Remembering the tunnel rats

Editor:
We were in Vietnam serving as tunnel rats. So many, so young. We never questioned orders.
In order to prevail in the war we had to jump into tunnels dug by the enemy, encountering
complete darkness, snakes, scorpions, rigged traps and the enemy in tunnels that were at least 50 feet deep. We did this to flush out the enemy.
The mission was plain and simple: normally, one soldier entered the tunnel. In most cases our soldier never came out, getting buried in those tunnels.
For those who survived the war had a life lasting affect for it was more than a nightmare. Our tunnel rats were some of our most courageous soldiers, for they either got killed encountering the enemy, were taken as prisoners of war or went missing in action. For we knew that if we entered into one of those enemy tunnels our fate was minimal to
survive. The worst was knowing that you would be killed and get buried in that tunnel; there would
be no chance at all of
retrieving the body of our heroic soldiers who never questioned orders. Knowing that the odds were that we would not come out alive from the tunnels, we still did it. Just imagine what was going through a 19-year-old’s mind entering the enemy’s tunnel, not knowing what to expect.
For the ones who made it and survived, yesterday, today and tomorrow this duty will always be with them. It was one of the most frightening
experiences, getting buried alive in one of those tunnels. Carrying out those orders gave us peace of mind that we were doing it for our American society, our freedom and liberties.
This is one chapter of the Vietnam War that hardly no one wants to talk about, because to talk about it makes you sick to the stomach, in particular knowing that there are still many from the Vietnam Era remaining missing in action or who became
prisoners of war and have not been accounted for.
For some, the holiday season is not a good time. It is just another day for the separation from their loved ones. Hurt and pain remains in the soldier and the family.
This is why we need to seek them out, to show them they are not alone. Let them know that our heart is there for them,
for we care, know and
understand what they
are going through.
Sgt. Aroldo H. Cadriel
Brownsville