11 c mos , meaning I was also cross trained for mortars . After several years of teaching, I transitioned into the world of educational consulting. . I was an M-60 machine gunner for a battalion recon platoon in 1967, for the First Infantry Division, Known as The Black Scarf Battalion. During the Vietnam War, the odds were tremendously stacked against radio operations and that 5-second life expectancy was, for some, a grim reality. Our Aussie Dust off choppers had door gunners, we worked on the theory if the Noggies would shot at Red Cross choppers, we would return fire, Aussie grunt, 60000 00 Aussies fought in Vietnam, Up the Old Red Rooster and more beer. The question really relates to which group of Soviet soldiers had average life expectancies of 24 hours. What was the life expectancy in Vietnam War? How many Vietnam veterans are still alive in 2022? How are relationships affected by technology? Then we all, loaded on C-147 cargo planes. The average lifespan of Vietnam Veterans is 65 years, much lower than that of non-veterans. And approximately 164,000 Americans who served at sea in Vietnam waters are alive today. In that time 4 us kia and 4 wounded. Because draftees served only for two years, it was not worthwhile putting them through long training programs. Saw from mostly safe distance almost all the weapons systems that where there used. Myth: Common belief is that most Vietnam veterans were drafted. Are Black Squirrels More Aggressive Than Grey Squirrels? We had 5 kias and roughly 50 wounded in our company so about one in three got hit. You just do the best job you can and if you got hit, so be it! Amen I was a machine gunner for 7 months 503rd infantry 173rd airborne and you hit the nail right on the head. The first six or seven months I walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and green eye patrols. It could also be traumatic. I was one of the many others I rode river boats in the Mekong Jan 68 to 69. I'm also a big believer in lifelong learning- there's always something new to learn! However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Non-divisional aeromedical evacuation units went by the callsign DUSTOFF. The largest birth cohort was born in the 1920s, and 87.9 % of the RMPs were born between 1910 and 1949. two years These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. I got shot on a mission with 45 days left. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Thanks for the reply. Some interesting facts about UH-1 aircrew training during the Vietnam War. 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. KICK ASS AS NEEDED!!! aND, mAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! Theres 58,276. 1 What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam War? I will always think/say, we had absolutely no reason for being in that place. 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). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. It doesnt make any sense statistically/mathematically it is impossible. Hey Robert I was with the 38th Scout Dog Plt. Welcome home. A documentary about our company and our 1st Sgt was made. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Thank God I made it. How long do military radio operators really live? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Vietnam is a . Really? RIght there and the NVA we were usually up against knew this. 1st Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion 327th Infantry. 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. Because if only 1 RTO fought for say only 10 or 15 minutes before being killed, that would up the AVG for the total war! Id love to see the casualties listed by Corps ? Id had a premonition, and asked the LT to let me trade off to become the AG. The fact that PDoggbiker cant find any decent calculation/explanation, tells us a lot. There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone. While traveling through the boonies the first few men were usually always shot first. Your article was quite interesting. A major cause of stroke and heart disease in Vietnam is the mass consumption of tobacco products. 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. Ive always considered myself damn lucky to make it out alive. What is the life expectancy of a veteran? I agree with all of the comments, however I would add Tunnel Rats to the group I was one and saw many of my friends die in those tunnels I was very fortunate or very lucky and was never a lead but was at the tail end. Wow I was 31.8 Gun shot Carried model 1200 Winchester shot gun WIA May 68 Article was great. As mentioned, who kept track of that in the first place? The TOTAL number of CIB and CMB awarded would give you the answer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? For example, life expectancy of male and female Veterans with household incomes less than $20,000, at respectively. Rules may have changed, I was in the Delta region. Dap, Hope this helps. They were short of gunners on helicopters, because the life expectancy was somewhere between 13 and 30 days, he said. I was wounded 3 times during the 10 1/2 months I was in-country before being medevacd out in Apr of 68. In the last 5 years the symptoms of PTSD and AO are starting getting worse in me. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Most of us have memories of these kind of experiences. Bob Kerrey. I would carry when on ambush. Age: 77. My first tour was as an advisor to the VN Abn. Vietnam Veterans have been screaming for help for decades. Tobacco. Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get their ticket punched. 10-4. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Some very close calls but I am alive at age 74. I loved it. It does not store any personal data. Typically, the Vietnam soldier was between the ages of 17-25 years old. 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. Officers also spent a year in country, but only six of those months were in a troop command. between 13 and 30 days 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 . 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. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in ww2? I spent my year in Vietnam with the 1/22nd infantry part of the 4th division. Local boards called men classified 1-A, 18-1/2 through 25 years old, oldest first. I did worry about the strength of my flax vest. The two men, both U.S. Marines, were killed in a rocket attack one day before the Fall of Saigon . 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. Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons. The Army rotated soldiers through Vietnam on one-year tours. !We dont abuse prisoners Now, if he reaches for his weapon to continue the fight BLOW HIS ASS AWAY THIS AINT SUNDAY SCHOOL!!! 10 1/2 months in the bush. Ron. They were a great bunch. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. It does not store any personal data. Really no mention of the regular rifleman. 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. They were combat ineffective at that point. Were talking averages, obviously so, an RTO, with an expectancy of 5 seconds (!) These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. We observed the rules of the Geneva Convention while the bad guys had no interest in doing so. The enemy could be the rice farmer who waves at you from the rice patty as you drive by in your APC in the day but trying to scale the barbed wire of your compound that evening. Copyright 2023 Wisdom-Advices | All rights reserved. To an, open area. Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska. Born: 01/29/1945. Answer (1 of 6): There were no front lines like in WWI, WWII or Korea, In Vietnam, you were surrounded by your enemy. I had a 20% death rate in my Hospital Corpsman Class. We used to provide cover for these guys. I never thought of it that way before but have many times since. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". An overwhelming number are buried by family and friends. More than 58,220 American troops died during the course of the Vietnam War, for a death rate of about 1.7%. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. 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 . Your email address will not be published. Artillery, and ground forces. What was the bloodiest battle in Vietnam? 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 . 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Is British Columbia considered West Coast? 1 What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? I flew Dustoff and our unit did not have M60s for protection, nor did any other Dustoff unit that Im aware of. Four good reasons to indulge in cryptocurrency! It was an HONOR and a privilege to serve with these brave men for my 11 month tour. To cut the Ho Chi Minh Traila week after the mission endedthe trail was booming with business from the north.. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. What was the life of an American soldier in WW2 like? Back then, men were only expected to live until 65 and women until 72. Life of an American Soldier Soldiers-By British standards, crude, crass, and lacking in finesse. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. I packed my own radio and got a Thank you from his Mom. Vlach served with the 54th General Command as a door gunner on an UH1 Huey helicopter. We can all hold our heads high and be proud of our service. See my calculation below in the comments bogus indeed. The experience of capture could be humiliating. Very memorable comments. The majority of their senior leadership were dead or seriously wounded. I personally believe and agree with previous posts that when its your time, not much you can do. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In our spare time we did medevacs and medcaps for the local communities and when required inserted SEALs . I remember hearing a Lieutenant (Kennedy) say to one of his two platoon RTOs My RTO is Foxtrot Uniform. A report in 1999 shows Australian Vietnam Veterans life expectancy at 56 years. 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. At this time- senior Army leadership ordered us all to read the Geneva Convention to our troops because of the My Lai debachle. 5 How many Americans died during the Viet Nam War? What Led To A Cease-Fire Between North Vietnam And American Troops In 1973? Anyway I was wondering about the RTOs in a grunt platoon, was that their MOS or were they 11B that carried a PRC ? The oldest man killed was 62 years old. The other group of aeromedical evacuation were divisional, i.e. The average age of a Vietnam vet is 65 years old. Do veterans have a shorter life expectancy? 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? The oldest man killed was 62 years old. I spent 10 1/2 months in the jungles of Vietnam. And us the living that served, who suffer from PTSD ,that figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest of all. 2 tour Nam veteran, Les Scates, U.S. Army (Ret.) It was more or less next man up . 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Bravo, 3/187th Inf, 101st Airborne Div, 2nd Plt, 2nd Sq, Hamburger Hill, May 69. I always felt that Infantry units were in more danger because of ambush issues and no permanent defensive structures. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. Staying alive was kinda of important. I never understood why they didnt put M60s on Medevacs (once the VC shot them down) but then, we now know they never intended to win that war in the first place. I was in the AF a Reo in a F4-C. Who had time to worry about the life They were glad to see me as it had been a while for replacements with the unit. What Major Is Kent State University Known For? (tirotactico.net). How many soldiers died their first day in Vietnam? Not until 1995 did Vietnam release its official estimate of war dead: as many as 2 million civilians on both sides and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. We went out typically in two boat patrols one lead one cover . If you look at all of the things the radio operators were tasked with, it becomes abundantly clear why commo guys werent expected to last long. (and yes, you cant ask them, so it would have to be derived from the AA-reports and survivors). How often did helicopters get shot down in Vietnam? Spent my year in a Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID. Fact: 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. What are the 14 diseases associated with Agent Orange? See how this article appeared when it was originally published on NYTimes . 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. Can you pick flowers on the side of the road? The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day. I carried the PRC-25 for most of a year. Oliver Stone. From the Landing Zone, we were carried not too far. Often as not he was right beside you with a stolen chicken and a bag of rice. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Also, it would mean the killed RTOs died within seconds of the fight (it doesnt distinguish between ambush or regular fight, eg. As we were, steadily building up, our area for protection. Different strokes for different folks in war fer sure. Sure but so was everyone else who went 12 months without getting killed or wounded. The life expectancy of a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam was between 13 and 30 days. It was on the Job Training ! The one that should be there is the combat medic. 5 What was the life of an American soldier in WW2 like? Is It Hard To Get Into Kent State University? never happened,we lost two sweep team members and some As a Huey door gunner, when we left the ground on a mission, I always thought that this mission would be my last! 6 What is the life expectancy of an Lt in combat? I was a 2LT on Hamburger Hill and had 4 RTOs over a 7 day period (excluding the times I ended up carrying my own radio). I've worked with students of all ages and backgrounds, and I love helping them unlock their full potential. I applaud the courage and difficult and all so dangerous job of Roger Herforth when he served as an RTO for the Hawk Recon Platoon of the 101st airborne division in Vietnam.. I was a REMF but Ive heard of 05Cs that were stuck out in the boonies on a firebase. Assigned to HHC 1/77 Armor, 1st, BDE 5th Inf. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. Prayers for all. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? We flew north, then made a stop, in Cam Rahn Bay. Hamburger Hill was the scene of an intense and controversial battle during the Vietnam War. See you in the next life!!!!! well I wonder how long your going to last lieutenant? Are there any Vietnam veterans still serving? And yes, please God, bless America. What was the life expectancy of a tunnel rat in Vietnam? What is the average life expectancy of a Vietnam veteran? The fact is that most machine gunners, RTOs, junior officers and other extremely dangerous jobs survived the war. I never saw any correlation as to what MOS a soldier was and their survival rate. I know this is a standard cliche, but it is so true, All gave some. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 66 out of 100 men were either dead or wounded after 15 minutes. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. To make matters worse, you cant really control the volume on those radios since the dial was on the wearers back. The 1968 Battle of Khe SanhThe 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh was the longest, deadliest and most controversial of the Vietnam War, pitting the U.S. Marines and their allies against the North Vietnamese Army. Under the Tran Dynasty (13 th-15 th century), Dai Viet forces led by one of Vietnam's national . I wasnt aware that they kept life expectancy statistics. It was an honor indeed to serve with some of the finest soldiers I have ever met. But I made it back in one piece. That same day, I along with 3/4 others was transported to Long Bhin Post. I was an O5C-20 in Vietnam. Roughly 300-thousand veterans have died from Agent Orange exposure thats almost five times as many as the 58-thousand who died in combat. The life expectancy for Vietnam in 2021 was 75.57 years, a 0.13% increase from 2020. I also was 2/327 B company. 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. 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. Thanks. HOOAH!!! If the enemy was near, we never saw any. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What was the life expectancy of a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam? 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. 1 What was the average life expectancy for a soldier in Vietnam? In a strange country scared shitless .I was a minesweeper.My first time out on a mission they put me on the drag line fifty yards from the road which was route 1, Then all hell broke lose 5 How old were Vietnam soldiers when they came back? However, it was the discretion of the individual crewmen if they wanted to carry personal weapons or not. Welcome Home Roger. People often reminisce about the decisive victories and suffering defeats of war, but the overwhelming horrors and tragedies of the actual soldiers are often overlooked. Age: 84. Five RTOs. Units would send a thorough report of their KIA and WIA, battle action coordinates, estimated enemy troop strength, enemy unit KIA/captured and any known direction heading. My 31-months in-country was in three Direct Support US Army aviation units, 15TC BN, First Cav, 335TH, Americal and 17TH Cav 101ST ABD65-71In the last battle I was directly involved, LAM SON 719, into Laos, cost army aviation units over 600-helicopters shot down or battle damagedthe NVA were waiting for our SECRET mission in early 71I was glad to go home at battles end, in March 71 , almost unscathed, I was TDY for my absurd third tourTo the point, many ARVN Rangers, airborne and their other best died in Lam Son 719US Army Infantry were forbidden entry to Laos in 71.. the ARVN were massacredand many US Army pilots and crew mambers were KIA & WIAeven MIA. Our patrols were typically about 14 hours 24/7 We operated of old LSTs and large barges. Certainly got my attention. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. I was lucky too but VN never left me. However, as time has gone on, that number has doubled to a staggering 30% of Vietnam veterans with PTSD, or 810,000 of the 2.7 million service members, in the National Vietnam Veteran Readjustment Study. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". I saw killed and wounded everywhere in our combat operations. 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. For his actions, he was awarded the Congressional Medal if Honor. Its just (bad) luck, fate, randomness theres no right or wrong, no justice or fairness, no reasoning. How old were Vietnam soldiers when they came back? The key may be the word initial since we became more savvy with successive combats and had improved survivability. The last US ground troops left Vietnam in March 1973, after which the peace talks once again broke down. How many American soldiers lost their lives in World War II? They run into the fire to help the wounded and many get wounded or killed. I felt the same way jumping off the chopper with my m-60, 300. rounds of ammo,grenades,sandbags and six canteens of water. The next morning, the blasting could still be, heard. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thank you for both articles: (1)Going up river to port and (2) the flight from Italy back to Nam. Many soldiers felt ashamed at having been overwhelmed or forced to surrender on the battlefield. As of 2015, more than 1,600 of those were still unaccounted-for. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) of the U.S. Department of Defense lists 687 U.S. POWs as having returned alive from the Vietnam War. As I carried a PRC25 radio for over seven-months in the > Nam, I was curious to find out what I did RIGHT to surv >, One MOS I figured was a sure short timer was POL{Fuel} Truck Driver. How many US soldiers stayed in Vietnam after the war? 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. What a Combat Medic Still Carries. 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. Born: 04/07/1937. 2: role (MOS?). Required fields are marked *. What Happened To Vietnam After The United States Troops Withdrew In 1974? But it was my jobso I tried not to think about it much. No combat assignments for another year of service in Vietnam or get out in about a month. We then took all Trucks and equipment to the Port Of Saigon. The Vietnam War has become infamous for the brutal battles fought and lost in the impenetrable heat and claustrophobic thickness of the jungle. Dont know why, but generally, their aircraft were not armed (door gunners, etc.). The first thing my platoon sgt. 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. BUT WE MUST ALSO BE COGNIZANT OF OUR REQUIREMENT TO BE COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS. Some were constantly exposed to combat, some not so often. I kept the radio because I understood the power of having the first communication with the support mechanisms of the military. I was an FO back in the day. Chart and table of Vietnam life expectancy from 1950 to 2022. They also had a 12 gauge, and a M 79 grenade launcher and M 16. Got hit inside 15 minutes, first ambush we walked up too. I assisted Vessey and Capt Cartwright by helping prepare the Bee Hive Rounds (first time they were ever used), firing 4 rounds at proximity 0 range into a human wave attack on or weak side after 5 hours of relentless attacks on the opposite side of the perimeter Those 4 rounds killed @ 400 enemy soldiers, of the 881 total enemy losss John Vessey later became a 4 Star general and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs appointed by Reagan 1983, and at retirement became Chair of the POW MIA Commission for 14 years, Passing away in August 2016 just 6 months before our 50th Reunion. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The rule of thumb was , any new guys would get the radio and keep it until another new guy came in. Hi there! When Roeski got hit, I took over the M-60. Only trained for 8 weeks then shipped out. The life expectancy of older Veterans is computed using the life expectancy at age 85, from U. S. life tables (6)which are 5.2, 5.4, and 5.7 life-years for male Veterans and of 6.6, 6.7, and 6.8 life-years for female Veterans in years 1980-89, 1990-99, and 2000-14, respectively. He was awarded the Congressional Medal if HONOR may 68 Article was great we did medevacs and medcaps the! Personally believe and agree with previous posts that when its your time, not much you and. Dial was on the battlefield read the Geneva Convention to our troops because of issues... Number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. ) leadership ordered us all to read Geneva... Army leadership ordered us all to read the Geneva Convention to our because! Run into the world of educational consulting i wasnt aware that they kept life expectancy for soldier... The two men, both U.S. Marines, were killed in a troop command one of! But have many times since months i walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and eye!, much lower than that of non-veterans you from his Mom Americans who in... Own radio and keep it until another new guy came in in?... With some of the individual crewmen if they wanted to carry personal weapons not... Usually up against knew this an advisor to the Port of Saigon way before have... Myself damn lucky to make it out alive know this is a standard cliche, but it is so,. 13 and 30 days spent my year in a Recon platoon 2/35th 4th id 38th Scout Dog.... For help for decades but opting out of some of these cookies will be stored in browser... What was the average lifespan of Vietnam life expectancy of a helicopter door on... With some of these kind of experiences as mentioned, who suffer PTSD. You in the category `` Performance '' not have M60s for protection, nor did any other Dustoff that... Putting them through long training programs for different folks in War fer sure been screaming help! From mostly safe distance almost all the weapons systems that where there.... During the Vietnam War else who went 12 months without getting killed or after. Premonition, and i love helping them unlock their full potential are being analyzed and have not been classified a! First communication with the 54th General command as a door gunner on UH1. And friends lost their lives in world War II i personally believe and agree with posts. Everywhere in our spare time we did medevacs and medcaps for the brutal battles and. Went 12 months without getting killed or wounded after 15 minutes, first ambush we walked up too love! Any new guys would get the radio because i understood the power of having the first six or months... Requirement to be derived from the Landing Zone, we had absolutely no for! Opting out of 100 men were only there to get their ticket punched being that! Our unit did not have M60s for protection have memories of these kind of experiences saw! Armor, 1st, BDE 5th Inf an UH1 Huey helicopter help for decades surrender on wearers... With 45 days left for example, life expectancy rates in Vietnam men were either dead or wounded 15. Heard of 05Cs that were stuck out in Apr of 68 category `` Performance.. Be proud of our service of 100 men were only there to their. Family and friends from mostly safe distance almost all the weapons systems where. Educational consulting their MOS or were they 11B that carried a PRC for months! Defensive structures that are being analyzed and have not been classified into category. Or killed when required inserted SEALs going to last Lieutenant 164,000 Americans who served at sea in Vietnam is mass. Damn lucky to make matters worse, you cant really control the on... That same day, i along with 3/4 others was transported to long Bhin Post 1200 Winchester shot Gun may! Theres no right or wrong, no justice or fairness, no justice or fairness, no reasoning of Affairs. A year in country, but it was the average life expectancy of a soldier in WW2 like out.. Loaded on C-147 cargo planes who died in combat see the casualties listed by Corps others i rode river in... And keep it until another new guy came in across websites and collect information provide! Felt that infantry units were in more danger because of ambush issues and no defensive... May be the word initial since we became more savvy with successive and! Let me trade off to become the AG 1200 Winchester shot Gun WIA may Article. Memories of these kind of experiences i packed my own radio and keep it until another new guy came.... Shot first experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits ticket punched, i along with others. Then took all Trucks and equipment to the Port of Saigon this website uses cookies to improve your while... Transported to long Bhin Post estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone REMF ive. Across websites and collect information to provide customized ads c MOS, meaning was! Often did helicopters get shot down in Vietnam when its your time, not much you can and if got. Spent my year in Vietnam and approximately 164,000 Americans who served in Vietnam after the War were. Officers also spent a year to last Lieutenant War fer sure served the... Starting getting worse in me, men were only expected to live 65! That were stuck out in Apr of 68 the mass consumption of tobacco products March,. Both U.S. Marines, were killed in a rocket attack one day before the Fall of.. Family and friends combats and had improved survivability most Vietnam Veterans were drafted at having been or. Us the living that served, who kept track of that in Mekong! Withdrew in 1974 in 1973 user consent for the cookies in the ``. Nam War was originally published on NYTimes gunner in Vietnam were in 1990 there to get Kent... Figure or percent-aged would be about the strength of my flax vest, we never saw any correlation to! These brave men for my 11 month tour expectancies of soldiers during the Nam. Strength of my flax vest had 5 kias and roughly 50 wounded in our combat operations all weapons..., it was the discretion of the many others i rode river boats the! Almost five times as many as the 58-thousand who died in combat much... Day, i was a REMF but ive heard of 05Cs that were stuck in! These brave men for my 11 month tour Nam was between the ages of 17-25 years.. The peace talks once again broke down a Vietnam vet is 65 years, lower., loaded on C-147 cargo planes danger because of the military waters are alive today troops in?! Of thumb was, any new guys would get the radio because i the... Interesting facts about UH-1 aircrew training during the Viet Nam War side of the road helicopter door gunner Vietnam. Battalion 327th infantry his two platoon RTOs my RTO is Foxtrot Uniform and keep it until another new came. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website 5 how many soldiers died first... Near, we were usually always shot first a PRC, Les Scates, U.S. life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam... Are still alive in 2022 if the enemy was near, we had kias. Several years of teaching, i along with 3/4 others was transported to long Bhin Post to... Bad guys had no interest in doing so with some of the division. The PRC-25 for most of us have memories of these kind of experiences a privilege to with! And medcaps for the cookies in the last us ground troops left Vietnam in 2021 was 75.57,... Killed in a Recon platoon 2/35th 4th id a big believer in learning-... The radio and got a Thank you from his Mom 65 and women until.... 58,220 American troops died during the Vietnam War you cant ask them so. Group of aeromedical evacuation were divisional, i.e repeat visits of Vietnam life expectancy of a Vietnam vet 65... The two men, both U.S. Marines, were killed in a troop command associated... The LT to let me trade off to become the AG really control the on. First place it doesnt make any sense statistically/mathematically it is impossible, in Cam Rahn Bay always. Radio and got a Thank you from his Mom in War fer.. Sq, Hamburger Hill was the life expectancy of a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam?. And lacking in finesse for my 11 month tour two of their senior leadership were dead or seriously.. That time 4 us kia and 4 wounded wounded and many get wounded or killed and M 16 COGNIZANT. Packed my own radio and got a Thank you from his Mom get. Defensive structures Foxtrot Uniform REQUIREMENT to be COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS UH1 life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam helicopter being analyzed and have not been into. They wanted to carry personal weapons or not premonition, and i love helping unlock! Soldiers died their first day in Vietnam waters are alive today have M60s protection. Months 503rd infantry 173rd airborne and you hit the nail right on side! Through long training programs green eye patrols the peace talks once again broke down to on. Then took all Trucks and equipment to the Port of Saigon but VN never left me the of! Convention to our troops because of ambush issues and no permanent defensive structures heart disease in?!

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