Operation Homecoming was completed on March 29, 1973, when the last of 591 U.S. prisoners were released and returned to the United States. 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. So, I must be a VN Vet and VN Era Vet and Cold War Era Vet but not a Cold War Vet because I never got anywhere near the USSR. How many Nam Vets die per day is what??? - Leatherneck.com Hazardous duty pay was $65 and overseas pay varied by rank $8 to $ 16. To my understanding, Army aviation unitsAssault Companies, Cav Troops, ARA units etc., had the highest casualty rates of any TO & E unit in Vietnam. Agent Orange catching up to Vietnam veterans decades later The truth is that until Vietnam veterans can agree amongst themselves what constitutes a real Vietnam vet, the debate may continue. I only spent one overnighter. Change). I would not believe the NYT. The average ww ii vet was in combat 10 to 12 days. I remember reading in the Stars and Stripes there were 500,000 plus in Vietnam at the time. Navy ships were classified as Blue Water ships. Even in this age of computers and accountability just goes to show ya ,people still cant Add or do Math . Many Vietnam Vets do not even know about the secret operations from Thailand, now declassified, that probably helped save their rears during some of their combat operations. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day. Still, the American War Library continues to verify their accounts and come to more concrete conclusions. And, if you think 75% of actual Vietnam Vets (especially after Covid, and more than 50 years of time) are still alive, youre kidding yourself. Special Forces orderly room to picked-up theyre new frequencies. How old are Vietnam vets now? The total number of is estimated at 2.8 million US veterans who were exposed to the poisonous chemical while serving and later died. Perhaps the reason for guys is that there were times we had to drink out of bomb craters that were in areas sprayed with Agent Orange. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. More than 300,000 Veterans were wounded during the Vietnam War. Mean 69 maybe? I rode river patrol boats from 1968-9 we were on the rivers but we were there 24hours a day days a week. Oliver Stone. And just as the bell rang he got out of the ring , technically I won the fight. 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. What percentage of Vietnam vets are still alive? Heres a fact: Jeffery Lynn Scheller, USN, born July 31, 1954 was Killed In Action on October 1, 1972. VA's Veteran Population Projection Model estimates that there are approximately 6.1 million living Vietnam War-era Veterans, as of 2021. BTW, Marys father was a Marine in Nam and died when she was only a few years old. Copyright 2022 MilitaryPerson.com These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Combat Veteran means being awarded a CIB. i would like to confuse the issue a bit more. Decades after the fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) many former soldiers still wonder why they were fighting. The article states that The youngest Vietnam Veteran is aged in the late 60s today. scipione@geneseo.edu, Yes a Vietnam Veteran, but not a Combat Veteran. Tell it like it is. Im still here after all the BS of AO has really messed up my life with illnesses, surgeries ect since 1975, noting problems while I was in Vietnam in 69, and confirmed. What other conclusions have been made about the percentage of Vietnam veterans who are still alive? The first impact of a rocket was twenty meters to the left and ten meters behind as the rocket flew over its target. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hell no. We didnt make it on shore very often but I still feel I was in VietNam. I still consider myself lucky every day! Having spent a year all over Thailand in support of Communist Suppression Operations Center along the Laotian border, and training Thai infantry to deploy in RVN. However, like it or not, the U.S. government makes the final decisions on who is officially considered a war veteran and thats really the way it HAS to be. This is a controversial post. In my book, they are all Vietnam Vets, just like the guys back home who never went overseas are WWII or WWI veterans. that conversation has stayed with me. Helicopter Units and losses in the Vietnam War, The Story behind the famous Saigon Execution Photo, https://open.spotify.com/show/5Th7BCpIKDE1hVTqNL3u0Q. And i can tell you , we made a lot of money. Most likely Les considers those who werent in-country as REMFs. Yep feet never left the ground except to do my mos. It makes a big difference because stating that only one-third of Vietnam veterans are still alive today is much harsher than stating that three-quarters of Vietnam veterans are still alive and well. The average number of Vietnam War veterans who die each day is 390 deaths. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (Mit), Missouri University Of Science And Technology, State University Of New York Health Science Center At Brooklyn, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry, The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio, The University Of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University Of Texas Medical Branch At Galveston, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Uniformed Services University Of The Health Sciences, University At Buffalo Suny School Of Engineering And Applied Sciences, University Of California, Los Angeles (Ucla), University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, University Of Maryland Baltimore County (Umbc), University Of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, University Of Tennessee Health Science Center, University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. My name is Ananda. Enlisted 7/70. I served in Vietnam from Jul 68 to Jul 69. That's 390 per day. I had several Canadians in our Company in Vietnam. Dec. 5, 1967 to April 28, 1968 is 144 days. Please do all you can to inform our fellow vets that the VA presumes Agent Orange exposure if you were in-country. Should you have a question or comment about this article, then scroll down to the comment section below to leave your response. To not count us is disrespecting us who also answered the call. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Motherfucker? Active Duty: 473,000 How Many Vietnam Veterans Are Still Alive In 2022? - CLJ Straining to regain my feet again, I staggered a few strides to my right and throe myself forward, with all I was worth, collapsing finely into the vegetation face up. The VVA Veteran boils it down to a totally different conclusion that the American War Library drew. Each averaged 2500-3000 personnel on a yearly rotating bases, groaning and shrinking based on the missions being conducted. I WAS IN THE 85TH ORD COMPANY . Vietnam was very different, it was not supported by our Nation, the draft of so many young men to fight in a country that few could ever find on a map, let alone now anything about. I got angry at him even saying that he was a vet of the war. But often, it does. He was 18 years, 2 months and 1 day old. Vietnam Veterans are dieing faster than World War Two veterans do to Agent Orange contamination . The thing is the question/topic here is not how many Vietnam combat veterans are there, or how many Vietnam Era veterans are there; its how many Vietnam veterans are there. The last veteran who served in the trenches was Harry Patch (British Army), who died on 25 July 2009, aged 111. I was on LZ Bayonet during 1970 and experienced many of the things you described. I am a solid 10. A phantom drifted over and raised me up to unconsciousness. Before I passed out, I was being picked up off the jungle floor by some entity. Likewise, drafted Sep 66, Vietnam Aug 67-Aug 68, and Im 75. 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. Learn something new everyday. What is the average age of Vietnam veteran in 2021? Suddenly, I was in front of the truck near the grill. Lost my Vet to Leukemia just after this count was done. Dec 1967 Dec 1968 & Jan 1969 Nov 1969. Scavenger1, I agree with you. No two people standing side by side performed the same duties. You were in Combat!!! Scavenger said you had to be fired on in viet nam to be a veteran. 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.. Splitting out the numbers of combat and era vets are separate questions. No reflection on your daily activities, just a friendly piece of information. How many veterans die each Day - Latest Servey 2022 - Happy Veterans It would cause great pain to them; reminiscent of what occurred to the family of my namesake, my first cousin Dante Michael Puccetti. Army personnel were awarded VN Service Medals and and Vietnam Campaign Medals. The funny thing,(not so funny) is that when we carried peaches and beer, no problem. So I was in the Army National Guard during the Iraq War, So I guess I am An Iraq War Veteran. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The difference David, is that you could quit at any moment, most Veterans who served in Vietnam did not have that choice. 23 Div and finally MACV Tm 87, 43 RCAT 18th ARVN Div. With the Americal after I got back I had maps. But having said that, here are some sources: He was drafted and qualified for Helicopter pilot school. I was driving the OPs 3/4-ton, 4X4 truck down the main dirt highway from Camp Enari entering the Ville and Mark Stanley was a passenger in the cab. Without a doubt Helicopter Crews are COMBAT VETS, to fly so low & slow over the most hidden turf below.. On landing at LZ Gold March 19, 1967 we lost 6 Hueys and 7 pilots. Who is the oldest living Vietnam veteran? He now has a 100% disability as unemployable. I didnt know that. If you served anywhere at all, anywherre during WWI, you are a WWI vet. maybe, maybe not. Cheers, How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? Serious danger along those river banks. My husband was one of those 191st Assault Helicopter Co. Bounty Hunter door gunners. Wiki User. I was drafted in Sep 1966, went to Vietnam Aug 67-Aug 68, and Im 75 until Oct. I believe you mean the malaria pill was once a week. Waiting for a slight pause in the clamor in my ear, I decided to escape towards the cover of the Bush. That number was reasonable: About 9.2 million Americans served in the military during the Vietnam era . My husband was also a door gunner (191st AHC gunship) but he was there later than you (70-71). The remaining 6.5 million were serving either at-home or abroad but not in Vietnam. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". i am not better, but i am not worse. ho, i could not . It should be duly noted that these numbers do not include the 2500 to 3000 US Air Force troops stationed in Guam, Thailand, and other countries that were involved in the Vietnam War effort. It was an incredibly tumultuous time in US hi >, It poses more confusion about what constitutes a Vietnam Vet! Okay.Ill be the one to tell it like it is, even though everyone here, as well as everyone else, knows the truth already! An AK found its target in my thigh. This was with conversations with them while waiting our turn to be seen in the VA. I salute all Veterans, and those Pencil pusher, clerks, medics, fire-fighters, etc., all had jobs to do to support everyone, they deserve respect as well, as without them no one should have had the tools necessary to accomplish any mission! none more than the ERA Vets. Did your foot ever touch the ground? How many Vietnam veterans died from Agent Orange? In 1995 Vietnam released its official estimate of the number of people killed during the Vietnam War: as many as 2,000,000 civilians on both sides and some 1,100,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. They are paying on Melathion settlements (Watch TV, and it as on 2 to 3% purity, used inside US) There are no living Veterans that I know of. How Many Vietnam Veterans Have Been Affected by Agent Orange? I was C 3/17 air cav. He was carrying a BAR, killed fighting an infantry action, and the desk jockeys decided he did not meet requirements for a CIB. TRUE, yes more may have had a mortar or rocket land in the vicinity, or heard a sniper round shot, but the manpower rule is 1 out of 7 10 is an actual seek out and engage the enemy, tip of the spear veteran. In WWII and the Korean War, anyone who served in the military was considered a veteran of that war. Born: 04/07/1937. We just hoped the pilot put us where we were supposed to be. How many ww2 vets left 2021? Still, other sources like the New York Times claim the number of Vietnam veterans is actually somewhere around 9.2 million. I do not believe we were counted as vets. I asked him to give me his number, he did not put a number on it just that he was Not. Not sure what to think about the article. But a growing army of strangers is. 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. My spirit was above my body and I was looking down at myself bouncing around in the drivers side. About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War Veterans (or 12%) have PTSD in a given year. She is also a strong advocate for equal opportunity, and she works tirelessly to ensure that all students have access to quality education regardless of their socioeconomic status or race. His wife and family should be very proud of him. Dave, When were the last Vietnam POWs released? How many Vietnam veterans have died from Agent Orange? The oldest living Vietnam War veteran is believed to be a man named Larrivee Ronald A, who was born in Feb, 24, 1935. How Many Ww2 Vets Die Each Day - Realonomics We had a 10,000 gal balloon full of gas while we watched for someone shooting at us or placing a bomb on the bottom of our boat. To say that the Air Force in Thailand and Guam was too far away to be in harms way shows you have no idea what Navy and Air Force aircrews do. My brother claims he is a Vietnam veteran. Bien Hoa & Phu Bai, two badly polluted areas! Is It Hard To Get Into Kent State University? Separately I am working on an article that analyzes how many States are over or under represented in terms of their number of KIAs during and right after the war., Dr. Paul Scipione 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. I knew that I was gravely wounded, and bullets were kicking up dust clouds as they were landing around my feet. Please do your own due diligence on the American War Library before citing them on ANYTHING, ever. 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. 2500 to 3000 US Air Force troops stationed in Guam, Thailand, and other countries that were involved in the Vietnam War effort. I WOULD SURVIVE! 4-39th, 9th Div. The disparity seems to be In Theatre veterans between the years 1954-1975, and veterans in the Military at that time that were not deployed, or NOT In Theatre! I am unsure of how many Native peoples joined the US marine corps and volunteered for combat duties. I certainly dont agree on the 9 million in country. Our medic gave them out every Monday. It takes military personnel to support the troops on ground or ships in war territory waters. 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 These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The term I like to use is Together We Served. It was an incredibly tumultuous time in US history and, for that reason, its unclear how many people actually served during this struggle. Interestingly, the research concludes that Vietnam veterans seem to be dying at a similar rate to World War II veterans. He was killed in action just a few months later. The group in my AIT Class were all happy about this. 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. The VA researchers analyzed the death certificates of 21 states to create the 2010 national estimate for veterans from all age groups. If they reply that they do not talk about their experiences They are not Combat Veterans maybe not even Vietnam Veterans. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Helicopter crewmen did not receive the CIB, but they fought every day. He objected, and was assigned as an interpreter attached to the American Embassy in Sweden. Combat Vets and Non Combat Vets. (Mar 1969-Sep 70) 2/23, 196 LIB & 1/23 MP Co, 11 LIB, AMERICAL DIV. These numbers do not include the Americans who served in Vietnam during World War II. As a Combat Infantry Veteran those who allow people to assume that they experienced actual combat because they refer to themselves as a Vietnam Vet. My new Iraq War novel, Three Wise Men should ne out sometime next year, I was at Camp Eagle, and worked in Production Control. But I didnt beat him he just left. Finally got all the right stuff together; received benefits couple months ago. Just like ALL Vets who served DURING WWII are classified as WWll Vets regardless of where they served. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. RVN. How Many World War 2 Veterans Die Each Day? - Thelma Thinks Got the scars to prove it too, both physical and mental. However, he did not return to the United States until March 22, 1979. I can assure you there will be those of us alive longer than 10 years from now. All Lawyer adds is for 2 percent, do you think that this was a greater risk for Cancer. Bill, and for the most part, we had no weapons. RE: WHO are Vietnam Vets ?. The veterans are a very important asset to the country. There is no definitive answer to this question as the number of World War 2 veterans who die each day varies depending on the specific situation. There is a statistic that has been widely quoted in the veteran community that highlights an estimated 22 veterans a day are committing suicide. How many Vietnam Vets die per day? | RallyPoint And a count of military that flew over Nam bombing etc. We did what we felt needed doing. Div., 67-68. Born: 01/29/1945. Though Thailand was not designated a combat zone. In the article, the writer quotes Patrick S. Brady of Vietnam Veterans of Americas magazine. Awakening, I was the only person there, so the enemy was concentrated on me. It was an incredibly tumultuous time in US history and, for that reason, its unclear how many people actually served during this struggle. How many soldiers died on their first day in Vietnam? I struck a tree and rebounded into the open again still a sitting duck. The now call them Vietnam era veterans. He got a letter from his wife telling him she was divorcing him and marrying his best friend. A veteran of the Vietnam War is a person who PARTICIPATED in the Vietnam War. As a child I knew several WWII veterans. Born: 08/27/1943. How many Vietnam veterans are still alive? (2023) Active duty 70-71, Quang Tri, Khe Sahn, Danny. While I honor those who served worldwide, it comes across as yet another slap in the face to those of us who faced enemy fire. Good disxussiin. (52. years later) All with the 3rd Brigade, 82nd Air Borne Division. Serving in combat waters. Nevertheless, if my name was Tom, Dick, or Harry I would have perished, but I could not put my parents through the same ordeal as Aunt Palma and Uncle Frank. It was all about teamwork, whether you pulled the trigger or not. This cookie is used by the website's WordPress theme. Thousands of veterans die alone every year, with their remains His Engineer company was tasked to fight as Infantry, and they did. Trying to understand: Does being shot at outside the wire while moving to new location count? Luck of the draw my twin that received a silver star got the luck of the draw made it home. Mike. I heard them offen. I know full well it takes many, many hands to make the infantry function but like you saidclaim your time. The artillery, Helo crews, combat engineers, in Vietnam are also considered Combat Vets, Well, I guess it just did not count for us Huey Teams (Sky Angels) supporting infantry/artillery units by flying in to lay down suppression fire, flying you into hot LZs, taking you out of the boonies, bringing you ammo and supplies, flying the wounded and dead back to base camp, not to mention Huey night Hawk missions to rectify an enemy ambush for our infantry that would be pinned down with no hope of survival. I served as a Navy Corpsman, Fall of Saigon. Divarty (how ironic), and with my DEROS (Date I returned to the States) in the end of May boarding The BIG Bird, flying across the Pond and back to the World! I have had stage III melanoma, stage III squamous cell throat cancer and now stage II bladder cancer. Past history shows ALL Veterans of previous Wars were classified as Vets of those wars regardless of where they served. We all had a job to do. He earned 38 military decorations during his career, and has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the Vietnam War. About the same number of draft dodgers.or so I was told. The report is based on national death certificate data currently available through 2020. I know from my time with the 3/25 that you dont need to be a ground pounder to see more then your share of combat. for myself, being bored sometimes, and anxious to see and do more, i volunteered and went on a number of supply missions to the fire bases. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". A lot of guys broke out with rashes every time that sprayed for mosquitos, using Melithon, which was every 2 weeks over all Base Camps. I wonder how many vets died of one of the cancers on the list before it made the list? at DaNang If we came in they set up tents to sleep in and had a big blivet bag for a shower. i appreciate i was not in a company and humped for a year. If you want to learn more about the Vietnam War and its Warriors, then subscribe to this blog and get notified by email or your feed reader every time a new story, picture, video or changes occur on this website the button is located at the top right of this page. I was there in 1964-1965 then 1967-1968 then my last tour was 1971-1972. I was only there 9-months but others served multiple tours, so I tend to believe the 2.7 3.0 million is probably an accurate number. That number stands around 306,000 killed by agent Orange (and other colors). With an estimated 6 million Vietnam Veterans currently living in the U.S. or abroad, VA remains dedicated to serving all Veterans of the Vietnam Era., All troops were sent home in April 1973. My body was throne backwards into the seat and rebounded forwards; bent over at a 90-degree angle from my waist. why not compare them?. Every grunt I know would say no. all of the participants in this thread are veterans. Which Statement Best Describes How Americans In The 1960S Felt About The Vietnam War? Air medals say combat support flying night spook missions around Haiphong from 68 -71. Smokey Platoon. Had an easy tour given what i was trained for before I got there. The commander of the sapper ambush signaled the weapons man to fire the first RPG, and it impacted behind the target. In my mirror I saw its beam illuminate each and every particle of dust that my passing vehicle spewed into the air; thus creating a mobile, magical, camouflaged chamber of brightly dancing fairies shielding me from harm. But Officers do not get CIBs But for those Cav troopers who know I have my Spurs. Ive often wondered how many of us are left. We and they generally slept in the same bunks in the same tent if we werent up on call during the night. Id like to know what the 1 in 14 men figure is based on. 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. Steve First and most important who is a Vietnam veteran? The VA sent out a news release on March 29th, 2022, entitled DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO VIETNAM WAR VETERANS. It included the following line, which should put this question to rest. I always felt this was the maximal danger of the trip. may we all be the last man standing. For a mile or so the road cut through the jungle like a tunnel; the vegetation brushing against the sides and roof hid what lurked in the shadows. I flew as a crew chief / door gunner from dec 12 th 1965 till dec 15th 1967,I may not have had my boots on the ground out side the wire but we flew close air support , every time you grunts got your ass in a sling we were there to help you, i was on old B model gun ships low and slow ,I was shot down three times, so i dont think your cib means that much to me. and i remember that we talked about how much we would make if we lost a finger or an arm. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors. 9.2 million served on active duty (5 August 1964 to 7 May 1975) 2,590,000 served in the combat zone. Findings are made available to the public in an Annual Report. 997 soldiers997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam . Later, and Welcome Home to all Vietnam Veterans!!! The trucks grill was a few feet away should I crawl underneath or try to hide in the nearby jungle? All I know is that Im a Vietnam Combat Vet. The 9 million was the total number of people in the military during 64-75 . I have read about Canadians coming south to fight in Vietnam but have never seen any real authority to support this. You may not care but us guys that stepped foot in Nam AND had bullets flying at us, we care, and we are genuine vietnam Combat Vets. Just come up with two lists and leave it at that. If true, 390 VN vets die a day. How were WWII veterans & Korean War Veterans accounted for? Frantically searching to find that one resource in my spirit to survive. Not 499 days between dec 67 & april 68? So, here well dive a little bit deeper into how many Vietnam veterans are estimated to still be alive based on various approximations and predictions. According to the Department of Defense, infantry soldiers had the highest casualties during the Vietnam War, making infantry the deadliest job in Vietnam. What was the life expectancy of a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam? Great article! How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? Everything slowed down, and I was alone, above my body that was thrown into the dashboard hitting with my left side. Thank you. Apparently, its been agreed upon that 800,000 Vietnam veterans had passed away by the year 2000. Combat Vets served in country. Vietnam era vets are not the same as Vietnam vets, but they are important. How Many Ww2 Veterans Die Each Day? - Thelma Thinks Based on data through September 30, 2020, VetPop2020 provides a projection of the Veteran population at each fiscal year end from 2020 to 2050.
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