Christopher Levesque

87% of the non-commissioned officers had graduated from high school, which is a rate 20% higher than the average for infantry companies on the line in Vietnam. 70% of the men in lower enlisted rates had graduated from high school, which is also slightly above average. It's both ethnically and geographically mixed demographically.

So half of the soldiers were African-American, which was pretty typical of units in Vietnam. And so one of the problems that we have is that with this background, there's little to set them apart as being the ones who are going to be responsible for this.

So half of the soldiers were African-American, which was pretty typical of units in Vietnam. And so one of the problems that we have is that with this background, there's little to set them apart as being the ones who are going to be responsible for this.

So half of the soldiers were African-American, which was pretty typical of units in Vietnam. And so one of the problems that we have is that with this background, there's little to set them apart as being the ones who are going to be responsible for this.

The trick is that many of the most experienced noncommissioned officers and other enlisted personnel had been transferred out of Charlie Company during its training. So you get really inexperienced soldiers in what are generally leadership positions. So you get privates first class and specialists fourth class in leadership roles. And so they're not as experienced in that part of it.

The trick is that many of the most experienced noncommissioned officers and other enlisted personnel had been transferred out of Charlie Company during its training. So you get really inexperienced soldiers in what are generally leadership positions. So you get privates first class and specialists fourth class in leadership roles. And so they're not as experienced in that part of it.

The trick is that many of the most experienced noncommissioned officers and other enlisted personnel had been transferred out of Charlie Company during its training. So you get really inexperienced soldiers in what are generally leadership positions. So you get privates first class and specialists fourth class in leadership roles. And so they're not as experienced in that part of it.

Part of what is what explains why a unit that got high marks for training in Hawaii when it gets to Vietnam is seen as deficient. And so they get to Vietnam. In December of 1967, they received their orientation training from instructors of the 4th Infantry Division's NCO Academy at El Cibranco.

Part of what is what explains why a unit that got high marks for training in Hawaii when it gets to Vietnam is seen as deficient. And so they get to Vietnam. In December of 1967, they received their orientation training from instructors of the 4th Infantry Division's NCO Academy at El Cibranco.

Part of what is what explains why a unit that got high marks for training in Hawaii when it gets to Vietnam is seen as deficient. And so they get to Vietnam. In December of 1967, they received their orientation training from instructors of the 4th Infantry Division's NCO Academy at El Cibranco.

They get practical training for things like airstrikes and calling in artillery and requesting medical evacuation, how to maintain the radios, how to deal with civilians and enemy prisoners of war that they interact with. Now, basically, Don't abuse them, don't kill them, but keep them separate and silent and secure. But essentially, don't be terrible, follow the laws of war.

They get practical training for things like airstrikes and calling in artillery and requesting medical evacuation, how to maintain the radios, how to deal with civilians and enemy prisoners of war that they interact with. Now, basically, Don't abuse them, don't kill them, but keep them separate and silent and secure. But essentially, don't be terrible, follow the laws of war.

They get practical training for things like airstrikes and calling in artillery and requesting medical evacuation, how to maintain the radios, how to deal with civilians and enemy prisoners of war that they interact with. Now, basically, Don't abuse them, don't kill them, but keep them separate and silent and secure. But essentially, don't be terrible, follow the laws of war.

Their training, though, did caution them that because it's difficult to tell the Viet Cong apart from other civilians, that they have to be aware everybody is a potential enemy. They're also told that children are tricky to interact with because they seem innocent, but they might have been set up with an explosive device.

Their training, though, did caution them that because it's difficult to tell the Viet Cong apart from other civilians, that they have to be aware everybody is a potential enemy. They're also told that children are tricky to interact with because they seem innocent, but they might have been set up with an explosive device.

Their training, though, did caution them that because it's difficult to tell the Viet Cong apart from other civilians, that they have to be aware everybody is a potential enemy. They're also told that children are tricky to interact with because they seem innocent, but they might have been set up with an explosive device.

And so they get one day of training before they're given their first mission. And their first mission is to set up the 11th Infantry Brigade's fire base at LZ Carrington near Duck Foe. And this was an area that had been dangerous, but at this point is relatively quiet. They set up the camp perimeter. They dig bunkers and do that type of thing. So they get about a month.

And so they get one day of training before they're given their first mission. And their first mission is to set up the 11th Infantry Brigade's fire base at LZ Carrington near Duck Foe. And this was an area that had been dangerous, but at this point is relatively quiet. They set up the camp perimeter. They dig bunkers and do that type of thing. So they get about a month.

And so they get one day of training before they're given their first mission. And their first mission is to set up the 11th Infantry Brigade's fire base at LZ Carrington near Duck Foe. And this was an area that had been dangerous, but at this point is relatively quiet. They set up the camp perimeter. They dig bunkers and do that type of thing. So they get about a month.

of settling in, doing some patrols and doing some training, but they don't fire their weapons. They lay in night to night ambushes, looking for a single sniper in their area of operations. The trouble really, really begins four days before the Tet Offensive.