These are the Cu Chi tunnels, near Saigon.
There was an extraordinary account of this war episode, told
by two BBC investigation reporters Tom Mangold and John
Penycate. Tough, hair raising, gripping and close to
nihilistic by certain aspects... Titled
"The tunnels of Cu Chi " (1985), I read it years ago but I
still remember the chilling effect of the simple facts. And
it collected testimony from both sides including Viet Cong
veterans who lived and fought in the tunnels Curio: American
fighters had to be of the short type to volunteer as tunnel
rats. Few years back there was a film planned, based on the
book, but the greasy famous hollywood star ( forgot his name)
declined to be the hero as there where no very good
opportunity to "shot" good photography of himself in these
grim tunnels! If height matters, Tom Cruise will fit the bill
for a future film project! (unless declared too
small...)
The tunnels became a tourist attraction the year of my second
visit to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh Ville), mainly because of the
wide infrastructures implanted in these tunnels by the Viet
Cong (living quarters, hospital, workshops...). I did not see
the filmed documentary mentioned by Michael.
E.Borgers Hard-Boiled Mysteries http://www.geocities.com/Athens/6384
Michael Etchison
>The History Channel has an hour today on the tunnel
rats, 6-7pm
Central. (I
>don;t suppose Michael Connelly is
mentioned.)
>
>
>Tune In:
>Sunday, February 20 @ 7pm ET/PT
> <
http://www.historychannel.com/global/listings/images/spacer.gif>
>
>
>Here is the heroic story of an intrepid band of
infantry soldiers, the
>"Tunnel Rats", charged with a daring mission--to
search for, find, and
>destroy a secret subterranean network of enemy
tunnels in Vietnam. Armed
>with only a flashlight, valor, and a .45, they faced
a determined
foe and
>overcame lethal odds, uncovering secret enemy arms
and intelligence
caches.
>Tragically, many of these volunteers died and others
were seriously
wounded
>on this terrifying suicide mission.
>
>
>
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