In 1982 Vietnam veterans march down Constitution Avenue toward the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which would be dedicated later that day. I was transfered to the 201st aviation co. in Nha Trang in 1972 to finnish my tour . As for the CAR, that might be another story. Mike. Mike why is gods name would all these people claim to have went to that septic tank they call vietnam? I found out he was on the plane behind me after roll call satin the rain and mud Look upon myself as a well That is a very large amount, equating to around 23.6 million. just to crunch no. I do not know or care, where your stats came from. Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? Aloha Another who is 85,from Colorado and was on the USS Rhona in Tunisia in the early stages of WWll who filed his claim at age 80 for PTSD. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. While I was in Vietnam I saw men, who did brave and heroic deeds they deserve What is a combat vet? Poison, who cares? No one can do a C & P exam in that short of time. My English teaching assistant at the U of A, in 1971, called me a baby killer, and spat on the ground. I never went to the VA, but Im gonna try, and they will probably fight me, but they want to give illegals health insurance. I have been searching a long time for information on people who could help me find and interview pilots of either the Navy or Air Force who took part in Operation Rolling thiunder or Operation LineBacker 1and2. I went back to work (with Government Defense Contractor)where I worked before entering service and was laid off after 1 month.Went to VA rep who did nothing about it,but then sent me for a job as an exterminator.went off on him and asked was this supposed to be closest civilian related occupation. That number was reasonable: About 9.2 million Americans served in the military during the Vietnam. There are tons of Era Vets who are categorized as Vietnam Veterans, which is sort of true, but they are Vietnam ERA Vets, and never left the United States. Do you have the form to apply? 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. I welcomed 2 Marines back home and they returned the gesture. 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. He led his men on operations that lasted 30 days or more in some of Vietnams most inhospitable conditions, without shaving, bathing or changing clothing. 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 Too, it provides an excuse for missing the aforementioned date required by law. It means Hill of Sacrifice. "But until further research, a recommendation cannot be made either way.". Just finished writing a book about an incident in Vietnam that tells a story about how twisted and asymmetric that war was. How do I unlock Wattpad stories without paying? The last Vietnam Vet will die in 2047. I spent nearly thirty years as an officer and still teach them. God bless you guys for your sacrifice. It is believed that less than 850,000 of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam are still living today; the age of the youngest American Vietnam veteran is around 60 years old. I was nearly arrested for trying to defend my honor and service against that idiot. Any anecdotal evidence that has come my way over the years is not from books. And before we ate our food they came from the beach and were to be sprayed along with everything else that the VA is making this presumption for having boots on the ground for even one minute. As of the last Census taken during August, 2000, the surviving U.S. Vallo How did American soldiers treat the Vietnamese? Last name: Required fields are marked *. This is not to say that we werent casualties of other things like Agent Orange and things we probaby dont even know about, but the fact remains, we are NOT dying off at a disproporttionate rate, we are NOT more suicidal that other generations of combat vets, and we KNOW who the real Vietnam Vets were (those on the ground). I sorts blended in until I retired in 2003 and joined the CT First Cav Assoc and finally met groundpounders like muself. while i was with e-troop, i noticed after any contacts or firefights these e-troop guys were receiving cibs. Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? Unlike conflicts with massive demobilizations, men came back from Vietnam by themselves rather than with their units or companies. I am ex medic one-oh-worst airborne div. Why are my bok choy leaves turning yellow? Hi Mike. Think I might be carrying some baggage? Div. I may be crazy but Im not stupid. Some pilots, career men and members of elite units may have been much older. I found out later There is a certaincourage and loyalty that transends the injustice rendered to these men and as long as America has men like this it will always be free. educated man, besidesrocknroll there is Classical Music, Jazz and other favorites we went to the 1st sargent and he said ok. i went out for 7 or 8 mo. Im 66 years old, going in to the hospital for the 4th time for more stents. 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. It was Bob Kerrey. I was never a prisner but could relate to some of the tings the men talked about.I can also relate to the tinngs you talk about,, Any time Im around a crowd (large or small) I like to be where I can keep up w/everything going on around meUse to have panic attacks really bad if I had to be in publicWith help from VA mental health and medication Im now a lot better off.. Tell them you want to request a CIB. Still, it seems to me that Vietnam veterans who were junior enlisted men or junior officers have died in larger than average numbers already compared to their non-veteran peers, and are likely to continue to do so. we better make it soon . 1,713,823 of those who served in Vietnam were still alive as of August, Do you think there shouldnt be any baggage there? Burkett is the author of Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of its Heroes and its History, which was published in 1998 and received widespread acclaim. Many soldiers and Marines with support MOSs have received the CIB and CAR. Median age is 68 years. The figures reported here (and the same text is widely seen) are all correct with one major exception. Some of the responses did not come through our site in a timely fashion. He lived for three days after that incident. Welcome Home John. A group of amputee Vietnam veterans talk together at a hospital in San Francisco, California, 1967. It is anticipated that the overall number of veterans would fall from 20.0 million in the year 2017 to 13.6 million in the year 2037. What seeds should I start indoors in February. We returned home to an uncertain future with no skills needed in the civilian world, we would make our way the best we could in this Scientific Wild Ass Guess. 1995 (census figures). 2015if any.. During the Vietnam War, a total of 9,087,000 military people were on active service, with over 2,709,000 Americans serving in Vietnam. 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. "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. 65-66 and Fed-67. Often asked: What To Say In A Letter To A Veteran? second tour. During that year, 1,928 soldiers died in the Vietnam War. Semper Fi. More answers below James Cain 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. Best wishes, I just watched a VN movie about the Hanoi Hilton.. in only 6-10 years.. *STATISTICS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN UNIFORM AND IN COUNTRY VIETNAM VETERANS: * By way of the SHADS project, we are still handling claims of radiation exposure in WWll and those who went to ABC school in the Navy; Atomic, Biological, Chemical Warfare training on ships in the early 1960s. In 1970 received a letter from him It is anticipated that the overall number of veterans would fall from 19.5 million in the year 2020 to 13.6 million in the year 2048. What is the average lifespan of a veteran? Is there anyone who actually has documented evidence of the Viet Nam vet suicides? No it does not mean that you are not a combat veteran. Mike I was on the USS America CVA 66 in 1970 and as such am part of the Blue Water Navy that is being shunned by the VA and congress. Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? That in a sense is a violation of Federal law and should be attacked by those with means to do so. Age: 84. Vietnam Veterans by State 2022. A lot of guys found themselves in the sh-t and were not grunts. got rocketed big time because it was the start of the TET offensive. ) We took care of the Big Red 1 and the 173rd Sky soliders Long Bein . Same goes with the SF flash. Food for thought. Sorry about the delay here in answering. 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. Neither of us has since flown again. Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? Base, then to NY. The program is for federal, state and local communities, Veterans' organizations and other nongovernmental organizations. None of the enlisted grades have an average age of less than 20. It is a travestywhen I hear about men who gave so much and who are in a sense betrayed by the verygovernment and country they served. Two of my long-time friends are in-country veterans. I remember tet that was no picnic for rear echelon, and being in a chopper,those m60s werent there for show. How many Vietnam vets are dying each day? david dolby died 63 yrs old 5 tours in nam. Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? 1/3rd of all the U.S. Vets who served in VietNam ?!?!? 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. And instead of getting return peace fingers, I got the middle finger.. Hometown: Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. What amazes me however is that so many of my comrades who served in Vietnam and who suffer from many of the maladies associated with this war would serve again. dont know about what does that tell u? (Reuters Health) - Higher than average death rates among Vietnam War veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggest that combat trauma may still be affecting veterans' health even decades after the war, according to a new study. am i misrepresenting myself, id really like to know. More than nine million Americans served from Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975. Jun. I left the Corps in 1970 and went to work as a Police Officer in a large southern city. Do you mean more information on the claim process? At your next response, should you be so kind, I will tell you of a career U.S. Navy hero who died alone, broke, unsung in a Trailer park in Oregon. Ant help would be greatly appreciated. In case you havent been paying attention these past few decades after you They cannot deny your ISD. Thank You. Im a member of the Vietnam Veterans of American. Twenty-one-year-old Steven A. Wowwk arrived as an infantryman in the Armys First Cavalry Division in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam in early January 1969 to fight in an escalating and increasingly unwinnable war. This article highlights the eligibility criteria and important information for filing a claim for benefits. I always say welcome home to a vietnam vet. losing nearly 711,000 between 95 and 00. In any case, we who served our country continue to die on a daily basisin greater and greater numbers. 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. Vietnam for two tours. I have written letters for soldiers I personally witnessed in combat situations and almost all were evaluated and received long over-due compensation. I just wonder how many of us boots on decks guys are going to be dying off before the VA and congress realize that we are due for our agent orange exposure also. In the United States 17-year-olds may join the armed forces with the written agreement of parents. How many Flowers do you need for each level in June's journey? thanks rich. 24 The excess mortality, especially through motor vehicle accidents, suicide, homicide, and accidental poisonings, occurred mainly in the first 5 years after discharge from active duty and involved. The aircraft ( helicopter ) went down experiencing mechanical problems. How to find out who sent anonymous flowers? Gerry Wiggins, who served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969, has already lost friends to the disease. If you fought in Vietnam you were watching your . Can you put dead flowers in food waste bin? THOSE TO CLAIM TO HAVE been there: As of the year 2015, around 1,600 of those individuals were still considered unaccounted for. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), which is part of the United States Department of Defense, reports that there were a total of 687 American prisoners of war who survived the Vietnam War. We can only pray that the current generation of young men and women who are the current targets of a cottage-industry of professionals who thrive on making them all impaired will fare better than we did. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Over time, swelling and inflammation of the bile duct can lead to cancer. The Vietnam War lasted from 1964-1973the longest war in American history until it was overtaken by the one in Afghanistanand servicemen typically did one-year tours of duty. For filing a claim for benefits for soldiers i personally witnessed in combat situations and almost all evaluated. The Viet Nam vet suicides over-due compensation join the armed forces with the written agreement of parents 1972 to my. 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Units may have been much older CIB and CAR a Letter to a Vietnam vet and!

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