Tunnels Of Cu Chi

Jimmie "Popeye" Sanders on a return
trip and tour of the tunnels in 1994.

Cu Chi - Tunnels and underground warfare

When: 1940's - 60's
Where: Vietnam
Built by: People of North Vietnam and Viet Cong

During the war in Vietnam, thousands of people in the Vietnamese province of
Cu Chi lived in an elaborate system of underground tunnels. Originally built
in the time of the French, the tunnels were enlarged during the American
presence. When the Americans began bombing the villages of Cu Chi, the
survivors went
underground where they remained for the duration of the war. The secret
tunnels, which joined village to village and often pass beneath American bases,
were not only fortifications for Viet Cong guerillas, but were also the
center of community life. Hidden beneath the destroyed villages were hospitals
where children were born and surgery was performed on causalities of war;
underground were schools and public spaces where couples were married and
private places where lovers met. There were even theatres where performers
entertained with song and dance and traditional stories.

45 miles north west of Ho-Chi-Minh is the town of Cu Chi, one of the most
famousbattlegrounds of the Vietnam war. It is here between the early 1940's
and mid 60's that the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong built the main
sections of tunnels that became a vital catalyst in their victory over the
Americans and South Vietnamese. It is also claimed to be the most bombed
and devastated area in the history of warfare after the Americans used all their
firepower to destroy them. At their height during the war they stretched from
Ho-Chi-Minh right to the border with Cambodia in the west. At Cu Chi alone
there were 250 km of tunnels.
These places as better described as underground towns rather than just
tunnels. The network reached several stories deep and housed up to 10,000
people who rarely saw daylight for years, coming out only at night to tend to
their crops. The tunnels included first aid posts, storage rooms for weapons
and food, kitchens, dorms and even
classrooms and small theatres. Countless couples were married and had
children underground. What makes thetunnels even more amazing is that they
were dug with hand tools and yet had primitive technologies like underwater
trap doors and vents to disperse cooking smoke.

After building a base camp unwittingly right on top of these tunnels, the
Americans became aware of them and tried to figure out how they could be
destroyed. Special volunteer soldiers selected for their bravery were used as
"tunnel rats", armed with only a knife and a pistol for hand to hand combat.
Because of the tunnels' formidable
defences the American casualties were too high and so the bombing started.
The Vietnamese showed incredible resilience to survive in these cramped and
humid conditions, especially as they continued to suffer horrific casualties.
Less than half of the 16,000 people who fought in the tunnels survived and
thousands of their relatives were killed in the area.

Information contributed by Frank (Doc) Reilly.

It is with deep regret and sorrow that I report Jimmy "Popeye"
Sanders has passed away due to cancer associated with Agent Orange.
I dedicate this page to him and his wife. Rest in peace Popeye.
Your war is finally over. God Bless you.

James E. Sanders
PINEHURST - James Eugene Sanders, 54, of 500 Long Leaf Drive
Southwest, died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, in his home.
Mr. Sanders served two tours of duty in Vietnam with the Army. He
was a retired captain with the Pinehurst Fire Department with 19
years of service and was a retired paramedic/EMT. He was also an
avid skydiver and Harley rider. He was a scuba diver, providing
search and rescue services for the fire department, and was
trained as a graphic artist. He enjoyed extreme sports and lived
life with enthusiasm.
A graveside service will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at Sandhills
State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake. The service will be
officiated by Chaplain Archie Barringer. Burial will be with military
honors.

Mr. Sanders is survived by his wife, Stephanie Mahon Sanders of
the home; a daughter, Kathryn "Alise" Sanders of Wilmington;
three stepsons, Christopher Matte Orwin, Richard James Orwin
and Patrick Michael Orwin, all of the home; his mother, Freda K.
Sanders of Gray's Creek; three sisters, Sandra Aman of Hope Mills,
Cheryle Moston of Olivia and Carolyn Usategui of Gray's Creek; a
brother, Steve Allen Sanders of Gray's Creek; six nephews; and
three nieces.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer
Society, 11 S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh, NC 27603.