Re-posted by Nicholas Stix
McNamara’s Folly: The Use of Low-IQ Troops in the Vietnam War
Hamilton Gregory
A presentation and reading by Hamilton Gregory, author of "McNamara's Folly: The Use of Low-IQ Troops in the Vietnam." Because so many college students were avoiding military service during the Vietnam War, Defense Secretary Robert McNamara lowered mental standards to induct 354,000 low-IQ men. Their death toll in combat was appalling.
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4 comments:
jerry pdx
In the Korean war the Chinese the front lines troops didn't even have guns. Instead of rifles they carried shock grenades for which they had to advance close enough to the American front lines to throw at them. Not an easy thing to do against US firepower and the casualty rate was enormous. After the front liners "softened" up the American lines and forced a large expenditure of ammunition the rifle battalions would move in and engage. Check out the book "Chosin" if you want to know more about it.
I have to wonder if the Chinese military didn't just realize that some soldiers were better than other so what's the point of wasting good equipment on soldiers that will likely just get themselves killed very soon in the war due to being stupid.
My father's best friend was a machine gunner in the Korean war and was on the front lines when the Chinese attacked, he described how the front line Chinese just seemed to be there to absorb bullets, it's like the Chinese felt like they had more warm bodies than the Americans had bullets, afterward they would see emaciated bodies with no guns, maybe even no shoes, just laying there dead like that was their whole purpose.
McNamara's morons had it pretty damn good in comparison.
Those low IQ GI's not only were killed in large numbers but a constant source of problem away from the battlefield. Interracial brawls, rowdiness, criminal behavior [look up the LBJ Riot] lack of discipline, etc. Just not only not an asset but a detriment without remedy.
Chinese attacks in four waves. First wave throwing grenades. Second wave firing "burp gun" with the weapon held high, firing in a downward direction. Third wave carrying rifles. Fourth wave weaponless and expected to move forward to pick up the weapon of a downed man as they advanced. And indeed terrifying to American troops, such determination in the face of almost certain death.
Ability to absorb bullets due to the padded winter clothing the Chinese wore combined with a fanaticism.
Johnson had wanted: "get those niggers off the streets, I don't care how, just get them off!"
Johnson was fond of using the word nigger all the time in casual conversation.
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