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OPERATION EAGLE 1971 AND VIETNAM WAR :
THE EAGLE CONNECTION: THE BALD EAGLE - THE GOLDEN EAGLE - OPERATION EAGLE - WHAT IS THE CONNECTION?
The military action in the Chittagong Hill Tracts that initiated the Liberation of Bangladesh during 1971 is known as Operation Eagle 1971. It was a very modest military battle as compared to the Vietnam War. However, a comparison must be made to understand the use of Infantry to defeat enemy to obtain a political objective. The U.S. Army may not be aware of Operation Eagle where I had used U.S. military equipment, field gear, and U.S. Military Field Rations-Meals Ready to Eat or MREs.
In a hilly, forest terrain, the use of aerial firepower or bombing campaigns will not dislodge the enemy. The enemy must be found on the ground and must be directly attacked.
The military objectives of the Vietnam War could not be accomplished because of the reliance placed upon aerial bombardment to defeat the enemy. Operation Eagle 1971 was small in its scope and size. But, it did not rely upon the use of aerial bombardment. We operated on a ‘manpack’ basis, went in search of enemy positions, and had directly challenged the enemy at his own post. United States had failed to attack the enemy on the ground during the Vietnam War. To defend South Vietnam, the military strategy and planning would call for Infantry attacks on the enemy inside North Vietnam. United States had used more bombs as compared to the number of bombs that were dropped during the Second World War and yet could not dislodge the enemy from his entrenched positions. We need to fight and engage the enemy on the ground.
OPERATION EAGLE 1971 AND VIETNAM WAR INFANTRY WEAPONS AND FIELD GEAR :
- OPERATION EAGLE 1971 AND THE VIETNAM WAR INFANTRY WEAPONS, FIELD GEAR AND COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
During Operation Eagle 1971, I could not bring my personal weapon Sub Machine Gun or SMG and had participated in the battle without carrying the M14 Rifle.
The General Purpose Machine Gun M60 was designed for use in the Vietnam War was equally useful for our Infantry operation Eagle in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
M1 Muzzle loading 81mm Mortar is a heavy piece of Infantry weapon which provides indirect fire support. During Operation Eagle, our men had carried them on their backs and used them to fire upon the enemy patrols whenever they had confronted us.
The most common weapon used by American Infantry Battalions in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Operation Eagle was fought on a manpack basis and this short-range, lightweight mortar was very useful.
A military action by Infantry is best understood by examining the weapons that are used. During Operation Eagle 1971 and the Vietnam War, the Infantry had used the same kinds of Infantry weapons. We must ignore the sophisticated technology and the firepower of United States Navy and Air Force. The battle must be won on the ground. During Operation Eagle 1971 we had used the same Infantry weapons, equipment, and other supplies more effectively in our battle as compared to U.S. Army in its combat missions against its enemy in Vietnam. We had not used helicopters as gunships or to attack the enemy in support of ground troops. I would like to share some of the photo images of the Infantry Weapons and equipment that were used in Vietnam War and which I had seen during Operation Eagle 1971.
Rifle is the most basic Infantry weapon. M14 Infantry Assault Rifle was used in Vietnam. During Operation Eagle 1971, I had politely refused to use this M14 Rifle as my personal weapon.The men had used this Rifle.During Operation Eagle 1971, I could not bring my Sub Machine Gun or SMG and had participated in the battle without carrying the M14 Rifle.
During Operation Eagle 1971 we were not allowed the use of cameras or photography. I would have looked like this man wearing Olive Green Coat Poncho. I had used US Army Cap-Field.
A Soldier needs his gun, boots, and clothing to protect himself. During Operation Eagle 1971, I had used this US Army Nylon Poncho with Hood(Olive) to sleep on the ground and as a coat to protect myself from intense fog and dew prevalent in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Short-range, manpack, portable, frequency modulated(FM) transceiver that provides two-way voice communication. Radio Set AN/PRC - 25 is used in the Vietnam War and I had used the same in Operation Eagle. Two-way voice communications could be easily monitored by the enemy. Fortunately, I had no problem as the enemy in Chittagong Hill Tracts had no linguistic experts. I had openly communicated with my Unit Commander in my native language of Telugu and there was absolutely no risk of revealing any sensitive information.
AN/PRC-77 Back Pack radio set is similar to the AN/PRC-25 radio set. This has the additional ability to scramble voice communications while being transmitted.
AN/GRC-9 Back Pack Radio Set- I could not find an image of the radio set that I had used. I had basically used the military radio to listen to news reports from Voice of America and British Broadcasting Corporation.
U.S. Army uses a variety of Individual Field Medical Kits. The Kits issued to us during Operation Eagle 1971 were Olive Green Canvas pouches worn on the belts by each individual. The medical supplies included Water Purification Tablets for use in water bottles, anti-Malaria pills, Insect Repellant Solution(DBP), Insect Repellant Cream(DMP), Injectable Tubonic Morphine, Oxytetracycline tablets, Multivitamin tablets, Field dressings, bandages and others. The Kits were not stamped but the contents reveal the place of origin.
Infantry marches on its feet. Boots are the most important equipment apart from Guns. I had used Ankle Canvas Boots during Operation Eagle and had marched on feet to fight and dislodge the enemy from the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The Canvas Boots that I had used lasted for the entire duration of Operation Eagle. They were better than the leather boots that I would use in other operational areas.
WAR AND PEACE – A FAILURE OF U.S. DIPLOMACY :
United States had failed in Vietnam as it failed to develop a clear vision to acheive its goal of resisting and containing the expansion of Communist Power in Southeast Asia. U.S. effrots to stop the spread of Communism got derailed by Dr. Henry Kissinger who had chosen the option of backstabbing people who were supporting the United States in its global mission to oppose Communism using both diplomatic, and military interventions. U.S. had given away a lot during the Peace Talks basically defeating the accomplishments of its military sacrifices. The several concessions given to Peoples’ Republic of China to win its cooperation to stop the flow of military assistance to North Vietnam had totally failed. The establishment of U.S. – China relations gave no advantage to the United States for its War in Vietnam. United States had added insult to its own injuries by seeking the support of Communist China to attack India across its Himalayan frontier in the North East Frontier Agency to stop India in its efforts to liberate Bangladesh during 1971.
War and Peace-The failure of US Diplomacy. I squarely blame President Richard Nixon and Dr. Henry A Kissinger for their failed diplomatic interventions.United States lost its battle on both the fronts, the diplomatic, and the ground battle front, in its War on Communism.During 1971, Richard Nixon and Dr. Kissinger played on the Sino-Soviet Split. United States moved to normalize trade with China. Dr. Kissinger and President Nixon had both visited Peking(Beijing) to befriend Communist China. Did it stop China from delivering military assistance to North Vietnam? Did this famous meeting stop Hanoi's EASTER OFFENSIVE in March 1972?President Nixon met Communist China's Prime Minister Chou Enlai. Did this act of friendship help the US Army in the Vietnam War? Could it stop Communist North Vietnam from launching its major invasion of South Vietnam during March 1972? Using this friendship, both President Nixon and Dr. Kissinger tried their best to encourage China to attack India to stop India from Liberating Bangladesh during 1971. This Nixon and Chou Enlai friendship did not stop the Liberation of Bangladesh which India initiated with Operation Eagle 1971 in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.Dr. Kissinger's diplomatic initiatives had totally failed the US Policy in Southeast Asia. The Viet Cong or the Vietnamese Communist Forces remained inside South Vietnam while United States conceded to reduce its troops. North Vietnam took full advantage of this US concession and launched a massive invasion attacking every major City inside South Vietnam. Communist China remains a huge military threat in Southeast Asia.
During 1971, Richard Nixon and Dr. Kissinger played on the Sino-Soviet Split. United States moved to normalize trade with China. Dr. Kissinger and President Nixon had both visited Peking(Beijing) to befriend Communist China. Did it stop China from delivering military assistance to North Vietnam? Did this famous meeting stop Hanoi's EASTER OFFENSIVE in March 1972?
President Nixon met Communist China's Prime Minister Chou Enlai. Did this act of friendship help the US Army in the Vietnam War? Could it stop Communist North Vietnam from launching its major invasion of South Vietnam during March 1972? Using this friendship, both President Nixon and Dr. Kissinger tried their best to stop India from Liberating Bangladesh during 1971. This Nixon and Chou Enlai friendship did not stop the Liberation of Bangladesh which India initiated with Operation Eagle 1971 in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Dr. Kissinger's diplomatic initiatives had totally failed the US Policy in Southeast Asia. Communist China remains a huge military threat in this region and United States had failed in its mission to curb the expansion of Communist Power.
THE BALD EAGLE AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE CONNECTION :
- The Bald Eagle which represents the United States as a Military Power has a lesson to learn from its Vietnam War experience. United States has to still find military interventions to stop the growing military threat of Communist Power in Southeast Asia. People of Southeast Asia are willing to fight the Communists and why should the United States ignore the offer of our friendship and willingness to challenge and confront the Communists on the Battlefield?
Myself and the men of my Unit had participated in Operation Eagle 1971 to gain practical experience of Infantry Combat Operations to fight with Communists in a future battle. The Operation Eagle 1971 was inclined towards peace. It intended to deliver peace to the people of Bangladesh who had declared their independence from Pakistan during March 1971. The War in Vietnam is over and yet the threat of Communism still persists in Southeast Asia. To deliver peace to people of Southeast Asia, United States must learn from its failure in Vietnam. The failure was not that of the US Army which had willingly sacrificed the lives of over 58,000 of its fighting men and women. The US political leadership had failed the US military mission in Vietnam. United States must seek assistance from the people of Southeast Asia and fight its enemy on the ground and dislodge the enemy in a ground battle.
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