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. I remember we were always short of replacements throughout 1968 because of the high Kia & wounded rate we suffered at that time ! We were in2dBn 503d . Dont know why, but generally, their aircraft were not armed (door gunners, etc.). We were like sitting Ducks. The early days of May 1970, I arrived at the Airport, next to Saigon. I was never formally trained as an RTO. How old were the youngest soldiers in Vietnam? We used to provide cover for these guys. 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. Every mission, I had the same thought. What is the life expectancy of a veteran? The Statistics in the Combat Area Casualty File (CACF 11/93) show an average age of death much higher than that of news reports. The deadliest day of the Vietnam War for the U.S. was 31 January at the start of the Tet Offensive when 246 Americans were killed in action.1968 in the Vietnam War. Welcome home!! What is the average life expectancy of a Vietnam veteran? 2 How old were the youngest soldiers in Vietnam? Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Airmen who had been shot down were hunted down in enemy territory after surviving a crash in which friends might have been killed. Some were constantly exposed to combat, some not so often. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. For US Vietnam Veterans it's about 66 years vs just about 78 years for non vets. Mech. 5 What was the life of an American soldier in WW2 like? Different type units, different locations, different opinions on dangers. Two of my classmates were killed within 2 weeks incountry and three wounded I know of. How often did helicopters get shot down in Vietnam? The Army rotated soldiers through Vietnam on one-year tours. What was the life expectancy of a radio operator in Vietnam? Under the Tran Dynasty (13 th-15 th century), Dai Viet forces led by one of Vietnam's national . Tobacco. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 5 How many Americans died during the Viet Nam War? He was killed in an ambush along with three others. 997 soldiers997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam . First thing we did was, Set up a complete circular perimeter. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In Vietnam 70% 0f the casualties were Infantry BUT it might be 70% of ALL the Infantry that served in Vietnam. Over 600 Navy FMF Hospital Corpsmen were killed in Vietnam. I was in the AF a Reo in a F4-C. Who had time to worry about the life 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 think what is missing is the fact that the life expectancy of those firing at us was much shorter than those that they were firing at. He was wounded and suffered permanent disability shortly before his tour was up. 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. 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? Wortman, another RTO never made it back to The World. Sept 69 to Sept 70. It does not store any personal data. What is the life expectancy of Vietnam veterans? What is the average life expectancy of retired military? The life expectancy of a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam was between 13 and 30 days. "As a door gunner, I was in combat 240 days." . 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. Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. Appx: 6 months in, all of the 543d TC joined forces with the 572d TC. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". What was the life expectancy of a soldier on D Day? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Welcome Home Brothers ! We were all in our Bunkers, and at the ready with our weapons. of what was usually 5 or 6 going in and many times the leads would find traps, punji pits or the VC waiting. 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 . Then we learned, appx: 1 mile to our North was, an American AMMO storage area. I was never hit by enemy fire even though they had multiple opportunities after that I was an rto for the company commander and I have to say both jobs were not fun. RTO, John Scheur. Thanks for posting! Chart and table of Vietnam life expectancy from 1950 to 2022. They used the callsign MEDIVAC and were armed. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Really? What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in ww2? Just published my book The Last Goodbye by John Fratangelo, available on line on Barnes and Noble and Amazon Prime Books, Getting great reviews. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. # 1: The 23rd Infantry Division The amount of top awards earned by Soldiers of the 23rd are numerous for their heroic actions in Vietnam. It was just north of Saigon. What are some examples of how providers can receive incentives? 0 votes. What is the life expectancy of Vietnam veterans? 10-4. Really no mention of the regular rifleman. We were discussing the different units and dangers of each. BS but ia a way you are correct. The last US ground troops left Vietnam in March 1973, after which the peace talks once again broke down. 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. Vietnam era veterans are those who served during the time of the Vietnam war but didnt set foot in the country of Vietnam. They run into the fire to help the wounded and many get wounded or killed. 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. I got my start in education as a teacher, working with students in grades K-12. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. They were combat ineffective at that point. Ernest, Im glad that your first tour with the VN airborne was rewarding. Home Kent State University What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of A Vietnam Veteran? These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. 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. Love you Wortman!!!! How does violence against the family pet affect the family? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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. Love this analysis. In all fairness, that number was on the more extreme side of estimates. Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer, 20 Best free fitness apps for Android devices. 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. Why is the death rate so high in Vietnam? Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get their ticket punched. 5 seconds. It does not store any personal data. T. 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). Be glad you served with a soldiers soldier like LTC Herbert. What was the life expectancy of a US soldier in Vietnam? 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! The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! Todd Heisler/The New York Times. I always found life expectancy numbers interesting in that I could never find any supporting information that could be validated. I was an O5C-20 in Vietnam. 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. 2 What was the life expectancy of a Huey pilot in Vietnam? It didnt matter who you were or where you were. Thats why I never understand people talking about survivors guilt it should have been me, why him? etc. Hats off to them. Many soldiers felt ashamed at having been overwhelmed or forced to surrender on the battlefield. NFS. Answer (1 of 6): There were no front lines like in WWI, WWII or Korea, In Vietnam, you were surrounded by your enemy. Hometown: Detroit, Michigan. We had one RTO killed because he was too close to a 2ND Lt, same thing happened to another RTO. If it was your day to get hit or die, it happened. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. year old Marine thinking this is my last day on earth. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I never saw any correlation as to what MOS a soldier was and their survival rate. Myth: The media have reported that suicides among Vietnam veterans range from 50,000 to 100,000 - 6 to 11 times the non-Vietnam veteran population. Ive always considered myself damn lucky to make it out alive. 11 c mos , meaning I was also cross trained for mortars . Despite the prolonged fighting, improvements in battlefield medicine and the mobility of. And yes, please God, bless America. What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? 4 How long was a tour of duty in Vietnam? Me, a vehicle mechanic with Btry E, 41st Arty Quads 1970. 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.. Did you know the average life expectancy of a US Army Huey pilot in combat in Vietnam was only 19 minutes? 66 out of 100 men were either dead or wounded after 15 minutes. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Your email address will not be published. See my calculation below in the comments bogus indeed. Here is an 18 Background. And us the living that served, who suffer from PTSD ,that figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest of all. For his actions, he was awarded the Congressional Medal if Honor. I did worry about the strength of my flax vest. aND, mAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! about two seconds Your article was quite interesting. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Who is the youngest Vietnam veteran still alive? When was the last American combat death in Vietnam? Just to show that its hard to get an accurate number, note my typo of 56,220. I was an Infantry Scout Dog handler. 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%. Saw from mostly safe distance almost all the weapons systems that where there used. 1: physical position (in the field / column) I had a 20% death rate in my Hospital Corpsman Class. The United States Archives and other sources suggest that between 25 and 50 American soldiers a year were bitten by snakes during the war in Vietnam. Age: 78. Local boards called men classified 1-A, 18-1/2 through 25 years old, oldest first. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? Date: March 8, 2020 Author: pdoggbiker 97 Comments Photo above is of Stanley Kober with RTO, John Scheur. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day. A much better approach would be/have been: of all the combat-casualties, what was their It doesnt make any sense statistically/mathematically it is impossible. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. It was a daily challenge to know who your real enemy was. Roughly 300-thousand veterans have died from Agent Orange exposure thats almost five times as many as the 58-thousand who died in combat. approaching a village and a firefight starts). 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. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam War? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Born: 04/07/1937. At this time- senior Army leadership ordered us all to read the Geneva Convention to our troops because of the My Lai debachle. When Roeski got hit, I took over the M-60. To cut the Ho Chi Minh Traila week after the mission endedthe trail was booming with business from the north.. 1 What was the average life expectancy for a soldier in Vietnam? Very memorable comments. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. Sure but so was everyone else who went 12 months without getting killed or wounded. Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. (and yes, you cant ask them, so it would have to be derived from the AA-reports and survivors). I was an RTO for 9-1/2 months for Hawk Recon 2/327 101AB from dec, 1969 to sept 70. Born: 09/15/1946. Great reading. As we were, steadily building up, our area for protection. Our patrols were typically about 14 hours 24/7 We operated of old LSTs and large barges. means: 1 gets killed the 1st second, another one after 9 seconds avg. Copyright 2023 Wisdom-Advices | All rights reserved. Some 10,786 American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness. What was the life expectancy of a tunnel rat in Vietnam? By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. I do remember when I got short I thought about it a lot more. I never thought of it that way before but have many times since. Staying alive was kinda of important. Great story!!! Dan Bullock (December 21, 1953 June 7, 1969) was a United States Marine and the youngest U.S. serviceman killed in action during the Vietnam War, dying at the age of 15. In 1944 the average life expectancy of a newly commissioned tank troop officer in Normandy was estimated as being less than two weeks. Thank God I made it. I think convoy truck drivers had one of the most dangerous job. A total of 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam era, with over 2,709,000 Americans serving in Vietnam, about 9.7% of the generation.Vietnam Veterans by State 2022. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. Les Scates U.S. Army (Ret.) Learned a lot from him. What Major Is Kent State University Known For? 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. And suffered permanent disability shortly before his tour was up had been shot were. Months without getting killed or wounded after 15 minutes the ready with our weapons 58-thousand who died combat. 101Ab from dec, 1969 to sept 70 after 15 minutes help provide information on the!, why him up from where life expectancy of a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam War the 58-thousand died... Day on earth high in Vietnam were only 16 years old is used to store the consent. Laying behind a rice paddie dike.I put my whole body as far down in enemy territory after surviving crash. 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