course, things have changed so radically over time but you can still see where a number of the old outposts and command posts were. I love going back to Vietnam and talk with the people but our generation is dying off quite rapidly. Time and tide............!! Thank you for your information and remarks. I appreciate the time and energy you put into writing this, SEMPER FI!!!!
Delusional leadership...says it all. I know I am being repetitive but the work you 2 men are doing and providing to us is incredible. I look forward to these presentations. Thank you.
@@falcon5215 Andrew, you keep us going by watching!!!! Always good to hear from you.
Thank you for your warm encouragement. Your comment is an inspiration to continue and work to improve.
Incredibly important story of heroism by the Marines, 101st and ARVN. You are all great Americans to me, and I thank God every day for the SOG and Marines I knew. Vietnam Veteran I Corp & Laos. Phu Bai/Hue/Khe Sanh 67-69.
@@willmears1111 thank you for your service, for watching and commenting
Thank you for your service. Those were very tough places and very tough times. However, the times and places were made glorious by the wonderful comrades from all the services we had the honor to serve with. I treasure memories of so many and especially those who did not survive.
Thank yall Dr. Carter so much, all these uploads have been a big treat. Bill is a helluva Renaissance man!
@@joeylowry874 Joey, always good to hear from you Cuz. He is quite the man.
Thank you for your very kind remark. I will note that I am always a student --- even at 83.
I’ve heard so many reports of Recon units spotting large units of NVA and when they would call it in, they were not believed. How do you not believe your own Recon units out in the field risking their lives?
@@buckappel6835 wow…still staggers me, and especially coming from recon whose job is to spot and report. Thanks for watching and sharing.
You put your finger on what is a mystery to many of us. The denial of on-the-ground reality was a real shock to many of us. It was a cause of great cynicism and loss of respect. Human nature is a very mysterious thing!
Was 0311 marine 66-67 Was sent on a couple of goose chase by S-2 but NEVER EVER got a solid report of any kind. Semper. Fidelis.
That would be e so maddening, why are we out here then!? You come out and see for yourself big guy! 😂
@@libertyman3729 Lucky you and congratulations on your good luck! Thank you for your comment and SEMPER FIDELIS!
Great to hear another firsthand view of Ashau. I’ve heard plenty of horror stories from the multiple MACVSOG accounts I follow. Great stuff keep em coming
@@JD93089 thank you for watching and commenting.
Thank you for taking time to respond to our video. One thing to keep in mind is the kind of combat missions conducted by RECON and SOG and SPECIAL FORCES TEAMS were very different in scope from the INFANTRY. The INFANTRY looked for a fight. RECON/SOG looked for information and intelligence about the enemy. They would have to fight like hell only when they were "caught out". I knew some great "snoopers & poopers" in Vietnam but did not envy their primary duty or feel the need to volunteer for that kind of duty.
"What's up in the A Shau valley?"
"Charlie drives trucks up there."
@@michaelmcgovern8110 ha ha. Thanks for the lingo. I love the old GI language.
@@CarterOnConflict
Don't send troops unless it's necessary. Support them "in theater". Help them come back to The World AND help them "come home".
☮💌
@@michaelmcgovern8110 Amen Michael. Thank you.
Thank you for bringing this great story of what was the real day life of your small group of adviser. As an ex French military person l’m interested by Vietnam war conducted by US military forces. Your story is a valuable piece of that puzzle to understand the complexity of it went within chain of command from ground to higher level.
I have such great respect for the French Army for their gallantry and heroism during the first Indochina War. I am awed by soldiers such as General Marcel Bigeard. I was personally aquainted with (later) General Paul Grauvin who signed his wonderful book for me ---- "J'ETAIS MEDECIN DIEN-BIEN-PHU". Call me a real admirer of the French Army in Indochina. Regarding communication, please remember MENDACITY was the entity permeating Vietnam.
@@WilliamSWhorton l really appreciate your comment and great relationship you made with fabulous warriors trapped in Dien Bien Phu. It has been a big mistake ending up in a tragedy leading to death of approx 6,000 prisonners. But before this catastrophic end french armies conducted heroism actions. Thank you again for your contribution whilst combatting in VN.
@@alainn.3556 Thank you for your support and expressions of enthusiasm for our project. I always respect and admire the marvelous 'elan" and "style" of the French combatants in Indochina. They were magnificent soldiers.
My grampa was force recon 1966-68 his primary AO was the A Shau and that place specifically was a nightmare especially early on in the war. Crazy stories.
Thank you for watching and sharing, God Bless your grandfather.
I am happy to read that your grandfather made it out of Vietnam alive. Good for him! Thank you for honoring his experiences in A Shau and commenting.
👍👍👍👍👍⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Thanks for you service Bill! I served 2 tours in Vietnam in the USAF. Tuy Hoa, Phan Rang, Danang "Rocket City." Also incounty TDY to Bien Hoa AB.
Thank you so very much for your kind remark. Thank you for your service in Vietnam.
An excellent report. Clear and to the point. With the message about 'delusion' at the end. Wonderful. Thank you very much.
We appreciate you watching Phillip. Thank you so much.
I deeply appreciate your response about my thinking regarding "delusion". You clearly caught the inner meaning of what I tried to express. Thank you.
This is going to be great. I just finished Larry Chambers's book Death in the A Shau Valley. Marine recon Rick Greenberg also wrote about some harrowing experiences there.
What a treat this morning. Thank you!
Greenberg described his amazement coming across tall stairs leading up to the top of a hill, a recently built permanent structure complete with a guardrail. In the middle of the jungle it caused some heart palpitations, especially since they had to walk up the stairs to investigate. It took half an hour to walk up the stairs and of course their being there meant there was heavy enemy traffic in the area. I wonder if those stairs are still there.
You just gave us a great book recommendation!!! Thank you sir.
@CarterOnConflict You're most welcome. Chambers was an Army LRRP and his first book Recondo is a great read as well. Greenberg's book is called Silent Heroes and it's a first-hand account of his tour in country as a marine recon.
Arthur Wiknik Jr. writes about Hamburger Hill in his memoir Nam-Sense: Surviving Vietnam with the 101st Airborne, as an enlisted man (and a "shake-and-bake" sergeant, to add to his challenges). A fascinating read as well.
@@VNExperience I concur with Paul that you gave us a great book recommendation. I am happy that this book is a further confirmation of what I saw in A SHAU. Thank you for your note and information. I will order the book.
As I previously mentioned I would order this book, I want to confirm that the book has been ordered and is on the way. Thanks again for the helpful information.
Outstanding work sir. Well spoken. God bless you and those that have served and are still in harms way.
I add my blessing to yours regarding those on active duty. Thank you for your encouragement.
Superb video, thank you so much, sir.
@@christiancork3912 thank you for watching and commenting, I hope you find other videos you enjoy here!
@@CarterOnConflict Already on the next one and I've just hit Subscribe too :) - Cheers
@@christiancork3912 thank you Christian :-)
Thank you so much for your response. This is very encouraging.
Thank you for your service, and thanks for the education.
I read a lot about the Vietnam war, and one book I think was written by Gary Linderer (I may be incorrect) but there was a LRRP team from the 101st Airborne in the Ashau in late April 1969 at the base of Hill 937 doing a recon. They could hear the sound of generators running further up the hill that the NVA were running. The cunning logistics of the NVA during the war never ceases to amaze me.
I believe the book you are referring to is written by Larry Chambers and is titled, "Death in the A Shau Valley". Chambers is from the 101st Airborne. I received this information from another commentator and thanked him for the information. Note: I ordered the book and it is now on the way to me.
Heck of a story. Kinda glad I stayed on a boat!!!
Ha ha - as a 21 year Army Vet, I always said the smart lads were the ones who joined the Air Force or Navy (although in a WWII those were very hazardous)
@@CarterOnConflict 🤣👍. I hold a record.
I cut down more trees and scrubs with my twin 50’s than anyone! I expended approximately 48,000 rounds in 13 months.
I’m really not sure, but I sent a letter in late 72 to my wife (she kept the letter), and I claimed that I had spent 38,000 only 7 months into my tour. We didn’t take a lot of incoming. I’m a little embarrassed, because now that I look back I was careless and indiscriminate.
I hate getting old…
@@tommcclelland119 ha, you were a young warrior. Those are some impressive stars Tom! All warriors youth suffer from the same afflictions. Yes sir….me too….i hate aging….
@@CarterOnConflict you’re the best my friend. My wife is doing her best to help me make sense of my pictures, letters to home, and personal notes I made in country. Shoe boxes and a a few plastic boxes full of stuff.
I have harbored many negative thoughts and emotions over the years Paul. Not all are the good times. And there was a brotherhood and a camaraderie that’s never been duplicated, and it can only be realized in war. Probably But I found you and your magnificent UA-cam channel. It’s actually brought me out of a shell & flooded my old brain with memories that I’m trying desperately to organize. It’s frustrating, but my 3 boys, 3 girls, and several of my grandkids are trying to help me. Flashbacks have become regular. Honestly, it’s been a positive journey trying to put together my life in Southeast Asia together…..
It’s actually very therapeutic to reminisce and remember. Thank you my friend. God bless you.
@@tommcclelland119 my goodness Tom….so touching….I can’t wait until your return to Thailand. I want to be an asset on this journey. Thanks for sharing this.
What a great segment thanks for the detailed intel.
@@andreasmetzner2005 Andreas, thank you for watching and commenting. I hope you enjoy other of the videos: www.youtube.com/@CarterOnConflict/videos
Thank you for your kind comment.
Most enjoyable! Thank you. Rich
@@rl64rl we appreciate you watching Rich!
Thank you for your kind remark. I appreciate it.
Very nice presentation. ❤
@@captainrikcaldwell9375 captain, thank you for watching and commenting.
Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it very much.
Incredible!
Thank you!
MY FATHER WAS CAUGHT BY THE VIETCONG IN ASHAU VALLEY. WHOLE RECOM TEAM KILLED THEY LET POPS GO BCUZ HE WAS THE ONLY BLACK SAYING BLACK MAN GO HOME FIGHT YOUR OWN WAR. Sylvester Bracey Sr 3rd div 2d 9th marine RECON. 67-69 2TOURS
Thank you for your note. Your father is a very lucky man! SEMPER FI!!!
@@Doro-iq7zp thanks for sharing this, incredible story
Wow😮 Holy ch-t!
@@longshotny Bill is an amazing guy. Thank you for your channel support.
@@CarterOnConflict YOU TUBE SYLVESTER BRACEY VIETNAM
Dr. Carter I am a former Army Infantry Sgt. from 06-15. After finding the downed chopper in the A Shau Valley and the ammo can with the inscription heading south, what happend after that? Was there no other information on the survivors? Were they recovered? Thank you for being one of my role models all my life. Guys like you are what motivated me to join the military, specifically Infantry. Most of all, WELCOME HOME! TYFYS!
@@joshuaschury5270 Bill will answer soon, thank you!!!!
Paul knew I would respond. I am sorry to report the following information. After finding the helicopter and the "HEADING SOUTH" written on a C-RATION COVER, I called in the grid coordinates of the crash site as well as the identifying numbers on the helicopter. Death and being killed in this way at this time in A SHAU was very common. I did not receive any further information regarding this incident. To the best of my knowledge, and this is very lacking and unprecise, there were no pilots or crew saved from A SHAU immediately after this. I am guessing but tend to believe that if someone had been rescued I would have heard about it. Life and Death in A SHAU was a very brutal business. Again, I am sorry I could not honestly report something more positive. Thank you for your comment and obviously sharing a mutal love of soldiering in the infantry.
@@WilliamSWhorton Thank you very much for the response and I understand completely how bad the AShau was as I have read many articles. Out of all the wars, Vietnam has always been my favorite to learn about. I also know first hand how ugly war can get as I did a tour to Afghanistan 2008-2009. Glad you made it! I hope you are doing well these days!
@@joshuaschury5270 Thank you for asking. Beautiful Wife and I are doing well. I am working on a new Sanskrit translation with my Teacher. Thank you for your service and I hope you are doing well also.
@@WilliamSWhorton Glad to hear! Your very welcome Sir!
That was beautiful my brother 🇦🇺🇺🇸
Thank you for watching and commenting.
Thank you for your kind comment.
Very educational. I hung on to every word. Probably there was a reason that you didn't see a lot of combat. The South Vietnamese that you advised were useful to the North Vietnamese. I am impressed with the bravery of the American servicemen in the Vietnam War especially fighting for the people who were not as committed.
Thank you for watching and commenting, much appreciated.
If your given let over WW2 armaments. How committed do you expect?
@@raygon8 thank you for watching and commenting.
Tomorrow (Sept. 24, 2024) I will talk more about being a senior battalion advisor living and fighting inside a South Vietnamese Army infantry battalion. This may give you additional information regarding the South Vietnamese Army. Thank you for your time and effort to comment on our video.
Important context. Cheers.
Thank you for your kind response.
Thanks for the assistance on a response to another viewer doctor, much appreciated.
Incredible. Stunning account.
@@wildcolonialman thank you Simon, stand by for more please.
Your enthusiastic response warmed my heart. Thank you.
An emotional listen hearing the challenges you faced - how do you defend yourself against all enveloping fog or allies willing to negotiate secret truces with the enemy? With regard to the NVA/PAVN logistics & organisation in the A Shau valley, I always think Dien Bien Phu should've set the stage - i.e. they over came obstacles that Western forces deemed impassable. As for the command's delusions, Nothing's Changed: here's how British ambassador to Kabul Sherard Cowper-Coles described 2009/10 Afghanistan: 'Ministers, military commanders & civil servants engaged in a "massive act of collective self-delusion"'. Thanks once again to Bill & Paul - these talks should be added to the training curriculum lest we lose these lessons so hard learned.
@@anthonycheaford1962 you always have such purposeful and thoughtful comments Anthony. Thanks for that Brit Ambassador quote. That sums it up well.
You have a remarkable overview of many key aspects of our war and an ability to project and blend old realities into modern ones. Times change but human nature does not. Wishing-will-make-it-so is still very alive.
@@WilliamSWhorton I've the benefit of hindsight on Vietnam & the blessing of being able to hear yours & Paul's analysis - the best of educations. I saw the exact same mistakes repeated in Helmand, but before I deployed there I was still stupid enough to believe the Establishment narrative that Afghanistan was a 'Just' & winnable War. My mission now is to save future generations from repeating our mistakes - that's why I value your commentary & Paul's research so much.
@@anthonycheaford1962 I really appreciate your fine service and enthusiasm for our project. Your support means a lot to us. Thank you.
@@anthonycheaford1962 I was in Afghanistan as an Infantryman from 08-09 as Security Forces (SECFOR) for the provincial reconstruction team (PRT) in Laghman Province (RC-East). The delusions and mistakes went way deeper than you can even imagine...
For some weird reason? The Vietnamese did not want their country to be occupied by the armies of the French, the Japanese, or the Americans.
Would you allow a foreign country to occupy your country ?
Thank you for watching and commenting. No, I would not like it.
So many people don’t consider this aspect of war, especially those of us who live in these American/British/French empires. We’ve never had to experience occupation.
@@asdf9890 thank you for commenting. Solid point. I hope you enjoy other videos on this channel.
Thank you.
We appreciate you watching and commenting. I hope you watch other videos on this channel and enjoy them as well.
And thank you for taking time to respond.
Back before PC bullshit. As an 11 year old 1970. I had a poster ( black light painted ) ‘ Ye though I walk through the valley of death. I shall fear no evil . For I’m the baddest mother fucker around ‘. A Shau Valley 1970. ( with a bad ass grunt slinging a M-16 over his shoulder) that’s what made me enlist .
@@JodyTrynabreak80butitstough ha ha, I was 10 in 1970, and I remember that poster well!!!! Yes I do. Maybe it influenced me as well to enlist in the Army 11 years later. Thanks for the memory :-)
That poster really brings back memories! You were born the same year (1959) that I joined the MARINE CORPS at 17. I hope you had a good experience after you enlisted. Thank you for your comment.
“When your time is up, your time is up in the A Shau valley”.
@@aarondrennan5650 ha, great one there Aaron. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Actually, that was a popular saying of the era!
Just clicked this on! Watched a few min. It's early am. Have to get moving.But, I will be back to watch entire video! This is going to be one *Ellava story!!! later
@@Americal-v6r excellent sir!!!! And remember, Bill has a few other videos on my channel. Thank you for your comment, have a good day!
@@Americal-v6r and you will love this other video of his: Combat Leadership: Commanding a Marine Platoon in Vietnam
ua-cam.com/video/-9zbV960cQg/v-deo.html
@@Americal-v6r and then this extraordinary one: Giải phóng: Ho Chi Minh's Transcendental Stratagem for Liberation, Vietnam War
ua-cam.com/video/Yrr-G50RGAI/v-deo.html
Watching from my H34, sick(orsky) video!
awesome storu
@@charlesjaphe thank you for watching and commenting
Thank you for your response.
Really interesting
Thank you for watching, we are glad you liked.
Thank you for your nice response. It is much appreciated.
Love ya brother, Semper Fi.
And SEMPER FI to you! Thank you.
Ty sir
That valley made people sick
I can see why. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Yes it did!
Nice video. Watching Hamburger Hill as a result of your comment. Thanks.
Thank you Jeff, and I hope you find other videos you enjoy: www.youtube.com/@CarterOnConflict/videos
@@CarterOnConflict Even better, thanks, your channel has some great content, right up my street. Cheers from Korat. 👍
@@jeffbeck8993 always great to hear from you Jeff. I greatly appreciate your support.
It is always nice to learn that a recommendation is acted on. Thank you for letting me know.
My dad did jungle training for Vietnam in Panama and brought home a
Baby black panther he found and raised.
@@MichaelBrining that is quite a story Michael! Thank you for sharing.
Another interesting segment of the saga. Good afternoon from Bangkok
@@jeffbangkok raining down there Jeff? Pretty solid up here, maybe the Typhoon after effects. Good to hear from you.
Thank you so very much for taking time to respond. Good morning to you sir!
we were in A Shau early 66....not much going on then L 3/4 3dMarDiv
@@marinegrunt6633 thank you Marine Grunt, appreciate you watching and commenting.
Interesting! Later there was a lot of action along the DMZ. When I got to the Great Lakes Naval Hospital in early April there were hospital gurneys packed in the halls. Thank you for your note and response.
Dimmer 6 was the call sign of HMH-43 Ch-53 Marble MT. 6 was the Helo # and Dimmer was our call sign, hope this explains that: Jim Douglas , I was over there in 71 with them and we had Lam Son 719 and Dewey Canyon II in that same area.
@@jimdouglas7922 wow, Bill will be so happy to hear this. Thank you for sharing and commenting. You’ll hear from him!
Words fail to express my gratitude to receive this information. I have several books on LAMSON 719 and thank God I didn't have to go on that one. The helicopter casualties were horrible. You are a very lucky man. Thank you for your information and service.
The Ashau Valley and the Ia Drang Valley were the most highly contested pieces of real estate that the most brutal fighting of the war took place. They were a strategic location where they were close enough to major PAVN base camps or Binh Trams across the border in Laos and Cambodia. The Ashau had a straight shot in Thua Tien province to Hue and the coastal provinces. The Ia Drang was located in the Central Highlands close to Pleiku and gave easy access to anywhere in the II Corps area from Cambodia to the coastal cities. Some of the most fierce battles of the war took place in those areas starting with the First Cavs legendary battle of the Ia Drang Valley in November 1965 at Plei Me and Chu Pong mountain. Later on battles such as the one of Hamburger Hill or Firebase Ripcord took place in the Ashau Valley.
Michael I really appreciate you sharing this detail with us.
@@CarterOnConflict Your welcome. It's my pleasure.
You have a profound insight into the situation and terrain. Congratulations to you sir!
@@WilliamSWhorton Me or the channel owner? Sorry I wasn't sure.
@@CarterOnConflict I am glad I stumbled on to this video. I love it.
Did you ever encounter The Rock ape? If you did or even heard about it I definitely would suggest you elaborating on it because it's crazy interesting.
Can’t wait to hear this answer!!!!
I have no knowledge about Rock Apes. This a mystery to me.
I googled and saw there was an incedible amount of sightings...wow....probably good not to run into one!
@@CarterOnConflict right it's a rabbit hole
@@ryanh4775 but an interesting one :-)
At 35:38 it's most likely cassava. It's similar to taro and common in Vietnam. The VC also ate cassava in the tunnels of Cu Chi when rice was not available. It's quite delicious.
@@VNExperience ah, thanks for that addition!
This sounds very logical to me and thank you for your insight. I do not remember it as delicious but it sure was necessary.
@WilliamSWhorton Thank you, sir, for your insights in this series of videos! These stories are fascinating. I very much enjoyed your thoughts on the Vietnamese concept of liberation and sacrifice. That specific one really helped me understand at an entirely new level some of the conversations I've had with Vietnamese combat vets.
My sincere thanks to Dr. Carter and you for making these videos available for us to gain a better understanding of history, and by extension, the world today. 🫡
_Cảm ơn nhiều._
@@VNExperience Thank you so very much much for your encouragement. It is an honor to receive such responses such as yours. Thanks again.
"only trust a soldier who wants to die? "
Well, you get the point, right? I gather he means "trust him with your life," which one is doing in battle. If someone is not willing to die, they will not give all in battle, and giving all in battle is required to win.
The sacred duty of a professional soldier is to be prepared to sacrifice his life in order to fulfill missions assigned. In war, this duty is killing enemy and enduring the possibility/probability of being killed. Nobody "wants to die" but all well-trained soldiers must spiritually and mentally be trained to devote themselves to perform their missions as a DUTY. Serving in combat with soldiers focusing on personal survival will not lead to either success in accomplishing missions or comradeship. What rational soldier would want to share a foxhole with someone concentrating only on their survival? Professional soldiering is not a way of life for the physically, mentally, spiritually weak. Egotists do not last long in infantry units in combat.
@@WilliamSWhorton Thank you for articulating.
Semper Fi - 1st MAW DaNang 1969
Thank you for watching!
And SEMPER FI to you MARINE!! Thank you for your response.
I was in the movie "Hamburger Hill".
@@jaygibson5057 too cool!! Tell us more please.
@@CarterOnConflict
I was a young Marine in the PI back then.
We were extras in the film.
Good times.
@@jaygibson5057 that is good stuff man. Thanks for sharing.
@@CarterOnConflict
Semper Fi
I am sure you have many wonderful memories of that time. I love the movie. On one of my trips to A Shau five years ago at age 78, I tried to climb Hill 937 but only got half-way up the hill. Rain came in and my guide was very worried about me falling and getting hurt. I kept thinking to myself, "How did these great soldiers do it?" The terrain was terrible. Thank you for your comment.
My buddy, Cpl. Rodney C. Rubisoff, was in the 101st Airborne in the A Shau Valley in 1970-71. He ran medivac and was a door gunner. He was based out of Camp Evans. Did you know him?
@@mechcavandy986 I’m anxiously awaiting Bills response to your question. Thank you for watching!
I left Vietnam in May 1969 so I did not meet your buddy. Running MEDIVAC was exceptionally dangerous duty. I hope he returned home OK.
You learned in Vietnam what we learned in our thirteen North American colonies.
Mike, thank you for watching and commenting, and I hope you enjoy other videos on the channel.
Talk about learning the hard way! Thank you for your instructive response.
The ashau-Valley and the La-Durng valley are not the same place. the Ia-durng valley where the 1st calvery had the first battle was 15 mile South west of pleiku near the chu-Pong mountain range. 10th cav mounted 1969.
@@galesams4205 Yes. Did Bill say something that made you think he was referring to the same place? He made clear I think these were separate places. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Also,we called FAC,”Anglico ,:Army Navy Gunfire Liaison Coordinator.
For example,if we needed New Jersey’s support we called anglico and have 18in.rds. “incoming”within minutes,it kept their head down long enuf for us get the pigs working,A10s were also good to break contact.🀄️
@@ChillinVillin-in7sj thanks for sharing your personal experience - good to hear from operators on the ground. Thank you fir watching and commenting, and I hope you enjoy other of his videos.
An Anglico Team was sometimes present on our operations with USMC units. However, I cannot remember where Anglico was based in I Corps. In this Advisory tour my battalion was almost always along the DMZ, KHE SANH, or A SHAU.
Wow! 😮
THANKS!!
I was in Que Son,Antenna and A Shau(death valley).
Que Son and A Shau were separated by a coll.And yes A Shau was owned by liberation forces.🀄️
@@ChillinVillin-in7sj appreciate your comments and contributions to the discussion. God Bless.
I just revisited Que Son, Antenna Valley, and A Shau this past December 2023. Many, many memories but also so much has changed. Thank you for taking time to respond.
By Whorton's own verification - He was assigned to the South Vietnamese forces in the A Shau and did not see much combat....That is my recollection as well of the South Vietnamese forces - "Didn't see much Combat".
@@mikekerrigan6405 Mike, thank you for watching and commenting.
Please note that I qualified the "did not see much combat" with "I was very lucky". I did see a lot of combat at other locations and we took a lot of casualties regularly from NVA artillery. We will be going deeper into this issue in another video. I hope you will enjoy getting another aspect regrding the incredible complexity of this conflict. Thank you for your interest and comment. I appreciate your recollection.
It seems to me that all the "wiz kids" of MacNamara's and the current crop currently in gov't service and in the Ivy League schools haven't learned a ----- thing.
@@JasonAllbright-g9r me thinks you are correct. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Whats the matter with you marine? Stand tall before the man! Join the team,,were winning this war! Full metal jacket
@@Americal-v6r lol, thanks for watching and commenting
I love "FULL METAL JACKET" and have the DVD. I take it out and watch regularly. It is time to watch it again. Thank you!!
we called it elephant grass... would cut the tar out of you... head of A Shaw was Khe Sanh...
@@josephderer9393 yikes - and yes, that stuff looks awful. Thank you Joseph.
I agree with your "elephant grass". We called it that too --- among other things. I spent about three (30 months walking KHE SANH. Very bad terrain. I am not really sure that there was a "better or worse" between A SHAU and KHE SANH. However, I tend to feel that there is a more mysterious sense of horror and dread attached to A SHAU. This feeling is personal so I claim no objective knowledge. Thank you so very much for your response and service MARINE!!
You think you’re the only one that saw that shit?
@@ourbeaglesnancystevens2825 what Nancy, the little green men at the Grassy Knoll?
you let them come kill us without fighting then.... you bastard, Im a Marine in I core
I've done worse farts than A Shau.
Then we would have loved to have you and your vast experience with us in the Korangal.
You've done worse farts than A Shau?
Was it after your BF pulled out of you , after a good stretchin' and rigorous close quarters colon combat ? 😂
What does that even mean ?
You've done farts worse than A Shau?
Was the fart after rigorous close quarters colon combat with your boyfriend ? 😂
Your two replies are hilarious!
Tony Armstrong
Thank you Tony.
Thank you for your thumbs up.
Maybe they had a death wish!
think you are murdering the pronunciation... A shaw... not A show... we had no business in that country...
We don’t pronounce it either way in Kentucky
Great presentation but the Americans have no understanding of other countries and reality, take Afghanistan or Iraqi, but its not about that its about taking tax payers cash for arms, hence Ukraine, nothing to do with Putin just a great cash cow!
@@farmind6582 thank you so much for watching and commenting. I hope you enjoy other of the videos.
You seem to have no reality in making a point and then opinionated points of discussion that aren’t even remotely related 😂😂😂😂, you go from insulting us and our intelligence or,,, in your words, lack there of, then you
Jump on Iraq and Afghanistan then you toss in some tax insult and then to top it off you talk some shit about Ukraine 😂😂😂😂 buddy what exactly is your point here? And where are you going with it? Because you’re all over the place, pick an insult and stick with it 😂😂😂Iraq and Afghanistan has zero to do with Ukraine and before you jump on that bandwagon I know you didn’t claim they did but you conveniently related them in your comment. Let’s figure this tax thing out you seem to think you’re on to something is simple American folk couldn’t figure out in our own,,, you say they take our taxes to pay for theee wars and weapons!!??? No really!!?? Is that right?? Hate to pop your over inflated self ego of intelligence there kiddo but we know all about how they spend our money,,, don’t have a solution to this problem??? No?? K please 🙏 shut your mouth then,,, I can’t help but notice that we Americans aren’t the only ones with our hand in the pie (Ukraine) we are at the table along side England France Belgium Germany Italy Poland should I keep going??? No?? Are you starting to see how your comment has no merit and isn’t holding any water whatsoever!!??? Still think you’re smarter than the average American huh?? 😂😂😂😂 it is Friday and I’m tired from working hard so I can pay my taxes that they take from me to buy weapons and help keep countries free or whatever they do with it,,,, what I’m saying is the weekend is here and I’m gonna enjoy my weekend without a care in the world,,, as a combat vet of Iraq and Afghanistan uh oh!!!! Didn’t expect that one didn’t cupcake,,, I think I’ve earned my quiet time. Educate yourself bud because your comment sounds stupid
@@CarterOnConflict right now started watching Part 1, excellent!
@@farmind6582 glad you enjoy!! We will continue the series. I hope you find other videos you enjoy as well, here is the list. Thank you: www.youtube.com/@CarterOnConflict/videos
Perhaps you have read "WAR IS A RACKET" by Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler, USMC?
Informative, but frequently off topic, highly repetitive, and often slow to get to the point.
Thank you for your criticism. I am a student in this arena and will work to improve.
Check out Lt. James Straus's book about A Shau.
First heard for me - thank you I will!
Thank you for your recommendation. This is the first time I have heard of this book.