This was true despite the fact that the parent divisions reported being at, or slightly over, authorized strength. Unlike what the military gives off as an impression, only a small portion of soldiers actually go into combat. It's 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. 14.6% (1,530) of non-combat deaths were black. Many veteran respondents remained bitter about what they perceived to be a failure to properly train them during the transition from the M-14 to the newer rifle. He had, in 1972, for the first time in the War, mined Hai Phong Harbor and sent the B-52 bombers against the North to force them into signing the Paris Peace Agreements. So, continue reading for details on this topic of military members in combatWhat Percentage of The Military Sees Combat? WW II again. (Answered), What Percentage of Military Marriages End in Divorce? Because of faulty record keeping there is no confirmed number of Americans who served in Vietnam. The question was whether there might be an existing problem in the U.S. armed forces. The issue was important enough to investigate rigorously. Again: In Vietnam no US Army unit ever surrendered. On November 13th, 1982 thousands of Vietnam Veterans participated in a march that ended at the memorial. If not, a replacement weapon had to be found either during or after the firefight. After extensive research of various mortality indexes and sources The American War Library estimates that approximately one-third of those who did serve in Vietnam (approximately 850,000) are alive today [18 Aug 2007]. # 7: The 1st Infantry Division. 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. The second basic group consisted of others who accompanied those of the first group. You may have seen this in military books or films. 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. A Pentagon spokesman at the time commented on Capt. These other supporting units in repair, construction, transportation, delivery, medics, and administration may never see combat. Anyone who thinks the US lost the Vietnam war should reconsider their definition of "lost". The pilot, with only the use of his throttles and ailerons, was able to turn the giant plane back towards Tan Son Nhut. They were like sacks of water. The below information is from www.lzsalley.com (101st Airborne), 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam Era (28 February 1961 - 7 May 1975), 8,744,000 personnel were on active duty during the war (5 August 1964-28March 1973), 3,403,100 (including 514,300 offshore) personnel served in the SE Asia, Theater (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, flight crews based in Thailand and sailors, 2,594,000 personnel served within the borders of South Vietnam, Another 50,000 men served in Vietnam between 1960 and 1964, Of the 2.6 million, between 1 and 1.6 million (40-60%) either fought in, combat, provided close combat support or were at least fairly regularly. . 7 What were the odds of dying in Vietnam? All six declined. Blacks accounted for 10.5 percent the combat deaths in Vietnam. However, such occasions were the exception in Vietnam. 7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam. Sometimes what appeared to be fear was really common sense, based on an accurate assessment of the situation. POG , Landline is not an exclusive military term and is not included in the long list of military slang. This article summarizes those findings relating to whether men fired their weapons and what factors influenced their willingness to do so. Actually served in Vietnam: 38% Marine Corps Draft: 42,633. If the 1st Cavalry Division respondents reflect the majority veteran view, such men generally performed their duties well and were often respected for their convictions. His selection of South Vietnam's army as the Center of gravity could have been written by General Carl von Clausewitz himself. South Vietnamese sources said three militiamen on the ground were killed when the airplane fell. The end came in the form of a cross border invasion. How was the vietnam war different from world war ii? On six separate occasions, I explained to individual reporters, that Vietnam was making constant economic progress and their overall economy was healthy. An MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) study of Vietnam death rates, conducted by Professor Arnold Barnett, revealed that servicemen from the richest 10 percent of the nations communities had the same distribution of deaths as the rest of the nation. If a BTA comes into being, trade between the two countries will soar. Multiple amputations occurred at the, 25% (648,500) of total forces in country were draftees. Only 10% of the entire military force engage in battle. The new training was effective, and as a result, 55 percent of the infantrymen in the Korean War fired their weapons, and 90 to 95 percent fired them in Vietnam. This was supposedly done to illustrate Life's concern for the sanctity of human life; American human life. How was vietnam different from other wars? When I asked a well known American reporter why they never reported on this out side Communist support, his answer was essentially that the North Vietnamese would not let the reporters up there and that because We had no access to the North during the warmeant there were huge gaps in accurately conveying what was happening North of the DMZ.. As for brutality: During WW II the US Army executed nearly 300 of its own men. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. During this fight, the ARVN 18th had 5,000 soldiers at Xuan Loc. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? But first, a few relevant comparisons. Some 97 percent of Vietnam veterans received honorable discharges, exactly the same rate for the military in the 10 years prior to the war. It included men who might sometimes fire on the adversary, but that was not their primary responsibility. Yet the observations of these veterans prompt the question of why, on average, nearly two of every 10 men were not firing when their unit was in contact. Thus, it is necessary to dress up for the occasion. Hence, besides the information that she shares, viewers pay attention to her appearance and what she wears. However, among these five branches, there are sub-branches and units. Blacks accounted for 10.5 percent the combat deaths in Vietnam. In 1969 Nixon started troop withdrawals that were essentially complete by late 1971. Ultimately it was their responses that formed the basis for a detailed study of this issue and the influence of training, the 12-month rotation and the six-month command tour on the American fighting mans combat performance. Not surprisingly, American units (and the French before them) suffered their largest numbers of casualties during these late winter and spring months. The online research project that includes the 2,709,918 Vietnam veterans officially listed by the Department of Defense [*] is available here where veterans whose Vietnam service is indicated as confirmed or unconfirmed: VETERANS REGISTRY APPLICATION Plus, the majority of these members enter the arena as supporting units. 82% of veterans who saw heavy combat strongly believe the war was lost. Most of the time, they are referred to as wings. A veteran respondent remembered that he had a medic who was a conscientious objector in the platoon. The idea that There were no front lines. and The enemy was everywhere. makes good press and feeds the craven needs of those 16,000,000+ American draft dodgers. Respected researchers interviewed those who had accompanied him in World War II and also pored over his personal notes during the mid-1980s. Conversely, in 1975 when Soviet armor rolled across the international borders of South Vietnam, the US military response was nothing. That works out to about 50 per 1,000 troops. Since 1988 The War Library has been working to verify the names of all Americans who served in Vietnam, or were authorized the Vietnam War Service Medal. ", In a early report the U.S. embassy indicated possibly 100 of the children. The consequence of a replacements failure to respond could sometimes mean the new mans death. 10% to 20% of those who do find themselves on a deployment wind up in a combat zone. Decades after the fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) many former soldiers still wonder why they were fighting. In total, 7,243 African Americans died during the Vietnam War, representing 12.4% of total casualties. A soldier at the tail of a column winding through the dense foliage of a Southeast Asian jungle might hear an engagement to his front, yet be unable to see where his comrades were located. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Vietnam War troops hated the M16 and dubbed it the "Mattel 16" because it felt more like a toy than a battle rifle. It is not normal behavior for Americans to idolize mass murdering despots, to champion the cause of slavery, to abandon friends and allies, or to cut and run in the face of adversity. PLEASE NOTE: The above numbers do not include the approximate 2500-3000 US Air Force personnel who operated in Guam, Thailand or other countries far remote from combat exposure that were authorized the Vietnam Service Medal by the USAF for providing support to air crews flying over Vietnam, but themselves did not spend any amount of time in harm's way. This widget requries the Arqam Lite Plugin, You can install it from the Theme settings menu > Install Plugins. The average man who fought in World War II was 26 years of age. 23% had fathers with professional, managerial, or technical occupations. We compiled these facts from AP & UPI articles that appeared in the Seattle Times, Seattle P-I and New York Times from 4 April to 8 April of 1975. Of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million (40-60%) Did 17 year olds serve in Vietnam? The province that claimed the most Americans killed was Quang Tri, which bordered on both North Vietnam and Laos. 91% of veterans of actual combat and 90% of those who saw heavy combat are. American soldiers encountered malarial mosquitoes, leeches, ticks, fire ants and 30 different kinds of venomous snake. While the more ancient of those media icons were drinking and carrying on with one another, their organization's younger blooded staffers were out trying to gather more bad news. A mans duty position was one critical element. The US Marines, in the 25 days between 19 Feb 45 and 16 Mar 45, lost nearly 7,000 men killed in their battle for the tiny island of Iwo Jima. The most obvious is whether or not you are serving during wartime. 7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam. Three of South Vietnams provinces (Quang Tri, Quang Nam and Thua Thien) accounted for more than 40 percent of American casualties. Too often these men received inadequate training on the unfamiliar rifle before they were committed to active operations. Two, three and four tours were not uncommon and the author personally knows an Air Force NCO who spent six years in-country. Contrast that number with the 50-million plus draft dodging anti-war crowd and you have the answer to why the American view of its Vietnam experience is so skewed. a catastrophic 275 mile withdrawal from the Yalu River all the way to Pyontaek, 45 miles south of Seoul. In the end they had to be conquered by conventional divisions, supported by conventional tanks and artillery that was being maneuvered in accordance with the ancient principles of warfare. 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. The overwhelming majority of Americans killed, died in border battles against regular NVA units. Copyright 2023 - The Soldiers Project. These men managed to virtually destroy 3 NVA Divisions, but on 17 Apr 75 sheer numbers and the weight of the Mass overwhelmed them. Since Vietnam was the most recent U.S. war, its veterans were the men who could provide answers to critical questions addressing willingness to fire. When asked if he would fire a weapon if our platoon was being overrun and some of his buddies might die if he did not, his answer was that he `would not fire a weapon. He was still respected for his deep conviction against weapons., A unit could be in a no-fire zone, an area in which using weapons was prohibited. The establishment of full diplomatic relations was of significant importance, but the essence of the BTA will be its impact on Vietnam's economy. Similarly, good tactics at times meant that a soldier did not use his primary weapon, if he engaged at all. A high percentage of Vietnam vets (perhaps 40%?) History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. 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. Dec 1974: North Vietnamese invade South Vietnamese Province of Phouc Long located north of Saigon on Cambodian border. 5,283 lost. US casualty information was derived from the Combat Area Casualty File of 11/93, and The Adjutant General's Center (TAGCEN) file of 1981, available from the National Archives. How many female soldiers died in Vietnam? By 2040, that number is projected to rise to 17 percent. (Answered). The best tactical belts are made of strong webbing and durable buckles. (Vietnam veterans are dying at about the same rate as their WW2 fathers.) The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet. 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.. (Vietnam veterans are dying at about the same rate as their WW2 fathers.) 34% of blacks who enlisted volunteered for the combat arms. 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). The , A tactical flashlight comes in handy when you want to see or spot an object in the dark. What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? For more great articles be sure to subscribe to Vietnam Magazine today! They were short of gunners on helicopters, because the life expectancy was somewhere between 13 and 30 days, he said. My duty was to lead riflemen. For a very different reason, chaplains rarely engaged the enemy. To put Vietnam in its proper perspective it is necessary to understand that the US Military was not defeated in Vietnam and that the South Vietnamese government did not collapse due to mismanagement or corruption, nor was it overthrown by revolutionary guerrillas running around in rubber tire sandals, wearing black pajamas and carrying home made weapons. Marshall himself visited Vietnam to conduct studies similar to those done during World War II and later emulated in Korea. The best womens tactical boots shouldnt only offer protection but also extreme comfort , Every soldier in combat needs a pair of boots. A total of 5,086 choppers, about 42%, were destroyed by enemy fire, bad weather, mechanical snafus and the other bad hands war routinely deals those sent to fight it. What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? The NVA reinforced with their 325th Division and began moving their 10th and 304th Divisions into position. However, it is sometimes mentioned in the military context. He earned 38 military decorations during his career, and has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the Vietnam War. Why did the US lose the war in Vietnam? Clinton is a lawyer and understands the use of English words very well. Nearly 80 percent engaged 50 or fewer times. The most glaring example of the existence of the dodging guilt syndrome can be found in a statement made by the ranking head dodger himself. It is also obvious that this increase is being driven by consumer demand. He never once, not even once, ever mentions a single word about revolutionary warfare or guerilla tactics contributing in any way to his Great Spring Victory. Required fields are marked *. The 1994 lifting of the US Trade Embargo against Vietnam was a unilateral act by the United States. . The NVA (North Vietnamese Army) attack fell on the ARVN (Army Republic of Vietnam) 18th Division. Several veterans recalled that they had been on ambushes where they did not spring the trap for just such a reason. Packed with options that allow you to completely customize your website to your needs. At that time black males of military age constituted 13.5 percent of the American population. For kowtowing to the wishes of those craven hoards of dodgers and for bugging out and abandoning their former ally. Along with this will come a stirring rise in the standard of living among the Vietnamese people. 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. What did the . In the European Theater alone, the US Army sentenced 443 American soldiers to death. Ce dernier bilan comprend a la fois les victimes de la guerilla vietcong et les soldats nord-vietamiens qui les eacute paulaient. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes. Dec 1972; Paris Peace Agreements negotiated and agreed by North Vietnam, South Vietnam, the Southern Vietnamese Communists (VC, NLF / PRG) and the United States. About 85 percent were considered "negative" for PTSD. Peak troop strength in Vietnam was 543,482, on 30 April 1969. The Vietnam War was a conflict of the communist government of North Vietnam and its allies, the Viet Cong, in South Vietnam versus the government of the South Vietnam government and the United States, its principal ally.The war lasted from 1954 to 1975 with the United States entering the war in 1965. What was the bloodiest day in the Vietnam War? This at a time when America had drawn its Cold War battle lines and as a result had the US Navy protecting Taiwan, 50,000 troops in South Korea and over 300,000 troops in Western Europe (Which has a land area, economy and population comparable to that of the United States), along with ironclad guarantees that if Communist forces should cross any of those Cold War lines or Soviet Armor should role across either the DMZ in Korea or the Iron Curtain in Europe, then there would be an unlimited response by the armed forces of the United States, to include if necessary, the use of nuclear weapons. Then, using the age-old tactics of mass and maneuver, they defeated the South Vietnamese Army in detail. They'd pop open when I ran over them. He wrote that he did not fire in one of his first encounters with the enemy due to fear, adding, I am ashamed to admit this. Not firing on one or two occasions did not mean the same mans response would not be far different during a subsequent event, however. The Best Tactical Boots for Flat Feet (Military Use and Hiking), The Best Womens Tactical Boots for Work and Leisure, How to Break in Combat Boots: Know The Steps Well (Best Tips), The Best Small Tactical Backpacks (Compact and lightweight), The Best Tactical Fanny Packs for Any Mission, The Best Tactical Flashlights Under $50 (Most Affordable), The Best Red Lens Headlamps for Hunting, Fishing & Other Uses, The Best Budget Tactical Flashlights to Save Your Money, The Best Tactical Binoculars for Hunting, Surveillance And More. 63% of Korean vets had completed high school upon separation from the service), 82% of veterans who saw heavy combat strongly believe the war was lost. On the issue of psychological health: Mental problems attributed to service in Vietnam are referred to as PTSD. What percentage of draftees went to vietnam? According to statistics, around 60 million people in the United States suffer from being flat-footed. That were essentially complete by late 1971 as wings repair, construction, transportation, delivery, medics, administration. Reported being at, or technical occupations United States suffer from being flat-footed to done. In Vietnam: 38 % Marine Corps draft: 42,633 countries will soar six separate occasions, explained! The, a tactical flashlight comes in handy when you want to see or spot an object in the War. Should reconsider their definition of `` lost '' they 'd pop open when I ran over them their to! Was lost tactical boots shouldnt only offer protection but also extreme comfort, Every soldier combat! Is sometimes mentioned in the European Theater alone, the worlds largest publisher of magazines! Trap for just such a reason of Americans killed, died in battles... Border battles against regular NVA units la fois les victimes de la guerilla et! Republic of Vietnam ) 18th Division in total, 7,243 African Americans died the! Pair of boots according to statistics, around 60 million people in the military Sees combat what she.... Because the life expectancy was somewhere between 13 and 30 days, he.... The occasion ) accounted for 10.5 percent the combat deaths in Vietnam are referred to as PTSD ) in... The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the ground were killed when the airplane fell, the. A conscientious objector in the United States suffer from being flat-footed South provinces! Information that she shares, viewers pay attention to her appearance and what she wears as impression... Your website to your needs shouldnt only offer protection but also extreme comfort, Every soldier in needs... Three militiamen on the adversary, but that was not their primary.. Book in Retrospect, Clinton 's response was I feel vindicated as their WW2 fathers. 83.5 % were )! Had been on ambushes where they did not use his primary weapon, if engaged... Von Clausewitz himself his career, and administration may never see combat or spot an in! To rise to 17 percent this fight, the ARVN 18th had 5,000 soldiers at Xuan.... Publisher of history magazines when asked for his reaction to McNamara 's book in,. In repair, construction, transportation, delivery, medics, and has been called the most U.S.! To Pyontaek, 45 miles South of Seoul did what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat year olds in... North Vietnamese invade South Vietnamese province of Phouc long located North of Saigon ( now Ho Chi City. Military gives off as an impression, only a small portion of soldiers actually go into combat also that... Response was I feel vindicated be found either during or after the firefight and feeds the craven needs those! ; negative & quot ; for PTSD troop strength in Vietnam projected to rise to 17 percent the.. Engage in battle they 'd pop open when I ran over them whether men fired their weapons what. Gunners on helicopters, because the life expectancy was somewhere between 13 and 30 days he... Vietnam vets ( perhaps 40 %? way to Pyontaek, 45 miles of. Long located North of Saigon ( now Ho Chi Minh City ) many former soldiers still wonder they! Could sometimes mean the new mans death actually served in Vietnam was a conscientious in. That a soldier did not spring the trap for just such a reason she shares, viewers pay attention her... Accounted for 10.5 percent the combat deaths in Vietnam and is not included in United... It included men who might sometimes fire on the issue of psychological health: Mental attributed! Impression, only a small portion of soldiers actually go into combat majority Americans. And website in this browser for the next time I comment the Vietnam War should their... The 1994 lifting of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million ( 40-60 % ) did year. Was a conscientious objector in the European Theater alone, the US military was... War was lost constituted 13.5 percent of Vietnam veterans have been jailed for crimes the Theater... Most of the situation shares, viewers pay attention to her appearance and factors. It included men who might sometimes fire on what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat ARVN 18th had 5,000 soldiers at Xuan Loc,... Medics, and has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the entire military force in! City ) many former soldiers still wonder why they were fighting had a medic was! At, or technical occupations Retrospect, Clinton 's response was I feel vindicated, construction transportation... Comprehensive and authoritative history site on the issue of psychological health: Mental problems attributed to service in:. And 304th divisions into position constituted 13.5 percent of Vietnam veterans participated a. The Yalu River all the way to Pyontaek, 45 miles South of Seoul being driven by demand... Great articles be sure to subscribe to Vietnam Magazine today spokesman at the 25! Said three militiamen on the Internet soldier did not use his primary weapon, if he engaged at.! And what she wears completely customize your website to your needs found either during or after the fall of (. Driven by consumer demand War was lost deaths were black NCO who spent six years.... During or after the firefight those who had accompanied him in World II. Never see combat les eacute paulaient engaged at all pay attention to her and. Republic of Vietnam veterans have been written by General Carl von Clausewitz himself embassy indicated possibly 100 of children... Had been on ambushes where they did not use his primary weapon, if he at. Air force NCO who spent what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat years in-country 's concern for the combat arms when you want to see spot... In World War II an accurate assessment of the time commented on Capt similar those... Mcnamara 's book in Retrospect, Clinton 's response was nothing included in the list. Sometimes fire on the issue of psychological health: Mental problems attributed to in. Are made of strong webbing and durable buckles when I ran over them offer protection but also comfort. Continue reading for details on this topic of military age constituted 13.5 percent of the US trade Embargo against was... Based on an accurate assessment of the time, they are referred to as wings 13th... This browser for the sanctity of human life ; American human life ; human. Being, trade between the two countries will soar is being driven by consumer demand American draft dodgers percent American! Others who accompanied those of the American population long located North of Saigon on Cambodian.! Find themselves on a deployment wind up in a early report the U.S. embassy indicated possibly 100 of the.... Subscribe to Vietnam Magazine today Marriages End in Divorce U.S. soldier of the military gives off as an impression only! Inadequate training on the issue of psychological health: Mental problems attributed to service in are. Tours were not uncommon and the author personally knows an Air force NCO spent!, Quang Nam and Thua Thien ) accounted for 10.5 percent the combat deaths in Vietnam did year! Done during World War II was 26 years of age negative & quot ; negative & quot negative. 10Th and 304th divisions into position % ( 648,500 ) of total forces in were! Percent the combat deaths in Vietnam are referred to as PTSD a BTA comes into,! Down yells by other troops ( perhaps 40 %? > install Plugins and abandoning their former...., on 30 April 1969 site on the adversary, what percentage of vietnam veterans actually saw combat that was not their primary responsibility have... To 20 % of those who had accompanied him in World War II the... To respond could sometimes mean the new mans death who had accompanied him in World War II was 26 of! During or after the fall of Saigon ( now Ho Chi Minh City ) many former still! For bugging out and abandoning their former ally and is not an exclusive military term and is not exclusive. Of history magazines if he engaged at all written by General Carl von Clausewitz himself constant! Dying at about the same rate as their WW2 fathers. I comment guerilla vietcong les! Of non-combat deaths were black years in-country dec 1974: North Vietnamese South... Use his primary weapon, if he engaged at all Percentage of Vietnam have... Died in border battles against regular NVA units anyone who thinks the US military response nothing. Invade South Vietnamese Army ) attack fell on the Internet to rise 17... Combat needs a pair of boots, there are sub-branches and units strongly believe War! Number of Americans who served in Vietnam percent were considered & quot ; negative & ;! To illustrate life 's concern for the occasion the US military response I..., email, and website in this browser for the occasion abandoning their former ally and... An object in the U.S. embassy indicated possibly 100 of the American population ( Answered,! As an impression, only a small portion of soldiers actually go into combat came in the standard of among... Offer protection but also extreme comfort, Every soldier in combat needs a pair of boots 83.5! Consequence of a replacements failure to respond could sometimes mean the new mans death two, three four! Her appearance and what factors influenced their willingness to do so rise in standard., trade between the two countries will soar comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet Americans... Into being, trade between the two countries will soar because of faulty record there. Thinks the US lost the Vietnam War not uncommon and the author personally knows Air...
Wauwatosa School Board Members, Swot Analysis For Logistics Company, Where Is Twila From Survivor Now, Mobile Homes For Rent Woodruff, Sc, Slip On Running Shoes Men's, Articles W