life expectancy of an infantry soldier in vietnam life expectancy of an infantry soldier in vietnam

More importantly, Grandstaff was very gung-ho. Then we all, loaded on C-147 cargo planes. Prayers for all. David H. McNerney, who assumed command of the company when all of its officers were killed or wounded, was presented with the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony in September 1968. Also, it has been incorrectly reported that two of Kim Phucs brothers were killed in this incident. The U.S. Infantryman Vietnam Pocket Manual contains gems such as infantry "patrol tips," maneuver techniques, and fighting methods for various environments. The Vietnam War was the turning point for Communism. I was sitting on the ground one day trying to dry out my gear and better configure my ruck when my squad leader came walking over to me and said, Gow, youve got the radio. As he turned and walked away! then youd carry an extra 200 rounds of M60 ammo for the machine gunner , plus drag grenades , one smoke grenade plus etc. 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. The 140,000 evacuees in April 1975 during the fall of Saigon consisted almost entirely of civilians and Vietnamese military, NOT American military running for their lives. The article was interesting. Information presented by SFC (Ret) David Hack. Combatants on both sides faced physical challenges posed by the climate, terrain and wildlife of the country. 1 Gun before my luck ran out. I was never formally trained as an RTO. Me, a vehicle mechanic with Btry E, 41st Arty Quads 1970. Over the next two months, we exchanged fire with groups of the NVA. The income differentials in life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14, however, are estimated to be smaller. 4314 0 obj <> endobj The average man who fought in World War II was 26 years of age. Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get their ticket punched. NFS. By the time we reached Vietnam in October 1966 I felt the gun had become a part of me. I have a fried Who is killed in Vietnam six months before I got there cause of death was other how would I find out since his parents are long gone, Do a search for his name n Coffeltdatabase.org, Sir, would you mind me translating this into Spanish and getting it posted in our blog? Learned a lot from him. Ambushed on October 4th,1967. Thank You General Vessey for the almost 53 years I have lived since that day. We looked for cover and returned fire the best we could. Not to mention that right now its safer than some cities in the us. If it had been up to me, I would have awarded my gun the CIB too. Fact: 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. I know the scouts in my company had a slightly longer rate but not much. 1 gun and was hoping it would stay that way. I was in 2nd Platoon and carried the platoons No. I applaud your courage as I know an RTOs job is essential, difficult (carrying the weight of his radio transmitter, his rifle, his ammo, and his rucksack), and dangerous as the enemy surely wanted to knock out any communications for support. A documentary about our company and our 1st Sgt was made. El subjuntivo It was the silent power of the pig, I suppose. An NVA soldier had evidently spotted the gun and waited patiently for me to stick my head up. They were a great bunch. It was reported as an overwhelming success for the Communist forces and a decided defeat for the U.S. forces. The United States sought to minimize and prevent attacks on civilians while North Vietnam made attacks on civilians a centerpiece of its strategy. Activated in 1915, as the 173rd Infantry Brigade, the unit saw service in World War II but is best known for its actions during the Vietnam War. 1 Gun over my shoulder, grabbed a corner of a poncho and stumbled off with three other soldiers. %PDF-1.5 % What was the life expectancy of a point man in Vietnam? It began just as, it was getting dark. Corrections and confirmations to this errored index resulted in the addition of 358 U.S. military personnel confirmed to have served in Vietnam but not originally listed by the Department of Defense (All names are currently on file and accessible 24/7/365). Be glad you served with a soldiers soldier like LTC Herbert. Database. 2 tour Nam Vet, The Navys First Vietnamese Admiral Saw His Family Killed by an Infamous Viet CongGuerrilla, The Navy's First Vietnamese Admiral Saw His Family Killed by an Infamous Viet Cong Guerrilla, A Day in the Life of an Infantry Point Man in Vietnam, The Story behind the famous Saigon Execution Photo. 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 EACH OF US CARRIES OUR OWN MEMORIES AND THEY RUN THE GAMUT. I was an Artillery Forward Observer with the Infantry. The early days of May 1970, I arrived at the Airport, next to Saigon. Yes, I made E4 at graduation, that was considered a NCO then. 1 Gun and I now faced a new and more formidable foethe North Vietnamese Army. 1: physical position (in the field / column) 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. The three of us had trained together at Fort Lewis and were good friends. Posterior Thigh _____ 4. We took fire all the time and responded. Some very close calls but I am alive at age 74. They were all up there scanning the terrain and looking for signs. 4 Paul Domke, who carried extra belts of ammo and fed them into the gun. He also worked on Jacqueline Kennedys hair pieces and wigs. Was Billeted near an Army medevac Unit and was offered a chance to lay on my stomach with an M16 and door gun for them I decided not a good Idea. We can all hold our heads high and be proud of our service. Wow I was 31.8 Gun shot Carried model 1200 Winchester shot gun WIA May 68 Article was great. Your Dad and I had the same job. 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. I was one of the lucky ones I came home without a physical scratch. I remember hearing a Lieutenant (Kennedy) say to one of his two platoon RTOs My RTO is Foxtrot Uniform. Two of my closest friends in the company, Spc. This is hard to believe, losing nearly 711,000 between 95 and 00. Spent my year in a Recon platoon 2/35th 4th ID. Gotta say I think you hit it on the nose. I never thought of it that way before but have many times since. Ordered to reinforce the unit, the Company B commander put our four platoons abreast of each other, and we marched west. HOOAH!!! Still shaken, I grabbed the gun and crawled to the left inside the streambed. In your rucksack . The rolling fire burned everything to the ground and undoubtedly killed scores of NVA. The battalion was sending us to a village with a small river running through it. In that time 4 us kia and 4 wounded. If it was your day to get hit or die, it happened. I couldnt see DeLong and didnt know if No. Not long after the artillery barrage ended, the North Vietnamese swept through 4th Platoon and executed some of the survivors. I was a helicopter pilot 97% of Vietnam Veterans were honorably discharged. I was an Infantry Scout Dog handler. John Doever US Wings is a veteran-owned business and an official supplier to the US Military. US Wings is a verified SAM Contractor and DLA Supplier and is officially listed as a manufacturer/retailer in the US Department of Commerce's Office of Textile and Apparel (OTEXA) Made in the USA database. Bruce Grandstaff and my best friend, Sgt. Both were infantry in WW2. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star in 1974. This Battle changed his life and his future, had it not been for his actions, every man on this FSB Gold would have died. Company B had seven dead, Grandstaff announced, and I was to take No. Lived too tell about it. 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 carried the proc 26 radio after I was asked by my field 1st ( E 7 ) if I would for my platoon . A Co, 1/5 Cav, 1 Cav Division. I had scary thoughts about myself humping the bush as a RTO, I was a real puny guy back then. Shermans had fairly thin armor (76mm at the thickest compared to a Tiger with 180mm at the thickest with most around 100mm). Ambulances are not supposed to be armed (either) though in training, medics are told they and their vehicles will be a prime target. 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. Thats why I never understand people talking about survivors guilt it should have been me, why him? etc. July 68 to July 69. Es ridculo que t ______ (tener) un resfriado en verano. (Getty Images) Most war stories are about soldiers and battles. I may not have hit anyone that day, but I am certain that No. TONY DISAGREED> hE SAID TAKE A 19 YEAR OLD, WHO HAS JUST TAKEN TWO ROUNDS TO HIS BODY, And IS watching his best friend die from multiple, bleeding wounds he wont give a shit about the Geneva Convention. The helicopter provided unprecedented mobility. Our chase after the enemy unwittingly led us into a large ambush. Stop staring at your computer already, get up. The enemy fire ceased, and we made arrangements to collect our dead before continuing on to Company A. 2) by my research, medics suffered 93% casualties with about 33% deaths. I spent 10 1/2 months in the jungles of Vietnam. I want to know what the life expectancy of a us infantry army soldier is. General Vo Nguyen Giap, the designer of the Tet Offensive, is considered by some as ranking with Wellington, Grant, Lee and MacArthur as a great commander. The one that should be there is the combat medic. Walked point way to many times but never had contact. They were also in a circular formation. Love you Wortman!!!! Our 5th night there, the AMMO area started burning / blowing up. Remember he wanted to reenlist for one more year in Vietnam. 1 Gun more than I did. I was shot down on my very first mission in July 1968. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 76% of the men sent to Vietnam were from lower middle/working class backgrounds. After that initial post-service period, Vietnam veterans were no more likely to die from suicide than non-Vietnam veterans. Company B arrived in-country with four rifle platoons, and each platoon was armed with two M60s. He served as a sergeant with the Big Red One in Lai Khe, Vietnam. Required fields are marked *. 4. For some reason, the written word of this article was somehow deleted and lost. A former expert with the M60 machine gun shares his experiences wielding the fearsome weapon in Vietnam. The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet. Ron. My dog and I walked point my whole tour in Vietnam. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Fact: The American military was not defeated in Vietnam. The rule of thumb was , any new guys would get the radio and keep it until another new guy came in. And us the living that served, who suffer from PTSD ,that figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest of all. No combat assignments for another year of service in Vietnam or get out in about a month. 58,148 were killed in Vietnam, 75,000 severely disabled, 23,214 were 100% disabled, 5,283 lost limbs and 1,081 sustained multiple amputations. Three-fourths had family incomes above the poverty level; 50% were from middle income backgrounds. What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? We had been carrying machine guns for over seven months. Tumbling end over end, the canisters exploded in a white-hot fireball. The last American troops departed in their entirety 29 March 1973. Everyone in the company hit the dirt. My assistant gunner and my ammo bearer also carried 300 rounds each. Shortly before 11 a.m. on May 18, the point squad in Company Bs 2nd Platoon spotted three NVA soldiers walking on a trail near the Cambodian border and attempted to capture them, but the NVA dashed off into the jungle. From Cam Rahn, we kept flying north to, a Landing Zone near QUANG TRI. Ha Ha always enjoyed being a volunteer! The machine guns were numbered within each platoon. Hurrying forward with No. This is not Vietnam where a machine gunners life expectancy was short because you had an entire army shooting at them. Found NVA bunker complex. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. is sharing facts, thats truly good, keep up writing. Theres 58,276. I couldnt disagree. Most war stories are about soldiers and battles. The average life expectancy of a front-line soldier in eastern Ukraine is four hours, a Marine said. meaning what is the chance of me getting killed in combat. 1 gun! Everyone laughed. LUCK pure LUCK. 2023 CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website, RTO, John Scheur. "And in seizing the firm land at the . The Australian Vietnam veteran study assessed the postservice mortality of 19 205 Vietnam veterans and 25 677 non-Vietnam veterans through 1981. Sergeant Galiano's experience does not deny Brands depiction of the battle in Vietnam, but offers a typically overlooked perspective of a drafted soldier fighting in the central highlands of Vietnam. Cluster F, SNAFU and FUBAR fer sur. The average age of the 58,148 killed in Vietnam was 23.11 years (Although 58,169 names are in the Nov. 93 database, only 58,148 have both event date and birth date. 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? As I carried a PRC25 radio for over seven-months in the > Nam, I was curious to find out what I did RIGHT to surv >, One MOS I figured was a sure short timer was POL{Fuel} Truck Driver. . They were glad to see me as it had been a while for replacements with the unit. It was always quick/quick, load the bodies in and get the hell out. Contents 1 Unclear objectives 2 North Vietnamese strategy African Americans played a prominent role in the Vietnam War. The TOTAL number of CIB and CMB awarded would give you the answer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well he didnt make it. I saw killed and wounded everywhere in our combat operations. happened. The average time lapse between wounding to hospitalization was less than one hour. Both halves quickly swept toward the river to clear the village. And dug Berms, in the area. First thing we did was, Set up a complete circular perimeter. 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. Nixon Presidential Papers. The CDC Vietnam Experience Study Mortality Assessment showed that during the first 5 years after discharge, deaths from suicide were 1.7 times more likely among Vietnam veterans than non-Vietnam veterans. Life expectancy at birth. 101st Airborne Division. (LogOut/ I handled Top Secret Commo on a daily basis. A dense mass of elephant grass hung over the riverbank, and he ducked under it. Event date is used instead of declared dead date for some of those who were listed as missing in action). When we reached Company A, we placed our dead in the center of the two-company perimeter. 240 men were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War. Good article. 2 Gun team, Ranallo and May, without any support. This makes calculations of those alive, even in 2017, difficult to maintain. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_losses_of The first thing my platoon sgt. 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 picked up my M60 and walked to the center of the perimeter, where I found the company commander, Capt. I just wanted to get off No. Two rounds smashed into a log inches above my head. We had 5 kias and roughly 50 wounded in our company so about one in three got hit. It was one of my most memorable tours in the Navy I later went to a carrier and was bored silly because I had about 1% of the responsibilities I had as an O-2. I won a few times, and even when I did not I benefited from handling the gun under stress. Lucky you. Fact: The average infantryman in the South Pacific during World War II saw about 40 days of combat in four years. The next morning, the blasting could still be, heard. Got hit inside 15 minutes, first ambush we walked up too. I carried the PRC-25 Radio most of that time. Ed, I was in a Grunt Platoon in Vietnam 70-71. 4322 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<4E412331B845E54EBDFDC79FA0627A18>]/Index[4314 16]/Info 4313 0 R/Length 65/Prev 560501/Root 4315 0 R/Size 4330/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Dont know why, but generally, their aircraft were not armed (door gunners, etc.). 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.