Did You Serve in Vietnam
Sep 16, 2017 17:27:57 #
I think this is interesting in that it debunks many misconceptions of us. It came to me in an email:
Did you serve in Vietnam?? This provides some interesting statistics
and info on the War..
SOBERING STATISTICS FOR THE VIETNAM WAR
In case you haven't been paying attention these past few decades after you returned from Vietnam, the clock has been ticking. The following are some statistics that are at once depressing yet in a larger sense should give you a HUGE SENSE OF PRIDE.
"Of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam, less than 850,000 are estimated to be alive today, with the youngest American Vietnam veteran's age approximated to be 60 years old."
So, if you're alive and reading this, how does it feel to be among the last 1/3rd of all the U.S. Vets who served in Vietnam? I don't know about you guys, but it kind of gives me the chills, considering this is the kind of information I'm used to reading about WWII and Korean War vets...
So the last 14 years, we are dying too fast, only the few will survive by 2025...if any. If true, 390 VN vets die a day. So in 2,190 days...from today, lucky to be a Vietnam veteran alive... in only 6-10 years.
These statistics were taken from a variety of sources to include: The VFW Magazine, the Public Information Office, and the HQ CP Forward Observer - 1st Recon April 12, 1997.
STATISTICS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN UNIFORM AND IN COUNTRY VIETNAM VETERANS:
9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam Era (August 5, 1964 - May 7, 1975).
8,744,000 GI's were on active duty during the War (August 5, 1964 - March 28, 1973).
2,709,918 Americans served in Vietnam, this number represents 9.7% of their generation.
3,403,100 (including 514,300 offshore) personnel served in the broader Southeast Asia Theater (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, flight crews based in Thailand, and sailors in adjacent South China Sea waters).
2,594,000 personnel served within the borders of South Vietnam (January 1, 1965 - March 28, 1973). Another 50,000 men served in Vietnam between 1960 and 1964.
Of the 2.6 million, between 1 - 1.6 million (40-60%) either fought in combat, provided close support, or were at least fairly regularly exposed to enemy attack.
7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam
.
Peak troop strength in Vietnam: 543,482 (April 30, 1968).
Agent Orange is taking a huge toll on Vietnam Veterans with most deaths somehow related to Agent Orange exposure. No one officially dies of Agent Orange, they die from the exposure which causes ischemic Heart Disease and failure, Lung Cancer, Kidney failure, or COPD related disorders.
CASUALTIES:
The first man to die in Vietnam was James Davis, in 1958. He was with the 509th Radio Research Station. Davis Station in Saigon was named for him.
Hostile deaths: 47,378
Non-hostile deaths: 10,800
Total: 58,202 (includes men formerly classified as MIA and Mayaguez casualties). Men who have subsequently died of wounds account for the changing total.
8 nurses died -- 1 was KIA.
61% of the men killed were 21 or younger.
11,465 of those killed were younger than 20 years old.
Of those killed, 17,539 were married.
Average age of men killed: 23.1 years.
Total Deaths: 23.11 years
Enlisted: 50,274; 22.37 years
Officers: 6,598; 28.43 years
Warrants: 1,276; 24.73 years
E1: 525; 20.34 years
Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old.
The oldest man killed was 62 years old.
Highest state death rate: West Virginia - 84.1% (national average 58.9% for every 100,000 males in 1970).
Wounded: 303,704 -- 153,329 hospitalized + 150,375 injured requiring no hospital care.
Severely disabled: 75,000, -- 23,214: 100% disabled; 5,283 lost limbs; 1,081 sustained multiple amputations.
Amputation or crippling wounds to the lower extremities were 300% higher than in WWII and 70% higher than Korea.
Multiple amputations occurred at the rate of 18.4% compared to 5.7% in WWII.
Missing in Action: 2,338.
POWs: 766 (114 died in captivity).
As of January 15, 2014, there are 1,875 Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
DRAFTEES VS. VOLUNTEERS:
25% (648,500) of total forces in country were draftees. (66% of U.S. armed forces members were drafted during WWII.)
Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of combat deaths in Vietnam.
Reservists killed: 5,977.
National Guard: 6,140 served: 101 died.
Total draftees (1965 - 73): 1,728,344.
Actually served in Vietnam: 38% Marine Corps Draft: 42,633.
Last man drafted: June 30, 1973.
RACE AND ETHNIC BACKGROUND:
88.4% of the men who actually served in Vietnam were Caucasian; 10.6% (275,000) were black; 1% belonged to other races.
86.3% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasian (includes Hispanics);
12.5% (7,241) were black; 1.2% belonged to other races.
170,000 Hispanics served in Vietnam; 3,070 (5.2% of total) died there.
70% of enlisted men killed were of Northwest European descent.
86.8% of the men who were killed as a result of hostile action were Caucasian; 12.1% (5,711) were black; 1.1% belonged to other races.
14.6% (1,530) of non-combat deaths were among blacks.
34% of blacks who enlisted volunteered for the combat arms.
Overall, blacks suffered 12.5% of the deaths in Vietnam at a time when the percentage of blacks of military age was 13.5% of the total population.
Religion of Dead: Protestant – 64.4%; Catholic – 28.9%; other/none – 6.7%.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS:
Vietnam veterans have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet age groups.
Vietnam veterans' personal income exceeds that of our non-veteran age group by more than 18%.
76% of the men sent to Vietnam were from lower middle/working class backgrounds.
Three-fourths had family incomes above the poverty level; 50% were from middle income backgrounds.
Some 23% of Vietnam vets had fathers with professional, managerial, or technical occupations.
79% of the men who served in Vietnam had a high school education or better when they entered the military service.
63% of Korean War vets and only 45% of WWII vets had completed high school upon separation.
Deaths by region per 100,000 of population: South – 31%, West – 29.9%; Midwest – 28.4%; Northeast – 23.5%.
DRUG USAGE & CRIME:
There is no difference in drug usage between Vietnam Veterans and non-Vietnam Veterans of the same age group. (Source: Veterans Administration Study.)
Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison – only one-half of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes.
85% of Vietnam Veterans made successful transitions to civilian life.
WINNING & LOSING:
82% of veterans who saw heavy combat strongly believe the War was lost because of lack of political will.
Nearly 75% of the public agrees it was a failure of political will, not of arms.
HONORABLE SERVICE:
97% of Vietnam-era veterans were honorably discharged.
91% of actual Vietnam War veterans and 90% of those who saw heavy combat are proud to have served their country.
74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome.
87% of the public now holds Vietnam veterans in high esteem.
Dennis
Did you serve in Vietnam?? This provides some interesting statistics
and info on the War..
SOBERING STATISTICS FOR THE VIETNAM WAR
In case you haven't been paying attention these past few decades after you returned from Vietnam, the clock has been ticking. The following are some statistics that are at once depressing yet in a larger sense should give you a HUGE SENSE OF PRIDE.
"Of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam, less than 850,000 are estimated to be alive today, with the youngest American Vietnam veteran's age approximated to be 60 years old."
So, if you're alive and reading this, how does it feel to be among the last 1/3rd of all the U.S. Vets who served in Vietnam? I don't know about you guys, but it kind of gives me the chills, considering this is the kind of information I'm used to reading about WWII and Korean War vets...
So the last 14 years, we are dying too fast, only the few will survive by 2025...if any. If true, 390 VN vets die a day. So in 2,190 days...from today, lucky to be a Vietnam veteran alive... in only 6-10 years.
These statistics were taken from a variety of sources to include: The VFW Magazine, the Public Information Office, and the HQ CP Forward Observer - 1st Recon April 12, 1997.
STATISTICS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN UNIFORM AND IN COUNTRY VIETNAM VETERANS:
9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam Era (August 5, 1964 - May 7, 1975).
8,744,000 GI's were on active duty during the War (August 5, 1964 - March 28, 1973).
2,709,918 Americans served in Vietnam, this number represents 9.7% of their generation.
3,403,100 (including 514,300 offshore) personnel served in the broader Southeast Asia Theater (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, flight crews based in Thailand, and sailors in adjacent South China Sea waters).
2,594,000 personnel served within the borders of South Vietnam (January 1, 1965 - March 28, 1973). Another 50,000 men served in Vietnam between 1960 and 1964.
Of the 2.6 million, between 1 - 1.6 million (40-60%) either fought in combat, provided close support, or were at least fairly regularly exposed to enemy attack.
7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam
.
Peak troop strength in Vietnam: 543,482 (April 30, 1968).
Agent Orange is taking a huge toll on Vietnam Veterans with most deaths somehow related to Agent Orange exposure. No one officially dies of Agent Orange, they die from the exposure which causes ischemic Heart Disease and failure, Lung Cancer, Kidney failure, or COPD related disorders.
CASUALTIES:
The first man to die in Vietnam was James Davis, in 1958. He was with the 509th Radio Research Station. Davis Station in Saigon was named for him.
Hostile deaths: 47,378
Non-hostile deaths: 10,800
Total: 58,202 (includes men formerly classified as MIA and Mayaguez casualties). Men who have subsequently died of wounds account for the changing total.
8 nurses died -- 1 was KIA.
61% of the men killed were 21 or younger.
11,465 of those killed were younger than 20 years old.
Of those killed, 17,539 were married.
Average age of men killed: 23.1 years.
Total Deaths: 23.11 years
Enlisted: 50,274; 22.37 years
Officers: 6,598; 28.43 years
Warrants: 1,276; 24.73 years
E1: 525; 20.34 years
Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old.
The oldest man killed was 62 years old.
Highest state death rate: West Virginia - 84.1% (national average 58.9% for every 100,000 males in 1970).
Wounded: 303,704 -- 153,329 hospitalized + 150,375 injured requiring no hospital care.
Severely disabled: 75,000, -- 23,214: 100% disabled; 5,283 lost limbs; 1,081 sustained multiple amputations.
Amputation or crippling wounds to the lower extremities were 300% higher than in WWII and 70% higher than Korea.
Multiple amputations occurred at the rate of 18.4% compared to 5.7% in WWII.
Missing in Action: 2,338.
POWs: 766 (114 died in captivity).
As of January 15, 2014, there are 1,875 Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
DRAFTEES VS. VOLUNTEERS:
25% (648,500) of total forces in country were draftees. (66% of U.S. armed forces members were drafted during WWII.)
Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of combat deaths in Vietnam.
Reservists killed: 5,977.
National Guard: 6,140 served: 101 died.
Total draftees (1965 - 73): 1,728,344.
Actually served in Vietnam: 38% Marine Corps Draft: 42,633.
Last man drafted: June 30, 1973.
RACE AND ETHNIC BACKGROUND:
88.4% of the men who actually served in Vietnam were Caucasian; 10.6% (275,000) were black; 1% belonged to other races.
86.3% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasian (includes Hispanics);
12.5% (7,241) were black; 1.2% belonged to other races.
170,000 Hispanics served in Vietnam; 3,070 (5.2% of total) died there.
70% of enlisted men killed were of Northwest European descent.
86.8% of the men who were killed as a result of hostile action were Caucasian; 12.1% (5,711) were black; 1.1% belonged to other races.
14.6% (1,530) of non-combat deaths were among blacks.
34% of blacks who enlisted volunteered for the combat arms.
Overall, blacks suffered 12.5% of the deaths in Vietnam at a time when the percentage of blacks of military age was 13.5% of the total population.
Religion of Dead: Protestant – 64.4%; Catholic – 28.9%; other/none – 6.7%.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS:
Vietnam veterans have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet age groups.
Vietnam veterans' personal income exceeds that of our non-veteran age group by more than 18%.
76% of the men sent to Vietnam were from lower middle/working class backgrounds.
Three-fourths had family incomes above the poverty level; 50% were from middle income backgrounds.
Some 23% of Vietnam vets had fathers with professional, managerial, or technical occupations.
79% of the men who served in Vietnam had a high school education or better when they entered the military service.
63% of Korean War vets and only 45% of WWII vets had completed high school upon separation.
Deaths by region per 100,000 of population: South – 31%, West – 29.9%; Midwest – 28.4%; Northeast – 23.5%.
DRUG USAGE & CRIME:
There is no difference in drug usage between Vietnam Veterans and non-Vietnam Veterans of the same age group. (Source: Veterans Administration Study.)
Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison – only one-half of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes.
85% of Vietnam Veterans made successful transitions to civilian life.
WINNING & LOSING:
82% of veterans who saw heavy combat strongly believe the War was lost because of lack of political will.
Nearly 75% of the public agrees it was a failure of political will, not of arms.
HONORABLE SERVICE:
97% of Vietnam-era veterans were honorably discharged.
91% of actual Vietnam War veterans and 90% of those who saw heavy combat are proud to have served their country.
74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome.
87% of the public now holds Vietnam veterans in high esteem.
Dennis
Sep 16, 2017 18:07:13 #
Of the 43 in our unit I am only the 7th person still alive, 7 were killed in action, 11 of us were wounded myself included, 6 committed suicide within the first 4 years of coming home, I know of 7 other than myself who went down the rabbit hole and suppressed the memories with alcohol and drugs, 2 reenlisted and have retired from service and 1 went crazy literally. PTSD is a very real thing we cannot get those things out of our heads I had a friend die right in front of me as he was resupplying me with film canisters and getting ready to run the film I had finished to the drop zone to be sent to operations, to this day I have overwhelming guilt over his death he was my best friend there I loved him as a brother. Also almost all of us showed signs of Agent Orange poisoning within 2 years of getting out though even today most of the VA doctors are still afraid to report the symptoms as such,
I have severe rashes that bleed and burn badly, Crohn's disease, service related diabetes, one of my sons had seizures at birth which the doctors said was very possibly due to my being poisoned by that stuff,
we also had 2 pregnancies that aborted themselves. Through all of that I would go back to any war zone to replace a young person so they would never have to live this way. To all of my brothers and sisters out there who have been through this you are not alone always remember that.
I have severe rashes that bleed and burn badly, Crohn's disease, service related diabetes, one of my sons had seizures at birth which the doctors said was very possibly due to my being poisoned by that stuff,
we also had 2 pregnancies that aborted themselves. Through all of that I would go back to any war zone to replace a young person so they would never have to live this way. To all of my brothers and sisters out there who have been through this you are not alone always remember that.
dennis2146 wrote:
I think this is interesting in that it debunks man... (show quote)
Sep 16, 2017 18:19:57 #
Sep 16, 2017 20:41:28 #
terry44 wrote:
Of the 43 in our unit I am only the 7th person sti... (show quote)
Remember too that YOU are not alone either. There are many still around who know exactly (well close anyway) what you are going through. Welcome home brother.
Dennis
Sep 16, 2017 20:41:49 #
twowindsbear wrote:
Welcome home to all who served.
Thanks for posting.
Thanks for posting.
Welcome.
Dennis
Sep 16, 2017 20:45:16 #
Thank you, hooyah
dennis2146 wrote:
Remember too that YOU are not alone either. There are many still around who know exactly (well close anyway) what you are going through. Welcome home brother.
Dennis
Dennis
Sep 16, 2017 22:50:43 #
lmTrying
Loc: WV Northern Panhandle
I welcomed all Vietnam Vets home, because several we're friends of mine. Even the Vet that scared the crap out of my in my basement while talking about his time in Nam. I "Thank you all" for your service, no matter how you personally felt about it.
Sep 17, 2017 07:55:14 #
Dennis thanks for posting that info. VA always denied anything about agent orange and PTSD though in my case since I'm not depressed I don't have it. My other health problems are A/O related. But the shocking point is how fast were dying.
Sep 17, 2017 10:03:16 #
duffy021049 wrote:
Dennis thanks for posting that info. VA always denied anything about agent orange and PTSD though in my case since I'm not depressed I don't have it. My other health problems are A/O related. But the shocking point is how fast were dying.
You are welcome. One of the reasons I posted it is because how quickly we are dying is surprising to me as well. Normally I would hear on the news that WW2 veterans and Korean veterans are dwindling but those people, WW2 vets are in their late 80's and 90's now. But it is a grim look into my own mortality that MY group is starting to dwindle as well. It doesn't scare me as much as surprise me. Obviously we are all going to die sometime when our time comes up but this email puts somewhat of a time period on it.
The other reason I posted it is because of the numbers listed. I recall after the Vietnam war ended that there were lots of programs on television that featured a Vietnam vet suffering PTSD and would suffer flashbacks and kill someone while in the middle of the flashback. It seemed to make people think there were a lot of insane Vietnam veterans out there who were dangerous. In reality I suspect these were just movies and much of that did not happen at all. It seems that as a group we Vietnam veterans have done pretty darn well for ourselves as well as for America. I am extremely proud of US as we all should be.
In all wars there are the pacifists, conscientious objectors and just plain cowards. But the Vietnam war had these people in spades. We also had a Congress and a President who didn't really want to win. They would rather bow down to the protestors who, just as today, pointed out points of view that just never happened or if it did happen was not common. The My Lai incident was a terrible thing but it didn't happen all the time. Rumors of babies being thrown in the air and impaled on bayonets was a story I heard often but honestly doubt it ever happened. Yet when a group of people too cowardly to actually go to war start protesting who knows what, "stories", will come up to further ignite the flames of anarchy.
I see I am rambling so I will quit here. Maybe this is a discussion for another time, another day. But each of us feels things inside that we cannot let go. We have each seen things that nobody in their late teens or early 20's should ever see. Yet many of us saw it in spades and still see it in our minds, there forever locked up for only ourselves and God to see.
I wish us and indeed all veterans of all wars well,
Dennis
Sep 17, 2017 11:20:12 #
Thanks Dennis,
I took the liberty to pass this on to some of the fellow vets I know.
I took the liberty to pass this on to some of the fellow vets I know.
Sep 17, 2017 12:29:52 #
This has been on my mind for the past few years. For the past few years, my fellow vets, especially those that served in country have been passing away. Mostly from disease stemming from things like agent orange. They all had the same ailments, having a hard time breathing, some form of COPD. I thought for sure we had a few more years ahead of us. Welcome home to ALL vets whether WWII, Korea, Vietnam or the various sandboxes.
Sep 17, 2017 12:42:15 #
threedeers wrote:
Thanks Dennis,
I took the liberty to pass this on to some of the fellow vets I know.
I took the liberty to pass this on to some of the fellow vets I know.
You are welcome. Thanks for passing it on.
Dennis
Sep 17, 2017 17:37:58 #
Those were my enlisted days in the Navy..... but I was stationed in the Med, facing the Russkies. I've definitely a Viet Nam War Era vet. Later got out, went to university, and came back in as an Officer. And just as I was ending my career as a LCDR, Desert Storm in full swing. Turbulent times, those.
Sep 17, 2017 18:10:42 #
Bob Yankle wrote:
Those were my enlisted days in the Navy..... but I was stationed in the Med, facing the Russkies. I've definitely a Viet Nam War Era vet. Later got out, went to university, and came back in as an Officer. And just as I was ending my career as a LCDR, Desert Storm in full swing. Turbulent times, those.
Welcome home Bob.
Dennis
Sep 17, 2017 23:51:48 #
I served at home in the US to end that bloodletting and we here and especially the returning soldiers were the beneficiaries of the anti-war movement. There's still too much profit in the poor man's blood. It's always "Us and them, and after all were only ordinary men". There is no honor left, justus without just ice. I'm not sure that humans will ever get it right. Freakin' idiots proliferate and abound, but maybe we'll get lucky with natural selection dealing with stupidity rather than dumb down being hallmark.
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