Odd Military Facts....

[dragoon500ly]

One of the Dirty little secrets of the Vietnam War was that the Viet Minh had, serving in its ranks, former Imperial Japanese troops and even Nazi German personnel.

Between 1,500 and 4,000 Japanese troops, including members of the Kempetai, served as technicians and trainers and served as the core of the first Viet Minh artillery units. some 100 or so Nazi officials and soldiers of the Auslander organization also fought with the Viet Minh.

And in the 1950s, the former Nazi commando otto Skorzeny served as a technical advisor to the South Vietnamese Army.

"Dirty Little Secrets of the Vietnam War"

[dragoon500ly]

Field Expedients

During the Vietnam War, soldiers serving in the central highlands found the weather pretty chilly (40-50 degrees Farenheit). Troops sometimes found themselves in the field or remote outpsots without their normal sleeping gear. The more hardened types would improvise a sleeping bag out of the "Pouch, Human Remains", better known as a body bag. Those who used the body bag reported to it was reasonably cozy.

"Dirty Little Secrets of the Vietnam War"

[Graebarde]

Originally Posted by dragoon500ly

Field Expedients

During the Vietnam War, soldiers serving in the central highlands found the weather pretty chilly (40-50 degrees Farenheit). Troops sometimes found themselves in the field or remote outpsots without their normal sleeping gear. The more hardened types would improvise a sleeping bag out of the "Pouch, Human Remains", better known as a body bag. Those who used the body bag reported to it was reasonably cozy.

"Dirty Little Secrets of the Vietnam War"

Just don't get zipped up in one by a buddy. Recall the scene from Boys in Company C when they first arrived in Nam.

[weswood]

Originally Posted by dragoon500ly

And in the 1950s, the former Nazi commando otto Skorzeny served as a technical advisor to the South Vietnamese Army.

"Dirty Little Secrets of the Vietnam War"

That Skorzeny sure got around. I first heard about him in a Harry Turtledove fiction and thought he was a made up character. Then I saw his name in another book by another author and did some research on him. Amazing man.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by weswood

That Skorzeny sure got around. I first heard about him in a Harry Turtledove fiction and thought he was a made up character. Then I saw his name in another book by another author and did some research on him. Amazing man.

I've read the same Harry Turtledove novels. Until I read Dragoon's post I didn't realise that Skorzeny was a real person. Time for some Google-Fu.

[dragoon500ly]

Only once in nearly a century has bean soup not appeared on the menu of the Senate dining room in Washington DC. On Setember 14, 1943, as a result of wartime shortages, the supply of white Michigan beans ran out.

The ensuing senatorial uproar was sufficient to insure that there were beans enough the next day and on every subsequent day thereafter.

"Dirty Little Secrets of WWII"

And now you know the source of all the hot air on the Hill!!!!

[dragoon500ly]

In World War II, US soldiers were the highest paid with enlisted personnel earning (in 1994 dollars) an average of 750.00 a month and offers earning 2,200.00 a month. Soldiers in other armies received token amounts, or, at most, 2-300 dollars a month. US soldiers were qucik to note that not only were they better paid, but the also received "trade goods" as part of their normal rations. Cigarettes and candy were particularly valuable.

This in turn led the British soldiers to refer to the GIs as "oversexed, overpaid and over here!' This led the GIs to crack back that the Tommies were "undersexed, underpaid and under Eisenhower!"

"Dirty Little Secrets of WWII"

[dragoon500ly]

By mid-1843, 35% of the soldats in the German Army had been wounded at least once, 11% at least twice, 6% three times, 2% percent four times and 2% more than four times. During the war, the average officer slot had to be refilled 9.2 times.


Sourse is "Dirty Little Secrets of WWII"

[dragoon500ly]

Venereal disease has long been recoginzed as a major cause of non-battle military noneffectiveness.

During World War One, the VD rate for the US Army was 87 cases per 1,000 men per year (far higher than the French Army rate).

During World War Two, the VD rate decreased to 49 cases per 1,000 men per year.

During the Korean War, the VD rate increased to 146 cases per 1,000 men per year.

During the Vietnam War, the VD rate increased to 325 cases per 1,000 men per year.

Hmmmmmm

"Dirty Little Secrets of WWII"

[Graebarde]

Originally Posted by dragoon500ly

Only once in nearly a century has bean soup not appeared on the menu of the Senate dining room in Washington DC. On Setember 14, 1943, as a result of wartime shortages, the supply of white Michigan beans ran out.

The ensuing senatorial uproar was sufficient to insure that there were beans enough the next day and on every subsequent day thereafter.

"Dirty Little Secrets of WWII"

And now you know the source of all the hot air on the Hill!!!!

Explains the stinking hot air that rises from DC.