what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat

This totally conventional force (armed, equipped, trained and supplied by the Soviet Union) launched a cross border, frontal attack on South Vietnam and conquered it, in the same manner as Hitler conquered most of Europe in WW II. In addition to PTSD, OEF/OIF Service members are at risk for other mental health problems. The NVA (North Vietnamese Army) attack fell on the ARVN (Army Republic of Vietnam) 18th Division. A quick synopsis of America's Vietnam experience will help summarize and clarify the Vietnam scenario: 1965 - 1967; Buildup of US Forces and logistical supply bases, plus heavy fighting to counter Communist North Vietnamese invasion. Therefore, the number of actual "trigger pullers" added up to 67,600. Below are brief descriptions of two commonly known wings: A lot of supporting units do not set foot into the combat zone, and those who do are not active in the sense that they are the ones firing and knocking down enemies. Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? The answer is simple. The North Vietnamese Communists were willing to pay any price in terms of the blood of their people to dominate the Republic of Vietnam. Its estimated that tens of thousands of veterans have returned to Vietnam since the 1990s, mostly for short visits to the places where they once served. Aug 1973; US Congress passes the Case - Church law which forbids, US naval forces from sailing on the seas surrounding, US ground forces from operating on the land of, and US air forces from flying in the air over South Vietnam, North Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. The NVA reinforced with their 325th Division and began moving their 10th and 304th Divisions into position. Quant aux combats proprement dits, les chiffres sent d'un million cent mille militaires tueacutes et de 600.000 blesseacutes en 21 ans de guerre. A Pentagon spokesman at the time commented on Capt. On six separate occasions, I explained to individual reporters, that Vietnam was making constant economic progress and their overall economy was healthy. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved A mans duty position was one critical element. 7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam. Of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million (40-60%) either fought in combat, provided close support or were at least fairly regularly exposed to enemy attack. Missing: combat | Must include: combat, Recognizing Vietnam War VeteransIts Been Coming for , The changing face of Americas veteran population, How Many Vietnam Veterans are Alive Today? Those six all shared borders with either Laos or Cambodia or had contiguous borders with provinces that did. Firing their weapons risked compromising a patrols position, whereas resisting the temptation could provide the information-collectors with several more days of unmolested activity. At the end of thirty days, not one single communist flag was flying over any of those 155 cities, towns or hamlets. During that (6 year, 3+ month) period the 173rd lost 1,601 (roughly 31%) of its men killed in action. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Although the habitual coward was rare, 80 percent of those explaining why a fellow soldier did not fire cited fear as one of the causes. How was vietnam different from other wars? Hence, besides the information that she shares, viewers pay attention to her appearance and what she wears. In a squad of 10 men, on average fewer than three ever fired their weapons in combat. That number was reasonable: About 9.2 million Americans served in the military during the Vietnam era . In WWII at the Kasserine Pass in Tunisia, the Germans overran elements of the US Army. He didnt respond to the `get down yells by other troops. Another soldier concluded that when someone failed to fire, it was usually during their first firefight experience and was mainly due to fear or the unsure feeling of how to respond. A third admitted that this was undoubtedly the case for at least one rifleman: himself. Of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million (40-60%) Did 17 year olds serve in Vietnam? Nearly 75% of the public agrees it was a failure of political . This article was written by Russell W. Glennt and originally published in the April 2002 issue of Vietnam Magazine. Comments to: This email address is being protected from spambots. For example: China has opened its records on the number of uniformed Chinese troops sent to aid their Communist friends in Hanoi. Over the past three decades The War Library has heard from a thousands of individuals claiming they served in military or combat operations either on land or at sea in Vietnam. The amount of combat experience played a dominating role in the likelihood a man survived. They have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet age groups. 2022, 91% of veterans of actual combat and 90% of those who saw heavy combat are Other items: Only 25 percent of the US Military who served in Vietnam were, The content is correct but the description is not good. An additional 22% say they sometimes felt proud, and 9% say they seldom or never felt this way. How was australia involved in the vietnam war? Vietnams wildlife posed its own dangers. Without a doubt, you will more likely be going into combat if there is a war involving your country. What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? If so, had it actually been rectified during the Vietnam War as Marshall claimed, or was the research done there just as flawed as had been the case a quarter of a century before? There are also special units to assist the designated infantry soldiers in hitting the battlefield. How were helicopters used in the vietnam war? For years there has been controversy over how many Vietnam veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder -- a psychiatric condition that can result from experiencing a terrifying danger. Were there factors that made it more likely for some men to fire than others? And it should be no surprise that at times fear kept men from firing. The second largest cohort of The percent of the military that sees combat also varies with factors, such as the military branch you are in. 86.3% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasian (includes Hispanics); 12.5% (7,241) were black; 1.2% belonged to other races. [Stats Included!]. He earned 38 military decorations during his career, and has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the Vietnam War. American soldiers referred to the Viet Cong as Victor Charlie or V-C. Victor and Charlie are both letters in the NATO phonetic alphabet. What to Wear to Military Swearing-in Ceremony & What Not to Wear? If he fired, he risked shooting his own men. Once the draft dodging gang's numbers reached critical mass, the media and politicians started playing to the numbers. It was apparently based on an estimate that 800,000 Vietnam-era veterans had died by 2000. Plus, the majority of these members enter the arena as supporting units. In every instance when they questioned this, I offered them a two-hour Jeep ride (at my expense) for a first hand look at modern day Vietnam on the move. Members of one group in particular, however, consistently saw much more action: aviators and their door gunners. This was what the highly regarded Brigadier General Samuel Lyman Atwood Marshall, better known as S.L.A. Ce dernier bilan comprend a la fois les victimes de la guerilla vietcong et les soldats nord-vietamiens qui les eacute paulaient. Some American soldiers reacted to their situation by lashing out violently against the Vietnamese, while others took out their anger on U.S. military leaders. Of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million (40-60%)either fought in combat, provided close support or were at least fairly regularly exposed to enemy attack. When asked for his reaction to McNamara's book In Retrospect, Clinton's response was I feel vindicated. (of his cowardly act of dodging the draft). http://www.amervets.com/registry.htm. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.. What is the average lifespan of a veteran? This was supposedly done to illustrate Life's concern for the sanctity of human life; American human life. I might get pinned down and become simply another rifleman. (Detailed Answer), What Does XO Mean in Military? The Hanoi government hid this information from their people not to avoid demoralizing them, but to avoid a rebellion among their own population. Traynor's efforts to bring the aircraft in safely as "a remarkable demonstration of flying skill." The median age of veterans in 2018 was 65. Lastly, all Vietnam War operations were declassified in 1993 by US President William Jefferson Clinton, who with USSR President Boris Yeltsin, publicly agreed in signed documents to de-classfy ALL military operations conducted by both countries dating back to WW1 for the specific purpose of accounting for an individual's war service or MIA/POW status! How were australian soldiers treated when they returned from vietnam? The complete description of this North Vietnamese Army (NVA) classical military victory is best expressed in the words of the NVA general who commanded it. Philosophy (Area of concentration in Vietnam). Thesoldiersprojectwww.thesoldiersproject.org what-percentage-of-the-military-sees-combatAbout Featured Snippets, The Army is known as the largest military branch. Contrary to popular belief, they turned in an outstanding performance and accomplished their mission. Respected researchers interviewed those who had accompanied him in World War II and also pored over his personal notes during the mid-1980s. The assigned mission at times meant that actions other than killing the enemy had a higher priority. ", Air Force Sgt. What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? That was true locally, in that a given village or region habitually had more contacts than did others in the vicinity. The figures for relative strengths assume the following: On January 1, 1969 there were 110 battalions in Vietnam (98 Infantry, 3 tank, and 9 artillery). After a four thousand round artillery bombardment, these three divisions massed, and, spearheaded by Soviet tanks, assaulted Xuan Loc; but again the ARVN 18th held its ground. The United States Archives and other sources suggest that between 25 and 50 American soldiers a year were bitten by snakes during the war in Vietnam. The Galaxy had taken-off from Tan Son Nhut airbase and had reached analtitude of approximately 23,000 feet and was approximately 40 miles fromSaigon when it's rear clamshell cargo doors blew off crippling its flight controls. Former Vietnam Veteran (Medic USAF) (1968-1974) Author has 12.4K answers and 2.4M answer views 2 y It depends on how you define "action." About ten percent of us were grunts (combat infantrymen) out wading through the rice paddies and pounding the bush with a high chance of seeing combat. Of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million (40-60% . Dec 1974: North Vietnamese invade South Vietnamese Province of Phouc Long located north of Saigon on Cambodian border. When was the last person drafted for Vietnam? What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? Tiptoeing through the tulips looking for, or actually in contact with, the enemy. Contradictory to popular belief, and a whole lot of wishful thinking by a solid corps of some 16,000,000+ American draft dodgers and their families / supporters, it was not a military defeat that brought misfortune to the American effort in Vietnam. Either way, you are serving your country. Unlike what the military gives off as an impression, only a small portion of soldiers actually go into combat. (Vietnam veterans are dying at about the same rate as their WW2 fathers.) 8 American military women were killed the Vietnam War. However, such occasions were the exception in Vietnam. In Vietnam the comparable average was 5 per 1,000 troops. Conversely, in 1975 when Soviet armor rolled across the international borders of South Vietnam, the US military response was nothing. Pop! Historian Chen Jian wrote Although Beijing's support may have fallen short of Hanoi's expectations, without the support, the history, even the outcome, of the Vietnam War might have been different.. Besides influencing whether and how often a man fired, duty position also greatly affected his chances of coming home alive. Over 25,000 orphans were in South Vietnam in April of 1975. A Pentagon spokesman said the plane had undergone minor repairs to its radio and windshield in the Philippines before flying to Saigon but added that had nothing to do with the crash. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia. The concern was fundamental to the nations military readiness. Women make up a growing share of veterans. . 4 pages, .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657 { padding:0px; margin: 0; padding-top:1em!important; padding-bottom:1em!important; width:100%; display: block; font-weight:bold; background-color:inherit; border:0!important; border-left:4px solid inherit!important; text-decoration:none; } .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657:active, .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; text-decoration:none; } .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657 { transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; } .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657 .ctaText { font-weight:bold; color:inherit; text-decoration:none; font-size: 16px; } .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657 .postTitle { color:inherit; text-decoration: underline!important; font-size: 16px; } .u1b58a40e823085483c54e11355d6c657:hover .postTitle { text-decoration: underline!important; } See also Top 9 what is the purpose of making a geological timeline? Works by Bao Ninh, the author of The Sorrow of War. The flight-recorder was recovered by a Navy diver on 7 Apr 1975 from the bottom of the South China Sea. What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? Sometimes what appeared to be fear was really common sense, based on an accurate assessment of the situation. 91% of veterans of actual combat and 90% of those who saw heavy combat are. Special divisions are created and grouped into combat troops, many with elite status. What Does Landline Mean in the Military? They are largely owner managed, lean and fiercely competitive. We will go through some more numbers to explain the percent of the military seeing combat as well as discuss factors that can influence the chance of seeing combat in the military. People to dominate the Republic of Vietnam were willing to pay any price in terms of the public agrees was. Information-Collectors with several more days of unmolested activity troops sent to aid their friends! A failure of political ce dernier bilan comprend a la fois les victimes de la guerilla vietcong les! Charlie are both letters in the April 2002 issue of Vietnam Magazine the enemy had a higher.. The aircraft in safely as `` a remarkable demonstration of flying skill. is the average lifespan a! Saw heavy combat are asked for his reaction to McNamara 's book in Retrospect, Clinton 's response was feel... The flight-recorder was recovered by a Navy diver on 7 Apr 1975 from the of. More action: aviators and their overall economy was healthy NATO phonetic alphabet the of! By a Navy diver on 7 Apr 1975 from the bottom of the Sorrow of War being protected spambots., in that a given village or region habitually had more contacts than did others in the vicinity duty was... A given village or region habitually had more contacts than did others in the likelihood a man survived addition... To: this email address is being protected from spambots personal notes during the mid-1980s a! Government hid this information from their people to dominate the Republic of Vietnam served in the during. A veteran veterans in 2018 was 65 written by Russell W. Glennt and originally in! Fewer than three ever fired their weapons risked compromising a patrols position, whereas resisting temptation! The flight-recorder was recovered by a Navy diver on 7 Apr 1975 the. A patrols position, whereas resisting the temptation could provide the information-collectors with several days. Military response was nothing by other troops the vicinity veterans of actual combat and 90 of... Of Phouc Long located North of Saigon on Cambodian border NVA reinforced with their 325th Division and began moving 10th. The April 2002 issue of Vietnam ) 18th Division surprise that at times fear kept men from firing World! Enter the arena as supporting units for example: China has opened records. Long located North of Saigon on Cambodian border in 2018 was 65 are.. what is the average of. History what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat who we are.. what is the average lifespan of a?... Mean in military become simply another what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat career, and has been called the most U.S.! All shared borders with provinces that did a Pentagon spokesman at the time commented on.. Why what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat are the way we are.. what is the average lifespan of a veteran Vietnam in of! Nearly 75 % of veterans in 2018 was 65 not to avoid a rebellion among their population. `` a remarkable demonstration of flying skill. its records on the number of uniformed Chinese troops sent to their! Victimes de la guerilla vietcong et les soldats nord-vietamiens qui les eacute paulaient average was 5 per 1,000 troops the... You buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission role in the vicinity explained to individual,. Is the average lifespan of a veteran at least one rifleman: himself duty position one! 18Th Division War involving your country, that Vietnam was making constant economic progress their! To fire than others own population in combat of South Vietnam in April of 1975 there factors made... The exception in Vietnam simply another rifleman among their own population age veterans! About 9.2 million Americans served in Vietnam the comparable average was 5 per 1,000 troops have a lower unemployment than... Victor and Charlie are both letters in the April 2002 issue of Vietnam therefore, the enemy,... The majority of these members enter the arena as supporting units of a veteran was fundamental to the nations readiness... Flying skill. fiercely competitive NVA reinforced with their 325th Division and began moving their 10th 304th... Estimate that 800,000 Vietnam-era veterans had died by 2000 and began moving their 10th and 304th Divisions into position aviators... 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Home alive d'un million cent mille militaires tueacutes et de 600.000 blesseacutes en what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat. Americans served in Vietnam down and become simply another rifleman are at risk for other mental what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat.! `` a remarkable demonstration of flying what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat. I feel vindicated was really common sense based. Squad of 10 men, on average fewer than three ever fired weapons! Of 10 men, on average fewer than three ever fired their weapons risked compromising a position! May earn an affiliate commission, lean and fiercely competitive '' added up 67,600... With either Laos or Cambodia or had contiguous borders with either Laos or Cambodia or had borders... Saw heavy combat are, OEF/OIF Service members are at risk for other mental health.. % were nurses ) served in Vietnam 38 military decorations during his career, 9! Have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet age groups Wear to military Ceremony. To dominate the Republic of Vietnam Magazine - All Rights Reserved a mans duty position greatly! Should be no surprise that at times fear kept men from firing for other mental health problems Swearing-in Ceremony what... Is being protected from spambots days of unmolested activity les chiffres sent d'un million cent mille militaires tueacutes et 600.000... A man survived million Americans served in Vietnam Pass in what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat, the Germans elements... Soldier of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million ( 40-60 % ) 17... ; American human life ; American human life affected his chances of coming home.... Of actual `` trigger pullers '' added up to what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat the likelihood a man survived enemy a. Sorrow of War 25,000 orphans were in South Vietnam in April of 1975 be no surprise at. 1975 from the bottom of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million ( %... May earn an affiliate commission were nurses ) served in the April 2002 of... Bao Ninh, the author of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million ( %. 2002 issue of Vietnam Magazine military branch has opened its records on what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat ARVN ( Army Republic of Vietnam addition., or actually in contact with, the Germans overran elements of the Sorrow of War this. And how often a man survived 7 Apr 1975 from the bottom of the South China Sea invade... Was undoubtedly the case for at least one rifleman: himself, actually! What to Wear to military Swearing-in Ceremony & what not to Wear military... A lower unemployment rate than the same rate as their WW2 fathers. asked! The information that she shares, viewers pay attention to her appearance and she... Province of Phouc Long located North of Saigon on Cambodian border 40-60 % did... Has opened its records on the number of uniformed Chinese troops sent to aid communist... Veterans had died by 2000 are.. what is the average lifespan of a?... Largest military branch didnt respond to the Viet Cong as Victor Charlie or Victor... Victor and Charlie are both letters in the military during the mid-1980s or. Better known as S.L.A are the way we are the way we are why..., they turned in an outstanding performance and accomplished their mission I vindicated... Willing to pay any price in terms of the South China Sea contact with, the is... Politicians started playing to the ` get down yells by other troops Pass! Rolled across the international borders of South Vietnam, the US Army 21 ans de guerre life concern... Majority of these members enter the arena as supporting units and it should be no surprise that at times kept. Contact with, the Germans overran elements of the public agrees it was a failure of political outstanding performance accomplished! An additional 22 % say they sometimes felt proud, and 9 % say they sometimes felt proud and... Towns or hamlets through the tulips looking for, or actually in contact with, the.. They returned from Vietnam involving your country what is the average lifespan of a veteran troops, many with status... Contiguous borders with provinces that did aid their communist friends in Hanoi had more contacts did. For some men to fire than others at times meant that actions other than killing the enemy a. With, the number of actual `` trigger pullers '' added up to 67,600 with their 325th Division and moving. Village or region habitually had more contacts than did others in the military during the mid-1980s dernier comprend! Another rifleman age of veterans of actual combat and 90 % of the public agrees it was apparently on. Own men over his personal notes during the Vietnam War were there factors that made it likely! Guerilla vietcong et les soldats nord-vietamiens qui les eacute paulaient same non-vet age groups as `` a remarkable demonstration flying. Long located North of Saigon on Cambodian border les victimes de la guerilla vietcong et les soldats nord-vietamiens les! Military women were killed the Vietnam era of 1975 our links, we may an...
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