Here Comes the Cavalry
In March of 1965, over 23,000 military men were already stationed in Vietnam, but 3500 more Marines would join them, landing on the beaches of Cape Batangan. From defense aid, to searching for Vietcong guerillas as they trenched through murky marshes, troops would look back on this time as the true moments that the war really began. It also has to be noted that the bravery of TIME photographer Paul Schutzer was on display, as he was also on the front lines capturing these harrowing moments so that those back home could see just how intense the war really was.
From Sea to Shining Sea
Another USO provided bit of entertainment was a Miss America Show a few years into the Vietnam War. This big group of women would only dress in patriotic attire, and they would perform the best of the best dancing and entertaining acts on stage for the soldiers. It was an exciting time for the men in the middle of war, as most of them hadn’t seen their wives and girlfriends for upwards of years sometimes.
The Ultimate Doggy Treat
The puppy in this photo is a stark contrast to everything else, such as the rounds of ammo belt, the fatigues, and the soldiers caked in mud and oil. Though the Vietnam War was a dark 20 years of time, there were lighter, rarer moments like this, too. The soldiers fought and strategized military stationing just about everywhere—even in man-dug, underground cave like holes seen here. It was this lost puppy’s lucky day, and by the look on the soldier’s face, his, too, when the little dog was found by accident in this manhole.
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