The Vietnam War is characterized by the presence of peculiar military units coming from the United States. One of the of import military units is the Explosive Ordnance Disposal units or the EOD work forces. These persons are trained so that they can explode bombs. particularly bombs that are dud and for some ground was non able to explode. These bombs need to be detonated. deactivated or rendered useless so that they can non be used by the enemy.

Vietnamese soldiers are really capable of re-using explosives they come across. even those coming from the US. EOD is of import for the life salvaging function it performed during its engagement in Vietnam. Introduction The Vietnam War is one of the well-known wars which involved the US forces. Although it is non a popular win sing how the US is split sing the function and engagement of the US in this struggle. the Vietnam War allowed the US to expose the capableness and importance of one of its military assets – its ability for bomb disposal.

The Viet-Cong. the chief enemy of the US military personnels in Vietnam. is a group of soldiers that are really skilled in guerilla warfare and combat in the rural and forests scenes. Part of their accomplishment in combat is the usage of bombs. frequently as portion of traps designed to halt. maim. destroy. render incapable and even kill non merely foot soldiers but besides armored combat vehicles. armored vehicles. landrovers and other military units and conveyance and combat vehicles.

The pattern of bomb disposal is an of import facet of military action and military capableness. Because of that. the EOD is considered as an of import facet of the US military force and the US military capableness in many topographic points in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Establishing this thought is hinged in the treatment and analysis of the EOD or Explosive Ordnance Disposal and its engagement. function. importance and other related facets in the Vietnam War as supported and documented by related. competent and important beginnings.

With the usage of bombs and the high possibility of meeting jobs affecting bombs. peculiarly munition that has non exploded. it has become imperative that the US military presence is augmented by a unit that is capable in managing EOD jobs. therefore. the rise in importance and significance of EOD units in Vietnam. who frequently are delegated with one of the most unsafe. and sole undertaking.

This is sing the fact that non EOD units are trained simply for basic bomb disposal and the lifting complexnesss in bomb design makes it hard and unsafe for the ordinary soldier to presume and assume sufficient capableness for such undertaking. asking the demand for the presence of EOD units. One platoon leader functioning in Vietnam echoed this sentiment when he explained that “my assurance in my destruction work was strong. but destructing so big a bomb was excessively large a occupation for me. A wireless petition secured the aid of an explosive munition destruction withdrawal ( Lanning. 2007. P.

98 ) . ” EOD engagement in the Vietnam War has its ain set of narratives and resulted to certain effects every bit good as complexnesss and contributed to the alterations in warfare. EOD and the Vietnam War The Vietnam War has been popularize in mass media with narratives about contending in the crossroads. chopper gunships firing over rice Fieldss. war offenses and human rights maltreatments committed by US soldiers. the increasing decease toll of dead American soldiers in one of the bloodiest wars in the modern history and the first-class jungle warfare that the Vietnamese used to overmaster and thwart the American forces.

Barely known facet of the Vietnam War and the US’ engagement in this war is the presence of the EOD and the undertakings that the EOD units have to execute everyday. which varies depending on the type of munition and explosive ammo involved in the state of affairs. how it was handled and how the bomb disposal turned out. Like some of the elect units in the American military. EOD work forces is elect in the sense that they among the first forepart line drives in the battleground.

“Wherever Mariness went ashore – and they were frequently the first American military personnels to travel ashore – EOD cats were among them ( Swift. 2003. p. 103 ) . ” And this was the instance in Vietnam every bit good. since American military personnels foremost have to do certain that where they will be making Stationss and fire bases are safe and free from explosives and that there are work forces in the field ready to take that undertaking should the demand arise. doing EOD in Vietnam an chance every bit good for soldiers to be a portion of something particular and alone. The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War is about the move of South Vietnamese forces to interrupt away from the communist North. The US. which at the clip was actively contending the spread of communism particularly in the Asiatic part. forged an confederation with the South Vietnamese military personnels and helped them contend the North. which in bend. was supported by Communist states like China and Russia. Contending in a modern epoch. the Vietnam War allowed states to expose their ain full military capablenesss and strengths. This includes the usage of explosive bombs and ammos.

Beginnings of detonation comes in different sizes. from the large bombs dropped by planes. the projectiles fired from stationary or nomadic places and those which can be considered as jury-rigged bombs that were scattered in many concealed places in the jungles and concrete battlefields of Vietnam. Bombs. during the Vietnam War. came from many beginnings. There those coming from bomber planes ; there were those that came out of cannons or from traveling vehicles like armored combat vehicles ; while there are others which are planted and created by soldiers in the foot.

Not all of these bombs explode. Some of them are normally known as togs since it failed to detonate. However. this does non intend it wouldn’t. Because of that. it is of import for military personnels busying a certain country during the Vietnam War to hold these bombs diffused and deactivated to avoid unneeded and unplanned deceases because of unexpected detonations coming from bombs that are non diffused and deactivated ( Swift. 2003. p. 103 ) . EOD

The EOD is a unit in the armed forces which has a long history. get downing from the British bomb disposal units contending in the first and 2nd universe wars and in European struggles. until the US undertook the enterprise to make the same capableness and started the formation of its EOD plans that will last until today. By the clip Vietnam War erupted. EOD units in the US have been sufficiently trained and were capable in managing bomb disposal jobs albeit the success of the EOD operations is not100 per centum.

Merely the same. the EOD units runing in Vietnam has made a important part in the run of the US in Vietnam. EOD during the Vietnam War features a methodological analysis that involves the usage of the most basic equipment. unlike today when many modern engineerings and equipment is used to do bomb disposal undertakings safer. easier and faster ( Popular Mechanics. 1967. p. 201 ) . “Much of the equipment used by EOD work forces looks like the tools found in anyone’s place workshop ( Popular Mechanics. 1967. p. 201 ) . ” EOD in Vietnam War EOD is profoundly involved in Vietnam.

Proof of this is the fact that soldiers functioning for EOD units confessed how they are frequently utilized by many different units since about every unit brush bomb related jobs in Vietnam. “After his reaching at beautiful Bien Hoa on May 5. 1965. Mike found himself shuffled about to every unit that needed an EOD specializer ( 173rd Airborne Brigade: Sky Soldiers. 2006. p. 146 ) . ” The chief engagement of EOD in Vietnam during the Vietnam War is to supply the US forces and its Alliess including South Vietnam forces with the ability to manage the job of undischarged munition.

Unexploded munition is found in many different instances and in many different state of affairss. from dumbbell traps and mines in the jungles and in the urban countries of conflict in Vietnam to undischarged weaponries ensuing from bombardments and the presence of bombs designed to destruct installations and bases like ports. flight strips. supply lines. etc ( Popular Mechanics. 1967. p. 201 ) . “There is more than dumbbell traps for EOD work forces to worry about in Vietnam. Plenty of bloodcurdling assignments involve the more conventional arms excessively ( Popular Mechanics. 1967. p. 201 ) . ” EOD in Vietnam is chiefly all about the presence of EOD specializers largely coming from the US.

The engineering they bring with them and how in their ain small manner EOD has helped alter the result of every major or minor conflict and the life of the soldiers in Vietnam during the war. The Vietnam War provided the chance to expose and even better the EOD capablenesss of the US military. Equally of import is the fact that the soldiers themselves who are interested in bomb disposal saw the Vietnam War and the engagement of the US and its EOD units in it as an chance to develop and acquire more and more experience in existent life conflict state of affairs.

“With the war on. Vietnam was the topographic point to acquire practical experience on a combat scene. a manner to gain my risky responsibility wage ( Bossi. 2005. p. 216 ) ” was the manner an EOD specializer position the state of affairs. And with how the Vietnamese fought back the United states with the usage of US and non-US stuffs to make bombs of all sorts. EOD work forces so get what they wanted out of Vietnam War. experience-wise. sing the strength of the combat and how bombs were intensively and extensively used.

Many of import places in Vietnam where combat was intense. like Da Nang. featured EOD work forces who are assisting other military units fight the Vietnamese and keep substructure safe. useable and free from menace of devastation through bombs ( Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. 2007. p. 71 ) . The function of EOD in Vietnam – While EOD is non as popular to the consciousness of the multitudes unlike how other units who fought in Vietnam became popular ( i. e. US Navy SEALS. foot. etc ) . EOD has a really important function in Vietnam War.

Military insiders themselves are witting and cognizant of EOD specializers and the significance of their presence and their work in the battleground. EOD units are called in after sensing of bombs. peculiarly undetonated or undischarged bombs. Military units frequently will non get down operation in the country until the EOD units are done with their undertakings ( Popular Mechanics. 1967. p. 201 ) . “EOD squad set about the undertaking until. eventually. the bomb was declared safe ( Popular Mechanics. 1967. p. 201 ) . ” But non all EOD work forces went out diffusing and deactivating bombs since there are besides those who are assigned with other undertakings.

For illustration. there are those who are responsible for ammos and supply direction. “Command and control of ammo units in Vietnam was placed in the custodies of munition battalion central office ( Stanton. 2003. p. 218 ) . ” While other units like the 52nd Ordnance Group has other undertakings. like supplying “command and administrative. tactical and proficient supervising over conventional and particular ammo and guided missile support companies every bit good as to run an EOD ( Stanton. 2003. p. 218 ) .

” Because of its fond regard to the Navy unit. many EOD units runing in Vietnam during the Vietnam War was focused on uncluttering H2O transitions of bombs that can ache or destruct naval and amphibious vehicles. in a manner. moving as portion of the military unit protecting the waterways used by the military as supply lines during the class of war. The undertaking of EOD work forces in Vietnam is unsafe. There are those who commented about how EOD work forces are frequently aroused acquiring into action. Here is one history to turn out the bluster of EOD work forces and the importance of their function: “One projectile had been launched at the flight line ( in Tan Son Nhut ) …

But fell abruptly of the grade merely inside the outer margin fencing. and didn’t explode. Thirty or so EOD cats fought amongst themselves to see who would acquire to take the thing apart ( Todeschini. 2005. p. 25 ) . ” Despite the jeopardies that they have faced EOD produced soldiers who fought in Vietnam who came out non merely satisfied with what they have learned in bomb disposal in Vietnam. but is thankful for how much they have learned in practical application. and how. at the terminal of the twenty-four hours. EOD units found their occupation really satisfactory. in hindsight. An EOD adult male described his occupation as “the best responsibility in the Navy ( Erwin. 2009. p. 87 ) .

” The person explained that “after 18 months of preparation. larning how to demilitarize bombs. we ever detonate – we ne’er disarm. When we find a dumbbell trap or VC explosives. we attach a satchel discharge. light the fuse and run like snake pit ( Erwin. 2009. p. 87 ) . ” The importance of EOD in Vietnam – EOD is of import in Vietnam because it helped saved lives and belongings and equipment. Such impact in the economic sciences of war straight or indirectly contributed to the capableness and opportunities of either force to win or lose in every battle.

Although the US finally pulled back its forces from Vietnam and the state finally overrun by the Communist forces. the EOD specializers helped in minimising casualties among the soldiers and civilians. every bit good as minimized the extent of devastation on equipment. vehicle and substructure of import and important to the US soldiers during the run. Bomb disposal is of import during the Vietnam War because the warring parties ( the Communist-supported North and the US-backed South ) both used weaponries and bombs to hit the enemy with. or to detonate if triggered.

Some bombs are used as traps and placed in countries wherein the enemy is expected to go through through. Bomb disposal is of import in both these two instances. First. bomb disposal is of import because during the motion of forces. it is likely that they will come across bombs and weaponries fired either by the enemy or fired by them. During an progress or retreat. the military personnels may come upon bombs and weaponries that failed to explode and detonate.

This is where bomb disposal is needed because supporting forces needs to do certain that undischarged bombs inside the margin they are supporting are diffused and deactivated so that it will non ache. injury or kill their ain military personnels. while assailing military personnels are besides wary of the undischarged bombs some of which may hold come from them because of the same ground – they don’t want the bombs that they shot towards the enemy to be the same bomb that will kill their ain military personnels if these bombs that they encounter during the progress is left unattended.