There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone. It was just north of Saigon. I've since worked with schools and districts all over the country, helping them improve their curriculums and instruction methods. Why is the death rate so high in Vietnam? 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. Transcript of Life of an American Soldier in WW2. 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. I was in the AF a Reo in a F4-C. Who had time to worry about the life Of the almost 1.75-million who served in Vietnam, all but 58,148 came back. Then we learned, appx: 1 mile to our North was, an American AMMO storage area. What was the life expectancy of a soldier in World War II? We took fire all the time and responded. 997 soldiers997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam . Thats what I figured but didnt know for sure. What was the life expectancy of a US soldier in Vietnam? It was a conflict where territory changed hands frequently, people moved freely and their political loyalties were often unclear. If you would like to get a copy, and cant find it, let me know, and I will make sure you get one. 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 We all have opinions, this is mine. I sure feel for all you guys that went outside the wire. then youd carry an extra 200 rounds of M60 ammo for the machine gunner , plus drag grenades , one smoke grenade plus etc. NFS. Cluster F, SNAFU and FUBAR fer sur. Tom Selleck. The tunnel rats were American, Australian, New Zealander, and South Vietnamese soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War . (tirotactico.net). Some 10,786 American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness. Age: 84. I always was told that the life expectancy of a LT was 14 seconds in INITIAL combat versus 9 seconds for an RTO. I look over to I was a medic on one for two yrs and the only weapon I was issue was a six-shot .38. Certainly got my attention. (and yes, you cant ask them, so it would have to be derived from the AA-reports and survivors). It is Honor in the Valley of Tears. The draft was far from ideal as a source of military manpower. Some Brothers said why spend another year in this hellhole???? THE MAN I INHERITED THE GUN FROM WASNT SO LUCKY. aND, mAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! estimated education differentials in life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14 are close to those of U. S. population in 1979-89. I was stationed on 2 FSBs (8 & 175mm guns) west of Tay Ninh on the Cambodian boarder in the Ho Chi Minh trail and was wounded but nothing as bad as he was. As mentioned, who kept track of that in the first place? It could also be traumatic. Carried the prc25 for about 7 months. That same day, I along with 3/4 others was transported to Long Bhin Post. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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). If my memory is correct, only the 1st Cab flew wiith doorgunners. What a Combat Medic Still Carries. I DISAGREETHE ENEMY WOULD SHOOT THE GUY NEXT TO THE RTO-KNOWING HE WAS THE COMMANDER. Was a door gunner and crew chief for just shy of 18 months (I extended to get out early). Theres 58,276. In that time 4 us kia and 4 wounded. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam War? Welcome home. How did the American colonies actually win the war and gain their Independence from Britain? My father was on a lrrp team!65-67never was shot but killed alot.He never really got over it though died in 2012! Death by a Bottle! What was the life expectancy of a Huey pilot in Vietnam? The oldest man killed was 62 years old. They were combat ineffective at that point. Approximately 70% of those killed in Vietnam were volunteers. Great reading. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? two years Despite the prolonged fighting, improvements in battlefield medicine and the mobility of. 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. On average US troops served 12 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 12 year difference in some troopss serving times). The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Among the most important coping mechanisms are communication, maintenance of military social structure, and personality flexibility. 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. The fact that PDoggbiker cant find any decent calculation/explanation, tells us a lot. Over 600 Navy FMF Hospital Corpsmen were killed in Vietnam. well I wonder how long your going to last lieutenant? It was a daily challenge to know who your real enemy was. Hamburger Hill was the scene of an intense and controversial battle during the Vietnam War. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. What was the average life expectancy for a soldier in Vietnam? The majority of deaths (84.6 %) occurred between 1990 and 2012. between 13 and 30 days Our patrols were typically about 14 hours 24/7 We operated of old LSTs and large barges. Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. I was an Artillery Forward Observer with the Infantry. What does it mean that the Bible was divinely inspired? . Total fantasy. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The current life expectancy for Vietnam in 2022 is 75.67 years, a 0.13% increase from 2021. What is the average life expectancy of a Vietnam veteran? Either way, thats a lot of soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen, male and female that made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and there are still people dying as a result of their wounds receiver so very long ago in a place called Vietnam. So I guess i lasted longer than I was supposed to. Roger Loves you too, Im sure. I was a grunt with c co. 4/31 196th it inf bade. Wortman, another RTO never made it back to The World. There were houses down there and hospitals, Garza noted. Did you know the average life expectancy of a US Army Huey pilot in combat in Vietnam was only 19 minutes? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I'm passionate about helping people achieve their dreams, and I believe that education is the key to unlocking everyone's potential. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I was an M-60 machine gunner for a battalion recon platoon in 1967, for the First Infantry Division, Known as The Black Scarf Battalion. Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division. If you were an administrative officer or clerk in an air-conditioned trailer in Saigon, your war might be a lot like peacetime duty. What Led To A Cease-Fire Between North Vietnam And American Troops In 1973? The average age of a Vietnam vet is 65 years old. First thing we did was, Set up a complete circular perimeter. Michael Doolittle..I was with 1/8 inf, 1st Brigade, and that day, March 22nd was also our darkest day. I will always think/say, we had absolutely no reason for being in that place. I kept the radio because I understood the power of having the first communication with the support mechanisms of the military. Bob Kerrey. Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. 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. Chart and table of Vietnam life expectancy from 1950 to 2022. Thanks for the reply. The early days of May 1970, I arrived at the Airport, next to Saigon. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. I think the number of Army and Hospital Corpsmen serving with the Marine Corp was very high, with the ratio of the number of them over there. Did you have to serve in Vietnam to be a Vietnam veteran? Local medic helped patch up soldiers in Vietnam. 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). I always was told that the life expectancy of a LT was 14 seconds in INITIAL combat versus 9 seconds for an RTO. 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. Also: for years I have read those life-expectancy numbers never really understanding them, but also noting that they wildly vary. 1st Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion 327th Infantry. Thanks. # 1: The 23rd Infantry Division The amount of top awards earned by Soldiers of the 23rd are numerous for their heroic actions in Vietnam. Known to military planners as Hill 937 (a reference to its height in meters), the solitary peak is located in the dense jungles of the A Shau Valley of Vietnam, about a mile from the border with Laos. We then took all Trucks and equipment to the Port Of Saigon. Saw from mostly safe distance almost all the weapons systems that where there used. Nobody attacked, where we were. Before the lottery was implemented in the latter part of the Vietnam conflict, there was no system in place to determine order of call besides the fact that men between the ages of 18 and 26 were vulnerable to being drafted. Is Gateway Community College Nationally Accredited? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. I was an RTO for 9-1/2 months for Hawk Recon 2/327 101AB from dec, 1969 to sept 70. Hey Robert I was with the 38th Scout Dog Plt. Who is the youngest Vietnam veteran still alive? Well he didnt make it. 1 What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? And us the living that served, who suffer from PTSD ,that figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest of all. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War. 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. Back then, men were only expected to live until 65 and women until 72. 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. The life expectancy for Vietnam in 2021 was 75.57 years, a 0.13% increase from 2020. Not until 1995 did Vietnam release its official estimate of war dead: as many as 2 million civilians on both sides and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. He said when they were ambushed they took defensive positions, returned fire, called for assistance when needed, and retreated when necessary. Some unfortunately also came home with physical scars. 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. What is the average age of a Vietnam vet? Vietnam Veterans have been screaming for help for decades. His comparison to a FB was that if we were fired on we returned fire and requested assistance when needed. They also had a 12 gauge, and a M 79 grenade launcher and M 16. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam War? I was shot down on my very first mission in July 1968. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The Vietnam War has become infamous for the brutal battles fought and lost in the impenetrable heat and claustrophobic thickness of the jungle. happened. RIP KOOKIE forever young, Thank god you are still alive, I am age 77. 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