Was I lucky ? They were lazy, cowardly and of questionable loyalty, especially the RUFF/PUFFS, and they would steal your under ware if given half a chance. 82nd 2/505th. He retired in 2012 and lives in Delray Beach, Florida. Postservice Mortality in Vietnam Veterans : 30-Year Follow-up - JAMA Vietnam veterans' personal income exceeds that of our non-veteran age group by more than 18 percent. Nothing could be further from the truth. I worried about that kind of leadership style in the highlands. Well he didnt make it. A documentary about our company and our 1st Sgt was made. 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 85% of Vietnam Veterans made successful transitions to civilian life. What was the life expectancy of a point man in Vietnam? We went out typically in two boat patrols one lead one cover . How Many Vietnam Veterans Are Still Alive In 2022? - CLJ We flew north, then made a stop, in Cam Rahn Bay. Spent my year in a Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID. The next morning, the blasting could still be, heard. The Regiment traces its lineage back to World War II. The Bn & Company I was assigned to, was on the last row of Bldgs. An Hinglish word (Hindi/English). Quickly learned to control rate of fire. Learned a lot from him. The first six or seven months I walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and green eye patrols. To cut the Ho Chi Minh Traila week after the mission endedthe trail was booming with business from the north.. They were well-armed, well-trained and knew how to fight. I was over there twice serving as a Hospital Corpsman with a marine unit. An interesting essay, even more interesting are the comments. July 68 to July 69. 8h%5HF8r,X'q#Vtgz%)P/Oi#rU(uO&*Xx1t^=xVLi Supported by a shoulder strap, No. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the VietnamWar? Also, it would mean the killed RTOs died within seconds of the fight (it doesnt distinguish between ambush or regular fight, eg. 99% of infantry men will currently live to die of natural causes. If you have other information let me know. Your email address will not be published. Unable to reach Company A, my company pulled back, formed a perimeter and called in air and artillery support. Its just (bad) luck, fate, randomness theres no right or wrong, no justice or fairness, no reasoning. We observed the rules of the Geneva Convention while the bad guys had no interest in doing so. Nixon Presidential Papers. 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.. Sometimes on Family Guy when there about to take someones heart out they say, calimar or maybe its spelled different. Soon after, Pfc. I remember we were always short of replacements throughout 1968 because of the high Kia & wounded rate we suffered at that time ! However, inaccurately reported, the News Media made the Tet Offensive famous. I didnt want any medals. I couldnt see DeLong and didnt know if No. After a quick lesson, DeLong became the new owner of 4th Platoons No.1 Gun. 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). During this Census count, the number of Americans falsely claiming to have served in-country is: 13,853,027. In that time 4 us kia and 4 wounded. Me, a vehicle mechanic with Btry E, 41st Arty Quads 1970. 1 Gun and I now faced a new and more formidable foethe North Vietnamese Army. My second tour was as the S3 for LTC Anthony Herbertone of Americas greatest leaders and WARRIORS OF ALL TIME. The 4th Platoons single machine gun crewthe platoon had entered the fight short a gunhad been killed in the fighting, and I was to be moved there. First Sgt. If my memory is correct, only the 1st Cab flew wiith doorgunners. Overview - Medics and Corpsmen - Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund It was very nearly my last. 0 Rarely do we examine war through the unique bond between a man and his weaponin this case the M60 machine gun. 79% had a high school education or better. Then we all, loaded on C-147 cargo planes. Or is it on display in a Hanoi museum so curious citizens of that city can inspect a weapon captured from American imperialists? By this census, FOUR OUT OF FIVE WHO CLAIM TO BE VIETNAM VETS ARE NOT. He was wounded and suffered permanent disability shortly before his tour was up. The average time lapse between wounding to hospitalization was less than one hour. History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. The Organization of the Viet Cong Units in the South never recovered. 4 Answers aaja Come. We wanted a break. Two rounds smashed into a log inches above my head. Together we had passed the test. Five RTOs. 6 Answers They say Kali Ma Theyre referencing this scene from the movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: What is the life expectancy of an army infantry soldier? It was more or less next man up . He was not the type to hump a radio. Each company had eight M60s. Ambushed on October 4th,1967. Remember he wanted to reenlist for one more year in Vietnam. February 5 th, 1967, Galiano was headed to Saigon, Vietnam with 90 fellow Americans on an Air Force c-131, but orders were quickly altered . I saw aircraft loaded with troops explode in mid-air. Approximately 70% of those killed in Vietnam were volunteers. This article appeared in the October 2021 issue of Vietnam magazine. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. I am convinced the same NVA soldier who shot at me moments before had killed my good friend, a budding doo-wop singer from Long Island, New York. As we were, steadily building up, our area for protection. 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? A typical Patrol Boat River (PBR) was about 31 feet long and had twin 50s forward an M 60 midships and a 50 aft. US Wings recently added to OTEXA's Made in U.S.A. So I guess i lasted longer than I was supposed to. They were all up there scanning the terrain and looking for signs. In all that time, the Tet 1968 fighting in Saigon was the only time the unit fought a pitched urban battlevery unusual during the war. Grab some friends and go outside. El subjuntivo We fought to an agreed stalemate. Thats why I never understand people talking about survivors guilt it should have been me, why him? etc. In Vietnam 70% 0f the casualties were Infantry BUT it might be 70% of ALL the Infantry that served in Vietnam. The incredibly important role in the U.S. Army is responsible for defending the country through real-life combat. My dog and I walked point my whole tour in Vietnam. 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. In the hands of a well-trained machine gunner, the M60 was a devastating weaponso feared by our opponents that they usually aimed their first shots at the machine gunners, who were often in positions exposed to enemy fire. The average life expectancy of a Soviet soldier during the height of the battle was just 24 hours. 1: physical position (in the field / column) 1 Gun, I jumped into a small dry streambed with Domke, my assistant gunner. Most war stories are about soldiers and battles. That was a hell of a responsibility to take on. An infantry platoon commander in combat had an average of 6 weeks life expectancy. I was an O5C-20 in Vietnam. He said when they were ambushed they took defensive positions, returned fire, called for assistance when needed, and retreated when necessary. The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973. 11,465 of those killed were younger than 20 years old. The income differentials in life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14, however, are estimated to be smaller. One of them gazed in our direction, lowered his AK 47 assault rifle and fired six shots. Soldier,this is a wardont forget that, and anytime we are in a fight we will be toughest SOBs in the fight!! He also worked on Jacqueline Kennedys hair pieces and wigs. Many were killed or wounded ! I quit trying to make sense of all the numbers that have been generated about Vietnam. estimated education differentials in life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14 are close to those of U. S. population in 1979-89. I was never hit by enemy fire even though they had multiple opportunities after that I was an rto for the company commander and I have to say both jobs were not fun. The last American troops departed in their entirety 29 March 1973. The machine gun was also mounted in the UH-1 Huey helicopter and other Army aircraft. I wasnt aware that they kept life expectancy statistics. Two points: 1) at least in Army units, Medevacs (dust offs) flew unarmed aircraft. Then the tempo changed suddenly and violently. The Vietnam War was the turning point for Communism. Phi Pow B.Sc (econ) in Economic History & Economics (college minor), London School of Economics and Political Science Author has 212 answers and 234.6K answer views 2 y Originally Answered: What soldier had the shortest life expectancy? As a Huey door gunner, when we left the ground on a mission, I always thought that this mission would be my last! Military history of African Americans in the Vietnam War happened. In the First Armored Division, now part of the 23rd Infantry Division, commonly known as the Americal Division, combat medics were called into action every day because the fighting was now. I was a 2nd Lt. Infantry platoon Leader. Just to show that its hard to get an accurate number, note my typo of 56,220. Thats my experience. Michael Doolittle..I was with 1/8 inf, 1st Brigade, and that day, March 22nd was also our darkest day. In January 1967, the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, was airlifted to Pleiku province in the Central Highlands. life expectancy of an infantry soldier in vietnam - lbgf.org However, Shermans were very outmatched by the German tanks on the field of battle. 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. The Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File of the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) Extract Files contains records of 58,220 U.S. military fatal casualties of the Vietnam War. 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. Can I use this word like this: The addressal by the C.E.O. The 4th Platoon survivors stayed put for the night. This Battle changed his life and his future, had it not been for his actions, every man on this FSB Gold would have died. U.S. Wings is a manufacturer and a supplier. Soldier Life Expectancy in Ukraine 'Meat Grinder' Is 4 Hours: Marine Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get their ticket punched. So I guess I defied the odds. B)Enter the the Ksp expression forC2D3 in terms of the molar solubility x. Jimmy aaja -M.I.A. Of the . There were two different groups that flew aeromedical evacuations. Some Brothers said why spend another year in this hellhole???? To an, open area. Work Plz. Vietnam War the helicopters that came in to transport soldiers were the hardest hit with mass casualties . Welcome Home Brothers ! Moving west down the trail, 4th Platoon exchanged fire with a single NVA soldier, then a handful and finally a group of about 10-15 around noon. The first man to die in Vietnam was James Davis, in 1961. 1ST MAW 66-68. What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? When Roeski got hit, I took over the M-60. Prayers for all. 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. It doesnt make any sense statistically/mathematically it is impossible. Had multiple Ks and Ws. Saw from mostly safe distance almost all the weapons systems that where there used. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War I just wanted to get off No. 1 Gun over my shoulder, grabbed a corner of a poncho and stumbled off with three other soldiers. I wasnt sure if the VC had moved to right or left, so I sprayed the elephant grass in both directions. Well, according to current mortality and morbidity statistics for the USright around 77.5 Years! Be glad you served with a soldiers soldier like LTC Herbert. Very memorable comments.

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