Compare and contrast Korea with Vietnam?

Answer 1

For ground forces; US weapons and uniforms were basically WWII weapons and uniforms. And Many of the US servicemen who fought in the Korean War had also fought in WWII. A 25 year old US Marine in the Korean War, had been a 18 or 19 year old soldier, sailor, airman, or marine in WWII. Which is ONE of the reasons you don't hear much about the Korean War; it has been over-shadowed by WWII. The most IMPORTANT difference between the Korean War and the Vietnam War, was that the US/Allies "INVADED North Korea" during the fighting. This resulted in a larger war when Red (Communist) China entered the conflict. The Vietnam War was largely fought with men who had been too young to fight in Korea or WWII (although many senior NCO's and Officers were Korean War & WWII veterans). US personnel fought with entirely new weapons than that of Korea or WWII, e.g. the M-14 rifle, M-16 rifle, M-60 machingun, M-72 LAW (light anti-tank weapon), Armored Personnel Carriers, and Sheridan tanks. The US steel helmet, although of 1960's production, was still the SAME DESIGN as the earlier Korean War & WWII helmets; only the new green cloth camoflage cover for the steel helmet was totally new (Vietnam was the first war in which the US Army wore cloth camoflage covers on their helmets as standard equipment). When the US fought in Vietnam, the decision was made NOT to invade North Vietnam, as to keep Red (Communist) China, and possibly the Soviets, out of the war. And finally, the Communists were stopped at the 38th Parallel with an Armistice signed in 1953. The US/Allies had been successful in stopping a communist take over of South Korea. For the Vietnam War, we failed in preventing communist North Vietnam from taking over South Vietnam.