Final answer:
A disproportionate number of working-class young men from African American and Latino backgrounds fought in Vietnam due to socio-economic factors that made it harder for them to avoid the draft. Racial inequality persisted in the military, with African American soldiers forming groups to address discrimination. The war's conduct, at times, deviated into war crimes and reflected underlying racial tensions and a complex engagement with the South Vietnamese army.
Step-by-step explanation:
Large numbers of American soldiers who fought in Vietnam were working-class young men from African American or Latino backgrounds mainly due to socio-economic factors. Those from higher economic classes often had the resources or educational opportunities to avoid military service. Sadly, the draft disproportionately affected less privileged and minority communities, leading to a higher representation of these groups in combat roles. African Americans, despite making up approximately 10% of the U.S. population during the Vietnam War, accounted for over 20% of U.S. combat deaths in the early years of the conflict. A draft lottery system was introduced in 1969 in an attempt to correct this imbalance.
The Vietnam War was a significant chapter in U.S. military history as it was the first major conflict where integration of African American soldiers occurred. While officially integrated, the reality was that there was still significant racial inequality within the military, which led to domestic tensions and racial disturbances like the race riot at Long Binh in 1967. Additionally, African American soldiers formed organizations for mutual protection and to advocate for their interests.
The conduct of American soldiers in the war, influenced by racism and retributive motives against the Viet Cong, sometimes led to inhumane tactics like the destruction of villages and use of napalm. These actions, diverging from the U.S. proclaimed objectives of promoting freedom and democracy, contributed to the complexity of the war and resulted in instances that were considered war crimes.
As for the South Vietnamese army's performance, it was often described as lacking dedication due to its conscription nature and the soldiers' low morale and sense of duty towards their government, leading to the term "search and evade" being coined by U.S forces to express their frustration with the performance of allied South Vietnamese units.