It weighed 24 pounds, was 43.5 inches long and had bipod legs that folded down to stabilize the weapon when firing from a prone position. (LogOut/ Artillery, and ground forces. We gathered the casualties and set out for Company A. How Many Vietnam Veterans Are Still Alive In 2022? - CLJ At this time- senior Army leadership ordered us all to read the Geneva Convention to our troops because of the My Lai debachle. If you have other information let me know. Over the next two months, we exchanged fire with groups of the NVA. 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. Had multiple Ks and Ws. The United States sought to minimize and prevent attacks on civilians while North Vietnam made attacks on civilians a centerpiece of its strategy. Lowering my gun, I turned around and noticed two VC sitting in the doorway of the hut, staring at me. By this census, FOUR OUT OF FIVE WHO CLAIM TO BE VIETNAM VETS ARE NOT. Most of us have memories of these kind of experiences. Es ridculo que t ______ (tener) un resfriado en verano. Over 600 Navy FMF Hospital Corpsmen were killed in Vietnam. Ambulances are not supposed to be armed (either) though in training, medics are told they and their vehicles will be a prime target. 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. Carried the prc25 for about 7 months. He said when they were ambushed they took defensive positions, returned fire, called for assistance when needed, and retreated when necessary. In 1973, Renza opened his own salon in Peekskill. 79% had a high school education or better. means: 1 gets killed the 1st second, another one after 9 seconds avg. Two points: 1) at least in Army units, Medevacs (dust offs) flew unarmed aircraft. Just to show that its hard to get an accurate number, note my typo of 56,220. Enter the the Ksp expression forC2D3 in terms of the molar solubility x.? Sgt. I was told to show the new guy how to use it properly. An infantry platoon commander in combat had an average of 6 weeks life expectancy. More importantly, Grandstaff was very gung-ho. Anxiously extending the bipod legs on the M60, I added a 100-round belt to the one I already had in the gun. 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. Thats what I figured but didnt know for sure. Was No. 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. July 68 to July 69. First Sgt. Interesting reading. The average time lapse between wounding to hospitalization was less than one hour. But it was my jobso I tried not to think about it much. I want to know what the life expectancy of a us infantry army soldier is. Posterior Thigh _____ 4. 2: role (MOS?). 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. Interesting, I carried a Prick 25, for 2 months. No. By the time we reached Vietnam in October 1966 I felt the gun had become a part of me. 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. How old are Vietnam vets now? I am 81 now and survived the encounter by terminated the sniper. Nevertheless, I swung No. Thats why they called us GRUNTS ! The blasts from the AMMO, really lit up the whole area. I couldnt see DeLong and didnt know if No. On Sun, Mar 8, 2020 at 4:00 PM CherriesWriter Vietnam War website wrote: > pdoggbiker posted: A friend recently sent me the link to an article > claiming that the life expectancy of a radio operator in the Vietnam War > was only 5 seconds. They were located, next to us, in/on Long Bhin Post. I was an Artillery Forward Observer 13F20 E-5 at that time. I think those numbers are percentages of US KIA, not mortality times. All of the next day, we could see SMOKE from the fire caused by the explosions of the AMMO at, the AMMO DUMP. Lived too tell about it. 1,713,823 of those who served in Vietnam were still alive as of August, 1995 (census figures). 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 Bronze Star was awarded to ALL that were awarded the CIB in WWII because the Infantry accounted for over 70% of the casualties in WWLL BUT NOT 70% )F ALL THE INFANTRY !!! 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. Vietnam War the helicopters that came in to transport soldiers were the hardest hit with mass casualties . Fact: The American military was not defeated in Vietnam. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. 58,148 were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.7 million who served. "The Rangers pulled themselves over the top," President Ronald Reagan said of the men, in 1984. And yes, please God, bless America. where can i find red bird vienna sausage? is sharing facts, thats truly good, keep up writing. 1 Gun. 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. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in battle on - Quora 11 c mos , meaning I was also cross trained for mortars . What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of A Vietnam Veteran? Expenditures for a body in a combat zone? Good article. Each company had eight M60s. Point, slack and compass. Ambushed on October 4th,1967. Originally I went to the 543d TC. I met a Marine a few years ago who was stationed North of Da Nang. It began just as, it was getting dark. There were usually 3 man (At least 2) point teams. Sorry,I was one of your Brothers in Arms that helped talk you out of enlisting for another year in Vietnam. Sholly finally agreed and stated that the next time we received replacements I could give one of them my M60. He was with the 509th Radio Research Station. Its not all written down. There were two different groups that flew aeromedical evacuations. I was to have that experience two more times before it was over. I worried about that kind of leadership style in the highlands. 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. He was wounded and suffered permanent disability shortly before his tour was up. Very Good , I was a radio operator up in I corps in 68 & to me the worst thing was the walking . Both my tours were in the Delta (IV Corps) where the only ground troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS. I personally carried 300 rounds of ammo at all times, one belt in the gun and two across my chest. Soon I could take the gun apart and put it back together in the dark. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam? The NVA had wedged a blocking force between our company and Company A, preventing us from advancing any farther. Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division. (many of the Soviet casualties were POWs, though). The Bn & Company I was assigned to, was on the last row of Bldgs. The casualty rate in the current war today is a fraction. Our home base was Quang Tri fire Base, But I spent about 6 months out at Mai Loc with the rig. Thank You General Vessey for the almost 53 years I have lived since that day. 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 . 1 Gun and I survived our first firefight. Thanks for posting! Veteran Owned Since 1986. Soldiers from 2nd Platoon, Company C, 87th Infantry Regiment, walk on patrol north of the Long . (Getty Images) Most war stories are about soldiers and battles. We did interdictions, blocks and other fun things on the river. 1 Gun before my luck ran out. Was the 7th Infantry in Vietnam? - 2023 It was a daily challenge to know who your real enemy was. Radiomen in the Vietnam War faced a 5-second life expectancy Amen I was a machine gunner for 7 months 503rd infantry 173rd airborne and you hit the nail right on the head. 3 Answers C5H5N in water > C5H5NH+ & OH- Kb = [C5H5NH+] [OH-] / [C5H5N] 1.5e-9 = [x] 1. Hack volunteered for service in Vietnam in 1968, joining the 1st Infantry Division. Ever since that fateful day in 1967, I have often wondered what became of my beloved M60. February 5 th, 1967, Galiano was headed to Saigon, Vietnam with 90 fellow Americans on an Air Force c-131, but orders were quickly altered . 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. We soon learned that the NVA troops were very different from the local guerrillas we had fought around Tuy Hoa. Staying alive was kinda of important. Comments were more interesting than the article it self. It was a chaotic nightmare. In January 1967, the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, was airlifted to Pleiku province in the Central Highlands. Some of my men didnt. They kept coming up the hill bringing more bodies to me until all seven had been found. They were great patriots fighting for their families and their homeland. In your rucksack . If youre a foreigner, I respect what you think, but make sure you read ALL your facts, and dont come to rash conclusion until you know everything from BOTH sides. If the NVA shot at the group retrieving the bodies, I was to fire over the heads of the grunts and engage the enemy. I too never understood survivor quilt, Enjoyed your article. 0 The first six or seven months I walked point for our platoon and led many ambushes and green eye patrols. Thank God I made it. Event date is used instead of declared dead date for some of those who were listed as missing in action). As I made my way to the river, I saw a VC guerrilla jump into the water on the other side. 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. Well he didnt make it. 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. Soldiers also act in the mobilization of vehicles, weaponry, troops, and more. estimated education differentials in life expectancy for Veterans in 2011-14 are close to those of U. S. population in 1979-89. We were all in our Bunkers, and at the ready with our weapons. Company B had seven dead, Grandstaff announced, and I was to take No. As a result, less than one percent of all Americans wounded, who survived the first 24 hours, died. meaning what is the chance of me getting killed in combat. Before he was drafted Renza had worked as a hairdresser for women in his hometown of Peekskill, New York. Sept 69 to Sept 70. It doesnt make any sense statistically/mathematically it is impossible. 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 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. 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. As it was, less than 40 did not need evacuation. I will always think/say, we had absolutely no reason for being in that place. It had a crew of 4 (forward gunner, the coxswain (steering and driving) and the two aft gunners. aND, mAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! The death squads focused on leaders at the village level and on anyone who improved the lives of the peasants such as medical personnel, social workers, and school teachers. John Doever Every single . Bloody May 1968 Mini TET. One was holding a carbine. Not much different than his unit. Flipping the safety off, I scanned the jungle in front of me. I was a helicopter pilot These records were transferred into the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration in 2008. 1 Gun onto a small hill and provide security while others retrieved them. What was the life expectency of a private soldier in vietnam? Nobody attacked, where we were. maybe your question i vauge. On the morning of March 22, 1967, companies A and B of my battalion began a search-and-destroy operation along the Cambodian border. endstream endobj startxref Now, to calmly answer your question, air strikes have actually been an efficient technique used by us for years now. Sholly injured an ankle, and 1st Lt. Cary Allen took command of Company B. How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? There is no difference in drug usage between Vietnam Veterans and non-Vietnam Veterans of the same age group (Source: Veterans Administration Study). The man listed as missing was machine gunner Joe DeLong, captured along with No. I watched in horror as four NVA soldiers ambled through the branches of a downed tree that partially concealed us. I had to rely on my gun more than before. How could we lose a war we had already stopped fighting? Fighters and planes dont make up the Army, thats the Air Force. He retired in 2012 and lives in Delray Beach, Florida. Nicknamed "the pig" due to its size, weight and sound, the gun struck fear into enemy troops. The earliest casualty record contains a date of death of . C Co, 1st-12th 66-67. 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. (tirotactico.net). Suddenly I realized that my platoon sergeant was screaming at me to stop firing. In my tour everyone had the same chance of getting shot. 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. Point was the safest place to be,they knew to wait for key elements, RTO, Medica, M60 Gunners. Which soldier had the shortest life-expectancy? - Quora The machine gun was also mounted in the UH-1 Huey helicopter and other Army aircraft. That was a hell of a responsibility to take on. Company A searched in vain for the platoon in the dark and finally found the shattered unit on the morning of May 19. Great information. I quit trying to make sense of all the numbers that have been generated about Vietnam. We used to provide cover for these guys. Ron. We took fire all the time and responded. During this Census count, the number of Americans falsely claiming to have served in-country is: 13,853,027. What was the life expectancy of a point man in Vietnam? They were a great bunch. From Cam Rahn, we kept flying north to, a Landing Zone near QUANG TRI. Really no mention of the regular rifleman. 23,24 This study found that the death rate for Vietnam veterans was 1.3 times that for non-Vietnam veterans; however, the excess deaths were limited to Engineer Corps members (RR, 2.5). In a strange country scared shitless .I was a minesweeper.My first time out on a mission they put me on the drag line fifty yards from the road which was route 1, Then all hell broke lose 67-67 11B 4th Id. I always found life expectancy numbers interesting in that I could never find any supporting information that could be validated. 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. never happened,we lost two sweep team members and some Tumbling end over end, the canisters exploded in a white-hot fireball. Approximately 70% of those killed in Vietnam were volunteers. Learned a lot from him. Thank You Roger!!! The answer that we have always been given is that 1 year in the Infantry is equivalent to 3 years of hard labor. Found NVA bunker complex. The average life expectancy of a front-line soldier in eastern Ukraine is four hours, a Marine said. I picked up my M60 and walked to the center of the perimeter, where I found the company commander, Capt. 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%. Sure, its softer than it was before, but the training they go through is intense, something a loser who spends his time on the computer all day attacking people he doesnt know anything about and all the facts CANNOT do. I was a medic on one for two yrs and the only weapon I was issue was a six-shot .38. 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). If you would like to get a copy, and cant find it, let me know, and I will make sure you get one. Ha Ha always enjoyed being a volunteer! At that time, an infantry company consisted of about 150 men. I was on a radar crew and we were told that, during war time, we would most likely be killed within minutes. then youd carry an extra 200 rounds of M60 ammo for the machine gunner , plus drag grenades , one smoke grenade plus etc. Im laying behind a rice paddie dike.I put my whole body as far down in the muck while the bullets were over my head. Remember he wanted to reenlist for one more year in Vietnam. A typical Patrol Boat River (PBR) was about 31 feet long and had twin 50s forward an M 60 midships and a 50 aft. 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. We do have infantry (why do you think we have that MOS? Welcome home brothers and sisters. As far as I knew that was done in the whole battalion in 1968 . Soldier,this is a wardont forget that, and anytime we are in a fight we will be toughest SOBs in the fight!! I also earned a Combat Infantryman Badge, signifying that I had been actively engaged in combat. We then took all Trucks and equipment to the Port Of Saigon. Some Brothers said why spend another year in this hellhole???? Required fields are marked *. Units would send a thorough report of their KIA and WIA, battle action coordinates, estimated enemy troop strength, enemy unit KIA/captured and any known direction heading. endstream endobj 4315 0 obj <>/Metadata 89 0 R/Pages 4312 0 R/StructTreeRoot 120 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 4316 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 4312 0 R/Resources<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 4317 0 obj <>stream Contents 1 Unclear objectives 2 North Vietnamese strategy Enemy fire greeted as us as soon as we landed near the village. happened. LUCK pure LUCK. The Kb of pyridine, C5H5N, is 1.5 x 10-9. We were about 700 yards east of Company A when it was ambushed by an NVA battalion. A battery of big 155 mm howitzers blasted the tiny platoon perimeter, tearing trees out of the ground and hurling chunks of red-hot shell splinters through the air. It was an HONOR and a privilege to serve with these brave men for my 11 month tour. Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division. From a military standpoint, it was almost an unprecedented performance.
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