I entered an L shaped ambush. We hauled cargo to the bases and for a few months I hauled hitest gas to the airbase at DongHa. With an estimated 6 million Vietnam Veterans currently living in the U.S. or abroad, VA remains dedicated to serving all Veterans of the Vietnam Era., All troops were sent home in April 1973. On Sat, Jun 19, 2021 at 4:22 PM CherriesWriter Vietnam War website wrote: > pdoggbiker posted: This is a controversial post. The U.S. military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died. best to all. Separate war. One sapper shot off a whole magazine of armor piercing bullets at the drivers side windshield of the truck, and glass was flying in all directions. Should be simple enough but not, Not all ships are blue water ships. I was on a boat floating up and down rivers for 19 months. I have read that One in Seven that went to Vietnam were in actual combat CIB. Same aircraft were used and were not cleaned before spraying anything else. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I was in 1st Battalion 26 th Infantry HMP 1st Infantry Division in 68 November 68 to January 69. Past history shows ALL Veterans of previous Wars were classified as Vets of those wars regardless of where they served. Im a 1967-68 Vietnam combat veteran. So, with the lower estimate of 610,000, over 2.1 million VN vets have died since 1975 thats an average of 44,000/year. There are questions like this that are hard to answere as being true boots on ground. and by the way, they never got benefits after their time at sea. How many Vietnam War veterans are still alive 2023? Or did you spend 24/7 365 days in the boat? The first US advisors that I can find evidence of arrived in country in 1955. You do not need to establish anything other than that. Overall, the death rate of Vietnam veterans seems to be rather consistent if not better than other people their same age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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 ww2 more merchant men were killed than all the services combined until june 6, 1944. and they were civilians. Most of the time as a grunt without a map. It could be a Yard, Don Porier, or a sapper. I went into shock and lost conscienceless. stay safe. Due to TCDD among other toxic substances, we are dying off faster than other American men born between 1944-1950. Id like to ask a question. What that included Im not sure today but understood it to be in naval & in country. What Was It Like To Hump The Boonies in Vietnam? There were 7 RoyalThai Air Force bases used during the war, from 1961-1975, three closed between 1972 to 1973. The Nation supported WWI & WWII, the entire Nation was involved in the war effort. Bullets were flying everywhere, and the noise was tremendous. But the bad news is that Charlie knew exactly where they were . I pulled up to the local tailor shop to fix some of my fatigue pants. 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. YSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. How many WWII veterans die each day? But a growing army of strangers is. Depends on where you were. 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. 2.4 million man who served in Nam approx. What do you think? Active Duty: 473,000 wounded evaced) then Am 3/21 196th LIB. Lying on my back in the underbrush, watching the blue sky, bleeding on the jungle floor alone. Could they be considered Vietnam veterans then? It was an incredibly tumultuous time in US history and, for that reason, its unclear how many people actually served during this struggle. Just a minor clarification, not all of us were on the groundJust being picky. (How Convenient), Hi. Thousands of sorties departed from Thailand, Guam, and from aircraft carriers at sea to kill MIGS, bomb factories and bridges, and generally create havoc. as we end our lives we should never forget that each served, in some way. And though did not serve in actual combat, as you describe it, we were shot at & mortared on occasion. 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. Bill, My body was throne backwards into the seat and rebounded forwards; bent over at a 90-degree angle from my waist. I was C 3/17 air cav. The total goes up every day. 1 How many American soldiers died in Vietnam in 1975? But to me, Nam is my whole universe i.e. Even if his job depended on them doing theirs well. What was the cause of preventable deaths in the Vietnam War? We certainly were in close combat often during my tour in 69-70. The way many of us were treated on returning from that war, but in truth it was only a war for very few of those who served there. Are we counted as two people or have they accounted for us already. Through my blood-covered face, I could not distinguish whom! Needless to say, I set them straight about his lying BS, and moved out the next day. VA's Veteran Population Projection Model estimates that there are approximately 6.1 million living Vietnam War-era Veterans, as of 2021. a clerk typist got benefits. OH, SHIT- I heard the impact of the Rocket Propelled grenade (RPG) to my left; `this is it, I yelled! 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. they did not get metals. Look up the military definition of combat. Anyone suggesting that only a CIB award means you were a combat veteran is very uninformed The Battle of Soui Tre March 21, 1967 the men of the 2/77 Artillery were every bit infantry as well as Arty that day and many many other FSB battles. We all had a job to do. We who were in Vietnam know who we are and dont need anyone telling us what they think. A few times Id meet a group of guys claiming they were all Nam Vets. This accurate accounting gives us persepective on the cost of current and future wars. Air medals say combat support flying night spook missions around Haiphong from 68 -71. The insistence to include Vietnam-ErA vets with those who served in-country results in a ridiculous skew to any meaningful stats. Then later we were transferred to Camp Red Ball. Welcome home! I wonder how many vets died of one of the cancers on the list before it made the list? 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. IF you didnt get any extra pay better have a good excuse .like to hear it. We were sitting ducks to support our artillery & infantry troops, so talk your trash! 1 in 14 men pulled a trigger in Nam. The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. That is exactly what I was going to post. I salute all Veterans, and those Pencil pusher, clerks, medics, fire-fighters, etc., all had jobs to do to support everyone, they deserve respect as well, as without them no one should have had the tools necessary to accomplish any mission! 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.. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". There are 500,000 Korean War veterans still living, but about 600 of those die every day, according to the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation. My left leg hurt like HELLFIRE! Every single day 22 veterans commit themselves to death. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. no problem with the spell checking. 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. Non combat Vets served elsewhere. 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. 35th CBSG, 315th CAMS Working on C-123,s. at DaNang If we came in they set up tents to sleep in and had a big blivet bag for a shower. Helicopter crewmen did not receive the CIB, but they fought every day. Nor, do they know about what is referred to as the last battle of the Vietnam war, which occurred on 15 May 1975, eight days after the legally defined end date of the Vietnam era; 7 May 1975. I can tell you that those who served in Thailand should definitely be considered Vietnam Vets. The number of Vietnam veterans affected by the chemical Agent Orange is astonishing. nothing exists or will exist in another time. that conversation has stayed with me. Vietnam Vet_combat. The commander of the sapper ambush signaled the weapons man to fire the first RPG, and it impacted behind the target. 58,184 died in the combat zone or from combat wounds. no body turned down extra hands, and my india purchased white shirt and shorts made me attractive target in the event of a problem, and provided some humor to the 130 crews. So, where is the discrepancy in these numbers? Still, the American War Library continues to verify their accounts and come to more concrete conclusions. Whether you were sprayed or not makes no difference, and YOU ARE NOT required to prove anything other than being present in Vietnam. Then upon returning I would be stationed in Camp Enari, away from most of the intense fighting, and protected by the whole 4th. Phill Coleman, who surfaced in the very early days of the Internet, and has been profiting from veterans (first Vietnam, now all) for years. The definition of Combat Veteran is NOT if you have a CIB. 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. One was daily and the other weekly. I think I know the answer but like youjust being picky. i am not saying i was a hero, but i am saying that i did the job and i did not argue. It should be duly noted that these numbers do not include the 2500 to 3000 US Air Force troops stationed in Guam, Thailand, and other countries that were involved in the Vietnam War effort. If you have any doubts, take a closer look at your DD-214. There is a MOUNTAIN of difference in each s experience, combat veterans, those of us who lived and died in the jungle muck, snippers, booby traps, mortar attacks, and the battles with dozens killed and scores wounded. Each BUFF had 6 crewmen onboard. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. According to the American War Library website, it was concluded by the Department of Defense that their best estimate is that between 2,709,918 and 3,173,845 GIs served in Vietnam and its surrounding waters between the years 1954 and 1975. The fear returned, as I knew he was of small stature. Age: 77. Later, and Welcome Home to all Vietnam Veterans!!! The group in my AIT Class were all happy about this. I managed to stand again, stepped, and hurled myself into the jungle. Bob Kerrey. Our side would have collapsed without you. Our Honor and Integrity are important to each of us. retired university professor 1968, 69. Numbers can always be manipulated. they sucked. 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. To not count us is disrespecting us who also answered the call. 100,000 or more to suicide and most of those occurred after the men came home. It seems to be all about syntax. I Never got to Korea but I have friends who got a medal for service in Korea. Infantry Division. Defining Combat Veterans, tell us what number you give yourself, we have a controversy here with a candidate for Governor, he claims now that he is a combat veteran, but he told me in his campaign for the House seat he presently holds, that he was NOT a combat veteran. 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. Spot on. Yep we got briefings then helloed into some ridge in who knows where. Served at Quang Tri Combat Base )QTCB) 71-72) Same here. I know full well it takes many, many hands to make the infantry function but like you saidclaim your time. After Vietnam I hitchhiked for about 12 years. Has every CIB wearer actually done that? we got one daily the other one weekly. 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 Vietnam War was the nation's longest and costliest conflict of the Cold War. Era vets are important but dont count. My uncle John was in Company A, 290th Engineer Combat Bn during WWII. but i was happy to serve. Assuming were talking solely about U.S. Vietnam veterans, all I would add is that anyone who served in the military and entered the war zone is technically a Vietnam veteran. Today, the state with highest number of Vietnam veterans is California, with 596,130, followed by Florida with 519,224. Well again, nothing that you have posted tells the story that you were in Vietnam. It takes military personnel to support the troops on ground or ships in war territory waters. 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. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Clearly, the New York Times is referring to Vietnam-era veterans, not Vietnam veterans. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? this exclusiveness does no one any credit. There are no foolproof questions. If they enlisted or were drafted before 1975, they likely are in their late 60s now. I wonder if I was not Dante- would I have the inspiration to survive? C 3/17 Air Cav. Last one left was about 15 to 20 years ago. The other number of significance is the number of Viet Nam veterans killed by Dow chemical. 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. Though Thailand was not designated a combat zone. Frantically searching to find that one resource in my spirit to survive. I actually vollenteered to go to NAM. It was difficult for me to move. i was not a supporter of the war but i did my job. to most of them, it was another port and another war. so in 2190 days.from today, lucky to be a Vietnam veteran alive. BTW, Why would this conservative believe anything the New York Times says anyway! But as to how many of us have died since then, I havent a clue. I give a silent prayer of thanks for all of you, every time I hear a chopper going by, even now. The NOISE ringing in my ears, the torment, the muggy damn heat, and the distance echo of gunfire ALL STOPPED! There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone. Peter: 67N2F, 119th AHC 68-69. No one paid any attention to them and this non-controversy continues. 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. Having served two tours on the ground, as they say, I find it depressing. I would hope they are considered Vietnam combat Vets. As well, those who served in Thailand in late 1973-1975 are often looked down upon as not being real Vietnam Veterans. We are, as we helped conduct many support missions in the region, helped with draw assist during the fall of Cambodia, S. Vietnam and Laos. Almost 1500 died their last day. Mark Stanley was gone. give me a date between June 25, 1968 thru June 25 1969 and I can tell you where I was in country. Does receiving a few mortar rounds inside the wire of our compound count? But often, it does. I am an Era vet, and the closest I got was R&R in Thailand. Please do your own due diligence on the American War Library before citing them on ANYTHING, ever. U failed to remember the last name on the Wall was in 1975. hello, Gordon, I agree. Editorial comment by website administrator: Personally, Im going with the 610,000 estimate of 2 yrs. RVN. My squad leaderSteve Cook wrote, Dont Cry for Us Saigon. He gives stats. 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. The military stopped the. I do appreciate what they did, from the hero medevacs to those gun ships who flew into madness to help save our asses knowing that mortar rounds fall from above, RPGs & macjine gun rounds were in mass supply with the moniker attached To whom it may concern. Approximately 7,500 women were stationed in Vietnam during the war. drafted in 1966, Vietnam 1967-68 with the 1st infantry Division.now 75!!!! If you served at all, anywhere, during WWII, you are a WWII vet. He was 18 years, 2 months and 1 day old. I always felt this was the maximal danger of the trip. Its possible that the youngest living Vietnam Veteran may be 61 years old. There is a bird in India that says Did you Do it? Splitting out the numbers of combat and era vets are separate questions. 101st Airborne Division, 1969-70 Alice, my sister lost hers in Oct 2020 from throat cancer due to agent Orange. If you prefer to differentiate who served in country and who did not, then the arithmetic must divide the groups into two lists accordingly. 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. from Fallen Leaves, Broken Lives By Edward Tick ho, i could not . But I didnt beat him he just left. Floyd James ThompsonHe was one of the longest-held American prisoner of war in U.S. history that was returned or captured by troops, spending nearly nine years in captivity in the forests and mountains of South Vietnam and Laos, and in North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. in only 6-10 years.. . However, he did not return to the United States until March 22, 1979. I was shot up more than a dozen times and shot down once. BAM! I arrived in country Dec. 5, 1967. Very true One of those is my younger brother. But having said that, here are some sources: Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska. 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. 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. Exhausted! Excellent questions. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day. OUR COMPANY STARTED LONG BINH COMPOUND IN SEPT OF 1965, DALLAS WATERFILL EMAIL dallaswaterfill@yahoo.com, Was in Vietnam Dec. 1968 to Dec. 1969, Phan Rang AFB, RVN. Arrived in country March 1969, subsequently assigned to B Battery 1/14 Arty. I saw the edge of the dirt, the jungle growth, the nearby trees, while I heard the world explode. We had a lot of support vets near Saigon. Dave V. 1st Battalion, 14 th FA, Americal Division, VN, I Corps. A few people were killed. Dec 1967 Dec 1968 & Jan 1969 Nov 1969. And yes I was sprayed with Agent Orange. Antonia is a firm believer in the power of education, and she is passionate about helping students reach their full potential. Be content with your service, and leave it there. Please respond! Cheers, If we arent able to determine WHO is a Vietnam Vet, then how can one determine how many of us are still alive today? I could type and did all the reports. Real combat veterans will share with other combat veterans as their stories have many similarities. I have VSM on my DD215 which deleted the AFEM on my DD214. NOTE: in 2010 Census 13.2 Million claimed to be Vietnam Veterans. With the Americal after I got back I had maps. The last number of Viet Nam veterans alive today was 730,000, which would equate to around todays number of 610,000. He arrived on Yankee Station, Vietnam in early May, 1972 when he was still 17 years of age. Considering the number of troops deployed at different times, the build up and the draw down, its inconceivable that there could have been 9m serving in country. We need more honest Veterans. A Vietnam era veteran is certainly not a Veteran of the Vietnam War. I know from my time with the 3/25 that you dont need to be a ground pounder to see more then your share of combat. And i can tell you , we made a lot of money. none more than the ERA Vets. When you spend most of the time out in the Bad Lands, bad things happen. I then did a 12 month tour in RVN in 5th SFG. I do not like pretenders but do not want to take on the duty of Valor Police. Over 8.7 million Americans served in the Armed Forces during the Vietnam era from 1964 to 1973 (1). Army personnel were awarded VN Service Medals and and Vietnam Campaign Medals. I will have to disagree with the CIB being the only combat veterans The Battle of Soui Tre 3-21-1967 at Fire Support Base Gold Operation Junction City, the 2/77 Artillery 18 105s and the 3/22 Infantry A & B Cos the enemy lost 881 KIA and UNK WIAs, we lost counting the landing in the 19th 55 KIA & 287 WIA, within an hours Westmorland and other Stars were there claiming this Victory (14 Stars on the battlefield) The Artillery are every bit combat veterans with the infantry and many other FSB battles as well I have a CIB and did 22 months in country late including TET. of the 1st cav div. A Co. 2/8th, First Cavalry, 1968-69. I have done lots of research, read a bunch of historical history, and met and talked to well over 1000 NAM VETS !!!!! Age 20y 11mo. The ERA Vets know perfectly well that they were neverNEVER..in Vietnam, and that this is nothing but a desperate attempt to gain the respect those men earned. I agree, 10% in combat, sounds right! It seems like you are looking at a very narrow view of the division of experiences of those who served in Vietnam. 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. Thats sad and should stop. If they reply that they do not talk about their experiences They are not Combat Veterans maybe not even Vietnam Veterans. Peter my husband is now deceased but he was a door gunner with the 191 st AHC Bounty Hunters (gunships), Very good. I do not doubt that it occurred, but can anyone cite a reliable source for this? Not 499 days between dec 67 & april 68? when we carried peaches and beer, no problem. Perhaps, another RPG impacted and careened us sideways knocking me unconscious. Copyright 2022 MilitaryPerson.com I realized what control I had in the cosmos. If true, 390 VN vets die a day. As a retired Green Beret, his assessment and stats of the war are accurate. That number was reasonable: About 9.2 million Americans served in the military during the Vietnam era . 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. Div., 67-68. I made a mistake !!!!! I was in Nam in 1968 and 1969 as a combat Marine. He was killed in action just a few months later. Apparently, its been agreed upon that 800,000 Vietnam veterans had passed away by the year 2000. I served until April 28, 1969 !!!!!!!!!!!! I was on LZ Bayonet during 1970 and experienced many of the things you described. @Dea KellyWere you on the ground when this happened? Good disxussiin. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. She is new to that post, having spent 20+ years as head of coding & analysis at NSA. When he first got out we roomed together, and I came home from school one day s clss was canceled. 15 of us REMFs were surrounded by the 33rd NVA June 13 1970. The report is based on national death certificate data currently available through 2020. Dec. 5, 1967 to April 28, 1968 is 144 days. (Crew Chief 1970-71) 25 AVN 25 INF (1971-72) C/16 CAV. it is pointless to debate whether a supply corporal was a veteran. As I moved my right hand to change gears, it just blew apart, as red blood and parts of my hand flew everywhere instantaneously, but in slow motion I seemingly was catapulted onto some parallel universe.
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