Motor Transport: Vietnam Operations
The Vietnam War was not just boots on the ground and bombing enemy troops. Motor transport was a highly-trained position that had many functions. To be qualified for this position, it was required to pass a driving course to be prepared to operate tactical-wheeled vehicles for combat and transport. During the Vietnam War, the Marines Motor Transport was an important role because they delivered critical supplies, helped to move equipment between bases, and dispatched vehicles to support operations.
First of all, Marines operating in the motor transport specialty provided essential functions including delivering and distributing critical supplies. The troops relied on them every day, and this made
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As troops were relocated, the motor transport was essential for making sure that everything was moved efficiently. Hall notes, “When they started moving out, then we had to help them move their equipment and everything, so they put infantry back on the French bunkers and we went back to our trucks” (Hall). Hall’s military position in motor transport was responsible for moving all of the equipment to the next base in Vietnam. The field manual of the Headquarters Department of the Army indicates, “In combat zone, assigned task vehicles must meet increasingly difficult conditions as the support approaches the forward area” (Survivalebook.com). This illustrates the skills and challenges faced by motor transporters. They not only had to work hard every day to deliver supplies, but they also were required to be highly skilled drivers for moving …show more content…
Similar to the military motor transport support on base, it was important to have a dispatcher at headquarters to release vehicles as needed to support logistics and operations. Hall says, “When I got there I started driving truck. I made E5 sergeant, and then the dispatcher got out, so I was chief dispatcher at the base for the rest of my time” (Hall). Hall had paid his time during the war on base, and had moved on to another important motor transport role as a dispatcher at headquarters. On the official website of the United States Marine Corps, it states, “The mission of the Marines Headquarters is to provide operational, administrative, supply services, and logistical support for chargeable, non-chargeable, and attached Marine Corps personnel” (Unit Home). Hall played an important role during the Vietnam War by dispatching different types of vehicles as needed for military missions and
Out of the initial two hundred and forty, eighty-two remaining United States Marines killed over one thousand enemy troops. Eventually the remaining men were relieved to return home to be reunited with their
The United States Marine Corps are a branch of the United States Armed Forces, accountable for providing rapid power projection. Training is an essential aspect of becoming a Marine and being able to do this, so, Ian Tyson arrived at bootcamp, where there was utter chaos and confusion. No one knew what was happening or why, the drill sergeants looked like monsters, and every individual became nothing but a number, a part of the crowd.
You must be able to reach them in a timely manner, in case the plan of the day has changed. The Marine Corps cannot function without its most important tool, the MARINES. One of the smallest and most important aspects of being Marines, being where you are supposed to be and doing what you are supposed to be doing. If your leadership is unaware that you are doing these things then they are to assume you are not completing the task assigned or never made it to the required event. As Marines we are designed to be a force in readiness, able to deploy and execute missions within a limited time frame. Getting an entire unit up and ready to deploy requires a lot of moving parts which make communication and accountability on all levels important. Formations and gear inspections have become so ingrained in the USMC culture because you need to have the proper personal and equipment to complete the mission. Without the proper personnel in the proper place at the proper time the Marine Corps as a whole cannot
In the short story, “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien, each soldier carries many items during times of war and strife, but each necessity differs. This short story depicts what each soldier carries mentally, physically, and emotionally on his shoulders as long, fatiguing weeks wain on during the Vietnam War. Author Tim O’Brien is a Vietnam War veteran, an author, the narrator, and a teacher. The main character, First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, is a Vietnam War soldier who is away at war fighting a mind battle about a woman he left behind in New Jersey because he is sick with love while trying to fulfill his duties as a soldier to keep America free. Tim O’Brien depicts in “The Things They Carried” a troubled man who also shoulders the burden of guilt when he loses one of his men to an ambush.
...also being used. 1st Division had done well supporting the troops by making ease of the passing of impassable obstacles. Though by the end of the first day, what tanks did not bog down in German trenches were now out of gas.
Officers in the field lived much better than enlisted men. They generally assigned one or two officers to a tent. Since they provided their own personal gear, items varied greatly and reflected individual taste. Each junior officer was allowed one trunk of personal belongings that was carried in one of the baggage wagons. Higher-ranking officers were allowed more baggage. Unlike infantrymen, who slept and sat on whatever nature provided, officers sometimes had the luxury of furniture.
Once wartime rolls around, they become naval auxiliary, to ship and deliver troops and war materials. The largest participation came from the United States Merchant Marines after the Merchant Marine Act of 1936. Due to the act of 1936, the controversial question is when the
Johnson, it was time to change the way we were distributing our forces to help aid the Southern Vietnamese military forces (History.com, 2010). The use of aircrafts first started out to transport wounded off the battlefield, but quickly turned into the use of different chemicals such as agent orange, to destroy brush for troops to travel through easier. Operation Rolling Thunder started out as just a discussion among those of higher ranking command, but on March 1965 the talk became action (Pike, 2016).
i. Difficulties faced by soldiers due to the nature of fighting in the Vietnam War - Personnel had difficulties with transportation supplied with adapted vehicles back seat faced rear to provide additional fire power (Source A) – It appears as if the government didn't worry enough to supply men with safe and capable equipment - Threat of traps led to fear as vehicles had to be parked on street at night (Source A) o Check for traps each morning became a daily ritual particularly in fuel tanks (Source A) o A request for a locking fuel cap was denied because weren’t entitled to one” (Source A) • What circumstances would have needed to arise for them to be entitled to one? The Offensive full guard was set up (24hrs a day), personnel got no sleep and were constantly on alert (Source A) – How significant would this have been in the personnel’s mental frame of mind?
During the Vietnam war, soldiers were not exposed to the traditional coping mechanisms of our American society, as illustrated in Tim Obrien's The Things They Carried. These men were forced to discover and invent new ways to deal with the pressures of war, using only their resources while in the Vietnamese jungle. It was not possible for any soldier to carry many items or burdens with them, but if something was a necessity, a way was found to carry it, and coping mechanisms were a necessity to survive the war.
"US Army MP's in Vietnam." UNITED STATES ARMY MILITARY POLICE. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014.
For example, one such similar war is World War I. The soldiers in World War I faced many dangers similar to the dangers faced by Vietnam War soldiers. Friends dying in front of them, bombs exploding in their faces, land mines, bullets whizzing by their heads, exhaustion
As a Marine, it is imperative to have leadership skills along with being capable of working with others. This book was written to enhance the reader’s mentality of how the Marines operate. It informs those who are looking into the service, and provides an in depth look into the trials and tribulations it has been through—as well as conquered. This book substantially explains the vigorous training platoon 3086 went through in order to earn the title of being a Marine.
Peterbilt When our country was at war, the military identified the need for trucks. Trucks were very important because it was difficult to find a way to transport all the supplies, troops, and food. After WW1, this brought an increase in good roads, plus an expanding economy. This helped grow the trucking industry. The 1920’s were the years of innovation.
The same transportation systems that link a nation can also be used in the nation's war efforts. The rapid movement of troops, equipment, and supplies can be a deciding factor in winning a battle or a war. Transportation is usually classified by the medium in which the movement occurs, such as by land, air, water, or pipeline. Within each of the first three media, many different methods are used to move people and goods from place to place. Pipelines are used mainly to transport liquids or gases over long distances.