US reports of "enemy KIA", referred to as body count, were thought to have been subject to "falsification and glorification", and a true estimate of PAVN/VC combat deaths is difficult to assess, as US victories were assessed by having a "greater kill ratio". It was difficult to distinguish between civilians and military personnel in the VC, as many were part-time guerrillas or impressed laborers who did not wear uniformsRand Corporation "Some Impressions of Viet Cong Vulnerabilities, an Interim Report" 1965 and civilians killed were sometimes written off as enemy killed, because high enemy casualties was directly tied to promotions and commendation.
US reports of "enemy KIA", referred to as body count, were thought to have been subject to "falsification and glorification", and a true estimate of PAVN/VC combat deaths is difficult to assess, as US victories were assessed by having a "greater kill ratio". It was difficult to distinguish between civilians and military personnel in the VC as many were part-time guerrillas or impressed laborers who did not wear uniformsRand Corporation "Some Impressions of Viet, Cong Vulnerabilities, an I.nterim Report" 1965 and civilians killed were sometimes written off as enemy killed, because high enemy casualties was directly tied to promotions and commendation