The federal agency sent its sympathies but no money. The USS Rhona was blown up with a German missile. Im a member of the Vietnam Veterans of American. All Rights Reserved. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on November 10 . Ant help would be greatly appreciated. Give me a week. Listed here are the four Vietnam veterans with the youngest ages. "We've been fighting this for 55 years," said Wright, who also served in the Connecticut National Guard from 1982-1999 and retired as a first sergeant. Related:More evidence Agent Orange causes cancer. Veterans returning from Vietnam were met with an institutional response marked by indifference. I have had cancer in the crease of my neck were a knot on a kerchief rubbed, and sores in my scalp were the canvas of the helmet sat on my head. OK I found the source and and researching this more. I get to testify and present them with the story of a 20 y/o medic carrying dead and wounded around for 14 months in country. Because they will be OLD and it their turn. 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. They quickly filed paperwork with the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, for disability payments. Known as the Sky Soldiers, the 173rd Airborne Brigade is an airborne infantry brigade combat team (IBCT) of the United States Army that is stationed in Vicenza, Italy. Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you. Seventeen year-old James Calvin Ward was one of them. Last name: The past 5 years has seen a ton of so called veteran statistics that are clearly confabulated. I have followed out governments proclivity to repeat errors endlessly. Although I have to plan most everything I do so as to avoid the things that still bother me..-I started looking up my VN buddies a few years ago,, so far Ive located 10 men that was in my CompanyTalk to them on a regular basis.Bad part is that out of the 10 men 7 of us have major mental and physical problems. Answer (1 of 7): You're in luck. Might any of our readers speculate about why this may be? Less than half of them submitted claims for service-related benefits, mostly because they were not aware of a possible connection to Vietnam. have my Library and collection of movies, my garage and my dogs and cats. 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. I was a Medic with the 93rd Evac. These are indeed some very sobering statistics. Soon we won't have any World War II Veterans remaining. He said the approval came right after his doctor wrote a letter saying his bile duct cancer was "more likely than not" caused by liver flukes from the uncooked fish he and his unit in Vietnam ate when they ran out of rations in the jungle. or the Central Highlands and operations in between. 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. (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. If you have a CIB, you do not need to verify stressors, so call the 1-800-827-1000 and tolerate the voice promptings/menu. but sofar nothing how many are reallyleft? Its called Mekong Protocol. As of the last Census taken during August, 2000, the surviving U.S. It got too overwhelming for me, there were so MANY. How many Flowers do you need for each level in June's journey? Did you know that is the day Ho Chi Minh died? MarDivPhoto on Oct 9, 2009 refers to the American War Museum website, and mike_brewer on Oct 12, 2009 refers to the Vietnam War Museum, both as the source of the number 850,000 living Vietnam veterans. Mike: Thanks for the unexpected note. he was back home in Texas he made it. Im 66 years old, going in to the hospital for the 4th time for more stents. Three weeks ago I suffered by 4th stroke, each attributed to ISD. As of 2015 approximately 16,000 17-year-olds were being enlisted annually. In 1970 received a letter from him Glamunyon@aol.com. I have a few observations, but I will let you all go first. Born: 04/07/1937. In my mind they were throwing out a SWAG. But the specter of Vietnam still lingers, and some of that wars veterans view such acts with a wary glance. More than nine million Americans served from Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975. "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. Then compare that report to the Tripler Psychologist report of a (get this) 5 minute interview. Patsy T. Mink, (U.S. House of Rep-Hawaii) get honored with a burial in Punchbowl. An overwhelming majority of Vietnam Veterans are male (6.2M) while in the civilian populaon females (47.7M) outnumber males by 20.5M. "It was surprising," he said, stressing the preliminary results could include false positives and that the research is ongoing. Mike 520-360-6933. Semper Fi. Had to fight the VA for years , Diabetes , neropathony and heart attack 14 years ago. Call me Pete. i mention the verified stressers, as i wonder if that could help in the decision on a cib. 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. I found out later I feel confident they will take care of you now. Did not know his name but I couldnt bring myself to walk by his A/O after this happened. 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. Have you tried to apply? The men who were drafted served and did their jobs well they were all soldiers. "I was in a state of shock," he said. I am not sure anyone will ever quantify the exact number of suicides. None of the enlisted grades have an average age of less than 20. They were not necessarily looking for a parade, but they were certainly looking for basic human support and help in readjusting to civilian life after this really brutal war.. 2017 Report on Race and Ethnicity 624,000 during World War II and throughout the Korean Conflict 1,475,000 Vietnam Era 6,651,000 0 2 4 6 8 10 2017 2022 2027 2032 2037 Millions World War Two Conflict in Korea Vietnam Era Gulf War Era. 1995 (census figures). I discovered the VA and local Vet center and was walked through the process to get compensation for PTSD and Diabetes. . Thus, a follow-up mo. How the hell can anyone answer this question? Alcohol induced psychosis and death from toxicity is not suicide, or is it? The only qualifier may be that there is a misunderstanding about what In Country means. So, we wonder eh? 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!!! So my main man at the DAV said were not going to appeal. and not one guy in my group had ever said that they were spit upon!! Criteria for Eligibility (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. Dan Bullock (December 21, 1953 June 7, 1969) was a United States Marine and the youngest U.S. serviceman killed in action during the Vietnam War, dying at the age of 15. at the time i wasnt concerned, though, some of the guys working as fos, who were planning on a military career, were trying to get cibs. losing nearly 711,000 between 95 and 00. Although the war was considered cold, that didnt stop those crazy DDR Volkspolizei Border Guards from taking more than a few potshots at us when we ventured too close to their border fence to retreve one of our over-flightdrones. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. So it is not so much the numbers as the age at which Vietnam Veterans pass on to glory. 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. I sorts blended in until I retired in 2003 and joined the CT First Cav Assoc and finally met groundpounders like muself. E-5Sent to W. Germany Nov 1966-Sept.67 ,Volunteered for Vietnam Nov. 1967-Sept 1968 9th Inf. 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. Meanwhile, all my friends were crying that they didnt even have money for transportation.cool news However the main reason for me using an AION kinah guide was to get the millions I needed to buy the best PvP gear at the brokers. Pete, be sure to ask your DAV guy if he thinks you have exhausted the Reconsideration process. In Country, that empty feeling was with me for years, until I worked for the Dept. Thanks to our Editor, Mark Evans, I have some raison de etre. Vietnam veterans hold a silent march down Pennsylvania Avenue past the White House here on April 22, 1971. At this rate there will be only a few of us alive in 2015. Mike: Served in the 5th SFGA 4th ID, and E/20th Inf from 69-71; went from E1 to E6 all in the 11B series. It was after returning to the U.S. and while en route to the hospital that Wowwk first encountered hostility as a veteran. Unlike conflicts with massive demobilizations, men came back from Vietnam by themselves rather than with their units or companies. There census number is quite high, but I do not think it is this high.). 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. Pete. I knew how to get more than enough for everything I needed. Why are my bok choy leaves turning yellow? The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there are roughly 7.2 million living veterans in the world today. Finally after 10 months found a job,human resources person said that they didnot mind hiring Vietnam Veterans .as long as I was not drug addict or involved in any war attrocities. As for the CAR, that might be another story. It is not BS. Ach, the memories. 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. I was a aircraft sheetmetal repairman. The veterans outreach counseling is good for PTSD Tx, etc. Its better than nothing. How many Vietnam War vets are left? Pretty hard to quantify those one car accidents at 2am, from the smell of diesel. Do you think there shouldnt be any baggage there? to ive been asked a few times over the years if im a combat vet. 7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam. The number of claims submitted reached 60 in 2017, up from 41 last year. sent back to the 4/18 artillery, the same unit I left in Germany. Bill. Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? Please look at his webpage: have similar data. I found out later after I got up that it was someone down the hall from me that shot himself. I never want to see another hurt person as long as I live. Guy C. Lamunyon Subject: Fwd: ED SCHULTZNATIONAL TALK HOSTDISABLED VET DENIED JUSTICE! Your email address will not be published. Often asked: What To Say In A Letter To A Veteran? Thank You. It would take nearly 20 years after the end of the war for America to get right with its Vietnam veterans. Jim and I flew from Da Nang, to Kadena Okinawa, and then after an attempt to fly out of Kadena in a Flying Tiger Line plane one of the 4 engines quit in mid-air, and we made an emergency landing back at Kadena, we stayed overnight and flew out in the same repaired airplane on to Travis A.F. We built houches in 1967. They may look appealing but can actually take up to 5 years to schedule a hearing. 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. Like our Vietnam Brothers, who followed a decade after us, there is a bond that can never be broken between us. FAQ: What Are My Benefits As A 100 Disabled Veteran? and were sometimes in more combat during their tour than the actual grunts they supported they still werent awarded the CIB. Originating from New York City, Tom Selleck. Commissioned in 1980 as a Behavioral Science Officer and went from 0-1 to 0-6 until I retired in 2005. According to an estimate by the New York Times, there were 8.4 million Vietnam veterans who were still alive in the year 2000.Of those, 1.1 million had passed away.It was also estimated that there will be a total of 138,000 Vietnam veterans who will pass away every year from this point forward.Editorial note from the administrator of the website: For me, the estimate from two years ago of 610 thousand seems to make the most sense. But what are you doing in addition to saying thank you?. When I first went to Vietnam in Nov. 1967 about 90% of the unit were made up of Too, it provides an excuse for missing the aforementioned date required by law. Greensburg, Indiana, U.S. Garwood was transferred to North Vietnam in 1969, and according to reports, he was freed in 1973 along with the other American prisoners of war as part of the Paris Peace Accords. Before you visit your local recruiter, be sure you meet the minimum qualifications for serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. I took her to Punchbowl and then she understood. This is a question as I have not been able to find the source of 13M+ falsely claiming to be RVN vets. A lot of them give me that blank stare like, 'You've got what?'". My girl friend thought I lost it. Do you have any statistics on how many of the so called BWN vets are coming down with AO related presumptive diseases. if you check the http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com and search the Obits section, you can see two of the most recent: I would like to see how much that differs from the civilian population and are they no. When I returned to the U.S. from Nam I remember walking thru LAX terminal in uniform and having people call me names, one having attempted to spit on me. 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. Where is the museum and website referred to as the source of the figure 800,000 living Vietnam veterans? Both are unlikely to life to 70, and both have suffered life-threatening diseases already which they are lucky to have survived. 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