Soldier,this is a wardont forget that, and anytime we are in a fight we will be toughest SOBs in the fight!! of what was usually 5 or 6 going in and many times the leads would find traps, punji pits or the VC waiting. Expenditures for a body in a combat zone? The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet. I didnt want any medals. We soon learned that the NVA troops were very different from the local guerrillas we had fought around Tuy Hoa. In the last 5 years the symptoms of PTSD and AO are starting getting worse in me. We fought to an agreed stalemate. After a quick lesson, DeLong became the new owner of 4th Platoons No.1 Gun. I was wasting ammo and didnt even have a target! 1 Gun before my luck ran out. At age 55, World War 2 Veterans 1 Gun and I now faced a new and more formidable foethe North Vietnamese Army. I watched in horror as four NVA soldiers ambled through the branches of a downed tree that partially concealed us. wmy:LsN{/^yzJ] 6.7>n-:FqOa#CW>ia?wt?Xa@ghCd bF)`Schl4*f. Artillery, and ground forces. Was a door gunner and crew chief for just shy of 18 months (I extended to get out early). Screaming Eagles! 4329 0 obj <>stream By this census, FOUR OUT OF FIVE WHO CLAIM TO BE VIETNAM VETS ARE NOT. BUT WE MUST ALSO BE COGNIZANT OF OUR REQUIREMENT TO BE COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS. According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) there are now officially 58, 318 names on the wall. Welcome Home Roger. They have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet age groups. He served as a sergeant with the Big Red One in Lai Khe, Vietnam. How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? My second tour was as the S3 for LTC Anthony Herbertone of Americas greatest leaders and WARRIORS OF ALL TIME. The earliest casualty record contains a date of death of . Your email address will not be published. Thank You for your courageous service as an RTO with the legendary Hawk Recon Platoon. So do us all a favor and please learn to be tolerant, intelligent, and active. Its just (bad) luck, fate, randomness theres no right or wrong, no justice or fairness, no reasoning. I sure feel for all you guys that went outside the wire. I look over to Ordered to reinforce the unit, the Company B commander put our four platoons abreast of each other, and we marched west. You seen the enemy you shots him and vice versa. 2. Ambushed on October 4th,1967. As mentioned, who kept track of that in the first place? 10 1/2 months in the bush. I know this is a standard cliche, but it is so true, All gave some. 1 gun! Everyone laughed. They were not randomly selected but simply the best at doing it. Vietnam War the helicopters that came in to transport soldiers were the hardest hit with mass casualties . 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. Non-divisional aeromedical evacuation units went by the callsign DUSTOFF. The planes doing the bombing near the village were VNAF (Vietnam Air Force) and were being flown by Vietnamese pilots in support of South Vietnamese troops on the ground. I had a 20% death rate in my Hospital Corpsman Class. The American military did not lose a battle of any consequence. The Vietnam War gave us trouble because we didnt know how to counteract against guerrilla warfare in a jungle (dont forget that the US Army was switching to M16s, which often jammed). I got shot on a mission with 45 days left. His body was torn to pieces. B)Enter the the Ksp expression forC2D3 in terms of the molar solubility x. Jimmy aaja -M.I.A. .. US Wings is a veteran-owned business and an official supplier to the US Military. In fact, after the 5-year post-service period, the rate of suicides is less in the Vietnam veterans group. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I was in the AF a Reo in a F4-C. Who had time to worry about the life Over 600 Navy FMF Hospital Corpsmen were killed in Vietnam. 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? Cluster F, SNAFU and FUBAR fer sur. Different jobs have different life expectancy. The TOTAL number of CIB and CMB awarded would give you the answer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Getty Images) Most war stories are about soldiers and battles. Hi, the whole thing is going nicely here and ofcourse every one Before he was drafted Renza had worked as a hairdresser for women in his hometown of Peekskill, New York. Fact: Assuming KIAs accurately represented age groups serving in Vietnam, the average age of an infantryman (MOS 11B) serving in Vietnam to be 19 years old is a myth, it is actually 22. Many were killed or wounded ! Your email address will not be published. Vietnam veterans' personal income exceeds that of our non-veteran age group by more than 18 percent. If it had been up to me, I would have awarded my gun the CIB too. "And in seizing the firm land at the . The incident in the photo took place on the second day of a three day battle between the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) who occupied the village of Trang Bang and the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) who were trying to force the NVA out of the village. My bud, Price took over as RTO. If there was anything to this life expectancy of a few minutes then myself and many of my friends that are still alive today would be a long time dead. Sgt. That means you lose five RTOs in 5 seconds. Sociologists Charles C. Moskos and John Sibley Butler, in their recently published book All That We Can Be, said they analyzed the claim that blacks were used like cannon fodder during Vietnam and can report definitely that this charge is untrue. The Department of Defense Vietnam War Service Index officially provided by The War Library originally reported with errors that 2,709,918 U.S. military personnel as having served in-country. I spent 10 1/2 months in the jungles of Vietnam. to the empployees was very informative. Sometimes on Family Guy when there about to take someones heart out they say, calimar or maybe its spelled different. According to the American War Library, as of February 28, 2019, it is estimated that approximately 610,000 Americans who served in land forces during the Vietnam War or in air missions over Vietnam between 1954 and 1975 are still alive to this day. I DISAGREETHE ENEMY WOULD SHOOT THE GUY NEXT TO THE RTO-KNOWING HE WAS THE COMMANDER. Amazingly, the NVA men then walked a short distance away, sat down and ate lunch. I think convoy truck drivers had one of the most dangerous job. Military history of African Americans in the Vietnam War African Americans played a prominent role in the Vietnam War. Every mission, I had the same thought. During this Census count, the number of Americans falsely claiming to have served in-country is: 13,853,027. Thanks for the perceived loss and the countless assassinations and torture visited upon Vietnamese, Laotians, and Cambodians goes mainly to the American media and their undying support-by-misrepresentation of the anti-War movement in the United States. The machine guns were numbered within each platoon. Staying alive was kinda of important. We all gotta die sometime, Red. SSgt Barnes, Platoon, its nothing to really concern yourself with, on a long enough time line everyones survival rate is 0%. Supported by a shoulder strap, No. Soon I could take the gun apart and put it back together in the dark. The 4th Platoon survivors stayed put for the night. 2 Gun to Ranallo. Terrified, I dropped down as fast as I could, pulling the gun and two ammo belts of 100 rounds apiece on top of me as I fell back into the dry streambed. You just do the best job you can and if you got hit, so be it! Your article was quite interesting. To my surprise, I qualified as an expert with the M60 machine gun, nicknamed the pig because of the size, weight and sound of the weapon. Your Dad and I had the same job. Robert Sholly, standing with Platoon Sgt. Even the AP photographer, Nick Ut, who took the picture, was Vietnamese. Thank You Roger!!! If you would like to get a copy, and cant find it, let me know, and I will make sure you get one. The NVA had wedged a blocking force between our company and Company A, preventing us from advancing any farther. The blasts from the AMMO, really lit up the whole area. My shit got weak and a sniper popped three rounds in my young ass. Was the 7th Infantry in Vietnam? - 2023 LUCK pure LUCK. For his actions, he was awarded the Congressional Medal if Honor. We went out typically in two boat patrols one lead one cover . I've never heard about the life expectancy of 6 weeks (even with a short google search). U.S. Wings is a manufacturer and a supplier. Prayers for all. They were a great bunch. I felt the same way jumping off the chopper with my m-60, 300. rounds of ammo,grenades,sandbags and six canteens of water. 240 men were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War. %%EOF I was an Artillery Forward Observer with the Infantry. The group found the first man killed and carried him up the hill, placing his body right next to me. I also earned a Combat Infantryman Badge, signifying that I had been actively engaged in combat. Thank You General Vessey for the almost 53 years I have lived since that day. The Statistics in the Combat Area Casualty File (CACF 11/93) show an average age of death much higher than that of news reports. You were a Great RTO. Vietnam War soldiers endured many hardships and faced many problems. 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. Hack volunteered for service in Vietnam in 1968, joining the 1st Infantry Division. Love you Wortman!!!! May was eventually able to hand off 2nd Platoons No. Fact: The American military was not defeated in Vietnam. then youd carry an extra 200 rounds of M60 ammo for the machine gunner , plus drag grenades , one smoke grenade plus etc. We all have opinions, this is mine. Vietnam War soldiers These records were transferred into the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration in 2008. Address: 561 E Hines Hill Road Hudson, Ohio 44236 Phone: 1-800-650-0659 / 330-655-5050 Fax: 330-653-3750 Email: [emailprotected], Retail Store Hours: Monday-Friday: 9am - 5pm EST Saturdays: 10am -3pm (Oct-Jan) Sundays: Closed. What was the life expectancy of a point man in Vietnam? Or is it on display in a Hanoi museum so curious citizens of that city can inspect a weapon captured from American imperialists? HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. Approximately 70% of those killed in Vietnam were volunteers. 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.. Does this mean addressing to a crowd? Interesting reading. The one that should be there is the combat medic. Mi hermana se sorprende N-F C-F Cl-F F-F 2 Answers C-F is the most polar. The average age of the 58,148 US Servicemembers killed in Vietnam was . 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. For example: 7*x^2. Here is an 18 Day in the life of a Vietnam Soldier | History 118: US History Since 1877 I was shot down on my very first mission in July 1968. I was a 2nd Lt. Infantry platoon Leader. I am proud to have fought alongside of them. DeLong was later killed attempting to escape from a North Vietnamese prisoner of war camp in Cambodia. One afternoon, while Company B was still in the Tuy Hoa area, we received orders to gather up our gear and get ready to board choppers for an assault into a hot landing zone. As I remember it the life expectancy was based on after the ambush was sprung or the fire fight started. Correct. Fact: No American had involvement in this incident near Trang Bang that burned Phan Thi Kim Phuc. I told by RTO that i could carry my own radio, When he agreed he was humping ammo. We looked for cover and returned fire the best we could. Can I use this word like this: The addressal by the C.E.O. A Co, 1/5 Cav, 1 Cav Division. Life Expectancy by Country and in the World (2023) - Worldometer It was very nearly my last. "The Rangers pulled themselves over the top," President Ronald Reagan said of the men, in 1984. And yes, please God, bless America. It was an HONOR and a privilege to serve with these brave men for my 11 month tour. We were expecting, an attack. 5 seconds. As soon as he did, a round hit him in the forehead, blowing out the back of his skull. Despite initial victories by the Communists forces, the Tet Offensive resulted in a major defeat of those forces. 10-4. It was reported as an overwhelming success for the Communist forces and a decided defeat for the U.S. forces. I was an M-60 machine gunner for a battalion recon platoon in 1967, for the First Infantry Division, Known as The Black Scarf Battalion. There were no Americans involved in any capacity. While I was in training, my motivation was to get these wings and I wear them today proudly, the airman recalled in 2015. Amen I was a machine gunner for 7 months 503rd infantry 173rd airborne and you hit the nail right on the head. I was also told that the Radio did put a target on my back. 74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome. He said when they were ambushed they took defensive positions, returned fire, called for assistance when needed, and retreated when necessary. If it was your day to get hit or die, it happened. 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. As I was running to the rivers edge, ready to unload on the VC hiding in the elephant grass, I ran past a grass hut and never bothered to clear it. Of the eight who remained, seven were wounded. He was wounded and suffered permanent disability shortly before his tour was up. And us the living that served, who suffer from PTSD ,that figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest of all. Done ranting. He was not the type to hump a radio. 87% of Americans hold Vietnam Veterans in high esteem. US Wings provides aviation apparel to the U.S. Government and commercial customers along with the general public. I am 16 years old an 150 pounds qith some good muscle. I was told to help carry one of the bodies. When Apache Snow began, I was an RTO, after Airborne, and before the CA on Dong Ap Bia, I became the AG for Roeski. THANKS! Yes, I made E4 at graduation, that was considered a NCO then. Often as not he was right beside you with a stolen chicken and a bag of rice. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility of the helicopter. From 1957 to 1973, the National Liberation Front assassinated 36,725 Vietnamese and abducted another 58,499. The average life expectancy of a front-line soldier in eastern Ukraine is four hours, a Marine said. 3 Answers C5H5N in water > C5H5NH+ & OH- Kb = [C5H5NH+] [OH-] / [C5H5N] 1.5e-9 = [x] 1. Opinion | What a Combat Medic Still Carries - The New York Times Some of my men didnt. Thats what I figured but didnt know for sure. C Co, 1st-12th 66-67. No. By the time we reached Vietnam in October 1966 I felt the gun had become a part of me.