Avoiding the specifics & particulars is a sign of fraud or a deeply disturbed relationship to their past. About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War Veterans (or 12%) have PTSD in a given year. I to served two tours 67-68 and 69-70,first with 1st of 8th cav. Those of us on the battlefield who bled and many died would take issue with your opinion. His wife and family should be very proud of him. 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. Funny, none of them were called WWII Era Veterans. Serving during the TET offensive and time after. I knew that I was gravely wounded, and bullets were kicking up dust clouds as they were landing around my feet. in viet nam, because of the unions, they got more money. To not count us is disrespecting us who also answered the call. The 30 September 2007 Veterans Administration estimate places the daily deaths of WWII US veterans at 1,000 per day. My husband was one of those 191st Assault Helicopter Co. Bounty Hunter door gunners. More than 3.4 million deployed to Southeast Asia (1) and approximately 2.7 million of those served in the Republic of Vietnam (2). Good for him! He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. Im 75 and served in South Vietnam (30 Dec 1967-68) A/504th MP Bn. And a count of military that flew over Nam bombing etc. It was apparently based on an estimate that 800,000 Vietnam-era veterans had died by 2000. 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! Antonia Leonard is an education expert who has dedicated her life to helping students achieve their academic goals. in ww2 more merchant men were killed than all the services combined until june 6, 1944. and they were civilians. 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. While I honor those who served worldwide, it comes across as yet another slap in the face to those of us who faced enemy fire. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. But to me, Nam is my whole universe i.e. Spent a year in training and ended up a buck Sargent airborne ranger. A lot of guys broke out with rashes every time that sprayed for mosquitos, using Melithon, which was every 2 weeks over all Base Camps. 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. Thank you for being there to help us when called. Everything slowed down, and I was alone, above my body that was thrown into the dashboard hitting with my left side. Posted in these groups: Vietnam War American History Posted >1 y ago Your numbers are way off on the number of Air Force personnel serving in Thailand during the Vietnam war. There were 7 RoyalThai Air Force bases used during the war, from 1961-1975, three closed between 1972 to 1973. Combat Veterans know who they are, pretenders know that they are not.. 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. Sobering Statistics Concerning Vietnam Vets As of April 2016 . We and they generally slept in the same bunks in the same tent if we werent up on call during the night. Are these all American vets. If my math is correct, are you going on 68 years old ? 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 ? Perfect. 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. We all served in our assigned duties, some bled, and some died. When you spend most of the time out in the Bad Lands, bad things happen. one yearA tour of duty in Vietnam for most ground forces lasted one year. I made a mistake !!!!! Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. What was the life expectancy of a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam? If one in ten saw sustained combat, then there may be as little as 60,000 of us left! Age: 75. But the bad news is that Charlie knew exactly where they were . But as to how many of us have died since then, I havent a clue. 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. The VVA Veteran boils it down to a totally different conclusion that the American War Library drew. I began to think that was the excuse for NOT being in combat. 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. The difference David, is that you could quit at any moment, most Veterans who served in Vietnam did not have that choice. I recall combat pay (Hazard DutyPay) at $60 dollars a month. You were in Combat!!! Only military remaining were Marines at the Embassy. TRUE, yes more may have had a mortar or rocket land in the vicinity, or heard a sniper round shot, but the manpower rule is 1 out of 7 10 is an actual seek out and engage the enemy, tip of the spear veteran. I also had assisted the FAA in 3 fatal Aircraft accidents. one of the ships i sailed on had a captain that was drunk for 5 months. How many Vietnam War veterans are still alive 2023? Here are some statistics on the veterans of the Vietnam War. 35th CBSG, 315th CAMS Working on C-123,s. I was searching aria, even though these ruts are a real bitch! I was jostled and jerked by the truck over the dusty road. As soon as I was wounded, I was thrown into a world that I was alone! I was shot up more than a dozen times and shot down once. 11B20 and proud of it. 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. If we arent able to determine WHO is a Vietnam Vet, then how can one determine how many of us are still alive today? He was shot nine times, while I received the tenth bullet from the ten holes in the windshield. But having a CIB does not exclude or diminish in any way the experiences or accomplishments of others, like you, and the wearer of the badge has no right to judge what any other man faced. Since you were with an aviation Battalion do you remember our flight pay as Army Aircrew ? He earned 38 military decorations during his career, and has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the Vietnam War. Whether you were sprayed or not makes no difference, and YOU ARE NOT required to prove anything other than being present in Vietnam. (There are other locations and occupations also, but lets not muddy the waters in this paragraph.) 3rd Brigade 4th ID attached to the 25th ID 111.40 & 112.40 later these became 11B.40 & 11C.40. I knew I had to stand up again, even though I made a better target; my staying in the open road would be a death sentence. I do not know how many others served with us. I was drafted and sent to Germany 66-68 because of the Vietnam War in the 4Armored Division. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Born: 01/29/1945. Phu Loi Nov 66 to Dec 67 HHD 11th Cbt Avn Bn. We all figured it was a Combat death. She has worked in schools all over the world, and has developed groundbreaking curricula that have helped countless students excel. He never did ,Thank god ,because I ended up marrying a beautiful woman and we have the most precious and beautiful daughter. Fact: Everyone who served during the Vietnam War are classified as Vietnam Era Vets. i appreciate i was not in a company and humped for a year. How Many Vietnam Veterans Are Still Alive In 2022? YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. I heard them offen. nearly every classmate from the academy served on some basis during the vn war. Where do they thinly get Ella enemys came from? How many Vietnamese citizens died in the Vietnam War? scipione@geneseo.edu Were you at Saigon firebase when guys set off grenade in APC ? My cousin was with the 82nd and was there when the TET offensive happened. it was printed in the ny times and cherries writer. Bob ONeal, Lt.Col. Which Statement Best Describes How Americans In The 1960S Felt About The Vietnam War? I volunteered for 3 TDY tours 18 months total. Approx 58,000 in Vietnam. How about disabled numbers? I knew what my death would mean to my mother, my father, and the rest of my family and friends. In January 1945, the Bn was attached to the 3d Infantry Division near the Colmar Pocket, south of The Bulge. Apparently Infantry is the operative word. Or did you spend 24/7 365 days in the boat? 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. Not 499 days between dec 67 & april 68? No one paid any attention to them and this non-controversy continues. On this Memorial Day 2021, VA honors their service and recommits itself to . We had it good compared to grunts..tdy pay, flight pay, combat pay plus side gigs. I was thinking that in 10 days I would be on R&R in Taipei, Formosa. In the article, the writer quotes Patrick S. Brady of Vietnam Veterans of Americas magazine. Everyone did their assigned job; some just got better assignments. I and other merchant marine did. But having said that, here are some sources: How many Vietnam vets are still alive today? 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. My left leg hurt like HELLFIRE! The number of people who are Vietnam veterans in the first place is a number that is widely debated. Agent Orange was sprayed on the Jungle areas, and Melathion (Insecticide) was sprayed on Base Camps. So, when we talk about Vietnam vets who are living or dead, we should be talking STRICTLY about Vets who participated in the Vietnam War. Anyone who says you guys werent there will have to fight me. But I didnt beat him he just left. RE: WHO are Vietnam Vets ?. 58,184 died in the combat zone or from combat wounds. i do not remember the moss but the went on quite a while. There are no foolproof questions. what i am saying is that there were all kinds of service, and if you think the definition is being in country and being shot at, then i qualify and so did my shipmates. Im sure that you all know that claiming to be a VFWar when you are not is a federal crime with severe legal penalties. may we all be the last man standing. My mos was 11B and the army in its great wisdom sent me to an aviation unit in the Mekong delta. Phill Coleman, who surfaced in the very early days of the Internet, and has been profiting from veterans (first Vietnam, now all) for years. Clearly, the New York Times is referring to Vietnam-era veterans, not Vietnam veterans. Videos, Film, Music, and Movies about VN War, Author interview War & Life: Discussions with a Veteran, A Chat Between Three Veterans [live video with author], Lest We Forget Meet the Authors & Book Signing April 4th: Cherries and Donut Dolly, Interview with author John Podlaski in Examiner Magazine, American Heroes Radio interviews author of Cherries A Vietnam War Novel, Cherries Author Interviewed on British Website, U.K. Blogspot posts interviews author, John Podlaski, More Book Reviews and author interviews about Cherries, https://news.va.gov/89450/vietnam-war-veterans-honoring-served-memorial-day-2021/, https://cherrieswriter.com/2015/11/13/lost-to-history-the-canadians-who-fought-in-vietnam/, Three maps remind us of the horror of the Vietnam War WebInvestigator.KK.org by F. Kaskais, Three maps remind us of the horror of the Vietnam War | Self Improvement Life Hacks, Three maps remind us of the horror of the Vietnam War | Top Pin Answers, A Day in the Life of an Infantry Point Man in Vietnam. I was in 1st Battalion 26 th Infantry HMP 1st Infantry Division in 68 November 68 to January 69. The VA sent out a news release on March 29th, 2022, entitled DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO VIETNAM WAR VETERANS. It included the following line, which should put this question to rest. These numbers do not include the Americans who served in Vietnam during World War II. How Did The Campus Shootings Demonstrate The Continued Divisions Within The Country? Everyone that served and was in combat which means they were in the line of fire (received it and returned it in some form or fashion) deal with their dark side in various ways. My brother was stationed in the Air Force in 1975 and flew missions over Vietnam. Combat veterans will share their experiences with other veterans especially combat veterans (CIB). Has every CIB wearer actually done that? and i remember that we talked about how much we would make if we lost a finger or an arm. Navy ships were classified as Blue Water ships. Mean 69 maybe? I served in an artillery unit. There are still a lot of us left by some miracle! I was drafted in May of 1966 specifically for the reactivation of the 9th Infantry..so B Co., 4/47th/9th Inf. ho, i could not . I was C 3/17 Air Cav. 2010-11-24 14:32:32. When we find that number we can start to determine those of us still standing. Served most of my time on LZ Professional. None of us could have done our job without the support of troops around the globe. How many Vietnam Vets die per day? 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. Antonia is a gifted educator, and she is widely respected within the education community. VA released VetPop 2020 which is VA's new official estimate and projection of the Veteran population. the average combat vet in Nam was 240 days. What numbers do the VA have? How many ww2 veterans are still alive 2021? Those who do not remember where in country they were, WHERE NOT THERE.. Or suffering from a complete mental memory disorder. Separate war. Check out this post and see if you can figure this > out. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day. Apparently, its been agreed upon that 800,000 Vietnam veterans had passed away by the year 2000. back and forth to the us, carrying every thing you could imagine. I actually vollenteered to go to NAM. Chester/Gordon, Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am a solid 10. All who served In Country and the those outlying areas in support should be considered Vietnam Vets. The number of Vietnam veterans affected by the chemical Agent Orange is astonishing. (1st time to operate a river boat 2nd time to evacuate injured Marines. Well, the government 20 or 25 years later sent us, if asked, a ribbon, card, and metal saying we did. 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. Do you by chance remember a Jim Blackshear? 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. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. So yes, we did indeed see combatoften. Hunter killer division. I could never guess the number of actual Vietnam Vets there are, nor the % still alive. I flew with the 220th Aviation Company (Cat Killers) in 1968. There is a statistic that has been widely quoted in the veteran community that highlights an estimated 22 veterans a day are committing suicide. fired on coming up river, a few other things. If true, 390 VN vets die a day. My name is Ananda. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But often, it does. Their names are at least on the wall thanks to the efforts of many service organizations and Congress. (Crew Chief 1970-71) 25 AVN 25 INF (1971-72) C/16 CAV. The one question I have is how many in country vets did multiple tours over there. My performance as Dante Michael Anthony Puccetti was at its close, and resembling the theater, I was ready to take my curtain call. In my book, they are all Vietnam Vets, just like the guys back home who never went overseas are WWII or WWI veterans. It caused extreme political unrest and was widely protested. I have been working with Dr. Mary Lynn Reed, Chair of Math and Statistics at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology). How many Vietnam veterans died from Agent Orange? The average ww ii vet was in combat 10 to 12 days. i do not denigrate their service or define them as inferior. It was what it was. Excellent questions. Vietnam Veteran ages range from 55 to 97 years old. And just as the bell rang he got out of the ring , technically I won the fight. Serious danger along those river banks. Another long time friend served on the Riverine Force actually served on John Kerrys boat and is mentioned prominently in his book, told me stories about being ambushed, as those boats made a lot of noise. of the 1st cav div. The now call them Vietnam era veterans. We got a personal visit from 10 Generals (no joke). About the same number of draft dodgers.or so I was told. 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. Active duty 70-71, Quang Tri, Khe Sahn, Danny. 997 guys died the first day they stepped in Nam. Additionally, the American War Library approximated that around 164,000 Americans who served at sea in Vietnam waters during the same time are still alive today. AFAIC, anyone within the bounds of South Vietnam was on the ground. In or out of a compound or an LZ or anywhere else. Awakening, I was the only person there, so the enemy was concentrated on me. It served my pain well as a lifeless, mean spirited dark soul destroying everything in front of me. 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. Vietnam Veterans are dieing faster than World War Two veterans do to Agent Orange contamination . More than 8 million people served in uniform during Vietnam and those who are alive are typically in their 60s and 70s. Other sappers were shooting their AKs at any targets. The percentage of fatalities that resulted from this was 7.9%. In 2019, the most . 100,000 or more to suicide and most of those occurred after the men came home. Mekong Delta US Army 1969. You would think the services would know how many were assigned to RVN and direct support of RVN, wouldnt you?? makes no diff, if you were a grunt or cook. I do not believe that the question of who is a Vietnam Veteran is that difficult Assignment to a unit stationed in country is 1 criterion, another is the number of days assigned and served in country Combat at sea of pilots from carriers and rescue crews that flew over the country and those downed I think that there are really 2 classes of Vietnam Veterans, combat and non-combat that is a more difficult designation to separate As a combat platoon Sgt engaged in several large battles and many smaller fire fights, nights being mortared with shells exploding in the trees above The VA needs to add one more medical anomaly, Chronic Butt Pucker for all combat veterans. A Vietnam Era Veteran is everyone who was serving in the military while the Vietnam War was going on. I am an Era vet, and the closest I got was R&R in Thailand. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. nothing exists or will exist in another time. We saved many a guy after you brought him to us from the boonies. IF you didnt get any extra pay better have a good excuse .like to hear it. How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? Dec 1967 Dec 1968 & Jan 1969 Nov 1969. 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. The average age of our Vietnam veterans is now over 70. The wheels were bouncing crazily as the tires encounter deep furrows dug in the hard dirt from the last monsoon. 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. Bob Kerrey. As anti-war vet , all these years later, I respect yall and your stories. U failed to remember the last name on the Wall was in 1975. hello, I still consider myself lucky every day! 7,484 women served in Vietnam, 83.5% being nurses. I agree, 10% in combat, sounds right! It could be a Yard, Don Porier, or a sapper. I went into shock and lost conscienceless. i am not better, but i am not worse. According to the Department of Defense, infantry soldiers had the highest casualties during the Vietnam War, making infantry the deadliest job in Vietnam. Very devisive infighting among all the service members who served at a time when it was not popular. Dave V. 1st Battalion, 14 th FA, Americal Division, VN, I Corps. We all started getting heart attacks around the same time. Tom, to me, the CIB says everything; the wearer is a soldier who has earned the right to it and deserves respect. Army Reserve: 189,500 How many Vietnam veterans are dying everyday? 610,000 figure is more accurate., NYT was referring to VN Era Veterans. I could type and did all the reports. it is pointless to debate whether a supply corporal was a veteran. wounded evaced) then Am 3/21 196th LIB. Based on data through September 30, 2020, VetPop2020 provides a projection of the Veteran population at each fiscal year end from 2020 to 2050. Hometown: Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. Id like to ask a question. Im a 1967-68 Vietnam combat veteran. Scavenger said you had to be fired on in viet nam to be a veteran. Vietnam War veterans can suffer from a variety of physical and mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drug and/or alcohol problems, and hearing loss. Everyone knows this. a clerk typist got benefits. I saw plenty of people providing direct combat support to the effort in. What do you think? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 400 hundred days of always being ready to fight and protect our 40 Huey helicopters, flew as door gunner a lot. I served in 67 69 & had stroke in 93 then heart attack in 2002 with 2d in 2004 . I can assure you there will be those of us alive longer than 10 years from now. 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. I certainly dont agree on the 9 million in country. no disrespect here. It was an incredibly tumultuous time in US history and, for that reason, its unclear how many people actually served during this struggle. To my understanding, Army aviation unitsAssault Companies, Cav Troops, ARA units etc., had the highest casualty rates of any TO & E unit in Vietnam. Copyright 2022 MilitaryPerson.com Not sure what to think about the article. I give a silent prayer of thanks for all of you, every time I hear a chopper going by, even now. Additionally, the American War Library approximated that around 164,000 Americans who served at sea in Vietnam waters during the same time are still alive today. I then did a 12 month tour in RVN in 5th SFG. In country Vietnam Vets are the only Vietnam Vets. Its possible that the youngest living Vietnam Veteran may be 61 years old. Alice, my sister lost hers in Oct 2020 from throat cancer due to agent Orange. We were near AF ranch hand ops and many of my buds still alive from then have the cancers, diabetes, amputations and such. I got angry at him even saying that he was a vet of the war. I only spent one overnighter. So, where is the discrepancy in these numbers? The exact percentage of surviving Vietnam War veterans is not known, but it is estimated to be around 25% of the total number of veterans who served during the war. Not affiliated with any government agencies.All Rights Reserved. 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. In the highlands we had to take one every day in addition to the once a week pill. What other conclusions have been made about the percentage of Vietnam veterans who are still alive? Through my blood-covered face, I could not distinguish whom! They are paying on Melathion settlements (Watch TV, and it as on 2 to 3% purity, used inside US) There are no living Veterans that I know of. My number one issue is running into a FAKE. I know what I did while there in 1975, protecting USAF resources and aiding in the support of many end of the war mission. Our side would have collapsed without you. Editorial comment by website administrator: Personally, Im going with the 610,000 estimate of 2 yrs. It was all about teamwork, whether you pulled the trigger or not. How many Canadian WWII veterans are still alive? I started this post a year ago, it was a simple question. Army personnel were awarded VN Service Medals and and Vietnam Campaign Medals. If I got in the ring with Cassius clay later known as Mohamed Ali. Frantically searching to find that one resource in my spirit to survive. March 29, 1973Part of what was called Operation Homecoming, the first 20 POWs arrived to a heros welcome at Travis Air Force Base in California on February 14. If you served at all, anywhere, during WWII, you are a WWII vet. 2025. Today, the state with highest number of Vietnam veterans is California, with 596,130, followed by Florida with 519,224. 1968, 69. I think its just a generalization but should be cleared. This accurate accounting gives us persepective on the cost of current and future wars. They dont include forces in Guam or Thailand. remember) there will likely be a debate as to how I pulled up to the local tailor shop to fix some of my fatigue pants. I read a statistic somewhere that one in seven where in actual combat. even when i went out with the airforce on resupply to fire bases. The stroke wasnt assumed until after 2000 & heart not until 2010.