Every grunt I know would say no. Not 499 days between dec 67 & april 68? I agree Vietnam vets are fewer. Some idiot in DC decided to do this. 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. In the article, the writer quotes Patrick S. Brady of Vietnam Veterans of Americas magazine. Hell no. My husband was also a door gunner (191st AHC gunship) but he was there later than you (70-71). Even in this age of computers and accountability just goes to show ya ,people still cant Add or do Math . Its been over 50 years and its time Vietnam Vets stop arching among themselves. What Major Is Kent State University Known For? Vietnam 2/722/73. take a look at my article titled a pale smoke google it . RVN. Some, like myself did not serve a full 12month tour. 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. Leave your thoughts below in the comment section. We had a 10,000 gal balloon full of gas while we watched for someone shooting at us or placing a bomb on the bottom of our boat. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Interestingly, the research concludes that Vietnam veterans seem to be dying at a similar rate to World War II veterans. My left leg hurt like HELLFIRE! it eas a very loud high pitched, not human and the sound was fuck you. All who served In Country and the those outlying areas in support should be considered Vietnam Vets. Serving in combat waters. Reports from the Department of Veterans Affairs say about 240 300 World War II veterans are still alive in 2021. I was all over in 7 years. Therefore there are a lot fewer combat veterans from Vietnam. NO! According to the Department of Defense, infantry soldiers had the highest casualties during the Vietnam War, making infantry the deadliest job in Vietnam. It seems to be all about syntax. Id like to ask a question. Luck of the draw my twin that received a silver star got the luck of the draw made it home. He signaled a repeat, and the second rocket impacted on target. i never saw them again, but i knew we had shared something that was filled with pride, sadness, and the passage of time. While that's a staggering figure is, the actual amount could be higher. So, here well dive a little bit deeper into how many Vietnam veterans are estimated to still be alive based on various approximations and predictions. Do I count as one or three Vietnam Veterans? Its possible that the youngest living Vietnam Veteran may be 61 years old. It was all about teamwork, whether you pulled the trigger or not. What is the average age of Vietnam veteran in 2021? 11B20 and proud of it. For US Vietnam Veterans it's about 66 years vs just about 78 years for non vets. These Veterans are now in or about to reach . I have had stage III melanoma, stage III squamous cell throat cancer and now stage II bladder cancer. Ive seen start dates for the VN war as 1954, 1959, 1961, 1964 and 1965. it was one of the smaller airbus aircraft. Bless you and your family Those of us who live day to day with that medical time bomb know the pain you suffered before he passed, and the endless pain of loss ever after. Peter my husband is now deceased but he was a door gunner with the 191 st AHC Bounty Hunters (gunships), Very good. (LogOut/ We and they generally slept in the same bunks in the same tent if we werent up on call during the night. War is Heck!!! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". I am a solid 10. Born: 08/27/1943. I didnt know that. But Officers do not get CIBs But for those Cav troopers who know I have my Spurs. Finally figured out what was wrong with me, received help but refuse to dwell on the dark demons that quite frankly just did not give a dam for humanity. According to the Pentagons Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office, there are currently 83,204 unaccounted for U.S. personnel, including 73,547 from World War II, 7,883 from the Korean War, 126 from the Cold War, 1,642 from the Vietnam War, and six from Iraq and other recent conflicts, including three Defense. 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. Our Honor and Integrity are important to each of us. 1968, 69. I served in the 101st airborne infantry battalion in 1968, the time of the Tet Offensive. Phill Coleman, who surfaced in the very early days of the Internet, and has been profiting from veterans (first Vietnam, now all) for years. I served 2 tours late 1966 to late July 1968, TET and the rest as an infantry platoon sgt Also served in Korea 1963 and considered a Korean war vet as that war has never ended. Again, I see a jumbled view of jungle and sky, and vaguely see a solitary soldier standing over me. to 1984 approx. It's estimated that tens of thousands of veterans have returned to Vietnam since the 1990s, mostly for short visits to the places where they once served. The 30 September 2007 Veterans Administration estimate places the daily deaths of WWII US veterans at 1,000 per day. If they reply that they do not talk about their experiences They are not Combat Veterans maybe not even Vietnam Veterans. 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. Era vets are important but dont count. Vietnam Veteran ages range from 55 to 97 years old. We were sprayed every 2 weeks with Melithon (Insecticide) that was 96 percent pure. Posted in these groups: Vietnam War American History Posted >1 y ago If you served at all, anywhere, during WWII, you are a WWII vet. A half century after serving in Vietnam, hundreds of veterans have a new reason to believe they may be dying from a silent bullet test results show some men may have been infected by a. 1 How many American soldiers died in Vietnam in 1975? It does not store any personal data. I dont see how there can be any dispute about this. Antonia Leonard is an education expert who has dedicated her life to helping students achieve their academic goals. he was wearing his VIETNAM ERA VETERAN cover. Im now 74. AFAIC, anyone within the bounds of South Vietnam was on the ground. In or out of a compound or an LZ or anywhere else. There are still a lot of us left by some miracle! YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. That was our regimen along the Cambodian border, too. Interesting, no way is 75 percent f real vets are alive today? That's 390 per day. 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 than 75 percent of Vietnam veterans still living and breathing today. Gordon, I agree. 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. I bounced all around and slowed almost to a stop, and I downshifted and ground to first gear while checking my watch. Korea had 2 divisions in Vietnam The White Horse & Tiger Divisions The Australian Military was also present but I do not know the numbers There could be others. 9.2 million served on active duty (5 August 1964 to 7 May 1975) 2,590,000 served in the combat zone. 3rd Brigade 4th ID attached to the 25th ID 111.40 & 112.40 later these became 11B.40 & 11C.40. Why all this devisiveness. i agree with many who feel that a private who served his time in new jersey is not a vietnam vet. How many veterans die each day? Why cant you be just a proud Veteran. I was in Vinh Long in 1965, Mekong delta area. And a count of military that flew over Nam bombing etc. Canandaigua, NY My squad leaderSteve Cook wrote, Dont Cry for Us Saigon. He gives stats. How many soldiers died on their first day in Vietnam? I remember reading in the Stars and Stripes there were 500,000 plus in Vietnam at the time. I to served two tours 67-68 and 69-70,first with 1st of 8th cav. How many Vietnam veterans are dying . it is much easier to say who was not. I can assure you there will be those of us alive longer than 10 years from now. Still, the American War Library continues to verify their accounts and come to more concrete conclusions. If we arent able to determine WHO is a Vietnam Vet, then how can one determine how many of us are still alive today? The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day. Alice, my sister lost hers in Oct 2020 from throat cancer due to agent Orange. Jorge Otero Barreto. i spent three years to and fro, with about 2-3 months in vietnam on every trip. I would not believe the NYT. they deserve that recognition. You would think the services would know how many were assigned to RVN and direct support of RVN, wouldnt you?? I meant any one that stepped foot in A few times Id meet a group of guys claiming they were all Nam Vets. 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. Combat veteran means far more than having a CIB. The number of Vietnam veterans affected by the chemical Agent Orange is astonishing. What other conclusions have been made about the percentage of Vietnam veterans who are still alive? The VVA Veteran boils it down to a totally different conclusion that the American War Library drew. If you served in any other places you are a Veteran, ERA is an embellishment of your service. 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. I understand that they only got about 300,000 of us, but that is a huge, decent number, considering how cynical we Nam vets can be about studies. Last I heard the database indicated that the Median Age of Death of Nam vets was reached at least three or four years ago. There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the specific situation and the individual's age, health, and military experience. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The Vietnam Nam Veteran and the Vietnam Era Veteran is defined by law ,, am I correct???? It makes a big difference because stating that only one-third of Vietnam veterans are still alive today is much harsher than stating that three-quarters of Vietnam veterans are still alive and well. We all had a job to do. I am a Viet Nam combat veteran. None of us could have done our job without the support of troops around the globe. Or did you spend 24/7 365 days in the boat? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". More than 3.4 million deployed to Southeast Asia (1) and approximately 2.7 million of those served in the Republic of Vietnam (2). Thank you. so if you wore chinos instead of camo you are not a veteran? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. After Tet it was quiet. 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. You do not need to establish anything other than that. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. it is branded on you. I was at 6 different LZs from Aug 67-Aug 68, with a 4th Medical Battalion aid station (D Company), and I never heard of a fuck you lizard. My question, How many guys are I still alive refers to the ones who were in direct combat action? Of the nearly 3Mil that served, only one in twelve were in fire fights. How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? 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. Approximately 7,500 women were stationed in Vietnam during the war. When we find that number we can start to determine those of us still standing. We all bleed red. Most of those who flew had Air Medals which are a combat medal. Really, very easy to say if your were able to sleep at night, so being anonymous means you stand up for those words All members of the team are NOT COMBAT VETERANS, My husbands boots werent on the groundthey were in the air and he was definitely a Combat vet. What was the life expectancy of a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam? My husband was awarded several (door gunner w/191st AHC Bounty Hunters). For the are all Vietnam Vetersns.I was stationed. One good way to detect a phony is to ask him what his MOS was. I got the disability benefits at age 79. More than 8 million people served in uniform during Vietnam and those who are alive are typically in their 60s and 70s. That is correct, Dow Chemical is responsible for three times as many Viet Nam veteran deaths as the NVA and the VC. 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. when we carried peaches and beer, no problem. 4-39th, 9th Div. If one in ten saw sustained combat, then there may be as little as 60,000 of us left! I was a REMF but was on my 4th pair of boots. (LogOut/ Wiki User. 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. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. Decades after the fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) many former soldiers still wonder why they were fighting. 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. 2025. (Operation Ranch Hand) that were loaders and used no protection. Dave, I was ASA, 1960-1963, Ft Dix, Vint Hill Farm, DaNang and PhuBai. This is a reasonable number but you get very different notions of the death rate when you compare 800,000 to 2.7 million versus 800,000 out of 9.2 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. Hunter killer division. Had several replies over the years that this was not a cause. go to the top of this article and choose the magnifying glass and search for Canadians in Vietnam to read an article on this website about them. none more than the ERA Vets. And a number of Navy in ships, bombing communist. How many Vietnam vets have died from Agent Orange? The trucks grill was a few feet away should I crawl underneath or try to hide in the nearby jungle? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. After 20 some years of filing claims and multiple appeals (DAV advocate,) have given up on the VA. Do I count as a real Vietnam vet? Scavenger1, I agree with you. i think the definition should not be restricted by whether you wore khakis or como. As a child I knew several WWII veterans. John, The total number of is estimated at 2.8 million US veterans who were exposed to the poisonous chemical while serving and later died. In 2019, the most . The jungle sat still except for the dirt road with my truck speeding along. and i remember that we talked about how much we would make if we lost a finger or an arm. 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. Pop, POP POP. 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. It was what it was. The site is owned and run by a crook and charlatan named (?) How were WWII veterans & Korean War Veterans accounted for? Combat veterans will share their experiences with other veterans especially combat veterans (CIB). There is no definitive answer to this question as the number of World War 2 veterans who die each day varies depending on the specific situation. If my math is correct, are you going on 68 years old ? All others should not be accepted to have served either on land or at sea in Vietnam. earned their stripe. It allows the website owner to implement or change the website's content in real-time. I was a Pilot, Licensed Aircraft Mechanic and Maintenance Inspector before going into the Army. Im 71 and waiting to see if Ill be the last one standing. They dont include forces in Guam or Thailand. Combat Veterans know who they are, pretenders know that they are not.. In January 1945, the Bn was attached to the 3d Infantry Division near the Colmar Pocket, south of The Bulge. 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. We had a dustoff attached to us. In the article, the writer quotes Patrick S. Brady of Vietnam Veterans of Americas magazine. Agent Orange was sprayed on the Jungle areas, and Melathion (Insecticide) was sprayed on Base Camps. 8,113,000 are still alive (May 2000) Post navigation Tell it like it is. What qualifies you as a viet Nam vet would be if you stepped foot on the soil. Why the Shame? The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. 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. I think its just a generalization but should be cleared. Funny, none of them were called WWII Era Veterans. 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. We were sitting ducks to support our artillery & infantry troops, so talk your trash! One was daily and the other weekly. 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. my point is that they were shot at and in country. My whole essence was involved it the quest of one more heartbeat, one more breath, one more gasp of pain averting energy, one moment at a time. Some advisors embassy guards, but all combat units left. to most of them, it was another port and another war. Arrived in country March 1969, subsequently assigned to B Battery 1/14 Arty. Depends on where you were. Every single day 22 veterans commit themselves to death. 101st Airborne Division 69-70 Agreed. But the 23 months I spent doing my duty as outlined our government to assure you had a way to be resupplied means I, and those like me, am a Vietnam Veteran. 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. 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. The one question I have is how many in country vets did multiple tours over there. You were in Combat!!! 2 tours I volunteered and my 3rd I re-enlisted. Enjoy today's Memorial Day and please take time to "Remember". Combat Vets served in country. NO, some who got to sleep in the same bed night after night, yet were low slow flying targets by day are NOT REMF. But that number will probably go down by at least 50,000 to 75,000 per year. Thank you in advance! 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. USA, (Ret.). How many Vietnamese citizens died in the Vietnam War? 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. This situation has been an issue for years longer than any of us has been around. We have been betrayed by all Globalists. DamnIll be 76 in March. we both served and i think that is what distinguishes us from draft dodgers or people that claimed bone spurs or kept getting deferments those are the people i despise. At this rate there will be only a few of us alive in 2015. 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. Our side would have collapsed without you. The Korean War was not supported by the ENTIRE nation, actually that is why it is known as the Forgotten War. 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.

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