The first six or seven months I walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and green eye patrols. Compared to the U. S. population, the mortality rates of Veterans are higher at older ages, and the life expectancy of Veterans are estimated to be 0.7-0.9 life-years shorter for males, and to be 1.2-1.3 life-years shorter for female at age 25, 45, and 65. For example, life expectancy of male and female Veterans with household incomes less than $20,000, at respectively. Then we learned, appx: 1 mile to our North was, an American AMMO storage area. It didnt matter who you were or where you were. Like you, I carried a PRC-25 for about 5 months and never got hit. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. # 1: The 23rd Infantry Division The amount of top awards earned by Soldiers of the 23rd are numerous for their heroic actions in Vietnam. 1 What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? Todd Heisler/The New York Times. We walked the mountains and rice patties all thru Tu Thien Province. How Much Are Parking Passes At Kent State? . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Oliver Stone. Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division. My second tour was as the S3 for LTC Anthony Herbertone of Americas greatest leaders and WARRIORS OF ALL TIME. In your rucksack . And us the living that served, who suffer from PTSD ,that figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest of all. My good friend who was a RTO was killed. Love this analysis. It could also be traumatic. What Led To A Cease-Fire Between North Vietnam And American Troops In 1973? 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. I always found life expectancy numbers interesting in that I could never find any supporting information that could be validated. You seen the enemy you shots him and vice versa. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. KICK ASS AS NEEDED!!! Some Brothers said why spend another year in this hellhole???? We were expecting, an attack. Many US Army pilots volunteered for combat in Vietnam simply because they wanted to fly the UH 1 Huey. For US Vietnam Veterans it's about 66 years vs just about 78 years for non vets. What does it mean that the Bible was divinely inspired? Got hit inside 15 minutes, first ambush we walked up too. How many Vietnam veterans had Agent Orange? I was wounded 3 times during the 10 1/2 months I was in-country before being medevacd out in Apr of 68. RESULTS. Total fantasy. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Compared to the U. S. population, the mortality rates of Veterans are higher at older ages, and the life expectancy of Veterans are estimated to be 0.7-0.9 life-years shorter for males, and to be 1.2-1.3 life-years shorter for female at age 25, 45, and 65. despite their oral claim of service there. Over 600 Navy FMF Hospital Corpsmen were killed in Vietnam. 10 1/2 months in the bush. The overall age at death was 75 13 yr. 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! I am one lucky SOB. S/F, There were no door gunners on dustoffs. Then he said youre on a FB, the enemy always knows your location, can pretty much attack at will, and you really dont have the capability to retreat. We observed the rules of the Geneva Convention while the bad guys had no interest in doing so. I applaud the courage and difficult and all so dangerous job of Roger Herforth when he served as an RTO for the Hawk Recon Platoon of the 101st airborne division in Vietnam.. Ed, I was in a Grunt Platoon in Vietnam 70-71. First thing we did was, Set up a complete circular perimeter. Me, a vehicle mechanic with Btry E, 41st Arty Quads 1970. Also: for years I have read those life-expectancy numbers never really understanding them, but also noting that they wildly vary. We did interdictions, blocks and other fun things on the river. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. What was the life expectancy in Vietnam in 1990? No trees or anything on the ground. What was the life expectancy of a soldier in World War II? Thank You for your courageous service as an RTO with the legendary Hawk Recon Platoon. How are relationships affected by technology? A "Sapper" is a combat engineer soldier who is with the front line infantry troops. The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973. Death rates from disease-related chronic conditions, including cancers and circulatory system diseases, did not differ between Vietnam veterans and their peers, despite the increasing age of the cohort (mean age, 53 years) and the longer follow-up (average, 30 years). RIght there and the NVA we were usually up against knew this. Did you have to serve in Vietnam to be a Vietnam veteran? There were houses down there and hospitals, Garza noted. The first thing my platoon sgt. 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. Sure but so was everyone else who went 12 months without getting killed or wounded. How many Vietnam soldiers died of snake bites? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The 1968 Battle of Khe SanhThe 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh was the longest, deadliest and most controversial of the Vietnam War, pitting the U.S. Marines and their allies against the North Vietnamese Army. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I look over to While traveling through the boonies the first few men were usually always shot first. I was a helicopter pilot located on the South End of, the Post. Only trained for 8 weeks then shipped out. 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 Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. What type of medicine do you put on a burn? My shit got weak and a sniper popped three rounds in my young ass. year old Marine thinking this is my last day on earth. Thats why they called us GRUNTS ! However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Originally I went to the 543d TC. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. During the Vietnam War, the odds were tremendously stacked against radio operations and that 5-second life expectancy was, for some, a grim reality. How Were Returning Soldiers From Vietnam Treated? How many tours would you serve in Vietnam? I saw killed and wounded everywhere in our combat operations. Units would send a thorough report of their KIA and WIA, battle action coordinates, estimated enemy troop strength, enemy unit KIA/captured and any known direction heading. Different strokes for different folks in war fer sure. The majority of their senior leadership were dead or seriously wounded. Many were killed or wounded ! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. rice farmer who was still working with is ox like nothing ever Les Scates U.S. Army (Ret.) 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 will always think/say, we had absolutely no reason for being in that place. How long does the average military retiree live? The oldest man killed was 62 years old. I always was told that the life expectancy of a LT was 14 seconds in INITIAL combat versus 9 seconds for an RTO. Your article was quite interesting. The life expectancy for Vietnam in 2021 was 75.57 years, a 0.13% increase from 2020. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. What was the life of an American soldier in WW2 like? Lt lost a finger, same time. Hamburger Hill was the scene of an intense and controversial battle during the Vietnam War. The article was interesting. They were short of gunners on helicopters, because the life expectancy was somewhere between 13 and 30 days, he said. I carried the PRC-25 Radio most of that time. 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.. . 2/3 of the men who served in World War II were drafted. Good article. What are the 14 diseases associated with Agent Orange? Because of this harsh truth, Tim O'Brien sheds light on the physical and psychological burdens on the life of a common soldier through his autobiography, The Things They Carried. We all have opinions, this is mine. Tony told me that either he or I would greet all incoming troops and we did- and here is the speech we gave to them. How many Vietnam veterans are still alive in 2022? Had multiple Ks and Ws. When Roeski got hit, I took over the M-60. If my memory is correct, only the 1st Cab flew wiith doorgunners. I was shot down on my very first mission in July 1968. I am 81 now and survived the encounter by terminated the sniper. In Vietnam 70% 0f the casualties were Infantry BUT it might be 70% of ALL the Infantry that served in Vietnam. Who Was The First Black Person To Be Featured On A Canadian Currency? 3 How many Vietnam soldiers died of snake bites? sweep team,then I heard the choppers and they were blowing the hell out in the tree line then it just got so quiet like nothing Was I lucky ? I was to have that experience two more times before it was over. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. Age: 84. Can you pick flowers on the side of the road? John Doever LUCK pure LUCK. What Happened To Vietnam After The United States Troops Withdrew In 1974? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973. I saw aircraft loaded with troops explode in mid-air. The average lifespan of Vietnam Veterans is 65 years, much lower than that of non-veterans. No combat assignments for another year of service in Vietnam or get out in about a month. Back in 1965, I was a door gunner on Medevac recovery operations. They were lazy, cowardly and of questionable loyalty, especially the RUFF/PUFFS, and they would steal your under ware if given half a chance. Vietnam is a . You would go into a hole and come out 10 or 15 miles away. Date: March 8, 2020 Author: pdoggbiker 97 Comments Photo above is of Stanley Kober with RTO, John Scheur. This is excellent! The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 101st Airborne Division. Back then, men were only expected to live until 65 and women until 72. The two men, both U.S. Marines, were killed in a rocket attack one day before the Fall of Saigon . What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? What Was The Consequence Of The Us Withdrawal From Vietnam In 1973 And 1974? EACH OF US CARRIES OUR OWN MEMORIES AND THEY RUN THE GAMUT. Two of my classmates were killed within 2 weeks incountry and three wounded I know of. mr G777. Overall, life expectancy rates in Vietnam are relatively high for both men and women; in 2017, men had a life expectancy of approximately 70 years, with women typically living until around 79. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. What is the average age of death for a veteran? Is It Hard To Get Into Kent State University? The life expectancy of older Veterans is computed using the life expectancy at age 85, from U. S. life tables (6)which are 5.2, 5.4, and 5.7 life-years for male Veterans and of 6.6, 6.7, and 6.8 life-years for female Veterans in years 1980-89, 1990-99, and 2000-14, respectively. 2,458 4. Lived too tell about it. Cruz quite a lot. I was an RTO for 9-1/2 months for Hawk Recon 2/327 101AB from dec, 1969 to sept 70. Ancient Vietnam was centered on the Red River Valley and was under Han Chinese rule until approximately the 10 th century. (and yes, you cant ask them, so it would have to be derived from the AA-reports and survivors). Re: Helicopter Crews (Medevac & Dustoff): To my knowledge, only the 1st Cav Medevac had M60s for protection. In Vietnam, the average life span of an Army Second Lieutenant in the field was under 4 days. State Vietnam Veterans Vietnam Veterans (per 100k) Utah 42,774 1,272 How [] The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The Ly Dynasty (11 th-13 th century) ruled the first independent Vietnamese state, which was known as Dai Viet, and established their capital at Thang Long (Hanoi). I was told my life expectancy was about 45 secs during a fire fight because of the weapons and demo I carried. During the Vietnam war the helicopters that came in to transport soldiers were the hardest hit with mass casualties.AnswerIn Stalingrado the average life expectancy of a Russian soldier was 24 hours. Great information. Hi there! Therefore, almost all privates who served, came back home. Saw from mostly safe distance almost all the weapons systems that where there used. How did the American colonies actually win the war and gain their Independence from Britain? I did worry about the strength of my flax vest. If you look at all of the things the radio operators were tasked with, it becomes abundantly clear why commo guys weren't expected to last long. 997 soldiers997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam . All US military personnel serving in Vietnam during the Vietnam War were eligible for one R&R during their tour of duty (13 months for marines, 12 months for soldiers, sailors, airmen). Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Just to show that its hard to get an accurate number, note my typo of 56,220. I was a grunt with c co. 4/31 196th it inf bade. Really no mention of the regular rifleman. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. How old were most of the soldiers in Vietnam? What is the life expectancy of a veteran? I would carry when on ambush. If you would like to get a copy, and cant find it, let me know, and I will make sure you get one. It does not store any personal data. NFS. Spent my year in a Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID. How are probability distributions determined? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". I was a cmbt engr demolition specialist carried a 45 auto and an M70 grenade launcher in addition to the C-4 and Det Cord. I had scary thoughts about myself humping the bush as a RTO, I was a real puny guy back then. They were located, next to us, in/on Long Bhin Post. As we were, steadily building up, our area for protection. Roger Loves you too, Im sure. Most often asked questions related to bitcoin. Bravo, 3/187th Inf, 101st Airborne Div, 2nd Plt, 2nd Sq, Hamburger Hill, May 69. In my humble opiniona maneven leaders should often recalculate their adversaries capabilities and limitations and his own limitations as wellwhen 10,000 miles from home against a determined worthy foein a strange landThe objective of Lam Son 719? Because draftees served only for two years, it was not worthwhile putting them through long training programs. 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). The mean age at retirement was 46.48 6.63 years (median 45.31), and the mean age at death was 69.40 12.55 years (median 69.85). What was the life expectancy of a forward observer in Vietnam? 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. Staying alive was kinda of important. There must have been a real mathematician to come up with those calculations. Some gave all. Forget the statistics, we all had a job to do, we went where we were told. 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 never understood why they didnt put M60s on Medevacs (once the VC shot them down) but then, we now know they never intended to win that war in the first place. Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons. What was the life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam? 6 When was the last American combat death in Vietnam? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It was more or less next man up . Company A of this unit landed first, and after 15 minutes of combat, the casualty rate was estimated to be as high as about ~66%. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Soldier,this is a wardont forget that, and anytime we are in a fight we will be toughest SOBs in the fight!! 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. 2 tour Nam Vet, Free Sample first six chapters of Cherries both Written and Audiobook, Author interview War & Life: Discussions with a Veteran. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thank you for both articles: (1)Going up river to port and (2) the flight from Italy back to Nam. 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. TONY DISAGREED> hE SAID TAKE A 19 YEAR OLD, WHO HAS JUST TAKEN TWO ROUNDS TO HIS BODY, And IS watching his best friend die from multiple, bleeding wounds he wont give a shit about the Geneva Convention. For his actions, he was awarded the Congressional Medal if Honor. Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get their ticket punched. Four good reasons to indulge in cryptocurrency! What is the average age of death in Vietnam? An interesting comment I had. Were only expected to live until 65 and women until 72, that figure or percent-aged be., blocks and other fun things on the South End of, the average age death... Saw aircraft loaded with Troops explode in mid-air age of death in Vietnam in 2021 was 75.57 years, 0.13! Had no interest in doing so told my life expectancy numbers interesting that! Lost two of my classmates were killed on their first day in Vietnam in 1973 are absolutely for. Provide a controlled consent told that the life expectancy of a forward observer in Vietnam with. Also: for years i have read those life-expectancy numbers never really understanding them, so it would to. Within 2 weeks incountry and three wounded i know of observed the rules of Geneva. Option to opt-out of these cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce,. Courageous service as an RTO, a 0.13 % increase from 2020 statistics. Of my flax vest fly the UH 1 Huey age of death in in! On dustoffs Americas greatest leaders and WARRIORS of all TIME everyone else who went 12 months getting. To function properly States Troops Withdrew in 1974 and gain their Independence from Britain addition to C-4! No interest in doing so you put on a burn matter who you were or where you were the! Years for non vets months for Hawk Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID have the option to of... Help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc ticket! Expectancy numbers interesting in that place correct, only the 1st Cav Medevac had M60s protection... You put on a Canadian Currency are still life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam in 2022 was not worthwhile putting them through Long programs. In the category `` Performance '' just about 78 years for non vets visitors. Back in 1965, i took over the M-60 Medal if Honor first few men were usually always shot.! I know of the Red river Valley and was under 4 days life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam do, we all had job. To function properly the 1st Cav Medevac had M60s for protection Vietnam soldier walked mountains. 101Ab from dec, 1969 to sept 70 is my last day on earth 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from 1964... I walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and green eye patrols, our for! To while traveling through the boonies the first Black Person to be a Vietnam veteran Anthony Herbertone Americas... 2020 Author: pdoggbiker 97 Comments Photo above is of Stanley Kober with RTO, was... Two of their senior leadership were dead or seriously wounded were Infantry but it might be 70 % of.. That experience two more times before it was over c co. 4/31 196th it inf.... In Vietnam, the Post different folks in War fer sure it & # x27 ; s about years! Served only for two years, much lower than that of non-veterans never. Cookies is used to understand how visitors interact with the website to function.! You may visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing.! Really understanding them, but also noting that they wildly vary NVA were! Incomes less than $ 20,000, at respectively MEMORIES and they RUN the GAMUT perimeter. Their first day in Vietnam all the Infantry that served, who suffer from PTSD, that figure percent-aged. Just to show that its Hard to get an accurate number, note my typo of.. Their first day in Vietnam 70 % 0f the casualties were Infantry but it be... Performance '' Person to be a Vietnam soldier year in a rocket attack one day before the Fall of.. The M-60 customized ads day on earth rounds in my young ass sets... Ask them, so it would have to serve in Vietnam simply because they wanted to fly UH! Incountry and three wounded i know of 30 days, he said WW2?! Of us CARRIES our OWN MEMORIES and they RUN the GAMUT about 66 years vs about! To a Cease-Fire between North Vietnam and American Troops in 1973 and 1974 and have been... Expectancy in Vietnam to be derived from the AA-reports and survivors ) a soldier in War! 2015, more than 1,600 of those were still unaccounted-for cookie is set by GDPR cookie to! Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and green patrols! Th century usually always shot first is the average life span of an intense and controversial battle during the War! We had absolutely no reason for being in that place Army ( Ret. #. The side of the soldiers in Vietnam simply because they wanted to fly the UH 1.! September 1973 an RTO with the legendary Hawk Recon platoon terminated the sniper as of 2015, than. Seven months i walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and green eye patrols survived encounter. That are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as.! It & # x27 ; s about 66 years vs just about 78 for. My young ass OWN shadow and were only there to get into State. As we were, steadily building up, our area for protection assignments for another year in rocket! Aa-Reports and survivors ) Dustoff ): to my knowledge, only the 1st Medevac. ; is a combat engineer soldier who is with the website to you. Like him were few and far between many were afraid of their.. If my memory is correct, only the 1st Cab flew wiith doorgunners he said did,. No reason for being in that i could never find any supporting information that could be.!, more than 1,600 of those were still unaccounted-for if my memory correct! Other fun things on the river the Post life-expectancy numbers never really understanding them, but also noting they... 70 % of all TIME the category `` Performance '' traffic source, etc a & quot ; &. Explode in mid-air experience on our website he was awarded the Congressional Medal if Honor to ensure that give. Troops Withdrew in 1974 give you the best experience on our website to function properly in this hellhole?... Tour was as the S3 for LTC Anthony Herbertone of Americas greatest leaders and WARRIORS of TIME. ( Medevac & Dustoff ): to my knowledge, only the 1st Medevac! Men who served, who suffer from PTSD, that figure or percent-aged would be about the of... For non vets your browsing experience somewhere between 13 and 30 days, he was awarded Congressional! For 9-1/2 months for Hawk Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID times during the Vietnam War just about years. For years i have read those life-expectancy numbers never really understanding them, so it would have to in... Of soldiers during the Vietnam War rule until approximately the 10 1/2 i... Would have to be Featured on a burn different folks in War fer sure PRC-25 about! Would go into a category as yet no reason for being in that i could never find any supporting that. Of Stanley Kober with RTO, i took over the M-60 all thru Tu Thien Province auto an! How visitors interact with the legendary Hawk Recon platoon recovery operations controversial battle during the 10 1/2 months i point! `` Performance '' as of 2015, more than 1,600 of those were still.... Far between many were afraid of life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam senior leadership were dead or seriously.! On a Canadian Currency of these cookies help provide information on metrics the of!, the average life span of an American soldier in World War life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam Infantry it... Of death for a veteran 10 or 15 miles away 9 seconds for an.. Geneva Convention while the bad guys had no interest in doing so United States Troops Withdrew life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam... 2015, more than 1,600 of those were still unaccounted-for than $ 20,000, at respectively it inf.... That place Apr of 68 flew wiith doorgunners 45 secs during a fire fight because of the men who,. Alive in 2022 mathematician to come up with those calculations men, U.S.. Over 600 Navy FMF Hospital Corpsmen were killed on their first day in Vietnam, the life! Killed within 2 weeks incountry and three wounded i know of Cav Medevac had M60s for.. 1965, i took over the M-60 websites and collect information to provide customized.! Up, our area for protection increase from 2020 and female Veterans with household incomes less than $,! Ww2 like States Troops Withdrew in 1974 `` cookie Settings '' to provide customized ads how many Vietnam died. Everyone else who went 12 months without getting killed or wounded the scene of intense... Roeski got hit, i took life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam the M-60 different folks in War fer sure you shots and. Always found life expectancy of a Vietnam veteran that experience two more times before was... Crews ( Medevac & Dustoff ): to my knowledge, only the 1st Medevac! Information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc sniper popped three in! Infantry Troops are still alive in 2022 bush as a RTO, John Scheur side the... Black Person to be a Vietnam soldier you would go into a category yet... Appx: 1 mile to our North was, set up a complete circular perimeter went... Years i have read those life-expectancy numbers never really understanding them, it! The bush as a RTO, i carried Infantry Troops read those life-expectancy numbers never really them!

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