Sunday, September 16, 2007

Remembering Dien Bien Phu, or "You are a paratrooper, you are there to die."




(Two different videos covering the battle. They are each less than ten minutes long.)

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu, although faded from memory, should never be forgotten as it is the battle that kicked the French out of Vietnam and drew America into it. The French had been fighting the Viet Minh (trained, armed, and supplied by the Chinese) for years. They sought to draw out the enemy into a battle where they could crush the Viet Minh with their artillery and air power, thinking they were just jungle fighting guerrillas.

In a strategic blunder worthy of the Maginot Line, the French generals (who were told by the government not to win but to create conditions for a "favorable political solution", sound familiar?), choose a valley, Dien Bien Phu, that is 180 miles from the nearest air base. The valley is surrounded by jungle-covered mountains and is reached only by air. The French drop 18,000 airborne troops (their best soldiers) into the valley, build an airstrip, and create what they think is a heavily fortified base that is untakeable. While the subordinate officers protest, the generals completely dismiss the mere idea of the Viet Minh having artillery, much less bringing them to the mountains above. The French generals salivate at the thought of finally meeting the Viet Minh on their terms, where they can finally get their victory.

The Viet Minh show up, with more than 63,000 soldiers. They move their heavy artillery, most of it broken down and carried by hand, up into the mountains where it is reassembled and placed in well-camouflaged positions that are impossible for the French artillery and bombers to reach as they are dug in deeply into the mountains. The Viet Minh, unknown to the French, are a modern, trained fighting force able to give battle on the French terms.

The French ignore common sense, committing more operational blunders. The battle plan heavily depends on air power but there are no trained bomber crews in all of Vietnam. They count on artillery to destroy the enemy but there are no adequate ordnance maps for the artillery to use, thus making it virtually impossible for the artillery to operate in any effective manner against the Viet Minh. The battle is fought during the monsoon season, thus limiting the French Air Force. The French occupy the valley, leaving the mountains to the Viet Minh. They plan on chasing the Viet Minh, never thinking that the Viet Minh will attack them.

The 55 day battle starts with the Viet Minh totally surprising the French with a ferocious bombardment from the mountains down into the valley where nothing is safe. Over 3000 shells are fired on the French in the first night. The airstrip is destroyed in a few days, cutting off Dien Bien Phu from the outside world. Dien Bien Phu is now totally surrounded and outnumbered, unable to mount major sorties or break out. The French receive supplies by parachute drops but the French once again underestimate the Viet Minh, whose anti-aircraft guns can hit the French planes at ranges up to 10,000 feet. As they are forced to drop supplies from higher altitudes, the French see their supplies drift over into Viet Minh territory. The Viet Minh attack mostly at night, thus preventing the French from using their air power against them during battle.

Artillery bombardments give way to World War I-style trench warfare as the Viet Minh mount assaults on the French, who are dug in. The fighting is brutal, face to face, hand to hand, all possible weapons are used. When they run out of sandbags, the French use corpses. The French are forced back. At the end, they have no electricity, sewage, water, little ammunition, and are taken prisoner. Of the nearly 10,000 troops taken prisoner, less than 4,000 return a few months later.

Even though the two sides are still equal in numbers (in Vietnam), morale at home collapses as a public outcry against the disaster and the politicians responsible for it leads to a stampede to get out of Vietnam at any cost. The French sign the treaty ending its presence on the Viet Minh's terms. The French abandon all allies and supporters in Vietnam, who are brutally killed and tortured by the Viet Minh in a precursor of what will happen after 1975. Thousands of French prisoners are left behind as France decides not to press for their return. The Viet Minh, having eliminated and killed all competing nationalist or pro-independence groups, is completely communist and runs its territory in pure Stalinist fashion. The French expect only 30,000 refugees. They are shocked when hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese flee to the South. The French troops feel, with justification, that they have been backstabbed, after being sacrificed by the generals who were not trying to win the war.

More Youtube links:
footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4Ggih20lpc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HdHrZSEPf4&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L3EXLfgIYw&mode=related&search=

Two excellent books are: The Last Valley by Martin Winthrow and Hell in a Very Small Place: The Siege of Dien Bien Phu by Bernard Fall.

wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dien_Bien_Phu

1 comment:

Gerald said...

Warfare is a fascinating subject. Despite the dubious morality of using violence to achieve personal or political aims. It remains that conflict has been used to do just that throughout recorded history.

Your article is very well done, a good read.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.