The FReeper Foxhole Studies the "Tunnel Rats" of Vietnam - January 23, 2004

see educational sources

[snippy_about_it]

Down in the Hole


CAVE DWELLING NECTAR EATING BAT. DAWN BAT: (Eonycteris Spelea)



The Male of the species is larger than the Female and has a ruff of dark fur on the sides of it's neck. It's neck hairs are tinged with yellow, and it's head is a slightly darker colour than the rest of it's body. The overall covering of body hair is thin, with the upper portions being dark and going through to light brown in colour. The underside of the body is normally a greyish colour. The skull of this bat is specially adapted for drinking nectar, and has a spout shaped mandible. During the daylight hours these bat's generally roost in caves (or in this case tunnels), and tend to congregate in groups of a few dozen to as many as ten's of thousands.

GIANT CRAB SPIDER: (Heteropoda venatoria)



A frequently encountered hunting spider which lives in houses and buildings. This particular species of spider doesn't build a web to catch it's prey, instead it hunts it's prey. Chasing around at night after insects or patiently waiting in ambush for some unsuspecting creature to come too close. Crab spiders are so called because like a crab they can hold their legs out to the side just like a crab, and can walk forward, backwards, or side ways. The Female of the species is the bigger and carries her egg sacs under her body.

FIRE ANT: genus Solenopsis



A small brownish ant that builds its home in a mound, and is extremely aggressive. When disturbed the ant will attack anything, inflicting painful stings on it's victim. The sting itself will cause pustule to form and will leave a small scar. Large numbers of fire ant stings can cause death if medical attention is not on hand.

BANDED KRAIT: genus Bungarus



A relatively small snake growing to approx 2 meters long. Entire length is marked with alternate black and yellow bands which completely encircle the body except for the head and tail. Mainly found in mangrove forests but will inhabit human dwellings. A sluggish snake that rarely attacks humans unless stepped on. The krait is a nocturnal feeder feeding mainly on other snakes and lizards. The Krait is one of the most venomous of all the snakes encountered in South east Asia and has a venom that is 5 times the lethal dose for a human being.

ASIATIC COBRA: genus Naja



A fairly large venomous snake that can grow to 7ft long, usually lives in holes between the roots of large trees. Mainly active during the day but can also be active at night. The Cobra feeds mainly on small rodents, lizards, snakes, and frogs. Rears it's head to strike or spit. When spitting the venom can reach a distance of 2m/6.5ft, causing severe pain and damage when entering the eyes of it's prey. Cobra venom is highly toxic; a nerve poison. It's bite is not painful, causes numbness, drowsiness, vomiting, and can be fatal from between 2 - 24 hours.

SCORPION: genus Scorpiones



Scorpions are very common in tropical and subtropical climates and are an Arachnid. They have two large pincers and a long tail which ends up in an upcurved poisonous sting. The poison from a scorpion sting is rarely fatal to a healthy adult human. Scorpions do not lay eggs, instead they produce live young, some species can reach up to 25cm in length. Hunting mainly at night their main food is the woodlouse, although they sometimes will prey on each other. They can also survive for long periods of time without food.

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Today's Educational Sources and suggestions for further reading:

Tunnel warfare by T.Mangold and J.Pennygate
The US Army in Vietnam by L.Thompson
Images from the book NAM; The Vietnam Experience 1965/75 by Hamlyn
www.diddybop.demon.co.uk/tunnel1.htm
www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/vietnam/
www.specialoperations.com/History/Vietnam/Tunnel_Rats.htm

[snippy_about_it]

FALL IN to the FReeper Foxhole!



Good Friday Morning Everyone

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[snippy_about_it]

Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization. The primary area of concern to all VetsCoR members is that our national and local educational systems fall short in teaching students and all American citizens the history and underlying principles on which our Constitutional republic-based system of self-government was founded. VetsCoR members are also very concerned that the Federal government long ago over-stepped its limited authority as clearly specified in the United States Constitution, as well as the Founding Fathers' supporting letters, essays, and other public documents.

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Tribute to a Generation - The memorial will be dedicated on Saturday, May 29, 2004.

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Actively seeking volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.

[The Mayor]

My son just did a report for school on Vietnam.

This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

True freedom is found in obedience to Christ.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Snippy.

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole.

Well, believe it or not there are thunderstorms in the forecast for our area tommorow. we're forecast to reach the upper 50's for highs today.

[Samwise]

Pray men with terrible jobs.

God bless them all.

[CholeraJoe]

Morning, snippy. And you think your job sucks?

[GailA]

[snippy_about_it]

My son just did a report for school on Vietnam.

That's great Mayor. We'd love for you to share it with us.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Aeronaut. These are the strangest looking flying machines! Thanks for the education. What is it?

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning EGC. That will be a nice break from winter!

[snippy_about_it]

God bless them all

Amen and good morning Samwise.

[snippy_about_it]

And you think your job sucks?

Good morning CJ, I often have to remind myself of our threads to remember just how easy I do have it, thanks to our veterans and troops.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Matthew Paul, good afternoon Poland!!!

The way they built these tunnels made it so we couldn't throw grenades or bombs down them and do any damage. It must have been tough to go down there.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Gail, that's a pretty package. Good to see you.

[Aeronaut]

It's a Convair XFY-1 "Pogo Stick." VOTL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) from the early fifties. Hard to land.

 

[SCDogPapa]

Mornin' Snippy,,Mornin' Sam

Tunnel Rat,,,,what a hell of a job!

[SCDogPapa]

I had a model of the Pogo, when I was a kid. :)