Some time ago I was asked what was the hardest thing about Combat in Vietnam and this could apply to other times and places but to me the hardest thing was going out daily hunting for an enemy that knows who and where you are but you didn't know who and where they were .

Going outside the fence every day was not a problem for me.
When one's mates was killed or maimed that was hard!

The hardest thing is burying your mates and wondering why they died you didn't

We'd go out with two Americans and 10-50 Montagnards or Cambodians. We had to figure on 20% infiltration.
Had to watch our backs both ways.
We got little or no air or artillery support.
There were occasions where NVA offered to break contact if they gave up the Americans.

Seems the overall support at home is almost as important as that in the field.

Originally Posted by LeEnfield

The hardest thing is burying your mates and wondering why they died you didn't

Survivor guilt is tough