The rolling fire burned everything to the ground and undoubtedly killed scores of NVA. He then said that they were generally on patrol moving through their area, both attacking and being attacked depending if the VC knew their location. I picked up my M60 and walked to the center of the perimeter, where I found the company commander, Capt. I couldnt disagree. 2: role (MOS?). I put the M60s bipod legs down, lifted the weapon and positioned it on the ground outside the streambed facing the NVA. February 5 th, 1967, Galiano was headed to Saigon, Vietnam with 90 fellow Americans on an Air Force c-131, but orders were quickly altered . wias. I kept the radio because I understood the power of having the first communication with the support mechanisms of the military. maybe your question i vauge. Army Infantrymen (11B) are the main land combat force, and known as "Eleven Bravo.". The trailer for that video can be seen by googling the title, and it might still be sold on Amazon. Now, the wisdom of this soldier tough but humanly compassionate warrior ethos can be assessed through the 2d Bn recordNO complaints about mistreatment of prisonerswhile achieving the most combat SUCCESSES IN THE BRIGADE. A Marine on patrol crosses a rice paddy in Vietnam holding an M60 machine gun in 1966. Some unfortunately also came home with physical scars. 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. Thanks for the perceived loss and the countless assassinations and torture visited upon Vietnamese, Laotians, and Cambodians goes mainly to the American media and their undying support-by-misrepresentation of the anti-War movement in the United States. Date: March 8, 2020 Author: pdoggbiker 97 Comments Photo above is of Stanley Kober with RTO, John Scheur. Though I flew only about 1/2 dozen missions as a Huey door gunner, I was initially told to sit on my flak jacket I always did so (personal protection first). I will always think/say, we had absolutely no reason for being in that place. What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat? My 31-months in-country was in three Direct Support US Army aviation units, 15TC BN, First Cav, 335TH, Americal and 17TH Cav 101ST ABD65-71In the last battle I was directly involved, LAM SON 719, into Laos, cost army aviation units over 600-helicopters shot down or battle damagedthe NVA were waiting for our SECRET mission in early 71I was glad to go home at battles end, in March 71 , almost unscathed, I was TDY for my absurd third tourTo the point, many ARVN Rangers, airborne and their other best died in Lam Son 719US Army Infantry were forbidden entry to Laos in 71.. the ARVN were massacredand many US Army pilots and crew mambers were KIA & WIAeven MIA. I was in 2nd Platoon and carried the platoons No. Nicknamed "the pig" due to its size, weight and sound, the gun struck fear into enemy troops. We killed a lot of the enemy but we took few serious casualties. African Americans played a prominent role in the Vietnam War. waving then I realized they Werent shooting at him only at the Nobody attacked, where we were. Sorry,I was one of your Brothers in Arms that helped talk you out of enlisting for another year in Vietnam. never happened,we lost two sweep team members and some Artillery, and ground forces. Sociologists Charles C. Moskos and John Sibley Butler, in their recently published book All That We Can Be, said they analyzed the claim that blacks were used like cannon fodder during Vietnam and can report definitely that this charge is untrue. 4 Bill May and Spc. I remember we were always short of replacements throughout 1968 because of the high Kia & wounded rate we suffered at that time ! As of April 14, 2017, there are 1,611 Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War across Vietnam (1,258), Laos(297), Cambodia(49), and China(7). 74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome. We (Americans) had nothing to do with controlling VNAF, according to Lieutenant General (Ret) James F. Hollingsworth, the Commanding General of TRAC at that time. I wasnt sure if the VC had moved to right or left, so I sprayed the elephant grass in both directions. According to the American War Library, as of February 28, 2019, it is estimated that approximately 610,000 Americans who served in land forces during the Vietnam War or in air missions over Vietnam between 1954 and 1975 are still alive to this day. Our battalion operated at a base camp near Tuy Hoa in Phu Yen province along the South China Sea from October 1966 to January 1967. What Was It Like To Hump The Boonies in Vietnam? Unable to reach Company A, my company pulled back, formed a perimeter and called in air and artillery support. Few areas of the world have been as hotly contested as the India-Pakistan border. In that time 4 us kia and 4 wounded. (LogOut/ I just wanted to get off No. Some of my men didnt. An Rtos job was essential, tough,(Carrying the extra weight of the radio transmitter along with his rucksack), and dangerous. I have a fried Who is killed in Vietnam six months before I got there cause of death was other how would I find out since his parents are long gone, Do a search for his name n Coffeltdatabase.org, Sir, would you mind me translating this into Spanish and getting it posted in our blog? Answer (1 of 12): It heavily depends. I was a cmbt engr demolition specialist carried a 45 auto and an M70 grenade launcher in addition to the C-4 and Det Cord. As far as I knew that was done in the whole battalion in 1968 . Look for the blue accessibility symbol floating on every page of our website and click on it to tailor your viewing experience to your particular disability. He was wounded and suffered permanent disability shortly before his tour was up. I was never hit by enemy fire even though they had multiple opportunities after that I was an rto for the company commander and I have to say both jobs were not fun. The man listed as missing was machine gunner Joe DeLong, captured along with No. Dap, Hope this helps. They were held in special regard after the Normandy landings, when 225 Rangers scaled cliffs at Pointe Du Hoc on June 6, 1944 under intense enemy fire. Ambulances are not supposed to be armed (either) though in training, medics are told they and their vehicles will be a prime target. To an, open area. Rarely do we examine war through the unique bond between a man and his weaponin this case the M60 machine gun. Total fantasy. Your email address will not be published. Point was the safest place to be,they knew to wait for key elements, RTO, Medica, M60 Gunners. An interesting essay, even more interesting are the comments. Prayers for all. From a military standpoint, it was almost an unprecedented performance. The earliest casualty record contains a date of death of . Men and women die everyday. Vietnam War the helicopters that came in to transport soldiers were the hardest hit with mass casualties . If anything went wrong, I could easily kill some of our soldiers. U.S. Wings is a manufacturer and a supplier. However, it was the discretion of the individual crewmen if they wanted to carry personal weapons or not. One out of every 10 Americans who served in Vietnam was a casualty. As with much of the Vietnam War, the news media misreported and misinterpreted the 1968 Tet Offensive. to the empployees was very informative. My dad died of cancer at 52. "The Cotton Balers, damn fine Soldiers." The Battalion returned to Fort Benning on October 11, 1970 and was inactivated. We had been carrying machine guns for over seven months. I met a Marine a few years ago who was stationed North of Da Nang. Required fields are marked *. 4 Joey Piambino were to my right in the streambed. Yes, I made E4 at graduation, that was considered a NCO then. sweep team,then I heard the choppers and they were blowing the hell out in the tree line then it just got so quiet like nothing 1 Gun. Also , it I might add that the, Government big wigs, have a quota [percentage]of a lot of the Military equipment etc that had a certain amount of time to function until it was disable, blow up, wrecked, junk, etc. Bruce Grandstaff and my best friend, Sgt. Foot soldiers went by the grace of God, but had a better chance than the infantry platoon commander in combat. As it was, less than 40 did not need evacuation. Were talking averages, obviously so, an RTO, with an expectancy of 5 seconds (!) Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Non-divisional aeromedical evacuation units went by the callsign DUSTOFF. Back in 1965, I was a door gunner on Medevac recovery operations. KICK ASS AS NEEDED!!! I was still pondering the move to 4th Platoon when U.S. Air Force jets screamed over the treetops with canisters of napalm. Even the AP photographer, Nick Ut, who took the picture, was Vietnamese. "And in seizing the firm land at the . (LogOut/ Now, to calmly answer your question, air strikes have actually been an efficient technique used by us for years now. Helicopters, F4 fighters. I never understood why they didnt put M60s on Medevacs (once the VC shot them down) but then, we now know they never intended to win that war in the first place. 8h%5HF8r,X'q#Vtgz%)P/Oi#rU(uO&*Xx1t^=xVLi There were also wounded. To my right, Piambino had poked his head out of the trench to fire his M16 rifle. What the hell did you hit him with? one of our men shouted. A much better approach would be/have been: of all the combat-casualties, what was their If it had been up to me, I would have awarded my gun the CIB too. 97% of Vietnam Veterans were honorably discharged. 4314 0 obj <> endobj Welcome home. Very memorable comments. Life expectancy at birth. Arthur Parker and Spc. Our patrols were typically about 14 hours 24/7 We operated of old LSTs and large barges. Back home he returned to hairdressing and got a job at Kenneth Salon in New York City working with top models and fashion magazine editors. By the time we reached Vietnam in October 1966 I felt the gun had become a part of me. That means you lose five RTOs in 5 seconds. It was more or less next man up . I always felt that Infantry units were in more danger because of ambush issues and no permanent defensive structures. 1st Cav, 101st, etc. If you have other information let me know. He pulled the company into a perimeter and dispatched 4th Platoon to recon the trail to the west, while 1st Platoon performed a similar mission to the east-southeast. Your Dad and I had the same job. My shit got weak and a sniper popped three rounds in my young ass. You just do the best job you can and if you got hit, so be it! Why is my internet redirecting to gslbeacon.ligit.com and how do I STOP THIS. They also struggled with logistical problems and the complex political situation in Vietnam. three, he believes he is doing what his country wants him to dojust like you So you better damn well treat him with the compassion you want for you!! When I was assigned to the M60 in advanced individual training, I decided that if I had to be a gunner I would learn everything there was to know about the weapon. of what was usually 5 or 6 going in and many times the leads would find traps, punji pits or the VC waiting. Done ranting. If the NVA shot at the group retrieving the bodies, I was to fire over the heads of the grunts and engage the enemy. Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. He retired in 2012 and lives in Delray Beach, Florida. I was a grunt with c co. 4/31 196th it inf bade. His body was torn to pieces. My bud, Price took over as RTO. Cruz quite a lot. Two points: 1) at least in Army units, Medevacs (dust offs) flew unarmed aircraft. Great story!!! Fact: The domino theory was accurate. As a point of reference, Patterson explained that combat troops in World War II, on average, spent 36 days in a combat environment; the average infantryman in Vietnam spent 245 days in constant. As I was running to the rivers edge, ready to unload on the VC hiding in the elephant grass, I ran past a grass hut and never bothered to clear it. Supported by a shoulder strap, No. Hats off to them. Data based on the latest United Nations Population Division estimates. BUT WE MUST ALSO BE COGNIZANT OF OUR REQUIREMENT TO BE COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS. The Tet Offensive succeeded on only one front and that was the News front and the political arena. The Australian Vietnam veteran study assessed the postservice mortality of 19 205 Vietnam veterans and 25 677 non-Vietnam veterans through 1981. S/F, There were no door gunners on dustoffs. 10 1/2 months in the bush. The peace settlement was signed in Paris on 27 January 1973. Together we had passed the test. See you in the next life!!!!! Soldiers also act in the mobilization of vehicles, weaponry, troops, and more. Spanish Help Fact: 86% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasians, 12.5% were black, 1.2% were other races. happened. endstream endobj startxref My heart was pounding out of my chest. 11 c mos , meaning I was also cross trained for mortars . I look over to I was with HHC and 1st Platoon C Company in 70-71. After a quick lesson, DeLong became the new owner of 4th Platoons No.1 Gun. Company B arrived in-country with four rifle platoons, and each platoon was armed with two M60s. Comments were more interesting than the article it self. There were no Americans involved in any capacity. Well, according to current mortality and morbidity statistics for the USright around 77.5 Years! The battalion was sending us to a village with a small river running through it. (You can unsubscribe anytime), The US Wings website is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliant and adheres to their standards for accessibility of the internet so people with disabilities can surf the web more easily & efficiently. . When we reached Company A, we placed our dead in the center of the two-company perimeter. We were discussing the different units and dangers of each. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. That same day, I along with 3/4 others was transported to Long Bhin Post. The U.S. Infantryman Vietnam Pocket Manual contains gems such as infantry "patrol tips," maneuver techniques, and fighting methods for various environments. Still, militarily, the Tet Offensive was a total defeat of the Communist forces on all fronts. I was one of the many others I rode river boats in the Mekong Jan 68 to 69. This was another example in the Vietnam War of an inaccuracy becoming the perceived truth. 1 Gun was firing. meaning what is the chance of me getting killed in combat. The average age of the men killed: 23.1 years. For example, life expectancy of Veterans at age 25 population, thus 3.6 and 0.5 life-years smaller income differentials for male and female Veterans, respectively, shown in Tables 17 and 18. Two of my classmates were killed within 2 weeks incountry and three wounded I know of. There were usually 3 man (At least 2) point teams. It was an HONOR and a privilege to serve with these brave men for my 11 month tour. I was an O5C-20 in Vietnam. %PDF-1.5 % Five RTOs. Soon I could take the gun apart and put it back together in the dark. %%EOF Express your answer in terms of x. To my surprise, I qualified as an expert with the M60 machine gun, nicknamed the pig because of the size, weight and sound of the weapon. endstream endobj 4315 0 obj <>/Metadata 89 0 R/Pages 4312 0 R/StructTreeRoot 120 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 4316 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 4312 0 R/Resources<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 4317 0 obj <>stream Good article. You of course had the radio plus xtra batteries & handsets plus your rucksack with 7 to 8 canteens , 20 mags ( I used to carry 17 rounds in the mags instead of 20 ) because the springs would force the round into the chamber causing jams . 1: physical position (in the field / column) Rules may have changed, I was in the Delta region. We used to provide cover for these guys. As soon as he did, a round hit him in the forehead, blowing out the back of his skull. (Getty Images) Most war stories are about soldiers and battles. I personally carried 300 rounds of ammo at all times, one belt in the gun and two across my chest. Diaphragm _____ 3. Can I use this word like this: The addressal by the C.E.O. In Vietnam, 1 in 400 of the wounded died of their . Hi, the whole thing is going nicely here and ofcourse every one It was on the Job Training ! In the few firefights and skirmishes we had with local VC, the gun always performed well. I remember hearing somewhere about an RTO who wasnt getting the info out correctly and the Lieutenant (Kennedy) grabbed the mic and said My RTO Is Foxtrot Uniform. Sept 69 to Sept 70. I was told to show the new guy how to use it properly. Cause-specific . Address: 561 E Hines Hill Road Hudson, Ohio 44236 Phone: 1-800-650-0659 / 330-655-5050 Fax: 330-653-3750 Email: [emailprotected], Retail Store Hours: Monday-Friday: 9am - 5pm EST Saturdays: 10am -3pm (Oct-Jan) Sundays: Closed. (LogOut/ As I made my way to the river, I saw a VC guerrilla jump into the water on the other side. Thats my experience. Well he didnt make it. Expenditures for a body in a combat zone? The early days of May 1970, I arrived at the Airport, next to Saigon. Thats why they called us GRUNTS ! From the Landing Zone, we were carried not too far. Although the percent that died is similar to other wars, amputations or crippling wounds were 300 percent higher than in World War II. That was supposed to be 58, 220. but wait, there are more numbers for the same story. The three of us had trained together at Fort Lewis and were good friends. Some 23% of Vietnam vets had fathers with professional, managerial I was on a radar crew and we were told that, during war time, we would most likely be killed within minutes. Different type units, different locations, different opinions on dangers. This article appeared in the October 2021 issue of Vietnam magazine. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year thanks to the mobility of the helicopter. And I know what youre going to say, Because the American cs! Bullcrap!!!! aND, mAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Company B had seven dead, Grandstaff announced, and I was to take No. AS LEADERS IN AMERICAS SERVICES WE MUST BE PROFICIENT AND READY TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSIONS- I was in the AF a Reo in a F4-C. Who had time to worry about the life Dont know why, but generally, their aircraft were not armed (door gunners, etc.). Es ridculo que t ______ (tener) un resfriado en verano. On average US troops served 1-2 years in Vietnam, and the percentage of troops killed was actually fairly low for a war this size, 2.14% of all who served were killed, the life expectancy was roughly around 1 year, 5 months and 3 weeks (taking into account the 1-2 year difference in some troops's serving times) Sponsored by Primal Labs What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam? The Marine Corps lost 14,836, or 5 percent . Appx: 6 months in, all of the 543d TC joined forces with the 572d TC. Tumbling end over end, the canisters exploded in a white-hot fireball. Thats 390 per day. In our spare time we did medevacs and medcaps for the local communities and when required inserted SEALs . The 140,000 evacuees in April 1975 during the fall of Saigon consisted almost entirely of civilians and Vietnamese military, NOT American military running for their lives. It was just part of the job. The NVA had wedged a blocking force between our company and Company A, preventing us from advancing any farther. They also had a 12 gauge, and a M 79 grenade launcher and M 16. Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division. The Kb of pyridine, C5H5N, is 1.5 x 10-9. I had a 20% death rate in my Hospital Corpsman Class. The Bronze Star was awarded to ALL that were awarded the CIB in WWII because the Infantry accounted for over 70% of the casualties in WWLL BUT NOT 70% )F ALL THE INFANTRY !!! For some reason, the written word of this article was somehow deleted and lost. I think those numbers are percentages of US KIA, not mortality times. We are a woman-owned small business and Veteran-owned incorporated in Ohio. 1 Gun and I now faced a new and more formidable foethe North Vietnamese Army. In an instant the jungle erupted in gunfire. Lt lost a finger, same time. where can i find red bird vienna sausage? The Vietnam War was the first American war in which Black and White troops were not formally segregated, and even saw significant growth in the number of African Americans engaged in battlefield combat, [1] though some de facto segregation still occurred. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam? He was killed in an ambush along with three others. I was wasting ammo and didnt even have a target! 1 Gun kept a lot of enemy heads down. Contents 1 Unclear objectives 2 North Vietnamese strategy Without that commitment, Communism would have swept all the way to the Malacca Straits that is south of Singapore and of great strategic importance to the free world. Flipping the safety off, I scanned the jungle in front of me. We were probably not too far away on that day. I know the scouts in my company had a slightly longer rate but not much. EACH OF US CARRIES OUR OWN MEMORIES AND THEY RUN THE GAMUT. Everyone in the company hit the dirt. At Fort Lewis, every recruit learned to operate various weapons. We all have opinions, this is mine. Welcome Home Brothers ! First thing we did was, Set up a complete circular perimeter. If youre a foreigner, I respect what you think, but make sure you read ALL your facts, and dont come to rash conclusion until you know everything from BOTH sides. Our home base was Quang Tri fire Base, But I spent about 6 months out at Mai Loc with the rig. Had multiple Ks and Ws. 1 Gun and I survived our first firefight. LUCK pure LUCK. If you look at all of the things the radio operators were tasked with, it becomes abundantly clear why commo guys weren't expected to last long. This is hard to believe, losing nearly 711,000 between 95 and 00. then youd carry an extra 200 rounds of M60 ammo for the machine gunner , plus drag grenades , one smoke grenade plus etc. The casualty rate in the current war today is a fraction. Many were killed or wounded ! When Roeski got hit, I took over the M-60. Some Brothers said why spend another year in this hellhole???? What was the life expectancy of a point man in Vietnam? One afternoon, while Company B was still in the Tuy Hoa area, we received orders to gather up our gear and get ready to board choppers for an assault into a hot landing zone. They were well-armed, well-trained and knew how to fight. If my memory is correct, only the 1st Cab flew wiith doorgunners. Sure, its softer than it was before, but the training they go through is intense, something a loser who spends his time on the computer all day attacking people he doesnt know anything about and all the facts CANNOT do. Interesting, I carried a Prick 25, for 2 months. Phi Pow B.Sc (econ) in Economic History & Economics (college minor), London School of Economics and Political Science Author has 212 answers and 234.6K answer views 2 y Originally Answered: What soldier had the shortest life expectancy? The Regiment traces its lineage back to World War II. After that initial post-service period, Vietnam veterans were no more likely to die from suicide than non-Vietnam veterans. There were almost twice as many casualties in Southeast Asia (primarily Cambodia) the first two years, after the fall of Saigon in 1975, than there were during the ten years the U.S. was involved in Vietnam. I am proud to have fought alongside of them. Not long after the artillery barrage ended, the North Vietnamese swept through 4th Platoon and executed some of the survivors. Very Good , I was a radio operator up in I corps in 68 & to me the worst thing was the walking . The Kb of pyridine, C5H5N, is 1.5 x 10-9. Like most inexperienced gunners, he underestimated the power of the pig and failed to keep the barrel down when firing. Deltoid muscle _____ 2. Keep in step with US Wings Join our newsletter to receive all our latest news and offers, Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from US Wings. There were two different groups that flew aeromedical evacuations. We were all in our Bunkers, and at the ready with our weapons. How Many Vietnam War Veterans Are Still Alive? By this census, FOUR OUT OF FIVE WHO CLAIM TO BE VIETNAM VETS ARE NOT. 15 May he was killed by friendly fire, and a host of us were WIA, myself included. Really? Its just (bad) luck, fate, randomness theres no right or wrong, no justice or fairness, no reasoning. It was very nearly my last. After a couple of hours, the Viet Cong stopped shooting and melted back into the jungle. Four platoons in a rifle company. My dog and I walked point my whole tour in Vietnam. I credit my longetivity to great training at Ft Benning. Now we know. Eventually I found a spot where the bed leveled off and began firing on the NVA. 5 Answers There is no word like addressal. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Address: 9241 13th Ave SW We walked the mountains and rice patties all thru Tu Thien Province. Out of thousands of men that invaded that town in southern Afghanistan, we have lost 19. The Department of Defense Vietnam War Service Index officially provided by The War Library originally reported with errors that 2,709,918 U.S. military personnel as having served in-country. I saw aircraft loaded with troops explode in mid-air. It was one of my most memorable tours in the Navy I later went to a carrier and was bored silly because I had about 1% of the responsibilities I had as an O-2. Love you Wortman!!!! BS but ia a way you are correct. Joe DeLong joined the company, and Sholly informed me that he would be the M60 gunner. Then the tempo changed suddenly and violently. They were also in a circular formation. Fact: Mortality studies show that 9,000 is a better estimate. Combatants on both sides faced physical challenges posed by the climate, terrain and wildlife of the country. The one that should be there is the combat medic. I never thought of it that way before but have many times since. I got shot on a mission with 45 days left. THANKS! I couldnt see DeLong and didnt know if No. Americans who deliberately killed civilians received prison sentences while Communists who did so received commendations. The one number that is really important is 56,220 and we all know what that number represents. More importantly, Grandstaff was very gung-ho. The planes doing the bombing near the village were VNAF (Vietnam Air Force) and were being flown by Vietnamese pilots in support of South Vietnamese troops on the ground. In the hands of a well-trained machine gunner, the M60 was a devastating weaponso feared by our opponents that they usually aimed their first shots at the machine gunners, who were often in positions exposed to enemy fire.
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