Aint this fun? We grunts do hold chopper crews in the highest regard! 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. Good for him! How many Vietnam veterans are dying each day? Not sure what to think about the article. They wore the Vietnam Service Medal. However I know many many who have died these past 55 years & 6 months since the Battle of Soui Tre March 21, 1967 and I know what is a combat veteran. In January 1945, the Bn was attached to the 3d Infantry Division near the Colmar Pocket, south of The Bulge. What qualifies you as a viet Nam vet would be if you stepped foot on the soil. Here are two additional sources of information (added 9-3-2022) updated in 2021: https://www.americanwarlibrary.com/personnel/vietvet.htmhttps://news.va.gov/89450/vietnam-war-veterans-honoring-served-memorial-day-2021/. Im 71 and waiting to see if Ill be the last one standing. Vietnam era vets are not the same as Vietnam vets, but they are important. I was there in 69-71 also sprayed Im 74, inlisted 1968 spent 2 tours in Vietnam Im now 73, Comments left by my fellow Vietnam vets are very useful. Around 2.7 million troops were stationed in Vietnam either on land, within its airspace, or in its waters. if you slept in the same bed more than 4 nights a week you were a REMF doesnt make you a abad guy but you are a remf. We all had a job to do. I was C 3/17 Air Cav. Vietnam War Veterans, and honoring all who served: Memorial Day 2021 I knew what my death would mean to my mother, my father, and the rest of my family and friends. i said once if you walked , you worked. The VVA Veteran boils it down to a totally different conclusion that the American War Library drew. 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. 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. What other conclusions have been made about the percentage of Vietnam veterans who are still alive? There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone. Other than guard duty i was not in combat but the perimeter at Long Binh was regular defoliated and we experienced rocket and mortar attacks. So the vets that actually saw combat numbers are swelled by the rear echelon members to 600,000. yet there were millions that signed up or were drafted. Scavenger said you had to be fired on in viet nam to be a veteran. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Frantically searching to find that one resource in my spirit to survive. BAM! i do not remember the moss but the went on quite a while. Hundreds of Vietnam vets infected by a slow-killing parasite - NBC News No reflection on your daily activities, just a friendly piece of information. I agree with the conclusion taken by the Website Admin. (Mar 1969-Sep 70) 2/23, 196 LIB & 1/23 MP Co, 11 LIB, AMERICAL DIV. The debate depends on only two numbers. This part of Pleiku Province is a combination of mountains, triple to single canopy jungle and/or open valleys. He arrived on Yankee Station, Vietnam in early May, 1972 when he was still 17 years of age. No, Wildaboro was gone, and AK-47s and B-40 rockets were sapper armaments Later, I read in a letter that Sp.4 Donnon F. Porier grabbed the M-60 machinegun, risking his life, and ran down the hillside rushing to the ambush site. Helicopter crewmen did not receive the CIB, but they fought every day. (Crew Chief 1970-71) 25 AVN 25 INF (1971-72) C/16 CAV. But a growing army of strangers is. when we carried ordnance we had to accept 50 cal fire from the shore on the way to saigon. Learn something new everyday. Having served two tours on the ground, as they say, I find it depressing. These are numbers never heard before & I would not include those before the advisers were sent over in the early/mid 60s. The youngest Vietnam Veteran is aged in the late 60s today with life expectances estimated at 86 years old (for normal people). 3rd Brigade 4th ID attached to the 25th ID 111.40 & 112.40 later these became 11B.40 & 11C.40. remember) there will likely be a debate as to how 610,000 figure is more accurate., NYT was referring to VN Era Veterans. I agree with the rest of your post, and so did the Army. I agree Vietnam vets are fewer. 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. 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. The oldest living Vietnam War veteran is believed to be a man named Larrivee Ronald A , who was born in Feb, 24, 1935. More than 300,000 Veterans were wounded during the Vietnam War. The first US advisors that I can find evidence of arrived in country in 1955. There is a statistic that has been widely quoted in the veteran community that highlights an estimated 22 veterans a day are committing suicide. My government murdered me. Clearly, the New York Times is referring to Vietnam-era veterans, not Vietnam veterans. Not 499 days between dec 67 & april 68? I was on a boat floating up and down rivers for 19 months. 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. The definition of Combat Veteran is NOT if you have a CIB. I only spent one overnighter. Exhausted! Rear echelon? Interestingly, the research concludes that Vietnam veterans seem to be dying at a similar rate to World War II veterans. Often cited as the last verified American POW from the Vietnam War, Garwood was taken to North Vietnam in 1969, and reportedly was released in 1973 along with the other U.S. POWs as part of the Paris Peace Accords. IF you didnt get any extra pay better have a good excuse .like to hear it. and US, 7 Valuable Life Lessons My Navy Dad Taught Me, Understanding The Five Branches of The Military, 3 Things That Could Happen To the Military in a Recession. How Many Vietnam Veterans Are Still Alive In 2022? - CLJ If true, 390 VN vets die a day. This battle resulted in the loss of 13 Marines (10 in combat, 3 were left behind and executed by the Khmer Rouge, 2 Navy Corpsmen, and 3 Air Force pilots. If you were shot at, in an incoming rocket attack, had to protect during a ground attack, you could bleed and die, you were in Combat. I remember a distorted image of reality. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The last three I knew had lost a lot of weight, two had each lost a lung. PDF Sobering Statistics Concerning Vietnam Vets As of April 2016 I asked him to give me his number, he did not put a number on it just that he was Not. was i a veteran? I served in 67 69 & had stroke in 93 then heart attack in 2002 with 2d in 2004 . Approx 58,000 in Vietnam. and by the way, they never got benefits after their time at sea. ******************************************************* I know full well it takes many, many hands to make the infantry function but like you saidclaim your time. The average age of our Vietnam veterans is now over 70. i do not denigrate their service or define them as inferior. no , i could not quit. . Youll have to look for it, but a long time ago I posted the most recent VA numbers I could find. I could type and did all the reports. This accurate accounting gives us persepective on the cost of current and future wars. Lost my Vet to Leukemia just after this count was done. If they reply that they do not talk about their experiences They are not Combat Veterans maybe not even Vietnam Veterans. I was on the initial invasion into Cambodia, that battle was 15 REMFS against 300 NVA> The next day we went in with the 25th infantry. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Estimating the number of suicides among Vietnam veterans Unconfirmed reports that 50,000 or more Vietnam veterans have committed suicide give the impression that these veterans are at exceedingly high risk of suicide compared with other veterans and nonveterans of the same age. 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 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. Apparently Infantry is the operative word. So that means probably from 700,000 to 800,000 of us are still alive. It was an incredibly tumultuous time in US history and, for that reason, its unclear how many people actually served during this struggle. But that number will probably go down by at least 50,000 to 75,000 per year. Vietnam Veterans by State 2023 - worldpopulationreview.com I do not know how many others served with us. 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. NOTE: in 2010 Census 13.2 Million claimed to be Vietnam Veterans. may we all be the last man standing. Most likely Les considers those who werent in-country as REMFs. Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. Peter: 67N2F, 119th AHC 68-69. two weeksOver 10% of Vietnam casualties were helicopter crew members, and most of those were the door gunners that protected the helicopter, its crew, and its transports, from their exposed position. Please do your own due diligence on the American War Library before citing them on ANYTHING, ever. waited and waited for our slot in port. However, any veteran who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, is presumed by the VA to have been exposed to Agent Orange. Age: 78. This included Westmorland and Abrahms. Tell it like it is. Each averaged 2500-3000 personnel on a yearly rotating bases, groaning and shrinking based on the missions being conducted. when we carried peaches and beer, no problem. Finally got all the right stuff together; received benefits couple months ago. Antonia is a firm believer in the power of education, and she is passionate about helping students reach their full potential. by your definition, cia personal in civilian clothes were not veterans. How Many B 52S Were Shot Down During The Vietnam War? His combat medal was an Air Medal. Canandaigua, NY There are questions like this that are hard to answere as being true boots on ground. 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. I managed to stand again, stepped, and hurled myself into the jungle. 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. I believe you mean the malaria pill was once a week. Based on data through September 30, 2020, VetPop2020 provides a projection of the Veteran population at each fiscal year end from 2020 to 2050. Jorge Otero Barreto. We all bleed red. How many veterans die each Day - Latest Servey 2022 - Happy Veterans They used the same aircraft, and there was anything left in the aircraft, whatever the spray for the day was added, so you got both. RVN. For the are all Vietnam Vetersns.I was stationed. I remember that the minute we came around the coast and headed up for Vung Tau, as merchantmen on American Export LInes ships, we got a sizeable war zone increase in our pay. I was out of my earthly shell. I was there in 1964-1965 then 1967-1968 then my last tour was 1971-1972. Their names are at least on the wall thanks to the efforts of many service organizations and Congress. We were near AF ranch hand ops and many of my buds still alive from then have the cancers, diabetes, amputations and such. Without fanfare or much recognition. As anti-war vet , all these years later, I respect yall and your stories. For US Vietnam Veterans it's about 66 years vs just about 78 years for non vets. But the bad news is that Charlie knew exactly where they were . 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. I pulled up to the local tailor shop to fix some of my fatigue pants. The article states that The youngest Vietnam Veteran is aged in the late 60s today. 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 oldest living Vietnam War veteran is believed to be a man named Larrivee Ronald A, who was born in Feb, 24, 1935. (There are other locations and occupations also, but lets not muddy the waters in this paragraph.) Considering the kind of information available about the death rate of WWII and Korean War Veterans, publicized information indicates that in the last 14 years Vietnam veterans are dying at the rate of 390 deaths each day. Antonia Leonard is an education expert who has dedicated her life to helping students achieve their academic goals. I dont remember the exact number but remember it was over 500,000 in country and the number was the most ever at one time as the article was about Nixon beginning troop withdrawals that would continue until 1975. at DaNang If we came in they set up tents to sleep in and had a big blivet bag for a shower. Damn it, government could have sent anyone serving at any time to Vietnam. I am a Viet Nam combat veteran. She has worked in schools all over the world, and has developed groundbreaking curricula that have helped countless students excel. From what my son in law says (Apache gunship pilot) they also flew a tremendous number of combat hours everyday, And I know from what few stories he did tell (hes now deceased) they often had mortar rounds incoming. Each BUFF had 6 crewmen onboard. it is branded on you. 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. I understand that they only got about 300,000 of us, but that is a huge, decent number, considering how cynical we Nam vets can be about studies. Last I heard the database indicated that the Median Age of Death of Nam vets was reached at least three or four years ago. In the highlands we had to take one every day in addition to the once a week pill. Bob, Is It Hard To Get Into Kent State University? I started this post a year ago, it was a simple question. i was not a supporter of the war but i did my job. 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. My new Iraq War novel, Three Wise Men should ne out sometime next year, I was at Camp Eagle, and worked in Production Control. Served most of my time on LZ Professional. It could be a Yard, Don Porier, or a sapper. I went into shock and lost conscienceless. Or is this a total number of vets with all the other countries that supported us . I knew what life in-store for me in my recovery had- years of pain and disabilities while I waited for my next adventure. Things that they did not tell you. Excellent questions. Check out this post and see if you can figure this > out. How many WWII veterans die each day? Pop, POP POP. I also had assisted the FAA in 3 fatal Aircraft accidents. It served my pain well as a lifeless, mean spirited dark soul destroying everything in front of me. The average ww ii vet was in combat 10 to 12 days. But often, it does. Helicopter Units and losses in the Vietnam War, The Story behind the famous Saigon Execution Photo, https://open.spotify.com/show/5Th7BCpIKDE1hVTqNL3u0Q. An overwhelming number are buried by family and friends. I was with 4th Med Bn. 1968, 69. all of the participants in this thread are veterans. scipione@geneseo.edu How many Vietnam veterans are still missing? Fact: Everyone who served during the Vietnam War are classified as Vietnam Era Vets. 2500 to 3000 US Air Force troops stationed in Guam, Thailand, and other countries that were involved in the Vietnam War effort. NO REAL VET FAILS TO REMEMBER HIS MOS. Our med company was on 6 different LZs during the year I was with them, supporting the 3rd Bde 4th ID. How many Korean War veterans are still alive? Those who do not remember where in country they were, WHERE NOT THERE.. Or suffering from a complete mental memory disorder. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. 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. 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. He was a Private First Class who was killed in action in the Second World War. FEAR Part of the SOP on the Plei Do Lim (PDL) Flash Outpost (OP) was to make a supply run every four days back to the survey section at HHB. He was shot nine times, while I received the tenth bullet from the ten holes in the windshield. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. ago. I flew with the 220th Aviation Company (Cat Killers) in 1968. Through my blood-covered face, I could not distinguish whom! Alternatively, to transfigure my destiny. He is absolutely obsessed with military and different men who have served, The definitive statistics come from the VAs Million Vietnam Vets database, which will continue until we are all gone. Who is the oldest living Vietnam veteran? 2.8 million tour because some guys just couldnt get enough! Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Change). That's 390 per day. I had several Canadians in our Company in Vietnam. I would not believe the NYT. Besides, who says anyone can claim this status or that status just because. Serving during the TET offensive and time after. 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. 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. Arrived in country March 1969, subsequently assigned to B Battery 1/14 Arty. 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. YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. Last troops departed on 29 March, 1973. I didnt know that. It revises and replaces the estimate and projection in VetPop2018. The list of cancers gets longer with each passing year. Agent Orange is a Herdicide. The total number of is estimated at 2.8 million US veterans who were exposed to the poisonous chemical while serving and later died. 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. Vietnam Veterans are dieing faster than World War Two veterans do to Agent Orange contamination . **********************************************************. The Vietnam Veterans of America have cited that they will remain an organization until last man standing. Yes. But I didnt beat him he just left. Thats sad and should stop. I do not, however, have a CIB. 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.. Last one left was about 15 to 20 years ago. Now 69 years/old. Hometown: New York City. Almost 1500 died their last day. All who served In Country and the those outlying areas in support should be considered Vietnam Vets. This trip always was a concern, because I would be in a vulnerable condition in Indian Country with only two surveyors alone in a ton jeep. Tough and crazy. Everything slowed down, and I was alone, above my body that was thrown into the dashboard hitting with my left side. I used this experience and we cut down the Helicopter replacement time from about 2 1/2 weeks to 2 to 4 days. And i can tell you , we made a lot of money. Ah. When we DEROSed we were given 6-8 pills to continue taking them every week. ARP. What percentage of Vietnam vets are still alive? But Officers do not get CIBs But for those Cav troopers who know I have my Spurs. My husband was also a door gunner (191st AHC gunship) but he was there later than you (70-71). I don't know about you guys, but it kind of gives me the chills. Plane had 4 engines and rarely got shot up although we did have a pilot get a 50 in the leg. they sucked. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". fired on coming up river, a few other things. John, 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. OH, SHIT- I heard the impact of the Rocket Propelled grenade (RPG) to my left; `this is it, I yelled! About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War Veterans (or 12%) have PTSD in a given year.
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