Monday 6 May 2019

Kit Carson & The Kit Carson Scouts Viet Nam:

I'm currently just started reading VIETNAM by Max Hastings that is being applauded as the best explanation book about that war .. I'm only in the early pages but I have again here seen mention of the KIT CARSON SCOUTS.

Recognizing that I knew nothing about these important 'bit- players' in the VIETNAM jungle warfare of the 1960s - I had to try to follow-up their story some ..

CHIEU HOI Leaflet. -It Means "open arms" 
- Urging Fighters To DEFECT to The Americans.

These guys are/were former enemy V.C. fighters - who when captured or surrendering - chose to change sides by carrying a Chieu Hoi propaganda leaflet offering them good treatment.

 http://cap2-7-2.com/war-stories/the-man-in-the-middle/


It seems there were around 7,000 of these Kit Carson Scouts who proved very effective fighters with the US Marines & Army. - they were so named by General Nickerson c.o. of The 1st Marine Division. (These "Hoi Chahns" were alternatively called "TIGER SCOUTS" in the 9th Division) .. after the original "mountain man" Christopher Carson 1809-1868  who served as a guide on various early expeditions and as an 'Indian Agent'.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_Carson

When US forces pulled-out of South Vietnam (April 29 1975) there are believed to have been around 4,000 Kit Carsons then serving with US Forces who were abandoned there to their own devices ..

   http://www.americasfuture.net/1996/mar96/3-17-96c.html

It is thought that at least 2,000 of them were soon executed but likely many fled their homeland as "boat people" into other lands - while some may have gone underground and survived while not being identified.

I think that even more recently there have been 'Translators' serving with western forces in Afghanistan who have remained behind when these Forces have pulled-out in a "difficult" situation among their earlier opposing forces.

Warfare is a dreadful, dirty game .. but both of these stories are well worth discovering before we forget, - both histories could be thought of as lessons in how to pick your friends.

Marty K.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/vietnam/rvn-af-kit-carson.htm

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