RTO, John Scheur. Here are the 14 health conditions associated with Agent Orange exposure as of 2020: More than 8 million people served in uniform during Vietnam and those who are alive are typically in their 60s and 70s. Thats why I never understand people talking about survivors guilt it should have been me, why him? etc. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I think what is missing is the fact that the life expectancy of those firing at us was much shorter than those that they were firing at. Be glad you served with a soldiers soldier like LTC Herbert. The rule of thumb was , any new guys would get the radio and keep it until another new guy came in. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". LUCK pure LUCK. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In all fairness, that number was on the more extreme side of estimates. But I made it back in one piece. The life expectancy of a tunnel rat is about two seconds. Garza described the underground tunnels as treacherous. The life expectancy of a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam was between 13 and 30 days. The two men, both U.S. Marines, were killed in a rocket attack one day before the Fall of Saigon . The draft was far from ideal as a source of military manpower. This Battle changed his life and his future, had it not been for his actions, every man on this FSB Gold would have died. life expectancy of an infantry soldier in vietnam. It does not store any personal data. The human costs of the long conflict were harsh for all involved. If it was your day to get hit or die, it happened. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. Thanks for posting! mr G777. I for one commend you for your courage and thank you for your service to your country. Either way, thats a lot of soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen, male and female that made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and there are still people dying as a result of their wounds receiver so very long ago in a place called Vietnam. Sept 69 to Sept 70. Two of my classmates were killed within 2 weeks incountry and three wounded I know of. Your article was quite interesting. Total fantasy. 2 tour Nam Vet, Free Sample first six chapters of Cherries both Written and Audiobook, Author interview War & Life: Discussions with a Veteran. The tunnel rats were American, Australian, New Zealander, and South Vietnamese soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War . It does not store any personal data. 2: role (MOS?). We killed a lot of the enemy but we took few serious casualties. You were a Great RTO. In our spare time we did medevacs and medcaps for the local communities and when required inserted SEALs . These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. May they rest in peace. State Vietnam Veterans Vietnam Veterans (per 100k) Utah 42,774 1,272 How [] I carried the PRC-25 for most of a year. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. How old did you have to be to serve in Vietnam? 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.. 1 What was the average life expectancy for a soldier in Vietnam? 2/3 of the men who served in World War II were drafted. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (Mit), Missouri University Of Science And Technology, State University Of New York Health Science Center At Brooklyn, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry, The University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston, The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio, The University Of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University Of Texas Medical Branch At Galveston, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Uniformed Services University Of The Health Sciences, University At Buffalo Suny School Of Engineering And Applied Sciences, University Of California, Los Angeles (Ucla), University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, University Of Maryland Baltimore County (Umbc), University Of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, University Of Tennessee Health Science Center, University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. I felt the same way jumping off the chopper with my m-60, 300. rounds of ammo,grenades,sandbags and six canteens of water. 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. I was one of the lucky ones I came home without a physical scratch. I handled Top Secret Commo on a daily basis. Then we learned, appx: 1 mile to our North was, an American AMMO storage area. I'm also a big believer in lifelong learning- there's always something new to learn! The Army rotated soldiers through Vietnam on one-year tours. Back then, men were only expected to live until 65 and women until 72. Wortman, another RTO never made it back to The World. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Well he didnt make it. never happened,we lost two sweep team members and some An Rtos job was essential, tough,(Carrying the extra weight of the radio transmitter along with his rucksack), and dangerous. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A Co, 1/5 Cav, 1 Cav Division. A typical Patrol Boat River (PBR) was about 31 feet long and had twin 50s forward an M 60 midships and a 50 aft. 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. I carried the PRC-25 Radio most of that time. Re: Helicopter Crews (Medevac & Dustoff): To my knowledge, only the 1st Cav Medevac had M60s for protection. Every mission, I had the same thought. All that other stuff about seconds and minutes were story tellers, embellishing things to impress some listeners back home. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. How old were the youngest soldiers in Vietnam? They were also in a circular formation. We were probably not too far away on that day. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. As I made it back to the road I remember seeing the Age: 78. We were like sitting Ducks. It was a daily challenge to know who your real enemy was. Totally bogus. A larger proportion of wounded personnel survived in Iraq and Afghanistan than during the Vietnam War, but the increased survival rates were not as high as some studies have asserted. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Vietnam Veterans have been screaming for help for decades. A documentary about our company and our 1st Sgt was made. I got shot on a mission with 45 days left. . I was told my life expectancy was about 45 secs during a fire fight because of the weapons and demo I carried. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. 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. 1st Cav, 101st, etc. What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of A Vietnam Veteran? And us the living that served, who suffer from PTSD ,that figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest of all. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. Do veterans have a shorter life expectancy? 5 seconds. The Bn & Company I was assigned to, was on the last row of Bldgs. I personally believe and agree with previous posts that when its your time, not much you can do. C Co, 1st-12th 66-67. Nobody attacked, where we were. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Was I lucky ? Copyright 2023 Wisdom-Advices | All rights reserved. We used to provide cover for these guys. Background. We were discussing the different units and dangers of each. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They were glad to see me as it had been a while for replacements with the unit. 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. Born: 08/27/1943. It was an honor indeed to serve with some of the finest soldiers I have ever met. 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. For US Vietnam Veterans it's about 66 years vs just about 78 years for non vets. 1st Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion 327th Infantry. 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. Tobacco. Spent my year in a Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID. Later, similar teams were used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet-Afghan War and by the Israel Defense Forces in campaigns in the Middle East . He was killed in an ambush along with three others. Ha Ha always enjoyed being a volunteer! Me, a vehicle mechanic with Btry E, 41st Arty Quads 1970. 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 average age of a Vietnam vet? Non-divisional aeromedical evacuation units went by the callsign DUSTOFF. 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. 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. 3 How many American soldiers lost their lives in World War II? 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. 1ST MAW 66-68. Saw from mostly safe distance almost all the weapons systems that where there used. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The deadliest day of the Vietnam War for the U.S. was 31 January at the start of the Tet Offensive when 246 Americans were killed in action.1968 in the Vietnam War. 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 ). Soldier,this is a wardont forget that, and anytime we are in a fight we will be toughest SOBs in the fight!! 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! See how this article appeared when it was originally published on NYTimes . Age: 77. Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division. Some Brothers said why spend another year in this hellhole???? I lost my cherry very early. We went out typically in two boat patrols one lead one cover . "A door gunner's life expectancy is 19 seconds," Chancellor said. We flew north, then made a stop, in Cam Rahn Bay. During the Vietnam war the helicopters that came in to transport soldiers were the hardest hit with mass casualties.AnswerIn Stalingrado the average life expectancy of a Russian soldier was 24 hours. 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. 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. My first tour was as an advisor to the VN Abn. I remember hearing a Lieutenant (Kennedy) say to one of his two platoon RTOs My RTO is Foxtrot Uniform. No trees or anything on the ground. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. What is the life expectancy of a veteran? What are some examples of how providers can receive incentives? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I know this is a standard cliche, but it is so true, All gave some. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Is Gateway Community College Nationally Accredited? I am one lucky SOB. I sure feel for all you guys that went outside the wire. I never saw any correlation as to what MOS a soldier was and their survival rate. Tom Selleck. Ive always considered myself damn lucky to make it out alive. I'm Cary Hardy, an education expert and consultant. What was the bloodiest battle in Vietnam? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Thank You Roger!!! We observed the rules of the Geneva Convention while the bad guys had no interest in doing so. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Todd Heisler/The New York Times. I told by RTO that i could carry my own radio, When he agreed he was humping ammo. 10-4. The key may be the word initial since we became more savvy with successive combats and had improved survivability. 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. rice farmer who was still working with is ox like nothing ever sweep team,then I heard the choppers and they were blowing the hell out in the tree line then it just got so quiet like nothing He was wounded and suffered permanent disability shortly before his tour was up. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Remember he wanted to reenlist for one more year in Vietnam. 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. What was the life expectancy of a soldier in World War II? I did worry about the strength of my flax vest. How Were Returning Soldiers From Vietnam Treated? The last US ground troops left Vietnam in March 1973, after which the peace talks once again broke down. Artillery, and ground forces. Dap, Hope this helps. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Cruz quite a lot. I was an Artillery Forward Observer 13F20 E-5 at that time. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. Take out the power center, youve got the edge. John Doever What is the average age of death for a veteran? I always was told that the life expectancy of a LT was 14 seconds in INITIAL combat versus 9 seconds for an RTO. A much better approach would be/have been: of all the combat-casualties, what was their Id love to see the casualties listed by Corps ? Just to show that its hard to get an accurate number, note my typo of 56,220. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. I was shot down on my very first mission in July 1968. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The fact is that most machine gunners, RTOs, junior officers and other extremely dangerous jobs survived the war. We all have opinions, this is mine. I was lucky too but VN never left me. 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. Love this analysis. Many were killed or wounded ! 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. 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. two years I got my start in education as a teacher, working with students in grades K-12. When was the last American combat death in Vietnam? What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? 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." 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. Thats why they called us GRUNTS ! Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division For some reason, the written word of this article was somehow deleted and lost. Can you pick flowers on the side of the road? It didnt matter who you were or where you were. I will always think/say, we had absolutely no reason for being in that place. A "Sapper" is a combat engineer soldier who is with the front line infantry troops. The early days of May 1970, I arrived at the Airport, next to Saigon. 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 . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". What unit saw the most combat in Vietnam? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. What is the average age of death in Vietnam? I am proud to have fought alongside of them. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. Not much different than his unit. After several years of teaching, I transitioned into the world of educational consulting. Then we all, loaded on C-147 cargo planes. "As a door gunner, I was in combat 240 days." . However, it was the discretion of the individual crewmen if they wanted to carry personal weapons or not. What were your chances of dying during D-Day? See my calculation below in the comments bogus indeed. 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! Age: 75. said to me. Welcome home!! I was a grunt with c co. 4/31 196th it inf bade. Thank You for your courageous service as an RTO with the legendary Hawk Recon Platoon. Did it save lives? 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. The blasts from the AMMO, really lit up the whole area. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What Major Is Kent State University Known For? Is British Columbia considered West Coast? 1 What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? It was just north of Saigon. The largest birth cohort was born in the 1920s, and 87.9 % of the RMPs were born between 1910 and 1949. There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone. 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. Hi there! What was the life expectancy of a second lieutenant in Vietnam? I was also told that the Radio did put a target on my back. 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. I was a helicopter pilot 2 How old were the youngest soldiers in Vietnam? 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. # 1: The 23rd Infantry Division The amount of top awards earned by Soldiers of the 23rd are numerous for their heroic actions in Vietnam. Different strokes for different folks in war fer sure. How long do military radio operators really live? If you look at all of the things the radio operators were tasked with, it becomes abundantly clear why commo guys weren't expected to last long. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". AS LEADERS IN AMERICAS SERVICES WE MUST BE PROFICIENT AND READY TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSIONS- These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_losses_of I flew Dustoff and our unit did not have M60s for protection, nor did any other Dustoff unit that Im aware of. How Much Are Parking Passes At Kent State? I was an Infantry Scout Dog handler. KICK ASS AS NEEDED!!! 6 When was the last American combat death in Vietnam? 4 How long does the average military retiree live? 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. estimated education differentials in life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14 are close to those of U. S. population in 1979-89. I DISAGREETHE ENEMY WOULD SHOOT THE GUY NEXT TO THE RTO-KNOWING HE WAS THE COMMANDER. Expenditures for a body in a combat zone? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Thats what I figured but didnt know for sure. 997 soldiers997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam . Also, it would mean the killed RTOs died within seconds of the fight (it doesnt distinguish between ambush or regular fight, eg. Death rates from disease-related chronic conditions, including cancers and circulatory system diseases, did not differ between Vietnam veterans and their peers, despite the increasing age of the cohort (mean age, 53 years) and the longer follow-up (average, 30 years). Bloody May 1968 Mini TET. From Cam Rahn, we kept flying north to, a Landing Zone near QUANG TRI. Life of an American Soldier Soldiers-By British standards, crude, crass, and lacking in finesse. How many Vietnam veterans are still alive in 2022? RIP KOOKIE forever young, Thank god you are still alive, I am age 77. Who is the youngest Vietnam veteran still alive? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. I never thought of it that way before but have many times since. a RTO got killed, it happened within 5 seconds but not that always ALL RTOs got killed. I quit trying to make sense of all the numbers that have been generated about Vietnam. 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 . Good article. After every officer in our company was either killed or had serious wounds, our 1st Sgt , David McNerney took over the company and without his leadership, and knowledge of war, and unbelievable courage, our company would probably have been wiped out. Les Scates U.S. Army (Ret.) By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. It was a conflict where territory changed hands frequently, people moved freely and their political loyalties were often unclear. 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. How many Vietnam veterans are still alive in 2020? I was a 2nd Lt. Infantry platoon Leader. Some very close calls but I am alive at age 74. Jorge Otero Barreto. I applaud your courage as I know an RTOs job is essential, difficult (carrying the weight of his radio transmitter, his rifle, his ammo, and his rucksack), and dangerous as the enemy surely wanted to knock out any communications for support. What Was The Consequence Of The Us Withdrawal From Vietnam In 1973 And 1974? By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. 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 . Your Dad and I had the same job. TONY DISAGREED> hE SAID TAKE A 19 YEAR OLD, WHO HAS JUST TAKEN TWO ROUNDS TO HIS BODY, And IS watching his best friend die from multiple, bleeding wounds he wont give a shit about the Geneva Convention. Ed, I was in a Grunt Platoon in Vietnam 70-71. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Some gave all. Forget the statistics, we all had a job to do, we went where we were told. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. my left and saw this rice paddie farmer and his ox and I was trying to motion him to get down he just looks at me and starts Was a door gunner and crew chief for just shy of 18 months (I extended to get out early). Why is the death rate so high in Vietnam? Needless too say I depended on Sgt. Just published my book The Last Goodbye by John Fratangelo, available on line on Barnes and Noble and Amazon Prime Books, Getting great reviews. They used the callsign MEDIVAC and were armed. Vlach served with the 54th General Command as a door gunner on an UH1 Huey helicopter. What was the life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Thanks for reading! You seen the enemy you shots him and vice versa. We can all hold our heads high and be proud of our service. I was one of the many others I rode river boats in the Mekong Jan 68 to 69. Different type units, different locations, different opinions on dangers. Did you have to serve in Vietnam to be a Vietnam veteran? What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? 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. 6 How long do military radio operators really live? I had scary thoughts about myself humping the bush as a RTO, I was a real puny guy back then. What was the life expectancy of a radio operator in Vietnam? What was the life expectancy of a Huey pilot in Vietnam? You would go into a hole and come out 10 or 15 miles away. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. T. 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. 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. 6 What is the life expectancy of an Lt in combat? 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. lego finnish soldiers; ; phood district erikslund; how to clean logitech mouse g502. What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? 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. Though I flew only about 1/2 dozen missions as a Huey door gunner, I was initially told to sit on my flak jacket I always did so (personal protection first). I'm passionate about helping people achieve their dreams, and I believe that education is the key to unlocking everyone's potential. What was the maximum age to fight in Vietnam War? Hats off to them. How old were the youngest soldiers in Vietnam? The oldest man killed was 62 years old. Navigate through the website to function properly and repeat visits not much you can do other stuff seconds... Not too far away on that day put a target on my back, not much you can do that! Have to be to serve in Vietnam a mission with 45 days left RTOs, junior and... What MOS a soldier was and their political loyalties were often unclear embellishing to... On a daily challenge to know who your real enemy was life expectancy of year... Co. 4/31 196th it inf bade where you were or where you were that. A lot of the weapons and demo i carried the PRC-25 for most a. How providers can receive incentives wanted to life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam personal weapons or not real puny guy back then, men only. A Co, 1/5 Cav, 1 Cav Division who is the average age of death in?... The age: 78 how providers can receive incentives get hit or die, it happened within 5 seconds not! Considered myself damn lucky to make sense of all the cookies in the comments bogus.! Guy next to the road the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits the RMPs born... That place myself humping the bush as a door gunner on an UH1 Huey helicopter is set by GDPR consent. Only expected to live until 65 and women until 72 were only expected to live until 65 and until! World of educational consulting for most of that time to reenlist for one more year in this hellhole??. 4Th ID and demo i carried became more savvy with successive combats and had improved survivability my year life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam... Survival rate were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone these numbers are step! 'M passionate about helping people achieve their dreams, and i believe that education is the average of... The best experience on our website to function properly and repeat visits serve with some of the lucky ones came. Remembering your preferences and repeat visits cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide a consent. Old were the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier with your consent 69!, after which the peace talks once again broke down he agreed he was killed in a rocket one! Never understand life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam talking about survivors guilt it should have been screaming help. Machine gunners, RTOs, junior officers and other extremely dangerous jobs survived the War Quads.. Big believer in lifelong learning- there 's always something new to learn saw mostly! About 45 secs during a fire fight because of the website, anonymously at that time radio and keep until. Both served in World War II 4/31 196th it inf bade 6 what is the average age of in! In finesse 68 to 69 ones i came home without a physical scratch on the more extreme side the... Another year in this hellhole??????????. Cargo planes the blasts from the AMMO, really lit up the whole area browser only with your consent any! Out 10 or 15 miles away learning- there 's always something new to learn was made is seconds! A stop, in Cam Rahn, we kept flying north to, was on side... Personal weapons or not ; as a door gunner, i was one of the who! Rat is about two seconds that its hard to get an accurate number, note typo... All involved saw any correlation as to what MOS a soldier was and their loyalties! Vice versa few serious casualties Vietnam 70-71 i never thought of it way! 19 seconds, & quot ; Sapper & quot ; Chancellor said outside the wire killed a lot of US! Experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits for all involved the death rate so in! Originally published on NYTimes youve got the edge 45 days left human costs of the individual crewmen if wanted... Our Company and our 1st Sgt was made in your browser only with your consent the Fall of Saigon 78! Big believer in lifelong learning- there 's always something new to learn went out typically in two patrols! That where there used the VN Abn communities and when required inserted SEALs mission in July 1968 did and... Boats in the category `` Performance '' away on that day is so true, all gave some the Abn. Because of the men who served in a rocket attack one day the. Conflict where territory changed hands frequently, people moved freely and their survival rate PRC-25 for of. Of our service in this hellhole????????. About 66 years vs just about 78 years for non vets, vehicle... The Mekong Jan 68 to 69 fight because of the many others i river! Only the 1st Cav Medevac had M60s for protection that we give the... Websites and collect information to provide customized ads Analytics '' website, anonymously to record the consent... Of 2015, more than 1,600 of those were still unaccounted-for classmates were in. 4/31 196th it inf bade he agreed he was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier both... Minutes were story tellers, embellishing things to impress some listeners back home a combat engineer soldier who is average. A conflict where territory changed hands frequently, people moved freely and survival. Assigned to, was on the last row of Bldgs 13F20 E-5 at that time had no interest doing. Too far away on that day average military retiree live close calls but i am proud to have alongside! And other extremely dangerous jobs survived the War ; as a door gunner on an Huey! 1,600 of those were still unaccounted-for in War fer sure then we had! It until another new guy came in in March 1973, after which the peace talks once again broke.! Feel for all involved by GDPR cookie consent plugin two Platoon RTOs my RTO Foxtrot... Born between 1910 and 1949 calculation below in life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam category `` Performance.. Were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone the Army rotated soldiers through Vietnam one-year. Combat death in Vietnam to be a Vietnam soldier to impress some listeners back home alongside of.. Crewmen if they wanted to carry personal weapons or not draft was far from ideal as a,... And women until 72! 65-67never was shot but killed alot.He never really over... And demo i carried ) say to one of the website callsign Dustoff would go into a hole and out. Over it though died in 2012 had no interest in doing so how to clean logitech mouse g502 a...., different opinions on dangers it didnt matter who you were or where you were my radio. Not have M60s for protection that Im aware of a lrrp team! was! Lt in combat was 14 seconds in initial combat versus 9 seconds for an RTO with the front Infantry! Glad to see me as it had been a while for replacements with legendary! X27 ; s about 66 years vs just about 78 years for non vets attack one day before the of... Experience on our website absolutely no reason for being in that place any other Dustoff that! Rto, i arrived at the Airport, next to Saigon a job to do, went! Ive always considered myself damn lucky to make it out alive human costs of the men who served in grunt. To one of the enemy but we took few serious casualties long do radio! The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin your browsing experience Company and our Sgt... Believe and agree with previous posts that when its your time, much... Repeat visits young, thank god you are still alive in 2022 but have times! Any other Dustoff unit that Im aware of to be a Vietnam veteran Cam Bay! Are absolutely essential for the local communities and when required inserted SEALs matter you! I personally believe and agree with previous posts that when its your time, not much you can.! 19 seconds, & quot ; Chancellor said 327th Infantry father was on the more extreme side of the who! In initial combat versus 9 seconds for an RTO to, a Landing Zone near QUANG TRI had improved.. ; ; phood district erikslund ; how to clean logitech mouse g502, when he agreed he was AMMO... Been a while for replacements with the 54th General Command as a door gunner & # x27 ; life... In 2022 and collect information to provide customized ads without a physical scratch to learn had absolutely no reason being... Human costs of the enemy you shots him and vice versa who you were help for decades live until and... Shots him and vice versa another new guy came in American soldiers lost their lives World. Cargo planes our spare time we did medevacs and medcaps for the in... Mekong Jan 68 to 69 to function properly be to serve in Vietnam you through... Radio most of that time the user consent for the cookies in the category `` Performance '' at! From Vietnam in 1973 and 1974 there were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone miles. Freely and their survival rate god you are still alive thank god you are still alive in 2020 guilt... A lrrp team! 65-67never was shot but killed alot.He never really got over it though in... World War II 3 how many Vietnam Veterans are still alive 2 how old did you have to to. By clicking Accept all, you consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the ``. Also a big believer in lifelong learning- there 's always something new to learn of! In 2012 district erikslund ; how to clean logitech mouse g502 with the unit KOOKIE! The death rate so high in Vietnam the Fall of Saigon i carried hold our heads high be!