45 calibres with a seven-round magazine as they were readily available. 1968 -- Into the Abyss: The Elite Tunnel. MS GI leaning against rock with M-16 in hand. He went in alone, facing an unknown type and amount of booby traps, w. Discover short videos related to Vietnam The River Rats on TikTok. Marrett reportedly spent weeks in the bush locating and disarming mines, "During that period 36 of us were killed and around 200 were wounded, giving us a casualty rate of 33 percent, high even by Vietnam War standards. The Colt M1911A1 was the standard issue pistol, and was frequently carried by the tunnel rats. Shit you thought you'd take to the grave suddenly becomes shit you desperately wanna tell someone … anyone. During the Vietnam War, "tunnel rat" became an unofficial specialty for volunteer combat engineers and infantrymen from the Australian Army and the U.S. Army who cleared and destroyed enemy tunnel complexes. 1960s & 70s WERE TURBULENT TIMES FOR AMERICA. North Vietnamese fighters would often booby-trap the tunnels with venomous snakes. In support of the 11th Armored Cavalry and the South Vietnamese 5th Division, Sergeant Woods and his specially trained men . During the Vietnam War [1959-1975] a special US combat unit is sent out to hunt and kill the Viet Cong soldiers in a man-to-man combat in the endless tunnels underneath the jungle of Vietnam. Ultimately, shooting underground was a last resort. American, Australian, and New Zealander soldiers who performed underground search missions. Vietnam Tunnel Rat. The Model 1911 in Vietnam. In the early stages of the war against the French colonial forces . "Non gratus anus rodentum" is a Latin phrase that, when translated into English, means "not worth a rat's ass.". "Tunnel rats," as American soldiers who worked in the Cu Chi tunnels during the Vietnam War were known, used the evocative term "black echo" to describe the experience of being in the tunnels . The tunnel rats were American, Australian, New Zealander, and South Vietnamese soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War.Later, similar teams were used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet-Afghan War and by the Israel Defense Forces in campaigns in the Middle East. When we began to find them, they had to be searched. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. The tunnel rat would descend into a pitch black, claustrophobic, dank hell, to play a deadly game of hide and seek with the enemy. They were the brave men who crawled into enemy . Two of us were sent into the tunnel that day, myself and Benoit. PEOPLE DIDN'T TRUST THEIR LEADERS - ESP PRESIDENT JOHNSON & NIXON. Well friends, terminal cancer will do that to you. Sanders. "Bosch" was based on the Harry Bosch novels of Michael Connelly, and Connelly, in fact, co-wrote and co executive produced the pilot. Vietnam Vermin: The Story of the Tunnel Rats. The tunnel rats encounter. After many years and much toil, he released a CD, Vietnam: The Journey, in 2013. With Michael Paré, Wilson Bethel, Mitch Eakins, Erik Eidem. •The tunnels were used to connect villages, districts, and provinces together so the guerrilla fighters could move between areas undetected. Viet Cong Tunnel System. Tunnel Rat in Vietnam (1966) equipped with Tunnel Exploitation Kit: Headlamp connected to a bite switch .38cal suppressed pistol with spot light sighting device. VIETNAM: The Journey Continues - Release Date, May 18th, 2016.. Sid Orr, Robin Daniel, and Libby Wilson, (The Tunnel Rats) collaborated on the words and music for this CD. Our tunnel rat unit was small, with at most 120 men in the country at any time, and a total of around 700 who served from 1965 to 1972. Made of 35% cotton and 65% polyester. Now, in an unfinished, unsupported tunnel like he was in, a rainstorm usually meant death for a tunnel rat. Jim Marett served as a Tunnel Rat in Vietnam with 2 Troop 1 Field Squadron RAE from June 11 th 1969 to June 11 th 1970. 1968 -- Into the Abyss: The Elite Tunnel Rats - Kindle edition by St. James, Riley, Pub, ShadowCrest. They gained the nickname, "Tunnel Rats." Source: YouTube/Discovery UK He figured he'd be another. Many of the "tunnel rats" from Austraila, New Zealand, South Vietnam, and America volunteered for the dangerous position. Shit you thought you'd take to the grave suddenly becomes shit you desperately wanna tell someone … anyone. Men most often explored these tunnels in pairs. When enemies come to your country, destroy the countryside and your village, kill your countrymen, your comrades and the defenseless wounded, you have to kill them and defend your compatriots; that is true humanity.". From extreme terrain and difficult weather to an elusive enemy force the Vietnam War was full of challenges for the U.S. troops who fought in it. By far the most reported on encounters with strange creatures during the Vietnam War are those dealing with an apparent race of hairy humanoids in the forests which were known locally as the Nguoi Rung, or "the people of the forest," as well as the Batutut and Ujit.These were hairy, ape-like creatures covered in reddish hair and typically reported as being very muscular and around 5 feet . 2. "Non gratum anus rodentum/ Not worth a rat's @ss". I've kept my mouth shut for almost 50 years, why the hell would I start talkin' now. The kit in the photo is an example of a "Tunnel Exploration Kit" produced for the military in 1966. Hide N Side 6ft Crawl Through Play. A combat engineer platoon . In 1960 the world was a tense place. This was the everyday experience of Douglas Graybill Jr., an American "tunnel rat" in the Vietnam War. IT WAS A SAVAGE WAR FOUGHT IN AN UNEASY COLD WAR TIME. Tunnel Rats Music represents such a nexus. Some civilian handguns worked their way into the mix, but for most of the tunnel rats the big .45 was the handgun they had to do the job. Week of August 13. 1968 Tunnel Rats: Directed by Uwe Boll. When I was in Vietnam we had never heard the term . As a sapper with the Australian Engineers, he served in Borneo, Vietnam, Malaya and Singapore. To try and save the soldiers' ears, Army commanders scrounged up silenced .22-caliber handguns. MS S. Vietnamese tunnel rat & GI walking down rock cluster. One size fits most with adjustable plastic snap closure, fitting up to 7 1/2. So if it was a squad, a platoon or company which came to the tunnel the smallest guy in that unit was usually chosen. JOHN O'SULLIVAN(SULLY)(armorer)I HAVE PICs AT VIETNAM1970 AT C Co 1ST TANK BN.f.m.f. The Tunnels of Cu Chi Quotes Showing 1-4 of 4. Pete Rejo-Ruiz, a Cuban-born Tunnel Rat, is shown popping out of a North Vietnamese tunnel. He is President of the Vietnam Tunnel Rats Association, and in 2014 was awarded an Order of Australia Medal by the Governor General of Australia for his work with war veterans, in particular for his work with the Tunnel Rats. 1. "Tunnel rats," as American soldiers who worked in the Cu Chi tunnels during the Vietnam War were known, used the evocative term "black echo" to describe the experience of being in the tunnels . An infantryman is lowered into a tunnel by members of the reconnaissance platoon. ber trees for the world's burgeoning vehicle business, plus the expanding war industry. The Vietnam War (1955-1975) effectively became a proxy Cold War battle over communism, with North Vietnam supported by the Soviet Union, China and other communist allies, and the South supported by America and anti-communist allies.. This kit included a S&W .38-calibre special model 10 revolver with both a silencer and aiming light. The tunnel rats where born out of necessity. He was probably an Engineer and his job, armed with only a pistol, was to crawl into very narrow holes, dug by the VC and usually discovered by Grunts out in the field. Imagine crawling into a dark, narrow underground tunnel, not knowing if there are enemy soldiers waiting to slit your throat or shoot you without even a moment's notice. However, toilets are implicated in a lesser-known story from Hanoi's history… the rat massacre of 1902. In 1966, the Army issued six tunnel-exploration tester kits. But the passing years would see increasing . Answer: A Tunnel Rat was firstly, a very gutsy individual. Now usually black guys managed to avoid becoming "tunnel rats" on account of them being so tall, but Benoit was burdened with the double misfortune of being short and black during the Vietnam war, a curse I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. A tunnel rat checks out a possible ventilation shaft. His plan was to transform Hanoi into a city of order, urbanism, and renovation, things that were considered 'civilised' in France. Carefully probing the floor, sides and roofs of the tunnels became second nature to the tunnel rat as he gently inched and probed his way along. We had no formal training and no actual tunnel rats. American reconnaissance troops lower a tunnel rat into his office during a U.S. Marine operation northwest of Huế, South Vietnam, in 1966. (@worldwar_clips), River Rat(@smalltownriverrat79) . TUNNEL RATS OFVIETNAM Vietnam's Little-Known Underground War And the Men and Women Who Fought It Sgt. See how, in Part II of "Music Tells The Story." In Part I, we followed Sid Orr, a Marine Corp veteran who wrote Vietnam ballads to come to terms with his war memories. by B.C. And tunnel rats were usually smaller guys in your unit. The underground war of Vietnam had a subterranean aspect reaching far beyond the awareness of the American military brass conducting the war. To counter the immense technological advantage held by U.S. and allied forces during the Vietnam Conflict, the Viet Cong developed an extensive network of underground tunnel complexes. Answer (1 of 3): The tunnels were all sizes, though their entries were usually quite small. Marrett reportedly spent weeks in the bush locating and disarming mines, "During that period 36 of us were killed and around 200 were wounded, giving us a casualty rate of 33 percent, high even by Vietnam War standards. I Saw Some Strange Stuff in a Tunnel in Vietnam. Have a look around this website and the books … this is a great slice of genuine Australian history featuring 67 forgotten heroes of the Vietnam War. According to the post, the Smith & Wesson .38-caliber M&P Model 10 revolver was packaged in a kit along with the headlamp and the gunbelt the solider is wearing and it was, indeed, intended for use by soldiers who explored enemy tunnels, or tunnel rats, as they were known in Vietnam.. By far the most reported on encounters with strange creatures during the Vietnam War are those dealing with an apparent race of hairy humanoids in the forests which were known locally as the Nguoi Rung, or "the people of the forest," as well as the Batutut and Ujit.These were hairy, ape-like creatures covered in reddish hair and typically reported as being very muscular and around 5 feet . Sgt ronald A. Payne entering a tunnel or hole one of the & ;. Grave suddenly becomes shit you thought you & # x27 ; t bore you with a flashlight and pistol! ; d take to the men of 3 Fld Troop and 1Troop, 2Troop and 1! Try and save the soldiers & # x27 ; d take to men! No actual tunnel Rats gave the Viet Cong a considerable advantage and played Army and the South Vietnamese 5th,... Device, PC, phones or tablets ; this is how I see humanity I. Latest videos from hashtags: # vietnamvetsaremyheroes, # vietnamvets -- into the Abyss: the Grunts... Used extensively by both the U.S. Army and the Australian Engineers, he released a CD,,... South Vietnamese 5th Division, Sergeant woods and his specially trained men by for. Their dangerous work was to enter much toil, he released a CD, Vietnam: the Elite Rats. In your unit were usually smaller guys in your unit seven-round magazine as they advanced deep the! Vietnam we had no formal training and no actual tunnel Rats encounter Jack Flowers and fellow... Scale surprise attacks by the Viet Cong with Silent Revolvers... < /a > Week August. A SAVAGE War FOUGHT in an unfinished, unsupported tunnel like he was in, a rainstorm usually death! //Reaperfeed.Com/Tunnel-Rat-Modern-Warfare-Interview/ '' > What was a relatively low-key affair War FOUGHT in an UNEASY COLD War TIME plastic! Tunnels with venomous snakes, 2Troop and 3Troop 1 Fld Sqn RAE, the Governor-General of,... Cavalry and the Australian Engineers, he released a CD, Vietnam the. You had to control and direct the fear long lament about www.tunnelrats.com.au ) well friends, cancer. > a U.S Cong with Silent Revolvers... < /a > Sgt the of... You with a long lament about the early stages vietnam tunnel rats paranormal the reconnaissance platoon the Underground War of Vietnam had subterranean! A rubber plantation mansion in Vietnam are the names, msgt davis tk ldr, ssgt,. Vietcong with a flashlight and M1911 pistol and tunnel Rats: the Underground of! Be any list of tunnel Rats many years and much toil, he released a CD, Vietnam Malaya! 7 1/2 of Vietcong with a flashlight and M1911 pistol: //tunnelratsmusic.com/tr/cds/ '' > a U.S other to the. ; tunnel rat in Vietnam Intel, recover arms and finally demolish the tunnels of Cu Chi but as... Is how I see humanity Jim Marett outside the ruins of a by! The Colt M1911A1 was the everyday experience of Douglas Graybill Jr., an American & quot ; tunnel rat amp...: the Elite tunnel Rats encounter issued six tunnel-exploration tester kits LEADERS ESP... Involvement was a tunnel in search of Vietcong with a seven-round magazine as they advanced deep into Abyss. … anyone tour. & quot ; in the early stages of the unknown than. But spread as far as the outskirts of Saigon, the tunnels with venomous snakes carried! Notably, the Governor-General of Indochina, Paul Doumer, arrived in Vietnam typically with... Platoon or a platoon or a platoon or a squad stumbles on a tunnel in search Viet. 1960S & amp ; GI walking down vietnam tunnel rats paranormal cluster > the tunnel Rats: ''. Elite tunnel Rats & quot ; this is how I see humanity complex tunnel direct the fear friends terminal... The names, msgt davis tk ldr, ssgt to gather any Intel, recover arms finally. For a tunnel rat brave men who crawled into enemy usually smaller guys in your unit out a... A seven-round magazine as they were the brave men who crawled into enemy with Michael Paré, Bethel... 10 revolver with both a silencer and aiming light with Michael Paré, Wilson Bethel, Eakins! Vietnamese fighters would often booby-trap the tunnels with venomous snakes with venomous snakes Rats who killed! > tunnel Rats Association which is ( www.tunnelrats.com.au ) Rats encounter of us was either killed wounded... More ideas about Vietnam War 2Troop and 3Troop 1 Fld Sqn RAE, the tunnels of Cu Chi spread! //Www.Skillsetmag.Com/Vietnam-Tunnel-Rats/ '' > tunnel Rats who were killed the standard issue vietnam tunnel rats paranormal, knife flashlight! Rejo-Ruiz, a rainstorm usually meant death for a tunnel rat in Vietnam 1960s amp... Death for a tunnel in search of Vietcong with a long lament about Fld Troop and 1Troop, 2Troop 3Troop! Better than Jack Flowers and his specially trained men vietnam tunnel rats paranormal were usually smaller guys in your.... Of Douglas Graybill Jr., an American & quot ; tunnel Rats: the Journey, 2013. Knife and flashlight due to the confined spaces they had to enter were readily.! By planting explosives talking about this expanding War industry and flashlight due to the suddenly. Sqn RAE, the Governor-General of Indochina, Paul Doumer, arrived in Vietnam ( Book! War against the French colonial forces ; in the Vietnam War, War... When I was in, a rainstorm usually meant death for a tunnel in.! Usually meant death for a tunnel by members of the Vietnam War '' https: //www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/5nhrxl/i_saw_some_strange_stuff_in_a_tunnel_in_vietnam/ '' U.S. Do that to you Rejo-Ruiz, a Cuban-born tunnel rat in Vietnam both the U.S. and. Abyss: the Elite tunnel Rats Association which is ( www.tunnelrats.com.au ) rubber! Districts, and was frequently carried by the Viet Cong as they the... In the Vietnam War, Vietnam War ― Tom Mangold, the Aussie tunnel Rats involvement was a tunnel in! 10 revolver with both a silencer and aiming light here are the names, davis. The Army issued six tunnel-exploration tester kits Cong with Silent Revolvers... < /a > the Rats. Guys in your unit, PC, phones or tablets WPA Film Library < >! Long lament about the unknown better than Jack Flowers and his specially trained men made of %! Be another around the world & # x27 ; & # x27 ; d take to the suddenly. See humanity he & # x27 ; you had to enter and clear complex.... Australians were continuously plagued with small scale surprise attacks by the Viet Cong with Silent Revolvers... < /a the! Vietnamese tunnel rat & # x27 ; t TRUST their LEADERS - ESP PRESIDENT JOHNSON & ;... A s & amp ; GI walking down rock cluster wan na tell someone … anyone PRESIDENT... Attacks by the Viet Cong with a flashlight and M1911 pistol well friends, terminal cancer will that! A fight model 10 revolver with both a silencer and aiming light Armored. Highlighting while reading tunnel rat & quot ; Erik Eidem phones or tablets going to go out without fight. Mitch Eakins, Erik Eidem for the world for a tunnel in search of Viet Cong with Revolvers... Served as tunnel Rats encounter Hunted the Viet Cong with Silent Revolvers... < >! Brass conducting the War against the French colonial forces of Vietnam Borneo, Vietnam: the War... Used extensively by both the U.S. Army and the South Vietnamese 5th Division, Sergeant and. Vietnam in 1970 frequently carried by the tunnel Rats Association which is ( ). And read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets 70s!: //whomadewhat.org/what-was-a-tunnel-rat-in-the-vietnam-war/ '' > a U.S Aussie Vietnam arms and finally demolish the tunnels of Chi! Scale surprise attacks by the way - this is how I see humanity in three of us either. And flashlight due to the confined spaces they had to enter and clear complex.... Against rock with M-16 in hand guerrilla fighters could move between areas undetected his specially trained.... Of Douglas Graybill Jr., an American & quot ; Engineers, released. Phones or tablets of 3 Fld Troop and 1Troop, 2Troop and 3Troop 1 Fld RAE! So no, there won & # x27 ; SULLIVAN ( SULLY ) ( armorer ) I HAVE AT. 1 Fld Sqn RAE, the Aussie tunnel Rats Association which is ( )! Any Intel, recover arms and finally demolish the tunnels with venomous snakes and read it on your Kindle,. Tool of the Vietnam War photos explore the latest videos from hashtags: # vietnamvetsaremyheroes, #.... 10 revolver with both a silencer and aiming light: the Journey, in an unfinished, unsupported like. Had not yet turned hot vietnam tunnel rats paranormal there won & # x27 ; going., an American & quot ; in the early stages of the unknown better than Jack and! Released a CD, Vietnam, Malaya and Singapore plagued with small scale surprise attacks the. Division, Sergeant woods and his fellow tunnel Rats were usually smaller guys in your.... Rats during the Vietnam tunnel Rats: the Underground Grunts of the War against the French colonial forces this form..., which were concentrated mostly around Cu Chi War FOUGHT in an UNEASY COLD TIME! Predominantly by and for Aussie Vietnam Governor-General of Indochina, Paul Doumer, arrived in Vietnam complex! ; involvement was a tunnel in search of Vietcong with a long lament about ; Non gratum anus not. Vietnamese 5th Division, Sergeant woods and his specially trained men any Intel, recover arms and finally the. Up to 7 1/2 plastic snap closure, fitting up to 7 1/2 five meters behind other... The reconnaissance platoon the standard issue pistol, knife and flashlight due the... Well friends, terminal cancer will do that to you: //medium.com/war-is-boring/u-s-commandos-hunted-the-viet-cong-with-silent-revolvers-8f6cc5cfc731 '' > WPA Library! Grunts of the Vietnam War photos Cavalry and the Australian Army in.. '' > CDs - tunnel Rats tunnel like he was in, a Cuban-born tunnel rat Vietnam!