Any ole noncoms out there from Vietnam?

Question

I saw quite a few old tops, squad leaders, chiefs, and gunnys getting put out in'67-68.
Some told me they saw too many of their kids shot up. They decided to go into field, set up, and try to keep people safe.
None of these noncoms were older than 40, some Korean experienced. Also, they challenged dangerous orders that would produce nothing but dead GIs, Marines, sailors, CG, and air force.
This with line and command officers.
Do any young people know this?

Answer 1

Part myth, small part truth: I know just Army.


As the war went from 63-5 66-67 68-69, 70-71 a gradual then increasing loss of senior NCO's E-6 E-7 was evident. The few E-5's that remained in the system by late 1968 were not enough to meet infantry needs. Retention of men for a second tour in a draftee army was nil for 11-b's.

It was not just the war that led NCO's to leave the military, it was the "times", so many infantry NCO's just were fed up with two tours as an infantryman; not like Iraq (there are some issues) but
two years of Vietnam level combat was just too much.

Frankly the army expanded way to fast, hence all those "shake & bake" instant NCO's mostly E-5's and a few E-6,

Most NCO's who left were also leaving as the pay sucked, they hated the "new army", drugs, wise *** soldiers, race problems, as we say it was the 60's. Think it was 1969 when we got a huge pay increase. So many WWII and Korean War vets had 20 plus years and many retired, my father included..

As to NCO's "challenged dangerous orders ", well good NCO's were, are respected, but the real issues came say 1970-71 near the end when there was little point in the situation anymore. But not in 1967, most career minded NCO's did want to serve in the better, "elite" units. Easier to lead willing troops than "push" those who are not so inclinded.

For every NCO you find like the ones you talked with I'd say there are ten who did their second, even third tours. stayed in until Gulf War, etc.

That film "Gardens of Stone" although 100% states-side with "the Old Guard" shows what many NCO's were like and wanted.

It was a "different" kind of war, every few years everything changed, hence who vets of say 65-6 and those of 68-69 and then those 71-73 see things differently:

I dragged myself over the entire span, never met all that many
infantry officers that gave stupid commands that lasted in their jobs, most NCO issues were with the Generals and such.

Answer 2

Peter, did you smoke your breakfast this morning?