Of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam, fewer 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 are a Vietnam Veteran and reading this, how does it feel to be among the last one/third of all the U.S. Veterans who served there? I don’t know about you, my brothers, but it gives me the chills. This is the kind of information I’m used to reading about WWII and Korean Veterans.
In Vietnam, 2,709,918 Americans served. This number represents 9.7 percent of their generation.
1 to 1.6 million (40-60 percent) either fought in combat, provided close support or were at least regularly exposed to enemy attack..
In Vietnam, 7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5 percent were nurses) served. Eight nurses died, one was KIA.
Peak troop strength was 543,482 (April 30, 1968).
Agent Orange is taking a huge toll on Vietnam Veterans with most deaths currently somehow related to Agent Orange exposure. No one officially dies of Agent Orange, they die from one of the 15 presumptive diseases associated with this nasty chemical.
Hostile deaths were 47,378, non-hostile deaths 10,800. That number changes because some have died from wounds suffered while in country.
61 percent of the men killed were 21 or younger. The average age of men killed was 23.1 years.
88.4 percent of the men who actually served in Vietnam were Caucasian: 10.6 percent (275,000) were black; 1 percent belonged to other races.
86.8 percent of the men killed as a result of hostile action were Caucasian; 12.1 percent were blacks 1.1% belonged to other races.
82 percent of Veterans who saw heavy combat strongly believe the war was lost because of lack of political will. 75 percent of the public agrees that it was a failure of political will.
Over 90 percent of actual Vietnam Veterans are proud to have served their country and 74 percent would serve again even knowing the outcome.
Yes, I do consider myself one of the lucky ones. I struggled through some bad years with PTSD. My lovely, caring and understanding wife stood by me. In my declining years I want to make her happy and celebrate life every day.
