How did GI's oppose the war in Vietnam?

Answer 1

What separates the military from the civilians is regimentation (treating personnel in an authoritarian manner). Without that regimentation, there is no military. During the Vietnam War (and previous US wars) the US Military enforced discipline (after court martial) with the "stockade"; in South Vietnam the most famous stockade was LBJ (Long Binh Jail), and yes LBJ had a double meaning for every man in RVN (Republic of South Vietnam). GIs in South Vietnam could only protest/oppose the war by personal things such as growing a beard, long sideburns, handle bar mustaches, long hair (almost pony tails), wearing patches in unauthorized areas such as on their hats or helmets (the cloth camoflage cover), wearing of beads or bracelets...nearly all made by the nationals (South Vietnamese civilians) from expended rifle, machine gun brass, or tank/artillery cannon empties (melted down shell casings). Or defiant writings upon their helmet covers, such as, "We the unwilling, led by the un-qualified, are doing the impossible, for the ungrateful." Or, "FTA" , which was explained to an inspecting General one day as standing for the "Finest Tank Around", when the General directed that that writing be removed from the tank's gun barrel (called a "gun tube" or "Main Gun"). ANYTHING else was walking the border-line for trouble (LBJ).

Answer 2

Many GI's opposed the war in Vietnam through various forms of resistance, such as participating in anti-war protests and demonstrations, refusing orders, going AWOL (absent without leave), and even organizing within the military itself to advocate for peace and end the war. Some GI's also risked their careers and faced disciplinary action by openly speaking out against the war and its policies.