[secretagent]

As a VietNam vet during '67-'68, I can say that 'killing of prisoners was an "unwritten law"' is catagorically false. The article portrays soldiers in VietNam as no more than lawless bandits.

The article only refers to the "Tiger Force unit of the Army's 101st Airborne Division", not the whole of the Army.

[neverdem]

"The article only refers to the "Tiger Force unit of the Army's 101st Airborne Division", not the whole of the Army."

I submit that the army was composed of many volunteers, especially each battalion's reconnaissnace platoons, who wanted to take the fight to the enemy without committing war crimes.

[caisson71]

The article also notes "other" killings such as My Lai in 1998. I don't see the tone of this article as being only from the 101st. It also does not state that Sgt. Forrest Miller was with the 101st. Sorry, but I'm a bit sensitive to this type of reporting and want them to be as specific as possible. Too many good men fought and died there for haphazard reporting to go unchellanged.

[geopyg]

I recall a WWII documentary where the Marines capturing the islands did not take any prisoners (although few of the enemy surrendored anyway). In the doctor's office there was a Medical History of War book. A Doc was telling how they entered a concentration camp in Germany and were shocked to see the bodies stacked up like cord wood. They shot the German guards where they stood.

I think (and in most cases hope) that the Wars we fight are a bit more "compassionate" (at least in terms of civilians and people that surrender - with the exception perhaps of the German guards).