The united states military formed a tunnel neutralization team, and put it to work at the dmz, but it took 12 years to find another tunnel. Durig vietnam war, the viet cong created extensive underground complexes. It is the same patch used by the united states armed forces and is of the highest quality. Most of us who served as tunnel rats during the vietnam war quickly realized that crawling through.
To a man, volunteers only volunteers were permitted to join tunnel rat units they would enter the tunnels network systems of the viet cong armed with nothing more than a pistol and a knife. The tunnels also hosted armament workshops, training depots, headquarters, and a variety of other facilities. They traveled light, carrying only a pistol, a knife and a flashlight. Jan 14, 2016 tunnel rats were us, australian and newzelander soldiers who went inside viet congvc tunnels to kill any vc inside, gather any intel, recover arms and finally demolish the tunnels by planting explosives. Following are the tools of the trade of tunnel rats. Tunnel rat, ferret patch vietnam war original post. The tunnel exploration kit was abandoned in service, most tunnel rats wanted nothing to do with it, and it was quickly withdrawn. We will use this occasion to honour our 36 comrades who lost their lives while serving as tunnel rats with 1 troop, 2 troop and 3 troop of 1 field squadron 35 kia and with 3 field troop 1 kia. The following army divisional patches were used in the viet nam war. Vietnam tunnel rats sometimes while on the mission, a tunnel rat would meet a viet cong soldier, and would then have to engage in exceedingly close combat. The tunnel rats knew what worked for them and were exceedingly conservative in adopting any new hardware or weapons. Buy tunnel rat patch at army surplus world army surplus. The vietcong had been using tunnel systems for many years against the chinese, japanese and french invaders. Several of these tunnels had sharp ubends which could be easily flooded to trap and drown intruders.
Web services by nudesigns site mapnudesigns site map. Tunnel rats as a unit is indeed exist for australian force in vietnam, they are the men of 3 troop, 1st field sqn, royal australian engineer. Not only for veterans, can non veterans also proudly display these. In a documentary for the film, boll revealed the film did not have a script, and instead the actors improvised their lines. Vietnam war patch us army tunnel rat special combat unit not. American, australian, and new zealander soldiers who performed underground search missions. More through the photographs taken by the men who served there, take a walk back in time to see australian tunnel rats at war and play in vietnam in the 60s and early 70s.
This vietnam tunnel rat shoulder patch usually ships in 15 business days. Tunnel rats one specialized weapon they used was the snw quiet special purpose qsp 1 revolver, a modified. This is the same patch that is supplied to the military and sold in military base exchanges. Wikipedia commons in 1946, the viet minh were the viet cong resistance fighters who began digging the tunnels and bunkers to combat the french, whom they would eventually defeat. Vietnam war reproduction collectibles 19611975 other militaria. Vietnam tunnel rat shoulder patch vietnam shoulder. Tunnel rats patch, showing unofficial motto in latin not worth a rats. Tunnel rats in vietnam with images vietnam, vietnam war, rats. Vietnam war military patch not worth a rats ass tunnel. In most cases, tunnel rats were engineers, infantrymen, cavalry scouts, or chemical specialists. This patch would be a great gift idea and a wonderful addition to your patch collection.
The film is based on the factual duties of tunnel rats during the vietnam war. A tunnel rat was equipped with only a standard issue. Our tunnel rat vietnam patch is a full color, embroidered military patch. Originally called tunnel runners by the 25th infantry division, and ferrets by the australian army, the term tunnel rat became the official. Tom mangold and john penycate, authors of one of the definitive accounts of tunnel warfare in the vietnam war, reported that u. Army surplus world is a premier supplier of usgi and commercial products for past and present members of the military, public service professionals, outdoor enthusiasts and patriotic americans.
Special us soldiers called tunnel rats would crawl through the systems to find the enemy. The viet cong amassed around 250 kilometres of underground tunnels. Due to corona virus covid19 concerns, we will be open for curbside pickup. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Memories from the underground war us news only april 2000. The tunnel systems could often be huge, and would be filled with all kinds of tricks and traps, not to mention people trying to kill you. To american soldiers, the tunnels stood for all that was horrific about fighting in vietnam. Real tunnel rat patches are rarer then team worn sog patches.
Vietnam war military patch not worth a rats ass tunnel rat. With their patch with its nonsense latin motto non gratum anus rodentum not worth a. If the tunnels were the secret weapon of the viet cong, the tunnel rats were the unsung heroes of the american forces. Mar 14, 2017 reflections of a vietnam war tunnel rat western wolf. For the most part, the job of tunnel rat was a catchall name for the work that we did as combat engineers. The story of a marine grunt in the first battle of khe sanh april 1967 duration. Vietnam war patch us 1st cavalry division tunnel rat ebay. Tunnel rats were usually soldiers who were physically smallable to fit inside the tight spaces of the viet cong tunnels. The tight, cramped tunnels were a crappy place to live, but a brilliant place to defend. This network connected villages, cities, and districts. The tunnel rats were american, australian, and new zealander soldiers who performed underground search and.
A lot of the time it really depended on the size of the soldiers in the infantry division. If you fought in vietnam war, then these are all the patches for you. Why the viet congs tunnels were so effective in vietnam. They were used as secret resupply routes and staging areas by communist insurgents. Please phone in your order so we can confirm stock availability and schedule a pickup time. The tunnel rats used a host of specialized weapons that helped them to be effective at their job. These were the terrifying dangers of being a tunnel rat. They carried out tunnel rat duties as and when they needed in addition to any other duties they performed.
See more ideas about vietnam war, vietnam and patches. Order your vietnam veterans patches from the army surplus superstore. Opinion my life as a tunnel rat the new york times. Jack flowers, us army vietnam war patch amongst the most revered and feared elements of the allied military in vietnam were the tunnel rats. In rare cases though, some tunnel rats carried ak47s, chopped off shotgunsto shorten their length and even 4 guage shotguns. Because of the tight and cramped up tunnels, tunnel rats avoided arming themselves with regular infantry firearms. Whenever our troops would uncover a tunnel, tunnel rats were sent in to kill any hiding enemy soldiers and to plant explosives to destroy the tunnels. Details about us military vietnam war veteran tet offensive agent orange tunnel rat patch. Sky soldiers riveting personal stories from men of the 173rd.
Tunnel rats, also known as 1968 tunnel rats, is a 2008 germancanadian war suspense film written and directed by uwe boll. For the uninitiated, army tunnel rats were troops who would crawl into nva and viet cong tunnels to eradicate the troops that hid there below the surface. Ironically, it has taken the communists to tell this nation about them. In their 1985 book, the tunnels of cu chi, bbc reporters tom mangold and john penycate told the story of the american tunnel rats, a saga they learned about for the first time from the viet cong, who admired the tunnel rats as the best soldiers among the american forces.
Most of us who served as tunnel rats during the vietnam war quickly realized that. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. These unsung heroes of the vietnam war were american, australian, and new zealand soldiers specially trained as combat engineers, who carefully crawled through the cramped viet cong underground to perform perilous covert. Tunnel rats were us, australian and newzelander soldiers who went inside viet cong vc tunnels to kill any vc inside, gather any intel, recover arms and finally demolish the tunnels by planting explosives. These american, australian and new zealander soldiers infiltrated and sabotaged the intenselyclaustrophobic labyrinth of underground tunnels used by the vietcong to launch surprise attacks and set up ambushes. Feb 19, 2014 the tunnel rats faced trap doors which contained deadly spikes underneath, snakes were hung from the ceiling so they would hang down ready to attack anyone passing by and some also contained holes in the side of the tunnel wall, on the other side would be a viet cong soldier holding a spear ready to impale any intruders. 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. Embroidered patches for us soldiers who served in vietnam badges for vietnam vets. It was a very stressful, nerve racking job, pushing the rats mental state to its limits. What was the mortality rate of the vietnam era tunnel rats. For them, thats what they do and only they will do it, normal infantry within australian rank would not go into tunnel system, and they are the only unit tagged with tunnel rat acronym.
Other military collectibles unknown date original militaria pins 2001now original militaria challenge coins 2001now army collectibles unknown date collectible military surplus patches. The tunnel rats in the vietnam war the military history blog. No dead tunnel rats were left in a tunnel, dead or wounded they were all dragged out with commo wire, ropes, or by a comrade using a firemans crawl. Feb 09, 2018 sapper jim marett outside the ruins of a rubber plantation mansion in vietnam in 1970. For a soldier during the vietnam war, one of the most dangerous of obstacles was faced by a select few soldiers known as tunnel rats. Their unofficial moto was non gratum anus rodentum in latin. They helped conduct military operations on behalf of communist forces. These american, australian and new zealander soldiers infiltrated and sabotaged the intenselyclaustrophobic labyrinth of underground tunnels used by the vietcong to launch. While tracking down specific statistics on fatality rates among the tunnel rats. Please enjoy this officially licensed vietnam tunnel rat patch. Payne, a tunnel rat, bravely searches a tunnels entrance during vietnam war. It was hundreds of miles of tunnels filled with booby traps and poisonous animals. This patch is shipped within 14 business days and like all of our products, carries a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. Embroidered patches for us soldiers who served in vietnam.
Military intelligence indicated that the viet cong were operating out of a large underground bunker. Atunnel rat was equipped with only a standard issue. By 1969, subterranean combat in the tunnels of south vietnam had been refined by time and experience. Cu chi, vietnam, april 2000 it was built by night over many years, one. The tunnel rats first operation was part of operation crimp, carried out in january 1966, designed to destroy the bunker. You can proudly show off your service to our nation with this embroidered patch. Jan 28, 2018 documentary on tunnel rats in vietnam. Pistol was the primary weapon used by the tunnel rats. Australian soldier looking into a viet cong tunnel discovered during. Other soldiers frequently referred to tunnel rats as insanebecause you had to be crazy to take those risks. Tunnel rat 1st cavalry division airmobile helicopter assault measures 4. Many of the tunnel rats from austraila, new zealand, south vietnam, and america volunteered for the dangerous position. Us military vietnam war veteran tet offensive agent orange. Being stripped to the waist and slowly crawling along on their stomachs also exposed the rats to bites from.
This photo was taken a few days after we had arrived in vietnam, and a few days before we would be flown south, where we would join our. Show your military pride with one of our quality embroidered patches. Non gratus anus rodentum is a latin phrase that, when translated into english, means not worth a rats ass. Shop vietnam war military veteran patches just for vets. The tunnel rats were american, south vietnamese, new zealand, and australian soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the vietnam war later, similar teams were used by the soviet army during the sovietafghan war and by the israel defense forces in campaigns in the middle east. Military unit patches military patches embroidered. This tongueincheek expression was the motto of the tunnel rats, an informal name given to a group of infantry soldiers and combat engineers in the vietnam war with a very hazardous specialty. In their 1985 book, the tunnels of cu chi, bbc reporters tom mangold and john penycate told the story of the american tunnel rats, a saga they learned about for the first time from the viet cong, who admired the tunnel rats as the best soldiers among the.
Though americans, australians, and new zealanders claim to know these hideouts existed. Originally called tunnel runners by the 25th infantry division, and ferrets by the australian army, the term tunnel rat became the official accepted name during the vietnam war for men who would descend into a pitch black, claustrophobic, dank hell, to play a deadly game of hide and seek with the enemy. There were numerous underground guerilla bases in south vietnam that had been built and supplied by forced labor from the surrounding villages. Military advisory command mac v united states army republic vietnam. The training of tunnel rats is also covered from basic training boot camp, advance individual training as infantrymen or engineers, followed by tunnel warfare selection and training in demolitions, boobytrap awareness, chemical employment, countermine warfare and tunnel exploitation. Tunnel rat patch, 25th infantry vietnam war, x rare. Originally called tunnel runners by the 25th infantry division, and. Us military vietnam war veteran tet offensive agent orange tunnel rat patch.
Find our other variety styles of embroidery caps other than vietnam war tunnel rat badge embroidered cap for all kinds of outings. Our vietnam war tunnel rat cap is available in navy, black, royal, red, brown and khaki. We were trained at the australian armys school of military engineering, located 20. Vietnam patches us military medals, badges, patches. The vietnam tunnel rats association has reserved the australian war memorial last post ceremony for 18 february next year. Vietnam war patch us army tunnel rat special combat unit. The box would be rigged with a trip wire, the tunnel rat tripped the wire and the scorpions would fall on him stinging him in the process. During vietnam war, tunnel rat personnel was a special us combat unit sent out to hunt and kill the viet cong soldiers in a mantoman combat in the endless tunnels underneath the jungle of vietnam. He served in the 5th special forces group in vietnam in 196970 and subsequently in airborne infantry, longrange patrol and.
This is a 3 inch iron on patch that is made of the highest quality. The tunnel rats faced trap doors which contained deadly spikes underneath, snakes were hung from the ceiling so they would hang down ready to attack anyone passing by and some also contained holes in the side of the tunnel wall, on the other side would be a viet cong soldier holding a spear ready to impale any intruders. Please enjoy this vietnam tunnel rat shoulder patch. Chu lai, quang ngai province, republic of south vietnam. What specialized weapons were used by the, tunnel rats.
The vietnam war tunnel rats were created in an effort to take down the viet cong. All proceeds go to the vietnam tunnel rats association to help cover the costs of producing and posting out our fascinating newsletter holdfast. Tunnel rat vietnam patch us military medals, badges. Also on my left shoulder is the americal division patch, the southern cross. The tunnel rats were american, south vietnamese, new zealand, and australian soldiers who performed underground search. The life of the tunnel rat was not to be envied, unless you are the most committed of adrenaline junkies and have a death wish. The tunnel rats were american, australian, and new zealander soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the vietnam war. Veteran patches, acu patches and current military unit patches are all in stock at low prices. Gordon l rottman entered the us army in 1967, volunteered for special forces and completed training as a weapons specialist. Like so many tourist spots, cu chi has taken on a slightly campy look, as the. However, the brave troops that were picked for the job were commonly the shortest grunts in the platoon for obvious reasons. We were trained at the australian armys school of military.
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