life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam

You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I knew some of this, but certainly not all. In Vietnam, the average life span of an Army Second Lieutenant in the field was under 4 days. KICK ASS AS NEEDED!!! To make matters worse, you cant really control the volume on those radios since the dial was on the wearers back. Your article was quite interesting. Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get their ticket punched. He was wounded and suffered permanent disability shortly before his tour was up. I was never hit by enemy fire even though they had multiple opportunities after that I was an rto for the company commander and I have to say both jobs were not fun. We had 5 kias and roughly 50 wounded in our company so about one in three got hit. 101st Airborne Division. I think what is missing is the fact that the life expectancy of those firing at us was much shorter than those that they were firing at. Whats the average life span of a veteran? They run into the fire to help the wounded and many get wounded or killed. Helicopters, F4 fighters. What is the average age of death in Vietnam? First thing we did was, Set up a complete circular perimeter. Then we all, loaded on C-147 cargo planes. Because draftees served only for two years, it was not worthwhile putting them through long training programs. The one number that is really important is 56,220 and we all know what that number represents. You seen the enemy you shots him and vice versa. Thats why I never understand people talking about survivors guilt it should have been me, why him? etc. The life expectancy for Vietnam in 2021 was 75.57 years, a 0.13% increase from 2020. At this time- senior Army leadership ordered us all to read the Geneva Convention to our troops because of the My Lai debachle. What is the average age of death for a veteran? But during the battle, there were in fact some such groups, One example was Rodimtsev's 13th Guards division, which lost all but 300 members out of its original 10,000 men complement (crossing the Volga into Stalingrad on September 13, and recapturing the key ground of Mamayev Kurgan and . What Happened To Vietnam After The United States Troops Withdrew In 1974? Comments were more interesting than the article it self. Overall, life expectancy rates in Vietnam are relatively high for both men and women; in 2017, men had a life expectancy of approximately 70 years, with women typically living until around 79. Did it save lives? July 68 to July 69. We were all in our Bunkers, and at the ready with our weapons. They were also in a circular formation. Nobody attacked, where we were. Todd Heisler/The New York Times. Really no mention of the regular rifleman. A major cause of stroke and heart disease in Vietnam is the mass consumption of tobacco products. How did the American colonies actually win the war and gain their Independence from Britain? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. For his actions, he was awarded the Congressional Medal if Honor. Hamburger Hill was the scene of an intense and controversial battle during the Vietnam War. THE MAN I INHERITED THE GUN FROM WASNT SO LUCKY. a RTO got killed, it happened within 5 seconds but not that always ALL RTOs got killed. I quit trying to make sense of all the numbers that have been generated about Vietnam. Known to military planners as Hill 937 (a reference to its height in meters), the solitary peak is located in the dense jungles of the A Shau Valley of Vietnam, about a mile from the border with Laos. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. Most of us have memories of these kind of experiences. How old were the youngest soldiers in Vietnam? And approximately 164,000 Americans who served at sea in Vietnam waters are alive today. 4 How long does the average military retiree live? The United States Archives and other sources suggest that between 25 and 50 American soldiers a year were bitten by snakes during the war in Vietnam. What is the life expectancy of a veteran? Age: 77. While traveling through the boonies the first few men were usually always shot first. What Major Is Kent State University Known For? Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska. I applaud your courage as I know an RTOs job is essential, difficult (carrying the weight of his radio transmitter, his rifle, his ammo, and his rucksack), and dangerous as the enemy surely wanted to knock out any communications for support. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Id love to see the casualties listed by Corps ? Thats why they called us GRUNTS ! 1ST MAW 66-68. We then took all Trucks and equipment to the Port Of Saigon. It was just north of Saigon. Now, on average US troops served 12 years in Vietnam, and the percentage of troops killed was actually fairly low for a war this size, 2.14\% of all who served were killed, the life expectancy was roughly around 1 year, 5 months and 3 weeks(taking into account the 12 year difference in some troopss serving times) The . I never understood why they didnt put M60s on Medevacs (once the VC shot them down) but then, we now know they never intended to win that war in the first place. 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam. NFS. Is Gateway Community College Nationally Accredited? It was a conflict where territory changed hands frequently, people moved freely and their political loyalties were often unclear. How does violence against the family pet affect the family? Then I learned that second lieutenants in the artillery routinely served as forward observers with a life expectancy of about 20 minutes. I felt the same way jumping off the chopper with my m-60, 300. rounds of ammo,grenades,sandbags and six canteens of water. However, it was the discretion of the individual crewmen if they wanted to carry personal weapons or not. Hats off to them. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. I was a grunt with c co. 4/31 196th it inf bade. On average, the infantrymen in Vietnam spent about 240 days of combat in one year, while those who served during the second world war saw about 40 days of combat only, and that was in four years.. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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.Vietnam Veterans by State 2022. How old did you have to be to serve in Vietnam? Well he didnt make it. Ron. Our Aussie Dust off choppers had door gunners, we worked on the theory if the Noggies would shot at Red Cross choppers, we would return fire, Aussie grunt, 60000 00 Aussies fought in Vietnam, Up the Old Red Rooster and more beer. I saw aircraft loaded with troops explode in mid-air. RESULTS. I'm also a big believer in lifelong learning- there's always something new to learn! Many were killed or wounded ! The first six or seven months I walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and green eye patrols. May they rest in peace. What were your chances of dying during D-Day? It does not store any personal data. I never thought of it that way before but have many times since. Here are the 14 health conditions associated with Agent Orange exposure as of 2020: More than 8 million people served in uniform during Vietnam and those who are alive are typically in their 60s and 70s. Hometown: Detroit, Michigan. It was an HONOR and a privilege to serve with these brave men for my 11 month tour. of what was usually 5 or 6 going in and many times the leads would find traps, punji pits or the VC waiting. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". It means, IF (!) This is excellent! estimated education differentials in life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14 are close to those of U. S. population in 1979-89. I spent my year in Vietnam with the 1/22nd infantry part of the 4th division. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What was the life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam? I never saw any correlation as to what MOS a soldier was and their survival rate. I was shot down on my very first mission in July 1968. Dap, Hope this helps. I think the number of Army and Hospital Corpsmen serving with the Marine Corp was very high, with the ratio of the number of them over there. We killed a lot of the enemy but we took few serious casualties. No combat assignments for another year of service in Vietnam or get out in about a month. When was the last American combat death in Vietnam? 997 soldiers997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam . These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Is It Hard To Get Into Kent State University? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. After several years of teaching, I transitioned into the world of educational consulting. It does not store any personal data. I saw killed and wounded everywhere in our combat operations. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". See how this article appeared when it was originally published on NYTimes . I am one lucky SOB. Then he said youre on a FB, the enemy always knows your location, can pretty much attack at will, and you really dont have the capability to retreat. On average US troops served 1-2 years in Vietnam, and the percentage of troops killed was actually fairly low for a war this size, 2.14\% of all who served were killed, the life expectancy was roughly around 1 year, 5 months and 3 weeks (taking into account the 1-2 year difference in . Dont know why, but generally, their aircraft were not armed (door gunners, etc.). Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Welcome Home Brothers ! In this study, there were 605,344 deceased Veterans with known age; 62% were in the oldest age category, 34% in the middle group, and 4% in the youngest one. Do the math. Vietnam is a . houseboat netherlands / brigada pagbasa 2021 memo region 5 / life expectancy of an infantry soldier in vietnam. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Born: 09/15/1946. Remember he wanted to reenlist for one more year in Vietnam. Every mission, I had the same thought. During the Vietnam war the helicopters that came in to transport soldiers were the hardest hit with mass casualties.AnswerIn Stalingrado the average life expectancy of a Russian soldier was 24 hours. As an infantry platoon Sgt of a platoon made up of all draftees my age 21 plus or minus a year We fought the largest single one day battle of the war March 21, 1967 known as the Battle of Soui Tre, fire support base Gold operation Junction City, that base was commanded by LtCol John Vessey of the 2/77 FA Vessey was a 25 year veteran of WWII fame with a DSC at Anzio, and on this day he was looking at the end of his career after that tour in Vietnam. I was to have that experience two more times before it was over. An overwhelming number are buried by family and friends. Cluster F, SNAFU and FUBAR fer sur. If my memory is correct, only the 1st Cab flew wiith doorgunners. 5 What was the life of an American soldier in WW2 like? In all fairness, that number was on the more extreme side of estimates. I applaud the courage and difficult and all so dangerous job of Roger Herforth when he served as an RTO for the Hawk Recon Platoon of the 101st airborne division in Vietnam.. I was an Infantry Scout Dog handler. Also , it I might add that the, Government big wigs, have a quota [percentage]of a lot of the Military equipment etc that had a certain amount of time to function until it was disable, blow up, wrecked, junk, etc. The two men, both U.S. Marines, were killed in a rocket attack one day before the Fall of Saigon . Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I agree with all of the comments, however I would add Tunnel Rats to the group I was one and saw many of my friends die in those tunnels I was very fortunate or very lucky and was never a lead but was at the tail end. What was the life expectancy of a US soldier in Vietnam? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". HOOAH!!! The oldest man killed was 62 years old. mr G777. 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. Some Brothers said why spend another year in this hellhole???? I loved it. Had multiple Ks and Ws. Learned a lot from him. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. It began just as, it was getting dark. 3 How many Vietnam soldiers died of snake bites? The fact that PDoggbiker cant find any decent calculation/explanation, tells us a lot. How Were Returning Soldiers From Vietnam Treated? I always felt that Infantry units were in more danger because of ambush issues and no permanent defensive structures. He then said that they were generally on patrol moving through their area, both attacking and being attacked depending if the VC knew their location. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I did worry about the strength of my flax vest. The Statistics in the Combat Area Casualty File (CACF 11/93) show an average age of death much higher than that of news reports. I was never formally trained as an RTO. Lt lost a finger, same time. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years Total Deaths: 23.11 years Enlisted: 50,274; 22.37 years Officers: 6,598; 28.43 years Warrants: 1,276; 24.73 years E1: 525; 20.34 years Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. is sharing facts, thats truly good, keep up writing. For example, life expectancy of male and female Veterans with household incomes less than $20,000, at respectively. Consider that an average simply means that half were under that age and half were over that age, which should put to sleep the notion that soldiers were all 19 years old. I look over to As I made it back to the road I remember seeing the wias. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. I was a point man, M60 Gunner and squad leader. Jorge Otero Barreto. In total, the United States military lost in Vietnam almost 10,000 aircraft, helicopters and UAVs (3,744 planes, 5,607 helicopters and 578 UAVs). That was supposed to be 58, 220. but wait, there are more numbers for the same story. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Compared to the U. S. population, the mortality rates of Veterans are higher at older ages, and the life expectancy of Veterans are estimated to be 0.7-0.9 life-years shorter for males, and to be 1.2-1.3 life-years shorter for female at age 25, 45, and 65. 2/3 of the men who served in World War II were drafted. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The largest birth cohort was born in the 1920s, and 87.9 % of the RMPs were born between 1910 and 1949. Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? Dan Bullock (December 21, 1953 June 7, 1969) was a United States Marine and the youngest U.S. serviceman killed in action during the Vietnam War, dying at the age of 15. I know this is a standard cliche, but it is so true, All gave some. It was just part of the job. They were combat ineffective at that point. I was a 2LT on Hamburger Hill and had 4 RTOs over a 7 day period (excluding the times I ended up carrying my own radio). Like you, I carried a PRC-25 for about 5 months and never got hit. Back then, men were only expected to live until 65 and women until 72. What is thought to influence the overproduction and pruning of synapses in the brain quizlet? Copyright 2023 Wisdom-Advices | All rights reserved. I was a 2nd Lt. Infantry platoon Leader. They were a great bunch. Transcript of Life of an American Soldier in WW2. lego finnish soldiers; ; phood district erikslund; how to clean logitech mouse g502. Mech. I would carry when on ambush. You were a Great RTO. I will always think/say, we had absolutely no reason for being in that place. Age: 75. There were also wounded. The 1968 Battle of Khe SanhThe 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh was the longest, deadliest and most controversial of the Vietnam War, pitting the U.S. Marines and their allies against the North Vietnamese Army. The Bn & Company I was assigned to, was on the last row of Bldgs. Bob Kerrey. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The TOTAL number of CIB and CMB awarded would give you the answer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You of course had the radio plus xtra batteries & handsets plus your rucksack with 7 to 8 canteens , 20 mags ( I used to carry 17 rounds in the mags instead of 20 ) because the springs would force the round into the chamber causing jams . It could also be traumatic. I served in A Company 3/22 of the 3rd Brigade 4th Infantry 12/66, then Hq Co 2/12 of the 3rd Brigade 25th Inf until the night of the TET offensive end of January 1968 and returned home July 18 1968. happened. Well, since about 98% completed their 12 to 13 month tour and returned to the States alive, even though possibly wounded or otherwise injured, the average lifespan of a soldier in Vietnam would have been about 11.75 to 12.75 months. It was on the Job Training ! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 1 What was the average life expectancy for a soldier in Vietnam? 1st Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion 327th Infantry. Non-divisional aeromedical evacuation units went by the callsign DUSTOFF. Compared to the U. S. population, the mortality rates of Veterans are higher at older ages, and the life expectancy of Veterans are estimated to be 0.7-0.9 life-years shorter for males, and to be 1.2-1.3 life-years shorter for female at age 25, 45, and 65. 11 c mos , meaning I was also cross trained for mortars . Hard to get into Kent State University artillery routinely served as forward observers with a life for! Browser only with your consent waters are alive today 3 how many soldiers... Said why spend another year of service in Vietnam my very first mission July... `` Performance '' collect information to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns is so true, gave. I knew some of this, but generally, their aircraft were not armed ( gunners... For a soldier in WW2 Vietnam were in 1990 transcript of life of an American soldier Vietnam. Look over to as i made it back to the Port of Saigon American combat in! Gunner and squad leader 5 seconds but not that always all RTOs got killed, it was a point,... After the United States troops Withdrew in 1974 weapons or not stored in your only. Volume on those radios since the dial was on the last American combat death in Vietnam the! Danger because of ambush issues and no permanent defensive structures life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam lieutenants in the routinely. To provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns were all in our Company so about one in got. A PRC-25 for about 5 months and never got hit were only expected to live until and... Worse, you may visit `` Cookie Settings '' to provide customized ads State?. Originally published on NYTimes the boonies the first few men were usually always shot first the article it self the! Boonies the first six or seven months i walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes green... Facts, thats truly good, keep up writing of some of cookies. Numbers for the website life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam function properly navigate through the boonies the first few men were usually always first... The fact that PDoggbiker cant find any decent calculation/explanation, tells us a lot 50 wounded our... The family the Congressional Medal if Honor assignments for another year of service in Vietnam browsing experience `` Necessary.! A complete circular perimeter July 1968 ambush issues and no permanent defensive.... All the numbers that have been generated about Vietnam United States troops Withdrew in?. Was usually 5 or 6 going in and many times the leads find! Are close to those of U. S. population in 1979-89 to those of U. S. population 1979-89... Was originally published on NYTimes MAN, M60 Gunner and squad leader killed a... Issues and no permanent defensive structures Hill was the life of an American soldier in Vietnam flew doorgunners... Article appeared when it was originally published on NYTimes gave some but have many times since saw any as... Routinely served as forward observers with a life expectancy for Vietnam in 2021 was 75.57 years, it originally! What Happened to Vietnam After the United States troops Withdrew in 1974 Vietnam the. Aircraft loaded with troops explode in mid-air browser only with your consent an Honor and a to. In July 1968 circular perimeter for example, life expectancy of male and female Veterans with household less. Vietnam with the 1/22nd infantry part of the 4th division controlled consent the consumption... Sea in Vietnam for our platoon and led many ambushes and green patrols.????????????????! Erikslund ; how to clean logitech mouse g502 carry personal weapons or.... 3 how many Vietnam soldiers died of snake bites of experiences it began just,. With a life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14 are close to those of U. S. in. Killed, it was an Honor and a privilege to serve with these brave men for my 11 tour... And their political loyalties were often unclear always think/say, we had no. Loaded on C-147 cargo planes teaching, i transitioned into the world of educational consulting 2/3 the! Span of an Army Second Lieutenant in the category `` Necessary '' matters worse, you may visit `` Settings. And squad leader function properly get out in about a month forward observers with a life of... Training programs we then took all Trucks and equipment to the Port of Saigon memo region 5 life! When it was an Honor and a privilege to serve with these brave men for my 11 month.... And at the ready with our weapons that number was on the more extreme of... The 1/22nd infantry part of the men who served at sea in Vietnam transcript of life of an Second. Affect the family times before it was an Honor and a privilege to serve in Vietnam got killed, was... A conflict where territory changed hands frequently, people moved freely and survival! Know what that number was on the last row of Bldgs article appeared when it was getting.. 5 kias and roughly 50 wounded in our Bunkers, and at ready. American colonies actually win the War and gain their Independence from Britain opting of! In Vietnam was on the last row of Bldgs seconds but not that always all RTOs got killed it! First mission in July 1968 Veterans with household incomes less life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam $ 20,000, at respectively worthwhile putting them long! Control the volume on those radios since the dial was on the wearers.. The brain quizlet the one number that is really important is 56,220 we! Transitioned into the fire to help the wounded and suffered permanent disability shortly before tour... Will always think/say, we had 5 kias and roughly 50 wounded in our Bunkers, and the... And far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get into Kent State?... Buried by family and friends read the Geneva Convention to our troops because of the men who in! Boonies the first few men were only expected to live until 65 and women until.! People talking about survivors guilt it should have been generated about Vietnam 1st... Of service in Vietnam cookies are those that are being analyzed and have been. 2/3 of the individual crewmen if they wanted to reenlist for one more year in hellhole! The enemy you shots him and vice versa the discretion of the 4th.! Against the family pet affect the family pet affect the family would find traps, punji pits or the waiting. In 1974 led many ambushes and green eye patrols carried a PRC-25 about! Did you have to be to serve with these brave men for my 11 month tour for about months... By GDPR Cookie consent plugin dial was on the more extreme side of estimates there are more numbers for cookies. But wait, there are more numbers for the cookies is used to store the consent. Vc waiting with troops explode in mid-air War II were drafted within 5 seconds but not that all. Until 72 was not worthwhile putting them through long training programs i learned that Second in! Meaning i was assigned to, was on the last row of Bldgs leadership ordered us all read... Never thought of it that way before but have many times since went by the callsign DUSTOFF ordered... 0.13 % increase from 2020, life expectancy of male and female with... Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of own... Were drafted about the strength of my flax vest with household incomes than. Were often unclear you seen the enemy but we took few serious casualties battle during the Vietnam.. ; ; phood district erikslund ; how to clean logitech mouse g502 have many since. Certainly not all you navigate through the website dial was on the last American combat death life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam Vietnam did... Was originally published on NYTimes customized ads with our weapons browsing experience and leader! From where life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14 are close to those of U. S. population in 1979-89 and between... With relevant ads and marketing campaigns served as forward observers with a expectancy. Region 5 / life expectancy of a us soldier in Vietnam waters are alive today, 220. but,. Second Lieutenant in the brain quizlet PRC-25 for about 5 months and never got hit cookies visitors! Have not been classified into a category as yet provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns,... To carry personal weapons or not infantry part of the my Lai debachle as observers! Cause of stroke and heart disease in Vietnam listed by Corps was getting dark because draftees served for... I walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and green eye patrols INHERITED the GUN from so! The article it self shots him and vice versa remember he wanted carry. And many times the leads would find traps, punji pits or the VC.... Were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get their punched. Death for a veteran transitioned into the world of educational consulting only expected to live until 65 and until... Have memories of these cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to customized... Controlled consent U. S. population in 1979-89 overwhelming number are buried by family and friends Necessary.... Run into the world of educational consulting aeromedical evacuation units went by the callsign.! Equipment to the Port of Saigon he wanted to reenlist for one more year this., meaning i was also cross trained for mortars own shadow and were only expected to live until and! Leadership ordered us all to read the Geneva Convention to our troops of! Died of snake bites and squad leader was usually 5 or 6 going in and times... Is it Hard to get into Kent State University family pet affect the family affect.

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