By:
·
Jim Alexander
- Posted: Mar 29, 2019 09:08
AM EDT
- Updated: Mar 29, 2019
09:08 AM EDT
(WEHT) - In March
2017, President Trump, signed into law the designation of celebrating every
March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
The U.S. Vietnam
War Commemoration honors all United States veterans who served on active duty
in the Armed Forces from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975.
The Department of
Veterans Affairs estimates that there are 6.4 million living Vietnam veterans
and 9 million families of those who served during 1955 - 1975.
This national
commemoration was authorized by Congress, established under the Secretary of
Defense, and launched by the President to thank and honor our Nation’s Vietnam
veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice.
Congress outlined
a total of five objectives for this Vietnam War Commemoration:
- To thank and honor Vietnam
veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice on behalf of
the Nation.
- Highlight the service of our
Armed Forces and support organizations during the war
- Pay tribute to wartime
contributions at home by American citizens
- Highlight technology, science
and medical advances made during the war
- Recognize contributions by U.S.
Allies
By Presidential
Proclamation, The Vietnam War Commemoration will continue through Veterans Day,
November 11, 2025.
There are six
other military-centric national observances:
- Armed Forces Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- National Korean War Veterans
Armistice Day
- Navy Day
- Veterans Day
For more
information on National Vietnam War Veterans Day, click here.
THIS
IS GREAT INFORMATION!
I got this from my friend and
sometimes golf partner, Roger Erickson, a Marine F4 Photo Reconnaissance Pilot
in Viet Nam. He flew 125 Missions, and was awarded the Silver Star. He told me
that in over 50% of his missions, he returned with AA and small arms damage.
Most people think that photo reconnaissance in VN was safe and easy. Taking
photos from a safe altitude. Not true. Roger says he always had to make
multiple passes, low and slow for an F4. His cameras would not even engage
above 300 knots.
This has been around but is still
interesting!
Very interesting stats taken from
many different references...
I was amazed.....Staggering as you
read them....
If you know of anyone who might be
interested please share with them....
Semper Fidelis
Subject: SOBERING
STATISTICS FOR THE VIETNAM WAR
SOBERING
STATISTICS FOR THE VIETNAM WAR*
"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.
--
Al Sjurseth
Have a great day!
Blessed are they that put their trust in God.
Psalm 2:12
“Lest We Ever Forget”
cji
3/29/19
Oft used words of value
how many lost or killed
politicians at play
again
trading lives for lucre
men/women girls/boys
shadows no longer cast
a war a UN action what
meaningless lies told
over and over again
yet we served we served
sadly we served
and we most all
would again!
Copyright ©
2019 – cji
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