The Vietnam War left a lasting impact on the world, and its echoes are still felt today. But despite its historical significance, many people are still in the dark about its complexities. From the battles fought in the jungles to the protests held on the streets, this conflict was a turning point in modern history. So let’s journey back in time and uncover the gripping facts and stories that have made the Vietnam War one of the most fascinating and talked-about conflicts of the 20th century. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of bravery, sacrifice, and heartbreak as we explore the tale of the Vietnam War!
1-5 Interesting Facts about Vietnam War
1. Did you know that in Vietnam, they don’t call it the “Vietnam War,” but instead refer to it as the “Resistance War Against America”?
2. Brace yourself for this one. A Vietnam War sniper is said to have crawled for three whole days across 2000 meters of open field, taken out a general with one shot, and then crawled back to base! Talk about a deadly shot!
3. You won’t believe what happened to Nguyen Ngoc Loan, the executioner in that famous Vietnam War photo. After serving death to people, he served them pizzas by opening a pizza joint in Virginia after the war.
4. Did you know that over 5,000 “war dogs” were employed by US troops in Vietnam? These four-legged warriors were more than just man’s best friend!
5. Just when you thought the Vietnam War couldn’t get wilder, some American troops got high by eating small amounts of C4 plastic explosives. Who needs drugs when you have explosives, right?
6-10 Shocking Facts about Vietnam War
6. Over 125,000 Americans fled to Canada to avoid the military draft during the Vietnam War.
7. President Jimmy Carter wasted no time on his second day in office, granting amnesty to all Vietnam draft evaders.
8. The Vietnam War saw a rain of bombs over Laos, with the U.S. dropping a staggering 2 million tons in just 9 years, equivalent to a constant plane dropping bombs every 8 minutes.
9. President Richard Nixon pardoned a Lieutenant implicated in the notorious My Lai massacre, which saw the murder of 70-80 Vietnamese civilians.
10. After the war, resourceful farmers in Laos recycled U.S. military equipment to create riverboats and canoes.
11-15 Surprising Facts about Vietnam War
11. Le Duc Tho made history in 1973 as the first person to decline a Nobel Peace Prize, after negotiating a ceasefire in the Vietnam War.
12. The U.S. military used drugs to boost the performance of its soldiers during the Vietnam War, providing 225 million tablets of speed, steroids, and painkillers from 1966 to 1969.
13. The financial cost of the Gulf War was lighter on Americans, at only US$306 per person, compared to US$2,204 per person for the Vietnam War, US$2,266 for the Korean War, and a staggering US$20,388 for WW2.
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14. The founder of FedEx, Frederick W. Smith, served two tours in the Vietnam War and received recognition in the form of a Bronze Star, Silver Star, and two Purple Hearts.
15. Tragically, There were 90 “friendly fire” incidents in the Vietnam War
16-20 Insane Facts about Vietnam War
16. Muhammad Ali faced consequences for his refusal to serve in the Vietnam War, losing his heavyweight title and facing the threat of a 5-year prison term. He famously stated, “I ain’t got no quarrel with those Vietcong…They never called me n****r.”
17. Hugh Thompson Jr. displayed bravery during the My Lai Massacre, ordering his men to protect Vietnamese civilians by pointing their guns at American soldiers.
18. A 2005 declassification of NSA documents proved that the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which sparked the Vietnam War, was a fabrication.
19. The U.S. military played recordings of ghostly sounds and voices to intimidate the Vietcong, who believed that the unburied would wander the Earth forever.
20. Roy Benavidez performed a heroic feat in the Vietnam War, flying into a gunfight with only a knife to save 12 Special Forces soldiers from over 1,000 NVA troops. He was shot multiple times and believed dead, until he spits in the face of the medic trying to put him in a body bag, eventually earning the Medal of Honor after a 13-year wait.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading 20 Interesting Vietnam War Facts that you should know.
