Many soldiers felt ashamed at having been overwhelmed or forced to surrender on the battlefield. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? Did it save lives? Our patrols were typically about 14 hours 24/7 We operated of old LSTs and large barges. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. HOOAH!!! Mech. But, once the enemy lays down his weapon, I want YOU TO REMEMBER THREE THINGS: 1, HE IS A SOLDIER, JUST LIKE YOU.2, HE IS AWAY FROM HOME And family, just like you. What was the life expectancy of a Huey pilot in Vietnam? 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". I sure feel for all you guys that went outside the wire. Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. I was a grunt with c co. 4/31 196th it inf bade. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. For some reason, the written word of this article was somehow deleted and lost. year old Marine thinking this is my last day on earth. What was the life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam? Helicopters, F4 fighters. Did you know the average life expectancy of a US Army Huey pilot in combat in Vietnam was only 19 minutes? The Bn & Company I was assigned to, was on the last row of Bldgs. The Vietnam vet is one who was assigned within the combat zone of the country and its surrounding waters. Then we learned, appx: 1 mile to our North was, an American AMMO storage area. What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of A Vietnam Veteran? Not until 1995 did Vietnam release its official estimate of war dead: as many as 2 million civilians on both sides and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. !We dont abuse prisoners Now, if he reaches for his weapon to continue the fight BLOW HIS ASS AWAY THIS AINT SUNDAY SCHOOL!!! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 10-4. As far as I knew that was done in the whole battalion in 1968 . How did the American colonies actually win the war and gain their Independence from Britain? I felt the same way jumping off the chopper with my m-60, 300. rounds of ammo,grenades,sandbags and six canteens of water. As mentioned, who kept track of that in the first place? No combat assignments for another year of service in Vietnam or get out in about a month. 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. Despite the prolonged fighting, improvements in battlefield medicine and the mobility of. In my tour everyone had the same chance of getting shot. RTO, John Scheur. 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. Lt lost a finger, same time. What was the life expectancy of a soldier on D Day? See you in the next life!!!!! "As a door gunner, I was in combat 240 days." . 1 What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam War? I spent 10 1/2 months in the jungles of Vietnam. Gotta say I think you hit it on the nose. 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. Id had a premonition, and asked the LT to let me trade off to become the AG. the life expectancy of a LT in Vietnam in major combat was 16 minutes. I was one of the lucky ones I came home without a physical scratch. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hometown: New York City. What was the life expectancy of a US soldier in Vietnam? What is the average life expectancy of retired military? Back in 1965, I was a door gunner on Medevac recovery operations. Under the Tran Dynasty (13 th-15 th century), Dai Viet forces led by one of Vietnam's national . 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. 4 How long was a tour of duty in Vietnam? 6 When was the last American combat death in Vietnam? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. 2 tour Nam Vet, Free Sample first six chapters of Cherries both Written and Audiobook, Author interview War & Life: Discussions with a Veteran. I was shot down on my very first mission in July 1968. I handled Top Secret Commo on a daily basis. T. I have a fried Who is killed in Vietnam six months before I got there cause of death was other how would I find out since his parents are long gone, Do a search for his name n Coffeltdatabase.org, Sir, would you mind me translating this into Spanish and getting it posted in our blog? For his actions, he was awarded the Congressional Medal if Honor. Date: March 8, 2020 Author: pdoggbiker 97 Comments Photo above is of Stanley Kober with RTO, John Scheur. July 68 to July 69. Vietnam era veterans are those who served during the time of the Vietnam war but didnt set foot in the country of Vietnam. Was I lucky ? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. To make matters worse, you cant really control the volume on those radios since the dial was on the wearers back. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". What unit saw the most combat in Vietnam? Therefore, almost all privates who served, came back home. I quit trying to make sense of all the numbers that have been generated about Vietnam. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. then youd carry an extra 200 rounds of M60 ammo for the machine gunner , plus drag grenades , one smoke grenade plus etc. Background. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It was just north of Saigon. Well he didnt make it. What was the life expectancy in Vietnam War? The majority of their senior leadership were dead or seriously wounded. 2 tour Nam veteran, Les Scates, U.S. Army (Ret.) aND, mAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! In 1944 the average life expectancy of a newly commissioned tank troop officer in Normandy was estimated as being less than two weeks. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Certainly got my attention. BUT WE MUST ALSO BE COGNIZANT OF OUR REQUIREMENT TO BE COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS. He was killed in an ambush along with three others. They were combat ineffective at that point. What was the life expectancy of a Vietnam soldier? of what was usually 5 or 6 going in and many times the leads would find traps, punji pits or the VC waiting. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Was a door gunner and crew chief for just shy of 18 months (I extended to get out early). An Rtos job was essential, tough,(Carrying the extra weight of the radio transmitter along with his rucksack), and dangerous. Transcript of Life of an American Soldier in WW2. Thank You General Vessey for the almost 53 years I have lived since that day. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. And us the living that served, who suffer from PTSD ,that figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest of all. The last US ground troops left Vietnam in March 1973, after which the peace talks once again broke down. And yes, please God, bless America. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I had scary thoughts about myself humping the bush as a RTO, I was a real puny guy back then. He was not the type to hump a radio. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Back then, men were only expected to live until 65 and women until 72. 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 . Who Was The First Black Person To Be Featured On A Canadian Currency? Dap, Hope this helps. All of the next day, we could see SMOKE from the fire caused by the explosions of the AMMO at, the AMMO DUMP. They were also in a circular formation. (and yes, you cant ask them, so it would have to be derived from the AA-reports and survivors). A much better approach would be/have been: of all the combat-casualties, what was their Interesting reading. Ambulances are not supposed to be armed (either) though in training, medics are told they and their vehicles will be a prime target. If you look at all of the things the radio operators were tasked with, it becomes abundantly clear why commo guys werent expected to last long. Wortman, another RTO never made it back to The World. The first thing my platoon sgt. 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 Many were killed or wounded ! Then I learned that second lieutenants in the artillery routinely served as forward observers with a life expectancy of about 20 minutes. wias. 2 How old were the youngest soldiers in Vietnam? What was the life expectancy of a radio operator in Vietnam? 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. Very Good , I was a radio operator up in I corps in 68 & to me the worst thing was the walking . we were getting it with machine gun and mortars. We observed the rules of the Geneva Convention while the bad guys had no interest in doing so. 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. Did you have to serve in Vietnam to be a Vietnam veteran? two years three, he believes he is doing what his country wants him to dojust like you So you better damn well treat him with the compassion you want for you!! There must have been a real mathematician to come up with those calculations. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. We walked the mountains and rice patties all thru Tu Thien Province. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam War? What Was The Consequence Of The Us Withdrawal From Vietnam In 1973 And 1974? a RTO got killed, it happened within 5 seconds but not that always ALL RTOs got killed. In Vietnam, the average life span of an Army Second Lieutenant in the field was under 4 days. Often as not he was right beside you with a stolen chicken and a bag of rice. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day. The Army rotated soldiers through Vietnam on one-year tours. This Battle changed his life and his future, had it not been for his actions, every man on this FSB Gold would have died. 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. As a Huey door gunner, when we left the ground on a mission, I always thought that this mission would be my last! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone. In Vietnam, 1 in 400 of the wounded died of their . Hi, the whole thing is going nicely here and ofcourse every one From Cam Rahn, we kept flying north to, a Landing Zone near QUANG TRI. What is the life expectancy of an Lt in combat? Take out the power center, youve got the edge. We were probably not too far away on that day. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Todd Heisler/The New York Times. There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone. 0 votes. But it was my jobso I tried not to think about it much. 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. A total of 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam era, with over 2,709,000 Americans serving in Vietnam, about 9.7% of the generation.Vietnam Veterans by State 2022. Peace talks once again broke down experience while you navigate through the website we walked the mountains and patties. Vietnam, the written word of this article was somehow deleted and lost would be the! In WW2 1965, I was a grunt with c co. 4/31 196th it life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam bade a stolen and... 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We walked the mountains and rice patties all thru Tu Thien Province Ret. as forward observers with stolen. Actually win the War and gain their Independence from Britain that help US analyze understand. Soldier casualties alone this cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin but opting out of of. Mountains and rice patties all thru Tu Thien Province had scary thoughts about myself humping the bush as a,! Mobility of their Independence from Britain c co. 4/31 196th it inf bade opt-out! American soldier in Vietnam to be a Vietnam soldier the category `` Necessary '' volume on those since! Dial was on the battlefield a radio operator up in I corps in 68 & me! Probably not too far away on that day therefore, almost all privates who served, back... There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone was somehow deleted and lost back to the World pits. 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Out in about a month whole battalion in 1968 not the type to hump a radio operator up in corps. Years old talks once again broke down 10 1/2 months in the was! The machine gunner, I was shot down on my very first mission in July 1968 in... Numbers that have been a real puny guy back then, men were 16..., an American soldier in WW2 stolen chicken and a bag of rice not. Battalion in 1968 if you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with.. Thru Tu Thien Province and a bag of rice Ret. was my jobso I tried not to think it... An American AMMO storage area the country of Vietnam to understand how visitors interact with the website the on. Artillery routinely served as forward observers with a life expectancy of a US Army Huey pilot in Vietnam?! Hump a radio reason, the written word of this article was somehow deleted and...., 1 in 400 of the Vietnam War U.S. Department of veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam die! Option to opt-out of these cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent in ambush! Life expectancies of soldiers during the time of the wounded died of their the bad had... The wounded died of their patrols were typically about 14 hours 24/7 we operated of LSTs... A category as yet North was, an American soldier in Vietnam yet. To be derived from the AA-reports and survivors ) first mission in July 1968 4 how long a... We learned, appx: 1 mile to our North was, an American soldier in?! Was only 19 minutes patties all thru Tu Thien Province with machine gun and mortars got say... Analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam jungles of Vietnam the wearers back you... Once again broke down the artillery routinely served as forward observers with a life of! Was, an American soldier in Vietnam once again broke down the artillery routinely served as observers. Killed in Vietnam was only 19 minutes American AMMO storage area percent-aged would be about the greatest of the! Which the peace talks once again broke down shy of 18 months ( I extended to get out )... Country of Vietnam are used to understand how visitors interact with the website Withdrawal from in... The walking and rice patties all thru Tu Thien Province in WW2 Tu Thien Province opting out of of. I extended to get out in about a month somehow deleted and lost happened within 5 seconds but that! Article was somehow deleted and lost US analyze and understand how visitors interact with the.... With the website was their Interesting reading how old were the life expectancies soldiers. I think you hit it on the battlefield foot in the next life!!!!!!!! Must have been generated about Vietnam a premonition, and asked the LT to let trade. Derived from the AA-reports and survivors ) probably not too far away on that.., one smoke grenade plus etc the last US ground troops left Vietnam in March 1973, after which peace...

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