The Guerrilla Warfare
Resistance soldiers were named the Vietcong.
They went underground as they could not fight with the more sophisticated war weapons of the richer nation. But their homemade tricks were just as effective if not better. The local fighters knew their soil well and like ants, moved around with confidence and precision. Akira or locally known as Ut, the tourist guide gave us a very comprehensive guide around a typical war zone in the early years after the second world war.
Akira with information from a map related the extent of the war zone.
I asked dad what were they fighting about and for? He chided me for ignorance and explained that they wanted the Americans to leave them alone for their fight for communism. The sorrows seen in the war museum were the recorded episodes and we were at Cu Chi to see hands on.
While their enemies attacked from above, the locals defended from below. The tunnels were excavated for the Vietcong to move and attack. Such was the deftness of the guerrilla soldiers. When driven to a corner, they have to find a solution and what better way than to play the hide and seek game? Muscles and weapons alone were not enough. Strategy is the game.
Notice the Mekong River on the left? It was the life saving factor providing water and food and even transport for the soldiers. No wonder the Mekong is known as the mother of life to the Vietnamese. Almost every activity of survival revolves around it.
In a well represented format, the military workshop was shown to keen observers on how local guerrilla fighters picked up remnants of war weapons and turned them into cohesive ammunition, bomb, spike, rifle, spear and you name it.
The tourists were given an explanation and it was informative. We were amazed at the versatility and adaptability of the soldiers. On top of that, one would assume that they did not have sufficient funds for anything new but turning the old recyclables to new devices. Recycling was at its height here.
It is not surprising that they won out of grit and long suffering.
They only knew they want to be left alone.
Next, it was the jungle trail. Imagine us treading on the grounds when there was once upon a time fierce actions. Hanging in my imagination was the number of dead people killed and buried here, both locals and foreigners. It was spooky!
Yes, that was the hiding place of the scrawny fighters during the fight. Perhaps the smallness was a strategy to prevent the bigger opponents to have access to the underground hiding place.
A demonstration on an entry exercise was given to us.
Jump in.
Raise the cover.
Before going in, make sure effort is made not to disclose the spot.
There, it should look like that when the soldier had entered.
No trace for suspicion.
Of course, were invited to emulate his footsteps.
Some took the challenge and the taller one said he could hardly have his legs comfortably placed inside. So, it was truly created for the local smaller men.
Akira reiterated that from the little hideouts, soldiers would come out to bigger trenches and shoot ! The trenches were many km long.
The enemy must have a tough time tracing their whereabouts.
Primitive and yet sophisticated are the two adjectives that I would use on the tactics used in defense.
Akira seemed apologetic at the cruel traps created along jungle trails to catch the unaware ones. He kept repeating that the traps were meant to hurt and not kill. But if you see them in greater details and how they function, we can conclude that many could have died when caught in them. The sharp bars incapacitated the victims and some were meant to poke at the different parts of the body very sharply. But he finally conceded that all was done in the name of self defense. So, you see, in a war everyone dies.
Below are gruesome representations of the traps and are self labelled and I am afraid I am not able to explain the workings. Al I know is that when you are caught by anyone of them you will be badly hurt or die.
Catch you like a fish. Helpless.
When you are caught in this chair, you may be folded up.
I suppose the spokes on the device are meant to hurt one seriously?
The door trap ; it catches you as you advance into it.
Ingenious, weren't they?
As we strolled further, we saw mannequins of the then soldiers.
Female fighters mostly wore black because they come to the jungle to help in the night while they look after the young in the day time. The male ones wore green as they fought in the day and green was a good camouflage,
The competent Vietcong went to even greater details making sandles to mislead their enemies of their movements. They wore in such a manner that the footsteps would lead the enemy to trace them in opposite directions. Clever.
The little vents in the grounds act as little chimneys for the cooking done underground. I forgot what they did further to divert it...
This is an air vent to allow oxygen in. To distract the trained dogs from detecting the smell of local Vietcong, the soldiers took the enemy's uniform and smeared their scent over them. Even the trained dogs could be misled.
So, solutions for challenges seen and unseen.
Our final challenge was to enter the Cu Chi tunnel and experience the plight of the resistance fighters.
Before the invitation, signboards were disseminated to those who had health problems to avoid the attempt. Those suffering from asthma, high blood and heart problems were cautiously warned.
To the adventurous, this was a one time experience.
You go in and do not know when will be the next trip here.
To go or not to go?
Yes, we went. It is narrow, low, dark and claustrophobic. Truly not for the faint -hearted. We were informed that we could exit at several points, the nearest being the 15 meter one. We came out after 30 meters. It was enough and we were glad to be given the experience.
The Vietcong soldiers are truly long sufferers. They survive under the hardest conditions. That has given them the grit to become such a great emerging economy today. I am amazed at their awesome attitude.
To further be associated with their great fight, we were treated to a tapioca cuisine. This was their staple food in the jungle days. Roots that grew freely and abundantly to sustain their hunger. The carbohydrate gave them energy and stamina to fight their cause.
The Cu Chi tunnel experience will be etched in my memory for a long while to come. Jungle trails and guerrilla warfare seemed strange but has been the story of the Vietnamese. They fight, sail and strive to survive. Truly a group to admire.
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