Comments on: Operation Niagara: Siege of Khe Sanh http://www.historynet.com/operation-niagara-siege-of-khe-sanh.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:21:56 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: JayVee http://www.historynet.com/operation-niagara-siege-of-khe-sanh.htm/comment-page-1#comment-221340 JayVee Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:44:30 +0000 #comment-221340 With sincere apologies to anyone who'll take offense, I'm a person who still believes there should be limits to the killing in war. Blasting stunned and bleeding men to pieces with massed howitzer fire sounds like some sort of atrocity to me, even taking into account the fact that the defenders of Khe Sanh didn't have the space to hold prisoners, nor the men to guard them even if they could have been captured. I'm sure there are all sorts of reasons for doing what was done, probably fully justifiable under doctrines of necessity, etc., but this sort of slaughter (and the matter-of-fact way in which it's reported) still makes my blood run cold. In case you're wondering, I'm a (non-combat) veteran, and certainly no apologist for the VC or NVA. With sincere apologies to anyone who'll take offense, I'm a person who still believes there should be limits to the killing in war. Blasting stunned and bleeding men to pieces with massed howitzer fire sounds like some sort of atrocity to me, even taking into account the fact that the defenders of Khe Sanh didn't have the space to hold prisoners, nor the men to guard them even if they could have been captured. I'm sure there are all sorts of reasons for doing what was done, probably fully justifiable under doctrines of necessity, etc., but this sort of slaughter (and the matter-of-fact way in which it's reported) still makes my blood run cold. In case you're wondering, I'm a (non-combat) veteran, and certainly no apologist for the VC or NVA.

]]> By: tex http://www.historynet.com/operation-niagara-siege-of-khe-sanh.htm/comment-page-1#comment-158017 tex Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:52:10 +0000 #comment-158017 Thank god for the "dusters" from the army to keep the assholes at bay. Good article. Thank god for the "dusters" from the army to keep the assholes at bay.

Good article.

]]> By: Michael D. Cooley http://www.historynet.com/operation-niagara-siege-of-khe-sanh.htm/comment-page-1#comment-69071 Michael D. Cooley Sun, 31 May 2009 04:44:05 +0000 #comment-69071 Sounds like the military version. The fact is that our artillery could reach about three feet beyond our lines while VC artillery could hammer us without limit. What saved our butts was military air power and the fact that we wouldn't allow our outposts to be taken. Jiap made a huge miscalculation by believing that the same tactics that had worked against the French would work against a bunch of Marines. He had fought the Marines before, he should have known better. With respect to U.S. stategy, the only thing coming out of Westmorland was just don't lose. He didn't do crap. All the support came out of IIIMAF. I guess when the rest of us who were there have all died off your version will become valid. Sounds like the military version. The fact is that our artillery could reach about three feet beyond our lines while VC artillery could hammer us without limit. What saved our butts was military air power and the fact that we wouldn't allow our outposts to be taken. Jiap made a huge miscalculation by believing that the same tactics that had worked against the French would work against a bunch of Marines. He had fought the Marines before, he should have known better.
With respect to U.S. stategy, the only thing coming out of Westmorland was just don't lose. He didn't do crap. All the support came out of IIIMAF. I guess when the rest of us who were there have all died off your version will become valid.

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