Approximately 70% of those killed in Vietnam were volunteers. Very interesting I carried theM 60 for 5 months that gun would cut down anything. Some were constantly exposed to combat, some not so often. 2: role (MOS?). They were glad to see me as it had been a while for replacements with the unit. The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand stayed free of Communism because of the U.S. commitment to Vietnam. The average life expectancy of a Soviet soldier during the height of the battle was just 24 hours. Carried the prc25 for about 7 months. E)V_5lu[vC3+"vg2L& Without the helicopter it would have taken three times as many troops to secure the 800 mile border with Cambodia and Laos (the politicians thought the Geneva Conventions of 1954 and the Geneva Accords or 1962 would secure the border). In Vietnam he cut the hair of everyone in his company for free. Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division. In Vietnam 70% 0f the casualties were Infantry BUT it might be 70% of ALL the Infantry that served in Vietnam. It was just north of Saigon. Were talking averages, obviously so, an RTO, with an expectancy of 5 seconds (!) V. Victor Renza was sent home after he was wounded on May 18, 1967. 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. Good article. My dog and I walked point my whole tour in Vietnam. 75,000 Vietnam veterans are severely disabled. I won a few times, and even when I did not I benefited from handling the gun under stress. 1st Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion 327th Infantry. I was trained as a RTO in 1970 at Fort Ord then went to Fort Gordon for teletype school, my MOS was 05C20 when I finished. They also had a 12 gauge, and a M 79 grenade launcher and M 16. That means you lose five RTOs in 5 seconds. Remember he wanted to reenlist for one more year in Vietnam. Prayers for all. Five RTOs. well I wonder how long your going to last lieutenant? It was more or less next man up . What unit lost the most soldiers in Vietnam? Ed, I was in a Grunt Platoon in Vietnam 70-71. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam? 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%. If it had been up to me, I would have awarded my gun the CIB too. https://www.historynet.com/no-1-gun-an-m60-machine-gunner-in-vietnam-tells-his-story/, Jerrie Mock: Record-Breaking American Female Pilot, When 21 Sikh Soldiers Fought the Odds Against 10,000 Pashtun Warriors, Few Red Tails Remain: Tuskegee Airman Dies at 96. He said when they were ambushed they took defensive positions, returned fire, called for assistance when needed, and retreated when necessary. hb```8fB cBLd2>Tb jz1@E; aK6Tmc.Nn"&gn7hj'wm,h d6p4u0`&88:,TMV& y@ b=e>a&^ >{2b`ZHE3psn QZ Ha Ha always enjoyed being a volunteer! I loved it. My heart was pounding out of my chest. We walked the mountains and rice patties all thru Tu Thien Province. 58,148 were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.7 million who served. We (Americans) had nothing to do with controlling VNAF, according to Lieutenant General (Ret) James F. Hollingsworth, the Commanding General of TRAC at that time. Michael Doolittle..I was with 1/8 inf, 1st Brigade, and that day, March 22nd was also our darkest day. Amen I was a machine gunner for 7 months 503rd infantry 173rd airborne and you hit the nail right on the head. I was stationed on 2 FSBs (8 & 175mm guns) west of Tay Ninh on the Cambodian boarder in the Ho Chi Minh trail and was wounded but nothing as bad as he was. We had one RTO killed because he was too close to a 2ND Lt, same thing happened to another RTO. means: 1 gets killed the 1st second, another one after 9 seconds avg. I didnt make a move without that gun beside me. Thank You General Vessey for the almost 53 years I have lived since that day. hbbd```b`` ,&Iw sA '#o That same day, I along with 3/4 others was transported to Long Bhin Post. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility of the helicopter. I wasnt sure if the VC had moved to right or left, so I sprayed the elephant grass in both directions. My good friend who was a RTO was killed. 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. 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. An Rtos job was essential, tough,(Carrying the extra weight of the radio transmitter along with his rucksack), and dangerous. Love this analysis. Eventually I found a spot where the bed leveled off and began firing on the NVA. At Fort Lewis, every recruit learned to operate various weapons. Knowing I had a 100-round belt in my M60, I opened up on that hillside, my gun getting so hot that the barrel smoked. Often as not he was right beside you with a stolen chicken and a bag of rice. In that time 4 us kia and 4 wounded. May they rest in peace. Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division. Their personal income exceeds that of our non-veteran age group by more than 18 percent. endstream endobj startxref 79% had a high school education or better. My 31-months in-country was in three Direct Support US Army aviation units, 15TC BN, First Cav, 335TH, Americal and 17TH Cav 101ST ABD65-71In the last battle I was directly involved, LAM SON 719, into Laos, cost army aviation units over 600-helicopters shot down or battle damagedthe NVA were waiting for our SECRET mission in early 71I was glad to go home at battles end, in March 71 , almost unscathed, I was TDY for my absurd third tourTo the point, many ARVN Rangers, airborne and their other best died in Lam Son 719US Army Infantry were forbidden entry to Laos in 71.. the ARVN were massacredand many US Army pilots and crew mambers were KIA & WIAeven MIA. Sholly injured an ankle, and 1st Lt. Cary Allen took command of Company B. Umm..maybe its because we also learn from experience. I remember hearing somewhere about an RTO who wasnt getting the info out correctly and the Lieutenant (Kennedy) grabbed the mic and said My RTO Is Foxtrot Uniform. (LogOut/ It is Honor in the Valley of Tears. Flipping the safety off, I scanned the jungle in front of me. 5 Answers There is no word like addressal. I flew Dustoff and our unit did not have M60s for protection, nor did any other Dustoff unit that Im aware of. I was never formally trained as an RTO. Because if only 1 RTO fought for say only 10 or 15 minutes before being killed, that would up the AVG for the total war! 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. I was a medic on one for two yrs and the only weapon I was issue was a six-shot .38. 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. 85% of Vietnam Veterans made successful transitions to civilian life. The American military did not lose a battle of any consequence. They were Kims cousins not her brothers. 240 men were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War. Life Expectancy of the World Population. I am 81 now and survived the encounter by terminated the sniper. I kept the radio because I understood the power of having the first communication with the support mechanisms of the military. Fact: Servicemen who went to Vietnam from well-to-do areas had a slightly elevated risk of dying because they were more likely to be pilots or infantry officers. Both halves quickly swept toward the river to clear the village. They were held in special regard after the Normandy landings, when 225 Rangers scaled cliffs at Pointe Du Hoc on June 6, 1944 under intense enemy fire. Bob Sanzone. Done ranting. Well, according to current mortality and morbidity statistics for the USright around 77.5 Years! Thank You Roger!!! Many were killed or wounded ! No. Look for the blue accessibility symbol floating on every page of our website and click on it to tailor your viewing experience to your particular disability. One of them gazed in our direction, lowered his AK 47 assault rifle and fired six shots. Such as in the song Jimmy by M.I.A look at aaja in the dictionary My indian boyfriend told me is meaning come to me, 6 Answers I have never had or heard of that particular brand, but have had several here in Canada, plus a number in the Caribbean and Asia, and there all the same, small cut hot dogs in a can, no need q now please.. Name the major nerves that serve the following body areas:? The incredibly important role in the U.S. Army is responsible for defending the country through real-life combat. As a Huey door gunner, when we left the ground on a mission, I always thought that this mission would be my last! Veteran Owned Since 1986. Learned a lot from him. Calculate the pH of a solution of 0.157 M pyridine. Much smaller income differentials in life expectancy, 0.2 to 3.6 life-years smaller for Veterans in 2010-17 are estimated. We were very, lucky. I told by RTO that i could carry my own radio, When he agreed he was humping ammo. A Co, 1/5 Cav, 1 Cav Division. My father was on a lrrp team!65-67never was shot but killed alot.He never really got over it though died in 2012! Death by a Bottle! I've never heard about the life expectancy of 6 weeks (even with a short google search). Fortunately, it was recorded on Spotify and can be listened to here: Thank you for both articles: (1)Going up river to port and (2) the flight from Italy back to Nam. The fall of Saigon happened 30 April 1975, two years AFTER the American military left Vietnam. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? That was a hell of a responsibility to take on. !We dont abuse prisoners Now, if he reaches for his weapon to continue the fight BLOW HIS ASS AWAY THIS AINT SUNDAY SCHOOL!!! I was an RTO for 9-1/2 months for Hawk Recon 2/327 101AB from dec, 1969 to sept 70. We were told in training that the life expectancy of a machine gunner was about seven seconds from the moment the first round was fired. 2 Gun team, Ranallo and May, without any support. We fought to an agreed stalemate. As with much of the Vietnam War, the news media misreported and misinterpreted the 1968 Tet Offensive. They were a great bunch. THANKS! It was very nearly my last. Of the . Vietnam veterans' personal income exceeds that of our non-veteran age group by more than 18 percent. There must have been a real mathematician to come up with those calculations. The average age of the men killed: 23.1 years. Its not all written down. It was reported as an overwhelming success for the Communist forces and a decided defeat for the U.S. forces. Mech. Or is it on display in a Hanoi museum so curious citizens of that city can inspect a weapon captured from American imperialists? Some of my men didnt. 76% of the men sent to Vietnam were from lower middle/working class backgrounds. The next three weeks passed uneventfully. I know this is a standard cliche, but it is so true, All gave some. I would suspect that stating with any accuracy the life span of a grunt like me, or any other MOS, would be pretty much pure speculation. I saw aircraft loaded with troops explode in mid-air. The average man who fought in World War II was 26 years of age. From the Landing Zone, we were carried not too far. One out of every 10 Americans who served in Vietnam was a casualty. He also worked on Jacqueline Kennedys hair pieces and wigs. Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison only one-half of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes. Cruz quite a lot. No. You of course had the radio plus xtra batteries & handsets plus your rucksack with 7 to 8 canteens , 20 mags ( I used to carry 17 rounds in the mags instead of 20 ) because the springs would force the round into the chamber causing jams . I was an Artillery Forward Observer 13F20 E-5 at that time. The dead were placed on ponchos. He then said that they were generally on patrol moving through their area, both attacking and being attacked depending if the VC knew their location. Point was the safest place to be,they knew to wait for key elements, RTO, Medica, M60 Gunners. The machine gun was also mounted in the UH-1 Huey helicopter and other Army aircraft. Anxiously extending the bipod legs on the M60, I added a 100-round belt to the one I already had in the gun. I saw killed and wounded everywhere in our combat operations. Its just (bad) luck, fate, randomness theres no right or wrong, no justice or fairness, no reasoning. Id love to see the casualties listed by Corps ? The 4th Platoon survivors stayed put for the night. 1 gun and was hoping it would stay that way. As of the current Census taken during August, 2000, the surviving U.S. Vietnam Veteran population estimate is: 1,002,511. where can i find red bird vienna sausage? (You can unsubscribe anytime), The US Wings website is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliant and adheres to their standards for accessibility of the internet so people with disabilities can surf the web more easily & efficiently. 2 Gun to Ranallo. Startled, I quickly pointed my M60 at them. This has been going on for about a week Every time I try to watch a video on Youtube from my laptop I get instantly redirected to "gslbeacon.ligit.com." We then took all Trucks and equipment to the Port Of Saigon. We went out typically in two boat patrols one lead one cover . I too never understood survivor quilt, Enjoyed your article. In fact, after the 5-year post-service period, the rate of suicides is less in the Vietnam veterans group. The fact that PDoggbiker cant find any decent calculation/explanation, tells us a lot. The blasts from the AMMO, really lit up the whole area. He was with the 509th Radio Research Station. See my calculation below in the comments bogus indeed. When Apache Snow began, I was an RTO, after Airborne, and before the CA on Dong Ap Bia, I became the AG for Roeski. 11 c mos , meaning I was also cross trained for mortars . I handled Top Secret Commo on a daily basis. Lived too tell about it. In total, the 7th Infantry spent four years in Vietnam. Then I dropped back down in the streambed to organize our ammo. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility of the helicopter. Very Good , I was a radio operator up in I corps in 68 & to me the worst thing was the walking . 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. Two of my classmates were killed within 2 weeks incountry and three wounded I know of. HOOAH!!! 1 Gun over my shoulder, grabbed a corner of a poncho and stumbled off with three other soldiers. We used to provide cover for these guys. Great story!!! .. rice farmer who was still working with is ox like nothing ever It was a daily challenge to know who your real enemy was. (and yes, you cant ask them, so it would have to be derived from the AA-reports and survivors). He was wounded and suffered permanent disability shortly before his tour was up. Two of my closest friends in the company, Spc. Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get their ticket punched. From 1957 to 1973, the National Liberation Front assassinated 36,725 Vietnamese and abducted another 58,499. Your Dad and I had the same job. I assisted Vessey and Capt Cartwright by helping prepare the Bee Hive Rounds (first time they were ever used), firing 4 rounds at proximity 0 range into a human wave attack on or weak side after 5 hours of relentless attacks on the opposite side of the perimeter Those 4 rounds killed @ 400 enemy soldiers, of the 881 total enemy losss John Vessey later became a 4 Star general and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs appointed by Reagan 1983, and at retirement became Chair of the POW MIA Commission for 14 years, Passing away in August 2016 just 6 months before our 50th Reunion. The Army suffered the most total casualties, 38,179 or 2.7 percent of its force. 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. The average time lapse between wounding to hospitalization was less than one hour. Thats my experience. 10 1/2 months in the bush. 1 Gun and I now faced a new and more formidable foethe North Vietnamese Army. Staying alive was kinda of important. My assistant gunner and my ammo bearer also carried 300 rounds each. If anything went wrong, I could easily kill some of our soldiers. Date: March 8, 2020 Author: pdoggbiker 97 Comments Photo above is of Stanley Kober with RTO, John Scheur. The two platoons were to advance no more than 200 yards from the main body of the company. Videos, Film, Music, and Movies about VN War, Author interview War & Life: Discussions with a Veteran, A Chat Between Three Veterans [live video with author], Lest We Forget Meet the Authors & Book Signing April 4th: Cherries and Donut Dolly, Interview with author John Podlaski in Examiner Magazine, American Heroes Radio interviews author of Cherries A Vietnam War Novel, Cherries Author Interviewed on British Website, U.K. Blogspot posts interviews author, John Podlaski, More Book Reviews and author interviews about Cherries, Les Scates, U.S. Army (Ret.) What the hell did you hit him with? one of our men shouted. This makes our site more accessible to the blind, visually impaired, motor disabled, people with cognitive disabilities and more. I spent my year in Vietnam with the 1/22nd infantry part of the 4th division. 10-4. An NVA soldier had evidently spotted the gun and waited patiently for me to stick my head up. Explore the Life of a U.S. Infantryman in Vietnam. All of the next day, we could see SMOKE from the fire caused by the explosions of the AMMO at, the AMMO DUMP. The income differentials in life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14, however, are estimated to be smaller. The enemy fire ceased, and we made arrangements to collect our dead before continuing on to Company A. BUT WE MUST ALSO BE COGNIZANT OF OUR REQUIREMENT TO BE COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS. wias. Back in 1965, I was a door gunner on Medevac recovery operations. then youd carry an extra 200 rounds of M60 ammo for the machine gunner , plus drag grenades , one smoke grenade plus etc. Also, it would mean the killed RTOs died within seconds of the fight (it doesnt distinguish between ambush or regular fight, eg. According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) there are now officially 58, 318 names on the wall. Together we had passed the test. They were not randomly selected but simply the best at doing it. The average age of the 58,148 US Servicemembers killed in Vietnam was 23.11 years (CACF) Going backwards (Apr. (Getty Images) Most war stories are about soldiers and battles. Different jobs have different life expectancy. Contents1 [] We could not see any enemy soldiers, but we could see smoke coming from their weapons through the trees. Thank You for your courageous service as an RTO with the legendary Hawk Recon Platoon. An interesting essay, even more interesting are the comments. Seattle, Washington(WA), 98106. The life expectancy of a radio operator in the Vietnam War ranged between five to six seconds all the way up to a slightly-more-optimistic thirty seconds, depending on your source. His comparison to a FB was that if we were fired on we returned fire and requested assistance when needed. 1: physical position (in the field / column) a RTO got killed, it happened within 5 seconds but not that always ALL RTOs got killed. We were like sitting Ducks. It was just part of the job. I was a 2nd Lt. Infantry platoon Leader. While I was in training, my motivation was to get these wings and I wear them today proudly, the airman recalled in 2015. They were also in a circular formation. I will always think/say, we had absolutely no reason for being in that place. The answer that we have always been given is that 1 year in the Infantry is equivalent to 3 years of hard labor. 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. I was already lugging around a 24-pound weapon, 300 rounds of ammo and a pack that weighed a good 45 pounds. "And in seizing the firm land at the . The smell of those charred bodies, blackened and smoking from the napalm strike, is something I can never forget. AS LEADERS IN AMERICAS SERVICES WE MUST BE PROFICIENT AND READY TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSIONS- The next morning, the blasting could still be, heard. Some 23% of Vietnam vets had fathers with professional, managerial Around 3 p.m., when Grandstaff realized we were about to be overrun, he called in artillery right on top of our location. Helicopters, F4 fighters. Overrun and utterly destroyed, the 30-man 4th Platoon had suffered 21 killed and one missing. Lt lost a finger, same time. Certainly got my attention. 4 Paul Domke, who carried extra belts of ammo and fed them into the gun. I would carry when on ambush. Despite initial victories by the Communists forces, the Tet Offensive resulted in a major defeat of those forces. Then one hot, sunny day, while walking across rice paddies, we suddenly received small-arms fire from Viet Cong in some distant hills. First Sgt. The other group of aeromedical evacuation were divisional, i.e. Be glad you served with a soldiers soldier like LTC Herbert. Hack volunteered for service in Vietnam in 1968, joining the 1st Infantry Division. El subjuntivo (Although 58,169 names are in the Nov. 93 database, only 58,148 have both event date and birth date. 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). _____ 1. 5 seconds. A documentary about our company and our 1st Sgt was made. hmK#1+yNvA This article appeared in the October 2021 issue of Vietnam magazine. Spanish Help Of those killed, 61% were younger than 21 years old. The body felt as though it weighed considerably more than it looked. The Kb of pyridine, C5H5N, is 1.5 x 10-9. I never understood why they didnt put M60s on Medevacs (once the VC shot them down) but then, we now know they never intended to win that war in the first place. 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. Thank God I made it. When the Company B units that landed on the opposite side of the river got to the bank, some troops reached in and pulled the enemy from the water. Name the major nerves that serve the following body areas? Enemy fire greeted as us as soon as we landed near the village. Information presented by SFC (Ret) David Hack. When I was assigned to the M60 in advanced individual training, I decided that if I had to be a gunner I would learn everything there was to know about the weapon. Work Plz. If you have other information let me know. No combat assignments for another year of service in Vietnam or get out in about a month. He was not the type to hump a radio. Army Infantrymen (11B) are the main land combat force, and known as "Eleven Bravo.". 1 Gun and I survived our first firefight. After a couple of hours, the Viet Cong stopped shooting and melted back into the jungle. 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. The oldest man killed was 62 years old. Our Aussie Dust off choppers had door gunners, we worked on the theory if the Noggies would shot at Red Cross choppers, we would return fire, Aussie grunt, 60000 00 Aussies fought in Vietnam, Up the Old Red Rooster and more beer. No. If youre American (which you probably are), I could give a f***. It may not have worked for some other wars, but they were pretty helpful. US Wings provides aviation apparel to the U.S. Government and commercial customers along with the general public. Completa las oraciones con la forma correcta del presente de subjuntivo de los verbos entre parntesis.?

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