The following information was emailed to me and I found it posted on the Vietnam272nd.com website. Although I do not know the original author, it mentions that these statistics were taken from a variety of sources to include: The VFW Magazine, the Public Information Office, and the HQ CP Forward Observer – 1st Recon April 12, 1997.
When I was looking for the source, I came across a recent statistic on The American War Library’s site: As of February 28, 2019, there are approximately 610,000 surviving Vietnam veterans who served on land and in the air. There are also another 164,000 who served on the sea.
These facts put the war in perspective and dispel many myths. I’m posting them as an educational source since there are so many misunderstandings and misrepresentations regarding Vietnam, many falsely perpetrated to support an agenda. Time to clear up the confusion.
I published a historical narrative named RECALL last year that covers that controversial war and the aftermath. I hope you will take the time to read it.
Half of our population was not born in the sixties, many others have little or no recall. These facts, my blogs and novel will give you a good idea of why the Vietnam War divided our country politically back then and how we still suffer a national “PTSD” over the divisive nature of that war over fifty years later.
SOBERING STATISTICS FOR THE VIETNAM WAR – (Original source and date unknown)
“Of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam, Less than 850,000 are estimated to be alive today, with the youngest American Vietnam veteran’s age approximated to be 60 years old.“
So, if you’re alive and reading this, how does it feel to be among the last 1/3rd of all the U.S. Vets who served in Vietnam? I don’t know about you guys, but it kinda gives me the chills, Considering this is the kind of information I’m used to reading about WWII and Korean War vets…
So the last 14 years we are dying too fast, only the few will survive by 2025…if any.. If true, 390 VN vets die a day. So in 2190 days…from today, lucky to be a Vietnam veteran alive… in only 6-10 years…
These statistics were taken from a variety of sources to include: The VFW Magazine, the Public Information Office, and the HQ CP Forward Observer – 1st Recon April 12, 1997.
STATISTICS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN UNIFORM AND IN COUNTRY VIETNAM VETERANS:
9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam Era (August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975).
8,744,000 GIs were on active duty during the war (Aug 5, 1964-March 28, 1973).
2,709,918 Americans served in Vietnam, this number represents 9.7% of their generation.
3,403,100 (Including 514,300 offshore) personnel served in the broader Southeast Asia Theater (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, flight crews based in Thailand, and sailors in adjacent South China Sea waters).
2,594,000 personnel served within the borders of South Vietnam (Jan. 1, 1965 – March 28, 1973). Another 50,000 men served in Vietnam between 1960 and 1964.
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.
7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam.
Peak troop strength in Vietnam: 543,482 (April 30, 1968).
Agent Orange is taking a huge toll on Vietnam Veterans with most deaths somehow related to Agent Orange exposure. No one officially dies of Agent Orange, they die from the exposure which causes ischemic Heart Disease and failure, Lung Cancer, Kidney failure or COPD related disorders.
CASUALTIES:
The first man to die in Vietnam was James Davis, in 1958. He was with the 509th Radio Research Station. Davis Station in Saigon was named for him.
Hostile deaths: 47,378
Non-hostile deaths: 10,800
Total: 58,202 (Includes men formerly classified as MIA and Mayaguez casualties). Men who have subsequently died of wounds account for the changing total.
8 nurses died — 1 was KIA.
61% of the men killed were 21 or younger.
11,465 of those killed were younger than 20 years old.
Of those killed, 17,539 were married.
Average age of men killed: 23.1 years
Total Deaths: 23.11 years
Enlisted: 50,274; 22.37 years
Officers: 6,598; 28.43 years
Warrants: 1,276; 24.73 years
E1: 525; 20.34 years
Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old.
The oldest man killed was 62 years old.
Highest state death rate: West Virginia – 84.1% (national average 58.9% for every 100,000 males in 1970).
Wounded: 303,704 — 153,329 hospitalized + 150,375 injured requiring no hospital care.
Severely disabled: 75,000, — 23,214: 100% disabled; 5,283 lost limbs; 1,081 sustained multiple amputations.
Amputation or crippling wounds to the lower extremities were 300% higher than in WWII and 70% higher than Korea.
Multiple amputations occurred at the rate of 18.4% compared to 5.7% in WWII.
Missing in Action: 2,338
POWs: 766 (114 died in captivity)
As of January 15, 2014, there are 1,875 Americans still unaccounted for, from the Vietnam War.
DRAFTEES VS. VOLUNTEERS:
25% (648,500) of total forces in country were draftees. (66% of U.S. armed forces members were drafted during WWII).
Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of combat deaths in Vietnam.
Reservists killed: 5,977
National Guard: 6,140 served: 101 died.
Total draftees (1965 – 73): 1,728,344.
Actually served in Vietnam: 38% Marine Corps Draft: 42,633.
Last man drafted: June 30, 1973.
RACE AND ETHNIC BACKGROUND:
88.4% of the men who actually served in Vietnam were Caucasian; 10.6% (275,000) were black; 1% belonged to other races.
86.3% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasian (includes Hispanics);
12.5% (7,241) were black;
1.2% belonged to other races.
170,000 Hispanics served in Vietnam; 3,070 (5.2% of total) died there.
70% of enlisted men killed were of North-west European descent.
86.8% of the men who were killed as a result of hostile action were Caucasian; 12.1% (5,711) were black; 1.1% belonged to other races.
14.6% (1,530) of non-combat deaths were among blacks.
34% of blacks who enlisted volunteered for the combat arms.
Overall, blacks suffered 12.5% of the deaths in Vietnam at a time when the percentage of blacks of military age was 13.5% of the total population.
Religion of Dead: Protestant — 64.4%; Catholic — 28.9%; other/none — 6.7%
SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS:
Vietnam veterans have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet age groups.
Vietnam veterans’ personal income exceeds that of our non-veteran age group by more than 18 percent.
76% of the men sent to Vietnam were from lower middle/working class backgrounds.
Three-fourths had family incomes above the poverty level; 50% were from middle income backgrounds.
Some 23% of Vietnam vets had fathers with professional, managerial or technical occupations.
79% of the men who served in Vietnam had a high school education or better when they entered the military service.
67% of Korean War vets and only 45% of WWII vets had completed high school upon separation.
Deaths by region per 100,000 of population: South — 31%, West –29.9%; Midwest — 28.4%; Northeast — 23.5%.
DRUG USAGE & CRIME
There is no difference in drug usage between Vietnam Veterans and non-Vietnam Veterans of the same age group.
(Source: Veterans Administration Study)
Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison – only one-half of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes.
85% of Vietnam Veterans made successful transitions to civilian life.
WINNING & LOSING:
82% of veterans who saw heavy combat strongly believe the war was lost because of lack of political will.
Nearly 75% of the public agrees it was a failure of political will, not of arms.
HONORABLE SERVICE:
97% of Vietnam-era veterans were honorably discharged.
91% of actual Vietnam War veterans and 90% of those who saw heavy combat are proud to have served their country.
74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome.
87% of the public now holds Vietnam veterans in high esteem.
Mr. Lawson-
Thank you for sharing this interesting information. I was surprised to see that so few of us are still living.
You commented that the deaths of “most” Vietnam veterans are related to Agent Orange exposure. I would urge you to explore that further and let us know what you find. I follow several Vietnam veteran web sites on Facebook and it seems many veterans attribute every medical problem they have to AO regardless of whether there is any credible evidence to support it. As you probably know, most of Vietnam had no AO use and although the VA established a “presumptive” list of connected medical conditions, many veterans who are attributing all their health issues to AO, were probably not really exposed to the toxin. That damages the credibility of those who truly were exposed and are suffering from the consequences. Those of us who are still alive are old geezers with all the accompanying health issues that go with that status. Not all our problems are due to AO.
Respectfully yours,
Joe Andrews
A Co., 1/506 Abn Inf, 101st Abn Div, 69-70
Joe- Those statistics are not mine, but from the sources cited in the blog. I too was very surprised so few of us who served “in country” are still alive,
Regarding the agent agent orange (AO) “casualty” stats, I agree with you that they are greatly exaggerated. I researched the subject last year and posted a blog on the subject- The Vietnam War – The Agent Orange Controversy (Oct.17, 2018. )
If you read the blog, it will clear up any confusion. Basically there is only one statistically valid study re AO, The Ranch Hand study that casts doubt on the number of claims of AO disabilities. President Bush handled the problem pragmatically, by ordering the VA to honor the claims many of which were bogus.
I hope you take the time to read that blog and discuss it with your vet pals. If you have more time, please read my historical narrative about Vietnam and the aftermath, RECALL. My website has all the details. I think you will relate to the story.
Thank you for your thoughtful comments. – R Lawson
Served 1968 ,Army, as an infantry platoon Sgt, C.co/2/16 Ist. Inf. Div. Rangers. I have pictures of my men washing their fatigue pants, shirts and bush hats in a rain filled bomb crater. Why, because the day before we waited in a bush site while (5) C-143 sprayed an area that LRRP’s told us was a command size base camp for the NVA 273 Reg. near Ben Suc. The next morning we went in to see what effects were prevalent. Nothing but wilting leaves and dripping like rain Agent Orange. The last seven men to pass in our platoon was from Cancer of heart,lungs and prostrate.
If your MOS did not take you outside the wire your chances of coming in contact with Agent Orange were minimal. If you worked loading or spraying then your chances were really high. George Clonney narrated a piece on” thank them while they are still here”. He quoted that by 2015 the number of COMBAT veterans, 11B, Armor, Artillery, Choppers, would not be measurable, fractional at least. Only 1 in 14 men went outside the wire, about 8% so your numbers are close. I went back to Saigon in 2010 and visited the War Museum. The 3rd floor was dedicated to Agent Orange . Visit the War Museum Ho Chi Mien City.com, it will blow your mind.
Hello Mike – Thank you for your detailed comments. Factual accounts are difficult to come by as my blog on Agent Orange showed in Ranch Hand data. Please read the blog and let me know what you think since I’m still researching the controversial subject. Here is the link: http://rlawsonauthor.com/the-vietnam-war-the-agent-orange-controversy/
THANK YOU.
2,000,000 VIETNAM VETERANS DIED (MURDERED) BY AGENT ORANGE. NUMBER GROWS DAILY. WHEN WILL THE VETERAN COMMUNITY FACE-UP TO GENOCIDE? A WHOLE ARMY IS DESTROYED, WIPED OUT. and OH-WELL!