Reference no: EM133688638

Assignment:

During the Vietnam War, the United States relied on the helicopter as never before. Although helicopters were first used by the U.S. military in the Korean War, the helicopters of that period were small and had a limited used. By the time of the Vietnam War, helicopters had become larger and more powerful and the helicopter's role in combat expanded enormously as thousands of "choppers" flew over the skies of Vietnam. In particular, the UH-1 "Huey" (seen in the above photograph) has become the symbol of the American war in Vietnam. Indeed, the Vietnam War was the Helicopter War.

Study the documents below related to the role of helicopters in the Vietnam War, then answer the questions that follow.

Document A: Helicopters (Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund web site,)

Document B: Ia Drang Valley Assault from the film "We Were Soldiers" (2003-Icon Productions, Wheelhouse Entertainment).

Document C: Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Describe the War from the Cockpit (Military Times).

QUESTIONS:

1) Describe the different roles that helicopters played in the U.S. military war effort in Vietnam. Explain your answer.

2) What impact did the helicopter have in providing medical aid to the wounded? Explain your answer.

3) What were the advantages and disadvantages of using helicopters to the extent that the U.S. military did during the war? Explain your answer.

4) Describe the experiences of helicopter pilots and crews during the war. Why would being a member of a helicopter crew be considered to be amongst the most dangerous jobs in the war? Explain your answer.