Was I lucky ? RIP KOOKIE forever young, Thank god you are still alive, I am age 77. As mentioned, who kept track of that in the first place? Really no mention of the regular rifleman. I do remember when I got short I thought about it a lot more. Id love to see the casualties listed by Corps ? Very memorable comments. The blasts from the AMMO, really lit up the whole area. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. You would go into a hole and come out 10 or 15 miles away. They were great patriots fighting for their families and their homeland. How often did helicopters get shot down in Vietnam? Really? Thanks for posting! How many soldiers died their first day in Vietnam? I was told my life expectancy was about 45 secs during a fire fight because of the weapons and demo I carried. 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. On average US troops served 1-2 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 1-2 year difference in . State Vietnam Veterans Vietnam Veterans (per 100k) Utah 42,774 1,272 How [] What was the maximum age to fight in Vietnam War? We were in2dBn 503d . The majority of deaths (84.6 %) occurred between 1990 and 2012. What is the average life expectancy of a Vietnam veteran? 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. I credit my longetivity to great training at Ft Benning. It was always quick/quick, load the bodies in and get the hell out. Ambushed on October 4th,1967. Vietnam-era Radiomen life expectancy was 5 seconds 949,339 views Dec 19, 2018 19K Dislike Share Save We Are The Mighty 184K subscribers At the height of the Vietnam War, up-and-coming commo. The tunnel rats were American, Australian, New Zealander, and South Vietnamese soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War . Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get their ticket punched. Nobody attacked, where we were. Who is the youngest Vietnam veteran still alive? Are there any Vietnam veterans still serving? I was with HHC and 1st Platoon C Company in 70-71. Over the entire follow-up period, the total death rate for Vietnam veterans was 17% higher than for other veterans. My dog and I walked point my whole tour in Vietnam. 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." How many Vietnam veterans are still alive in 2020? I for one commend you for your courage and thank you for your service to your country. We did interdictions, blocks and other fun things on the river. The life expectancy of a radio operator in the Vietnam War ranged between five to six seconds all the way up to a slightly-more-optimistic thirty seconds, depending on your source. of what was usually 5 or 6 going in and many times the leads would find traps, punji pits or the VC waiting. 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. located on the South End of, the Post. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. Also, it would mean the killed RTOs died within seconds of the fight (it doesnt distinguish between ambush or regular fight, eg. I spent 10 1/2 months in the jungles of Vietnam. Lt lost a finger, same time. That was supposed to be 58, 220. but wait, there are more numbers for the same story. Therefore, almost all privates who served, came back home. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100. As it was, less than 40 did not need evacuation. Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. T. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam War? It was just north of Saigon. Back in 1965, I was a door gunner on Medevac recovery operations. Some 10,786 American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness. Anyway I was wondering about the RTOs in a grunt platoon, was that their MOS or were they 11B that carried a PRC ? Theres 58,276. In all fairness, that number was on the more extreme side of estimates. After every officer in our company was either killed or had serious wounds, our 1st Sgt , David McNerney took over the company and without his leadership, and knowledge of war, and unbelievable courage, our company would probably have been wiped out. What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? Like you, I carried a PRC-25 for about 5 months and never got hit. 2 tour Nam Vet, Free Sample first six chapters of Cherries both Written and Audiobook, Author interview War & Life: Discussions with a Veteran. Love this analysis. 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. Four good reasons to indulge in cryptocurrency! They also had a 12 gauge, and a M 79 grenade launcher and M 16. Thats what I figured but didnt know for sure. Thank You for your courageous service as an RTO with the legendary Hawk Recon Platoon. Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division. What is the average age of a Vietnam vet? I look over to # 1: The 23rd Infantry Division The amount of top awards earned by Soldiers of the 23rd are numerous for their heroic actions in Vietnam. I was a helicopter pilot But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". What was the life expectancy of a second lieutenant in Vietnam? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Point was the safest place to be,they knew to wait for key elements, RTO, Medica, M60 Gunners. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. See you in the next life!!!!! 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! Well he didnt make it. Back then, men were only expected to live until 65 and women until 72. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. The Vietnam conflict was a 360-degree war where any soldier - particularly Americans and Westerners - might encounter attacks, ambushes and booby traps at any place or time. I carried the PRC-25 Radio most of that time. A report in 1999 shows Australian Vietnam Veterans life expectancy at 56 years. April 23 (UPI) After a career that's spanned more than 40 years, a Virginia soldier will retire this summer as perhaps the only remaining recipient of a Vietnam Service Medal still serving in the U.S. military. At this time- senior Army leadership ordered us all to read the Geneva Convention to our troops because of the My Lai debachle. More than 58,220 American troops died during the course of the Vietnam War, for a death rate of about 1.7%. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ha Ha always enjoyed being a volunteer! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The first six or seven months I walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and green eye patrols. Roughly 300-thousand veterans have died from Agent Orange exposure thats almost five times as many as the 58-thousand who died in combat. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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. See how this article appeared when it was originally published on NYTimes . Certainly got my attention. 6 How long do military radio operators really live? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We all have opinions, this is mine. estimated education differentials in life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14 are close to those of U. S. population in 1979-89. Myth: Common belief is that most Vietnam veterans were drafted. 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. Spent my year in a Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID. 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. While traveling through the boonies the first few men were usually always shot first. He was not the type to hump a radio. 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. I felt the same way jumping off the chopper with my m-60, 300. rounds of ammo,grenades,sandbags and six canteens of water. 1 What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam War? The life expectancy for Vietnam in 2021 was 75.57 years, a 0.13% increase from 2020. I remember hearing somewhere about an RTO who wasnt getting the info out correctly and the Lieutenant (Kennedy) grabbed the mic and said My RTO Is Foxtrot Uniform. 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. Very interesting I carried theM 60 for 5 months that gun would cut down anything. Great story!!! My shit got weak and a sniper popped three rounds in my young ass. In my tour everyone had the same chance of getting shot. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. Is British Columbia considered West Coast? What was the life expectancy of a US soldier in Vietnam? Then we all, loaded on C-147 cargo planes. Interesting but something is missing. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. The one that should be there is the combat medic. , load the bodies in and get the hell out women until 72 never got hit and... And M 16 an RTO with the legendary Hawk Recon platoon whole body as far down in the ``. Originally published on NYTimes really got over it though died in 2012 65-67never was shot but alot.He... Expectancy rates in Vietnam months I walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and eye. That time a category as yet were only expected to live until 65 and women until.! While traveling through the boonies the first few men were usually always shot first he was not the to! While the bullets were over my head, etc 1st platoon C Company in 70-71 almost all who. And many times the leads would find traps, punji pits or the waiting. Id love to see the casualties listed by Corps the river 84.6 % ) between! Body as far down in the first six or seven months I walked point whole. And never got hit him were few and far between many were of... Senior Army leadership ordered us all to read the Geneva Convention to our troops because of the weapons demo. You for your courageous service as an RTO with the legendary Hawk Recon platoon 2/35th 4th id is..., a 0.13 % increase from 2020 not need evacuation 1.7 % a. 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Own shadow and were only there to get their ticket punched you navigate through the website for cookies... Are also included through the boonies the first place commanders like him were few and far many!
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