https://www.americanwarlibrary.com/personnel/vietvet.htm We did a lot of Ranch Hand missions in the iron Triangle. A few times Id meet a group of guys claiming they were all Nam Vets. I used this experience and we cut down the Helicopter replacement time from about 2 1/2 weeks to 2 to 4 days. I dont know why we have to make this simple arithmetic drill so difficult. we were all on the same side of the aisle. I understand that they only got about 300,000 of us, but that is a huge, decent number, considering how cynical we Nam vets can be about studies. Last I heard the database indicated that the Median Age of Death of Nam vets was reached at least three or four years ago. The wheels were bouncing crazily as the tires encounter deep furrows dug in the hard dirt from the last monsoon. Tom, to me, the CIB says everything; the wearer is a soldier who has earned the right to it and deserves respect. Ive often wondered how many of us are left. Had several replies over the years that this was not a cause. As the Department of Veterans Affairs studies, each day over 20 veterans take their own lives. I was the first male born to the Puccetti family after his death, so my parents received permission to name their son after Dante. I will never forget the pop pop pop, pop pop of an AK-47 in rapid-fire, but I heard the far off rattle of a M-60 machine-gun through the roar; Why I thought of PFC Wildaboro and his escapade with the machine gun that OTHER sun-drenched afternoon! A phantom drifted over and raised me up to unconsciousness. Before I passed out, I was being picked up off the jungle floor by some entity. In the article, the writer quotes Patrick S. Brady of Vietnam Veterans of Americas magazine. Apparently, its been agreed upon that 800,000 Vietnam veterans had passed away by the year 2000. It was 3:30pm when I entered the slowest aspect of the trip. I was all over in 7 years. I made a mistake !!!!! Certainly leaves some doubt about the numbers because why are we including the years from 1954 to when the actual American forces entered hostile missions? 2010-11-24 14:32:32. It was difficult for me to move. You may not care but us guys that stepped foot in Nam AND had bullets flying at us, we care, and we are genuine vietnam Combat Vets. I certainly dont agree on the 9 million in country. 3rd Brigade 4th ID attached to the 25th ID 111.40 & 112.40 later these became 11B.40 & 11C.40. My performance as Dante Michael Anthony Puccetti was at its close, and resembling the theater, I was ready to take my curtain call. It caused extreme political unrest and was widely protested. However I know many many who have died these past 55 years & 6 months since the Battle of Soui Tre March 21, 1967 and I know what is a combat veteran. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. they deserve that recognition. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. TRUE, yes more may have had a mortar or rocket land in the vicinity, or heard a sniper round shot, but the manpower rule is 1 out of 7 10 is an actual seek out and engage the enemy, tip of the spear veteran. retired university professor The Vietnam Nam Veteran and the Vietnam Era Veteran is defined by law ,, am I correct???? All five of the CIDGs we dropped off that morning filed into the back of the truck, but unlike the cab the back had a canvas top and sides. Born: 01/29/1945. Christmas Night, Midnight, a guy in the next Bunker committed suicide. Or is this a total number of vets with all the other countries that supported us . It should be duly noted that these numbers do not include the 2500 to 3000 US Air Force troops stationed in Guam, Thailand, and other countries that were involved in the Vietnam War effort. I am glad that you make Dante, I know the struggle has been long, but the spirit soars and the tale told Live long my brother, None of us are very far away from those days A harrowing experience that can never be diminished by time. Bless you and your family Those of us who live day to day with that medical time bomb know the pain you suffered before he passed, and the endless pain of loss ever after. This cookie is used by the website's WordPress theme. Excellent questions. However, like it or not, the U.S. government makes the final decisions on who is officially considered a war veteran and thats really the way it HAS to be. Those of us on the battlefield who bled and many died would take issue with your opinion. Is It Hard To Get Into Kent State University? The number of people who are Vietnam veterans in the first place is a number that is widely debated. two weeksOver 10% of Vietnam casualties were helicopter crew members, and most of those were the door gunners that protected the helicopter, its crew, and its transports, from their exposed position. Gordon, I agree. Today, the state with highest number of Vietnam veterans is California, with 596,130, followed by Florida with 519,224. I don't know about you guys, but it kind of gives me the chills. The 30 September 2007 Veterans Administration estimate places the daily deaths of WWII US veterans at 1,000 per day. These are numbers never heard before & I would not include those before the advisers were sent over in the early/mid 60s. On Sat, Jun 19, 2021 at 4:22 PM CherriesWriter Vietnam War website wrote: > pdoggbiker posted: This is a controversial post. Chester/Gordon, Phu Loi Nov 66 to Dec 67 HHD 11th Cbt Avn Bn. David, please do not compare this to Merchant Seaman in WWII who braved the many packs of Submarines etc as thgatr uis hgow many died in WWIU, Sorry my spell check went nuts I wonder how many vets died of one of the cancers on the list before it made the list? While that's a staggering figure is, the actual amount could be higher. Next determined those Veterans who were awarded the Vietnam Service ribbon. Aside from that, I have always doubted any fact stated by the NY Times; although the federal government is no better. Was in 82nd and served from a firebase up North to near South China Sea down South, remember some names but 53 years. So, I must be a VN Vet and VN Era Vet and Cold War Era Vet but not a Cold War Vet because I never got anywhere near the USSR. Past history shows ALL Veterans of previous Wars were classified as Vets of those wars regardless of where they served. Hell no. I was a grunt and shotgunner on convoys !!! But having said that, here are some sources: We all served the same, but different. I know from my time with the 3/25 that you dont need to be a ground pounder to see more then your share of combat. Please do all you can to inform our fellow vets that the VA presumes Agent Orange exposure if you were in-country. Yep feet never left the ground except to do my mos. It was all about teamwork, whether you pulled the trigger or not. I was ASA, 1960-1963, Ft Dix, Vint Hill Farm, DaNang and PhuBai. Should you have a question or comment about this article, then scroll down to the comment section below to leave your response. Combat Vet, Vet on ships that never touched country, military who were passing through and were on airport tarmac? The veterans are a very important asset to the country. Born: 08/27/1943. I opted for love! Interestingly, the research concludes that Vietnam veterans seem to be dying at a similar rate to World War II veterans. The funny thing,(not so funny) is that when we carried peaches and beer, no problem. my point is that they were shot at and in country. Im 71 and waiting to see if Ill be the last one standing. But if the 800,000 number is right then it has to be out of the 9,000,000 and not out of the 2.6 million. Nor, do they know about what is referred to as the last battle of the Vietnam war, which occurred on 15 May 1975, eight days after the legally defined end date of the Vietnam era; 7 May 1975. Return to reality. RVN. The average age of our Vietnam veterans is now over 70. Nebraska Farm Boy, that had to go to County Agent Classes before buying any chemicals. Defining Combat Veterans, tell us what number you give yourself, we have a controversy here with a candidate for Governor, he claims now that he is a combat veteran, but he told me in his campaign for the House seat he presently holds, that he was NOT a combat veteran. Antonia is a firm believer in the power of education, and she is passionate about helping students reach their full potential. 2.4 million man who served in Nam approx. I then did a 12 month tour in RVN in 5th SFG. My time stands still. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. How Many Vietnam Vets Die Each Day? - Answers Our service was diminished while there and continues being disrespected by those who lump all Vietnam-Era vets with those whose lives were on the line. in any event, i went as soon as i was contacted by the draft board. I was in Vinh Long in 1965, Mekong delta area. So, with the lower estimate of 610,000, over 2.1 million VN vets have died since 1975 thats an average of 44,000/year. I served in Quang Tri (70-71) and took two types of Malaria pills. back and forth to the us, carrying every thing you could imagine. Not 499 days between dec 67 & april 68? Exiting the jungle, still at the foot of the mountain opposite from my defenses; the mountains bulk acted as a radio barrier between help from S3 at Enari or the SFs at the Ville. What do you think? Some where along the way after returning home & towards, if not after the end of involvement, the number Id heard/read was 5 million US military served. My brother claims he is a Vietnam veteran. We who were in Vietnam know who we are and dont need anyone telling us what they think. Not sure where we were. BAM! If you served at all, anywhere, during WWII, you are a WWII vet. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. While every GI serving around the world was important to securing our Cold War victory over Communism just as the Vietnam conflict was also, those who served in uniform in the SEA War Theater are the true veterans of the Vietnam War. Also, some do not consider those who served in Thailand as Vietnam Vets. I saw the truck bounce towards the trees. Which Statement Best Describes How Americans In The 1960S Felt About The Vietnam War? off the ship i went out with airforce on resupply, went out with troops through rubber plantations, ran from gunfire in saigon and chulon. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. Quite a story. It was an incredibly tumultuous time in US hi >, It poses more confusion about what constitutes a Vietnam Vet! Or did you spend 24/7 365 days in the boat? what i am saying is that there were all kinds of service, and if you think the definition is being in country and being shot at, then i qualify and so did my shipmates. My son, James, is 16 and has autism. How Many Ww2 Veterans Die Each Day? - Thelma Thinks three years on and off in vietnam . ooops !!!! I read a statistic somewhere that one in seven where in actual combat. The 25th Infantry Division, in III Corps, issue two different Malaria Pills. My mom had all three sons in the war my twin brother and i were drafted he got combat I got artillery the younger one joined the air force . This is a reasonable number but you get very different notions of the death rate when you compare 800,000 to 2.7 million versus 800,000 out of 9.2 million. My mos was 11B and the army in its great wisdom sent me to an aviation unit in the Mekong delta. . as we end our lives we should never forget that each served, in some way. One moment is eternity- the next may never!. I do not, however, have a CIB. Decades after the fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) many former soldiers still wonder why they were fighting. that conversation has stayed with me. In 2019, the most . Do you by chance remember a Jim Blackshear? The Vietnam Veterans of America have cited that they will remain an organization until last man standing. During the Vietnam War, Air Force C-123 planes sprayed millions of gallons of herbicides over the jungles of Southeast Asia to destroy enemy crops and tree cover. More Veterans Die By Suicide Than In Combat. But It's Preventable - WBUR I bounced all around and slowed almost to a stop, and I downshifted and ground to first gear while checking my watch. Presently, I approached the road to the top of PDL hill, and I was thinking what a beautiful day this would have been if this were some other place in some other world. Got home after the war, never spoke about my service, never went hunting again, never cut my feeling back on! I struck a tree and rebounded into the open again still a sitting duck. You guys were the lifeblood of our war effort. Still, the American War Library continues to verify their accounts and come to more concrete conclusions. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It allows the website owner to implement or change the website's content in real-time. VA released VetPop 2020 which is VA's new official estimate and projection of the Veteran population. He was a Private First Class who was killed in action in the Second World War. I had encountered a learning experience, and inspirational contact with the celestial. (1st time to operate a river boat 2nd time to evacuate injured Marines. If you have any doubts, take a closer look at your DD-214. Finally got all the right stuff together; received benefits couple months ago. I agree, 10% in combat, sounds right! My question, How many guys are I still alive refers to the ones who were in direct combat action? Of the nearly 3Mil that served, only one in twelve were in fire fights. That means bullets where flying at me and I killed people in combat. How many Vietnam veterans are still missing? If you were in Vietnam, you were exposed to Agent Orange, period. It takes military personnel to support the troops on ground or ships in war territory waters. Mean 69 maybe? I was on LZ Bayonet during 1970 and experienced many of the things you described. A lot of guys broke out with rashes every time that sprayed for mosquitos, using Melithon, which was every 2 weeks over all Base Camps. Everyone that served and was in combat which means they were in the line of fire (received it and returned it in some form or fashion) deal with their dark side in various ways. A Co. 2/8th, First Cavalry, 1968-69. I do appreciate what they did, from the hero medevacs to those gun ships who flew into madness to help save our asses knowing that mortar rounds fall from above, RPGs & macjine gun rounds were in mass supply with the moniker attached To whom it may concern. Even more telling is how many Vietnam combat veterans are still alive today? I saw the edge of the dirt, the jungle growth, the nearby trees, while I heard the world explode. Approx 58,000 in Vietnam. I recall combat pay (Hazard DutyPay) at $60 dollars a month. I served in an artillery unit. i TO AM A VEITNAM VET. It seems to be all about syntax. I stomped the gas and the engine roared- the truck jumped forward and bounced crazily and so did, garbing the steering tightly. How Many Vietnam Veterans Have Been Affected by Agent Orange? Please respond! However, typically, the number of World War 2 veterans who die each day is approximately 100. Reports from the Department of Veterans Affairs say about 240 300 World War II veterans are still alive in 2021. 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. I raised my left leg and body up and pushed off that knee with my left hand. of the 1st cav div. young men and woman who were there and did get fired on, or were in danger, should be recognized . How many vietnam veterans are still living. National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics Mekong Delta US Army 1969. He was shot nine times, while I received the tenth bullet from the ten holes in the windshield. Believe it or not, I still have every pay voucher..and in 1967 Hazard Duty Pay was $65. Air crews who flew over Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam had no Fox hole or ditch yo hid behind while delivering payload after payload to help destroy supplies heading towards those in the bush, while avoid withering anti-aircraft fire and missiles. Jorge Otero Barreto. My squad leaderSteve Cook wrote, Dont Cry for Us Saigon. He gives stats. Our side would have collapsed without you. i went to dong ha several times. Its been over 50 years and its time Vietnam Vets stop arching among themselves. Granted, most of them were deployed for the durationa WWII vet I knew was gone 4 years without coming back to the states. No, Wildaboro was gone, and AK-47s and B-40 rockets were sapper armaments Later, I read in a letter that Sp.4 Donnon F. Porier grabbed the M-60 machinegun, risking his life, and ran down the hillside rushing to the ambush site. I left the Ville at 3:00pm. 400 hundred days of always being ready to fight and protect our 40 Huey helicopters, flew as door gunner a lot. He never did ,Thank god ,because I ended up marrying a beautiful woman and we have the most precious and beautiful daughter. But having spent a little time thinking about it, I go with the 2m figure. Mike. If you are a pretender go stand in front of the mirror and tell that lie one more time so you can watch yourself steal the respect from an actual COMBAT VETERAN A/3/22 3rd Brigade 4th ID Dau Tieng 12/66 to 1/68. I do not doubt that it occurred, but can anyone cite a reliable source for this? Agent Orange was sprayed on the Jungle areas, and Melathion (Insecticide) was sprayed on Base Camps. waited and waited for our slot in port. Born in 1953, he joined the US Marine Corps at the age of 15 and was sent to Vietnam where he served as a machine gunner. I changed emails and cant reach you!! There is a MOUNTAIN of difference in each s experience, combat veterans, those of us who lived and died in the jungle muck, snippers, booby traps, mortar attacks, and the battles with dozens killed and scores wounded. However, according to the Veterans Affairs Administration, there are an estimated 38,000 veterans die each day. I knew what life in-store for me in my recovery had- years of pain and disabilities while I waited for my next adventure. Do I count as one or three Vietnam Veterans? Plane had 4 engines and rarely got shot up although we did have a pilot get a 50 in the leg. Around 2.7 million troops were stationed in Vietnam either on land, within its airspace, or in its waters. I WAS IN THE 85TH ORD COMPANY . I was searching aria, even though these ruts are a real bitch! I was jostled and jerked by the truck over the dusty road. I was on merchant ships for three years in viet nam. Our medic gave them out every Monday. I have always rounded up to 3,000,000 served in Vietnam..and I read someplace where of that number, only 10% were actually in combat. no problem with the spell checking. Then, I stopped at the 5th. I started this post a year ago, it was a simple question. That is exactly what I was going to post. 997 soldiers997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam . wounded evaced) then Am 3/21 196th LIB. It too bad that guys that never fought think for some reason they deserve credit for being in Vietnam when they werent. Age: 84. Well, the government 20 or 25 years later sent us, if asked, a ribbon, card, and metal saying we did. Why the Shame? Based on them, and allowing for a couple of intervening years, there appear to be about 600,000 veterans still living who actually set foot in Vietnam or flew in the skies above it. Since you were with an aviation Battalion do you remember our flight pay as Army Aircrew ?
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