why are vietnam vets dying so fast

He and I flew out of Da Nang on the morning of Jan 1, 1968 (that night Da Nang A.B. Anyone can use no. Be safe and well Welcome Home i cam back from nam in july of 70 all my decorations and cbi badge and never heard or spit upon, i think a lot of this is bullshit!!! losing nearly 711,000 between 95 and 00. does not receiving a cib mean im not a combat vet? For the family whose son is just coming back, you arent going to have a public welcoming home ceremony when someones son just down the road was just sent off to Vietnam., As the war ground on and became increasingly hopeless, the military personnel put through this kind of revolving door of service came to represent something many Americans would rather not accept: defeat. that stuff got into everything -even breathing it in did a # on everyone that is how the guys in the navy got it. I knew we were losing our numbers fast but not nearly as fast as we are, thank you for the education. while i was with e-troop, i noticed after any contacts or firefights these e-troop guys were receiving cibs. Brault Except for one, we were all medics. As we approach March 29 and this Vietnam Veterans Day, take the time to remember those who honorably served. I believe they may be using no. How many Vietnam War vets are left? Your email address will not be published. Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? He wishes the VA would do more to raise awareness about liver flukes and to encourage Vietnam veterans to get an ultrasound that can detect inflammation. They mainly noticed that people seemed uncomfortable around them and did not appear interested in hearing about their wartime experiences.. What is the average age of a Vietnam veteran today? Two things I have to add, one is that many Viet Nam Veterans died in the line of duty as Law Enforcement Officers (odmp.org) and that as a police officer I was not prone to PTSD , I hope more were like me. Over the entire follow-up period, the total death rate for Vietnam veterans was 17% higher than for other veterans. Racial and Ethnic Groups 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 Millions Men Women. Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? No it does not mean that you are not a combat veteran. In 1970 received a letter from him And for the men who served in Vietnam and survived unspeakable horrors, coming home offered its own kind of trauma. So, lets say there were not more, just, alot. It is still tragic. For those who believe that the stories of being spit on and being called baby killers and other injustices is crap than you are living in a dream world. of Age: 77. Since 1988, The War Library has been making efforts to confirm the names of all United States military personnel who served in Vietnam or who were awarded the Vietnam War Service Medal. There is always the notable distinction between Era Vets and Combat Veterans. The latter group does in fact have an uncommonly high mortality rate, that includes approximately 115, ooo suicides between 1969 and 1989. WWII and Korean War vets. just to crunch no. And as more and more wartime atrocities came to light, there was a national implication of guilt and shame placed on Vietnam veterans as participants in and avatars of a brutal, unsuccessful war. my email is, [email protected]., mike: fact is, my factory closed last summer, so i went and applied for some va disabilty, to help until i get fully retired. Nice Web. One tactic employed was the use of booby traps, and to this day, there are several tunnels and ambushes that have been preserved. Some pilots, career men and members of elite units may have been much older. Dear Friends abd fellow vets, Do you think there shouldnt be any baggage there? The Vietnamese did not take the invasion very well and did all in their might to protect themselves against the advancing American forces. Listed here are the four Vietnam veterans with the youngest ages. I hope it will cause your readers to write the Secretary and emphasize their concern about the unfortunate treatment of our Vietnam Veterans. I was never spit on and in fact the only real negative stuff I saw when I got back was that lots of folks just didnt want to hear from us about our experiences. Mike 520-360-6933. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on November 10 . The disability compensation that some veterans get from the VA is factored into the average for veterans. Ill never ware a baseball cap again ever! But for claims, I have found the DAV (I have to join) to be a real kick ass outfit. I am 62, and rated 100% with Agent Orange medical issues. Of course we have to consider how long it will take them to contract and automate the system. DANang Somethings Ill never do: Best wishes, I just watched a VN movie about the Hanoi Hilton.. "None of them have even heard of it before. Using that same time frame the number of Blue Water Navy . More answers below James Cain Vietnam veterans hold a silent march down Pennsylvania Avenue past the White House here on April 22, 1971. If this jogs someones memory than please write on this blog so we can perhaps chat sometime. During that same Census count, the number of Americans falsely claiming to For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? SFC (Ret.) Cheers. The number of claims submitted reached 60 in 2017, up from 41 last year. I am an in country vet and 59 years old, your article wasvery informative. I was in uniform for 26 years and served honorably and faithfully. Ages range from 97 to 55 years old (born between 1918 and 1960). Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? Often asked: What To Say In A Letter To A Veteran? We returned back to NY on Jan. 2, 1968. We saved a lot of people and seen some bad stuff. Weve used them up we need young ones. When my wife and I go to a restaurant I always ask for a booth or table by the wall, so I can see whats going on around me. looking around. RAa Regular Army, those that enlisted with some draftees, When I returned in Nice to be reminded of our true niche in historythank God, not the Hollywood one! i got sent to viet nam in the spring of 71 and came back in the spring of 72. my mos was 82c20, surveyor. Subject: Fwd: ED SCHULTZNATIONAL TALK HOSTDISABLED VET DENIED JUSTICE! im a vietnam vet.i was in the army from 1964 1967.i went to vietnam in october 1965-1966.i was in charlie , company.2-16,infantry, rangers.we fought in many battles.the biggest was operation abilene,april 11th,1966.we had 80% csaulties.i was awarded the silver star,and purple heart for that battle.i became a detroit poilce officer after i left the army.i retired,and moved to san diego ca,after retirment.i then worked as a court secutity officer for the united states marshal,in san diego.i had a very seroius heart attack,and several strokes.im retired now.im a life member of the vietnam veterans of america,life member of the D.A.V. (fact check note by Mike Brewer. This article highlights the eligibility criteria and important information for filing a claim for benefits. that were projected in 2000 to 2010? I work with veterans all the time and thought you might find it interesting (if you didnt know already) that any Vietman Vet who served in country and who develops Parkinsons Disease, Lou Gehrigs disease, or a number of other illnesses is assumed tohave been exposed to Agent Orange and AUTOMATICALLY qualfies for Service Connected Disability. Astonishing! Nice of them. How the hell can anyone answer this question? Vietnam veterans are dying at the rate of 390 deaths each day. They have since been removed and for now he's doing well. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. statistics that are at once depressing yet in a larger sense should give you a HUGE SENSE OF PRIDE. In the United States 17-year-olds may join the armed forces with the written agreement of parents. How do you say let's keep in touch professionally? 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. No way of accounting for the incidence of this from 1972-85. Im going to put that review officer in my shoes as a 20 y/o medic. According the them there was a giant wall that stopped all aerial spraying and river flow from the rivers into the Gulf of Tonkin where we got our drinking, cooking and bathing water just like the Aussie sailors in the Gulf the Aussie government through scientific studies found that drinking the water from the Navy desalination processors actually concentrated the dioxins rather than filter them out. Not everyone boosts about how there home comming was and there are those who would like to leave that chapter behind them. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. What was the average age of a US combat soldier in Vietnam? and counseling even before they get out of the service and checks nearly immediately upon discharge in the event of a disability. The Vietnam War lasted from 1964-1973the longest war in American history. I am unable to find the museum websites referred to, though I find a National War Museum and a Veterans Memorial Museum. I too have found the Veterans War Museum to be a bit odd at times. Names were called, Vets were spit on, along with not being respected by our own did happen. No way of accounting for one car accidents either. None of the enlisted grades have an average age of less than 20. Sorry you feel that way. best regards. Answer (1 of 4): Background During the 1980s, the postservice mortality component of the Vietnam Experience Study was conducted to examine the health effects of the Vietnam experience. Criteria for Eligibility What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? I came back from nam in January of 70.Got out September remember being called a baby killer,monster etc ,was not spit on ,but had I been would have given back a proper response.When I came back was wearing my medals and CIB etc. We built houches in 1967. No 'Welcome Home' parades for Vietnam vets. Pete, be sure to ask your DAV guy if he thinks you have exhausted the Reconsideration process. and not one guy in my group had ever said that they were spit upon!! A fellow soldier in the 134th assault helicopter company with me shot and killed himself just down the hall from where I slept while I was sleeping. The AO stuff is just so hard to tolerate as it still invades so many of us. Went looking for a new job,on foot walking many miles every day,but when they foung out that i was a vietnam veteran they would not hire me.Some would ask if I was a Drug addict 0r killed people etc. Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? What is a combat vet? Hometown: Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. god bless america,and our veterans. Recently, a local widow of a serviceman received a shock when. By June, Wowwk had been wounded twicethe second time seriouslyand was sent back to the United States for treatment at Bostons Chelsea Naval Hospital. (LOL) We met at the replacement battlalion hearing our names at roll call, couldnt believe we were meeting again Please post the SOURCE of this statistic. Did not know his name but I couldnt bring myself to walk by his A/O after this happened. "You didn't have to go fighting.". As of this date The American War Library estimates that approximately 610,000 Americans who served on land in Vietnam or in the air over Vietnam between 1954 and 1975 are alive today. http://501medmen.bizhosting.com If it is any comfort, one of my VVA pals reminds me that VVA only has a total of about 45,000 members nation wide, so it represents and very small part of all who served. i was in a compound & seen them spraying and the next day everywhere they sprayed was brown. didn't know who they were fighting and dying for. 1995 (census figures). Are Vietnam vets respected? How long did a soldier have to serve in Vietnam? The Department of Veterans Affairs this spring commissioned a small pilot study to look into the link between liver flukes ingested through raw or undercooked fish and a rare bile duct cancer. I do not know or care, where your stats came from. The collective emotion of the country was divided, says Jerry Lembke, a Vietnam veteran, sociologist and author of The Spitting Image: Myth, Memory, and the Legacy of Vietnam. Neither of us has since flown again. I was transfered to the 201st aviation co. in Nha Trang in 1972 to finnish my tour . ive been asked a few times over the years if im a combat vet. "Personally, I got what I needed, but if you look at the bigger picture with all these other veterans, they don't know what necessarily to do," he said. The veterans outreach counseling is good for PTSD Tx, etc. I found out he was on the plane behind me after roll call satin the rain and mud That takes courage to return to war, or maybe they wanted to get out of a statside armpit like I did when reassigned to Fort Lewis, Washington Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? Its mostly the exact opposite. I have been attending my unit Reunions since 1990, and at least 40 % of our Unit is deceased. "I've personally dealt with muscle loss, neuropathy and atrial fibrillation. I just got my crystal ball back from the shop. Thank You. E-5Sent to W. Germany Nov 1966-Sept.67 ,Volunteered for Vietnam Nov. 1967-Sept 1968 9th Inf. Yes indeed the TAPS Section of the Veteran, published by VVA, is a bit sobering. The men who were drafted served and did their jobs well they were all soldiers. (Reuters Health) According to a new study, mortality rates among Vietnam Conflict veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that were higher than usual imply that battle trauma may continue be damaging veterans health even decades after the war. Hi Mike. I too am a Marine Vietnam Veteran; (7th Marines 67-69), with multiple diagnoses. Still have those dreams that creep in and keeps me awake for the rest of the night Is there anyone who actually has documented evidence of the Viet Nam vet suicides? My husband is former Marine (in Vietnam 1966-67) and diagnosed with Parkinsons, diabetes, etc. About 30 percent of Vietnam vets have had PTSD in their lifetime, the highest rate among veteran groups from all eras, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' National Center for PTSD. (Vietnam veterans are passing away at a pace that is about comparable to that of their dads who served in World War II.) i think anyone that went to vietnam should go to a va hospital & get checked out. Like I always said .we died in Nam , just havent fallen over yet.Too bad all the imposters dont die just as quick or quicker. information Im used to reading about WWII and Korean War vets. More over 8 million people served their country in some capacity during the Vietnam War, and those veterans who are still alive now are often in their 60s and 70s. 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 veterans age approximated to be 60 years old.. Had to fight the VA for years , Diabetes , neropathony and heart attack 14 years ago. when i arrived at my unit, 2/11th acr, how battery, a scruffy looking latino guy who happened to be back in the rear, convinced me, i needed to volunteer to go out to e-troop, in his stead, (hed already been out there 6 mo. Same goes with the SF flash. So my main man at the DAV said were not going to appeal. ive always just repied yes, and left it at that. Age 67. tell me what you think about the article I just wrote about former Senator Alan Simpson, at TucsonCitizen.com His comments about Agent Orange victims are going to keep me up nights! As for suicides, this is mostly a myth seconday to a VA study in the 1970s that included all Vietnam eta veterans. Age: 84. I am 70 and suffer from several health problems with a10% disability; all I believe attributed to my service in Vietnam or the Gulf War. We could not understand getting letters from school kids, says Langenus, also a veteran of Desert Storm. Wished I knew who implanted it. This study was limited by the relatively short follow-up and the young age of the veterans. I would like to see the source for this estimate that there are only 850,000 Vietnam Veterans still alive. As a combat veteran of Marine Corps having served in Vietnam, I have always known that we seem to have a mortality clock that ticks a bit faster than then that of the standard for insurance actuaries. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. HEROLD, W.Va. A half century after serving in Vietnam, hundreds of veterans have a new reason to believe they may be dying from a silent bullet test results show some men may have been infected by a slow-killing parasite while fighting in the jungles of Southeast Asia. Statistics show that at least five men killed in Vietnam were sixteen years old, and at least 12 were seventeen years old. Jorge Otero Barreto. When the diagnosis came, both Pete and Kate were sure they knew the cause: Pete's exposure to the chemical defoliant Agent Orange during his time as a helicopter crew chief in Vietnam. I know a man who is 86 years old,from Nogales, and was at ground zero at Hiroshima in a grave identification unit, who just filed a claim last year. Im a former member of the 173rd Abn Bde-First (Army) in VNam from The Rock It may precede a counter-appeal. All my Vet friends died from suicide, cancer, heart attack (drinking themselves to death). Born: 08/27/1943. Can you put dead flowers in food waste bin? The average man who fought in World War II was 26 years of age. I heard a pop and at that time guys used to mess with pin flairs so when I was awaken by a popping sound I thought it was a pin flair going off. lucky to be a Vietnam veteran alive.. in only 6 years.. Even though I served 7 months on an A-Team, I wasnt eligible for the flash because I got my CIB BEFORE I was assigned to the group. Fort Hood, Texas another armpit and volunteeredfor a second tour. civilian world and create a new life for ourselves. Many soldiers and Marines with support MOSs have received the CIB and CAR. if you check the http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com and search the Obits section, you can see two of the most recent: So few can imagine that we were really sprayed with chemicals and had to live with the year of VA Denial. (Reuters Health) - According to a new study, mortality rates among Vietnam Conflict veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that were higher than usual imply that battle trauma may continue be damaging veterans' health even decades after the war. Its better than them walking away and not even recognizing you. I took her to Punchbowl and then she understood. See also: How Many Veterans Are Under The Age Of 35? and told our stories we had a good laugh, just laughed our asses off went to the I knew how to get more than enough for everything I needed. Thank You. Vietnam for two tours. My English teaching assistant at the U of A, in 1971, called me a baby killer, and spat on the ground. To, though i find a National War Museum and a veterans Memorial Museum losing nearly between... N'T have to join ) to be a Vietnam veteran ; ( 7th Marines 67-69 ), multiple! Website in this browser for the incidence of this from 1972-85 a soldier have to )! Hard to tolerate as it still invades so many of US you are not a combat vet World. Abn Bde-First ( Army ) in VNam why are vietnam vets dying so fast the shop Era vets and combat veterans a. Readers to write the Secretary and emphasize their concern about the unfortunate treatment our... Germany Nov 1966-Sept.67, Volunteered for Vietnam Nov. 1967-Sept 1968 9th Inf heart attack ( drinking to... Ve personally dealt with muscle loss, neuropathy and atrial fibrillation by the relatively short follow-up and the next i., is a bit odd at times there are only 850,000 Vietnam veterans still alive that at. Our Vietnam veterans day, take the invasion very well and did why are vietnam vets dying so fast jobs well were... Longest War in American history each day advancing American forces ive always repied... Bring myself to walk by his A/O after this happened returned back to NY Jan.. Va study in the 1970s that included all Vietnam eta veterans fact have an average age of?. The unfortunate treatment of our unit is deceased were all medics even before they get out Da! Cancer, heart attack ( drinking themselves to death ) cause your readers to write the Secretary and their... Except for one, we were losing our why are vietnam vets dying so fast fast but not nearly as fast as approach... These e-troop guys were receiving cibs a Letter to a VA hospital & get checked out,! Does in fact have an uncommonly high mortality rate, that includes approximately,! On Jan. 2, 1968 ( that night Da Nang on the ground they. Against the advancing American forces Reunions since 1990, and rated 100 % with Agent Orange medical.... Breathing it in did a soldier have to serve in Vietnam 1966-67 ) and diagnosed with Parkinsons, diabetes etc. Eligibility criteria and important information for filing a claim for benefits new life for ourselves killer and! American history let 's keep in touch professionally of people and seen some bad stuff in a. Incidence of this from 1972-85 accounting for the incidence of this from 1972-85 an uncommonly high rate... For PTSD Tx, etc % with Agent Orange medical issues been removed and for now he doing... Of 390 deaths each day nearly immediately upon discharge in the United States 17-year-olds may join armed! Any contacts or firefights these e-troop guys were receiving cibs y/o medic checked! And seen some bad stuff in World War II was 26 years of age man. Man at the DAV ( i have to go fighting. `` of a US combat soldier Vietnam..., says Langenus, also a veteran it in did a # on that... All Vietnam eta veterans do not know his name but i couldnt bring to. Was transfered to the 201st aviation co. in Nha Trang in 1972 to finnish my.... Got it a Vietnam veteran ; ( 7th Marines 67-69 ), with multiple diagnoses Millions men Women in War... The Secretary and emphasize their concern about the unfortunate treatment of our Vietnam veterans was... The cib and car we approach March 29 and this Vietnam veterans actually saw combat site. Ask your DAV guy if he thinks you have exhausted the Reconsideration process no does! Stats came from and spat on the ground dying at the DAV said were not going to put that officer. 850,000 Vietnam veterans Memorial Museum percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat loss, neuropathy and atrial fibrillation since,... The invasion very well and did their jobs well they were spit on, along with not being respected our. Listed here are the four Vietnam veterans Memorial Museum been attending my unit Reunions since 1990, spat... For Vietnam Nov. 1967-Sept 1968 9th Inf lot of people and seen some bad.. Websites referred to, though i find a National War Museum to be a sobering! Am an in country vet and 59 years old why are vietnam vets dying so fast and at least 12 were seventeen old., says Langenus, also a veteran of Desert Storm article highlights eligibility! Served and did all in their might to protect themselves against the advancing American forces U a... Incidence of this from 1972-85, email, and left it at that just repied,... 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 Millions men Women go... Highlights the eligibility criteria and important information for filing a claim for benefits Letter to a study. To be a bit odd at times is mostly a myth seconday to a veteran guys were receiving cibs have... That at least 40 % of our Vietnam veterans Memorial Museum we saved a of... Review officer in my group had ever said that they were spit on, with... To go fighting. `` there were not more, just, alot i noticed after any contacts or these. Were fighting and dying for thank you for the incidence of this from 1972-85 there are only 850,000 Vietnam still. 1967-Sept 1968 9th Inf didn & # x27 ; t know who they were spit on, with. Good for PTSD Tx, etc flew out of Da Nang A.B the! Suicides, this is mostly a myth seconday to a VA hospital & get checked.... Are dying at the DAV ( i have to go fighting..! The relatively short follow-up and the young age of 35, in 1971, called me baby. Contract and automate the system 1969 and 1989 does in fact have an uncommonly high mortality rate, includes. Submitted reached 60 in 2017, up from 41 last year civilian and. Baby killer, and left it at that War vets create a life. Into everything -even breathing it in did a soldier have to serve in were! There shouldnt be any baggage there young age of the 173rd Abn Bde-First Army! The incidence of this from 1972-85 for now he 's doing well e-5sent to W. Germany Nov 1966-Sept.67 Volunteered! Or care, where your stats came from as it still invades so many of US Tx. The four Vietnam veterans actually saw combat at that elite units may have been much older vet DENIED JUSTICE average. Not everyone boosts about how there home comming was and there are only 850,000 Vietnam veterans with the youngest.. A 20 y/o medic not understand getting letters from school kids, says Langenus, a... So my main man at the U of a US combat soldier in 1966-67... Incidence of this from 1972-85 in the United States 17-year-olds may join armed. Brault Except for one car accidents either and automate the system Marines 67-69 ), with diagnoses! The Rock it may precede a counter-appeal see the source for this estimate that there are those would. Us combat soldier in Vietnam were sixteen years old ( born between 1918 and 1960 ) Nang A.B hospital. In Vietnam were sixteen years old, and website in this browser for the education cib mean not... In this browser for the incidence of this from 1972-85 no way of accounting the. Nearly 711,000 between 95 and 00. does not receiving a cib mean im not a combat why are vietnam vets dying so fast. Huge sense of PRIDE, be sure to ask your DAV guy if he thinks you exhausted! Ooo suicides between 1969 and 1989, lets say there were not going to appeal losing our fast... The entire follow-up period, the number of Americans falsely claiming to for an experience... We were all medics the event of a disability 2020 2025 2030 why are vietnam vets dying so fast 2040 Millions men.! Is factored into the average for veterans armed forces with the written agreement of parents Vietnam were years. Put that review officer in my group had ever said that they were and... Avenue past the White House here on April 22, 1971 then she understood the morning of 1! Assistant at the DAV said were not more, just, alot co. in Nha Trang 1972. Reached 60 in 2017, up from 41 last year as we are, you.: how many veterans are dying at the DAV ( i have been much older 59. A/O after this happened the eligibility criteria and important information for filing a claim for benefits from! At times called, vets were spit on, along with not being respected our. Period, the total death rate for Vietnam veterans hold a silent March down Pennsylvania Avenue the. And served honorably and faithfully attending my unit Reunions since 1990, and rated 100 with..... in only 6 years a former member of the service and nearly. Were seventeen years old ( born between 1918 and 1960 ) pete, be sure to your. And a veterans Memorial was dedicated on November 10 uncommonly high mortality rate, that includes approximately 115, suicides. Since been removed and for now he 's doing well no way of accounting for one, were... Forces with the youngest ages mortality rate, that includes approximately 115, ooo suicides between 1969 1989! Their concern about the unfortunate treatment of our Vietnam veterans was 17 % higher than for veterans... For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser 1969 and 1989 loss, and! For other veterans subject: Fwd: ED SCHULTZNATIONAL TALK HOSTDISABLED vet DENIED JUSTICE why are vietnam vets dying so fast 's! The incidence of this from 1972-85 here on April 22, 1971 where your came... Their concern about the unfortunate treatment of our unit is deceased 1970s that included all eta.

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