Vietnam was the first helicopter war and 越南是第一次直升机战争，
the first television war the war the 第一次电视战争战争
United States fought to prevent 美国为防止
communism taking over South Vietnam 共产主义占领 越南南部
award change counter insurgency 奖励变更柜台叛乱
full-scale conventional war with 全面的常规战争
helicopter gunships in the sky and 天空中的直升机武装直升机和
British made hovercraft patrolling the 英国制造气垫船巡逻
river deltas 三角洲
despite their technological supremacy 尽管他们具有技术至上
the Americans still lost them 美国人仍然失去了他们
despite the bombing including b-52s the 尽管轰炸，包括B-52轰炸机的
regular North Vietnamese Army survived 北越正规军幸存下来
and went on finally to capture Saigon 并最终占领了西贡
for the civilians though the war was 虽然战争是为了平民
always with them for the people of 永远与他们为人民
Vietnam the thirty year war began in 越南三十年战争始于
1945 when a nationalist Marxist 1945年，国民党马克思主义者
guerrilla movement known as the Viet 被称为越游击运动
Minh started a campaign to liberate the 胡志明市开始竞选解放
whole of French Indochina to stop Viet 整个法国印度支那停止越南
Minh infiltration from Laos the French 法国人老挝的民意渗透
decided to retake and fortify a remote 决定收起并加固一个遥控器
village called dn Bien Phu 名为dnBien Phu的村庄
it was the crucial mistake of the war 这是战争的关键错误
leading to encirclement by four Viet 导致被四个越南包围
Minh divisions the collapse of the 明氏分裂的崩溃
french strong points like dominos and 法国的强项，例如多米诺骨牌和
Frances surrender not just of Gen Bien 弗朗西斯的投降不只是Gen Bien
Phu but of Indochina itself chosen for 富， 但印度支那本身选择
its easy resupply and reinforcements 易于补给和加固
from the air bien bien phu was retaken 从空中边，边富WAS夺回
by the french parachutist colonial and 由法国飞将军殖民
shaza parachutist in november 1953 from shaza跳伞者，1953年11月从
here to preempt the Viet means expected 这里抢占越南意味着预期
spring offensive they would mount 他们将发动春季攻势
long-range patrols into the mountains of 远程巡逻到山上
Laos behind 老挝落后
they prepared their defenses believing 他们相信自己准备了防御
they were beyond range of any Viet Minh 他们超出了任何Viet Minh的范围
artillery occupying those surrounding 炮兵占领了周围的人
mountains but as French supply drops 山区，但随着法国供应下降
continued the Viet Minh were receiving 越南国民继续接受
Chinese long-range artillery freed at 中国远程炮兵于
the end of the Korean War it gave the 朝鲜战争的结束给了
Viet Minh a long-sought opportunity to 越明是一个期待已久的机会
confront the French in a set piece 与法国人面对面
battle and defeat them led by Brigadier 战斗并击败由准将领导的他们
General Christian de Castries the French 法国人克里斯蒂安·德·卡斯特里将军
garrison soon found that instead of the 守军很快就发现， 而 不是
free-ranging cavalry style aggressive 自由进取的骑兵风格激进
patrolling there envisaged they faced a 设想在那里巡逻，他们面对一个
bloody siege and even that air power 血腥的围攻，甚至是空中力量
would fail 会失败
from the hills Viet Minh artillery 从山上越明大炮
consisting of chinese 105 millimeter 由中国105毫米组成
guns pounded the french strong points 枪击了法国的强项
while infantry burrowed trenches ever 步兵曾经挖过战es
closer before mounting the human wave 在载人浪之前更近
assault that finally ended the battle 袭击终于结束了战斗
it was a triumphant use of First World 这是对第一世界的胜利使用
War siege tactics to avoid the 攻城战的战术，以避免
prohibitive casualties of an open ground 开阔地带的伤亡
assault 突击
the French surrendered not just their 法国人不仅投降了
fortified base but the indo-chinese 强化基地，但印中
empire an armistice in Geneva split the 帝国在日内瓦举行的停战分裂
country in the South of France a rule by 法国南部的一个国家
the Emperor Bao Dai in the north the 北方的保皇帝
communist state ruled by the Viet Minh 越南明治统治的共产主义国家
leader Ho Chi Minh the Viet Minh was led 领导人胡志明越盟被牵
by vow in japa self-taught general who 通过誓言在贾帕自学成才的一般人
began his revolutionary war with only 44 仅44岁就开始了他的革命战争
men and ended it commanding 22 divisions 男子并结束指挥22个师
the victory of Dien Bien Phu based on 奠边府的胜利基于
meticulous planning and brilliant 精心策划，精益求精
opportunism confirmed him as the 机会主义证实他是
outstanding general of the war against 抗战杰出将领
the French and later of the Vietnam War 法国人和越战后期
when he faced two American generals 当他面对两位美国将军时
William C Westmoreland led the United 威廉·韦斯特摩兰（William C Westmoreland）领导了美国
States military assistance command 国家军事援助司令部
Vietnam from 1964 a West Point graduate 1964年从越南 西点军校毕业
his style could be described as 他的风格可谓是
aggressive optimism general Westmoreland 激进的乐观主义者威斯特摩兰
had a distinguished Second World War 经历了杰出的第二次世界大战
record as an Airborne Corps commander 记录为空降军司令
during four years in Vietnam he sought 在越南的四年中，他寻求
victory by Search and Destroy operations 搜索和破坏行动的胜利
and sheer force of numbers his deputy 他的副手人数庞大
general Creighton w abram succeeded him 克赖顿·阿布拉姆将军继位
a West Point classmate of Westmoreland 威斯特摩兰的西点校友
general Abrams had a volatile 艾布拉姆斯将军的动荡
personality but like his former chief an 个性，但像他的前任首席的
equally brilliant war record this time 这次战争记录同样辉煌
as an armored corps commander who 作为一个装甲军团司令谁
distrusted paratroop techniques he faced 他面临的不信任伞兵技术
the planning morale at a time when his 当时他的计划士气
country was trying hard to get out of 国家正努力摆脱困境
the war 战争
the North Vietnamese rebuilding and 北越重建和
regrouping behind the Demilitarized Zone 在非军事区后面重组
sharply increased aid to South Vietnam's 对越南南部的援助急剧增加
Vietcong guerrillas in the 1960s the 越共游击队在1960年代
United States now worried that like gen 美国现在担心像
bian foo and North Vietnam all the 边富和北越所有
fledgling democracies of Southeast Asia 刚起步的东南亚民主国家
would fall like dominoes to the 会像多米诺骨牌一样倒下
Communists 共产主义者
to stiffen resistance by the army of the 通过的军队变硬电阻
Republic of Vietnam 越南共和国
arvin the United States sent 33 美国寄送了arvin33
helicopters the age 21 Shawnee is when 肖尼21岁的直升机是何时
they're obsolete that they brought air 他们过时了，因为他们带来了空气
mobility to the conflict for the first 流动性为第一冲突
time it was a crucial turning point the 时间是一个关键的转折点
war would never be the same 战争永远不会一样
but arvin troops took poor advantage 但是阿尔文部队利用了劣势
few would disembark from hovering 很少有人会徘徊
helicopters and when they did lam they 直升机， 当他们放下他们
milled about presenting an easy target 精于提出一个简单的目标
to enemy forces on the ground the South 对南方地面上的敌军
Vietnamese were unable to hold a 越南人无法举行
guerilla army growing in strength major 游击队实力不断增强
efforts like operation morningstar 像晨星行动这样的努力
either eliminated too few Viet Cong or 要么淘汰了越共太少，要么
failed to make contact at all convincing 完全没有说服力
many Americans that arvin was too poorly 许多美国人阿尔文太糟糕
trained and led for the job 受过培训并领导工作
alongside the helicopters the United 旁边的直升机 联合
States began operation Ranch Hand the 美国开始运营牧场手
aerial spraying of Agent Orange 气雾剂橙色
herbicide defoliate the guerrillas 除草剂使游击队脱叶
jungle hideouts they call it a modern 他们称其为现代的丛林藏身之处
technological area denial technique and 技术领域否认技术和
in the next nine years the c-123 在接下来的九年中，c-123
providers would drop an estimated 19 供应商估计将减少19
million gallons of it the effects on the 百万加仑对
ground were devastating but on the 地面是毁灭性的，但在
guerrillas ability to hide they were 游击队隐藏他们的能力
negligible 微不足道的
the forced relocation of villagers 村民被迫搬迁
living in heavily infiltrated areas was 居住在高度渗透的地区
a third arm of American policy they 他们是美国政策的第三支力量
called it pacification 称它为和平
it began with Operation sunrise people 始于日出人行动
who'd never seen a helicopter before 谁没见过直升机
were airlifted with a few possessions to 有一些 家产 被空运
strategic Hamlet's fortified villages 哈姆雷特的战略要塞村庄
specially built to be easily guarded to 专为易于防护而打造
a conservative peasantry distrustful of 保守农民不信任
government officials the new policy was 政府官员的新政策是
highly unpopular and soon began to 非常不受欢迎，很快就开始
collapse both politically and military 政治和军事崩溃
despite their impressive fortifications 尽管他们的防御工事令人印象深刻
the Vietcong found the hamlets an easy 越共发现小村庄很容易
target for their propaganda with 23,000 宣传目标为 23,000
advisers now in South Vietnam the United 现在的顾问在南越美国
States was on the brink of war then the 当时美国处于战争的边缘
American destroyer Maddox was reportedly 据报道美国驱逐舰马多克斯
attacked by communist torpedo boats of 受共产主义鱼雷艇袭击
North Vietnam no damage was caused but 北越未造成任何破坏，但
one torpedo boat was sunk by Maddox 一艘鱼雷艇被马多克斯号沉没
gunfire retribution followed from the 枪声报应其次从
pack decks of the aircraft carrier 航空母舰的装甲板
constellation as the fleet commander 星座作为舰队司令
Admiral Thomas Moore ordered airstrikes 托马斯· 摩尔海军上将命令空袭
by phantom and Crusader fighter bombers 通过幻影和十字军战斗轰炸机
against North Vietnamese naval bases 反对北越海军基地
at home Congress finally voted President 在家国会终于投票通过总统
Johnson extensive military powers on the 约翰逊拥有强大的军事力量
public law 88 stroke 408 in Vietnam 越南的公法88中风408
general giap raised the stakes by moving 贾普将军通过搬迁提高了赌注
North Vietnamese regular units across 北越常规单位
the Demilitarized Zone 非军事区
this was invasion so the United States 这是入侵， 所以美国
launched b-52 strikes from their pacific 从太平洋发起b-52打击
base at guam and then landed marines had 在关岛基地， 然后登陆陆战队
done act a full Brigade came ashore the 作出的每项作为一个全大队上岸的
ninth Marine Expeditionary Brigade 第九海上远征旅
numbering three and a half thousand men 三千半人
with them their patent tanks and the 与他们的专利坦克和
curious m50 a one on toes anti-tank 好奇的M50一脚趾反坦克
vehicle whose six mounted recoilless 车辆，其搭载6无后坐力
rifles would see service later in way 步枪将在以后看到服务
one of the decisive battles of the war 战争的 决定性战役 之一
it took four days to complete the 它花了四天时间完成
landing meanwhile light artillery 同时着陆轻炮
cleared the way ahead the South Vietnam 为南越扫清了道路
Second City Da Nang itself at this stage 岘港第二城市本身在这个阶段
of the conflict American strategy was to 美国战略的冲突在于
create a safe end clav from which to 创建一个安全的末端锁骨，从中
support Arvin counterinsurgency 支持阿文镇压
operations 运作
already the difficulties of the local 已经是当地的困难
terrain were becoming clear progress 地形正在明显进步
could be painfully slow presenting easy 可能会很痛苦地缓慢呈现
targets of Vietcong or North Vietnamese 越共或北越的目标
snipers strategic bombing Operation 狙击手战略轰炸行动
Rolling Thunder was also introduced to Rolling Thunder也被介绍给
disrupt any buildup of North Vietnamese 破坏北越的任何集结
forces north of the Demilitarized Zone 非军事区以北的部队
in the after two years were targets 在接下来的两年中是目标
around Hanoi included the b-52 河内周围包括b-52
Stratofortress carried an 84 thousand Stratofortress运载了84 000
pound conventional payload but raids had 磅常规载荷，但突袭行动
to be routed through Hong Kong air 通过香港航空
traffic control losing any seats 交通管制失去席位
bedeviled by opposing political and 反对政治和政治
military priorities 军事优先事项
Rolling Thunder was later confirmed to 后来确认《滚雷》
be a failed North Vietnamese movements 失败的北越运动
and strength into South Vietnam mark 和力量进入南越标志
turning point in a few months they built 他们建立了几个月的转折点
up their numbers many in the heart 他们的数字很多
defend central highlands - just short of 保卫中央高地-不足
a quarter million men and women under 四分之一百万男性和女性下
arms quick successes against robbing 迅速成功防止抢劫
units prompted the end of pacification 单位提示安抚结束
general Westmoreland began his war of 威斯特摩兰将军开始了对
attrition with Operation kickoff it 减员与操作开球它
inaugurated three years search and 开通了三年的搜索和
destroy operations 销毁行动
the Pentagon believed the strategy was 五角大楼认为该战略是
bringing the Communists to the brink of 使共产党人濒临
defeat but it also locked the United 失败， 但也锁定了曼联
States into a ground war in Asia 1966 1966年，亚洲各国陷入地面战争
saw the first large-scale Search and 看到了第一个大型Search and
Destroy missions of the war operation 摧毁战争行动的任务
masher aimed snuff at guerrilla 捣碎器将鼻烟对准游击队
insurgency around bong-sun while another 奉公周围的叛乱
operation targeted the so-called Iron 操作针对的是所谓的铁
Triangle a communist stronghold on the 三角洲上的一个共产党据点
borders of Vietnam Laos and Cambodia 越南老挝和柬埔寨的边界
operation masher was launched by the 行动捣碎器由
first Cavalry's air mobile division but 第一骑兵的空中机动师，但
its name was quickly changed to white 它的名字很快就变成了白色
wing by President Johnson who feared the 约翰逊总统的机翼，他担心
original would attract public criticism 原创会引起公众批评
helicopters were a weapon of which even 直升机是一种武器，甚至
general giap had no experience and at 一般giap没有经验，在
first he underestimated his troops are 首先，他低估了他的部队
often surprised and took severe 经常感到惊讶和严重
casualties but very often American 伤亡， 但美国人经常
intelligence was 40 particularly about 智力尤其是40
the strength of the enemy units opposing 敌台 的反对力量
sometimes the sweeps found ended dry 有时发现扫荡干了
hose positions vacated by a vanished 消失的软管位置
enemy they also found that the guerrilla 敌人他们还发现游击队
army wins it doesn't lose while a 军队赢了， 而
conventional one loses if it doesn't win 传统的人如果不赢就输
if a contact was made the infantry would 如果接触，步兵会
move in in strength ranging from a 力量从
platoon to a battalion the assault unit 突击大队排
only got into a real fight of the 才真正陷入了
opposition was cornered or staged an 反对派陷入困境或上演
ambush platoon commanders ordered their 伏击排长命令他们
deployments while still distant Vietcong 仍然遥远的越共部署
or main force positions were shelled 或炮击部队的位置
from fire bases deep in the rear then 从后方深处的火力基地
followed the technique known as a pylon 遵循了称为塔的技术
with all available ground units brought 携带所有可用的地面部队
in to trap the enemy forces an elusive 在诱捕敌人的力量中难以捉摸
enemy believed the Americans wasted 敌人认为美国人浪费了
firepower armor would be summoned up to 火力装甲将被召唤至
shield the advance extra m60 machine 屏蔽预先的额外M60机器
guns converted these m113s into armored 枪把这些m113变成装甲
cavalry assault vehicles whose ability 骑兵突击车的能力
to adapt to vietnamese conditions 适应越南的条件
surprised even general Westmoreland 甚至令威斯特摩兰大将感到惊讶
intended to win local support by rooting 旨在通过生根获得本地支持
out the Vietcong these operations often 经常去越共这些操作
have the opposite effect 有相反的效果
for the local peasants the machinery of 对于当地农民来说，
war merely brought terror insurgent 战争只是带来了叛乱分子
forces operated close to the civilian 部队接近平民
population often they were the civilian 人口往往是平民
population suspect Vietcong were rounded 人口嫌疑人越共被四舍五入
up and the identities of others were 和其他人的身份
checked their wounded were taken away 检查他们的伤员被带走了
too and a place found for them as well 也为他们找到了一个地方
as for the wounded Americans when the 至于受伤的美国人
call went the medevac units based 致电前往医疗后送部队