My Dad served , trained and lived with them . His theater of service was Plaiku Central Highlands Vietnam. 67 to 69. I grew up hearing the amazing stories of them. They are in my hometown back in NC . They greet you with a smile and very friendly people. The women are shy and have eyes so beautiful you get lost in them.
There were many obstacles the language barrier, the village, the people in general, and especially their customs. If you didn't honor their customs, show trust in them, then you had no force. but if you were able to befriend the Montagnards, you have a friend for life. What was disturbing wasn't the patrolling, killing, and being away from family, but how the United States departed leaving the vast majority of Yards behind. They were faced with certain prejudices from the North and South Vietnamese, neither like the Yard nor did the Yard care for them. They were pawns in an endless war. And when America pulled out, they tore the Yard's sense of loyalty and trust to hell. Today we have organizations that stay in touch with many who made it stateside. But the poison was already there, America had deserted them. Today I visit several Yards that had worked shoulder to with me and I would never turn my back on them. It wasn't the soldier, but the government at that time.
Thank you Robert for sharing your experience with the Montagnards with us. Have you shared any stories with the VA podcast or similar media? Thank you for your service to our and their country.
This is very strong video that remind all the Montagnards what was happened and what it was like back then, special thanks to the USA , my dad was working with the Americans Soldiers 45 years ago , he always tells us about what he did life was back then 😥😥
Dien Bien Phu is in extreme north Viet Nam, not the Central Highlands; also Me Kong is pronounced "May Comb" and not actually "Me Kong." My wife is from Bien Hoa and she always pronounced it the former manner rather than the latter. Just sayin'...
Thank you for the comment. I sometimes wonder how My Lai is pronounced due it's war atrocity status in history. Also Khmer rouge seems pronounced different ways.
I saw an interview with a Vietnam era special forces veteran and said the "yards" were top notch humans with more heart than anyone. But he felt America should accept all of them, give them a chunk of land here in America and leave them to their own way of life, and if another jungle war were to breakout somewhere, they'd have it in the bag, and would do so voluntarily.
I've heard nothing but bravery to the highest about these folks. Treated by the Vietnamese both North and South much like we did our own Native Peoples. I have nothing but respect and admiration for the Yards and our Natives .
It's horrible to know what happened to the montagnards . The Green Berets and the montagnards developed a strong relationship , on and off the battlefield . Once they realize the Green Berets would risk their lives for them , the montagnards did the same . Many Green Berets got really close to his montagnards, he realized these men wanted to live in peace and defend his family. The Green Berets we're willing to train them to help them fight so he could live with his family and protect them when the time came . Of course a strong friendship developed afterwards...well when America pulled out of Vietnam , the VC swept through the montagnards village and slaughtered most of them . Just annihilated entire villages , families . It's truly sad . All the montagnards wanted was to have peaceful lives ,take care of those they loved and would stand up for themselves . The Green Berets took into consideration he montagnards willingness to fight . They made sure they got paid , clothed them like an army would and trained them with m16 and whatnot . It so sad what happened after America left ... But not long afterwards after the war many Green Berets went back to those villages to check on the montagnards and to let the montagnard people know they are cared for and after the Green Berets seen how many got slaughtered by the VC I believe they took some back to the US . Green Berets are just amazing individuals .. elite warriors and unlike any other fighting force in the world . True humanitarians I can't help but love them and appreciate them for their care and concern for people who are disadvantaged . They sincerely care for the underdogs and want to build them up . I have upmost respect and appreciation for these men.
Fake news: There where atrocites but its not true that «most of them was slaughtered». They keept fighting with cia support untill about 1992. For more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montagnard_(Vietnam)
The Montagnard got F.ed before the end of the war. In 1961-1963 when the CIA and the GreenBerets were running the program it was very successful. Then they moved the program to the US army that decided that instead of focusing on the local develop and defense, the CIDG Program was going to be used to guard the borders and in larger operations. Effectively transforming the local population into an offensive fighting force. The montagnards rebelled against it in 1964, even took Green Berets as hostage during the FULRO uprising where 5 camps captured and killed ARVN soldiers.
Retired Green Berets actually began a program in the 90s I believe, to go back and get some of them and their families - as many as they could. They found out that there were maybe 3 or 4 thousand left. They were able to raise funds to get many of those people out and to this country. I forgot where they settled but I believe it was somewhere in California. There's a small community of Montagnards there.
This is Montagnard , Champa , Khmer krome land not south vietnamland , south vietnam (kinh) long time ago them come from north vietnam also you must know them a big lie, they have a power claim ourland ,they control ourland , You can read the history of Champa you will understand
1963 Propaganda film by the U.S. Army. Saw this as a brief during intermission in a movie theatre, latter after joining the Army my squad leader was one of those green Berets that trained these incredible warriors the "yard" at his A camp along the Cambodia border. Told me, "Tales of headhunting" in the Sanctuaries for NVA encampments with the Montagnards. NVA defectors were turning into the camp on a regular basis. He stated " saving one's head" had more incentive, than the Chieu- Hoi program.
Many of the french gcma special Forces stayed behind in 1954 after The cease fire and were slowly Exterminated by the Vietminh Only one made it out of north Vietnam in 1958 Because of ties with locals they Were loathed to leave Whether any american green berets Stayed after 1973 isn't known!
My dad was a CO in the Australian Training Team, training many of these villages. He did this for 3 years. I was born the week before he left in 65. He always spoke fondly of these people. But could never go back with all the terrible things he saw there.
God bless your dad, he served his country and worked towards a world free from Communism.my late brother served in Vietnam 1966 to 1967 a period of 13 months after leaving college after be8ng inducted. They do not make men like these men were back then.
Great Warriors and Woodsmen the ‘Yards. My late wife’s father worked with them and one of his greatest regrets is being forced to leave them for he new their struggles would never end.
It is a shame that we influenced these people! I had a close friend who had served in the Special Forces during Vietnam. His greatest regret is what he and the other Special Forces had done to these people! The Mong are fighting to this day waiting for our return!
Yes in meny battles they would jump in front of a American and take a bullet to die for the American ⚡ we should have left Them with more supplies my half brother work with them and is a mia David Davidson 110 missions four tours, mad dog shivor or Jerry mad dog is another green Beray mia that bought suppiled with his own money for them I phrase the montainyards 🧝⚡
