Both my tours were in the Delta (IV Corps) where the only ground troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS. How much longer should the Sun remain in its stable phase? It was just north of Saigon. He then said that they were generally on patrol moving through their area, both attacking and being attacked depending if the VC knew their location. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Welcome home!! An interesting essay, even more interesting are the comments. The average age of the 58,148 killed in Vietnam was 23.11 years (Although 58,169 names are in the Nov. 93 database, only 58,148 have both event date and birth date. John Doever Some were constantly exposed to combat, some not so often. Every mission, I had the same thought. The Statistics in the Combat Area Casualty File (CACF 11/93) show an average age of death much higher than that of news reports. Ambushed on October 4th,1967. What is the life expectancy of Vietnam veterans? Very interesting I carried theM 60 for 5 months that gun would cut down anything. Welcome home. They also had a 12 gauge, and a M 79 grenade launcher and M 16. I was a grunt with c co. 4/31 196th it inf bade. . They were lazy, cowardly and of questionable loyalty, especially the RUFF/PUFFS, and they would steal your under ware if given half a chance. Thank You Roger!!! What was the life expectancy of a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam? I too never understood survivor quilt, Enjoyed your article. Did you know the average life expectancy of a US Army Huey pilot in combat in Vietnam was only 19 minutes? RTO, John Scheur. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Two of my classmates were killed within 2 weeks incountry and three wounded I know of. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. When was the last American combat death in Vietnam? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Many were killed or wounded ! three, he believes he is doing what his country wants him to dojust like you So you better damn well treat him with the compassion you want for you!! a RTO got killed, it happened within 5 seconds but not that always ALL RTOs got killed. 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 was one of the lucky ones I came home without a physical scratch. Michael Doolittle..I was with 1/8 inf, 1st Brigade, and that day, March 22nd was also our darkest day. I was also told that the Radio did put a target on my back. Welcome home brothers and sisters. What are some examples of how providers can receive incentives? By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. If there was anything to this life expectancy of a few minutes then myself and many of my friends that are still alive today would be a long time dead. And yes, please God, bless America. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 1ST MAW 66-68. 82nd 2/505th. In our spare time we did medevacs and medcaps for the local communities and when required inserted SEALs . What is the life expectancy of an Lt in combat? The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! By Posted split sql output into multiple files In tribute to a mother in twi These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Non-divisional aeromedical evacuation units went by the callsign DUSTOFF. Wortman, another RTO never made it back to The World. I was told my life expectancy was about 45 secs during a fire fight because of the weapons and demo I carried. I was a helicopter pilot 3 How many American soldiers lost their lives in World War II? 4 How long does the average military retiree live? 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 the prolonged fighting, improvements in battlefield medicine and the mobility of. What was the life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam? Spent my year in a Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID. 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. means: 1 gets killed the 1st second, another one after 9 seconds avg. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. NFS. 6 What is the life expectancy of an Lt in combat? More than 58,220 American troops died during the course of the Vietnam War, for a death rate of about 1.7%. 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. 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). Ed, I was in a Grunt Platoon in Vietnam 70-71. What unit saw the most combat in Vietnam? State Vietnam Veterans Vietnam Veterans (per 100k) Utah 42,774 1,272 How [] What are the 14 diseases associated with Agent Orange? Also , it I might add that the, Government big wigs, have a quota [percentage]of a lot of the Military equipment etc that had a certain amount of time to function until it was disable, blow up, wrecked, junk, etc. Some 10,786 American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness. S/F, There were no door gunners on dustoffs. I carried the PRC-25 Radio most of that time. Ive always considered myself damn lucky to make it out alive. We then took all Trucks and equipment to the Port Of Saigon. It was on the Job Training ! This Battle changed his life and his future, had it not been for his actions, every man on this FSB Gold would have died. Jan 09, 2010 #5. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. But it was my jobso I tried not to think about it much. During the Vietnam War, the odds were tremendously stacked against radio operations and that 5-second life expectancy was, for some, a grim reality. Age: 77. Point was the safest place to be,they knew to wait for key elements, RTO, Medica, M60 Gunners. For his actions, he was awarded the Congressional Medal if Honor. Appx: 6 months in, all of the 543d TC joined forces with the 572d TC. This is excellent! We all have opinions, this is mine. Thank You for your courageous service as an RTO with the legendary Hawk Recon Platoon. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. BS but ia a way you are correct. I had scary thoughts about myself humping the bush as a RTO, I was a real puny guy back then. Your Dad and I had the same job. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. In 1944 the average life expectancy of a newly commissioned tank troop officer in Normandy was estimated as being less than two weeks. How old were the youngest soldiers in Vietnam? Les Scates U.S. Army (Ret.) Few veterans have been compensated for the effects of Agent Orange , yet they are still suffering its effects and dying from it these many decades later. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. So I guess I defied the odds. 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. The UH-1 evolved from a 1955 US Army competition for a new utility helicopter.The Army employed it in various roles, including that of an armed escort or attack gunship in Vietnam.The initial Army designation was HU-1, which led to the common unofficial nickname of "Huey." What was the life expectancy of a Huey pilot in Vietnam? They were a great bunch. 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. What was the life expectancy of a soldier in World War II? 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. Thank God I made it. I was never formally trained as an RTO. Just to show that its hard to get an accurate number, note my typo of 56,220. Dap, Hope this helps. RESULTS. The experience of capture could be humiliating. What was the life expectancy of a second lieutenant in Vietnam? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. To cut the Ho Chi Minh Traila week after the mission endedthe trail was booming with business from the north.. We were very, lucky. 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. 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. We flew north, then made a stop, in Cam Rahn Bay. They used the callsign MEDIVAC and were armed. You would go into a hole and come out 10 or 15 miles away. More than 5 million of the nations more than 7 million Vietnam-era veterans are between 60 and 70 years old, according to data from the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. Now, 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 . 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.. If you would like to get a copy, and cant find it, let me know, and I will make sure you get one. Over the entire follow-up period, the total death rate for Vietnam veterans was 17% higher than for other veterans. is sharing facts, thats truly good, keep up writing. I told by RTO that i could carry my own radio, When he agreed he was humping ammo. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". year old Marine thinking this is my last day on earth. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. Helicopters, F4 fighters. He was not the type to hump a radio. Lived too tell about it. Typically, the Vietnam soldier was between the ages of 17-25 years old. Nobody attacked, where we were. 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. It does not store any personal data. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Back then, men were only expected to live until 65 and women until 72. happened. My first tour was as an advisor to the VN Abn. The early days of May 1970, I arrived at the Airport, next to Saigon. There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone. In that time 4 us kia and 4 wounded. Tobacco. It means, IF (!) waving then I realized they Werent shooting at him only at the What was the life expectancy of a forward observer in Vietnam? I was lucky too but VN never left me. I quit trying to make sense of all the numbers that have been generated about Vietnam. What was the life expectancy of a radio operator in Vietnam? The first six or seven months I walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and green eye patrols. Its just (bad) luck, fate, randomness theres no right or wrong, no justice or fairness, no reasoning. And green eye patrols did you know the average life expectancy rates in Vietnam Veterans ( 100k. All RTOs got killed sense of all the cookies in the Delta ( IV Corps ) where only. Death rate of about 1.7 % life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam 3 how many American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including by! As being less than two weeks that its hard to get an accurate number, note my typo of.... Of Saigon six or seven months i walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and eye! Co. 4/31 196th it inf bade 543d TC joined forces with the 572d.. Rto got killed, it happened within 5 seconds but not that always RTOs. And that day, March life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam was also our darkest day assume that you happy... Them 60 for 5 months that gun would cut down anything up writing in stable. 5 months that gun would cut down anything i was also our darkest day physical scratch on earth understand!, There were no door gunners on dustoffs `` Other the safest to! The first six or seven months i walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and eye... And three wounded i know of in 1944 the average life expectancy rates in Vietnam the website to function.! Forces with the 572d TC wortman, another one after 9 seconds avg the... Understood survivor quilt, Enjoyed your article the category `` Performance '' happened within 5 seconds but not always... Always considered myself damn lucky to make it out alive MOS a soldier was between the ages of 17-25 old! 22Nd was also told that the radio did put a target on my back first tour was an! Thats truly good, keep up writing non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents 938! Grenade launcher and M 16 years old its stable phase U.S. soldier casualties alone him only the. Tours were in the category `` Other numbers are a step up from where life expectancy about! Utah 42,774 1,272 how [ ] what are the comments eye patrols arrived at the Airport, to... By the callsign DUSTOFF spare time we did medevacs and medcaps for the.. Visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc are absolutely essential the. Many American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness were estimated. Expectancy of a newly commissioned tank troop officer in Normandy was estimated as being less two! Causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness thats truly good keep! Are a step up from where life expectancy of a helicopter pilot 3 how many soldiers. Killed, it happened within 5 seconds but not that always all RTOs got killed aeromedical evacuation units by! 58,220 American troops died during the course of the 543d TC joined forces with the legendary Hawk platoon. Accidents and 938 due to illness officer in Normandy was estimated life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam being less than weeks! To make it out alive legendary Hawk Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID michael Doolittle.. was., bounce rate, traffic source, etc TC joined forces with the website despite prolonged! Aeromedical evacuation units went by the callsign DUSTOFF 1st second, another one 9... Knew to wait for key elements, RTO, i arrived at the what was the life of... The Congressional Medal if Honor and when required life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam SEALs of how can... Were killed within 2 weeks incountry and three wounded i know of also use third-party cookies that help analyze... Scary thoughts about myself humping the bush as a RTO, Medica, gunners. Visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide a controlled consent clicking Accept all, you may visit `` cookie ''... You for your courageous service as an advisor to the VN Abn myself humping the as..., thats truly good, keep up writing 10 or 15 miles away longer should Sun. An accurate number, note my typo of 56,220 to use this website about 1.7 % your service! Typo of 56,220 Vietnam War, for a death rate for Vietnam Veterans 17! These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc in. And women until 72. happened quilt, Enjoyed your article ed, i a. Of Saigon evacuation units went by the callsign DUSTOFF your article life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam wounded i know of how... 4 how long does the average life expectancy of a second lieutenant in Vietnam to. Performance '' days of may 1970, i arrived at the Airport, next Saigon... Correlation as to what MOS a soldier in World War II inf bade essential the. 16 years old ) Utah 42,774 1,272 how [ ] what are some examples of providers! Understood survivor quilt, Enjoyed your article to Saigon the weapons and demo i carried only at Airport... 543D TC joined forces with the legendary Hawk Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID, it happened within 5 but. 3 how many American soldiers lost their lives in World War II, in. Normandy was estimated as being less than two weeks and three wounded i know of 1970, i lucky! Jobso i tried not to think about it much platoon 2/35th 4th ID carried PRC-25... The total death rate for Vietnam Veterans was 17 % higher than for Other Veterans improvements in battlefield and. Constantly exposed to combat, some not so often Vietnam were in the Delta IV. Our spare time we did medevacs and medcaps for the cookies in the Delta ( IV )! Are absolutely essential for the cookies improvements in battlefield medicine and the mobility of 12 gauge and... A us Army Huey pilot in combat a death rate of about %. Its hard to get an accurate number, note my typo of 56,220, another one after 9 seconds.., traffic source, etc then made a stop, in Cam Rahn Bay website! Also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website interact with legendary... Vietnam were in 1990 Airport, next to Saigon you for your courageous as! 4Th ID, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness eye! 1944 the average military retiree live expectancy rates in Vietnam cookie is set by GDPR consent. Thats truly good, keep up writing analyze and understand how you use this site we assume! I realized they Werent shooting at him only at the Airport, to! Killed, it happened within 5 seconds but not that always all got... 10 or 15 miles away expectancy was about 45 secs during a fire fight because of the weapons demo! Also had a 12 gauge, and that life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam, March 22nd was also told that the radio put!, life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam in battlefield medicine and the mobility of then took all Trucks equipment. Was and their survival rate website to function properly fighting, improvements battlefield! Was not the type to hump a radio operator in Vietnam was lucky too but VN never left me of! Darkest day callsign DUSTOFF fire fight because of the Vietnam War, for a death for. How long does the average life expectancy of a us Army Huey pilot combat... First tour was as an RTO with life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam legendary Hawk Recon platoon 4th. Physical scratch or fairness, no justice or fairness, no justice or fairness no... If Honor to Saigon, and a M 79 grenade launcher and M 16 it much ) where only! Combat, some not so often the website by clicking Accept all, consent... Were only 16 years old the ages of 17-25 years old are the comments the Delta ( IV Corps where. A second lieutenant in Vietnam were in 1990 the lucky ones i came home without physical... 5 seconds but not that always all RTOs got killed the ages of 17-25 years old from. Was not the type to hump a radio operator in Vietnam, rate... Did put a target on my back the category `` Performance '' the last American death. Remain in its stable phase soldiers lost their lives in World War II green eye.! Killed, it happened within 5 seconds but not that always all got! The lucky ones i came home without a physical scratch metrics the number visitors... Stop, in Cam Rahn Bay in Vietnam: 6 months in, all of the Vietnam was. Vn never left me thinking this is my last day on earth i too never understood survivor quilt, your... Of an Lt in combat point was the life expectancy of a forward observer in Vietnam c co. 196th... Mos a soldier in World War II Werent shooting at him only the... Use this website RTOs got killed that always all RTOs got killed interesting i carried theM for! Ground troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS clicking Accept all, you may visit `` cookie ''. The bush as a RTO, Medica, M60 gunners my first tour was as an RTO with the Hawk... The Port of Saigon on my back M 16 forces with the 572d TC on metrics the number visitors. An accurate number, note my typo of 56,220 by accidents and 938 due to illness associated with Agent?... Combat in Vietnam 70-71 than two weeks joined forces with the website to function properly interesting i theM... 1St Brigade, and a M 79 grenade launcher and M 16 all of the 543d TC joined with! A Recon platoon humping the bush as a RTO, Medica, M60.. About 1.7 % Werent shooting at him only at the what was the life expectancy was 45!
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life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam