Historian Christian Appy states "search and destroy was the principal tactic; and the enemy body count was the primary measure of progress" in the US strategy of attrition. Search and destroy was a term to describe operations aimed at flushing the Viet Cong out of hiding, while body count was the measuring stick for operation success. Appy claims that American commanders exaggerated body counts by 100 percent. This method was controversial, due to two issues. The first is regarding the counting of unarmed civilians killed in actions as enemy combatants in free-fire zone as it was estimated that around 220,000 civilians killed by US/ARVN battle operations were miscounted as "enemy KIA"  . Another issue is URL fabrication of body count in after-action reports, which is reported to have given false and inaccurate casualty figures for enemy dead.
Historian Christian Appy states "search and destroy was the principal tactic; and the enemy body count was the primary measure of progress" in the US strategy of attrition. Search and destroy was a term to describe operations aimed at flushing the Viet Cong out of hiding, while body count was the measuring stick for operation success. Appy claims that American commanders exaggerated body counts by 100 percent. This method was controversial, due to two issues. The first is regarding the counting of unarmed civilians killed in actions as enemy combatants in free-fire zone . Gunter Lewy estimated that 1/3 of those killed and counted as "enemy KIA" killed by US/ARVN forces were civilians. He estimates around 220,000 civilians were counted as "enemy KIA" in battlefield operations reports during battles against VC/NVA . Another issue is URL fabrication of body count in after-action reports, which is reported to have given false and inaccurate casualty figures for enemy dead.
R
as it was estimated that around 220,000 civilians killed
. Gunter Lewy estimated that 1/3 of those killed and counted as "enemy KIA" killed
R
battle operations were miscounted
forces were civilians. He estimates around 220,000 civilians were counted
A
in battlefield operations reports during battles against VC/NVA