How American Soldiers Protested the Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, American soldiers employed various methods to protest against the conflict, ranging from subtle gestures to more confrontational actions. Some servicemen even found creative ways to express their dissent through tattoos and personal emblems, while others engaged in more direct forms of opposition.
Tattoos and Hidden Symbols
One particularly noteworthy form of protest was the presence of tattoos and hidden symbols on the hands. Some soldiers would inscribe the phrase "FTA" - a clever shorthand for "Fuck the Army" - on the palm of their hands. These tattoos served as a silent form of defiance against the military hierarchy and the war itself. Even something as simple as the position of a hand or the way it was held in salute could convey a subversive message.
Military Desertion and Espionage
Occasionally, soldiers chose to abandon their posts in order to protest the war. Desertion was highly risky and often fatal. Those who surrendered to the Viet Cong (VC) or North Vietnamese Army (NVA) faced probable death. Similarly, those who attempted to flee through Cambodia, Thailand, or other neighboring countries often ended up losing their lives. In some cases, however, a few were able to make it back to the US.
Other soldiers engaged in more insidious forms of protest, such as the activities of POWs like Senator John McCain. McCain performed 30 radio propaganda broadcasts for North Vietnam, portraying American troops as "war criminals" and providing military intelligence that potentially led to the deaths of other American soldiers. Despite his actions, McCain eventually returned to the US as a war hero, although he was spared from potential military justice for treason due to his father's position as an active duty admiral.
Protests in the Homeland
Some American soldiers took their message home by participating in anti-war protests. Clarence Long marched in the March Against the Vietnam War in Washington DC on April 24, 1969. Although he faced no direct conflict in the war, he shared his experiences and concerns in his book, "Snafu - My Vietnam Vacation of 1969." He admitted that if given the same experience now, he would do it all over again, albeit with less damaging chemical agents and modern weaponry like paintball guns.
Solider Dissent: Efficiency and Morale
Another form of protest was the diminishing of soldiers' efficiency in the field. Some units became less willing to fight, leading to decreased combat readiness. This was often evidenced by instances of fragging, where soldiers would use fragmentation grenades to attack their own officers. The root causes of such acts were multifaceted, including dissatisfaction with the war, challenges with leadership, and personal motivations.
Some soldiers in Clarence Long's infantry platoon expressed their dissent by creating symbolic emblems. They would adorn their helmets with hand-drawn peace symbols or emblems featuring Snoopy on his doghouse with the phrase "fuck Vietnam" written on it. The pervasiveness of this form of protest demonstrates the widespread discontent among the troops.
In conclusion, the Vietnam War saw various forms of military dissent, from subtle tattoos to more extreme acts of opposition. These acts of protest, although often illegal or dangerous, signaled the strong dissatisfaction with the war among American soldiers and contributed to the eventual shift in public opinion that led to the withdrawal of US forces from Vietnam.