Why did American military officials begin calculating their progress in body counts and kill ratios in Vietnam in 1965?
A) A delegation of American soldiers had asked for concrete measures that they could readily understand.
B) It was impossible to measure military success based on territory seized.
C) They did not want to reveal the unprecedented number of soldiers they were losing.
D) It was the only way they could distinguish between military and civilian deaths.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

American military officials began calculating their progress in body counts and kill ratios in Vietnam in 1965 because it was impossible to measure military success based on territory seized. The terrain was difficult, and the guerrilla tactics of the Viet Cong made it difficult to determine who controlled which areas. Therefore, body counts and kill ratios were seen as metrics that could provide a more accurate assessment of military progress.

Why Did American Military Officials Begin Calculating Their Progress in Body