Today has been designated as Vietnam Veterans Day.
The Vietnam War used to be the longest war in our history until the media decided to call the war against terror our longest war. The war in Vietnam lasted from November 1955 until April 30, 1975, when Saigon collapsed. 3.4 million Americans served in the theater and 2,594,000 served in Vietnam and off it’s shores between 1965 and 1973. They were 9.7% of their generation. Only 38% of draftees served in Vietnam.
47,378 of the US military died in hostile actions. One nurse was KIA. 17,539 were married men. 17,725 were draftees. 5,977 were Reservists, 101 were National Guardsmen. 61% were aged less than 21 years.
79% of Vietnam veterans had completed a high school education or higher. 75% came from families who were earning above the poverty level. 97% of Vietnam veterans were honorably discharged. 66% of Vietnam veterans said they would serve again if asked. 82% of those who saw combat say we failed in Vietnam because of political will, 75% of Americans agree with them.
2,338 were listed as Missing in Action. 766 were listed as POWs, 114 died in captivity. Statistics from this link.
Jonn-
Thanks for posting this- especially the info on where to find the stats. I served
in RVN ’66-’67 and ’68-’69. Semper Fi!
A solemn day for many no doubt…may the dead and the living find the peace they so richly deserve…something denied a great many of them due to the nature of this conflict.
9.7% of my generation served in Vietnam. I’m curious as to what percentage of that generation claim to have been there. It is indeed, a solemn day.
We Nam Vets are outnumbered by POSers at about 5:1 ratio. Joe
Joe and Steve, My bet it’s closer to 10:1.
Hell, there’s even a retired E-9 (that we’re pretty familiar with) who was in the Army’s Delayed Entry Program and had yet to graduate from high school when Saigon fell that claims a NDSM just so he can fit himself in with the Vietnam “Era” of vets.
That’s embellishing from within the ranks to the nth degree right there.
Welcome Home to all.
Speaking of the ratio of phony/wannabe posers to actual Vietnam veterans, a buddy of mine was recently talking to a couple of bona fide Vietnam era SEALs. Apparently the running joke amongst the Vietnam era SEALs is as follows:
“Approximately 500 SEALs served in Vietnam, and we’ve met all 20,000 of them”.
Claw: Straw-Grasper Gainey, AKA the “First SEAC to the JCS” and his Co-Dependant Dirt Bag buddy, “Killer Killam” both probably have NO clue what today is.
Am still trying to control my temper until I post more on those two LSoS.
Thank you to all who served our country during this conflict/timeframe. And when I say serve, I mean serve. Not AFTER the designated timeframe for Vietnam.
DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR, WILLIAM JOSEPH GAINEY, Phony Vietnam Era Veteran???
Steve, the 9.7 percent number seems high to me, and probably relates to all those who served during the era. The actual in-country figure is likely one-third of that.
For what it’s worth, if you look in retrospect at the context of the time, Viet Nam can be considered at least a partial success because the goal was to stop the spread of communism. A lot of the perception of the war as a failure is also based on two key events that had a difference in importance in the overall scheme of things than they initially appeared to have. The first was the assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem in ’63; the other was Tet in ’68.
The 40-60 percent spread in estimate of those directly in harm’s way also points to a strangeness in the war itself. I remember being in Cam Ranh Bay one day, and thinking at the time it was a really safe place because of the perimeter of 100s of yards of flat sandy free-fire zone. That was until one night some weeks later when the NVA rocketed Cam Ranh’s POL yard, and you could see the flames for 30 miles.
Another thing the raw numbers don’t show, at least it seems to me, is that the KIA casualty counts would have likely tripled in a prior conflict. There are some ballsy dust-off pilots, and some very skilled medical folks who deserve a lot of credit for bringing people home alive.
Garryowen
I was given the armed forces expeditionary medal vietnam, but I was never in country..we were on an aircraft carrier at I think yankee station sending planes in..(.But they also serve who support)…imho!
Welcome home. I know it’s been awhile but I can’t ever stop saying it. I appreciate what you men and women did and that selfless service led me to do the same.
Thank you for being the example for others to follow.
Thank you for your resilience in the face of adversity.
Thank you for not giving up and putting your all into this great nation.
Thank you for your love of country.
Thank you for your service.
Thank you and welcome home.
We need to recognize our poser friends with a day of their own. Feb 30th of next year?
Nah. I propose February 29 (Leap Day) of the next Leap Year ending in “00”. (smile)
God bless all of you who raised and inspired my generation to serve. God bless our Vietnam Vets.
I’ve got three calendars hanging on my wall at work. American Legion, DAV and USO. Not a one of ’em says a word about this. Apparently it’s not been ordained as such by anyone who feels self important.
Welcome home boys and girls.
God Bless our Vietnam Vets, they went and served and many were given a raw deal when they came back. It’s been said that each and every legit Vietnam Vet has at least ten posers riding on his or her coattails.
To my Vietnam brothers and sisters Thank you for your service and sacrifices.
What a shining example of Dedication to duty and to your Brothers in Arms, in up holding the HIGHEST Traditions of the Armed Services of the United States.
The Real Deal
I Salute You.
First I have heard of VN Veteran Day, when did it get designated as such?
CB Senior says it well for me,
“To my Vietnam brothers and sisters Thank you for your service and sacrifices.
What a shining example of Dedication to duty and to your Brothers in Arms, in up holding the HIGHEST Traditions of the Armed Services of the United States.
The Real Deal
I Salute You.”
Google-Fu says 2012.
Before that it was simply known as Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day.
I still see no significance to either term.
Every day is a celebration. No need for crowds, parades or party hats,
Question to other VN vets here: Why would we want a special Veteran Day? I’m proud of what we did during our era, but I am just as proud of all our other veterans and I see no reason to single us out.
I think that I can speak for my fellow VN veterans here on TAH by saying the only Veterans Day we want/need is the longtime established day that falls on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
No need for something special. We know who we are.
Well said Claw, well said.
ditto
amen
What Claw said goes for me, too. Wrapped up nicely in few words.
Nov. 11 is the only Veterans’ Day I’ve ever paid attention to.
This special one – well, it seems like a lame apology for not being nice to vets in the 1970s.
I think I’ll take a pass on it.
agreed
Agree, Claw. Well said!
Grimm, I’m in total agreement with you. I prefer to celebrate my service to my country on the same day I’m celebrating that of my father, a WWII vet, and my other ancestors and all our fellow warriors who served in all our nation’s wars.
It’s hard to believe that I arrived in-country in 1965, 50 years ago this past December.
PT. started a post last weekend saying pretty much what you say above. Although not as succintly.
Deleted it because it started sounding sour.
Also… I was bobbing up and down off shore 50 years ago. Welcome Home!
I agree, I see no reason to have a special Vietnam Vets Recognition Day, at least without recognition days for veterans of all wars. 50 years this May for me, damn, hate to think I’m finally getting old but when you hit that half century mark anniversary there is no more denying it. Oh well, every day’s a holiday and every meal’s a feast. Semper Fi.
Don’t feel bad, the 3/4 century mark is not far off for me!!
That will certainly be a milestone, thank you.
Grimm, was sitting having supper with my wife last night. I said, “I guess today is Vietnam Veterans Day.” She said, “I didn’t know. Have you and the guys been talking about it today?” I said, nope, we pretty much just recognize Memorial Day for the dead, Veterans Day for the living and all the Vets before and after.” Although I thank all the commentators here, it is not really a day I think we need, and me and my Vietnam Vet buddies don’t even talk about it. I think the intentions were nice, but totally unnecessary.
I began my undistinguished Army career in 1980 in a National Guard aviation unit as a 67N. Every pilot we had, except one, was a VN vet. The only pilot that ever scared me was that “one” because his lack of experience caused him to fly by the book. I think he drives for Yellow Cab now.
Had some Senior NCOs with VN time take me under their wings and when I went active duty later, I was ready for it because of them.
Thanks guys and welcome home.
Thank you for your service Vietnam Veterans, I am forever indebted.
First I have heard about a special Veterans day for us Vietnam Vets. I believe we are no different than any other Vet and Veterans Day is enough for me.
Thank you all and welcome home.
As an OIF and OEF veteran, I Thank each and every Vietnam veteran who participate in this blog for their service! Welcome home!
Thanks to all who gave so much for our nation and the RVN. A special thank you to my brother in law so far away in Incheon, South Korea who served with the Republic of Korea “Maengho” or Tiger Division in 1970.
Hey Dustoff, my unit, the 129th AHC, was the aviation support unit for The Tiger Division. I put down a fair amount of ordinance for the ROCs in ’71. Super troopers, all. And, Welcome Home Brothers. regards, Alemaster
That’s ROKs vice ROCs. I gotta proof my stuff. regards, Alemaster
What a bullshit day for all real combat veterans. We all stand beside all veterans of all Americas call to protect our country in the time of need. God bless every veteran on Veterans Day and thank you for your time helping your country. TB USMC 1967-1968
Thank you all.
I’ll start this off by saying Thank You for your service
I’ll leave the conflict out of it because two of my uncles told me to FUCK OFF last year
so from one vet to another THANK YOU ! ! ! !
66% say they’d do it again? Guess it’s true,you can’t fix stupid or they were playing ricky ticky boom boom 5 dolla down in Saigon.
Semper Fi RVN 69-70
“This face that at times smiles is but a mask to hide the perpetual pain and sadness born
while…..Carrying the PTSD Baggage of Viet Nam”
It’s genuinely nice that 100% of the readers of TAH remember while 99% of the Country could care less.
Welcome Home Brothers!
I entered service in 1986, served on numerous deployments and made it through Desert Storm and a few OIF/OEF deployments. I attribute much of my military success to those who mentored me who served during the Vietnam era. You all will always have my respect., and I am a better person for having the privilege of serving among you.
USMCMSgt (Ret)
Respect is a two-way street. Trust me….you have my respect as well.
Live long and prosper.
Hug your kids a lot (if you have any) even if they don’t like it.
Semper Fi, Marine!
Thank you, my friend.
I will – and I do…
Semper Fidelis
I served from 74-77 and caught the tail end of Vietnam war.
I served in Alaska and served with many real heroes from Vietnam including my favorite Squad Leader, SSGT Schoenauer. He really was a hero.