Vietnam Motor Transport Case Study

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Motor Transport: Vietnam Operations

The Vietnam War was not just boots on the ground and bombing enemy troops. Motor transport was a highly-trained position that had many functions. To be qualified for this position, it was required to pass a driving course to be prepared to operate tactical-wheeled vehicles for combat and transport. During the Vietnam War, the Marines Motor Transport was an important role because they delivered critical supplies, helped to move equipment between bases, and dispatched vehicles to support operations.

First of all, Marines operating in the motor transport specialty provided essential functions including delivering and distributing critical supplies. The troops relied on them every day, and this made …show more content…

As troops were relocated, the motor transport was essential for making sure that everything was moved efficiently. Hall notes, “When they started moving out, then we had to help them move their equipment and everything, so they put infantry back on the French bunkers and we went back to our trucks” (Hall). Hall’s military position in motor transport was responsible for moving all of the equipment to the next base in Vietnam. The field manual of the Headquarters Department of the Army indicates, “In combat zone, assigned task vehicles must meet increasingly difficult conditions as the support approaches the forward area” (Survivalebook.com). This illustrates the skills and challenges faced by motor transporters. They not only had to work hard every day to deliver supplies, but they also were required to be highly skilled drivers for moving …show more content…

Similar to the military motor transport support on base, it was important to have a dispatcher at headquarters to release vehicles as needed to support logistics and operations. Hall says, “When I got there I started driving truck. I made E5 sergeant, and then the dispatcher got out, so I was chief dispatcher at the base for the rest of my time” (Hall). Hall had paid his time during the war on base, and had moved on to another important motor transport role as a dispatcher at headquarters. On the official website of the United States Marine Corps, it states, “The mission of the Marines Headquarters is to provide operational, administrative, supply services, and logistical support for chargeable, non-chargeable, and attached Marine Corps personnel” (Unit Home). Hall played an important role during the Vietnam War by dispatching different types of vehicles as needed for military missions and

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