The indigenous Montagnards, recruited into service by the American Special Forces in Vietnam’s mountain highlands, defended villages against the Viet Cong and served as rapid response forces.

Who were the Montagnard people in Vietnam?

The indigenous Montagnards, recruited into service by the American Special Forces in Vietnam’s mountain highlands, defended villages against the Viet Cong and served as rapid response forces.

Where are Montagnard people from?

Vietnam
Montagnards, or Dega as they call themselves, are a tribal people of the Malayo-Polynesian and Mon Khmer language groups, some 30 tribes of which live in the central highlands of Vietnam.

What is a Montagnard?

Definition of montagnard : a member of any of various peoples inhabiting the highlands of central and southern Vietnam.

What happened to the Montagnards?

Most of the Montagnards who succeeded in escaping from Vietnam and reaching the United States crossed the Vietnamese border into neighboring Cambodia and then moved on into Thailand. And most of these refugees, some 12,000, now live in North Carolina.

What language do the Montagnard speak?

In Vietnam the Montagnards include speakers of Mon-Khmer languages such as the Bahnar, Mnong, and Sedang and speakers of Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) languages such as the Jarai, Roglai, and Rade (Rhade). They mostly grow rice, using shifting cultivation.

What is a Montagnard bracelet?

This Bracelet is a sign of trust and a mark of respect from the Montagnard people to their SF advisors and paymasters. They were also given to U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets) and others during the Vietnam War.

What language is Montagnard?

The term Montagnard is a French term meaning “mountain people.” This was used by the French Colonial government in Vietnam to refer to the different tribal people who lived in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

When did POW bracelets come out?

POW/MIA bracelets were initially introduced in the late 1960’s by a now-defunct organization, Voices in Vital America (VIVA). The purpose of the bracelets was, and is, to increase public awareness about the plight of Americans still prisoner, missing, and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

Are there indigenous peoples in Vietnam?

Indigenous Peoples in Vietnam account for about 14.1 million people or around 14.7% of the country’s total population of about 96 million. Vietnam has 54 recognized ethnic groups, 53 of which are minority ethnic groups, and is therefore considered a multi-ethnic country.

Can you still get POW bracelets?

At one time distributed by the National League of Families, bracelets are now available from a decades-long strong issue-supporter, the nonprofit, Ohio Chapter MIA-POW (see address below) which donates 100% of all proceeds to help sustain the League’s efforts.

Who are Vietnamese descended from?

According to Vietnamese legend The Tale the Hồng Bàng Clan written in the 15th century, the first Vietnamese descended from the dragon lord Lạc Long Quân and the fairy Âu Cơ. They married and had one hundred eggs, from which hatched one hundred children. Their eldest son ruled as the Hùng king.

What are the largest three ethnic groups in Vietnam?

The largest ethnic groups are: Vietnamese 85.32%, Tay 1.92%, Thái 1.89%, Mường 1.51%, Hmong 1.45%, Khmer 1.37%, Nùng 1.13%, Dao 0.93%, Hoa 0.78%, with all others comprising the remaining 3.7% (2019 census).

Do POWs get paid?

Captive or POW Pay and Allowance Entitlements: Soldiers are entitled to all pay and allowances that were authorized prior to the POW period. Soldiers who are in a POW status are authorized payment of 50% of the worldwide average per diem rate for each day held in captive status.

What can I do with old POW bracelets?

Broken or worn bracelets can be left at the WALL or a Memorial when replaced with a new one. A note and a POW decal with it can STILL focus attention on that man, even when left that way. Rather than return the bracelet BEFORE he is home, feel free to leave a message for the family at LOVELETTERS.