At 73 years, I plan on beating that date. SFC Chester D Carpenter, I liked it very much this war was up close and personal to me I first thought if the French were there for over twenty years what could we do from the beginning this was a war about money and troops paying the high price in blood I will not name names but Agt Orange was used in Korea they knew how harmful it was I had two personal losses my Navy pilot and my best friend a Marine he came home but never could come to terms with life again, John, I need to talk to you about this article. I know the difference, do you ? My squad leaderSteve Cook wrote, Dont Cry for Us Saigon. He gives stats. I was on the initial invasion into Cambodia, that battle was 15 REMFS against 300 NVA> The next day we went in with the 25th infantry. Army personnel were awarded VN Service Medals and and Vietnam Campaign Medals. remember) there will likely be a debate as to how The Vietnam Veterans of America have cited that they will remain an organization until last man standing. Pop, POP POP. Although my time had come, my death brought a realization that, I WOULD NOT ALLOW MYSELF TO DYE IN THAT JUNGLE. I discovered a conviction, antithesis to my beliefs, that it was not the North Vietnamese Army that sealed my fate, nor the soldier that touched off the RPG that distorted my body; I had the power from GOD to go to the next phase in my journey. @Dea KellyWere you on the ground when this happened? The percentage of fatalities that resulted from this was 7.9%. But having spent a little time thinking about it, I go with the 2m figure. Antonia is a gifted educator, and she is widely respected within the education community. Whether you were sprayed or not makes no difference, and YOU ARE NOT required to prove anything other than being present in Vietnam. If you were shot at, in an incoming rocket attack, had to protect during a ground attack, you could bleed and die, you were in Combat. War is Heck!!! stay safe. I know what I did while there in 1975, protecting USAF resources and aiding in the support of many end of the war mission. Almost 1500 died their last day. Nebraska Farm Boy, that had to go to County Agent Classes before buying any chemicals. Helicopter Units and losses in the Vietnam War, The Story behind the famous Saigon Execution Photo, https://open.spotify.com/show/5Th7BCpIKDE1hVTqNL3u0Q. Most of the time as a grunt without a map. Thanks for your responses. NO REAL VET FAILS TO REMEMBER HIS MOS. i went to dong ha several times. I was the first male born to the Puccetti family after his death, so my parents received permission to name their son after Dante. i have read that only one in seven guys that went to Vietnam, were actually in combat. He now has a 100% disability as unemployable. Heres a fact: Jeffery Lynn Scheller, USN, born July 31, 1954 was Killed In Action on October 1, 1972. 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 government murdered me. was i a veteran? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Just like ALL Vets who served DURING WWII are classified as WWll Vets regardless of where they served. I meant any one that stepped foot in The third cancer was the charm as it was declared Presumptively caused by Agent Orange in 2021. Music That Moves the Military. The VVA Veteran boils it down to a totally different conclusion that the American War Library drew. Agreed. Antonia is a firm believer in the power of education, and she is passionate about helping students reach their full potential. Then, I stopped at the 5th. If he was at least in the Army, this might not work. In the enormity of the cosmos, Vietnam is inconsequential, covered over by days dust! 58,184 died in the combat zone or from combat wounds. The book by Hal Moore & Joe Galloway We were soldiers once, and young describe what many of us experienced. He was a Private First Class who was killed in action in the Second World War. Perhaps, another RPG impacted and careened us sideways knocking me unconscious. He showed me his DD214 and low and behold it says he was in Vietnam. It served my pain well as a lifeless, mean spirited dark soul destroying everything in front of me. Next determined those Veterans who were awarded the Vietnam Service ribbon. What other conclusions have been made about the percentage of Vietnam veterans who are still alive? The first advisors were sent in country much earlier than 1962. Frantically searching to find that one resource in my spirit to survive. We did a lot of Ranch Hand missions in the iron Triangle. I struck a tree and rebounded into the open again still a sitting duck. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. While there troops from our unit were deployed to Vietnam as replacements yet some people dont consider us as support for troops in Vietnam. However, he did not return to the United States until March 22, 1979. how would you define a clerk typist who stayed in saigon and never went into the field. Not affiliated with any government agencies.All Rights Reserved. I was hoping for more accurate numbers. I actually vollenteered to go to NAM. It allows the website owner to implement or change the website's content in real-time. but i was happy to serve. It was difficult for me to move. in any event, i went as soon as i was contacted by the draft board. I saw plenty of people providing direct combat support to the effort in. How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? There is a statistic that has been widely quoted in the veteran community that highlights an estimated 22 veterans a day are committing suicide. . The commander of the sapper ambush signaled the weapons man to fire the first RPG, and it impacted behind the target. There were 7 RoyalThai Air Force bases used during the war, from 1961-1975, three closed between 1972 to 1973. NO! But the bad news is that Charlie knew exactly where they were . The Vietnam Nam Veteran and the Vietnam Era Veteran is defined by law ,, am I correct???? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the specific situation and the individual's age, health, and military experience. The U.S. military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died. Then we went back to the Boonies. There he was wearing my dress uniform jacket SSG, CIB, BS three rows of ribbons 8 years service, 10 overseas hash marks and he had 3 very underage teeny boppers girls smoking weed telling them war stories and bragging about his combat exploits. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. Every grunt I know would say no. You were in Combat!!! I remember that the minute we came around the coast and headed up for Vung Tau, as merchantmen on American Export LInes ships, we got a sizeable war zone increase in our pay. These Veterans are now in or about to reach their 80's. How many Vietnam vets . BTW, Why would this conservative believe anything the New York Times says anyway! He signaled a repeat, and the second rocket impacted on target. Scavenger said you had to be fired on in viet nam to be a veteran. 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. and US, 7 Valuable Life Lessons My Navy Dad Taught Me, Understanding The Five Branches of The Military, 3 Things That Could Happen To the Military in a Recession. Having studied the war for years, I believe that the correct figure for those on the ground in South Vietnam is 2.6 million. Splitting out the numbers of combat and era vets are separate questions. Now Iv had five and 10 % works. They wouldnt know the truth even if they tripped over it. I remember reading in the Stars and Stripes there were 500,000 plus in Vietnam at the time. 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. You would think the services would know how many were assigned to RVN and direct support of RVN, wouldnt you?? 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. it was printed in the ny times and cherries writer. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Avoiding the specifics & particulars is a sign of fraud or a deeply disturbed relationship to their past. Nha Trang (TET 68), Bob, Im 71 and waiting to see if Ill be the last one standing. Peter my husband is now deceased but he was a door gunner with the 191 st AHC Bounty Hunters (gunships), Very good. C 3/17 Air Cav. My number one issue is running into a FAKE. So yes, we did indeed see combatoften. I PULL GUARD DUTY THE FIRST NIGHT ANY ONE EVERY STAYED THERE. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. I dont have a CIB to show for it, but I most certainly was in combat. Base was 1st MAW Danang AB which got hit early Tet with rockets, mortars and sappers. Around 2.7 million troops were stationed in Vietnam either on land, within its airspace, or in its waters. 100,000 or more to suicide and most of those occurred after the men came home. so in 2190 days.from today, lucky to be a Vietnam veteran alive. Then I down shifted entered the worst section of massive ruts and the broken-up roadbed threw the truck all about its grooves. I am trying to see if the NJ Adjutant Generals Office still has a couple copies around. She has worked in schools all over the world, and has developed groundbreaking curricula that have helped countless students excel. I know I was there and have several cancers! Me? And though did not serve in actual combat, as you describe it, we were shot at & mortared on occasion. My brother claims he is a Vietnam veteran. 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. Combat Vets and Non Combat Vets. from Fallen Leaves, Broken Lives By Edward Tick Check your POW list. Got the scars to prove it too, both physical and mental. The 30 September 2007 Veterans Administration estimate places the daily deaths of WWII US veterans at 1,000 per day. . But I didnt beat him he just left. I stomped the gas and the engine roared- the truck jumped forward and bounced crazily and so did, garbing the steering tightly. This is a suicide rate of 1 EVERY 65-80 minutes (APPROX). Enlisted 7/70. The Korean War was not supported by the ENTIRE nation, actually that is why it is known as the Forgotten War. we spent sometimes a month or more in one port depending on the cargo and the need. More than 3.4 million deployed to Southeast Asia (1) and approximately 2.7 million of those served in the Republic of Vietnam (2). I have one, but I fought a ferocious battle at FSB Gold at the beginning of Operation Junction II March 21, 1967, the artillery guys in Vietnam were every bit an infantryman as well, they suffered mortar & rocket attacks, enemy probes and attacks They were lucky in some ways that they did not have to crawl through the shit every day. 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. He was shot nine times, while I received the tenth bullet from the ten holes in the windshield. I remember lots of the names Evana, Eagle, Bastone, Granite, Ripcord, Maryanne. We are not ashamed of our service or the fact we killed and had friends die, far more than we care to remember. it was one of the smaller airbus aircraft. Like you I am sick of ERA Veterans claiming to be in country. It was also projected that, from here, 138,000 Vietnam veterans are expected to die each year. 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. Special Forces orderly room to picked-up theyre new frequencies. As an analogy I will use familiar figure of that time. 2010-11-24 14:32:32. I know . But if the 800,000 number is right then it has to be out of the 9,000,000 and not out of the 2.6 million. 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. Sobering Statistics Concerning Vietnam Vets As of April 2016 . My left leg hurt like HELLFIRE! His wife and family should be very proud of him. I dont see how there can be any dispute about this. Agent Orange was sprayed on the Jungle areas, and Melathion (Insecticide) was sprayed on Base Camps. How many Vietnam vets have died from Agent Orange? The now call them Vietnam era veterans. Div., 67-68. We had a lot of support vets near Saigon. Without fanfare or much recognition. Interesting, no way is 75 percent f real vets are alive today? i was a merchant marine officer, technically a civilian. We need more honest Veterans. September 27, 2022 by Editorial Team. I rode river patrol boats from 1968-9 we were on the rivers but we were there 24hours a day days a week. Seems there are a lot of phony ones out there trying to scam the system which takes away from the true Vietnam Vets. good stuff !!!!! Born: 09/15/1946. It seems to be all about syntax. 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. Tom, to me, the CIB says everything; the wearer is a soldier who has earned the right to it and deserves respect. We all served the same, but different. We did what we felt needed doing. Based on them, and allowing for a couple of intervening years, there appear to be about 600,000 veterans still living who actually set foot in Vietnam or flew in the skies above it. as we end our lives we should never forget that each served, in some way. What percentage of Vietnam vets are still alive? I think I know the answer but like youjust being picky. Just come up with two lists and leave it at that. Isolated atrocities committed by American Soldiers produced torrents How many Vietnam veterans are dying . 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. The first US advisors that I can find evidence of arrived in country in 1955. So do not throw stones at some who got to lay in the same bunk night after night, just because we slept in a dirty hole night after night. I was out of my earthly shell. My spirit was above my body and I was looking down at myself bouncing around in the drivers side. My uncle John was in Company A, 290th Engineer Combat Bn during WWII. Today is Sun 22 Aug 2021 but the actual date HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED as the US is SENDING GIs BACK! And a number of Navy in ships, bombing communist. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Sgt. There were approx. Also, some do not consider those who served in Thailand as Vietnam Vets. Im glad you made it back! Lets ask somebody on Facebook where we can get all the correct true data and facts. After Tet it was quiet. Deaths per day . Dave V. 1st Battalion, 14 th FA, Americal Division, VN, I Corps. The last veteran who served in the trenches was Harry Patch (British Army), who died on 25 July 2009, aged 111. When he first got out we roomed together, and I came home from school one day s clss was canceled. 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. 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. 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. YSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages. Certainly leaves some doubt about the numbers because why are we including the years from 1954 to when the actual American forces entered hostile missions? Air crews who flew over Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam had no Fox hole or ditch yo hid behind while delivering payload after payload to help destroy supplies heading towards those in the bush, while avoid withering anti-aircraft fire and missiles. 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. The average number of Vietnam War veterans who die each day is 390 deaths. Suddenly, I was in front of the truck near the grill. The trucks grill was a few feet away should I crawl underneath or try to hide in the nearby jungle? I remember a distorted image of reality. Many Vietnam Vets do not even know about the secret operations from Thailand, now declassified, that probably helped save their rears during some of their combat operations. My demons were better left alone and buried away after two tours back to back. About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War Veterans (or 12%) have PTSD in a given year. 997 guys died the first day they stepped in Nam. How Did The Campus Shootings Demonstrate The Continued Divisions Within The Country? 610,000 figure is more accurate., NYT was referring to VN Era Veterans. Serious danger along those river banks. Reports from the Department of Veterans Affairs say about 240 300 World War II veterans are still alive in 2021. i would like to confuse the issue a bit more. I spent 3 separate tours in Vietnam. Then there was peace. The number of Viet Nam veterans, those who served in combat and combat related services (such those flyboys from outside the territory/waters of Viet Nam is about 2.7 million. I and other merchant marine did. Id like to know what the 1 in 14 men figure is based on. Guys like me know the difference. As anti-war vet , all these years later, I respect yall and your stories. Other sappers were shooting their AKs at any targets. The New York Times estimated that, of the 8.4 million Vietnam veterans who were still alive in 2000, 1.1 million had died. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We all started getting heart attacks around the same time. (How Convenient), Hi. Enjoy today's Memorial Day and please take time to "Remember". Born: 08/27/1943. Id like to ask a question. 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. How many ww2 veterans are still alive 2021? I would not believe the NYT. How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? Copyright 2022 MilitaryPerson.com Infantry Division. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? I dont remember the exact number but remember it was over 500,000 in country and the number was the most ever at one time as the article was about Nixon beginning troop withdrawals that would continue until 1975. NOTE: in 2010 Census 13.2 Million claimed to be Vietnam Veterans. But Officers do not get CIBs But for those Cav troopers who know I have my Spurs. I signed up for it in 2018 at the VA Hospital in Buffalo. Hell no. to believe, losing nearly 711,000 between '95 and '00. Were you at Saigon firebase when guys set off grenade in APC ? The insistence to include Vietnam-ErA vets with those who served in-country results in a ridiculous skew to any meaningful stats. 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. why not compare them?. Cheers, I always ask if they know what a fuck you lizard was. Their names are at least on the wall thanks to the efforts of many service organizations and Congress. Educate your self and search the web for the last battle of the Vietnam war. Well again, nothing that you have posted tells the story that you were in Vietnam. 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. Interestingly, the research concludes that Vietnam veterans seem to be dying at a similar rate to World War II veterans. Well, the government 20 or 25 years later sent us, if asked, a ribbon, card, and metal saying we did. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The debate depends on only two numbers. i think the definition should not be restricted by whether you wore khakis or como. David, please do not compare this to Merchant Seaman in WWII who braved the many packs of Submarines etc as that is how so many died in WWII. but some men, like myself , were told by their draft board, go to vietnam on your ship. Interesting and certainly thought-provoking. to most of them, it was another port and another war. i do not denigrate their service or define them as inferior. I was confused. When were the last Vietnam POWs released? 240,000 survivingAbout 70 million people fought in World War II and, as of 2021, there are still approximately 240,000 surviving veterans in the United States alone. (LogOut/ Vietnam Veterans are dieing faster than World War Two veterans do to Agent Orange contamination . That is your opinion and youre entitled to it, I disagree very strongly. In WWII and the Korean War, anyone who served in the military was considered a veteran of that war. 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. We had it good compared to grunts..tdy pay, flight pay, combat pay plus side gigs. It took about 30 years for the government to acknowledge we were even there. Through my blood-covered face, I could not distinguish whom! How many Vietnam veterans are still missing? I was searching aria, even though these ruts are a real bitch! I was jostled and jerked by the truck over the dusty road. Just a minor clarification, not all of us were on the groundJust being picky. I think its just a generalization but should be cleared. i am not saying i was a hero, but i am saying that i did the job and i did not argue. As stated in the previous post I too can spot a fake in 10 seconds. So he goes to Camp Wolter Texas for his 11 month school (they pay them E-5 during training) then just few weeks before graduation he declines to sign the extension for his Warrant Officer Status, they send him to Vietnam as a private to Phan Rang to ride security on fuel convoys (safe Gig) he never had to fire a weapon. My 2.6 million figure refers to American vets. 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.
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