Dave, We, the U.S. have lost over 158,000 American lives to the Vietnam war and that count is still rising. Does anyone else remember ? Like you I am sick of ERA Veterans claiming to be in country. Change). 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. As I started to slowly stagger upright towards the opposite side of the road, trying with all my might to gain my balance, I went down hard. 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. Active Duty: 473,000 Thats sad and should stop. 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. In the enormity of the cosmos, Vietnam is inconsequential, covered over by days dust! But the bad news is that Charlie knew exactly where they were . Heres my article about Canadians who fought in Vietnam: https://cherrieswriter.com/2015/11/13/lost-to-history-the-canadians-who-fought-in-vietnam/. In my Book if you didnt step foot in Nam Your sure not a Vietnam Vet, Period. I appreciate all the support there and around the world but Vietnam area at Fort Whatever Ohio wasnt Vietnam and no matter how brave the girls in Germany told you you were you were not a Vietnam Vet. I have had stage III melanoma, stage III squamous cell throat cancer and now stage II bladder cancer. how would you define a clerk typist who stayed in saigon and never went into the field. but some men, like myself , were told by their draft board, go to vietnam on your ship. The other number of significance is the number of Viet Nam veterans killed by Dow chemical. How Many Vietnam Veterans Have Been Affected by Agent Orange? the average combat vet in Nam was 240 days. This situation has been an issue for years longer than any of us has been around. The youngest Vietnam Veteran is aged in the late 60s today with life expectances estimated at 86 years old (for normal people). Enjoy today's Memorial Day and please take time to "Remember". NOTE: in 2010 Census 13.2 Million claimed to be Vietnam Veterans. The U.S. military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died. Awakening, I was the only person there, so the enemy was concentrated on me. A Co. 2/8th, First Cavalry, 1968-69. First and most important who is a Vietnam veteran? Im glad you made it back! Got home after the war, never spoke about my service, never went hunting again, never cut my feeling back on! There is a bird in India that says Did you Do it? I believe the aircrews flying out of those places were take issue with not in harms way. In 11 days of December 1973, 16 B-52s were lost over North Vietnam during Linebacker II. Some where along the way after returning home & towards, if not after the end of involvement, the number Id heard/read was 5 million US military served. So I was in the Army National Guard during the Iraq War, So I guess I am An Iraq War Veteran. Smokey Platoon. Over 8.7 million Americans served in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era from 1964 to 1973 (1). The first US advisors that I can find evidence of arrived in country in 1955. Leave your thoughts below in the comment section. The last combat veteran was Claude Choules, who served in the British Royal Navy (and later the Royal Australian Navy) and died 5 May 2011, aged 110. The truth is that until Vietnam veterans can agree amongst themselves what constitutes a real Vietnam vet, the debate may continue. He earned 38 military decorations during his career, and has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the Vietnam War. I changed emails and cant reach you!! The New York Times reported that claims like those of the American War Library are false and that, instead of only one-third of Vietnam vets remaining, the number points to more like 75 percent of Vietnam veterans still living and breathing today. Agent Orange is a Herdicide. Where is this one in twelve figure from? How were WWII veterans & Korean War Veterans accounted for? I give a silent prayer of thanks for all of you, every time I hear a chopper going by, even now. Vietnam 2/722/73. There are still a lot of us left by some miracle! This part of Pleiku Province is a combination of mountains, triple to single canopy jungle and/or open valleys. 101st Airborne Division, 1969-70 Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. It was an incredibly tumultuous time in US history and, for that reason, its unclear how many people actually served during this struggle. Agreed. Chester/Gordon, 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. The average number of Vietnam War veterans who die each day is 390 deaths. Mean 69 maybe? About the same number of draft dodgers.or so I was told. ONLY Vietnam Vets are separated into two categories. Systematically, a surveyor from the Plei Do Lim (PDL) flash Out Post (OP) had too physically exchanged the old for the new code-book and radio frequencies for the facility. We all served the same, but different. Same aircraft were used and were not cleaned before spraying anything else. The roar was deafening; through the shattered windshield, I saw the truck go out of control. Canandaigua, NY 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 believe you mean the malaria pill was once a week. A number 1/2 the peak, say 250,000 still seems high but would come closer to 3,000,000 number serving. RE: WHO are Vietnam Vets ?. You are certainly a Vietnam Vet, and I know the danger that you were in As an Infantry (CIB) Sgt I spent part of my second tour with the 97th Trans out of Cam Rahn Bay, they operated @28 LCUs hauling projectiles up those rivers, always a risky business. I turned left into the open valley dirt road that lead to the OP, crossed the blue line (river or stream on a map) and raced through the dense, triple canopy jungle to the open valley floor. The average number of Vietnam War veterans who die each day is 390 deaths. Army National Guard: 336,000, https://www.americanwarlibrary.com/personnel/vietvet.htm, https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/26/science/how-many-vietnam-veterans-are-still-alive.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War. Tom Selleck. If they enlisted or were drafted before 1975, they likely are in their late 60s now. i never saw them again, but i knew we had shared something that was filled with pride, sadness, and the passage of time. According to the American War Library website, it was concluded by the Department of Defense that their best estimate is that between 2,709,918 and 3,173,845 GIs served in Vietnam and its surrounding waters between the years 1954 and 1975. Not sure what to think about the article. Born: 04/07/1937. Very true One of those is my younger brother. War is Heck!!! Hell no. The New York Times estimated that, of the 8.4 million Vietnam veterans who were still alive in 2000, 1.1 million had died. 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. when we carried peaches and beer, no problem. 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! More Veterans Die By Suicide Than In Combat. But It's Preventable - WBUR You go, brother! These numbers have come about due to the extensive research of various mortality indexes and sources by the American War Library which concluded that about one-third of those who served in the Vietnam War are still alive today. An overwhelming number are buried by family and friends. Veterans support veterans, their stories and we bristle at those who would steal their history, we are not Valor Police, but those who pretend are an insult to those of who struggle with that past. And a count of military that flew over Nam bombing etc. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I was there in 1964-1965 then 1967-1968 then my last tour was 1971-1972. VA's Veteran Population Projection Model estimates that there are approximately 6.1 million living Vietnam War-era Veterans, as of 2021. Spot on. Bien Hoa & Phu Bai, two badly polluted areas! How many veterans die each day? - Answers But to me, Nam is my whole universe i.e. My mom had all three sons in the war my twin brother and i were drafted he got combat I got artillery the younger one joined the air force . But a growing army of strangers is. makes no diff, if you were a grunt or cook. How many Vietnam veterans are dying each day? I then did a 12 month tour in RVN in 5th SFG. 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! So it only makes sense that for those very few of the 9+ million in the service during those years so be able to distinguish themselves. I got in about 20 firefights. Check your POW list. 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. i spent three years to and fro, with about 2-3 months in vietnam on every trip. Vietnam Veterans are dieing faster than World War Two veterans do to Agent Orange contamination . Its possible that the youngest living Vietnam Veteran may be 61 years old. The trucks grill was a few feet away should I crawl underneath or try to hide in the nearby jungle? I was drafted in Sep 1966, went to Vietnam Aug 67-Aug 68, and Im 75 until Oct. Everyone did their assigned job; some just got better assignments. I was the first male born to the Puccetti family after his death, so my parents received permission to name their son after Dante. And your comment about Agent Orange shows that you have no understanding of how the chemical poisoned everyone who set foot in Vietnam. Who is the oldest living Vietnam veteran? Finally got all the right stuff together; received benefits couple months ago. Everyone that served and was in combat which means they were in the line of fire (received it and returned it in some form or fashion) deal with their dark side in various ways. A few times Id meet a group of guys claiming they were all Nam Vets. It was difficult for me to move. For the are all Vietnam Vetersns.I was stationed. He was shot nine times, while I received the tenth bullet from the ten holes in the windshield. Helicopter Units and losses in the Vietnam War, The Story behind the famous Saigon Execution Photo, https://open.spotify.com/show/5Th7BCpIKDE1hVTqNL3u0Q. Number who served in country and number who served DURING the Vietnam War regardless of where they were deployed. The article states that The youngest Vietnam Veteran is aged in the late 60s today. All I know is that Im a Vietnam Combat Vet. 2500 to 3000 US Air Force troops stationed in Guam, Thailand, and other countries that were involved in the Vietnam War effort. We did what we felt needed doing. 15 of us REMFs were surrounded by the 33rd NVA June 13 1970. Tough and crazy. There was a huge difference between the merchant ships i sailed on, no passengers, and vessels like usns geiger. So, nearly 300,000 over the 14 years of their operations, a far cry above the 2500-3000 referenced in the article. When were the last Vietnam POWs released? Jorge Otero Barreto. The fear returned, as I knew he was of small stature. It is estimated that there are around 610,000 surviving Vietnam War veterans as of 2023. ARP. none more than the ERA Vets. 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. The leading cause of preventable death among US military casualties in the Vietnam War was exsanguination from extremity wounds. How many Nam Vets die per day is what??? - Leatherneck.com I agree with the conclusion taken by the Website Admin. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. after spending 1968 with 3/25 0f 2nd field forces and 1970 with the 1/12 cav. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. I was at 6 different LZs from Aug 67-Aug 68, with a 4th Medical Battalion aid station (D Company), and I never heard of a fuck you lizard. Learn something new everyday. it eas a very loud high pitched, not human and the sound was fuck you. (1st time to operate a river boat 2nd time to evacuate injured Marines. Im sorry I did. What was the cause of preventable deaths in the Vietnam War? 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. A few people were killed. How many Korean War veterans are still alive? 109, 000 died in the service during this period. It was an incredibly tumultuous time in US hi >, It poses more confusion about what constitutes a Vietnam Vet! wounded evaced) then Am 3/21 196th LIB. 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. 58,184 died in the combat zone or from combat wounds. 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. Of the 2.7 million men and women who served in land forces in Vietnam, only about 600,000 are still alive. was i a veteran? We all figured it was a Combat death. 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. And though did not serve in actual combat, as you describe it, we were shot at & mortared on occasion. In my book, they are all Vietnam Vets, just like the guys back home who never went overseas are WWII or WWI veterans. 997 soldiers997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam . Excellent questions. I always felt this was the maximal danger of the trip. Alternatively, to transfigure my destiny. A veteran of the Vietnam War is a person who PARTICIPATED in the Vietnam War. As I moved my right hand to change gears, it just blew apart, as red blood and parts of my hand flew everywhere instantaneously, but in slow motion I seemingly was catapulted onto some parallel universe. 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam. My number one issue is running into a FAKE. What report or reference confirms it? best to all. 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. As a child I knew several WWII veterans. BAM! 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. This is a reasonable number but you get very different notions of the death rate when you compare 800,000 to 2.7 million versus 800,000 out of 9.2 million. Combat Vets and Non Combat Vets. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. What is the average age of Vietnam veteran in 2021? I was a REMF but was on my 4th pair of boots. What numbers do the VA have? Age: 78. If you have any doubts, take a closer look at your DD-214. Im sure that you all know that claiming to be a VFWar when you are not is a federal crime with severe legal penalties. I left the Ville at 3:00pm. The oldest living Vietnam War veteran is believed to be a man named Larrivee Ronald A , who was born in Feb, 24, 1935. 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. 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. Only military remaining were Marines at the Embassy. Those of us on the battlefield who bled and many died would take issue with your opinion. My whole essence was involved it the quest of one more heartbeat, one more breath, one more gasp of pain averting energy, one moment at a time. I to served two tours 67-68 and 69-70,first with 1st of 8th cav. It was also projected that, from here, 138,000 Vietnam veterans are expected to die each year. ooops !!!! (52. years later) All with the 3rd Brigade, 82nd Air Borne Division. Lying on my back in the underbrush, watching the blue sky, bleeding on the jungle floor alone. But the 23 months I spent doing my duty as outlined our government to assure you had a way to be resupplied means I, and those like me, am a Vietnam Veteran. Agent Orange was sprayed on the Jungle areas, and Melathion (Insecticide) was sprayed on Base Camps.