It doesnt make any sense statistically/mathematically it is impossible. The deadliest day of the Vietnam War for the U.S. was 31 January at the start of the Tet Offensive when 246 Americans were killed in action.1968 in the Vietnam War. All of the next day, we could see SMOKE from the fire caused by the explosions of the AMMO at, the AMMO DUMP. Lived too tell about it. This needs to be brought before the American people and the Congress. The key may be the word initial since we became more savvy with successive combats and had improved survivability. Thank God I made it. Was a door gunner and crew chief for just shy of 18 months (I extended to get out early). You seen the enemy you shots him and vice versa. 3 How many Vietnam soldiers died of snake bites? The Vietnam vet is one who was assigned within the combat zone of the country and its surrounding waters. The Vietnam conflict was a 360-degree war where any soldier - particularly Americans and Westerners - might encounter attacks, ambushes and booby traps at any place or time. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Before the lottery was implemented in the latter part of the Vietnam conflict, there was no system in place to determine order of call besides the fact that men between the ages of 18 and 26 were vulnerable to being drafted. about two seconds Four good reasons to indulge in cryptocurrency! Found NVA bunker complex. However, it was the discretion of the individual crewmen if they wanted to carry personal weapons or not. 66 out of 100 men were either dead or wounded after 15 minutes. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. As of this date The American War Library estimates that approximately 610,000 Americans who served on land in Vietnam or in the air over Vietnam between 1954 and 1975 are alive today. The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973. 1st Cav, 101st, etc. Often as not he was right beside you with a stolen chicken and a bag of rice. More than 3 million people (including over 58,000 Americans) were killed in the Vietnam War, and more than half of the dead were Vietnamese civilians. 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 31-months in-country was in three Direct Support US Army aviation units, 15TC BN, First Cav, 335TH, Americal and 17TH Cav 101ST ABD65-71In the last battle I was directly involved, LAM SON 719, into Laos, cost army aviation units over 600-helicopters shot down or battle damagedthe NVA were waiting for our SECRET mission in early 71I was glad to go home at battles end, in March 71 , almost unscathed, I was TDY for my absurd third tourTo the point, many ARVN Rangers, airborne and their other best died in Lam Son 719US Army Infantry were forbidden entry to Laos in 71.. the ARVN were massacredand many US Army pilots and crew mambers were KIA & WIAeven MIA. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. I assisted Vessey and Capt Cartwright by helping prepare the Bee Hive Rounds (first time they were ever used), firing 4 rounds at proximity 0 range into a human wave attack on or weak side after 5 hours of relentless attacks on the opposite side of the perimeter Those 4 rounds killed @ 400 enemy soldiers, of the 881 total enemy losss John Vessey later became a 4 Star general and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs appointed by Reagan 1983, and at retirement became Chair of the POW MIA Commission for 14 years, Passing away in August 2016 just 6 months before our 50th Reunion. 2 tour Nam Vet, Free Sample first six chapters of Cherries both Written and Audiobook, Author interview War & Life: Discussions with a Veteran. Not until 1995 did Vietnam release its official estimate of war dead: as many as 2 million civilians on both sides and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. I was a REMF but Ive heard of 05Cs that were stuck out in the boonies on a firebase. aND, mAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! I was an Artillery Forward Observer 13F20 E-5 at that time. Age: 75. Todd Heisler/The New York Times. 6 What is the life expectancy of an Lt in combat? How many Vietnam veterans are still alive in 2022? More than 58,220 American troops died during the course of the Vietnam War, for a death rate of about 1.7%. The average age of the 58,148 killed in Vietnam was 23.11 years (Although 58,169 names are in the Nov. 93 database, only 58,148 have both event date and birth date. They also had a 12 gauge, and a M 79 grenade launcher and M 16. 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 . 1st Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion 327th Infantry. Saw from mostly safe distance almost all the weapons systems that where there used. 10 1/2 months in the bush. Its just (bad) luck, fate, randomness theres no right or wrong, no justice or fairness, no reasoning. Spent my year in a Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID. I saw killed and wounded everywhere in our combat operations. a RTO got killed, it happened within 5 seconds but not that always ALL RTOs got killed. People often reminisce about the decisive victories and suffering defeats of war, but the overwhelming horrors and tragedies of the actual soldiers are often overlooked. 2) by my research, medics suffered 93% casualties with about 33% deaths. Then we all, loaded on C-147 cargo planes. In a strange country scared shitless .I was a minesweeper.My first time out on a mission they put me on the drag line fifty yards from the road which was route 1, Then all hell broke lose waving then I realized they Werent shooting at him only at the In Vietnam, 1 in 400 of the wounded died of their . Back then, men were only expected to live until 65 and women until 72. 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. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. After several years of teaching, I transitioned into the world of educational consulting. When was the last American combat death in Vietnam? If you would like to get a copy, and cant find it, let me know, and I will make sure you get one. What was the life expectancy of a tunnel rat in Vietnam? 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 think convoy truck drivers had one of the most dangerous job. If the enemy was near, we never saw any. Do veterans have a shorter life expectancy? They were located, next to us, in/on Long Bhin Post. Following American soldiers into the line of fire, hoping to prevent them from becoming yet more casualties, were their medics. the life expectancy of a LT in Vietnam in major combat was 16 minutes. The human costs of the long conflict were harsh for all involved. Soldier,this is a wardont forget that, and anytime we are in a fight we will be toughest SOBs in the fight!! Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer, 20 Best free fitness apps for Android devices. 5 How old were Vietnam soldiers when they came back? I look over to 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 . Thats why I never understand people talking about survivors guilt it should have been me, why him? etc. RIght there and the NVA we were usually up against knew this. I never thought of it that way before but have many times since. What was the life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam? 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. 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. 2/3 of the men who served in World War II were drafted. Age: 84. It was on the Job Training ! We took fire all the time and responded. As I made it back to the road I remember seeing the What was the life expectancy of a US soldier in Vietnam? Whats the average life span of a veteran? No trees or anything on the ground. 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. See how this article appeared when it was originally published on NYTimes . What Led To A Cease-Fire Between North Vietnam And American Troops In 1973? Correct. As it was, less than 40 did not need evacuation. The life expectancy of older Veterans is computed using the life expectancy at age 85, from U. S. life tables (6)which are 5.2, 5.4, and 5.7 life-years for male Veterans and of 6.6, 6.7, and 6.8 life-years for female Veterans in years 1980-89, 1990-99, and 2000-14, respectively. Officers also spent a year in country, but only six of those months were in a troop command. May they rest in peace. The current life expectancy for Vietnam in 2022 is 75.67 years, a 0.13% increase from 2021. I never saw any correlation as to what MOS a soldier was and their survival rate. They run into the fire to help the wounded and many get wounded or killed. I was one of the many others I rode river boats in the Mekong Jan 68 to 69. Never knew they had life expectancy stats. Fact: 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. S/F, There were no door gunners on dustoffs. How many US soldiers stayed in Vietnam after the war? Required fields are marked *. As a Huey door gunner, when we left the ground on a mission, I always thought that this mission would be my last! The oldest man killed was 62 years old. 5 What was the life of an American soldier in WW2 like? I know this is a standard cliche, but it is so true, All gave some. Is Sault Ste Marie Ontario a safe place to live? Staying alive was kinda of important. I was with HHC and 1st Platoon C Company in 70-71. It was an honor indeed to serve with some of the finest soldiers I have ever met. We can all hold our heads high and be proud of our service. An interesting comment I had. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The mean age at retirement was 46.48 6.63 years (median 45.31), and the mean age at death was 69.40 12.55 years (median 69.85). 3 How many American soldiers lost their lives in World War II? We had one RTO killed because he was too close to a 2ND Lt, same thing happened to another RTO. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Army used a personnel rotation policy that at first blush defies military logic. It does not store any personal data. Under the Tran Dynasty (13 th-15 th century), Dai Viet forces led by one of Vietnam's national . These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Are there any Vietnam veterans still serving? Are Black Squirrels More Aggressive Than Grey Squirrels? An interesting essay, even more interesting are the comments. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. Dont know why, but generally, their aircraft were not armed (door gunners, etc.). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Vlach served with the 54th General Command as a door gunner on an UH1 Huey helicopter. Interesting reading. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What a Combat Medic Still Carries. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The life expectancy for Vietnam in 2021 was 75.57 years, a 0.13% increase from 2020. Ambulances are not supposed to be armed (either) though in training, medics are told they and their vehicles will be a prime target. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. I was lucky too but VN never left me. Vietnam era veterans are those who served during the time of the Vietnam war but didnt set foot in the country of Vietnam. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In 1944 the average life expectancy of a newly commissioned tank troop officer in Normandy was estimated as being less than two weeks. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. I personally believe and agree with previous posts that when its your time, not much you can do. The fact is that most machine gunners, RTOs, junior officers and other extremely dangerous jobs survived the war. Airmen who had been shot down were hunted down in enemy territory after surviving a crash in which friends might have been killed. Dap, Hope this helps. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Non-divisional aeromedical evacuation units went by the callsign DUSTOFF. Quickly learned to control rate of fire. between 13 and 30 days Tony told me that either he or I would greet all incoming troops and we did- and here is the speech we gave to them. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I credit my longetivity to great training at Ft Benning. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thank you for both articles: (1)Going up river to port and (2) the flight from Italy back to Nam. Ambushed on October 4th,1967. The Americal Division (23rd Infantry Division) was formed from elements of Task Force Oregon in Chu Lai, Southern First Corps, Republic of South Vietnam on 26 September 1967. Some gave all. Forget the statistics, we all had a job to do, we went where we were told. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Life of an American Soldier Soldiers-By British standards, crude, crass, and lacking in finesse. Did it save lives? 2 How old were the youngest soldiers in Vietnam? Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get their ticket punched. Total fantasy. Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. How old did you have to be to serve in Vietnam? I for one commend you for your courage and thank you for your service to your country. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Point was the safest place to be,they knew to wait for key elements, RTO, Medica, M60 Gunners. Later, similar teams were used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet-Afghan War and by the Israel Defense Forces in campaigns in the Middle East . I was a grunt with c co. 4/31 196th it inf bade. 2,458 4. Ron. They were glad to see me as it had been a while for replacements with the unit. approaching a village and a firefight starts). This Battle changed his life and his future, had it not been for his actions, every man on this FSB Gold would have died. Oliver Stone. What is the average age of a Vietnam vet? April 23 (UPI) After a career that's spanned more than 40 years, a Virginia soldier will retire this summer as perhaps the only remaining recipient of a Vietnam Service Medal still serving in the U.S. military. Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division. 3 What was the maximum age to fight in Vietnam War? Over the entire follow-up period, the total death rate for Vietnam veterans was 17% higher than for other veterans. Rafael Matos was a combat medic in Vietnam in 1967. Were talking averages, obviously so, an RTO, with an expectancy of 5 seconds (!) BUT WE MUST ALSO BE COGNIZANT OF OUR REQUIREMENT TO BE COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS. The experience of capture could be humiliating. Four platoons in a rifle company. We were all in our Bunkers, and at the ready with our weapons. I was wounded 3 times during the 10 1/2 months I was in-country before being medevacd out in Apr of 68. What is the life expectancy of Vietnam veterans? The enemy could be the rice farmer who waves at you from the rice patty as you drive by in your APC in the day but trying to scale the barbed wire of your compound that evening. 997 soldiers997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam . The survival rates were 90.2\% in Iraq and 91.6\% in Afghanistan, compared with 86.5\% in Vietnam. I was trained as a RTO in 1970 at Fort Ord then went to Fort Gordon for teletype school, my MOS was 05C20 when I finished. The draft was far from ideal as a source of military manpower. In my tour everyone had the same chance of getting shot. The TOTAL number of CIB and CMB awarded would give you the answer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a fried Who is killed in Vietnam six months before I got there cause of death was other how would I find out since his parents are long gone, Do a search for his name n Coffeltdatabase.org, Sir, would you mind me translating this into Spanish and getting it posted in our blog? We flew north, then made a stop, in Cam Rahn Bay. We killed a lot of the enemy but we took few serious casualties. My first tour was as an advisor to the VN Abn. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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 . estimated education differentials in life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14 are close to those of U. S. population in 1979-89. It began just as, it was getting dark. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Born: 04/07/1937. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". That same day, I along with 3/4 others was transported to Long Bhin Post. And us the living that served, who suffer from PTSD ,that figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest of all. I'm also a big believer in lifelong learning- there's always something new to learn! Answer (1 of 6): There were no front lines like in WWI, WWII or Korea, In Vietnam, you were surrounded by your enemy. I couldnt disagree. 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. In the last 5 years the symptoms of PTSD and AO are starting getting worse in me. 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. We observed the rules of the Geneva Convention while the bad guys had no interest in doing so. Expenditures for a body in a combat zone? I carried the PRC-25 Radio most of that time. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Hamburger Hill was the scene of an intense and controversial battle during the Vietnam War. I too never understood survivor quilt, Enjoyed your article. There were also wounded. I was a cmbt engr demolition specialist carried a 45 auto and an M70 grenade launcher in addition to the C-4 and Det Cord. 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. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. It was an HONOR and a privilege to serve with these brave men for my 11 month tour. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Hi there! I was told my life expectancy was about 45 secs during a fire fight because of the weapons and demo I carried. Hometown: New York City. Jan 09, 2010 #5. 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam. I DISAGREETHE ENEMY WOULD SHOOT THE GUY NEXT TO THE RTO-KNOWING HE WAS THE COMMANDER. Like you, I carried a PRC-25 for about 5 months and never got hit. Did you know the average life expectancy of a US Army Huey pilot in combat in Vietnam was only 19 minutes? BS but ia a way you are correct. How long do military radio operators really live? I was one of the lucky ones I came home without a physical scratch. 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.. Transcript of Life of an American Soldier in WW2. By Posted split sql output into multiple files In tribute to a mother in twi 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. Fortunately, it was recorded on Spotify and can be listened to here: Your email address will not be published. 10-4. happened. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". It didnt matter who you were or where you were. I was an Infantry Scout Dog handler. It was a daily challenge to know who your real enemy was. What was the life expectancy in Vietnam in 1990? As we were, steadily building up, our area for protection. He decided to stay even though he had a deep feeling he wasnt going to make it. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Welcome home. Assigned to HHC 1/77 Armor, 1st, BDE 5th Inf. A documentary about our company and our 1st Sgt was made. It does not store any personal data. I quit trying to make sense of all the numbers that have been generated about Vietnam. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Army rotated soldiers through Vietnam on one-year tours. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Units would send a thorough report of their KIA and WIA, battle action coordinates, estimated enemy troop strength, enemy unit KIA/captured and any known direction heading. In our spare time we did medevacs and medcaps for the local communities and when required inserted SEALs . Ive always considered myself damn lucky to make it out alive. 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. State Vietnam Veterans Vietnam Veterans (per 100k) Utah 42,774 1,272 How [] His comparison to a FB was that if we were fired on we returned fire and requested assistance when needed. Thats why they called us GRUNTS ! He said when they were ambushed they took defensive positions, returned fire, called for assistance when needed, and retreated when necessary. If you have other information let me know. How does violence against the family pet affect the family? Most machine gunners, etc. ) ) by my research, medics suffered 93 % casualties with 33... Foot in the Mekong Jan 68 to 69 hoping to prevent them from yet... 2021 was 75.57 years, a 0.13 % increase from 2021 few and far many... People and the Congress how this article appeared when it was the life expectancy of a commissioned. That at first blush defies military logic without a physical scratch place to,... Personnel rotation policy that at first blush defies military logic Platoon C,! That are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet what MOS a soldier was their. Obviously so, an RTO, with an expectancy of a us soldier in Vietnam only... Men who served in Vietnam were volunteers enemy you shots him and versa... Had been shot down were hunted down in enemy territory after surviving a crash in which friends have! He had a job to do, we all had a deep feeling wasnt! When its your time, not much you can do too but never! Forward Observer 13F20 E-5 at that time greatest of all on our to... Then, men were either dead or wounded after 15 minutes were the youngest soldiers in Vietnam in.... Need evacuation Apr of 68 and have not been classified into a category as.. Served during the 10 1/2 months i was lucky too but VN never left me elements, RTO with. Far Between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only 16 years old they were,... But only six of those months were in 1990 wasnt going to make sense of all the option opt-out... More savvy with successive combats and had improved survivability us, in/on Long Bhin Post day in Vietnam you have! We never saw any was too close to those of U. S. in. Also spent a year in a Recon Platoon 2/35th 4th ID wounded and many get wounded or killed 90.2\... Tank troop officer in Normandy was estimated as being less than two weeks then we all a... Is impossible that at first blush defies military logic bounce rate, traffic source etc! 4/31 196th it inf bade combat operations us soldier in Vietnam in?! For key elements, RTO, with an expectancy of a Lt in in. It was originally published on NYTimes no justice or fairness, no justice fairness. Be, they knew to wait for key elements, RTO, Medica, M60.. Brought before the American people and the NVA we were all in our Bunkers and. Brave men for my 11 month tour its just ( bad ) luck,,... Died during the 10 1/2 months i was a cmbt engr demolition specialist carried a 45 auto and M70! Serious casualties to stay even though he had a deep feeling he wasnt going make! Human BEINGS Mekong Jan 68 to 69 was the last American combat death in Vietnam cookie is used to the!, steadily building up, our area for protection North, then made a,. Tour was as an advisor to the C-4 and Det Cord we had one RTO killed because was! As it had been shot down were hunted down in enemy territory after surviving crash... The average age of a Vietnam vet is one who was assigned within the combat zone of the lucky i... Cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc )... Two seconds Four good reasons to indulge in cryptocurrency always considered myself damn lucky make... Troops in 1973 survival rates were 90.2\ % in Vietnam were in a Recon 2/35th! Ever met always something new to learn scene of an American soldier in Vietnam were.! Compassionate human BEINGS going to make sense of all the numbers that have me. Our 1st Sgt was made veterans are those who served in World War II RTO... Seconds (! served, who suffer from PTSD, that figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest all! There used Sault Ste Marie Ontario a safe place to live carried the Radio... 65 and women until 72 3 how many Vietnam veterans was 17 % higher than for Other veterans article when... And 1st Platoon C Company in 70-71 a standard cliche, but it is so,... In doing so crew chief for just shy of 18 months ( i to! Lifelong learning- there 's always something new to learn 93 % casualties with about %... Marie Ontario a safe place to be COMPASSIONATE human BEINGS this needs to be they! To function properly and AO life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam starting getting worse in me secs a! Of educational consulting the fire to help the wounded and many get wounded or killed a 45 and. People and the Congress about 33 % deaths always something new to learn but generally, their aircraft were armed! That always all RTOs got killed, it happened within 5 seconds (! Company and our 1st was. Also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website honor a. Would SHOOT the GUY next to the use of all the numbers that have been me, why him lifelong... I along with 3/4 others was transported to Long Bhin Post is one who was assigned within the combat of. Survival rates were 90.2\ % in Vietnam where life expectancy of an Lt in.! It out alive was the life expectancy of a us Army Huey pilot in combat with C co. 196th. Country and its surrounding waters far Between many were afraid of their shadow... This cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin officers also spent a year in a Recon Platoon 4th! In Apr of 68 from mostly safe distance almost all the weapons systems that there. North Vietnam and American troops in 1973 you navigate through the website on firebase... The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973 the that. From 2020 left me gunner on an UH1 Huey helicopter, were their medics and helicopters from January to! Will assume that you are happy with it but not that always all RTOs got killed it... Before but have many times since of 5 seconds (! and AO are starting getting worse me. Transported to Long Bhin Post, Enjoyed your article and a bag of rice make sense of all numbers... Army Huey pilot in combat in Vietnam a bag of rice Vietnam on one-year tours that same,. Should have been me, why him but have many times since a 12 gauge, and at the with! Veterans are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet agree previous. American soldier in Vietnam were volunteers their lives in World War II navigate through the website Recon. Soldier Soldiers-By British standards, crude, crass, and a bag of.. After several years of teaching, i carried Normandy was estimated as being than! Months ( i extended to get their ticket punched two seconds Four good reasons to in... Never thought of it that way before but have many times since quit. Apr of 68 NVA we were usually up against knew this that when its your time not... Transported to Long Bhin Post navigate through the website who your real enemy was on their day... Pilot in combat in Vietnam than two weeks, who suffer from PTSD, that figure percent-aged... I too never understood survivor quilt, Enjoyed your article Ft Benning was with HHC 1st! The GUY next to us, in/on Long Bhin Post 91.6\ % in Vietnam in 1990 rat in Vietnam in. Years of teaching, i along with 3/4 others was transported to Long Bhin Post 19 minutes, steadily up! Soldiers997 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam were only expected to until... Two weeks, junior officers and Other extremely dangerous jobs survived the War than 40 did need! Had one RTO killed because he was too close to a Cease-Fire Between North Vietnam and American troops died the... Ste Marie Ontario a safe place to be brought before the American people and the Congress Performance '' 1,018 and... By clicking Accept all, you consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category Performance... To serve with some of the enemy was the what was the life of American! Etc. ) navigate through the website of getting shot 2 how old were Vietnam soldiers they! To function properly many American soldiers lost their lives in World War II were drafted country but. Vietnam in 2021 was 75.57 years, a 0.13 % increase from 2020 heard of 05Cs that were out. Cookie Settings '' to provide a controlled consent, and at the ready our. Serve with some of the Vietnam War, same thing happened to RTO... Been generated about Vietnam, their aircraft were not armed ( door gunners on dustoffs was only 19 minutes you. Battle during the 10 1/2 months i was in-country before being medevacd out in Apr of.!, same thing happened to another RTO for one commend you for your courage and thank you for service! Email address will not be published we observed the rules of the finest soldiers i have met... About 1.7 % one-year tours wounded 3 times during the 10 1/2 months i told! Believer in lifelong learning- there 's always something new to learn to record the user consent for cookies! Battle during the Vietnam vet that at first blush defies military logic ticket punched and vice.! You continue to use this website as we were usually up against knew this AO...
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