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BigBill

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Being a Vietnam Vet ain't easy!
Jul 04^th, 2010, 8:07pm

In 2008, the American War Library estimated there were about 980,000 surviving Vietnam Veterans; 903,240 will survive by 01 Jan 2010; but, it’s estimated that by 01 Jan 2015 the surviving total of Vietnam War veterans will number fewer than 131,000 due to age complicated by accelerated physiologies resulting from herbicide, along with added post-military financial and other stress related factions due to declining economic and environment factors that are projected by other federal agency’s that determine their impact on human life expectancy.

If that ain't bad enough:
Per DOD records, from 1955 through 1975 about 2.8 million men and women served in Vietnam or in the waters off of Vietnam.
In 1995 The American War Library, through a special grant from the DOD, conducted a nationwide survey to determine the number of Americans who claimed to have served either in-country or on a U.S. Navy vessel in Vietnamese waters. The number of respondents totaled 9,815,361. This number was more than three times the number reported by DOD. This survey prompted President Clinton to declassify all WW2, Korea and Vietnam War era intelligence and personnel data so that such claims could be verified or refuted. This in depth study prompted the DOD to increase the number of those who served in Vietnam to slightly over three million men and women.
In 2005, in another DOD approved survey performed by the American War Library, the total number of Americans claiming to be eligible or possessing authorization of the United States Vietnam War Service Medal was 13,695,088; 11,104,005 of Americans claimed to have served in Vietnam (In-Country/In-Waters), and 2,591,083 Americans claimed to have served aboard a U.S. naval vessel in Vietnamese waters.

I wonder if all of those false claims would be made if they knew what their life expectancy is supposed to be?

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Nyte_Byrd

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Re: Being a Vietnam Vet ain't easy!
Reply #1 - Jul 5^th, 2010, 12:17am

I served on board a Navy ship during the Saigon Evacuation in April 1975.

Our ship was one of dozens...we took on over 400 Vietnamese if I recall and transported them to Subic Bay in PI. All servicemen on board were awarded two medals back then for being considered for being in a certain zone during that period. But I will admit, compared to what actual land fyters did, I felt they were not as deserved considering the most I did was put in extra hours feeding women and children rice and milk in a food lyne in the well deck, and making sure they had relief stations to go to that were built off the syde of the deck. Only other thing I can think of that differentiated anything was supposedly our ship took 'attempted' fyre from shore during those days we were there.....not that they could even reach, as I believe we were several myles from shore.

I assume afterwards others applied for the same it sounds lyke.

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BamaDefender

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Re: Being a Vietnam Vet ain't easy!
Reply #2 - Jul 5^th, 2010, 7:39am

I served two tours in Vietnam, both "in country". The first was from 1968-1969. After I had been back a year, I applied and was accepted to return for a second tour. I went back and served again from 1970-1971. I also received a number of unit and campaign medals during my two tours. I didn't have to apply for them myself though. I guess the company clerks did all the applying for us, as everyone who was in our unit got most of them.
I got a few individual medals too, but I didn't have to apply for them either. I was too busy doing my job to worry about applying for medals.

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BigBill

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Re: Being a Vietnam Vet ain't easy!
Reply #3 - Jul 5^th, 2010, 9:16am

I was there in 66-67. I helped build Phu Cat air base. I was sent to Korea during the Pueblo crisis in '68 and was therefore able to avoid a second tour.

In my narrow minded opinion, it doesn't matter whether blue water, brown water or feet on ground - for 1 hour or multiple tours - you were there.

First off, those of us who have the VSM and RVCM have a shorter than average life expectancy - at my age, such stats worry me - welcome to the short-timers club.

Meanwhile, although three million soldiers served and were awarded the VSM and RVCM, more than 13 million people claim to have served - I don't know about you guys, but I take a lot of pride in my service and resent it when someone who wasn't there and didn't do that claims that they did. Especially politicians who, in my conservative opinion, have become a cowardly group whose loyalty to the Constitution is questionable.

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Frankly my dear, I don't give a darn!

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oldcoastie CF Presidents Club Offline Conservative's Forum Posts: 7279 Peoples' Republik of Illinois Gender:	Re: Being a Vietnam Vet ain't easy! Reply #4 - Jul 5^th, 2010, 9:28am I was in the service from '64 to '68, and I wasn't there. But I honor all of you who were over there, fighting in a politically correct "police action." You won that war, but none of the politicians recognized it when they ordered the evacuation.
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Nyte_Byrd

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Re: Being a Vietnam Vet ain't easy!
Reply #5 - Jul 5^th, 2010, 9:31am

BigBill wrote on Jul 5^th, 2010, 9:16am:

...when someone who wasn't there and didn't do that claims that they did.

That is understandable. I don't think anyone should be putting in for these honors who weren't actually there. Not too long ago, I was surpryzed to even learn that something lyke 1/3rd of people who claim to be Nam Vets aren't even Nam vets at all and some of them never even served in the military at all. And although not all were "Nam" vets, some were Gulf war vets or have seen action in more recent tymes and others have given several years of their lyfe to the military as careers, which to me is just as commendable.

I do however, feel a distinction between being considered a 'Nam Vet' and someone who actually fought on soil there. I just happened to be there at the tail end of it all. I wouldn't even attempt to try to compare my part for instance with what Proud Vet contributed when he was in the Army in Vietnam and was heavily involved in land battles in Nam and was one of many who suffered not just injury but loss of some of his buddies he was there with.

I think the best day I had seen as a veteran was some years ago in Peekskill, NY when they opened a park and dedicated to the Vietnam soldier, handing out shirts that showed a soldier carrying another wounded soldier, saying "Lest We Forget". Veterans filled the park and I can't explain the comradeship and brotherhood that filled the air that day. Cool

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Dave CF Presidents Club Offline If it ain't broke, break it so you can fix it. Posts: 8209 Southeast Texas Gender:	Re: Being a Vietnam Vet ain't easy! Reply #6 - Jul 5^th, 2010, 9:33am Part of those numbers are due to the TDY status of thousands of Veterans who did serve In country but were excluded from the DOD lists.
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rustybayonet

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Re: Being a Vietnam Vet ain't easy!
Reply #7 - Jul 7^th, 2010, 10:51pm

Served Nov. 61-65, never "in country" but did process those in Squadron One through Alameda as they were heading over there. They brought in the 82 footers to dry docks around Alemeda and Oakland getting them fitted to send over. Because of the radicals in the Bay Area, even early into Vietnam, it was the only base I was ever stationed at that recommended not wearing uniforms on liberty.

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