There were 7 RoyalThai Air Force bases used during the war, from 1961-1975, three closed between 1972 to 1973. Very true One of those is my younger brother. I actually vollenteered to go to NAM. It is an all-too-common misunderstanding that to be affected by Agent Orange you had to have been sprayed, and/or you are required to prove that to the VA. 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. We did a lot of Ranch Hand missions in the iron Triangle. Me? How many ww2 vets left 2021? BTW, Marys father was a Marine in Nam and died when she was only a few years old. I wouldnt trust the New York Times study, regardless of their Sources! one of the ships i sailed on had a captain that was drunk for 5 months. in ww2 more merchant men were killed than all the services combined until june 6, 1944. and they were civilians. So he goes to Camp Wolter Texas for his 11 month school (they pay them E-5 during training) then just few weeks before graduation he declines to sign the extension for his Warrant Officer Status, they send him to Vietnam as a private to Phan Rang to ride security on fuel convoys (safe Gig) he never had to fire a weapon. Frantically searching to find that one resource in my spirit to survive. Certainly leaves some doubt about the numbers because why are we including the years from 1954 to when the actual American forces entered hostile missions? One good way to detect a phony is to ask him what his MOS was. 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. The average annual payment was $18,100. i was not a supporter of the war but i did my job. I do not doubt that it occurred, but can anyone cite a reliable source for this? RVN. Does having your ramp down and touching a river bank count as boots on ground while we were not allowed to go off the boat when we were pumping gas to the airbase? We all served in our assigned duties, some bled, and some died. I stomped the gas and the engine roared- the truck jumped forward and bounced crazily and so did, garbing the steering tightly. Also consider the thousands that served multiple tours. I give a silent prayer of thanks for all of you, every time I hear a chopper going by, even now. A lot of guys broke out with rashes every time that sprayed for mosquitos, using Melithon, which was every 2 weeks over all Base Camps. All others should not be accepted to have served either on land or at sea in Vietnam. NOTE: in 2010 Census 13.2 Million claimed to be Vietnam Veterans. I had encountered a learning experience, and inspirational contact with the celestial. IF you didnt get any extra pay better have a good excuse .like to hear it. I believe the aircrews flying out of those places were take issue with not in harms way. In 11 days of December 1973, 16 B-52s were lost over North Vietnam during Linebacker II. My time stands still. Most of those who flew had Air Medals which are a combat medal. Our 2003 NJAOC Desk Guide to the unique health issue of Nam vets and our children is still the Gold Standard. There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the specific situation and the individual's age, health, and military experience. We grunts do hold chopper crews in the highest regard! One count should be those Vietnam Veterans who had feet on the ground. I am trying to see if the NJ Adjutant Generals Office still has a couple copies around. He arrived on Yankee Station, Vietnam in early May, 1972 when he was still 17 years of age. 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. 9.2 million served on active duty (5 August 1964 to 7 May 1975) 2,590,000 served in the combat zone. My brother was stationed in the Air Force in 1975 and flew missions over Vietnam. Past history shows ALL Veterans of previous Wars were classified as Vets of those wars regardless of where they served. Today, the state with highest number of Vietnam veterans is California, with 596,130, followed by Florida with 519,224. Born in 1953, he joined the US Marine Corps at the age of 15 and was sent to Vietnam where he served as a machine gunner. I agree, 10% in combat, sounds right! My body, accompanied by my mind, was pitched out the right-side door, sliding between the seat and under the dashboard to land on the shoulder of the dirt road alone. All I know is that Im a Vietnam Combat Vet. Dec. 5, 1967 to April 28, 1968 is 144 days. Currently, it is estimated with data provided by the United States Census Bureau, that there about 100,000 Oregon Vietnam era veterans alive today. off the ship i went out with airforce on resupply, went out with troops through rubber plantations, ran from gunfire in saigon and chulon. Now Iv had five and 10 % works. As Ive mentioned before, I dont think posing this question was intended to be divisive among veterans, but it has turned out to be. yep I wonder also. It took about 30 years for the government to acknowledge we were even there. Then upon returning I would be stationed in Camp Enari, away from most of the intense fighting, and protected by the whole 4th. That was our regimen along the Cambodian border, too. Apparently, its been agreed upon that 800,000 Vietnam veterans had passed away by the year 2000. September 27, 2022 by Editorial Team. Combat Veterans know who they are, pretenders know that they are not.. Agent Orange is impacting that timeline and those serving around the world were not affected by this wonderous life-robbing gift. How Did The Campus Shootings Demonstrate The Continued Divisions Within The Country? Apparently Infantry is the operative word. How many Korean War veterans are still alive? 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. i sailed with some in vn at the end of the work lives. I made a mistake !!!!! Exhausted! maybe, maybe not. A veteran of the Vietnam War is a person who PARTICIPATED in the Vietnam War. I was a merchant marine officer on cargo ships, american export lines, for three years, back and forth to viet nam. 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. I do not know where that number 1 in 14 came from, but in my time in the Army 1962-1970 it was in the range of 1 in 8 to 10 using the total manpower % . 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. It was 3:30pm when I entered the slowest aspect of the trip. give me a date between June 25, 1968 thru June 25 1969 and I can tell you where I was in country. 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. The Vietnam Veterans of America have cited that they will remain an organization until last man standing. The number of people who are Vietnam veterans in the first place is a number that is widely debated. I remember a distorted image of reality. How many veterans die each day? The youngest Vietnam Veteran is aged in the late 60s today with life expectances estimated at 86 years old (for normal people). I,m getting older bot I remember combat pay and jump pay were both $55 dollars. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. My Company was A Co, 5th Trans Bn, 101st Abn. Jul 1971-19 Dec 1971) 29th CA Co, XXIV Corps (Danang). We just hoped the pilot put us where we were supposed to be. He was drafted and qualified for Helicopter pilot school. 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. About 15 out of every 100 Vietnam veterans (15%) were currently diagnosed with PTSD when the most recent study of . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Still, other sources like the New York Times claim the number of Vietnam veterans is actually somewhere around 9.2 million. The truth is that until Vietnam veterans can agree amongst themselves what constitutes a real Vietnam vet, the debate may continue. 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. I knew place names like War Zone C, Filijo (rubber Plantation), Iron triangle, Bo Lo woods?, I was wounded on the Laos border near a fire base with the 101st. Infantry Division. 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. Those an in the Era the we were in Vietnam but they are not Vietnam Vets by any stretch of you imagination. was i a veteran by the numbers? I was confused. Those of us on the battlefield who bled and many died would take issue with your opinion. at DaNang If we came in they set up tents to sleep in and had a big blivet bag for a shower. 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. Les, in IMHO being a Vietnam Veteran has nothing to do with combat. Of the 2.7 million men and women who served in land forces in Vietnam, only about 600,000 are still alive. While that's a staggering figure is, the actual amount could be higher. If they enlisted or were drafted before 1975, they likely are in their late 60s now. i am not better, but i am not worse. for most of it i listened but not wanting to interfere. In 2019, the most . Deaths per day . good stuff !!!!! Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Even more telling is how many Vietnam combat veterans are still alive today? to 1984 approx. Steve Okay.Ill be the one to tell it like it is, even though everyone here, as well as everyone else, knows the truth already! About 12 out of every 100 Gulf War Veterans (or 12%) have PTSD in a given year. I find it best not to remember that time. I began to think that was the excuse for NOT being in combat. Ive reached the age of truth telling, and have grown sick of pretending, and giving trophies to the undeserving I saw good men die, and their loved ones dont deserve this dishonor any longer. Hell no. Editorial comment by website administrator: Personally, Im going with the 610,000 estimate of 2 yrs. Each averaged 2500-3000 personnel on a yearly rotating bases, groaning and shrinking based on the missions being conducted. ******************************************************* How many vietnam veterans are still living. 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. The oldest living Vietnam War veteran is believed to be a man named Larrivee Ronald A, who was born in Feb, 24, 1935. Im going with 2.9 and saying the person who wrote 9.2 has the seing disease whereas they see everything in reverse. There was a huge difference between tours of duty also. best to all. My 2.6 million figure refers to American vets. How were WWII veterans & Korean War Veterans accounted for? I WAS IN THE 85TH ORD COMPANY . it eas a very loud high pitched, not human and the sound was fuck you. It makes a big difference because stating that only one-third of Vietnam veterans are still alive today is much harsher than stating that three-quarters of Vietnam veterans are still alive and well. I was on a boat floating up and down rivers for 19 months. The military stopped the. I am a solid 10. it is much easier to say who was not. Could this be friendly fire on a beautiful Sunday? retired university professor Ive never seen so many people so full of shit trying to answer a question like how many Vietnam veterans are still alive today. Vietnam era vets are not the same as Vietnam vets, but they are important. Trying to understand: Does being shot at outside the wire while moving to new location count? Some, like myself did not serve a full 12month tour. All who served In Country and the those outlying areas in support should be considered Vietnam Vets. In January 1945, the Bn was attached to the 3d Infantry Division near the Colmar Pocket, south of The Bulge. Nobody can bad-mouth Huey pilots and crews. I was drafted in Sep 1966, went to Vietnam Aug 67-Aug 68, and Im 75 until Oct. Believe it or not, I still have every pay voucher..and in 1967 Hazard Duty Pay was $65. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. VA released VetPop 2020 which is VA's new official estimate and projection of the Veteran population. There is a statistic that has been widely quoted in the veteran community that highlights an estimated 22 veterans a day are committing suicide. Just a minor clarification, not all of us were on the groundJust being picky. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The now call them Vietnam era veterans. I saw the edge of the dirt, the jungle growth, the nearby trees, while I heard the world explode. I knew what my death would mean to my mother, my father, and the rest of my family and friends. If we arent able to > determine WHO is a Vietnam Vet, then how can one determine how many of us > are still alive today? We had a lot of support vets near Saigon. One moment is eternity- the next may never!. He is absolutely obsessed with military and different men who have served, The definitive statistics come from the VAs Million Vietnam Vets database, which will continue until we are all gone. Their names are at least on the wall thanks to the efforts of many service organizations and Congress. Luck of the draw my twin that received a silver star got the luck of the draw made it home. Depends on where you were. Bullets were flying everywhere, and the noise was tremendous. Help train personnel from many different Companies to do the same. In 1995 Vietnam released its official estimate of the number of people killed during the Vietnam War: as many as 2,000,000 civilians on both sides and some 1,100,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. Had several replies over the years that this was not a cause. OH, SHIT- I heard the impact of the Rocket Propelled grenade (RPG) to my left; `this is it, I yelled! It is called the Stolen Valor Act., Dau Tieng A Co. 3/22 Inf. I have done lots of research, read a bunch of historical history, and met and talked to well over 1000 NAM VETS !!!!! Active duty 70-71, Quang Tri, Khe Sahn, Danny. Peter my husband is now deceased but he was a door gunner with the 191 st AHC Bounty Hunters (gunships), Very good. The last three I knew had lost a lot of weight, two had each lost a lung. 4-39th, 9th Div. 109, 000 died in the service during this period. His combat medal was an Air Medal. I think The NY Times has conflated he number of Viet Nam veterans with those who served in the military during the years 1960-1975. Around 2.7 million troops were stationed in Vietnam either on land, within its airspace, or in its waters. We all bleed red. Door gunner with the 191st AHC Bounty Hunters. 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). The debate depends on only two numbers. Far as Im concerned, they are all Vietnam Vets and this devisiness should STOP! Why all this devisiveness. ARP. Merchant Marine officers or crew are not wearing the uniform of the USAs Armed Forces. by your definition, cia personal in civilian clothes were not veterans. Yes, Vietnam War veterans are still eligible for various benefits and compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs, including disability compensation, health care, and education benefits. but some men, like myself , were told by their draft board, go to vietnam on your ship. We were near AF ranch hand ops and many of my buds still alive from then have the cancers, diabetes, amputations and such. I realized what control I had in the cosmos. 2.8 million tour because some guys just couldnt get enough! How many Vietnamese citizens died in the Vietnam War? but i was happy to serve. Approximately 7,500 women were stationed in Vietnam during the war. 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 . And though did not serve in actual combat, as you describe it, we were shot at & mortared on occasion. Im glad you made it back! It was what it was. In my Book if you didnt step foot in Nam Your sure not a Vietnam Vet, Period. Melathion was 96% pure. We are not ashamed of our service or the fact we killed and had friends die, far more than we care to remember. OUR COMPANY STARTED LONG BINH COMPOUND IN SEPT OF 1965, DALLAS WATERFILL EMAIL dallaswaterfill@yahoo.com, Was in Vietnam Dec. 1968 to Dec. 1969, Phan Rang AFB, RVN. And just as the bell rang he got out of the ring , technically I won the fight. We have been betrayed by all Globalists. 610,000 figure is more accurate., NYT was referring to VN Era Veterans. Canandaigua, NY I do appreciate what they did, from the hero medevacs to those gun ships who flew into madness to help save our asses knowing that mortar rounds fall from above, RPGs & macjine gun rounds were in mass supply with the moniker attached To whom it may concern. 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. (Operation Ranch Hand) that were loaders and used no protection. Pleiku, Dak To, An Khe. Number who served in country and number who served DURING the Vietnam War regardless of where they were deployed. Why do the vets who served during the Vietnam War era have to be so devisive? I served in the 101st airborne infantry battalion in 1968, the time of the Tet Offensive. Gordon, I agree. Tom, to me, the CIB says everything; the wearer is a soldier who has earned the right to it and deserves respect. How many WWII veterans die each day? that conversation has stayed with me. If you want to learn more about the Vietnam War and its Warriors, then subscribe to this blog and get notified by email or your feed reader every time a new story, picture, video or changes occur on this website the button is located at the top right of this page. What percentage of Vietnam vets are still alive? There was a huge difference between the merchant ships i sailed on, no passengers, and vessels like usns geiger. Anyone suggesting that only a CIB award means you were a combat veteran is very uninformed The Battle of Soui Tre March 21, 1967 the men of the 2/77 Artillery were every bit infantry as well as Arty that day and many many other FSB battles. In the article, the writer quotes Patrick S. Brady of Vietnam Veterans of Americas magazine. My sister found enough info to get her husbands ship re-classified to a Brown Water ship due to his operation of a river boat and also medical evac of Marines, while he was assigned to the flagship, the Newport News, Prior to that any sailor who served aboard the Newport News, that applied for disability connected with Agent Orange, was denied. 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. So, nearly 300,000 over the 14 years of their operations, a far cry above the 2500-3000 referenced in the article. 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. 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. Christmas Night, Midnight, a guy in the next Bunker committed suicide. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. I WOULD SURVIVE! I was on LZ Bayonet during 1970 and experienced many of the things you described. Forget 1954, let use a true date of 1962 (first advisors) fired on coming up river, a few other things. What do you think? They are a ten (10), they fought alongside the infantry defending the perimeter. (Mar 1969-Sep 70) 2/23, 196 LIB & 1/23 MP Co, 11 LIB, AMERICAL DIV. This accurate accounting gives us persepective on the cost of current and future wars. I and other merchant marine did. That number stands around 306,000 killed by agent Orange (and other colors). Besides, who says anyone can claim this status or that status just because. Served most of my time on LZ Professional. The third cancer was the charm as it was declared Presumptively caused by Agent Orange in 2021. NO REAL VET FAILS TO REMEMBER HIS MOS. None of us could have done our job without the support of troops around the globe. Agent Orange is a Herdicide. There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone. Interestingly, the research concludes that Vietnam veterans seem to be dying at a similar rate to World War II veterans.

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