The conditions and geography were very different on the Western Front of World War I and the

Vietnam War, but both were unpleasant to those involved. The Western Front consisted of a large network
of trenches, with a front trench and up to four support lines behind it (Jensen). The front line was often
lightly manned out of fear of enemy bombardment(Life in the Trenches). The trenches ran from parts
of southern Belgium to eastern France and went through many different landscapes, including sand,
rivers, mountains, swamps, and forest (WW1 Battlefields). Trenches could be filled to the knees with
water, and wounded men could sometimes drown in the mud when it rained (Jensen). Trenches were often
filled with mud, rats, and lice, making daily life challenging(Life in the Trenches). Dead bodies were
usually buried in or near the trenches, and could be unearthed by enemy artillery. Food was usually cold
and would sometimes not be delivered for days during skirmishes, so men mostly lived on hard bread,
instant coffee, and canned meat. Along with these less than ideal living conditions, soldiers also had to
deal with the constant threat of enemy attack or night raids(Jensen).
While the conditions were a bit different in Vietnam, they were also unpleasant. Major battles
were fought on the southern coast and the south-west border with Cambodia, while the US bombarded
northern Vietnam from the air(Maps: Vietnam). Soldiers had to deal with hot, humid weather, the
constant smell of rot and mildew, dust in the dry season, and being constantly wet in the rainy
season(Conditions). Soldiers also had to contend with night ambushes by the Viet Cong and the enemy
blending in with the locals(The Vietnam War). This led to fear and suspicion of an unknown enemy.
Soldiers also faced the constant threat of death by traps and mines(Trueman, C.N. America). While the
conditions were very different in the Western Front and Vietnam, many of the fears and threats the
soldiers had to deal with were the same.