How many Vietnam veterans are dying each day? Those experiences vs the ones of the rear echelons are grossly different. Okay.Ill be the one to tell it like it is, even though everyone here, as well as everyone else, knows the truth already! I am trying to see if the NJ Adjutant Generals Office still has a couple copies around. Still, the American War Library continues to verify their accounts and come to more concrete conclusions. We certainly were in close combat often during my tour in 69-70. Been there, seen it, did it. Additionally, the American War Library approximated that around 164,000 Americans who served at sea in Vietnam waters during the same time are still alive today. No, Wildaboro was gone, and AK-47s and B-40 rockets were sapper armaments Later, I read in a letter that Sp.4 Donnon F. Porier grabbed the M-60 machinegun, risking his life, and ran down the hillside rushing to the ambush site. I was at 6 different LZs from Aug 67-Aug 68, with a 4th Medical Battalion aid station (D Company), and I never heard of a fuck you lizard. More than 8 million people served in uniform during Vietnam and those who are alive are typically in their 60s and 70s. Served until April 28, 1968 !!!!!! It was an incredibly tumultuous time in US hi >, It poses more confusion about what constitutes a Vietnam Vet! These numbers were not included since these service members were far removed from combat experience and did not spend any amount of time in harms way.. Its been over 50 years and its time Vietnam Vets stop arching among themselves. I have read about Canadians coming south to fight in Vietnam but have never seen any real authority to support this. The debate depends on only two numbers. Interestingly, the research concludes that Vietnam veterans seem to be dying at a similar rate to World War II veterans. That makes more sense. So that means probably from 700,000 to 800,000 of us are still alive. Things that they did not tell you. Luck of the draw my twin that received a silver star got the luck of the draw made it home. Serving during the TET offensive and time after. The Vietnam War was the nation's longest and costliest conflict of the Cold War. If he was at least in the Army, this might not work. In addition 18 US AF Security Police personnel and their 5 person aircrew were killed responding to the incident (the seizure of the USS Mayaquez), some do not recognize them as combat related deaths either. If I got in the ring with Cassius clay later known as Mohamed Ali. My squad leaderSteve Cook wrote, Dont Cry for Us Saigon. He gives stats. 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 would not believe the NYT. 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. A few people were killed. Overall, the death rate of Vietnam veterans seems to be rather consistent if not better than other people their same age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2500 to 3000 US Air Force troops stationed in Guam, Thailand, and other countries that were involved in the Vietnam War effort. . 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. was i a veteran by the numbers? I heard them offen. The leading cause of preventable death among US military casualties in the Vietnam War was exsanguination from extremity wounds. Fact: Everyone who served during the Vietnam War are classified as Vietnam Era Vets. The 30 September 2007 Veterans Administration estimate places the daily deaths of WWII US veterans at 1,000 per day. Army personnel were awarded VN Service Medals and and Vietnam Campaign Medals. for most of it i listened but not wanting to interfere. I know full well it takes many, many hands to make the infantry function but like you saidclaim your time. The third cancer was the charm as it was declared Presumptively caused by Agent Orange in 2021. I believe we were all there doing our duty and deserve to be called a Vietnam Veteran. He received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. I still consider myself lucky every day! Could they be considered Vietnam veterans then? We who were in Vietnam know who we are and dont need anyone telling us what they think. It was also projected that, from here, 138,000 Vietnam veterans are expected to die each year. Even more telling is how many Vietnam combat veterans are still alive today? scipione@geneseo.edu, Yes a Vietnam Veteran, but not a Combat Veteran. that conversation has stayed with me. ago. 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. 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). @Dea KellyWere you on the ground when this happened? It could be a Yard, Don Porier, or a sapper. I went into shock and lost conscienceless. But the 23 months I spent doing my duty as outlined our government to assure you had a way to be resupplied means I, and those like me, am a Vietnam Veteran. If we dont include forces in Thailand or Guam why are we including anyone except Navy pilots, because I dont remember any deep water people who were subjected to enemy hostilities. Defining Combat Veterans, tell us what number you give yourself, we have a controversy here with a candidate for Governor, he claims now that he is a combat veteran, but he told me in his campaign for the House seat he presently holds, that he was NOT a combat veteran. to believe, losing nearly 711,000 between '95 and '00. I was shot up more than a dozen times and shot down once. Wiki User. Finally figured out what was wrong with me, received help but refuse to dwell on the dark demons that quite frankly just did not give a dam for humanity. He was 18 years, 2 months and 1 day old. He earned 38 military decorations during his career, and has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the Vietnam War. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I used this experience and we cut down the Helicopter replacement time from about 2 1/2 weeks to 2 to 4 days. Our medic gave them out every Monday. I always ask those who claim to be Compare yourself to the Marines at Fallujah, if they are a 10, what number are you, Thanks for your comment! If you fired a weapon in defense, outside the wire,, and your boots were on the ground in VN you are a COMBAT vet. He got a letter from his wife telling him she was divorcing him and marrying his best friend. According to the American War Library, as of February 28, 2019, it is estimated that approximately 610,000 Americans who served in land forces during the Vietnam War or in air missions over Vietnam between 1954 and 1975 are still alive to this day. The amount of compensation a Vietnam War veteran can receive varies depending on their individual circumstances, such as their disability rating and the number of dependents they have. Still, other sources like the New York Times claim the number of Vietnam veterans is actually somewhere around 9.2 million. In the enormity of the cosmos, Vietnam is inconsequential, covered over by days dust! Past history shows ALL Veterans of previous Wars were classified as Vets of those wars regardless of where they served. Well, the government 20 or 25 years later sent us, if asked, a ribbon, card, and metal saying we did. As soon as I was wounded, I was thrown into a world that I was alone! NOTE: in 2010 Census 13.2 Million claimed to be Vietnam Veterans. We were sprayed every 2 weeks with Melithon (Insecticide) that was 96 percent pure. You would think the services would know how many were assigned to RVN and direct support of RVN, wouldnt you?? Whether you were sprayed or not makes no difference, and YOU ARE NOT required to prove anything other than being present in Vietnam. My Company was A Co, 5th Trans Bn, 101st Abn. 997 guys died the first day they stepped in Nam. Hometown: New York City. Everyone that served and was in combat which means they were in the line of fire (received it and returned it in some form or fashion) deal with their dark side in various ways. Smokey Platoon. Pop, POP POP. no , i could not quit. Bill, Regardless of their MOS or the details of their service, veterans have more in common with each other than they have differences, and ALL deserve to be honored. I was there in 69-71 also sprayed Im 74, inlisted 1968 spent 2 tours in Vietnam Im now 73, Comments left by my fellow Vietnam vets are very useful. Of the 2.7 million men and women who served in land forces in Vietnam, only about 600,000 are still alive. Spent a year in training and ended up a buck Sargent airborne ranger. The stroke wasnt assumed until after 2000 & heart not until 2010. Believe it or not, I still have every pay voucher..and in 1967 Hazard Duty Pay was $65. I certainly dont agree on the 9 million in country. Age: 77. next with 1st of 12th cav. I rode river patrol boats from 1968-9 we were on the rivers but we were there 24hours a day days a week. The 9 million was the total number of people in the military during 64-75 . I think by now weve pretty much said all that can be said about this question. I have spoken at many VETS EVENTS, and done interviews with the media .. Never get tired of people telling me Thank You for your service, and absolutely love hearing WELCOME HOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I served 2 tours late 1966 to late July 1968, TET and the rest as an infantry platoon sgt Also served in Korea 1963 and considered a Korean war vet as that war has never ended. Needless to say, I set them straight about his lying BS, and moved out the next day. My new Iraq War novel, Three Wise Men should ne out sometime next year, I was at Camp Eagle, and worked in Production Control. The truth is that until Vietnam veterans can agree amongst themselves what constitutes a real Vietnam vet, the debate may continue. Waiting for a slight pause in the clamor in my ear, I decided to escape towards the cover of the Bush. It is called the Stolen Valor Act., Dau Tieng A Co. 3/22 Inf. Antonia is a firm believer in the power of education, and she is passionate about helping students reach their full potential. Sorry for your loss of your loved one. The definition of Combat Veteran is NOT if you have a CIB. One sapper shot off a whole magazine of armor piercing bullets at the drivers side windshield of the truck, and glass was flying in all directions. State-Level Veteran Suicide Data: 2020 Update But that number will probably go down by at least 50,000 to 75,000 per year. I was C 3/17 Air Cav. Deaths per day . Vietnam era vets are not the same as Vietnam vets, but they are important. We had a 10,000 gal balloon full of gas while we watched for someone shooting at us or placing a bomb on the bottom of our boat. I got angry at him even saying that he was a vet of the war. Last one left was about 15 to 20 years ago. Just come up with two lists and leave it at that. They wouldnt know the truth even if they tripped over it. I struck a tree and rebounded into the open again still a sitting duck. no problem with the spell checking. Our 2003 NJAOC Desk Guide to the unique health issue of Nam vets and our children is still the Gold Standard. maybe, maybe not. Having served two tours on the ground, as they say, I find it depressing. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day.