words by William S. Burroughs
(A thanksgiving prayer – 1990)
The Vietcong (GI‘s called them charly = enemy) had been using tunnel systems for many years
against the Chinese, Japanese, French and U.S. invaders. The US employed specially trained men
who volunteered to go into the systems in search of the enemy and information.
They became known as "Tunnel Rats" and were hand picked men with nerves of steel,
being selected for their particular ability to stay calm in highly tense situations.
The basic tools of the tunnel rat were the knife, the pistol, and a flashlight.