South Viet Nam: Victoria Charlenes

Hard-hit by mounting battle losses and a dwindling supply of young men to conscript, the Viet Cong are finding it difficult to keep their ranks well filled. As a result, they are turning more and more to women to help the war effort. Backing up Victor Charlie—the G.I.s' name for the Viet Cong—are the female Victoria Charlenes, some of whom actually fight. The V.C.'s attractive, much-advertised heroine, Ta Thi Kieu, packs four rifles at a time and boasts that she has participated in 33 battles. The vast majority of the Victoria Charlenes perform the myriad tasks that are needed to...

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