a clerk typist got benefits. That's 390 per day. If you prefer to differentiate who served in country and who did not, then the arithmetic must divide the groups into two lists accordingly. It seems to be all about syntax. Suddenly, I was in front of the truck near the grill. All Lawyer adds is for 2 percent, do you think that this was a greater risk for Cancer. 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. Exhausted! I served until April 28, 1969 !!!!!!!!!!!! Ive seen start dates for the VN war as 1954, 1959, 1961, 1964 and 1965. VA released VetPop 2020 which is VA's new official estimate and projection of the Veteran population. So, I must be a VN Vet and VN Era Vet and Cold War Era Vet but not a Cold War Vet because I never got anywhere near the USSR. Combat Veterans know who they are, pretenders know that they are not.. But I guess I knew where I was if we were at a base. According to the Department of Defense, infantry soldiers had the highest casualties during the Vietnam War, making infantry the deadliest job in Vietnam. Should be simple enough but not, Not all ships are blue water ships. Since Sept. 11, 2001, just over 30,000 veterans have died by suicide four times more than the number of U.S. military personnel who died in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The funny thing,(not so funny) is that when we carried peaches and beer, no problem. Isolated atrocities committed by American Soldiers produced torrents The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day. 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. If you assumed that 500,000 new troops served there every year from 1962-1975, you still couldnt get to 9,000,000 serving there, so using the peak number is not realistic. Though Thailand was not designated a combat zone. Vietnam 2/722/73. Or is this a total number of vets with all the other countries that supported us . Very devisive infighting among all the service members who served at a time when it was not popular. I arrived in country Dec. 5, 1967. 2.4 million man who served in Nam approx. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. by your definition, cia personal in civilian clothes were not veterans. AFAIC, anyone within the bounds of South Vietnam was on the ground. In or out of a compound or an LZ or anywhere else. my larger point is that , in my opinion, they were veterans. This cookie is used by the website's WordPress theme. question. the draft board made that very clear. One sapper shot off a whole magazine of armor piercing bullets at the drivers side windshield of the truck, and glass was flying in all directions. By the time I got to vin long the nva was gone and Charlie was pretty much non existent, he new we had snakes, the closest I got to him was when I was on the perimeter waiting for him to crawl thru the wire. Nov.62 I got off a PanAm flight at Tan Son Nhut with a US passport, wearing civilian clothes and colorful floral leis around my neck after a stop in Hawaii. i have read that only one in seven guys that went to Vietnam, were actually in combat. 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. Who is the oldest living Vietnam veteran? Thats sad and should stop. 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. 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. But the bad news is that Charlie knew exactly where they were . I do not know how many others served with us. Born: 08/27/1943. Only military remaining were Marines at the Embassy. Our service was diminished while there and continues being disrespected by those who lump all Vietnam-Era vets with those whose lives were on the line. why not compare them?. Dont know about the MM but everyone got the same combat pay whether a grunt or clerk. We had a lot of support vets near Saigon. Been there, seen it, did it. How many WWII veterans die each day? maybe, maybe not. I made a mistake !!!!! VA's Veteran Population Projection Model estimates that there are approximately 6.1 million living Vietnam War-era Veterans, as of 2021. was i a veteran? Having studied the war for years, I believe that the correct figure for those on the ground in South Vietnam is 2.6 million. I believe you mean the malaria pill was once a week. Most of the time as a grunt without a map. Thank you in advance! Was an Armored Cav Platoon leader Nov 67-Mar 68 Lost 4 APCS 4 men in my platoon KIA 12 wounded I think I was in a little combat . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. it is much easier to say who was not. Be content with your service, and leave it there. We all bleed red. The article states that The youngest Vietnam Veteran is aged in the late 60s today. Those who do not remember where in country they were, WHERE NOT THERE.. Or suffering from a complete mental memory disorder. Jorge Otero Barreto. i was not a supporter of the war but i did my job. earned their stripe. Nebraska Farm Boy, that had to go to County Agent Classes before buying any chemicals. We had a dustoff attached to us. We had it good compared to grunts..tdy pay, flight pay, combat pay plus side gigs. In addition, the US lost two F-111As, three F-4s, two A-7s, two A-6s, one EB-66, one HH-53, and one RA-5C. We who were in Vietnam know who we are and dont need anyone telling us what they think. 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. Other sappers were shooting their AKs at any targets. Bob Kerrey. Hell no. 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. Needless to say, I set them straight about his lying BS, and moved out the next day. A veteran who served in the Vietnam War would be in their early 70s to late 90s today, depending on their birth year. It would cause great pain to them; reminiscent of what occurred to the family of my namesake, my first cousin Dante Michael Puccetti. Aint this fun? of the 1st cav div. none more than the ERA Vets. These numbers are probably as good as any well ever find and are from 2019 and 2021 respectively. A few days later I was in fatigues on a C-123 to Da Nang, and a month later driving Hai Van Pass to Phu Bai with 3rdRRU Mobile Det (ASA). Same aircraft were used and were not cleaned before spraying anything else. All I know is that Im a Vietnam Combat Vet. When I opened my mouth and started talking about Nam, Id get this response, We dont talk about Nam .In my opinion we should tell everyone about our combat experience. One good way to detect a phony is to ask him what his MOS was. We did what we felt needed doing. He now has a 100% disability as unemployable. That was our regimen along the Cambodian border, too. We need a better more definitive for VIETNAM Vet. So I was in the Army National Guard during the Iraq War, So I guess I am An Iraq War Veteran. The number of people who are Vietnam veterans in the first place is a number that is widely debated. just an aside.I was at dinner the other night with my wife and at the next table was an honest Veteran. As a child I knew several WWII veterans. When all was done and the Army was cleaning up the details of the action, they decided to award CIBs to the officers and not to enlisted. How Many B 52S Were Shot Down During The Vietnam War? This battle resulted in the loss of 13 Marines (10 in combat, 3 were left behind and executed by the Khmer Rouge, 2 Navy Corpsmen, and 3 Air Force pilots. I think 9+ million total in US military service during the peak years of the Vietnam War and 2.6 2.7 million in Nam and its waters and air space is right. Im 71 and waiting to see if Ill be the last one standing. 101st Airborne 25th Infantry 82nd Airborne 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. It was hot that day; the mosquitoes were going through my mind, and the sun was again brilliant. Leave your thoughts below in the comment section. He was killed in action just a few months later. I dont know why we have to make this simple arithmetic drill so difficult. Stolen Valor the American Way! A Vietnam Era Veteran is everyone who was serving in the military while the Vietnam War was going on. I was drafted in May of 1966 specifically for the reactivation of the 9th Infantry..so B Co., 4/47th/9th Inf. One was daily and the other weekly. Then we went back to the Boonies. There were approx. Ive often wondered how many of us are left. I always ask those who claim to be Compare yourself to the Marines at Fallujah, if they are a 10, what number are you, Thanks for your comment! I stomped the gas and the engine roared- the truck jumped forward and bounced crazily and so did, garbing the steering tightly. Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category . He received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. Youll have to look for it, but a long time ago I posted the most recent VA numbers I could find. 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. As a retired Green Beret, his assessment and stats of the war are accurate. Granted, most of them were deployed for the durationa WWII vet I knew was gone 4 years without coming back to the states. Born: 04/07/1937. There are no foolproof questions. That number stands around 306,000 killed by agent Orange (and other colors). We certainly were in close combat often during my tour in 69-70. It caused extreme political unrest and was widely protested. I was with 4th Med Bn. If you served in country on a ship in the gulf or dropped 2000 pound bombs you are a vietnam vet. as far as who is a vietnam vet is simple. How Many Vietnam Veterans Are Still Alive In 2022? I was thinking that in 10 days I would be on R&R in Taipei, Formosa. The percentage of fatalities that resulted from this was 7.9%. This part of Pleiku Province is a combination of mountains, triple to single canopy jungle and/or open valleys. (Crew Chief 1970-71) 25 AVN 25 INF (1971-72) C/16 CAV. Approximately 7,500 women were stationed in Vietnam during the war. In country Vietnam Vets are the only Vietnam Vets. I would hope they are considered Vietnam combat Vets. As well, those who served in Thailand in late 1973-1975 are often looked down upon as not being real Vietnam Veterans. We are, as we helped conduct many support missions in the region, helped with draw assist during the fall of Cambodia, S. Vietnam and Laos. I know full well it takes many, many hands to make the infantry function but like you saidclaim your time. Steve 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. I entered an L shaped ambush. Tom, to me, the CIB says everything; the wearer is a soldier who has earned the right to it and deserves respect. We dont respect the combat Vets and they shouldnt disrespect us. I certainly dont agree on the 9 million in country. In the article, the writer quotes Patrick S. Brady of Vietnam Veterans of Americas magazine. We got a personal visit from 10 Generals (no joke). He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II. 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. When he first got out we roomed together, and I came home from school one day s clss was canceled. 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. Agent Orange is impacting that timeline and those serving around the world were not affected by this wonderous life-robbing gift. Rear echelon? **********************************************************. I heard them offen. 2.8 million tour because some guys just couldnt get enough! Our Honor and Integrity are important to each of us. Peter: 67N2F, 119th AHC 68-69. Approx 58,000 in Vietnam. I was only there 9-months but others served multiple tours, so I tend to believe the 2.7 3.0 million is probably an accurate number. at DaNang If we came in they set up tents to sleep in and had a big blivet bag for a shower. @Dea KellyWere you on the ground when this happened? Lost my Vet to Leukemia just after this count was done. Real combat veterans will share with other combat veterans as their stories have many similarities. His Engineer company was tasked to fight as Infantry, and they did. Our medic gave them out every Monday. 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. We havent forgotten that time of our lives, and remember full well, that most of these ERA Vets joined these other branches in a desperate attempt to avoid service in Vietnam. We just hoped the pilot put us where we were supposed to be. Hometown: Detroit, Michigan. There are questions like this that are hard to answere as being true boots on ground. Perfect. Agent Orange is a Herdicide. I changed emails and cant reach you!! Due to TCDD among other toxic substances, we are dying off faster than other American men born between 1944-1950. I served in Vietnam from Jul 68 to Jul 69. The debate depends on only two numbers. I find it best not to remember that time. but i was happy to serve. This is a controversial post. A few times Id meet a group of guys claiming they were all Nam Vets. He showed me his DD214 and low and behold it says he was in Vietnam. How old is the youngest Vietnam veteran still alive? The total goes up every day. SP5 Mark Kuzinski 86.6K 296 151 53 53 0 Vietnam veterans are dying at the rate of 390 deaths each day. Data Appendix Methods Report Report FAQs. Enjoy today's Memorial Day and please take time to "Remember". How Many World War 2 Veterans Die Each Day? What other conclusions have been made about the percentage of Vietnam veterans who are still alive? This situation has been an issue for years longer than any of us has been around. 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. Gordon, I agree. i agree with many who feel that a private who served his time in new jersey is not a vietnam vet. And, if you think 75% of actual Vietnam Vets (especially after Covid, and more than 50 years of time) are still alive, youre kidding yourself. References:https://www.americanwarlibrary.com/personnel/vietvet.htmhttps://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/26/science/how-many-vietnam-veterans-are-still-alive.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War, The Armys FY 2023 budget request is ~$177.5 Billion. I think by now weve pretty much said all that can be said about this question. The first advisors were sent in country much earlier than 1962. 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. i TO AM A VEITNAM VET. The difference David, is that you could quit at any moment, most Veterans who served in Vietnam did not have that choice. I give a silent prayer of thanks for all of you, every time I hear a chopper going by, even now. I can tell you that those who served in Thailand should definitely be considered Vietnam Vets. I am a Proud US Army Veteran retired in 1984. I went on about 500 missions. 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 like 75 percent of Vietnam veterans still living and breathing today. Hometown: Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. Served until April 28, 1968 !!!!!! Combat veterans will share their experiences with other veterans especially combat veterans (CIB). we spent sometimes a month or more in one port depending on the cargo and the need. Please respond! waited and waited for our slot in port. Christmas Night, Midnight, a guy in the next Bunker committed suicide. Age: 77. Just come up with two lists and leave it at that. 45-50 years from now (and I bet no-one will want to The site is owned and run by a crook and charlatan named (?) 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. 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. Could they be considered Vietnam veterans then? The last three I knew had lost a lot of weight, two had each lost a lung. Based on data through September 30, 2020, VetPop2020 provides a projection of the Veteran population at each fiscal year end from 2020 to 2050. 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. when we carried ordnance we had to accept 50 cal fire from the shore on the way to saigon. fired on coming up river, a few other things. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I do not like pretenders but do not want to take on the duty of Valor Police. 7,484 women served in Vietnam, 83.5% being nurses. Im sorry I did. Last one left was about 15 to 20 years ago. How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? Base was 1st MAW Danang AB which got hit early Tet with rockets, mortars and sappers. We all started getting heart attacks around the same time. An AK found its target in my thigh. However, according to the Veterans Affairs Administration, there are an estimated 38,000 veterans die each day. in viet nam, because of the unions, they got more money. I to served two tours 67-68 and 69-70,first with 1st of 8th cav. I read a statistic somewhere that one in seven where in actual combat. Scavenger1, I agree with you. I knew that I was gravely wounded, and bullets were kicking up dust clouds as they were landing around my feet. I served in 67 69 & had stroke in 93 then heart attack in 2002 with 2d in 2004 . U failed to remember the last name on the Wall was in 1975. hello, It was also projected that, from here, 138,000 Vietnam veterans are expected to die each year. 3rd Brigade 4th ID attached to the 25th ID 111.40 & 112.40 later these became 11B.40 & 11C.40. I found out from a vet in 2017, filed in 2018. All others should not be accepted to have served either on land or at sea in Vietnam. 1 in 14 men pulled a trigger in Nam. (Operation Ranch Hand) that were loaders and used no protection. In 2019, the most . stay safe. If you were in Vietnam, you were exposed to Agent Orange, period. Thank you..Its been many years sinice I left, needed answers, read the 1987 pulitzer prize book on Vietnam, A Bright Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan, and later Secrets by Daniel Ellsberg a Marine who worked at the pentagon cable room.both left me so shaken I couldnt finishe either but Ilearned so much. That is exactly what I was going to post. They dont include forces in Guam or Thailand. Lots of people say they served in Nam, but dont remember their unit, where they were at in country or any buddies or officers names, since I served with D 2/1 196th LIB as a Combat Medic in 1968, I carried a company Roster and had to give each EM a malaria pill each day, I learned everyones name, dont remember them all after 53 yrs but go to reunion when I can. The first impact of a rocket was twenty meters to the left and ten meters behind as the rocket flew over its target. Question One: Are we talking Vietnam Veterans or Vietnam Era Veterans. Heres a fact: Jeffery Lynn Scheller, USN, born July 31, 1954 was Killed In Action on October 1, 1972. The Vietnam Veterans of America have cited that they will remain an organization until last man standing. (LogOut/ 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. A few people were killed. David, please do not compare this to Merchant Seaman in WWII who braved the many packs of Submarines etc as thgatr uis hgow many died in WWIU, Sorry my spell check went nuts Very true One of those is my younger brother. Another 2,000,000 were in country but worked supply or support [based on 10% rule]. All who served In Country and the those outlying areas in support should be considered Vietnam Vets. Im glad you made it back! Combat Vets and Non Combat Vets. But having spent a little time thinking about it, I go with the 2m figure. Besides, who says anyone can claim this status or that status just because. It served my pain well as a lifeless, mean spirited dark soul destroying everything in front of me. I had encountered a learning experience, and inspirational contact with the celestial. But a growing army of strangers is. The ERA Vets know perfectly well that they were neverNEVER..in Vietnam, and that this is nothing but a desperate attempt to gain the respect those men earned. Ive also created a poll to help identify my website audience before leaving, can you please click HERE and choose the one item that best describes you. Got a nice break the last 5 months, got to drive a bird colonel around Chu Lai as he delivered classified info all over the base !!!!! These Veterans are now in or about to reach . How Many Vietnam Veterans are AliveToday? I remember reading in the Stars and Stripes there were 500,000 plus in Vietnam at the time. Help train personnel from many different Companies to do the same. My name is Ananda. Their is a new book about to be released by Bill Comeau that tells a similar story of the 3rd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Duel with the Dragon about the Battle of Soui Tre that I fought in. Cheers, Their lives should be given importance. drafted in 1966, Vietnam 1967-68 with the 1st infantry Division.now 75!!!! Who is the oldest living Vietnam veteran? Funny, none of them were called WWII Era Veterans. YouTube sets this cookie via embedded youtube-videos and registers anonymous statistical data. Was I counted each time or once? Vietnam Vet_combat. Estimating the number of suicides among Vietnam veterans Unconfirmed reports that 50,000 or more Vietnam veterans have committed suicide give the impression that these veterans are at exceedingly high risk of suicide compared with other veterans and nonveterans of the same age. I was also at LZ Bayonet. Air medals say combat support flying night spook missions around Haiphong from 68 -71. to Ken Drombosky ******************************************************* About 15 out of every 100 Vietnam veterans (15%) were currently diagnosed with PTSD when the most recent study of . 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. Did your foot ever touch the ground? However, he did not return to the United States until March 22, 1979. It was what it was. 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. He never did ,Thank god ,because I ended up marrying a beautiful woman and we have the most precious and beautiful daughter. Bob, Those of us on the battlefield who bled and many died would take issue with your opinion. Operation Homecoming was completed on March 29, 1973, when the last of 591 U.S. prisoners were released and returned to the United States. The definition of Combat Veteran is NOT if you have a CIB. It should be duly noted that these numbers do not include the 2500 to 3000 US Air Force troops stationed in Guam, Thailand, and other countries that were involved in the Vietnam War effort. Ah. All the millions of other Vietnam Era Veterans are Cold War Veterans. for myself, being bored sometimes, and anxious to see and do more, i volunteered and went on a number of supply missions to the fire bases. We need more honest Veterans. The VA researchers analyzed the death certificates of 21 states to create the 2010 national estimate for veterans from all age groups. The now call them Vietnam era veterans. We all figured it was a Combat death. 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 ? The artillery, Helo crews, combat engineers, in Vietnam are also considered Combat Vets, Well, I guess it just did not count for us Huey Teams (Sky Angels) supporting infantry/artillery units by flying in to lay down suppression fire, flying you into hot LZs, taking you out of the boonies, bringing you ammo and supplies, flying the wounded and dead back to base camp, not to mention Huey night Hawk missions to rectify an enemy ambush for our infantry that would be pinned down with no hope of survival. A phantom drifted over and raised me up to unconsciousness. Before I passed out, I was being picked up off the jungle floor by some entity. I have done lots of research, read a bunch of historical history, and met and talked to well over 1000 NAM VETS !!!!! It has a life of its own. After Tet it was quiet. Without a doubt Helicopter Crews are COMBAT VETS, to fly so low & slow over the most hidden turf below.. On landing at LZ Gold March 19, 1967 we lost 6 Hueys and 7 pilots. The insistence to include Vietnam-ErA vets with those who served in-country results in a ridiculous skew to any meaningful stats. I meant any one that stepped foot in The average lifespan of a door gunner on a Huey in Vietnam was just two weeks. The politicians and fake news along with the Berkeley professors lost it for the American people after that. It was an incredibly tumultuous time in US history and, for that reason, its unclear how many people actually served during this struggle. Guys like me know the difference. 109, 000 died in the service during this period. All opinions graciously welcomed. BAM! . I was a REMF but was on my 4th pair of boots.