Description: The size of this patch is 3" x 4".During Vietnam war, TUNNEL RAT personnel was a special US combat unit sent out to hunt and kill the Viet Cong soldiers in a man-to-man combat in the endless tunnels underneath the jungle of Vietnam. Originally called "Tunnel Runners" by the 25th Infantry Division, and "Ferrets" by the Australian Army, the term "Tunnel Rat" soon became their official accepted name. The US Army soon realized that trying to destroy the tunnels was a short-sighted policy that wasn't going to work. Moreover this was also a loss as the underground networks could yield vital intelligence on the VC in the form of plans and documents. A chemical officer of the 1st Infantry Div, Capt Herbert Thornton a Southerner, was charged with setting up the first tunnel team. The kind of man that Thornton sought for his tunnel team had to be a special breed. He had to have an even temperament, an inquisitive mind, a lot of common sense (in order to know what to touch and what not to), and to be exceptionally brave. All of Thornton's men were volunteers, most (not all) were small men of slight build who could squeeze through the tight trap doors and crawl along the narrow passages with relative ease. No dead tunnel rats were left in a tunnel, dead or wounded they were all dragged out with wire, ropes, or by a comrade using a fireman's crawl. It was a very stressful, nerve racking job, pushing the rat's mental state to its limits. Crawling through narrow, pitch black tunnels, sometimes for hours looking for a heavily armed enemy who would if he got the drop on you not hesitate to kill you. Occasionally under the strain a man's nerves would break and he'd be dragged from the tunnel screaming and crying. Once this happened he would never be allowed down a tunnel again. If going down into a tunnel posed a threat, then coming up again could be just as dangerous. Upon emerging from a tunnel, a rat would often whistle "Dixie" just to let the troops on the surface know he was on their side. A little guy stripped to the waist and covered in dirt could easily be mistaken (particularly if he was oriental looking) for a VC and shot by his own side... Suicide squads of a special kind !COMBINED SHIPMENT OF MULTIPLE ITEMS IS REDUCED TO SAVE YOU MONEY. YOUR ITEM WILL BE SHIPPED WITHIN 24 HOURS UPON RECEIPT OF YOUR PAYMENT.FOR INTERNATIONAL BUYERS ONLY: WE WILL SHIP BY 1st CLASS MAIL. WE REQUIRE BUYERS TO WAIT FOR THE INVOICE BEFORE PAYING.OUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT TO US AND WE WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY WITH YOUR PURCHASE. IF YOU FIND SOMETHING WRONG, PLEASE CONTACT US BEFORE LEAVING A NEUTRAL OR NEGATIVE FEEDBACK AND WE WILL TRY TO MAKE IT RIGHT. THANKS FOR YOUR PURCHASE. ENJOY !
Price: 9.99 USD
Location: Grand Prairie, Texas
End Time: 2025-01-16T17:48:24.000Z
Shipping Cost: 1 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: Unknown
Theme: Militaria
Original/Reproduction: Original
Conflict: Vietnam (1961-75)
