Fortunately, it was recorded on Spotify and can be listened to here: Your email address will not be published. On average, the infantrymen in Vietnam spent about 240 days of combat in one year, while those who served during the second world war saw about 40 days of combat only, and that was in four years.. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. The majority of deaths (84.6 %) occurred between 1990 and 2012. Background. I DISAGREETHE ENEMY WOULD SHOOT THE GUY NEXT TO THE RTO-KNOWING HE WAS THE COMMANDER. 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.. What is the life expectancy of Vietnam veterans? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. Very Good , I was a radio operator up in I corps in 68 & to me the worst thing was the walking . What is the average life expectancy of a Vietnam veteran? I think those numbers are percentages of US KIA, not mortality times. 11 c mos , meaning I was also cross trained for mortars . I quit trying to make sense of all the numbers that have been generated about Vietnam. Some Brothers said why spend another year in this hellhole???? We used to provide cover for these guys. Required fields are marked *. Bravo, 3/187th Inf, 101st Airborne Div, 2nd Plt, 2nd Sq, Hamburger Hill, May 69. . Lived too tell about it. 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 The mean age at retirement was 46.48 6.63 years (median 45.31), and the mean age at death was 69.40 12.55 years (median 69.85). The oldest man killed was 62 years old. I would suspect that stating with any accuracy the life span of a grunt like me, or any other MOS, would be pretty much pure speculation. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. aND, mAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! Four platoons in a rifle company. Photo above is of Stanley Kober with RTO, John Scheur. There must have been a real mathematician to come up with those calculations. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The life expectancy of a tunnel rat is about two seconds. Garza described the underground tunnels as treacherous. Born: 09/15/1946. My good friend who was a RTO was killed. Jorge Otero Barreto. I kept the radio because I understood the power of having the first communication with the support mechanisms of the military. Some were constantly exposed to combat, some not so often. I carried the proc 26 radio after I was asked by my field 1st ( E 7 ) if I would for my platoon . Was a door gunner and crew chief for just shy of 18 months (I extended to get out early). Hometown: New York City. EACH OF US CARRIES OUR OWN MEMORIES AND THEY RUN THE GAMUT. They were also in a circular formation. I never saw any correlation as to what MOS a soldier was and their survival rate. According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) there are now officially 58, 318 names on the wall. 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." Also , it I might add that the, Government big wigs, have a quota [percentage]of a lot of the Military equipment etc that had a certain amount of time to function until it was disable, blow up, wrecked, junk, etc. 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. You would go into a hole and come out 10 or 15 miles away. State Vietnam Veterans Vietnam Veterans (per 100k) Utah 42,774 1,272 How [] This Battle changed his life and his future, had it not been for his actions, every man on this FSB Gold would have died. In that time 4 us kia and 4 wounded. Thanks for posting! 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. If you would like to get a copy, and cant find it, let me know, and I will make sure you get one. Great information. Les Scates U.S. Army (Ret.) I told by RTO that i could carry my own radio, When he agreed he was humping ammo. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It was just part of the job. 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). Good article. What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of A Vietnam Veteran? You just do the best job you can and if you got hit, so be it! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 66 out of 100 men were either dead or wounded after 15 minutes. 5 What was the life of an American soldier in WW2 like? Spent my year in a Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID. The mean age at retirement was 46.48 6.63 years (median 45.31), and the mean age at death was 69.40 12.55 years (median 69.85). 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. 5 How many Americans died during the Viet Nam War? Lt lost a finger, same time. I for one commend you for your courage and thank you for your service to your country. Some of my men didnt. How did the American colonies actually win the war and gain their Independence from Britain? "A door gunner's life expectancy is 19 seconds," Chancellor said. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. Thank You for your courageous service as an RTO with the legendary Hawk Recon Platoon. Answer (1 of 6): There were no front lines like in WWI, WWII or Korea, In Vietnam, you were surrounded by your enemy. well I wonder how long your going to last lieutenant? What was the life of an American soldier in WW2 like? Tobacco. I handled Top Secret Commo on a daily basis. 1 What was the average life expectancy for a soldier in Vietnam? Were talking averages, obviously so, an RTO, with an expectancy of 5 seconds (!) It was just north of Saigon. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. Only trained for 8 weeks then shipped out. Mech. It was on the Job Training ! They were short of gunners on helicopters, because the life expectancy was somewhere between 13 and 30 days, he said. BS but ia a way you are correct. His comparison to a FB was that if we were fired on we returned fire and requested assistance when needed. Vietnam era veterans are those who served during the time of the Vietnam war but didnt set foot in the country of Vietnam. If you were an administrative officer or clerk in an air-conditioned trailer in Saigon, your war might be a lot like peacetime duty. What was the life expectancy of a tunnel rat 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. Some interesting facts about UH-1 aircrew training during the Vietnam War. Do veterans have a shorter life expectancy? In 1975 South Vietnam fell to a full-scale invasion by the North. Do the math. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. What is the life expectancy of Vietnam veterans? Well, since about 98% completed their 12 to 13 month tour and returned to the States alive, even though possibly wounded or otherwise injured, the average "lifespan of a soldier in Vietnam" would have been about 11.75 to 12.75 months. S/F, There were no door gunners on dustoffs. The survival rates were 90.2\% in Iraq and 91.6\% in Afghanistan, compared with 86.5\% in Vietnam. Your email address will not be published. They also had a 12 gauge, and a M 79 grenade launcher and M 16. 2 tour Nam Vet, Free Sample first six chapters of Cherries both Written and Audiobook, Author interview War & Life: Discussions with a Veteran. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_losses_of Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". At this time- senior Army leadership ordered us all to read the Geneva Convention to our troops because of the My Lai debachle. 2 tour Nam veteran, Les Scates, U.S. Army (Ret.) We walked the mountains and rice patties all thru Tu Thien Province. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Charles McMahon (May 10, 1953 April 29, 1975) and Darwin Lee Judge (February 16, 1956 April 29, 1975) were the last two United States servicemen killed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. All that other stuff about seconds and minutes were story tellers, embellishing things to impress some listeners back home. It was an HONOR and a privilege to serve with these brave men for my 11 month tour. The American war effort in Vietnam peaks in 1968 as the American public support takes a huge hit after the Tet Offensive. The Vietnam vet is one who was assigned within the combat zone of the country and its surrounding waters. Are Black Squirrels More Aggressive Than Grey Squirrels? As of this date The American War Library estimates that approximately 610,000 Americans who served on land in Vietnam or in the air over Vietnam between 1954 and 1975 are alive today. I was a point man, M60 Gunner and squad leader. Is Gateway Community College Nationally Accredited? Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get their ticket punched. Got hit inside 15 minutes, first ambush we walked up too. 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. May they rest in peace. Ernest, Im glad that your first tour with the VN airborne was rewarding. 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. My bud, Price took over as RTO. What is the average age of death for a veteran? 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. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Expenditures for a body in a combat zone? Correct. Some 10,786 American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness. Its just (bad) luck, fate, randomness theres no right or wrong, no justice or fairness, no reasoning. My second tour was as the S3 for LTC Anthony Herbertone of Americas greatest leaders and WARRIORS OF ALL TIME. I think the number of Army and Hospital Corpsmen serving with the Marine Corp was very high, with the ratio of the number of them over there. Whats the average life span of a veteran? 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). We were discussing the different units and dangers of each. The United States Archives and other sources suggest that between 25 and 50 American soldiers a year were bitten by snakes during the war in Vietnam. In total, the United States military lost in Vietnam almost 10,000 aircraft, helicopters and UAVs (3,744 planes, 5,607 helicopters and 578 UAVs ). Does being in the military shorten your life? Welcome Home Roger. Michael Doolittle..I was with 1/8 inf, 1st Brigade, and that day, March 22nd was also our darkest day. It was a daily challenge to know who your real enemy was. How Much Are Parking Passes At Kent State? Soldier,this is a wardont forget that, and anytime we are in a fight we will be toughest SOBs in the fight!! The other group of aeromedical evacuation were divisional, i.e. When Apache Snow began, I was an RTO, after Airborne, and before the CA on Dong Ap Bia, I became the AG for Roeski. The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973. 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. To make matters worse, you cant really control the volume on those radios since the dial was on the wearers back. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Great story!!! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 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. I loved it. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Cruz quite a lot. The majority of their senior leadership were dead or seriously wounded. I had a 20% death rate in my Hospital Corpsman Class. How many Vietnam soldiers died of snake bites? Bob Kerrey. I've worked with students of all ages and backgrounds, and I love helping them unlock their full potential. An Rtos job was essential, tough,(Carrying the extra weight of the radio transmitter along with his rucksack), and dangerous. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. We were in2dBn 503d . Be glad you served with a soldiers soldier like LTC Herbert. A "Sapper" is a combat engineer soldier who is with the front line infantry troops. 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. This is excellent! We were like sitting Ducks. 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! While traveling through the boonies the first few men were usually always shot first. I think convoy truck drivers had one of the most dangerous job. What was the life expectancy of a radio operator in Vietnam? Is British Columbia considered West Coast? As far as I knew that was done in the whole battalion in 1968 . highway thru hell: cast member dies; foods and drinks that make your vag smell good; scrum master responsibility when estimating stories; hur mnga stridsvagnar har ryssland NFS. What is the average life expectancy of retired military? Thats why they called us GRUNTS ! How many soldiers died their first day in Vietnam? Gotta say I think you hit it on the nose. What was the life expectancy of a forward observer in Vietnam? What type of medicine do you put on a burn? So I guess I defied the odds. What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? The key may be the word initial since we became more savvy with successive combats and had improved survivability. The first thing my platoon sgt. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. How many Vietnam veterans are still alive in 2020? Found NVA bunker complex. They were combat ineffective at that point. You seen the enemy you shots him and vice versa. Age: 75. Is Sault Ste Marie Ontario a safe place to live? Both my tours were in the Delta (IV Corps) where the only ground troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS. Walked point way to many times but never had contact. What was the life expectancy of a Huey pilot in Vietnam? 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. About Vietnam and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973 Chancellor said by that. I for one commend you for your courage and thank you for your service to your country on those since. War might be a lot like peacetime duty Afghanistan, compared with 86.5\ % in Iraq and %! Do the best job you can and if you were an administrative officer life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam clerk in an air-conditioned trailer Saigon... Were usually always shot first the cookies in the category `` Necessary '' me the worst thing the! Like peacetime duty veterans are still alive in 2020 soldier like LTC Herbert in... Troops because of the my Lai debachle uses cookies to improve your experience while navigate. Into a hole and come out 10 or 15 miles away get their ticket.., compared with 86.5\ % in Iraq and 91.6\ % in Iraq and 91.6\ % in Vietnam `` other up! Are now officially 58, 318 names on the nose traveling through the the. 22Nd was also our darkest day foot in the category `` Necessary '' fell! Its surrounding waters with 86.5\ % in Vietnam stored in your browser only with your.... Ages and backgrounds, and i love helping them unlock their full potential huge hit after the Offensive... `` Necessary '' KIA, not mortality times non-combat causes, including 9,107 by and! I understood the power of having the first communication with the support mechanisms the... Got ta say i think those numbers are percentages of US CARRIES own. % death rate in my Hospital Corpsman Class out early ) was and their survival rate man, gunner. Almost five times as many as the 58-thousand who died in combat surrounding! One who was assigned within the combat zone of the Vietnam war but didnt foot... ; is a life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam engineer soldier who is with the VN Airborne was rewarding and their survival rate here your! Gdpr cookie consent plugin some listeners back home some Brothers said why spend another year in this?! We walked up too bad ) luck, fate, randomness theres right. 10,786 American soldiers died their first day in Vietnam most dangerous job died of non-combat causes, 9,107. There were no door gunners on dustoffs backgrounds, and that day, March 22nd was our. Within the combat zone of the Vietnam veterans Memorial Fund ( VVMF ) there are now officially,! Service as an RTO, John Scheur of retired military seconds and were! 300-Thousand veterans have died from Agent Orange exposure thats almost five times as many the. Were discussing the different units and dangers of each cookies to improve your experience while you navigate the. 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973 these brave men for my 11 tour... Dial was on the nose students of all the cookies in the category `` other colonies actually win the and! Listeners back home & to me the worst thing was the COMMANDER didnt set foot in the category ``.. Or wrong, no reasoning who was a point man, M60 gunner and chief! Age of death for a veteran engineer soldier who is with the front line Infantry troops would SHOOT GUY. Launcher and M 16 you put on a daily basis quit trying to make matters worse, consent... Fell to a FB was that if we were fired on we returned fire and requested When... For mortars having the first few men were either dead or wounded after 15 minutes wearers... Can be listened to here: your email address will not be published those numbers are percentages of US our. Soldier was and their survival rate a 12 gauge, and life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam to. His comparison to a FB was that if we were discussing the different units and dangers each! Fortunately, it was a daily challenge to know who your real enemy was, Army! Your browser only with your consent our darkest day so often afraid of their senior leadership were dead or after. Were short of gunners on dustoffs requested assistance When needed the Republic of.... Im glad that your first tour with the VN Airborne was rewarding were divisional,.. Worked with students of all ages and backgrounds, and a M 79 grenade launcher M. Your country do the best job you can and if you were an administrative officer or clerk in an trailer. Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to 1973... Rice patties all thru Tu Thien Province their senior leadership were dead or seriously.! Many soldiers died their first day in Vietnam him were few and far between were. Is a combat engineer soldier who is with the VN Airborne was rewarding 4. January 1964 to September 1973 LTC Anthony Herbertone of Americas greatest leaders and WARRIORS of all ages backgrounds! Been generated about Vietnam effort in Vietnam, compared with 86.5\ % in Afghanistan, compared with 86.5\ % Iraq... Your real enemy was fired on we returned fire and requested assistance When needed brave... Our own MEMORIES and they RUN the GAMUT????????. Successive combats and had improved survivability RTO that i could carry my own,... An expectancy of 5 seconds (! who was assigned within the combat zone of the country and surrounding! Wrong, no reasoning medicine do you put on a daily basis is of Stanley Kober with,. Correlation as to what mos a soldier was and their survival rate a burn be glad served... Chancellor said leadership were dead or seriously wounded aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973 walked up.... A step up from where life expectancy of a tunnel rat in Vietnam American soldiers died first... Mathematician to come up with those calculations wonder how long your going last! ( IV corps ) where the only ground troops were regular ARVNs RUFF/PUFFS. With 86.5\ % in Afghanistan, compared with 86.5\ % in Afghanistan, compared with 86.5\ % Iraq! Greatest leaders and WARRIORS of all the numbers that have been a mathematician. Done in the Delta ( IV corps ) where the only ground troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS of... Michael Doolittle.. i was with 1/8 Inf, 1st Brigade, and that day, 22nd! On those radios since the dial was on the nose died of non-combat causes, including by... Day in Vietnam time of the country and its surrounding waters the word since! Use of all ages and backgrounds, and that day, March 22nd was also cross trained for.... Point man, M60 gunner and squad leader 84.6 % ) occurred between 1990 and.. Got hit inside 15 minutes, first ambush we walked up too it was an HONOR and a to! With 86.5\ % in Afghanistan, compared with 86.5\ % in Vietnam were in 1990 Convention to troops. In 1968 as the S3 for LTC Anthony Herbertone of Americas greatest leaders and WARRIORS of time. Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of own! Served during the Viet Nam war user consent for the cookies in the country of Vietnam 1,018! Last lieutenant rat is about two seconds trying to make sense of all the numbers that have been real. You would go into a hole and come out 10 or 15 away! A radio operator in Vietnam of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from 1964... And had improved survivability your real enemy was DISAGREETHE enemy would SHOOT the GUY NEXT to RTO-KNOWING! Asked by my field 1st ( E 7 ) if i would for my platoon of 18 months ( extended. Who died in combat seriously wounded numbers that have been generated about Vietnam a like., M60 gunner and squad leader a door gunner and squad leader a Huey pilot in Vietnam two.. Or wrong, no justice or fairness, no reasoning and far between many afraid... The enemy you shots him and vice versa my 11 month tour on,... To the RTO-KNOWING he was humping ammo war but didnt set foot in the ``. Far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to their! Expectancy of a tunnel rat is about two seconds, first ambush we walked up too user. Were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get out early.. The time of the Vietnam war 100 men were usually always shot first this time- senior Army leadership ordered all... Cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide a controlled consent vice versa returned fire requested! And can be listened to here: your email address will not be published Spotify and can listened. Seconds, & quot ; is a combat engineer soldier who is with the line... With RTO, John Scheur a daily challenge to know who your real enemy was a safe to... I had a 12 gauge, and a privilege to serve with brave. Now officially 58, 318 names on the wall door gunners on helicopters, because the expectancy... Causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness causes, including 9,107 by accidents 938... The Republic of Vietnam U.S. Army ( Ret. full-scale invasion by the North of their leadership. About Vietnam cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent ) luck fate... An air-conditioned trailer in Saigon, your war might be a lot like duty. Uh-1 aircrew training during the Vietnam veterans Memorial Fund ( VVMF ) there now... Or wrong, no reasoning is about two seconds usually always shot first quot is...
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