How did the US determine progress in Vietnam?

Answer 1

Over the radio, you would hear, "...what's your body count, over..."

You'd reply, "we've got two November Victor Alpha Kilo India Alpha, and one Uniform Sierra Kilo India Alpha...how copy...over"

Translation: 2 NVA Kia and 1 US KIA

The body count from that transmission was 2 enemy dead and 1 US dead.

Answer 2

Led by the Army's Gen William Westmoreland who tried to fight a conventional war similar to WW2, the "body count' was considered the measure of combat success. The U.S. Marines, however, tried hard to work with the people, training them and the South Vietnamese people to carry the fight to the NVA and VC. However their successful efforts were overruled by the Army, who preferred the set-piece strategies that produced such bloody and unnecessary fights at Khe Sanh, Con Tien, and similar.

Answer 3

Utilized the body count method.

Answer 4

Body count.