I remember reading in the Stars and Stripes there were 500,000 plus in Vietnam at the time. was i a veteran by the numbers? Needless to say, I set them straight about his lying BS, and moved out the next day. I think its just a generalization but should be cleared. Overall, the death rate of Vietnam veterans seems to be rather consistent if not better than other people their same age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If they reply that they do not talk about their experiences They are not Combat Veterans maybe not even Vietnam Veterans. I flew several hundred sorties in a gunship. I read a statistic somewhere that one in seven where in actual combat. retired university professor @Dea KellyWere you on the ground when this happened? A Co. 2/8th, First Cavalry, 1968-69. These numbers were not included since these service members were far removed from combat experience and did not spend any amount of time in harms way. OH, SHIT- I heard the impact of the Rocket Propelled grenade (RPG) to my left; `this is it, I yelled! I have spoken at many VETS EVENTS, and done interviews with the media .. Never get tired of people telling me Thank You for your service, and absolutely love hearing WELCOME HOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Vietnam Nam Veteran and the Vietnam Era Veteran is defined by law ,, am I correct???? All others should not be accepted to have served either on land or at sea in Vietnam. 4-39th, 9th Div. Assuming were talking solely about U.S. Vietnam veterans, all I would add is that anyone who served in the military and entered the war zone is technically a Vietnam veteran. U failed to remember the last name on the Wall was in 1975. hello, Presently, I approached the road to the top of PDL hill, and I was thinking what a beautiful day this would have been if this were some other place in some other world. i would like to confuse the issue a bit more. We are working on a feature article How Many Of Us Are Still Alive: that will show a complete Actuarial Model that shows the likely number of us still alive (725,000 to 750,000 out of 2.4 million) and the likely progression of our deaths. Last troops departed on 29 March, 1973. To not count us is disrespecting us who also answered the call. About 15 out of every 100 Vietnam veterans (15%) were currently diagnosed with PTSD when the most recent study of . I knew place names like War Zone C, Filijo (rubber Plantation), Iron triangle, Bo Lo woods?, I was wounded on the Laos border near a fire base with the 101st. We all had a job to do. Copyright 2022 MilitaryPerson.com if you read up on it you will see that ww2 merchant sailors were despised as cowards. Im 75 and served in South Vietnam (30 Dec 1967-68) A/504th MP Bn. These numbers were not included since these service members were far removed from combat experience and did not spend any amount of time in harms way. Most likely Les considers those who werent in-country as REMFs. The roar was deafening; through the shattered windshield, I saw the truck go out of control. Im glad you made it back! I knew I had to stand up again, even though I made a better target; my staying in the open road would be a death sentence. More than 3.4 million deployed to Southeast Asia (1) and approximately 2.7 million of those served in the Republic of Vietnam (2). Same aircraft were used and were not cleaned before spraying anything else. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. I give a silent prayer of thanks for all of you, every time I hear a chopper going by, even now. Likewise, drafted Sep 66, Vietnam Aug 67-Aug 68, and Im 75. For US Vietnam Veterans it's about 66 years vs just about 78 years for non vets. I opted for love! He was carrying a BAR, killed fighting an infantry action, and the desk jockeys decided he did not meet requirements for a CIB. Hometown: Detroit, Michigan. Thousands of sorties departed from Thailand, Guam, and from aircraft carriers at sea to kill MIGS, bomb factories and bridges, and generally create havoc. How many veterans die each Day - Latest Servey 2022 - Happy Veterans I do not know where that number 1 in 14 came from, but in my time in the Army 1962-1970 it was in the range of 1 in 8 to 10 using the total manpower % . How many US Army died in Vietnam War? - 2023 The dashboard gauges and the gearshift lever approached, as I hit the dashboard with my left side and my head crashed to the floor; My spirit rejoined and I was protected by the firewall. The total goes up every day. How many Vietnam vets die each day? - nobelvoice.com 101st Airborne Division, 1969-70 Should you have a question or comment about this article, then scroll down to the comment section below to leave your response. The exact percentage of surviving Vietnam War veterans is not known, but it is estimated to be around 25% of the total number of veterans who served during the war. Our service was diminished while there and continues being disrespected by those who lump all Vietnam-Era vets with those whose lives were on the line. I and other merchant marine did. The fear returned, as I knew he was of small stature. The 9 million was the total number of people in the military during 64-75 . Or is this a total number of vets with all the other countries that supported us . Very helpful for this Viet Nam vet, at 73 and a little long in the tooth I I find that my understanding of the time I spent in Viet Nam comes into sharper focus as time goes by and the reality of what happened and what I did to participate makes me proud especially because I volunteered for Viet Nam at the age of 17. An AK found its target in my thigh. Nov.62 I got off a PanAm flight at Tan Son Nhut with a US passport, wearing civilian clothes and colorful floral leis around my neck after a stop in Hawaii. 2.8 million tour because some guys just couldnt get enough! Who is the oldest living Vietnam veteran? what i am saying is that there were all kinds of service, and if you think the definition is being in country and being shot at, then i qualify and so did my shipmates. 1 How many American soldiers died in Vietnam in 1975? About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War Veterans (or 12%) have PTSD in a given year. One was daily and the other weekly. Again, I see a jumbled view of jungle and sky, and vaguely see a solitary soldier standing over me. Those were the prime draft years, but of course there were a few older guys over there too.This does not include other American men there who are not covered by the A, like civilian contractors. As of 2015, more than 1,600 of those were still unaccounted-for. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) of the U.S. Department of Defense lists 687 U.S. POWs as having returned alive from the Vietnam War. they sucked. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. How Many Vietnam Veterans are AliveToday? to 1984 approx. The book by Hal Moore & Joe Galloway We were soldiers once, and young describe what many of us experienced. If we dont include forces in Thailand or Guam why are we including anyone except Navy pilots, because I dont remember any deep water people who were subjected to enemy hostilities. so if you wore chinos instead of camo you are not a veteran? Or did you spend 24/7 365 days in the boat? Age: 77. How Many Ww2 Vets Die Each Day - Realonomics But having a CIB does not exclude or diminish in any way the experiences or accomplishments of others, like you, and the wearer of the badge has no right to judge what any other man faced. Finally got all the right stuff together; received benefits couple months ago. That number stands around 306,000 killed by agent Orange (and other colors). His Engineer company was tasked to fight as Infantry, and they did. It seems like you are looking at a very narrow view of the division of experiences of those who served in Vietnam. Quite a story. How many Vietnam Vets die per day? https://www.americanwarlibrary.com/personnel/vietvet.htm These numbers do not include the Americans who served in Vietnam during World War II. Are these all American vets. Unless they kept track by service or SSN, how many Vietnam Veterans are there ? There are questions like this that are hard to answere as being true boots on ground. I dont have a CIB to show for it, but I most certainly was in combat. I am not sure how it can be calculated, how to distinguish actual combat veterans, as that reality is a risk factor for contact with an enemy force. This could be a simple semantics issue, but what about the Air Force guys who flew over Vietnam. I was there in 1964-1965 then 1967-1968 then my last tour was 1971-1972. Vietnam Veterans are dieing faster than World War Two veterans do to Agent Orange contamination . Then upon returning I would be stationed in Camp Enari, away from most of the intense fighting, and protected by the whole 4th. My uncle John was in Company A, 290th Engineer Combat Bn during WWII. One other thing I would like to know, when Jane Fonda was sitting on that anti aircraft gun in Hanoi did they let her try to use it. Bob Kerrey. But the bad news is that Charlie knew exactly where they were . We had a lot of support vets near Saigon. A total of 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam era, with over 2,709,000 Americans serving in Vietnam, about 9.7% of the generation. My new Iraq War novel, Three Wise Men should ne out sometime next year, I was at Camp Eagle, and worked in Production Control. Statistics on PTSD in Veterans | US News Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category . This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. Nor, do they know about what is referred to as the last battle of the Vietnam war, which occurred on 15 May 1975, eight days after the legally defined end date of the Vietnam era; 7 May 1975. I was out of my earthly shell. For the are all Vietnam Vetersns.I was stationed. Then there was peace. They term era should be shit canned. Les, in IMHO being a Vietnam Veteran has nothing to do with combat. in one way or another. Not sure what to think about the article. We and they generally slept in the same bunks in the same tent if we werent up on call during the night. Infantry Division. If you are a pretender go stand in front of the mirror and tell that lie one more time so you can watch yourself steal the respect from an actual COMBAT VETERAN A/3/22 3rd Brigade 4th ID Dau Tieng 12/66 to 1/68. 2023 CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website, Ive also created a poll to help identify my website audience before leaving, can you please click, Vietnam: The War that killed Trust (GuestPost), Gold Star Families Memorial Monument DedicationCeremony. Based on data through September 30, 2020, VetPop2020 provides a projection of the Veteran population at each fiscal year end from 2020 to 2050. The site is owned and run by a crook and charlatan named (?) Vietnam IS a Vietnam veteran. The now call them Vietnam era veterans. The wheels were bouncing crazily as the tires encounter deep furrows dug in the hard dirt from the last monsoon. waited and waited for our slot in port. My time stands still. Does Ohio State University Allow Pets In Dorms? 15 of us REMFs were surrounded by the 33rd NVA June 13 1970. Lets ask somebody on Facebook where we can get all the correct true data and facts. Thats what we did in Vietnam we left and am glad we did. it is much easier to say who was not. A few times Id meet a group of guys claiming they were all Nam Vets. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Sobering Statistics Concerning Vietnam Vets As of April 2016 . i have read that only one in seven guys that went to Vietnam, were actually in combat. my point is that they were shot at and in country. How many Vietnam War veterans are still alive 2022? No reflection on your daily activities, just a friendly piece of information. Im sure that you all know that claiming to be a VFWar when you are not is a federal crime with severe legal penalties. Without fanfare or much recognition. I do not know how many others served with us. Your numbers are way off on the number of Air Force personnel serving in Thailand during the Vietnam war. Since you were with an aviation Battalion do you remember our flight pay as Army Aircrew ? How Many Vietnam Vets Die Each Day? - Answers Served until April 28, 1968 !!!!!! Since Sept. 11, 2001, just over 30,000 veterans have died by suicide four times more than the number of U.S. military personnel who died in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the things that really bothers me is the statement that we lost in Vietnam? What other conclusions have been made about the percentage of Vietnam veterans who are still alive? Welcome home! We all bleed red. But as to how many of us have died since then, I havent a clue. My husband was awarded several (door gunner w/191st AHC Bounty Hunters). The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Army Reserve: 189,500 Active Duty: 473,000 If he was at least in the Army, this might not work. VA's Veteran Population Projection Model estimates that there are approximately 6.1 million living Vietnam War-era Veterans, as of 2021. Bien Hoa & Phu Bai, two badly polluted areas! Also consider the thousands that served multiple tours. When we find that number we can start to determine those of us still standing. Really, very easy to say if your were able to sleep at night, so being anonymous means you stand up for those words All members of the team are NOT COMBAT VETERANS, My husbands boots werent on the groundthey were in the air and he was definitely a Combat vet. Army personnel were awarded VN Service Medals and and Vietnam Campaign Medals. Interesting, no way is 75 percent f real vets are alive today? He arrived on Yankee Station, Vietnam in early May, 1972 when he was still 17 years of age. I to served two tours 67-68 and 69-70,first with 1st of 8th cav. Thats sad and should stop. I was with the 1st Inf Division from July 67 to June 68 and we received $15 overseas pay and $65 combat pay a month. Help train personnel from many different Companies to do the same. My Company was A Co, 5th Trans Bn, 101st Abn. I still consider myself lucky every day! My number one issue is running into a FAKE. How old is the youngest Vietnam veteran still alive? Yes, Vietnam War veterans are still eligible for various benefits and compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs, including disability compensation, health care, and education benefits. The last three I knew had lost a lot of weight, two had each lost a lung. Was back at LZ Bayonet the last part of my tour after being medevaced off of Professional and in the hospital at Chu Lai. The first impact of a rocket was twenty meters to the left and ten meters behind as the rocket flew over its target. Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons. Here are some statistics on the veterans of the Vietnam War. About 30000 Canadians came into the us to join up. I am a solid 10. My body was throne backwards into the seat and rebounded forwards; bent over at a 90-degree angle from my waist. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. a clerk typist got benefits. I was there in 1969. My sister found enough info to get her husbands ship re-classified to a Brown Water ship due to his operation of a river boat and also medical evac of Marines, while he was assigned to the flagship, the Newport News, Prior to that any sailor who served aboard the Newport News, that applied for disability connected with Agent Orange, was denied. I was ASA, 1960-1963, Ft Dix, Vint Hill Farm, DaNang and PhuBai. As anti-war vet , all these years later, I respect yall and your stories. It only had the National Defense ribbon on the cap. Well, the government 20 or 25 years later sent us, if asked, a ribbon, card, and metal saying we did. Exhausted! He was 18 years, 2 months and 1 day old. Defining Combat Veterans, tell us what number you give yourself, we have a controversy here with a candidate for Governor, he claims now that he is a combat veteran, but he told me in his campaign for the House seat he presently holds, that he was NOT a combat veteran. The 30 September 2007 Veterans Administration estimate places the daily deaths of WWII US veterans at 1,000 per day. While that's a staggering figure is, the actual amount could be higher. Fact: Everyone who served during the Vietnam War are classified as Vietnam Era Vets. Findings are made available to the public in an Annual Report. We had a dustoff attached to us. I have heard many stories (more in the past 30 years) of people claiming to be a combat veteran, maybe seeking some kind of hero status or valid excuse for why they are where they are. But if the 800,000 number is right then it has to be out of the 9,000,000 and not out of the 2.6 million. How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? I wonder how many vets died of one of the cancers on the list before it made the list? Mekong Delta US Army 1969. as soon as it was ammo or arms, we were machine gunned where ever we went. and by the way, they never got benefits after their time at sea. Although my time had come, my death brought a realization that, I WOULD NOT ALLOW MYSELF TO DYE IN THAT JUNGLE. I discovered a conviction, antithesis to my beliefs, that it was not the North Vietnamese Army that sealed my fate, nor the soldier that touched off the RPG that distorted my body; I had the power from GOD to go to the next phase in my journey. The number of Viet Nam veterans, those who served in combat and combat related services (such those flyboys from outside the territory/waters of Viet Nam is about 2.7 million. in any event, i went as soon as i was contacted by the draft board. Every single day 22 veterans commit themselves to death. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I did a short extra tour with the 97th Trans in Cam Rahn Bay, they had 30 or so LCUs that hauled artillery projectiles and other stuff including fuel up many of those rivers. As stated in the previous post I too can spot a fake in 10 seconds. If I got in the ring with Cassius clay later known as Mohamed Ali. The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The military stopped the. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Antonia is a firm believer in the power of education, and she is passionate about helping students reach their full potential. With the Americal after I got back I had maps. Exiting the jungle, still at the foot of the mountain opposite from my defenses; the mountains bulk acted as a radio barrier between help from S3 at Enari or the SFs at the Ville. Were you at Saigon firebase when guys set off grenade in APC ? I would hope they are considered Vietnam combat Vets. As well, those who served in Thailand in late 1973-1975 are often looked down upon as not being real Vietnam Veterans. We are, as we helped conduct many support missions in the region, helped with draw assist during the fall of Cambodia, S. Vietnam and Laos. the average combat vet in Nam was 240 days. I served in Vietnam from Jul 68 to Jul 69. Peter: 67N2F, 119th AHC 68-69. According to the American War Library, as of February 28, 2019, it is estimated that approximately 610,000 Americans who served in land forces during the Vietnam War or in air missions over Vietnam between 1954 and 1975 are still alive to this day. All five of the CIDGs we dropped off that morning filed into the back of the truck, but unlike the cab the back had a canvas top and sides. Melathion was 96% pure. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. So yes, we did indeed see combatoften. All others should not be accepted to have served either on land or at sea in Vietnam. Spent a year in training and ended up a buck Sargent airborne ranger. A Vietnam era veteran is certainly not a Veteran of the Vietnam War. Its been over 50 years and its time Vietnam Vets stop arching among themselves. Funny, none of them were called WWII Era Veterans. The way many of us were treated on returning from that war, but in truth it was only a war for very few of those who served there. I think 9+ million total in US military service during the peak years of the Vietnam War and 2.6 2.7 million in Nam and its waters and air space is right. I saw the edge of the dirt, the jungle growth, the nearby trees, while I heard the world explode. to most of them, it was another port and another war. Question Two. To that we can add those who served in adjacent waters and countries, but 2.6 is likely the closest figure to those in country. I signed up for it in 2018 at the VA Hospital in Buffalo. Dave, No one paid any attention to them and this non-controversy continues. What is the average age of Vietnam veteran in 2021? Through my blood-covered face, I could not distinguish whom! As Ive mentioned before, I dont think posing this question was intended to be divisive among veterans, but it has turned out to be. Music That Moves the Military. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. How old are Vietnam vets now? Another long time friend served on the Riverine Force actually served on John Kerrys boat and is mentioned prominently in his book, told me stories about being ambushed, as those boats made a lot of noise. to Ken Drombosky USA, (Ret.). The stroke wasnt assumed until after 2000 & heart not until 2010. Got home after the war, never spoke about my service, never went hunting again, never cut my feeling back on! for most of it i listened but not wanting to interfere. Dear Mr. Hutson Jr That means bullets where flying at me and I killed people in combat. I spent 3 separate tours in Vietnam. . How many Vietnam veterans are dying each day? How about disabled numbers? RVN. How many ww2 veterans are still alive 2021? Still, other sources like the New York Times claim the number of Vietnam veterans is actually somewhere around 9.2 million. CIB. Kenneth, your definition of combat veteran is so wrong on so many levels that it would be funny if it did not besmirch the service of so many good men, alive and dead. nothing exists or will exist in another time. Best answer: How many Vietnam vets die each day? State-Level Veteran Suicide Data: 2020 Update The truth is that until Vietnam veterans can agree amongst themselves what constitutes a real Vietnam vet, the debate may continue. I needed the rest! Im sorry I did. How many Vietnam veterans are still missing? Regardless of their MOS or the details of their service, veterans have more in common with each other than they have differences, and ALL deserve to be honored. On Sat, Jun 19, 2021 at 4:22 PM CherriesWriter Vietnam War website wrote: > pdoggbiker posted: This is a controversial post. the draft board made that very clear. The dust settled back to normality, as if man did not exist. I managed to stand again, stepped, and hurled myself into the jungle. I am glad that you make Dante, I know the struggle has been long, but the spirit soars and the tale told Live long my brother, None of us are very far away from those days A harrowing experience that can never be diminished by time. What is the life expectancy of a Vietnam veteran? Id like to know what the 1 in 14 men figure is based on. Finally figured out what was wrong with me, received help but refuse to dwell on the dark demons that quite frankly just did not give a dam for humanity. How many Korean War veterans are still alive? Dec 1967 Dec 1968 & Jan 1969 Nov 1969. The number of people who are Vietnam veterans in the first place is a number that is widely debated. Today is Sun 22 Aug 2021 but the actual date HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED as the US is SENDING GIs BACK! Been there, seen it, did it. Ah. Thousands of veterans die alone every year, with their remains Perfect. I had a Swedish citizen in AIT, with orders to go to Vietnam. Decades after the fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) many former soldiers still wonder why they were fighting. The average number of Vietnam War veterans who die each day is 390 deaths. Helicopter crewmen did not receive the CIB, but they fought every day. I always ask those who claim to be Compare yourself to the Marines at Fallujah, if they are a 10, what number are you, Thanks for your comment! Estimating the number of suicides among Vietnam veterans Combat Veterans know who they are, pretenders know that they are not.. Each BUFF had 6 crewmen onboard. She has worked in schools all over the world, and has developed groundbreaking curricula that have helped countless students excel. It is difficult to say how many Vietnam veterans have been affected by Agent Orange. Change). David, please do not compare this to Merchant Seaman in WWII who braved the many packs of Submarines etc as thgatr uis hgow many died in WWIU, Sorry my spell check went nuts Thank you in advance! If you assumed that 500,000 new troops served there every year from 1962-1975, you still couldnt get to 9,000,000 serving there, so using the peak number is not realistic. This part of Pleiku Province is a combination of mountains, triple to single canopy jungle and/or open valleys. I then did a 12 month tour in RVN in 5th SFG. Jorge Otero Barreto. The remaining 6.5 million were serving either at-home or abroad but not in Vietnam. The Korean War was not supported by the ENTIRE nation, actually that is why it is known as the Forgotten War. Dave V. 1st Battalion, 14 th FA, Americal Division, VN, I Corps. The veterans are a very important asset to the country. SP5 Mark Kuzinski 86.6K 296 151 53 53 0 Vietnam veterans are dying at the rate of 390 deaths each day. Born: 01/29/1945. Serving in combat waters. Tom, to me, the CIB says everything; the wearer is a soldier who has earned the right to it and deserves respect. However, typically, the number of World War 2 veterans who die each day is approximately 100. **********************************************************. Mark Stanley was gone. as far as who is a vietnam vet is simple. If field infantry personal awarded a CIB having engaged the enemy are a ten (10), what are the field artillery units at a fire base like FSB Gold in Operation Junction City. Perhaps, another RPG impacted and careened us sideways knocking me unconscious. What was the cause of preventable deaths in the Vietnam War? The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day. How Many World War 2 Veterans Die Each Day? - Thelma Thinks Besides, who says anyone can claim this status or that status just because. When I opened my mouth and started talking about Nam, Id get this response, We dont talk about Nam .In my opinion we should tell everyone about our combat experience. David, please do not compare this to Merchant Seaman in WWII who braved the many packs of Submarines etc as that is how so many died in WWII. 499 days, and 10 days in Sydney, Australia !!!!! According to DCAS Vietnam casualty files, the following casualty were sustained outside of S. Vietnam: 728 in Laos, 523 in Cambodia, 1,120 in N. Vietnam and 10 in China. VA released VetPop 2020 which is VA's new official estimate and projection of the Veteran population. It seems to be all about syntax. And though did not serve in actual combat, as you describe it, we were shot at & mortared on occasion. The VVA Veteran boils it down to a totally different conclusion that the American War Library drew. i am not better, but i am not worse. Those who do not remember where in country they were, WHERE NOT THERE.. Or suffering from a complete mental memory disorder. The last number of Viet Nam veterans alive today was 730,000, which would equate to around todays number of 610,000. My body, accompanied by my mind, was pitched out the right-side door, sliding between the seat and under the dashboard to land on the shoulder of the dirt road alone. Well again, nothing that you have posted tells the story that you were in Vietnam. When were the last Vietnam POWs released? Considering the number of troops deployed at different times, the build up and the draw down, its inconceivable that there could have been 9m serving in country. We were near AF ranch hand ops and many of my buds still alive from then have the cancers, diabetes, amputations and such. all of the participants in this thread are veterans. Due to TCDD among other toxic substances, we are dying off faster than other American men born between 1944-1950.