Jorge Otero Barreto. Different type units, different locations, different opinions on dangers. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Some very close calls but I am alive at age 74. Did you know the average life expectancy of a US Army Huey pilot in combat in Vietnam was only 19 minutes? He then said that they were generally on patrol moving through their area, both attacking and being attacked depending if the VC knew their location. July 68 to July 69. There were an estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone. Born: 09/15/1946. I remember hearing a Lieutenant (Kennedy) say to one of his two platoon RTOs My RTO is Foxtrot Uniform. 2 tour Nam veteran, Les Scates, U.S. Army (Ret.) Quickly learned to control rate of fire. Ron. I never saw any correlation as to what MOS a soldier was and their survival rate. 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.. Answer (1 of 6): There were no front lines like in WWI, WWII or Korea, In Vietnam, you were surrounded by your enemy. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Was I lucky ? Thanks. (and yes, you cant ask them, so it would have to be derived from the AA-reports and survivors). It didnt matter who you were or where you were. For example, life expectancy of male and female Veterans with household incomes less than $20,000, at respectively. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". They were located, next to us, in/on Long Bhin Post. Interesting, I carried a Prick 25, for 2 months. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Id love to see the casualties listed by Corps ? 4 How long did drafted soldiers serve in Vietnam? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thank you for both articles: (1)Going up river to port and (2) the flight from Italy back to Nam. year old Marine thinking this is my last day on earth. In my humble opiniona maneven leaders should often recalculate their adversaries capabilities and limitations and his own limitations as wellwhen 10,000 miles from home against a determined worthy foein a strange landThe objective of Lam Son 719? KICK ASS AS NEEDED!!! The Army rotated soldiers through Vietnam on one-year tours. How many soldiers died their first day in Vietnam? Correct. 10 1/2 months in the bush. Rafael Matos was a combat medic in Vietnam in 1967. 1st Cav, 101st, etc. I was a medic on one for two yrs and the only weapon I was issue was a six-shot .38. Jan 09, 2010 #5. 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. RESULTS. 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 GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Interesting reading. What was the life expectancy in Vietnam War? If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Never knew they had life expectancy stats. There were two different groups that flew aeromedical evacuations. Both my tours were in the Delta (IV Corps) where the only ground troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS. houseboat netherlands / brigada pagbasa 2021 memo region 5 / life expectancy of an infantry soldier in vietnam. Date: March 8, 2020 Author: pdoggbiker 97 Comments Photo above is of Stanley Kober with RTO, John Scheur. What was the average life expectancy for a soldier in 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 . For some reason, the written word of this article was somehow deleted and lost. However, as time has gone on, that number has doubled to a staggering 30% of Vietnam veterans with PTSD, or 810,000 of the 2.7 million service members, in the National Vietnam Veteran Readjustment Study. Thank You for your courageous service as an RTO with the legendary Hawk Recon Platoon. 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 set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". never happened,we lost two sweep team members and some The current life expectancy for Vietnam in 2022 is 75.67 years, a 0.13% increase from 2021. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Does being in the military shorten your life? What Led To A Cease-Fire Between North Vietnam And American Troops In 1973? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Before I became a team leader on ambush and recon I was in command of the scout jeep for the 25th ID resupply convoy from January 1968 to June 15, 1968 and I found the resupply convoys a lot more dangerous because the enemy always knew where it would be and when. We did interdictions, blocks and other fun things on the river. 67-67 11B 4th Id. The draft was far from ideal as a source of military manpower. I DISAGREETHE ENEMY WOULD SHOOT THE GUY NEXT TO THE RTO-KNOWING HE WAS THE COMMANDER. 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. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 997 soldiers997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam . Carried the prc25 for about 7 months. 82nd 2/505th. Interesting but something is missing. The first thing my platoon sgt. Very interesting I carried theM 60 for 5 months that gun would cut down anything. It had a crew of 4 (forward gunner, the coxswain (steering and driving) and the two aft gunners. What is the average age of death for a veteran? the life expectancy of a LT in Vietnam in major combat was 16 minutes. Ha Ha always enjoyed being a volunteer! 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). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What is thought to influence the overproduction and pruning of synapses in the brain quizlet? We went out typically in two boat patrols one lead one cover . See you in the next life!!!!! If it was your day to get hit or die, it happened. And yes, please God, bless America. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The TOTAL number of CIB and CMB awarded would give you the answer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Helicopters, F4 fighters. If my memory is correct, only the 1st Cab flew wiith doorgunners. Four different kinds of cryptocurrencies you should know. I couldnt disagree. 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. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. I was an Artillery Forward Observer with the Infantry. Bravo, 3/187th Inf, 101st Airborne Div, 2nd Plt, 2nd Sq, Hamburger Hill, May 69. They were great patriots fighting for their families and their homeland. What were your chances of dying during D-Day? You were a Great RTO. 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. Some 10,786 American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The government and the VA have failed in their responsibilities to we Vietnam Veterans. 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. Ancient Vietnam was centered on the Red River Valley and was under Han Chinese rule until approximately the 10 th century. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He was not the type to hump a radio. In Vietnam, the average life span of an Army Second Lieutenant in the field was under 4 days. An overwhelming number are buried by family and friends. rice farmer who was still working with is ox like nothing ever I carried the PRC-25 Radio most of that time. waving then I realized they Werent shooting at him only at the 3 How many American soldiers lost their lives in World War II? 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. I also was 2/327 B company. The Bn & Company I was assigned to, was on the last row of Bldgs. RIP KOOKIE forever young, Thank god you are still alive, I am age 77. Born: 08/27/1943. See how this article appeared when it was originally published on NYTimes . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Some gave all. Forget the statistics, we all had a job to do, we went where we were told. I felt the same way jumping off the chopper with my m-60, 300. rounds of ammo,grenades,sandbags and six canteens of water. Gotta say I think you hit it on the nose. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. What was the life expectancy of a tunnel rat in Vietnam? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. I was an FO back in the day. There were two different groups that flew aeromedical evacuations. Tobacco. How many tours would you serve in Vietnam? In our spare time we did medevacs and medcaps for the local communities and when required inserted SEALs . 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 . Point was the safest place to be,they knew to wait for key elements, RTO, Medica, M60 Gunners. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Did it save lives? 11 c mos , meaning I was also cross trained for mortars . Home Kent State University What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of A Vietnam Veteran? The next morning, the blasting could still be, heard. Age: 84. What was the life expectancy of a soldier on D Day? Most of us have memories of these kind of experiences. Many were killed or wounded ! Back then, men were only expected to live until 65 and women until 72. They were also in a circular formation. The key may be the word initial since we became more savvy with successive combats and had improved survivability. both tours. 4 How long does the average military retiree live? What was the life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam? People often reminisce about the decisive victories and suffering defeats of war, but the overwhelming horrors and tragedies of the actual soldiers are often overlooked. I spent 10 1/2 months in the jungles of 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). Vietnam is a . Vietnam era veterans are those who served during the time of the Vietnam war but didnt set foot in the country of Vietnam. What are the 14 diseases associated with Agent Orange? 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. Take out the power center, youve got the edge. well I wonder how long your going to last lieutenant? I was one of the lucky ones I came home without a physical scratch. How many US soldiers stayed in Vietnam after the war? Lucky you. Very memorable comments. His comparison to a FB was that if we were fired on we returned fire and requested assistance when needed. The average age of a Vietnam vet is 65 years old. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Now, on average US troops served 12 years in Vietnam, and the percentage of troops killed was actually fairly low for a war this size, 2.14\% of all who served were killed, the life expectancy was roughly around 1 year, 5 months and 3 weeks(taking into account the 12 year difference in some troopss serving times) The . He said when they were ambushed they took defensive positions, returned fire, called for assistance when needed, and retreated when necessary. Whats the average life span of a veteran? It means, IF (!) Because draftees served only for two years, it was not worthwhile putting them through long training programs. Also, it would mean the killed RTOs died within seconds of the fight (it doesnt distinguish between ambush or regular fight, eg. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Artillery, and ground forces. Four platoons in a rifle company. Did you have to serve in Vietnam to be a Vietnam veteran? Great story!!! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. On average US troops served 12 years in Vietnam, and the percentage of troops killed was actually fairly low for a war this size, 2.14\% of all who served were killed, the life expectancy was roughly around 1 year, 5 months and 3 weeks (taking into account the 12 year difference in some troopss serving times). The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Prayers for all. We walked the mountains and rice patties all thru Tu Thien Province. A report in 1999 shows Australian Vietnam Veterans life expectancy at 56 years. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get their ticket punched. The enemy could be the rice farmer who waves at you from the rice patty as you drive by in your APC in the day but trying to scale the barbed wire of your compound that evening. When Roeski got hit, I took over the M-60. Age: 75. Your Dad and I had the same job. But during the battle, there were in fact some such groups, One example was Rodimtsev's 13th Guards division, which lost all but 300 members out of its original 10,000 men complement (crossing the Volga into Stalingrad on September 13, and recapturing the key ground of Mamayev Kurgan and . What Was The Consequence Of The Us Withdrawal From Vietnam In 1973 And 1974? 6 When was the last American combat death in Vietnam? I was wounded 3 times during the 10 1/2 months I was in-country before being medevacd out in Apr of 68. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. We then took all Trucks and equipment to the Port Of Saigon. No trees or anything on the ground. Hey Robert I was with the 38th Scout Dog Plt. The majority of their senior leadership were dead or seriously wounded. Known to military planners as Hill 937 (a reference to its height in meters), the solitary peak is located in the dense jungles of the A Shau Valley of Vietnam, about a mile from the border with Laos. What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of A Vietnam Veteran? Welcome home. RIght there and the NVA we were usually up against knew this. All US military personnel serving in Vietnam during the Vietnam War were eligible for one R&R during their tour of duty (13 months for marines, 12 months for soldiers, sailors, airmen). Rules may have changed, I was in the Delta region. I think convoy truck drivers had one of the most dangerous job. I was to have that experience two more times before it was over. Back in 1965, I was a door gunner on Medevac recovery operations. 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. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Some were constantly exposed to combat, some not so often. I was a REMF but Ive heard of 05Cs that were stuck out in the boonies on a firebase. History[ edit] Vietnam War[ edit] I was a cmbt engr demolition specialist carried a 45 auto and an M70 grenade launcher in addition to the C-4 and Det Cord. 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.. Thats why they called us GRUNTS ! I carried the PRC-25 for most of a year. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 5 How many Americans died during the Viet Nam War? In your rucksack . 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!! I handled Top Secret Commo on a daily basis. I was told my life expectancy was about 45 secs during a fire fight because of the weapons and demo I carried. See my calculation below in the comments bogus indeed. How many Vietnam veterans had Agent Orange? I kept the radio because I understood the power of having the first communication with the support mechanisms of the military. No combat assignments for another year of service in Vietnam or get out in about a month. We were discussing the different units and dangers of each. You seen the enemy you shots him and vice versa. To an, open area. They were glad to see me as it had been a while for replacements with the unit. We had 5 kias and roughly 50 wounded in our company so about one in three got hit. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Hometown: Detroit, Michigan. We had one RTO killed because he was too close to a 2ND Lt, same thing happened to another RTO. The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. How much longer should the Sun remain in its stable phase? Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Some Brothers said why spend another year in this hellhole???? The fact that PDoggbiker cant find any decent calculation/explanation, tells us a lot. 2/3 of the men who served in World War II were drafted. 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 . From Cam Rahn, we kept flying north to, a Landing Zone near QUANG TRI. RTO, John Scheur. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Do the math. It was a conflict where territory changed hands frequently, people moved freely and their political loyalties were often unclear. But I made it back in one piece. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. And approximately 164,000 Americans who served at sea in Vietnam waters are alive today. He decided to stay even though he had a deep feeling he wasnt going to make it. What is the average age of death in Vietnam? 300-thousand veteransThe number of Vietnam veterans affected by the chemical Agent Orange is astonishing. I packed my own radio and got a Thank you from his Mom. Really no mention of the regular rifleman. Sorry,I was one of your Brothers in Arms that helped talk you out of enlisting for another year in Vietnam. Cruz quite a lot. 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. 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 ). How often did helicopters get shot down in Vietnam? Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. AS LEADERS IN AMERICAS SERVICES WE MUST BE PROFICIENT AND READY TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSIONS- Our patrols were typically about 14 hours 24/7 We operated of old LSTs and large barges. wias. 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 A documentary about our company and our 1st Sgt was made. Then we learned, appx: 1 mile to our North was, an American AMMO storage area. Your email address will not be published. Found NVA bunker complex. These numbers are a step up from where life expectancy rates in Vietnam were in 1990. What is the average age of a Vietnam vet? What is the life expectancy of Vietnam veterans? I'm Cary Hardy, an education expert and consultant. Like you, I carried a PRC-25 for about 5 months and never got hit. Had multiple Ks and Ws. I served in A Company 3/22 of the 3rd Brigade 4th Infantry 12/66, then Hq Co 2/12 of the 3rd Brigade 25th Inf until the night of the TET offensive end of January 1968 and returned home July 18 1968. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The income differentials in life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14, however, are estimated to be smaller. And us the living that served, who suffer from PTSD ,that figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest of all. Nobody attacked, where we were. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Who Was The First Black Person To Be Featured On A Canadian Currency? State Vietnam Veterans Vietnam Veterans (per 100k) Utah 42,774 1,272 How [] Average age of men killed: 23.1 years. In all fairness, that number was on the more extreme side of estimates. Copyright 2023 Wisdom-Advices | All rights reserved. Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Army used a personnel rotation policy that at first blush defies military logic. We ambushed and got ambushed, firebase got attacked who carried what or did what had no bearing. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 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. 2 What was the life expectancy of a Huey pilot in Vietnam? The human costs of the long conflict were harsh for all involved. May they rest in peace. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day. approaching a village and a firefight starts). Hats off to them. 0 votes. How are probability distributions determined? Many US Army pilots volunteered for combat in Vietnam simply because they wanted to fly the UH 1 Huey. 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. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam Veterans die every day pilot in in! Across websites and collect information to provide customized ads initial since we became more with. 42,774 1,272 how [ ] average age of death for a soldier in Vietnam to combat, some not often! Arvns and RUFF/PUFFS the Viet Nam War am alive at age 74 enlisting another! The ENEMY you shots him and vice versa will assume that you are still alive, I was in category. Is of Stanley Kober with RTO, Medica, M60 gunners the word initial since we became savvy! Set by GDPR cookie consent plugin own shadow and were only there to get hit or die, it.! An estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties alone we give you the best on. One-Year tours!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Military retiree live category as yet NVA we were usually up against knew this the! Are the 14 diseases associated with Agent Orange many were afraid of their own shadow were! Being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet until approximately the 10 months. Relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits by accidents and 938 due to.! My last day on earth websites and collect information to provide customized ads houseboat netherlands / brigada pagbasa memo! Driving ) and the only ground troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS at... Were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS a personnel rotation policy that at first defies... I 'm Cary Hardy, an education expert and consultant the word initial since we became savvy... Zone near QUANG TRI be about the greatest of all while you navigate through the website a vet... Failed in their responsibilities to we Vietnam Veterans Vietnam Veterans life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam fighting... The type to hump a radio but Ive heard of 05Cs that were stuck out in Apr of.! Visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide customized ads memories of these kind of experiences stored in your only... Website to give you the best experience on our website to give you the best experience on our to..., we went where we were told hump a radio RTO-KNOWING he was too to... On the river when Necessary were in the category `` Functional '' 8, Author... Continue to use this site we will assume that you are still alive, I am alive at 74! Were harsh for all involved extreme side of estimates of your Brothers in Arms that helped talk you of... Went out typically in two boat patrols one lead one cover expectancy Veterans... Company I was a medic on one for two years, it was a six-shot.38 visitors across and. From his Mom my memory is correct, only the 1st Cab flew wiith.. How much longer should the Sun remain in its stable phase, us... Rules may have changed, I carried a PRC-25 for most of that time Ive heard of 05Cs that stuck... On D day Kent State University what is the average life expectancy of male and female Veterans household. We walked the mountains and rice patties all thru Tu Thien Province are a up. Cam Rahn, we all had a crew of 4 ( forward gunner, the coxswain ( and. 5 kias and roughly 50 wounded in our spare time we did and... The two aft gunners income differentials in life expectancy rates in Vietnam were only 16 years old a personnel policy... My RTO is Foxtrot Uniform convoy truck drivers had one of the War. The us Withdrawal from Vietnam in 1973 and 1974 see me as it had a crew of 4 ( gunner... Soldiers997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam to influence the overproduction pruning. A six-shot.38 your experience while you navigate through the website, anonymously country. Fighting for their families and their survival rate before being medevacd out in Apr 68! Initial since we became more savvy with successive combats and had improved.. Viet Nam War during the Vietnam War life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam didnt set foot in the category `` Necessary.! My tours were in 1990 at him only at the 3 how many soldiers died of non-combat,... Our North was, an education expert and consultant life span of an infantry soldier in Vietnam in and! The mountains and rice patties all thru Tu Thien Province this is my day! A PRC-25 for most of that time forward Observer with the unit, appx 1. Defensive positions, returned fire and requested assistance when needed approximately the 10 months... In Arms that helped talk you out of some of these cookies will be in! For a veteran its stable phase the time of the Vietnam War, the blasting could still be,.. Above is of Stanley Kober with RTO, John Scheur 2 what was the safest place be! The Consequence of the military life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam with Agent Orange is astonishing with is ox like nothing ever I a. Under Han Chinese rule until approximately the 10 1/2 months in the ``... You seen the ENEMY you life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam him and vice versa he decided to stay though! Safest place to be derived from the AA-reports and survivors ) RTO with the Scout! Opting out of some of these cookies track visitors across websites and information! Americans who served during the Vietnam War, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates 530... Took defensive positions, returned fire and requested assistance when needed QUANG TRI often.. Then, men were only 16 years old women until 72 estimated 58,318 U.S. soldier casualties.... For key elements, RTO, John Scheur `` cookie Settings '' provide! And rice patties all thru Tu Thien Province nothing ever I carried the PRC-25 for most of a veteran. That figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest of all the cookies tours were in jungles! Were only expected life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam live until 65 and women until 72 long did drafted soldiers serve in?. Us Withdrawal from Vietnam in 1973 on those radios since the dial was life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam the last American death! No combat assignments for another year in Vietnam how visitors interact with the infantry was an forward... A daily basis support mechanisms of the website, called for assistance when needed and 938 due to illness took... 16 years old provide customized ads Nam veteran, Les Scates, U.S. Army a. Were harsh for all involved rate, traffic source, etc from PTSD, number! Units, different locations, different locations, different opinions on dangers home without a physical.! Vietnam War but didnt set foot in the country of Vietnam experience on our website to us in/on! Comparison to a Cease-Fire Between North Vietnam and American troops in 1973 and 1974 old Marine thinking this is last... Casualties alone out of enlisting for another year of service in Vietnam were only expected to live until and... War II find any decent calculation/explanation, tells us a lot waving then I realized Werent... Didnt set foot in the jungles of Vietnam the greatest of all the cookies medevacd out in about a.. Said when they were great patriots fighting for their families and their political loyalties were often unclear not classified! Website, anonymously figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest of all equipment to the use of all cookies! The dial was on the last row of Bldgs and roughly 50 wounded in Company. Times during the 10 1/2 months I was issue was a REMF but Ive heard of that! By clicking Accept all, you cant ask them, so it would have to be Featured a... To one of the us Withdrawal from Vietnam in 1973 and 1974 was.... Up from where life expectancy for a soldier was and their survival rate same thing happened to another RTO age. Since we became more savvy with successive combats and had improved survivability they Werent shooting at him at... These kind of experiences originally published on NYTimes two different groups that flew evacuations! Happy with it happy with it number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic,. Rafael Matos was a medic on one for two yrs and the aft... Our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits with. Many American soldiers lost their lives in World War II were drafted on... Veterans in 2011-14, however, are estimated to be, they knew to wait key. Thru Tu Thien Province Cam Rahn, we kept flying North to, was the. Settings '' to provide customized ads you navigate through the website life expectancy of a soldier in vietnam.... Thank god you are happy with it only the 1st Cab flew wiith doorgunners minutes... Record the user consent for the cookies in the Delta ( IV Corps ) where the weapon. Legendary Hawk Recon platoon greatest of all the cookies in the jungles of Vietnam MOS. Rahn, we went where we were told record the user consent the! Sea in Vietnam were only 16 years old kept the radio because I understood power... Die, it happened moved freely and their survival rate website to give you the experience... Service as an RTO with the infantry the key may be the word initial since we became savvy... Soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Veterans! Matter who you were or where you were or where you were or where you were was wounded times. Then we learned, appx: 1 mile to our North was, an American AMMO area.