Entomology with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam - Some Lessons Learned

Abstract

The following is a discussion of the entomology-related activities of the 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam during 1968. It is based on the author's experiences as the first medical entomologist to be assigned to the Division's Preventive Medicine Section since its deployment to Vietnam in 1964. The 1st Marine Division's area of responsibility during 1968 was in the I Corps Tactical Zone, the northernmost corps area in Vietnam. The majority of the troops were concentrated from Hue to about 25 miles south of Danang. The area was primarily coastal and foothill terrain consisting largely of rice paddies interspersed with estuaries, rivers and small farms. Units were also deployed to mountainous areas(medium elevation and rivers) near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Potential disease vectors, particularly mosquitoes, were found in abundance in certain of these areas, and malaria, dengue, encephalitis, plague, scrub typhus and filariasis represented a potential threat to combat readiness and effectiveness.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 16, 2008
Accession Number
ADP023971

Entities

People

  • L. L. Sholdt

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arachnid Bites And Stings
  • Combat Readiness
  • Disease Vectors
  • Health Services
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Insecticides
  • Malaria
  • Malathion
  • Medical Personnel
  • Pest Control
  • Rodents
  • Spiders
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Library and Information Science/ Studies, Southeast Asia Studies, Bibliography of Vietnam and Lao Studies.
  • Military Science
  • Vector-Borne Disease and Entomology