Icons During The Vietnam War

An icon is an object or person that represents an event or period in time. Icons of war are the pivotal elements that signify the characteristics of that war. Usually, these icons are technological advancements that change the course of battle and become symbolic of that period of war. One particular helicopter during the Vietnam War was essential to many aspects of conflict. The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, widely known as the “Huey,” is a military helicopter that gained its popularity as the pillar of the Vietnam War. Staggering statistics and accomplishments during the Vietnam War are the reasons this aircraft was widely used in the military.

The Huey that performed most of the transportation for troops and medic needs was one of the most critical

The first Hueys entered Vietnam in April 1962 for medivac purposes before the United States was officially involved in the war. All military forces for troop transport, medical evacuation, and combat assault used the Huey. Hueys transported soldiers and supplies to the lines as the horses for a modern cavalry. The survival rate of injures during the war greatly improved because of the use of the Huey due to the internal capacity. According to Roush (n.d.), out of the 120,000 combat casualties, the Huey transported 90 percent of them. Over 10 percent of all combat and combat support deaths occurring in helicopter operations were aircraft related. Out of the 7,013 Hueys that served in the war, the number of destroyed Hueys was 3,305. With those destroyed helicopters came personnel death. During the Vietnam War, 1,074 pilots, 1,103 crewmembers, and 532 American passengers lost their lives (Roush,

Hueys participated heavily in the transportation of troops to the front lines during the war, the evacuation of troops, and the prevention of causalities from different battles zones during that time. According to Battle of Ia Drang (n.d.), during the battle of Ia Drang, the Huey was responsible for the transportation of the 1st/7th Air Cavalry. Sixteen Hueys made several round trips at a time to transport a battalion size element of 765 troops. Each lift would take approximately 30 minutes to complete. They accomplished that by having 10 to 12 equipped troops in each Huey that took off into flight (Battle of Ia Drang, n.d.). The United States lost the battle, but never the less, the Huey was one of the main reasons the battle was even attempted. The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is an icon of the Vietnam War due to its capabilities such as internal and armament capacities. Hueys made the Vietnam War possible, and that in itself represents the immense role of the aircraft. Without a doubt, the United States would have endured a greater casualty rate without the use of the Huey. This aircraft’s functions and accomplishments have become the foundation for improvements in efficiency and technology in the