BTW, Marys father was a Marine in Nam and died when she was only a few years old. It seems to be all about syntax. 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. eventually i commented that i had flown into dong ha on resupply missions , having become bored with my mates work on merchant ships that spent long weeks at da nang. The politicians and fake news along with the Berkeley professors lost it for the American people after that. Age: 77. waited and waited for our slot in port. The VA researchers analyzed the death certificates of 21 states to create the 2010 national estimate for veterans from all age groups. If he was at least in the Army, this might not work. Aside from that, I have always doubted any fact stated by the NY Times; although the federal government is no better. My body, accompanied by my mind, was pitched out the right-side door, sliding between the seat and under the dashboard to land on the shoulder of the dirt road alone. Div., 67-68. I was C 3/17 air cav. Alternatively, to transfigure my destiny. 2 tours I volunteered and my 3rd I re-enlisted. My mos was 11B and the army in its great wisdom sent me to an aviation unit in the Mekong delta. It is an all-too-common misunderstanding that to be affected by Agent Orange you had to have been sprayed, and/or you are required to prove that to the VA. Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons. 2.8 million tour because some guys just couldnt get enough! Helicopter crewmen did not receive the CIB, but they fought every day. He never did ,Thank god ,because I ended up marrying a beautiful woman and we have the most precious and beautiful daughter. How many Korean War veterans are still alive? Deaths per day . nearly every classmate from the academy served on some basis during the vn war. 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. 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. ONLY Vietnam Vets are separated into two categories. The youngest Vietnam War veteran was a 15-year-old child named Dan Bullock. The difference David, is that you could quit at any moment, most Veterans who served in Vietnam did not have that choice. I was C 3/17 Air Cav. I think there about 250,000 Virtnam Vets that saw actual combat. Canada did not enter the war so many Canadians joined the americansThey wanted to put a memorial in Ottawa and were refused the built it someplace on the Canadian side I beieve near Detroit, The monument is on the Canadian side of the Detroit River (Windsor). Without fanfare or much recognition. Next determined those Veterans who were awarded the Vietnam Service ribbon. I was ASA, 1960-1963, Ft Dix, Vint Hill Farm, DaNang and PhuBai. 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. Perhaps the reason for guys is that there were times we had to drink out of bomb craters that were in areas sprayed with Agent Orange. 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. so the cia men who changed from suits were not vietnam veterams when they went into laos and cambodia? Steve More than 8 million people served in uniform during Vietnam and those who are alive are typically in their 60s and 70s. I saw plenty of people providing direct combat support to the effort in. I always felt this was the maximal danger of the trip. Those experiences vs the ones of the rear echelons are grossly different. My brother claims he is a Vietnam veteran. Everyone knows this. Thats what we did in Vietnam we left and am glad we did. the man ahead of me had been in rome for a religious tour. Likewise, drafted Sep 66, Vietnam Aug 67-Aug 68, and Im 75. **********************************************************. Those an in the Era the we were in Vietnam but they are not Vietnam Vets by any stretch of you imagination. You may not care but us guys that stepped foot in Nam AND had bullets flying at us, we care, and we are genuine vietnam Combat Vets. Ive never seen so many people so full of shit trying to answer a question like how many Vietnam veterans are still alive today. I knew that I was gravely wounded, and bullets were kicking up dust clouds as they were landing around my feet. Our medic gave them out every Monday. So Huey pilots and crew were REMFs. Around 2.7 million troops were stationed in Vietnam either on land, within its airspace, or in its waters. We had it good compared to grunts..tdy pay, flight pay, combat pay plus side gigs. 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. An overwhelming number are buried by family and friends. Why do the vets who served during the Vietnam War era have to be so devisive? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. DamnIll be 76 in March. So that means probably from 700,000 to 800,000 of us are still alive. While every GI serving around the world was important to securing our Cold War victory over Communism just as the Vietnam conflict was also, those who served in uniform in the SEA War Theater are the true veterans of the Vietnam War. they did not get metals. Good for him! I was searching aria, even though these ruts are a real bitch! I was jostled and jerked by the truck over the dusty road. YSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages. A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. How Many World War 2 Veterans Die Each Day? They wore the Vietnam Service Medal. 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. Been there, seen it, did it. Spot on. The report is based on national death certificate data currently available through 2020. I could type and did all the reports. i would like to confuse the issue a bit more. In the article, the writer quotes Patrick S. Brady of Vietnam Veterans of Americas magazine. But to me, Nam is my whole universe i.e. Then there was peace. I remember a distorted image of reality. All Lawyer adds is for 2 percent, do you think that this was a greater risk for Cancer. Number who served in country and number who served DURING the Vietnam War regardless of where they were deployed. Nobody can bad-mouth Huey pilots and crews. But having said that, here are some sources: So, where is the discrepancy in these numbers? he and the other gentleman did not seem to know about each other , but they ended up speaking about the tours in country, both had served some time at dong ha. a few years ago i was flying from rome to possibly germany or holland on the way back to montreal. I knew what my death would mean to my mother, my father, and the rest of my family and friends. Wiki User. Got home after the war, never spoke about my service, never went hunting again, never cut my feeling back on! I am not sure how it can be calculated, how to distinguish actual combat veterans, as that reality is a risk factor for contact with an enemy force. Same aircraft were used and were not cleaned before spraying anything else. I actually vollenteered to go to NAM. 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. Without a doubt Helicopter Crews are COMBAT VETS, to fly so low & slow over the most hidden turf below.. On landing at LZ Gold March 19, 1967 we lost 6 Hueys and 7 pilots. The fear returned, as I knew he was of small stature. I also had assisted the FAA in 3 fatal Aircraft accidents. Thats sad and should stop. Les, in IMHO being a Vietnam Veteran has nothing to do with combat. I made a mistake !!!!! it is much easier to say who was not. Question One: Are we talking Vietnam Veterans or Vietnam Era Veterans. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. We need a better more definitive for VIETNAM Vet. I agree, 10% in combat, sounds right! I recall combat pay (Hazard DutyPay) at $60 dollars a month. The truth is that until Vietnam veterans can agree amongst themselves what constitutes a real Vietnam vet, the debate may continue. Then, I stopped at the 5th. Born: 04/07/1937. That number stands around 306,000 killed by agent Orange (and other colors). State-Level Veteran Suicide Data: 2020 Update Thousands of sorties departed from Thailand, Guam, and from aircraft carriers at sea to kill MIGS, bomb factories and bridges, and generally create havoc. Those of us who wear air crew wings probably saved your ass more than once. I struck a tree and rebounded into the open again still a sitting duck. they sucked. Funny, none of them were called WWII Era Veterans. They wouldnt know the truth even if they tripped over it. You can sleep in it. Nha Trang (TET 68), Base was 1st MAW Danang AB which got hit early Tet with rockets, mortars and sappers. I served in Vietnam from Jul 68 to Jul 69. The Vietnam Veterans of America have cited that they will remain an organization until last man standing. On this Memorial Day 2021, VA honors their service and recommits itself to . These numbers do not include the Americans who served in Vietnam during World War II. he was wearing his VIETNAM ERA VETERAN cover. They dont include forces in Guam or Thailand. none more than the ERA Vets. Hazardous duty pay was $65 and overseas pay varied by rank $8 to $ 16. Findings are made available to the public in an Annual Report. He was carrying a BAR, killed fighting an infantry action, and the desk jockeys decided he did not meet requirements for a CIB. At 73 years, I plan on beating that date. He showed me his DD214 and low and behold it says he was in Vietnam. And yes I was sprayed with Agent Orange. Educate your self and search the web for the last battle of the Vietnam war. Approx 58,000 in Vietnam. 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. for the sake being more realistic, I served from June 1962 to April 20 1970, and was always told it will vary from 1 in 7 to 1 in 10. Only believing what Fox & Friends has to say is really what you need to question Most things in the NYT does get critical peer review and push back when questionable Fox NOT SO, look at the crap coming out of Tucker Carlson, now that is scary extreme BS, The picture tells far more than a Thousand Words, it is that thousand yard stare, and any veteran who was out there can fill in the blanks of what they were thinking at that moment Offshore ocean sailing is a lot like being out trucking thru the jungle Minutes , hours day upon day of monotony and boredom, interrupted by moments of fright & terror I know that thousand yard stare, and many a time since I have found myself back there in my mind, staring at whatever and seeing nothing but what was in my mind. i never saw them again, but i knew we had shared something that was filled with pride, sadness, and the passage of time. I started this post a year ago, it was a simple question. Then I down shifted entered the worst section of massive ruts and the broken-up roadbed threw the truck all about its grooves. REAL Vietnam War veterans are all those who are officially authorized the Vietnam Service medal and possess official military-issued documentation to confirm their medal authorization. the merchant marine needed every officer and sailor they could find. The number of people who are Vietnam veterans in the first place is a number that is widely debated. During the Vietnam War, Air Force C-123 planes sprayed millions of gallons of herbicides over the jungles of Southeast Asia to destroy enemy crops and tree cover. The funny thing,(not so funny) is that when we carried peaches and beer, no problem. As an analogy I will use familiar figure of that time. yep I wonder also. We, the U.S. have lost over 158,000 American lives to the Vietnam war and that count is still rising. Through my blood-covered face, I could not distinguish whom! The debate depends on only two numbers. She is also a strong advocate for equal opportunity, and she works tirelessly to ensure that all students have access to quality education regardless of their socioeconomic status or race. Did your foot ever touch the ground? we were all on the same side of the aisle. It takes military personnel to support the troops on ground or ships in war territory waters. Why cant you be just a proud Veteran. It is a deeply troubling statistic and has. Why all this devisiveness. According to the American War Library, as of February 28, 2019, it is estimated that approximately 610,000 Americans who served in land forces during the Vietnam War or in air missions over Vietnam between 1954 and 1975 are still alive to this day. More than 300,000 Veterans were wounded during the Vietnam War. I believe we were all there doing our duty and deserve to be called a Vietnam Veteran. Also consider the thousands that served multiple tours. wounded evaced) then Am 3/21 196th LIB. One moment is eternity- the next may never!. Nevertheless, if my name was Tom, Dick, or Harry I would have perished, but I could not put my parents through the same ordeal as Aunt Palma and Uncle Frank. He now has a 100% disability as unemployable. So, where is the discrepancy in these numbers? If you were in Vietnam, you were exposed to Agent Orange, period. Damn it, government could have sent anyone serving at any time to Vietnam. The average number of Vietnam War veterans who die each day is 390 deaths. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Their is a new book about to be released by Bill Comeau that tells a similar story of the 3rd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Duel with the Dragon about the Battle of Soui Tre that I fought in. I arrived in country Dec. 5, 1967. I do not believe we were counted as vets. I think The NY Times has conflated he number of Viet Nam veterans with those who served in the military during the years 1960-1975. Im going with 2.9 and saying the person who wrote 9.2 has the seing disease whereas they see everything in reverse. USA, (Ret.). Ive reached the age of truth telling, and have grown sick of pretending, and giving trophies to the undeserving I saw good men die, and their loved ones dont deserve this dishonor any longer. Based on data through September 30, 2020, VetPop2020 provides a projection of the Veteran population at each fiscal year end from 2020 to 2050. According to the American War Library, as of February 28, 2019, it is estimated that approximately 610,000 Americans who served in land forces during the Vietnam War or in air missions over Vietnam between 1954 and 1975 are still alive to this day. Which Statement Best Describes How Americans In The 1960S Felt About The Vietnam War? The 30 September 2007 Veterans Administration estimate places the daily deaths of WWII US veterans at 1,000 per day. In 1995 Vietnam released its official estimate of the number of people killed during the Vietnam War: as many as 2,000,000 civilians on both sides and some 1,100,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. There were 7 RoyalThai Air Force bases used during the war, from 1961-1975, three closed between 1972 to 1973. The average ww ii vet was in combat 10 to 12 days. So, nearly 300,000 over the 14 years of their operations, a far cry above the 2500-3000 referenced in the article. In addition 18 US AF Security Police personnel and their 5 person aircrew were killed responding to the incident (the seizure of the USS Mayaquez), some do not recognize them as combat related deaths either. Anyone who says you guys werent there will have to fight me. How many Vietnam vets are still alive today? What Major Is Kent State University Known For? What is the average age of Vietnam veteran in 2021? Arne Fuller, Tucson AZ. In fact, the first two advisors (MAJ Dale Buis and MSG Chester Ovnand) killed by the enemy died in an attack on their base near Bien Hoa on July 8, 1959. I KNOW MY STATS BECAUSE I WAS THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBER (20 YRS) on the New Jersey Agent Orange Commission, including four years as Chairman. If the ratio of approximately 10% remains the same about 314. I served in an artillery unit. I raised my left leg and body up and pushed off that knee with my left hand. Learn something new everyday. But I guess I knew where I was if we were at a base. The stroke wasnt assumed until after 2000 & heart not until 2010. i agree with many who feel that a private who served his time in new jersey is not a vietnam vet. What do you think? Return to reality. 3rd Brigade 4th ID attached to the 25th ID 111.40 & 112.40 later these became 11B.40 & 11C.40. How many ww2 veterans are still alive 2021? How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? https://www.americanwarlibrary.com/personnel/vietvet.htm Isolated atrocities committed by American Soldiers produced torrents April 1st was my day to rejoin 4th. 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. Apparently Infantry is the operative word. Numbers can always be manipulated. Posted in these groups: Vietnam War American History Posted >1 y ago Last one left was about 15 to 20 years ago. They're generally in their 90s and about 245 die each day according to the VA. At 95 Army veteran Lincoln "Linc" Harner still remembers the war. I am glad that you make Dante, I know the struggle has been long, but the spirit soars and the tale told Live long my brother, None of us are very far away from those days A harrowing experience that can never be diminished by time. If you served at all, anywhere, during WWII, you are a WWII vet. Editorial comment by website administrator: Personally, Im going with the 610,000 estimate of 2 yrs. I suppose we were rear echelon, but I dispute anyone calling us REMF. They were smokers. Born in 1953, he joined the US Marine Corps at the age of 15 and was sent to Vietnam where he served as a machine gunner. I always ask those who claim to be Compare yourself to the Marines at Fallujah, if they are a 10, what number are you, Thanks for your comment! How many Vietnam War veterans are still alive 2022? I wouldnt trust the New York Times study, regardless of their Sources! My 2.6 million figure refers to American vets. Ive often wondered how many of us are left. Since the fall of Saigon and Operation Baby Lift occurred in 1975, wouldnt an 18 year old at that time be 64 or 65 today ? We and they generally slept in the same bunks in the same tent if we werent up on call during the night. Still, the American War Library continues to verify their accounts and come to more concrete conclusions. Im now 74. I could never guess the number of actual Vietnam Vets there are, nor the % still alive. Avoiding the specifics & particulars is a sign of fraud or a deeply disturbed relationship to their past. The roar was deafening; through the shattered windshield, I saw the truck go out of control. What is the life expectancy of a Vietnam veteran? so if you wore chinos instead of camo you are not a veteran? We had a dustoff attached to us. to 1984 approx. Serving during the TET offensive and time after. Very true One of those is my younger brother. no , i could not quit. 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. Tom Selleck. This included Westmorland and Abrahms. Check out this post and see if you can figure this out. 2.4 million man who served in Nam approx. It was all about teamwork, whether you pulled the trigger or not. We dont forget, and resent the tail gating by those who, during the war, did all they could to avoid it, and now desperately hope others will conveniently forget this fact, and give them some of the respect they never earned. 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. Porier was firing from the north, while the three Cobras choppers were engaged the sappers trying to kill me. Having spent a year all over Thailand in support of Communist Suppression Operations Center along the Laotian border, and training Thai infantry to deploy in RVN. I served in 67 69 & had stroke in 93 then heart attack in 2002 with 2d in 2004 . Im 71 and waiting to see if Ill be the last one standing. Tough and crazy. as we end our lives we should never forget that each served, in some way. It took about 30 years for the government to acknowledge we were even there. As you did not disclose what position you did or did not fill in Vietnam, or did not set foot in Vietnam, I will assume you are not a combat veteran, maybe not a Vietnam Veteran either. 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. The list of cancers gets longer with each passing year. These are numbers never heard before & I would not include those before the advisers were sent over in the early/mid 60s. I was the first male born to the Puccetti family after his death, so my parents received permission to name their son after Dante. Using the 2.7 million and assuming one hundred thousand did two tours, I would use the six hundred thousand as the amount still living, due mainly to the delays in Agent Orange treatments and PTSD delays with the sucides from 1970 approx. we had a crew of about 42, spent weeks at anchor in vung tau or da nang. I believe you mean the malaria pill was once a week. So do Vietnam Veterans have twenty-three more years or only ten until the last man falls? I give a silent prayer of thanks for all of you, every time I hear a chopper going by, even now. I was only there 9-months but others served multiple tours, so I tend to believe the 2.7 3.0 million is probably an accurate number. Makes it worse, they were all wheelchair bound. 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. Some idiot in DC decided to do this. it really did not matter, every officer had a masters license. The dust settled back to normality, as if man did not exist. 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.
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