Don't heap all the blame on leadership. My artillery survey company was notified that we would be deploying to Vietnam, and soon. Our survey CO was replaced by a combat infantry officer. We gathered in the mess hall where he told us we could fight them over there or fight them here in America. This exaggeration was swallowed hook, line, and sinker by most, many excited at the prospect of 'shooting some gooks'. They believed that, with no combat training, they would be turned loose on a battle-hardened enemy fighting in their own land and would prevail over them. Fortunately, I and a few others were too short to go and just hung around the area until our discharge. We heard back that our company was assigned perimeter guard duty at various military airfields that received supplies. None saw combat. Most swallowed the lies, and if they had their way most would be dead.