Why isn't there any information on other countries that fought in Vietnam?

Question

I know Americans know very little to nothing about the Australian/New Zealand Army activities in Vietnam. But apart from them there were a number of other countries that participated like, Sth Korea, The Philippienes & Thailand. Have there been any books written on their exploits.

Answer 1

First Philippines is spelled this way. Second yes there are books on the other countries. Third, most of these countries were involved in the war for a much shorter and more limited time than the US. Fourth most people over the age of 45 know a great deal about the history of the Vietnam War and are fully aware of the allies. Fifth all of these countries are extensively covered everywhere even in the Wikipedia coverage of the War.

It was a very different time in America and Vietnam was not a "declared" war for the US making it's participation controversial. Many vets came back to anger and ridicule and it also became a class war as the less educated were drafted and college students got exempted.

The first US troops went to Vietnam in 1959 with the first 2 Americans killed in action that year. Australia and New Zealand entered in 1965 at the same time the US upped their own troops. At it's peak Australia had committed approximately 7700 troops of a total of 48,000 who served and New Zealand 552 with a total of 1,600 who served. Of those, Austrailia suffered 510 killed and 3,131 wounded while New Zealand sustained 38 dead and 187 wounded. Thailand had 351 casualties and it's not known about the figures from the Philippines.

These are the U.S. figures from Wikipedia: 58,226 U.S. soldiers were killed in action or classified as missing in action. A further 153,303 U.S. military personnel were wounded, for a total casualty count of 211,529. The United States Army took the majority of the casualties with 38,179 killed and 96,802 wounded; the U.S. Marine Corps lost 14,836 killed and 51,392 wounded; the U.S. Navy 2,556 and 4,178; the U.S. Air Force 2,580 and 931; and the Coast Guard 7 and 60.

Answer 2

There have been a number of books written from the Australian perspective that I recall reading in years past. They shouldn't be hard to find. Most other nations have accounts, even films in their native languages. The ROK Marines, for instance, have a number of movies and firsthand accounts written of that era - in Korean, of course. When the target audience is not American, there is no sense in catering to it in English.

You may or may not be able to find works like that translated. A good bibliography in a work like, say, Stanley Karnow's "Vietnam" should yield references and source material. Try the Sydney Morning Herald's book reviews in the meantime. I had the honor of hearing first and secondhand family accounts of the Australian perspective myself. Happy hunting.

Answer 3

For an Australian perspective on the Vietnam War, log on to

www.awm.gov.au/atwar/vietnam.htm OR

www.waa.org.au/calendar.htm

Answer 4

Very good Chris. Once again the "evil" Americans come to the aid of the French.

Answer 5

Well, considering that people always want to blame america for the war to begin with, they hide the fact that it was France's war first.

Answer 6

y not searh it in da library?history guy r u?