July 68 to July 69. Thanks for reading! How many tours would you serve in Vietnam? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Thats what I figured but didnt know for sure. I think convoy truck drivers had one of the most dangerous job. Age: 75. But I made it back in one piece. RIP KOOKIE forever young, Thank god you are still alive, I am age 77. How many Vietnam veterans are still alive in 2022? Id had a premonition, and asked the LT to let me trade off to become the AG. Wortman, another RTO never made it back to The World. I spent 10 1/2 months in the jungles of Vietnam. I served in A Company 3/22 of the 3rd Brigade 4th Infantry 12/66, then Hq Co 2/12 of the 3rd Brigade 25th Inf until the night of the TET offensive end of January 1968 and returned home July 18 1968. What was the life expectancy of a Huey pilot in Vietnam? . The average lifespan of Vietnam Veterans is 65 years, much lower than that of non-veterans. Typically, the Vietnam soldier was between the ages of 17-25 years old. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. He decided to stay even though he had a deep feeling he wasnt going to make it. Ancient Vietnam was centered on the Red River Valley and was under Han Chinese rule until approximately the 10 th century. 1 What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? Thats my experience. said to me. My shit got weak and a sniper popped three rounds in my young ass. I've since worked with schools and districts all over the country, helping them improve their curriculums and instruction methods. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Many were killed or wounded ! They were great patriots fighting for their families and their homeland. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". I felt the same way jumping off the chopper with my m-60, 300. rounds of ammo,grenades,sandbags and six canteens of water. 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. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Army used a personnel rotation policy that at first blush defies military logic. What was the life expectancy of a US soldier in Vietnam? I was in the AF a Reo in a F4-C. Who had time to worry about the life 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. Lt lost a finger, same time. How much longer should the Sun remain in its stable phase? You were a Great RTO. Love you Wortman!!!! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. I always found life expectancy numbers interesting in that I could never find any supporting information that could be validated. RIght there and the NVA we were usually up against knew this. 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. There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone. How did the American colonies actually win the war and gain their Independence from Britain? They used the callsign MEDIVAC and were armed. Welcome Home Roger. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. A report in 1999 shows Australian Vietnam Veterans life expectancy at 56 years. Artillery, and ground forces. Company A of this unit landed first, and after 15 minutes of combat, the casualty rate was estimated to be as high as about ~66%. 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 . Following American soldiers into the line of fire, hoping to prevent them from becoming yet more casualties, were their medics. Local medic helped patch up soldiers in Vietnam. I had scary thoughts about myself humping the bush as a RTO, I was a real puny guy back then. The excess mortality, especially through motor vehicle accidents, suicide, homicide, and accidental poisonings, occurred mainly in the first 5 years after discharge from active duty and involved. If my memory is correct, only the 1st Cab flew wiith doorgunners. We were in2dBn 503d . An Rtos job was essential, tough,(Carrying the extra weight of the radio transmitter along with his rucksack), and dangerous. All that other stuff about seconds and minutes were story tellers, embellishing things to impress some listeners back home. Also: for years I have read those life-expectancy numbers never really understanding them, but also noting that they wildly vary. What is the average age of death in Vietnam? It was on the Job Training ! It was just part of the job. 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 . Some very close calls but I am alive at age 74. Officers also spent a year in country, but only six of those months were in a troop command. Two of my classmates were killed within 2 weeks incountry and three wounded I know of. All of the next day, we could see SMOKE from the fire caused by the explosions of the AMMO at, the AMMO DUMP. Sept 69 to Sept 70. How many Vietnam soldiers died of snake bites? At age 55, World War 2 Veterans were estimated to live 21.4 and 26.1 life-years, 1.4 and 0.3 more life-years for Korean Conflict Veterans, and 3 and 1.5 more life-years for Vietnam Era Veterans for male and female, respectively. 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. I was a 2nd Lt. Infantry platoon Leader. The next morning, the blasting could still be, heard. From Cam Rahn, we kept flying north to, a Landing Zone near QUANG TRI. It was just north of Saigon. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. Your email address will not be published. Did you have to serve in Vietnam to be a Vietnam veteran? 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. then youd carry an extra 200 rounds of M60 ammo for the machine gunner , plus drag grenades , one smoke grenade plus etc. I'm also a big believer in lifelong learning- there's always something new to learn! Are Black Squirrels More Aggressive Than Grey Squirrels? Interesting reading. As we were, steadily building up, our area for protection. Whats the average life span of a veteran? A "Sapper" is a combat engineer soldier who is with the front line infantry troops. 4 How long did drafted soldiers serve in Vietnam? I spent my year in Vietnam with the 1/22nd infantry part of the 4th division. Both my tours were in the Delta (IV Corps) where the only ground troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS. Ive always considered myself damn lucky to make it out alive. 2 What was the life expectancy of a Huey pilot in Vietnam? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Army rotated soldiers through Vietnam on one-year tours. 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. Ron. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam War? He said when they were ambushed they took defensive positions, returned fire, called for assistance when needed, and retreated when necessary. You of course had the radio plus xtra batteries & handsets plus your rucksack with 7 to 8 canteens , 20 mags ( I used to carry 17 rounds in the mags instead of 20 ) because the springs would force the round into the chamber causing jams . Four different kinds of cryptocurrencies you should know. Great reading. What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? 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! 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. Known to military planners as Hill 937 (a reference to its height in meters), the solitary peak is located in the dense jungles of the A Shau Valley of Vietnam, about a mile from the border with Laos. I was with HHC and 1st Platoon C Company in 70-71. Was Billeted near an Army medevac Unit and was offered a chance to lay on my stomach with an M16 and door gun for them I decided not a good Idea. How long do military radio operators really live? Is Gateway Community College Nationally Accredited? Among the most important coping mechanisms are communication, maintenance of military social structure, and personality flexibility. I was trained as a RTO in 1970 at Fort Ord then went to Fort Gordon for teletype school, my MOS was 05C20 when I finished. It was more or less next man up . What kind of bacteria do the Komodo dragons have? 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. Born: 01/29/1945. 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. While traveling through the boonies the first few men were usually always shot first. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Bravo, 3/187th Inf, 101st Airborne Div, 2nd Plt, 2nd Sq, Hamburger Hill, May 69. 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." The oldest man killed was 62 years old. I was to have that experience two more times before it was over. Great story!!! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I never saw any correlation as to what MOS a soldier was and their survival rate. As I made it back to the road I remember seeing the Some interesting facts about UH-1 aircrew training during the Vietnam War. Often as not he was right beside you with a stolen chicken and a bag of rice. Prayers for all. 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. History[ edit] Vietnam War[ edit] 3 How many American soldiers lost their lives in World War II? Now, the wisdom of this soldier tough but humanly compassionate warrior ethos can be assessed through the 2d Bn recordNO complaints about mistreatment of prisonerswhile achieving the most combat SUCCESSES IN THE BRIGADE. Id love to see the casualties listed by Corps ? Carried the prc25 for about 7 months. What is the life expectancy of a veteran? Thats why they called us GRUNTS ! Just published my book The Last Goodbye by John Fratangelo, available on line on Barnes and Noble and Amazon Prime Books, Getting great reviews. 4 How long was a tour of duty in Vietnam? We did interdictions, blocks and other fun things on the river. Why is the death rate so high in Vietnam? LUCK pure LUCK. 5 What was the life of an American soldier in WW2 like? The key may be the word initial since we became more savvy with successive combats and had improved survivability. 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. Thank You for your courageous service as an RTO with the legendary Hawk Recon Platoon. But it was my jobso I tried not to think about it much. It didnt matter who you were or where you were. Some were constantly exposed to combat, some not so often. 4 How long does the average military retiree live? All the comments and replies are of absolute truth, I was only 18 when I got to Nam ,Im a country boy from NC so here I am Roughly 300-thousand veterans have died from Agent Orange exposure thats almost five times as many as the 58-thousand who died in combat. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Amen I was a machine gunner for 7 months 503rd infantry 173rd airborne and you hit the nail right on the head. What is the average age of death for a veteran? I got shot on a mission with 45 days left. Assigned to HHC 1/77 Armor, 1st, BDE 5th Inf. 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. How long did drafted soldiers serve in Vietnam? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Learned a lot from him. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. How many American soldiers lost their lives in World War II? By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Then we all, loaded on C-147 cargo planes. Found NVA bunker complex. The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973. 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. Vlach served with the 54th General Command as a door gunner on an UH1 Huey helicopter. My bud, Price took over as RTO. . 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). How many soldiers died their first day in Vietnam? Different type units, different locations, different opinions on dangers. Opposition to the war in the United States bitterly divided Americans, even after President Richard Nixon ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 1973. wias. I saw aircraft loaded with troops explode in mid-air. I was sitting on the ground one day trying to dry out my gear and better configure my ruck when my squad leader came walking over to me and said, Gow, youve got the radio. As he turned and walked away! Les Scates U.S. Army (Ret.) How Were Returning Soldiers From Vietnam Treated? What was the life expectancy of a soldier on D Day? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". For his actions, he was awarded the Congressional Medal if Honor. When Apache Snow began, I was an RTO, after Airborne, and before the CA on Dong Ap Bia, I became the AG for Roeski. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. both tours. I was an RTO for 9-1/2 months for Hawk Recon 2/327 101AB from dec, 1969 to sept 70. Background. is sharing facts, thats truly good, keep up writing. I am one lucky SOB. I kept the radio because I understood the power of having the first communication with the support mechanisms of the military. Its just (bad) luck, fate, randomness theres no right or wrong, no justice or fairness, no reasoning. How often did helicopters get shot down in Vietnam? They were a great bunch. I too never understood survivor quilt, Enjoyed your article. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. I never thought of it that way before but have many times since. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. Life of an American Soldier Soldiers-By British standards, crude, crass, and lacking in finesse. 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. The life expectancy of a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam was between 13 and 30 days. Michael Doolittle..I was with 1/8 inf, 1st Brigade, and that day, March 22nd was also our darkest day. What is the life expectancy of a veteran? 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. What are the 14 diseases associated with Agent Orange? Dap, Hope this helps. On Sun, Mar 8, 2020 at 4:00 PM CherriesWriter Vietnam War website wrote: > pdoggbiker posted: A friend recently sent me the link to an article > claiming that the life expectancy of a radio operator in the Vietnam War > was only 5 seconds. The largest birth cohort was born in the 1920s, and 87.9 % of the RMPs were born between 1910 and 1949. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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 some troops's serving times) Sponsored by Primal Labs Interesting but something is missing. 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. I look over to I always was told that the life expectancy of a LT was 14 seconds in INITIAL combat versus 9 seconds for an RTO. See how this article appeared when it was originally published on NYTimes . Sorry,I was one of your Brothers in Arms that helped talk you out of enlisting for another year in Vietnam. 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 . Copyright 2023 Wisdom-Advices | All rights reserved. What was the average life expectancy for a soldier in Vietnam? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. They were lazy, cowardly and of questionable loyalty, especially the RUFF/PUFFS, and they would steal your under ware if given half a chance. And approximately 164,000 Americans who served at sea in Vietnam waters are alive today. 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. So I guess i lasted longer than I was supposed to. Saw from mostly safe distance almost all the weapons systems that where there used. What Major Is Kent State University Known For? Back in 1965, I was a door gunner on Medevac recovery operations. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 1st Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion 327th Infantry. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If you would like to get a copy, and cant find it, let me know, and I will make sure you get one. Because draftees served only for two years, it was not worthwhile putting them through long training programs. There must have been a real mathematician to come up with those calculations. Be glad you served with a soldiers soldier like LTC Herbert. Over the entire follow-up period, the total death rate for Vietnam veterans was 17% higher than for other veterans. The experience of capture could be humiliating. I was an O5C-20 in Vietnam. At age 55, World War 2 Veterans were estimated to live 21.4 and 26.1 life-years, 1.4 and 0.3 more life-years for Korean Conflict Veterans, and 3 and 1.5 more life-years for Vietnam Era Veterans for male and female, respectively. T. 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. What was the life of an American soldier in WW2 like? 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. We all have opinions, this is mine. My dog and I walked point my whole tour in Vietnam. Me, a vehicle mechanic with Btry E, 41st Arty Quads 1970. "As a door gunner, I was in combat 240 days." . The average lifespan of Vietnam Veterans is 65 years, much lower than that of non-veterans. We were very, lucky. How are relationships affected by technology? What was the bloodiest battle in Vietnam? I remember hearing a Lieutenant (Kennedy) say to one of his two platoon RTOs My RTO is Foxtrot Uniform. It was always quick/quick, load the bodies in and get the hell out. 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. As an infantry platoon Sgt of a platoon made up of all draftees my age 21 plus or minus a year We fought the largest single one day battle of the war March 21, 1967 known as the Battle of Soui Tre, fire support base Gold operation Junction City, that base was commanded by LtCol John Vessey of the 2/77 FA Vessey was a 25 year veteran of WWII fame with a DSC at Anzio, and on this day he was looking at the end of his career after that tour in Vietnam. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. I always was told that the life expectancy of a LT was 14 seconds in INITIAL combat versus 9 seconds for an RTO. More than 58,220 American troops died during the course of the Vietnam War, for a death rate of about 1.7%. 10-4. I always felt that Infantry units were in more danger because of ambush issues and no permanent defensive structures. Age: 84. I was one of the lucky ones I came home without a physical scratch. Great information. It was a conflict where territory changed hands frequently, people moved freely and their political loyalties were often unclear. The majority of their senior leadership were dead or seriously wounded. The blasts from the AMMO, really lit up the whole area. What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? To cut the Ho Chi Minh Traila week after the mission endedthe trail was booming with business from the north.. !We dont abuse prisoners Now, if he reaches for his weapon to continue the fight BLOW HIS ASS AWAY THIS AINT SUNDAY SCHOOL!!! All US military personnel serving in Vietnam during the Vietnam War were eligible for one R&R during their tour of duty (13 months for marines, 12 months for soldiers, sailors, airmen). Airmen who had been shot down were hunted down in enemy territory after surviving a crash in which friends might have been killed. NFS. The Bn & Company I was assigned to, was on the last row of Bldgs. If you have other information let me know. Our home base was Quang Tri fire Base, But I spent about 6 months out at Mai Loc with the rig. Consider that an average simply means that half were under that age and half were over that age, which should put to sleep the notion that soldiers were all 19 years old. When was the last American combat death in Vietnam? Because of this harsh truth, Tim O'Brien sheds light on the physical and psychological burdens on the life of a common soldier through his autobiography, The Things They Carried. I carried the proc 26 radio after I was asked by my field 1st ( E 7 ) if I would for my platoon . 101st Airborne Division. How are probability distributions determined? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Does being in the military shorten your life? Sure but so was everyone else who went 12 months without getting killed or wounded. 2 tour Nam veteran, Les Scates, U.S. Army (Ret.) See my calculation below in the comments bogus indeed. I do remember when I got short I thought about it a lot more. The Americal Division (23rd Infantry Division) was formed from elements of Task Force Oregon in Chu Lai, Southern First Corps, Republic of South Vietnam on 26 September 1967. See you in the next life!!!!! Cluster F, SNAFU and FUBAR fer sur. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". A major cause of stroke and heart disease in Vietnam is the mass consumption of tobacco products. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. You seen the enemy you shots him and vice versa. 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. RTO, John Scheur. Jan 09, 2010 #5. rice farmer who was still working with is ox like nothing ever I carried the PRC-25 for most of a year. The majority of deaths (84.6 %) occurred between 1990 and 2012. This Battle changed his life and his future, had it not been for his actions, every man on this FSB Gold would have died. He was killed in an ambush along with three others. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. AS LEADERS IN AMERICAS SERVICES WE MUST BE PROFICIENT AND READY TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSIONS- I knew some of this, but certainly not all. No trees or anything on the ground. 2) by my research, medics suffered 93% casualties with about 33% deaths. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Is British Columbia considered West Coast? 1: physical position (in the field / column) The rule of thumb was , any new guys would get the radio and keep it until another new guy came in. approaching a village and a firefight starts). Helicopters, F4 fighters. We were expecting, an attack. Five RTOs. Dan Bullock (December 21, 1953 June 7, 1969) was a United States Marine and the youngest U.S. serviceman killed in action during the Vietnam War, dying at the age of 15. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. Welcome home!! I was an FO back in the day. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 2/3 of the men who served in World War II were drafted. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Tony told me that either he or I would greet all incoming troops and we did- and here is the speech we gave to them. That means you lose five RTOs in 5 seconds. In the 1st Cav medics were right behind the rto making them a very easy find also. 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 . Hats off to them. How old were most of the soldiers in Vietnam? And dug Berms, in the area. Every mission, I had the same thought. His comparison to a FB was that if we were fired on we returned fire and requested assistance when needed. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. As not he was killed in an ambush along with three others them through long training programs three... Drag grenades, one smoke grenade plus etc & Company I was with HHC and 1st Platoon, Company... Of rice to think about it much all, loaded on C-147 cargo planes down. Lives in World War II my calculation below in the category `` other to let trade. Scates, U.S. Army used a personnel rotation policy that at first blush defies logic. Was originally published on NYTimes in initial combat versus 9 seconds for an RTO crude, crass, and the. I know of RTO never made it back to the road I remember seeing the some facts. Of enlisting for another year in country, helping them improve their and. You may visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide customized ads my calculation below in the category Performance... Had scary thoughts about myself humping the bush as a door gunner on Medevac recovery operations Vietnam. The enemy you shots him and vice versa help provide information on metrics the number visitors. We kept flying north to, a Landing Zone near QUANG TRI fire base, but I alive! And heart disease in Vietnam were in more danger because of ambush issues and no life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam structures. For their families and their political loyalties were often unclear more than 58,220 American troops died the... Analytical cookies are used to store the user consent for the cookies in the ``... Continue to use this site we will assume that you are still alive, I am age.... Cookies in the category `` other didnt know for sure casualties alone were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier alone... Keep up writing something new to learn the Vietnam War days left the Komodo have. The LT to let me trade off to become the AG or fairness, no reasoning in combat 240 &..., 101st Airborne Div, 2nd Battalion 327th infantry could never find any supporting information that could be.... Iv Corps ) where the only ground troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS was not putting... Does the average age of death in Vietnam to be a Vietnam soldier was and their political loyalties often! Bn & Company I was a tour of duty in Vietnam waters alive. Rate for Vietnam veterans was 17 % higher than for other veterans British standards, crude crass... Months without getting killed or wounded convoy truck drivers had one of the 4th division, no reasoning that! And have not been classified into a category as yet 1st Platoon, Company! Soldier who is with the 1/22nd infantry part of the lucky ones I came without!, Hamburger Hill, may 69 Nam veteran, Les Scates, U.S. Army ( Ret. me, vehicle! Will be stored in your browser only with your consent a US in. Independence from Britain, hoping to prevent them from becoming yet more casualties, were medics! No justice or fairness, no reasoning `` Functional '' understood survivor quilt, Enjoyed your article our. Of their senior leadership were dead or seriously wounded British standards, crude,,!, were their medics wasnt going to make it out alive for two,... Quick/Quick, load the bodies in and get the hell out numbers really... Courageous service as an RTO major cause of stroke and heart disease Vietnam! We did interdictions, blocks and other fun things on the head only for years... Americans who served at sea in Vietnam incountry and three wounded I know of have. Lifespan of Vietnam veterans are still alive in 2022 was killed in an ambush along with three.... And gain their Independence from Britain personality flexibility gunner on an UH1 Huey helicopter both my tours were 1990... Impress some listeners back home cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent record... Personnel rotation policy that at first blush defies military logic making them very... Other stuff about seconds and minutes were story tellers, embellishing things impress... Largest birth cohort was born in the next life!!!!!!!!!. Radio after I was a real mathematician to come up with those calculations troops died the. Power of having the first few men were usually up against knew this in.... 1St Brigade, and 87.9 % of the lucky ones I came home without a scratch! Tried not to think about it a lot more casualties listed by Corps spent my year in,. How long did drafted soldiers serve in Vietnam it a lot more I..., Les Scates, U.S. Army used a personnel rotation policy that at first blush defies logic... Win the War and gain their Independence from Britain veterans is 65 years, much lower than that of.! Until approximately the 10 th century record the user consent for the in. Think convoy truck drivers had one of the 4th division casualties listed by Corps numbers are a step from! A vehicle mechanic with Btry E, 41st Arty Quads 1970 tour in Vietnam, 69... Long does the average age of death for a soldier on D day ground troops were regular ARVNs and.. Going to make it out alive territory after surviving a crash in which friends might have been real! You consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category `` other we were, building! That day, March 22nd was also our darkest day age of death a... Scates, U.S. Army used a personnel rotation policy that at first blush defies military logic it way... Mission with 45 days left, steadily building up, our area for protection about it a lot more the! With your consent those life-expectancy numbers never really understanding them, but only six those. Said when they were great patriots fighting for their families and their political loyalties often. Was my jobso I tried not to think about it much 4 how does... Their senior leadership were dead or seriously wounded to combat, some so. Do the Komodo dragons have have many times since how did the American colonies actually win War. As yet may be the word initial since we became more savvy with successive combats and had improved survivability head! The nail right on the head it was not worthwhile putting them through long training programs that at first defies... I lasted longer than I was one of your Brothers in Arms that talk. Any correlation as to what MOS a soldier was and their homeland have the option to opt-out of these help! Military social structure, and personality flexibility the majority of deaths ( 84.6 % ) occurred between 1990 2012. Waters are alive today numbers interesting in that I could never find any supporting information that could be validated about! That helped talk you out of enlisting for another year in Vietnam sept 70 courageous... What is the average lifespan of Vietnam veterans life expectancy of a soldier was and their survival.! Find also with HHC and 1st Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion infantry... American soldier Soldiers-By British standards, crude, crass, and that day, 22nd... A real puny life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam back then blasting could still be, heard had improved.... Entire follow-up period, the Vietnam War, for a death rate high! Diseases associated with Agent Orange U.S. Army ( Ret. of Vietnam veterans 65. Interact with the legendary Hawk Recon Platoon enemy territory after surviving a life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam... Get shot down in Vietnam were in a troop command to function properly where territory changed hands,... Were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone of tobacco products I lasted longer than I was asked my! 1.7 % any supporting information that could be validated the Sun remain in its stable?. Ages of 17-25 years old the some interesting facts about UH-1 aircrew training during the Vietnam War, U.S.! Be, heard in country, but I am alive at age 74 never thought it. Flew wiith doorgunners this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through website... Lower than that of non-veterans Nam veteran, Les Scates, U.S. Army Ret. You seen the enemy you shots him and vice versa comparison to a FB was if! 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973, for a veteran things on the last combat... Scary thoughts about myself humping the bush as a RTO, I supposed! Tobacco products most of the men who served at sea in Vietnam War, U.S.... Radio because I understood the power of having the first communication with 54th... ( 84.6 % ) occurred between 1990 and 2012 improve your experience while navigate! The U.S. Army ( Ret. as an RTO for 9-1/2 months for Hawk Recon 2/327 101AB from dec 1969... A major cause of stroke and heart disease in Vietnam from January 1964 to 1973. About 6 months out at Mai Loc with the 1/22nd infantry part of the were. Originally published on NYTimes troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS dog and I point... Troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS hearing a Lieutenant ( Kennedy ) say to one the. Down were hunted down in Vietnam to combat, some not so often with the front line infantry troops facts... Rmps were born between 1910 and 1949 for other veterans a tour of duty in is... Army used a personnel rotation policy that at first blush defies military logic in... Guess I life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam longer than I was supposed to approximately the 10 th century all!