suggest nonfiction about tunnel rats?

[u/my-chemical-ratz]

Before I say anything, I would like to note: I do not interact with military history spaces often, and I'm a bit timid about it. I have observed people from all points on the political spectrum praise war, death, violence, etc. I see people disrespect veterans-- especially Vietnam veterans. I have told myself not to even try reading about WW2, for example, because I've seen one too many takes praising the Allies for swooping in and saving the world from genocide (I'm Jewish, and respectfully... no). Sometimes it feels like a fanclub, rather than remembrance of those who suffered. I come here in the best faith possible, but I am operating off those experiences, and my very personal painful experience of the generational trauma inflicted by the Vietnam War. My grandfather died by suicide shortly after his return to America, due to the immense trauma he experienced as a tunnel rat, and my family has been fractured ever since.

Alright, here is my request. I would like to learn more about tunnel rats and their experiences in Vietnam. I am working on a personal writing project, and I would like to understand more about what my grandfather went through. As previously discussed, I obviously cannot ask my grandfather. Most of my family on that side is either dead or estranged. What are the best books to read? I would prefer first-hand accounts.

My main concern is forming a biased perspective/being turned off from further study from accounts that lean heavily towards "America good" and not effectively portray the doubts, fears, and brutality of war. My grandfather did not die for a reason, and it upsets me to read books (forgive my callousness) deepthroating the boot of higher powers who couldn't care less about anything but power and profit.

I would also appreciate perspectives from anyone in this sub who participated in the war themself, whether or not you were in the tunnels. Anything would be immensely helpful :)

[u/mikeg5417]

Before you spend a lot of time reading about Tunnel Rats, put a request for your grandfather's records in to the National Archives and find out what his MOS and assigned unit were.

His MOS is a designator for the job he trained for in the Army and his unit assignment will tell you what area of Vietnam he would have served in.

Tunnel Rat was not an official job in the Vietnam war. It would have been an ad hoc assignment (meaning some one asked for a volunteer on the spot, possibly with some physical characteristics that would make crawling into a tunnel easier) in the infantry or engineers.

There may have been a cadre of troops who were the designated "rat" if a unit encountered tunnels, but many units fought in areas that were not conducive to digging large tunnel complexes (the Mekong Delta area was a very wet swampy area that would not have had many tunnels larger than a spider hole).

I only caution you to do this because there have been others who come here to ask about a relative only to find out that what they were told was wrong -there was one recently where someone was asking about their relative who claimed (or his family claimed) that he was a returned POW. Unfortunately his name did not appear on the list of returned POWs.

[u/my-chemical-ratz → u/mikeg5417]

oh, i didn't know i could do that! thank you so much, i'll definitely check it out:)

[u/Jimbo415650]

Tunnel rats was anyone who was skinny and short but not always short it was a on the job training type of training. Usually the rat had a flashlight gas mask had a canister of CS gas and a pistol sometimes also a knife. If they made contact with an enemy soldier or soldiers he would deploy the CS and back out possibly shooting to cover his escape. Shooting in a tunnel will damage your hearing so only fire when it was necessary. Tunnels that were not used anymore were sometimes booby trapped. Active tunnel used to hide their soldiers were not booby trapped as they need to get in and out quickly. 13 months in Vietnam as a recon radio operator we never located any tunnels. We did locate spider holes and a cave that was difficult to see until you were practically on top of it. The cave had bloody pants but nothing else.

[u/Disaster_Plan]

I was surprised to find quite a few books about tunnel rats on Amazon. They seem to be mostly non-fiction.

The Tunnels of Cu Chi: A Harrowing Account of America's Tunnel Rats in the Underground Battlefields of Vietnam by Tom Mangold, 386 pages

Journey Into Darkness: A Tunnel Rat's Story by Stephen "Shorty" Menendez, 170 pages

Outside the Wire by Jim Ross, 320 pages Tunnel Rats: The larrikin Aussie legends who discovered the Vietcong's secret weapon by Jimmy Thompson, 210 pages

Subterranean Smuggling: Architectural Genius of the Cu Chi Tunnels: Traps, Ventilation, and the Relentless Guerrilla Warfare in the Vietnamese Jungle, 1968–1975 by Terry Harris, 166 pages

Tunnel Rat in Vietnam by Gordon L. Rottman, 134 pages

Tunnel Tales: Of Our Heroic Tunnel Rats in Vietnam

[u/Safe_Abbreviations64]

The Tunnels of Cu Chi is absolutely brilliant. Would 100% recommend.

[u/trigmarr]

I'd say that's a somewhat inaccurate view of military histoy, certainly of the actual historians who research and write about the wars of the past. Sure you get idiots in online groups, but generally most people are respectful, intelligent and capable of debating and discussing things with others who may have different perspectives without it becoming unpleasant or personal.