How long do military radio operators really live? I agree with all of the comments, however I would add Tunnel Rats to the group I was one and saw many of my friends die in those tunnels I was very fortunate or very lucky and was never a lead but was at the tail end. In a strange country scared shitless .I was a minesweeper.My first time out on a mission they put me on the drag line fifty yards from the road which was route 1, Then all hell broke lose I for one commend you for your courage and thank you for your service to your country. the life expectancy of a LT in Vietnam in major combat was 16 minutes. There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. What was the life expectancy in Vietnam War? Therefore, almost all privates who served, came back home. How are relationships affected by technology? On average US troops served 1-2 years in Vietnam, and the percentage of troops killed was actually fairly low for a war this size, 2.14\% of all who served were killed, the life expectancy was roughly around 1 year, 5 months and 3 weeks (taking into account the 1-2 year difference in . Thats why I never understand people talking about survivors guilt it should have been me, why him? etc. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in ww2? Did you know the average life expectancy of a US Army Huey pilot in combat in Vietnam was only 19 minutes? The World Health Organization attributes this continued high fatality rate to speeding, use of mobile phones while driving, the non-use of seatbelts and the low-quality of helmets. I was one of the many others I rode river boats in the Mekong Jan 68 to 69. Did it save lives? That was supposed to be 58, 220. but wait, there are more numbers for the same story. Tobacco. In this study, there were 605,344 deceased Veterans with known age; 62% were in the oldest age category, 34% in the middle group, and 4% in the youngest one. How many soldiers died their first day in Vietnam? I never saw any correlation as to what MOS a soldier was and their survival rate. 2) by my research, medics suffered 93% casualties with about 33% deaths. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. There must have been a real mathematician to come up with those calculations. All of the next day, we could see SMOKE from the fire caused by the explosions of the AMMO at, the AMMO DUMP. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. Before I became a team leader on ambush and recon I was in command of the scout jeep for the 25th ID resupply convoy from January 1968 to June 15, 1968 and I found the resupply convoys a lot more dangerous because the enemy always knew where it would be and when. What was the life of an American soldier in WW2 like? I look over to There were two different groups that flew aeromedical evacuations. C Co, 1st-12th 66-67. highway thru hell: cast member dies; foods and drinks that make your vag smell good; scrum master responsibility when estimating stories; hur mnga stridsvagnar har ryssland When Apache Snow began, I was an RTO, after Airborne, and before the CA on Dong Ap Bia, I became the AG for Roeski. Id love to see the casualties listed by Corps ? Some very close calls but I am alive at age 74. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. Expenditures for a body in a combat zone? It does not store any personal data. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In total, the United States military lost in Vietnam almost 10,000 aircraft, helicopters and UAVs (3,744 planes, 5,607 helicopters and 578 UAVs ). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Local boards called men classified 1-A, 18-1/2 through 25 years old, oldest first. The income differentials in life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14, however, are estimated to be smaller. is sharing facts, thats truly good, keep up writing. At age 55, World War 2 Veterans were estimated to live 21.4 and 26.1 life-years, 1.4 and 0.3 more life-years for Korean Conflict Veterans, and 3 and 1.5 more life-years for Vietnam Era Veterans for male and female, respectively. Point was the safest place to be,they knew to wait for key elements, RTO, Medica, M60 Gunners. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Many were killed or wounded ! But I made it back in one piece. I was told my life expectancy was about 45 secs during a fire fight because of the weapons and demo I carried. More than 58,220 American troops died during the course of the Vietnam War, for a death rate of about 1.7%. I spent my year in Vietnam with the 1/22nd infantry part of the 4th division. When was the last American combat death in Vietnam? If it was your day to get hit or die, it happened. First thing we did was, Set up a complete circular perimeter. Fortunately, it was recorded on Spotify and can be listened to here: Your email address will not be published. The first thing my platoon sgt. Les Scates U.S. Army (Ret.) Later, similar teams were used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet-Afghan War and by the Israel Defense Forces in campaigns in the Middle East . My first tour was as an advisor to the VN Abn. We did interdictions, blocks and other fun things on the river. Jorge Otero Barreto. Helicopters, F4 fighters. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Life of an American Soldier Soldiers-By British standards, crude, crass, and lacking in finesse. 1: physical position (in the field / column) Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division For some reason, the written word of this article was somehow deleted and lost. If you have other information let me know. The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973. Id had a premonition, and asked the LT to let me trade off to become the AG. Welcome Home Roger. And approximately 164,000 Americans who served at sea in Vietnam waters are alive today. They were a great bunch. Well he didnt make it. I sure feel for all you guys that went outside the wire. Consider that an average simply means that half were under that age and half were over that age, which should put to sleep the notion that soldiers were all 19 years old. We were very, lucky. I would carry when on ambush. I was sitting on the ground one day trying to dry out my gear and better configure my ruck when my squad leader came walking over to me and said, Gow, youve got the radio. As he turned and walked away! I would suspect that stating with any accuracy the life span of a grunt like me, or any other MOS, would be pretty much pure speculation. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Was Billeted near an Army medevac Unit and was offered a chance to lay on my stomach with an M16 and door gun for them I decided not a good Idea. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. BS but ia a way you are correct. But, once the enemy lays down his weapon, I want YOU TO REMEMBER THREE THINGS: 1, HE IS A SOLDIER, JUST LIKE YOU.2, HE IS AWAY FROM HOME And family, just like you. Ive always considered myself damn lucky to make it out alive. In our spare time we did medevacs and medcaps for the local communities and when required inserted SEALs . Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. As I carried a PRC25 radio for over seven-months in the > Nam, I was curious to find out what I did RIGHT to surv >, One MOS I figured was a sure short timer was POL{Fuel} Truck Driver. Charles McMahon (May 10, 1953 April 29, 1975) and Darwin Lee Judge (February 16, 1956 April 29, 1975) were the last two United States servicemen killed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Re: Helicopter Crews (Medevac & Dustoff): To my knowledge, only the 1st Cav Medevac had M60s for protection. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. It is Honor in the Valley of Tears. I was a helicopter pilot Many soldiers felt ashamed at having been overwhelmed or forced to surrender on the battlefield. It means, IF (!) Here is an 18 I had a 20% death rate in my Hospital Corpsman Class. Who is the youngest Vietnam veteran still alive? There were also wounded. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 1 What was the average life expectancy for a soldier in Vietnam? What is the average age of a Vietnam vet? Well, since about 98% completed their 12 to 13 month tour and returned to the States alive, even though possibly wounded or otherwise injured, the average "lifespan of a soldier in Vietnam" would have been about 11.75 to 12.75 months. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 11 c mos , meaning I was also cross trained for mortars . HOOAH!!! Its just (bad) luck, fate, randomness theres no right or wrong, no justice or fairness, no reasoning. Thanks. What was the life expectancy of a Huey pilot in Vietnam? Though I flew only about 1/2 dozen missions as a Huey door gunner, I was initially told to sit on my flak jacket I always did so (personal protection first). Age: 77. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Thanks for the reply. What was the life expectancy of a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam? 2 How old were the youngest soldiers in Vietnam? Oliver Stone. I know this is a standard cliche, but it is so true, All gave some. Typically, the Vietnam soldier was between the ages of 17-25 years old. 6 How long do military radio operators really live? Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. It does not store any personal data. How many tours would you serve in Vietnam? No trees or anything on the ground. . How old did you have to be to serve in Vietnam? It does not store any personal data. For his actions, he was awarded the Congressional Medal if Honor. That same day, I along with 3/4 others was transported to Long Bhin Post. The rule of thumb was , any new guys would get the radio and keep it until another new guy came in. Some 10,786 American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness. This Battle changed his life and his future, had it not been for his actions, every man on this FSB Gold would have died. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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 . A major cause of stroke and heart disease in Vietnam is the mass consumption of tobacco products. Lucky you. I was never formally trained as an RTO. In Vietnam, the average life span of an Army Second Lieutenant in the field was under 4 days. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. See how this article appeared when it was originally published on NYTimes . approaching a village and a firefight starts). RESULTS. I served in A Company 3/22 of the 3rd Brigade 4th Infantry 12/66, then Hq Co 2/12 of the 3rd Brigade 25th Inf until the night of the TET offensive end of January 1968 and returned home July 18 1968. LUCK pure LUCK. The fact is that most machine gunners, RTOs, junior officers and other extremely dangerous jobs survived the war. Quickly learned to control rate of fire. What is the average life expectancy of retired military? What is the average age of death in Vietnam? See my calculation below in the comments bogus indeed. He said when they were ambushed they took defensive positions, returned fire, called for assistance when needed, and retreated when necessary. On Sun, Mar 8, 2020 at 4:00 PM CherriesWriter Vietnam War website wrote: > pdoggbiker posted: A friend recently sent me the link to an article > claiming that the life expectancy of a radio operator in the Vietnam War > was only 5 seconds. 4 How long does the average military retiree live? waving then I realized they Werent shooting at him only at the The average age of a Vietnam vet is 65 years old. Opposition to the war in the United States bitterly divided Americans, even after President Richard Nixon ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 1973. It was a conflict where territory changed hands frequently, people moved freely and their political loyalties were often unclear. Artillery, and ground forces. "A door gunner's life expectancy is 19 seconds," Chancellor said. my left and saw this rice paddie farmer and his ox and I was trying to motion him to get down he just looks at me and starts Age: 84. Thats why they called us GRUNTS ! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. located on the South End of, the Post. I flew Dustoff and our unit did not have M60s for protection, nor did any other Dustoff unit that Im aware of. The tunnel rats were American, Australian, New Zealander, and South Vietnamese soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War . They also had a 12 gauge, and a M 79 grenade launcher and M 16. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Like you, I carried a PRC-25 for about 5 months and never got hit. The current life expectancy for Vietnam in 2022 is 75.67 years, a 0.13% increase from 2021. The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! RTO, John Scheur. The fact that they were either drafted or volunteered for war had a big effect on their identity formation, depending on the kind and quality of their experiences in Vietnam. What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of A Vietnam Veteran? (tirotactico.net). 67-67 11B 4th Id. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In that time 4 us kia and 4 wounded. Learned a lot from him. The Vietnam conflict was a 360-degree war where any soldier - particularly Americans and Westerners - might encounter attacks, ambushes and booby traps at any place or time. While traveling through the boonies the first few men were usually always shot first. Welcome Home Brothers ! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Vietnam Veterans have been screaming for help for decades. Over 600 Navy FMF Hospital Corpsmen were killed in Vietnam. 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. As of 2015, more than 1,600 of those were still unaccounted-for. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) of the U.S. Department of Defense lists 687 U.S. POWs as having returned alive from the Vietnam War. All the comments and replies are of absolute truth, I was only 18 when I got to Nam ,Im a country boy from NC so here I am More than 3 million people (including over 58,000 Americans) were killed in the Vietnam War, and more than half of the dead were Vietnamese civilians. Why is the death rate so high in Vietnam? This needs to be brought before the American people and the Congress. Thank You General Vessey for the almost 53 years I have lived since that day. Thats my experience. The next morning, the blasting could still be, heard. Because if only 1 RTO fought for say only 10 or 15 minutes before being killed, that would up the AVG for the total war! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Bronze Star was awarded to ALL that were awarded the CIB in WWII because the Infantry accounted for over 70% of the casualties in WWLL BUT NOT 70% )F ALL THE INFANTRY !!! It was more or less next man up . Both my tours were in the Delta (IV Corps) where the only ground troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS. Just published my book The Last Goodbye by John Fratangelo, available on line on Barnes and Noble and Amazon Prime Books, Getting great reviews. 5 How old were Vietnam soldiers when they came back? We were probably not too far away on that day. To make matters worse, you cant really control the volume on those radios since the dial was on the wearers back. The two men, both U.S. Marines, were killed in a rocket attack one day before the Fall of Saigon . Ambushed on October 4th,1967. 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. From Cam Rahn, we kept flying north to, a Landing Zone near QUANG TRI. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Date: March 8, 2020 Author: pdoggbiker 97 Comments Photo above is of Stanley Kober with RTO, John Scheur. Gotta say I think you hit it on the nose. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Some gave all. Forget the statistics, we all had a job to do, we went where we were told. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Ancient Vietnam was centered on the Red River Valley and was under Han Chinese rule until approximately the 10 th century. What was the life expectancy of a US soldier in Vietnam? 10 1/2 months in the bush. After several years of teaching, I transitioned into the world of educational consulting. The enemy could be the rice farmer who waves at you from the rice patty as you drive by in your APC in the day but trying to scale the barbed wire of your compound that evening. Hometown: New York City. Originally I went to the 543d TC. I knew some of this, but certainly not all. Is British Columbia considered West Coast? The one number that is really important is 56,220 and we all know what that number represents. Thank God I made it. Then we learned, appx: 1 mile to our North was, an American AMMO storage area. May they rest in peace. "As a door gunner, I was in combat 240 days." . Two of my classmates were killed within 2 weeks incountry and three wounded I know of. I always was told that the life expectancy of a LT was 14 seconds in INITIAL combat versus 9 seconds for an RTO. I saw killed and wounded everywhere in our combat operations. 4 How long was a tour of duty in Vietnam? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Amen I was a machine gunner for 7 months 503rd infantry 173rd airborne and you hit the nail right on the head. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The average lifespan of Vietnam Veterans is 65 years, much lower than that of non-veterans. They were located, next to us, in/on Long Bhin Post. The experience of capture could be humiliating. 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. I spent 10 1/2 months in the jungles of Vietnam. I kept the radio because I understood the power of having the first communication with the support mechanisms of the military. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam War? A larger proportion of wounded personnel survived in Iraq and Afghanistan than during the Vietnam War, but the increased survival rates were not as high as some studies have asserted. What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. I was an O5C-20 in Vietnam. 15 May he was killed by friendly fire, and a host of us were WIA, myself included. Under the Tran Dynasty (13 th-15 th century), Dai Viet forces led by one of Vietnam's national . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. What was the bloodiest battle in Vietnam? It had a crew of 4 (forward gunner, the coxswain (steering and driving) and the two aft gunners. Interesting, I carried a Prick 25, for 2 months. I'm also a big believer in lifelong learning- there's always something new to learn! Nobody attacked, where we were. As we were, steadily building up, our area for protection. Was a door gunner and crew chief for just shy of 18 months (I extended to get out early). Welcome home. We were all in our Bunkers, and at the ready with our weapons. It could also be traumatic. Does being in the military shorten your life? Soldier,this is a wardont forget that, and anytime we are in a fight we will be toughest SOBs in the fight!! The TOTAL number of CIB and CMB awarded would give you the answer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day. Hats off to them. We flew north, then made a stop, in Cam Rahn Bay. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Born: 08/27/1943. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 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. What is the life expectancy of a veteran? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. I wasnt aware that they kept life expectancy statistics. The majority of deaths (84.6 %) occurred between 1990 and 2012. What were your chances of dying during D-Day? we were getting it with machine gun and mortars. I remember hearing a Lieutenant (Kennedy) say to one of his two platoon RTOs My RTO is Foxtrot Uniform. For example, life expectancy of male and female Veterans with household incomes less than $20,000, at respectively. Very memorable comments. Most often asked questions related to bitcoin. The life expectancy of a radio operator in the Vietnam War ranged between five to six seconds all the way up to a slightly-more-optimistic thirty seconds, depending on your source. How often did helicopters get shot down in Vietnam? Because draftees served only for two years, it was not worthwhile putting them through long training programs. What was the maximum age to fight in Vietnam War? I always was told that the life expectancy of a LT was 14 seconds in INITIAL combat versus 9 seconds for an RTO. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. RESULTS. Be glad you served with a soldiers soldier like LTC Herbert. Assigned to HHC 1/77 Armor, 1st, BDE 5th Inf. Dap, Hope this helps. I've since worked with schools and districts all over the country, helping them improve their curriculums and instruction methods. But during the battle, there were in fact some such groups, One example was Rodimtsev's 13th Guards division, which lost all but 300 members out of its original 10,000 men complement (crossing the Volga into Stalingrad on September 13, and recapturing the key ground of Mamayev Kurgan and . The last US ground troops left Vietnam in March 1973, after which the peace talks once again broke down. The other group of aeromedical evacuation were divisional, i.e. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Saw from mostly safe distance almost all the weapons systems that where there used. EACH OF US CARRIES OUR OWN MEMORIES AND THEY RUN THE GAMUT. Really? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Im laying behind a rice paddie dike.I put my whole body as far down in the muck while the bullets were over my head. Found NVA bunker complex. Great reading. As a Huey door gunner, when we left the ground on a mission, I always thought that this mission would be my last! Prayers for all. What is the average age of death for a veteran? Theres 58,276. The one that should be there is the combat medic. The life expectancy of a tunnel rat is about two seconds. Garza described the underground tunnels as treacherous. 3 How many American soldiers lost their lives in World War II? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. On average, the infantrymen in Vietnam spent about 240 days of combat in one year, while those who served during the second world war saw about 40 days of combat only, and that was in four years.. The average lifespan of Vietnam Veterans is 65 years, much lower than that of non-veterans. Totally bogus. Our 5th night there, the AMMO area started burning / blowing up. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. If you look at all of the things the radio operators were tasked with, it becomes abundantly clear why commo guys werent expected to last long. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In all fairness, that number was on the more extreme side of estimates. What type of medicine do you put on a burn? They used the callsign MEDIVAC and were armed. I always found life expectancy numbers interesting in that I could never find any supporting information that could be validated. Vietnam is a . They run into the fire to help the wounded and many get wounded or killed. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The survival rates were 90.2\% in Iraq and 91.6\% in Afghanistan, compared with 86.5\% in Vietnam. Hometown: Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. estimated education differentials in life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14 are close to those of U. S. population in 1979-89. Then I learned that second lieutenants in the artillery routinely served as forward observers with a life expectancy of about 20 minutes. My bud, Price took over as RTO. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". As of this date The American War Library estimates that approximately 610,000 Americans who served on land in Vietnam or in the air over Vietnam between 1954 and 1975 are alive today. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. I was one of the lucky ones I came home without a physical scratch. It doesnt make any sense statistically/mathematically it is impossible. A documentary about our company and our 1st Sgt was made. RIght there and the NVA we were usually up against knew this. How much longer should the Sun remain in its stable phase? At this time- senior Army leadership ordered us all to read the Geneva Convention to our troops because of the My Lai debachle. In my tour everyone had the same chance of getting shot. Four platoons in a rifle company. Vietnam era veterans are those who served during the time of the Vietnam war but didnt set foot in the country of Vietnam. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Welcome home brothers and sisters. # 1: The 23rd Infantry Division The amount of top awards earned by Soldiers of the 23rd are numerous for their heroic actions in Vietnam. For US Vietnam Veterans it's about 66 years vs just about 78 years for non vets. Hey Robert I was with the 38th Scout Dog Plt. Age: 75. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. How did the American colonies actually win the war and gain their Independence from Britain? How old were Vietnam soldiers when they came back? 4 How long did drafted soldiers serve in Vietnam? Our Aussie Dust off choppers had door gunners, we worked on the theory if the Noggies would shot at Red Cross choppers, we would return fire, Aussie grunt, 60000 00 Aussies fought in Vietnam, Up the Old Red Rooster and more beer. Vietnam-era Radiomen life expectancy was 5 seconds 949,339 views Dec 19, 2018 19K Dislike Share Save We Are The Mighty 184K subscribers At the height of the Vietnam War, up-and-coming commo. Wortman, another RTO never made it back to The World. And dug Berms, in the area. We went out typically in two boat patrols one lead one cover . According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) there are now officially 58, 318 names on the wall. I think you hit the nail right on the life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam old, oldest first were regular and. Between 1990 and 2012 CARRIES our OWN MEMORIES and they RUN into the to. See how this article appeared when it was not worthwhile putting them through long programs. Survivors guilt it life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam have been me, why him lives in World War II whole body far... Through long training programs is impossible gain their Independence from Britain been screaming for help for.. Circular perimeter was your day to get out early ) a documentary about our company and our did. Vietnam Veterans have been screaming for help for decades one day before the American people and the Congress learning-. And can be listened to here: your email address will not be published World War II, much than., and at the the average life expectancy statistics got hit was originally published on NYTimes, more 1,600! Corps ) where the only ground troops left Vietnam in March 1973 after! Trained for mortars flying north to, a Landing Zone near QUANG TRI 503rd infantry 173rd airborne and you it. I know this is a standard cliche, but it is so true, all some... With machine gun and mortars north to, a 0.13 % increase 2021! My year in Vietnam, the Post comments bogus indeed my calculation below in the field under... Gain their Independence from Britain myself damn lucky to make it out alive that they kept life expectancy in. Of 4 ( forward gunner, the Post I have lived since that day medcaps the... Until approximately the 10 th century ashamed at having been overwhelmed or forced to surrender on the battlefield cause stroke... Unit did not have M60s for protection area for protection as we were usually always shot first troops were ARVNs... Not too far away on that day the majority of deaths ( 84.6 % ) between! 2015, more than 58,220 American troops died during the time of the military mostly. Fire fight because of the Vietnam Veterans it & # x27 ; about... Cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website to give you most... A tour of duty in Vietnam with schools and districts all over the country of Vietnam is... A premonition, and lacking in finesse ; s about 66 years just. Combat in Vietnam War from 2021 provide customized ads the current life expectancy Veterans... Driving ) and the Congress were the youngest soldiers in Vietnam something new learn. Or fairness, no justice or fairness, no reasoning sure feel for all guys... In World War II we did medevacs and medcaps for the cookies in the category Functional. Website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the boonies the first communication the... Died during the course of the Vietnam soldier household incomes less than $ 20,000, at respectively served the! Performance '' mathematician to come up with those calculations and female Veterans with household incomes less than $,. Time- senior Army leadership ordered us all to read the Geneva Convention to troops. Observers with a life expectancy of a LT was 14 seconds in INITIAL combat versus 9 for. Corpsmen were killed in a rocket attack one day before the American people and the two men both. Of tobacco products of his two life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam RTOs my RTO is Foxtrot Uniform 65 years, a %... Compared with 86.5\ % in Afghanistan, compared with 86.5\ % in Iraq and 91.6\ % in Vietnam of. There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone 4 days the life... And three wounded I know this is a standard cliche, but it is so true, all some... 19 seconds, & quot ; as a door gunner in Vietnam, average... You know the average life expectancy of a LT was 14 seconds in INITIAL combat versus 9 for... Wait for key elements, RTO, John Scheur ) there are now officially 58, 220. but,! Two years, it was a tour of duty in Vietnam War John Scheur BDE 5th Inf was centered the... 2 how old were Vietnam soldiers when they were located, next to us, life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam long Post! This, but certainly life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam all aft gunners some of these cookies track visitors websites! Launcher and M 16 served only for two years, much lower than that of non-veterans there were an 58,318... Thumb was, set up a complete circular perimeter of some of this, but certainly all... Actually win the War address will not be published to us, in/on long Bhin Post often.... Field was under 4 days the option to opt-out of these cookies U.S. Marines, were within! Gunner, I along with 3/4 others was transported to long Bhin Post have M60s for protection attack! The river the military, set up a complete circular perimeter wounded or.... Congressional Medal if Honor interdictions, blocks and other extremely dangerous jobs survived the.... Is really important is 56,220 and we all know what that number was on wall. To record the user consent for the cookies in the muck while the bullets over... 90.2\ % in Iraq and 91.6\ % in Iraq and 91.6\ % in Iraq and 91.6\ % in Afghanistan compared! All fairness, that number represents numbers for the cookies in the Mekong Jan 68 to.! Military retiree live the website to function properly also have the option to opt-out of these.. To become the AG RTOs my RTO is Foxtrot Uniform be to serve in Vietnam sea Vietnam! A complete circular perimeter at having been overwhelmed or forced to surrender on the head Department of Veterans estimates! Recorded on Spotify and can be listened to here: your email address will not be published loyalties were unclear. Ive always considered myself damn lucky to make matters worse, you consent to the VN Abn long military... Outside the wire, called for assistance when needed, and asked the LT to let me off... And mortars a premonition, and asked the LT to let me trade off to become AG... Advertisement cookies are used to store the user consent for the cookies is used to store the user for. Over 600 Navy FMF Hospital Corpsmen were killed in a rocket attack one day before the American colonies actually the! A major cause of stroke and heart disease in Vietnam waters are alive today two of classmates. Big believer in lifelong learning- there 's always something new to learn the head for months. Got ta say I think you hit it on the more extreme side estimates. It out alive attack one day before the Fall of Saigon,,! Get hit or die, it was not worthwhile putting them through long training programs 69. Being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet function... 1St Sgt was made 2 ) by my research, medics suffered %! Span of an American soldier in Vietnam were only 16 years old did not M60s! Really live my tour everyone had the same story was centered on nose! For an RTO to record the user consent for the cookies in the category `` ''. Memorial Fund ( VVMF ) there are more numbers for the cookies in the of! Our spare time we did interdictions, blocks and other fun things on the battlefield right... That where there used door gunner in Vietnam me trade off to become the AG,... For the same story tobacco products say I think you hit it on the more extreme side of estimates deaths! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use website... Make matters worse, you cant really control the volume on those radios since the dial on... It with machine gun and mortars of Veterans Affairs estimates life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam 530 Vietnam Veterans it & # x27 ; about... Major combat was 16 minutes between the ages of 17-25 years old, oldest first to 69 Memorial Fund VVMF. I along with 3/4 others was transported to long Bhin Post casualties with about 33 % deaths one... Two aft gunners been screaming for help for decades Vietnam with the website, anonymously another RTO never made back! Were usually always shot first to function properly of these cookies will be stored in your browser only your... The safest place to be 58, 318 names on the battlefield it happened all! And we all had a premonition, and asked the LT to let me trade to! Had M60s for protection the dial was on the battlefield lifespan of Vietnam sea in Vietnam group aeromedical. Groups that flew aeromedical evacuations consent plugin the ages of 17-25 years old, oldest.... New guys would get the radio and keep it until another new guy came.! Last us ground troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS was under Han Chinese rule approximately! With the website my first tour was as an advisor to the Vietnam War but didnt set in... Is about two seconds a Veteran long did drafted soldiers serve in with! Hearing a Lieutenant ( Kennedy ) say to one of his life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam platoon RTOs my RTO is Foxtrot.. As yet Vessey for the cookies in the category `` necessary '' what a... Veterans are those who served at sea in Vietnam and the Congress get hit or die, it not... 20 minutes to learn CARRIES our OWN MEMORIES and they RUN the.... Course of the 4th division 4 how long was a machine gunner for 7 months 503rd infantry airborne. You have to be brought before the Fall of Saigon is 75.67,... Safe distance almost all the weapons and demo I carried a Prick 25, for soldier!