Sappers.

This is coolbert:

During the Vietnam War, American troops had the highest regard for one element of the enemy's forces.

These were the enemy's SAPPER units.

Both the North Vietnamese Army [NVA] and the Viet Cong [VC] included special sapper units as part of their order of battle.

Sappers are ordinarily thought of as being engineers with tunneling or trenching capability.

It would be incorrect to think of NVA/VC sappers as being merely engineers with a digging [they did have this capability] capability. These sapper units were MUCH more than that.

Think of NVA/VC sappers as being more akin to a ranger/commando type unit. Specialized units that called for special and intensive training. Units that were given the most hazardous missions. Units that consisted of troops with a high degree of elan.

A NVA/VC sapper would be given six months of training. This in marked contrast to the one month of training given the normal NVA infantryman.

Training would consist of map reading, orienteering, model making, breaching of obstacles and booby trap removal, explosives and demolitions, and of course digging, tunneling, and all associated aspects of SAPPING!!

The purpose of NVA/VC sappers was to penetrate an American defensive perimeter in ADVANCE of a ground attack by other NVA/VC unit. The sappers would initiate battle from WITHIN the American defensive perimeter at the SAME time another unit would attack the American perimeter from WITHOUT!!

This would cause American forces to fight in two directions at the same time, dissipating energy and focus.

This tactic of the NVA/VC sappers was successful on many occasions, using primarily satchel charges as the weapon of choice.

NVA/VC sappers had a peculiar and unique signature. When penetrating a U.S. defensive perimeter, they would do so NAKED!! This was to preclude clothing getting snagged on barbed wire, an abundance of which was usually strung around American positions!!

[sounds kinda like the Celtic warriors of old, does it not!!??}]

One one occasion, American guards, using night vision equipment, were able to spot a NVA/VC sapper as he began a penetration of a U.S. defensive perimeter.

A perimeter very well fortified and guarded by an assortment of concertina, razor and tanglefoot barbed wire, ground flares, booby traps, and warning devices.

As the American guards watched intently, the sapper, much to their amazement, was ABLE to penetrate the defense, locating and finding a way around all obstacles, and without hindrance!! It was only after he had ALMOST completed his task that the sapper was shot and killed. A brave and skilled opponent met an unfortunate death. Such is the vicissitudes of war!!

[a lot was learned just by observing the sapper during his penetration. Better to let him try and almost succeed than just shoot him outright. Sounds cruel, but that is WAR!!]

As I have said, the NVA/VC sapper units deserved to be respected by American forces. Brave men performing dangerous and difficult tasks under the most harshest conditions. You can respect the enemy even if you hate him and his cause!!

coolbert.