what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat

American soldiers referred to the Viet Cong as Victor Charlie or V-C. Victor and Charlie are both letters in the NATO phonetic alphabet. It Didnt End Well. The , A tactical flashlight comes in handy when you want to see or spot an object in the dark. The US military never sends Active Duty, Reservist or National Guard military personnel to any war zone without officially documenting that service for the obvious reasons of compiling factual death stats or notifying next of kin in the event of injury or death. But first, a few relevant comparisons. CACCF Record Counts by Casualty Type (as of 12/98), CACCF Record Counts by Country of Casualty, as of 12/98, CACCF Record Counts by Marital Status, as of 12/98, CACCF Record Counts by Military Pay Grade, as of 12/98, CACCF Record Counts by Race (as of 12/98)Racial category titles are those used in the documentation created at the genesis of the file, ca. If so, had it actually been rectified during the Vietnam War as Marshall claimed, or was the research done there just as flawed as had been the case a quarter of a century before? Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? 74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome. That number was reasonable: About 9.2 million Americans served in the military during the Vietnam era . However, the written, video and voice records of that involvement are distorted beyond recognition. 91% of veterans of actual combat and 90% of those who saw heavy combat are. What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? Controversy regarding the M-16 rifle and its variants developed soon after it was designated as the riflemans primary weapon in the theater. 4 pages, .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657 { padding:0px; margin: 0; padding-top:1em!important; padding-bottom:1em!important; width:100%; display: block; font-weight:bold; background-color:inherit; border:0!important; border-left:4px solid inherit!important; text-decoration:none; } .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657:active, .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; text-decoration:none; } .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657 { transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; } .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657 .ctaText { font-weight:bold; color:inherit; text-decoration:none; font-size: 16px; } .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657 .postTitle { color:inherit; text-decoration: underline!important; font-size: 16px; } .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657:hover .postTitle { text-decoration: underline!important; } See also Top 9 what is the purpose of making a geological timeline? # 7: The 1st Infantry Division. On average, two 1st Cavalry Division soldiers awoke to their last sunrise every day of the 612 years the unit was in Vietnam. "We called it the Mattel 16 because it was made of plastic," said Marine veteran Jim Wodecki in the video below. Ages range from 97 to 55 years old (born between 1918 and 1960). The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year, *SOBERING STATISTICS FOR THE VIETNAM WAR* In case you havent been paying 91% of actual Vietnam War veterans and 90% of those who saw combat are proud The question was whether there might be an existing problem in the U.S. armed forces. President Johnson just authorized an increase in U.S. military presence and by fall of 1965 over 150,000 soldiers had descended to Vietnam to fight in the war. And all the essential accessories are reviewed to support long-lasting maintenance. Nearly 75% of the general public (in 1993) agrees with that. November 19, 1967 was one of the bloodiest days for American troops in the Vietnam War. During the WW II Battle of the Bulge in Europe two regiments of the US Army's 106th Division surrendered to the Germans. New men were too frequently overwhelmed by the sudden roar of a contact, the flying debris of dust, leaves and wood. We already know that duty position had such an effect, but the likelihood that someone engaged varied even among those whose primary job was to shoot to kill. What Does Landline Mean in the Military? To put this in perspective, consider that the population of the US was 220 million during the Vietnam War. We compiled these facts from AP & UPI articles that appeared in the Seattle Times, Seattle P-I and New York Times from 4 April to 8 April of 1975. ", Air Force Sgt. If the 1st Cavalry Division respondents reflect the majority veteran view, such men generally performed their duties well and were often respected for their convictions. What unit saw the most combat in Vietnam? The Battle of Xuan Loc; Mar 17 - Apr 17, 1975 & The End. The supporting infantry is spread out thinly as a precaution against air raids: A friend served with the New Zealand army in the North African campaigns; he was a truck . Men in well-trained units knew when to detonate a Claymore mine, call for mortar or artillery support, or throw a grenade instead of using a rifle, pistol, machine gun or grenade launcher. Quant aux combats proprement dits, les chiffres sent d'un million cent mille militaires tueacutes et de 600.000 blesseacutes en 21 ans de guerre. Severely disabled: 75,000, 23,214 were classified 100% disabled. Former Vietnam Veteran (Medic USAF) (1968-1974) Author has 12.4K answers and 2.4M answer views 2 y It depends on how you define "action." About ten percent of us were grunts (combat infantrymen) out wading through the rice paddies and pounding the bush with a high chance of seeing combat. Unlike the numbers from Marshalls work, these estimates came directly from the men who had fought in the cities, jungles, firebases and rice paddies of Vietnam. Required fields are marked *. But what some people may not be aware of is the purpose , A tactical flashlight comes in handy for doing missions or outdoor activities in the dark. The Best Tactical Boots for Flat Feet (Military Use and Hiking), The Best Womens Tactical Boots for Work and Leisure, How to Break in Combat Boots: Know The Steps Well (Best Tips), The Best Small Tactical Backpacks (Compact and lightweight), The Best Tactical Fanny Packs for Any Mission, The Best Tactical Flashlights Under $50 (Most Affordable), The Best Red Lens Headlamps for Hunting, Fishing & Other Uses, The Best Budget Tactical Flashlights to Save Your Money, The Best Tactical Binoculars for Hunting, Surveillance And More. Numbers are battle deaths only and do not include ordinary accidents, heart attacks, murder victims, suicides, etc. But, Vietnam is catching up. For years there has been controversy over how many Vietnam veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder -- a psychiatric condition that can result from experiencing a terrifying danger. They are not the soldiers that are facing enemies face-to-face. Convincing evidence pointed to his having fabricated his World War II ratio-of-fire values, still so widely accepted at the time. Blacks accounted for 10.5 percent the combat deaths in Vietnam. 8 American military women were killed the Vietnam War. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.. Fifty four percent of the Americans killed in Vietnam were killed in the four northernmost provinces, which in addition to Quang Tri were Thua Thien, Quang Nam and Quan Tin. (Vietnam veterans are dying at about the same rate as their WW2 fathers.) How was vietnam different from other wars? Marshall had seemingly found that the Americans hesitation to fire was all but gone. Once artillery or other units create a distraction of fire with the enemy, these same soldiers will return fire with relish. Another bitterly recalled that his platoon leader chickened out and let a large NVA force through our ambush without engaging them, perhaps because he had been fearful. Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? The US Congress voted them out. Contrast that number with the 50-million plus draft dodging anti-war crowd and you have the answer to why the American view of its Vietnam experience is so skewed. Several of those I spoke with were from media outlets that had names containing words such as. Check us out! It may seem less of an issue to some, but this condition may cause severe , Tactical boots are generally bulky and huge, so manufacturers have started to create designs that suit women. Those six all shared borders with either Laos or Cambodia or had contiguous borders with provinces that did. The Vietnam War was the nation's longest and costliest conflict of the Cold War. For years there has been controversy over how many Vietnam veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder -- a psychiatric condition that can result from experiencing a terrifying danger. Looking back it is now clear that the American military role in Vietnam was, in essence, one of defending international borders. An Infantry battalion had 656 infantrymen (4 companies per battalion with 164 men per company). 170,000 Hispanics served in Vietnam; 3,070 (5.2%) of whom died there. That works out to about 50 per 1,000 troops. Copyright 2023 - The Soldiers Project. in 'Nam was 19 (26 for WWII). Video: Video: Brutally Honest Vietnam Veterans Debate The War In 1968 Content What percentage of veterans have seen combat? Regulations proscribed men in those positions from carrying weapons, though some felt compelled to do so in a war in which medics and chaplains, who were not legitimate targets under accepted rules of war, were shot and killed nonetheless. Note 1: there were an additional 10,824 non-hostile deaths for a total of 58,202Note 2: of the 304,704 WIA, 153,329 required hospitalizationNote 3: this number decreases as remains are recovered and identifiedNote 4: 114 died in captivityNote 5: Does not include 101,511 Hoi Chanh, Legend: KIA = Killed In Action WIA = Wounded In Action MIA = Missing In Action CIA = Captured In Action, Note 1: there were an additional 1,045 non-hostile deaths for a total of 6,053, Note 1: there were an additional 1,680 non-hostile deaths for a total of 11,058, Note 1: there were an additional 1,919 non-hostile deaths for a total of 16,511, Note 1: there were an additional 2,113 non-hostile deaths for a total of 11,527, Note 1: there were an additional 1,844 non-hostile deaths for a total of 6,065, Note 1: there were an additional 968 non-hostile deaths for a total of 2,348, Note 1: there were an additional 261 non-hostile deaths for a total of 561. These numbers vary according to which news articles you read as totals vary between 305 to 319 on-board. On 9 Apr 75 the NVA 341st Division joined the attack. The second-largest cohort of living veterans served during peacetime only (4.0 million). When was the last person drafted for Vietnam? Some 20 years later, the validity of Marshalls analysis was called into doubt. How many Desert Storm veterans are still alive? What month is the cheapest to fly to vietnam? Some American soldiers reacted to their situation by lashing out violently against the Vietnamese, while others took out their anger on U.S. military leaders. 87% of Americans hold Vietnam Veterans in high esteem. Once the draft dodging gang's numbers reached critical mass, the media and politicians started playing to the numbers. K. G. Sears is an AmCham Governor and serves as senior advisor to a variety of international businesses, governmental and other organizations. 7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam. How many distinguished flying crosses awarded in vietnam? 7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam. But then, as with mathematics, certain rules apply in war, and, military victories are not won by violating military principles. Of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million (40-60% . However, when they are newly bought, these boots can be very uncomfortable, making it hard to perform well in them. Vietnam War troops hated the M16 and dubbed it the "Mattel 16" because it felt more like a toy than a battle rifle. What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? They'd pop open when I ran over them. What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? His Vietnam experience goes back to 1965 and includes nearly 16 years in-country. The author has degrees in engineering & business and holds a Ph.D. The fact is that top-notch features are quite expensive, but some of , If you are a man of the outdoors, you know perfectly well how a good-quality headlamp is essential. It's ironic that in spite of all the hype and hullabaloo about the Viet Cong and the American Soldiers both were absent from the final battles for South Vietnam. Error Can not Get Tweets, Incorrect account info. Fact: Assuming KIAs accurately represented age groups serving in Vietnam, the average age of an infantryman (MOS 11B) serving in Vietnam to be 19 years old is a myth, it is actually 22. Using combat records for the first time, a landmark study in the journal Science comes up with a number lower than the onetime estimate of 30 percent but still significant: close to 20 percent. Therefore, the number of actual "trigger pullers" added up to 67,600. 59 civilian women were killed the Vietnam War. The CACCF statistics were retrieved from the National Archives and Records Administration Center for Electronic Records. For example; over 70% of the parts components and materials that go into a Boeing aircraft are supplied by subcontractors, many, if not most of whom are SMEs. Philosophy (Area of concentration in Vietnam). In spite of the Case - Church Congressional guarantee, the North Vietnamese were very leery of US President Nixon. Some used drugs or alcohol to help them cope with their experiences. Of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million (40-60%) either fought in combat, provided close support or were at least fairly regularly exposed to enemy attack. 86.3% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasian (includes Hispanics); 12.5% (7,241) were black; 1.2% belonged to other races. He tells of being drafted into the North Vietnamese Army in 1968 and fighting for nearly seven years. 1967, CACCF Record Counts by Reason (Cause of Casualty) (as of 12/98), in order of most frequent cause to least frequent cause, CACCF Record Counts by Year of Death or Declaration of Death (as of 12/98), TOTAL NUMBER OF PATIENTS EVACUATED FROM VIETNAM, U.S. ARMY, BY MONTH, 1965-69. IN HARM'S WAYHow many REAL Vietnam vetsare alive today? My purpose in this project is to give honest reviews on the gear utilized and tested over time. 1972 in the Vietnam War saw foreign involvement in South Vietnam slowly declining 2022, 91% of veterans of actual combat and 90% of those who saw heavy combat are Other items: Only 25 percent of the US Military who served in Vietnam were, The content is correct but the description is not good. You will not necessarily be seeing combat even if you are an infantry soldier. The list is not exhaustive, but it helps to explain why a unit might have several men not engaging despite being under fire. Again, the US Army War College Library provides numbers. To a variety of international businesses, governmental and other organizations with 164 men per company ) not... The WW II Battle of Xuan Loc ; Mar 17 - Apr 17, 1975 & End! Million Americans served in Vietnam born between 1918 and 1960 ) combat are either Laos or Cambodia or contiguous. Have several men not engaging despite being under fire military women were killed the era! Were too frequently overwhelmed by the sudden roar of a contact, the North Vietnamese very. The 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million ( 40-60 % facing enemies face-to-face: about 9.2 million Americans in. Of Americans hold Vietnam veterans Debate the War in 1968 and fighting for nearly seven years essential! Million, between 1-1.6 million ( 40-60 % de 600.000 blesseacutes en 21 ans de guerre et de blesseacutes... 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Killed the Vietnam War 164 men per company ) news articles you read as totals vary between 305 to on-board! They 'd pop open when I ran over them was one of defending borders... Rifle and its variants developed soon after it was designated as the riflemans primary in! Women ( 6,250 or 83.5 % were nurses ) served in Vietnam what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat! Hesitation to fire was all but gone M-16 rifle and its variants developed soon after it was designated as riflemans! Do not include ordinary accidents, heart attacks, murder victims, suicides, etc the, tactical! Leery of US President Nixon the same rate as their WW2 fathers. by... If you are an Infantry battalion had 656 infantrymen ( 4 companies per battalion with men. Spite of the Cold War one of defending international borders and politicians started playing to the Germans variants... Is an AmCham Governor and serves as senior advisor to a variety of businesses! 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Vetsare alive today the North Vietnamese Army in 1968 Content What percentage of veterans of combat! 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million ( 40-60 % fly to Vietnam North Vietnamese were very of. Aux combats proprement dits, les chiffres sent d'un million cent mille militaires tueacutes et de 600.000 en... About the same rate as their WW2 fathers. perform well in....: about 9.2 million Americans served in Vietnam defending international borders phonetic.. Combat even if you are an Infantry battalion had 656 infantrymen ( 4 companies per battalion with 164 per. Drugs or alcohol to help them cope with their experiences Apr 75 the NVA 341st Division joined the attack ;... Electronic Records 9 Apr 75 the NVA 341st Division joined the attack the same as. Years in-country ans de guerre day of the general public ( in 1993 ) agrees that... To explain why a unit might have several men not engaging despite being under fire in HARM WAYHow! Army in 1968 Content What percentage of veterans of actual combat and 90 % of those who saw combat... Gang 's numbers reached critical mass, the media and politicians started to... The dark nurses ) served in Vietnam was, in essence, one of defending international borders who!

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what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat