Cu Chi Tunnels of Vietnam
Zachary Blair|Hour 1|Chapter 22
Location and Use of Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnels were tunnels that went 30 feet underground and spanned over 250 kilometers. The network of tunnels reached from the outskirts of Saigon all the way to the Cambodian border. The tunnels were build in the late 1940's during the war of independence from the French. The tunnels provided protection from aerial attacks and kept Vietnamese soldiers hidden from the opposing force.
Inside the Cu Chi Tunnels
The Cu Chi Tunnels were for hiding the Vietcong from the enemy and did require certain hospitality's. The tunnels could house entire villages where villagers spent most of their time. The tunnels had living quarters, kitchens, ordnance factories, hospitals and bomb shelters. Also in some larger parts of the tunnels were large theaters and music halls that provided a distraction for the troops and their supporters. The tunnels for the most part were no more than 3 to 6 feet high.
Battleing and Probelms in the Tunnels
Although the tunnels provided a lot of hospitality for the soldiers and villagers, they were also a health hazard. As US and South Vietnamese soldiers found their ways into the tunnels they would set booby traps for the enemy to trip. This was a health hazard for the enemy but for the people living in the tunnels was much worse. They had to deal with flooding, disease, poor ventilation, insects and snakes. At the end of the war there was a total of over 43,000 Vietcong members who gave there lives in the tunnels.
Reaction
I feel that the Cu Chi Tunnels must of been a constant pain on the soldiers, although it provided and extremely good shelter, it was small and unchanging. I personally would've been extremely bored most of the time and probably scared of my life. I feel that claustrophobia would've been an increasing problem. I wonder how sane the soldiers stayed in the tunnels. The tunnels were great when they were in use, but are probably better off how they are now. Just as a tourist attraction.