Table of Contents
What did American soldiers do for fun in Vietnam?
And that was (for the men in the field): Sleep when ever possible, because there was NO daily routine. Shooting or explosions could come at any time, from any direction. Or “movement”. Other than sleeping, eating, a cold beer (or soda) was excellent entertainment.
Is the movie Platoon historically accurate?
HISTORICAL ACCURACY: The film does not claim to be a true story, although Stone made no secret of it being autobiographical in spots. Barnes and Elias were based on two of Stone’s sergeants, but they were not in the same platoon.
What was the average American GI experience in Vietnam?
AMERICAN GIs IN VIETNAM The average of American GIs in 1968 was 19. GIs typically served for 329 days.
What bad things did the US do in Vietnam?
Between July 1966 and December 1973, more than 503,000 U.S. military personnel deserted, and a robust anti-war movement among American forces spawned violent protests, killings and mass incarcerations of personnel stationed in Vietnam as well as within the United States.
Did Oliver Stone see combat?
In April 1967, Stone enlisted in the United States Army and requested combat duty in Vietnam. From September 16, 1967, to April 1968, he served in Vietnam with 2nd Platoon, B Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division and was twice wounded in action.
How long was Oliver Stone in Vietnam?
Eventually Stone was discharged in November 1968 after 15 months of duty, and received two personal awards: the Bronze Star with “V” device, which he received after conducting “extraordinary acts of courage under fire,” and a Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster.
How did the military keep soldiers busy during the Vietnam War?
To keep them busy, military authorities provided a full slate of recreational opportunities.
What happened to Long Binh Post after the war?
Construction of new recreational facilities on Long Binh Post continued until the end of the war. As late as 1970, more than a year into troop withdrawals from Vietnam, the U.S. Army was still planning to build two 474-seat movie theaters, additional handball courts, two in-ground swimming pools with bathhouses, and a recreational lake.
Did the Vietnamese keep American captives even after Operation Homecoming?
As in any tragedy, conspiracy theorists kicked into overdrive, suggesting that the Vietnamese kept American captives even after they returned 591 American servicemen during Operation Homecoming.
What happened to our farms in Vietnam?
Ngo Dinh Diem (the leader of South Vietnam at the time) even took away our farms and put them under the control of a single rich guy who’d supported the French in World War II. This happened all over South Vietnam and was called “land reform,” rather than the far more accurate “serious, deep, and exploratory boning.”