“They had learned, from experience, that South Vietnamese soldiers would not check the canal banks very closely.”But escape often proved impossible, and casualties rose. In reality, American and South Vietnamese troops faced only skirmishes against small units, not the main forces of the Vietcong. They also concealed their fighters during the day while moving and ambushing the American soldiers at night.”That was a matter of necessity, said Mr. Communist officials had warned her what was ahead before the first American troops entered her hamlet. The American and South Vietnamese forces had little to show for their efforts in Cedar Falls, despite their overwhelming firepower and heavy Communist casualties.

Source: New York Times January 17, 2017 08:21 UTC