As of 2020, there were approximately 6.3 million veterans of the United States military still alive who served during the period of the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1975. Around 8.75 million service personnel served during the war, with 40% of those stationed in Vietnam and the surrounding Southeast Asian countries.
In 1973, the United States listed 2,646 Americans as unaccounted for from the entire Vietnam War. By October 2022, 1,582 Americans remained unaccounted for, of which 1,004 were classified as further pursuit, 488 as non-recoverable and 90 as deferred.
Considering the kind of information available about the death rate of WWII and Korean War Veterans, publicized information indicates that in the last 14 years Vietnam veterans are dying at the rate of 390 deaths each day.
Today, Vietnam Veterans range in age from 61 to 103 years old.
A draft held TODAY would use a lottery to determine the order of call. Before the lottery was implemented in the latter part of the Vietnam conflict, there was no system in place to determine order of call besides the fact that men between the ages of 18 and 26 were vulnerable to being drafted.
History is who we are and why we are the way we are.. The oldest American soldier killed in the Vietnam War was 62 years old. He was very devoted to the service and to his country, Richard Hutchison said. Anyone can read what you share.
How old are the Vietnam War veterans today? Ages range between 55 and 97, but the median is 68 years old.
On average, Vietnam veterans in 2018 had roughly the same income as nonveterans their ages: $63,300 and $65,000, respectively. For veterans and nonveterans age 71—the modal, or most common, age of veterans—average income was also about the same.
The average age of the military men who died in Vietnam was 22.8 years old. Of the one hundred and one (101) 18 year old draftees who died in Vietnam; seven of them were black. Blacks accounted for 10.5 percent the combat deaths in Vietnam.
However, veterans groups estimate that today approximately 9 to 12 million Americans fraudulently claim they served in Vietnam.
William Nolde, the last American casualty of the Vietnam War. Army Col. Bill Nolde was killed by North Vietnamese artillery or rocket fire just hours after the peace treaty marking a formal end to the Vietnam War was signed on Jan. 27, 1973.
There are 1,582 Americans still unaccounted for, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Veterans, surviving family members and others dispute that number, however.
Of the nearly 1,600 Americans still unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War, hundreds are believed to be in a “non-recoverable” category, meaning after rigorous investigation DPAA has determined that the individual perished but does not believe it is possible to recover the remains.
The most publicized mental health challenges facing veterans service members are PTSD and depression. Some research has suggested that approximately 14% to 16% of U.S. service members deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq have PTSD or depression.
Veterans also don't share combat details because they fear their family's reaction, specifically rejection or pity. “If they knew what I had to do, what I am capable of, they will think I'm a monster.” Families often share frustration that Veterans are more willing to talk to each other than them.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined as having flashbacks, upsetting memories, and anxiety following a traumatic event. It was first officially recognized as a mental health condition in 1980, only five years after the end of the Vietnam War.
ARLINGTON, Va. - As one of the last remaining active-duty Guard members with service experience in Vietnam, Army Master Sgt. Leland Lesher said the most rewarding thing about his career is the view from the top while at the Army Guard headquarters.
Navy Veteran Calvin Leon Graham became the youngest World War II soldier at the age of 12, and the youngest recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. During World War II, it was not unusual for American boys to lie about their age in order to enlist.
While Vietnam veterans came home to an indifferent-to-hostile society, the biggest catalysts for homelessness were the lack of mental health care, addiction treatment and job training. Several of the root causes of homelessness were abundant among veterans at this time, and there were few resources to address them.
Errol was flown to hospital at Vung Tau in a medevac helicopter, but died shortly after arrival. Aged 21, he was the first National Serviceman to die in Vietnam.
Tough, battle-hardened South Korean troops were justly feared by Vietcong and North Vietnamese regulars alike during the Vietnam War.
Few Vietnam-era Marines are more storied than legendary sniper Carlos Hathcock. He didn't just his success by confirmed kills or the longest shots taken (though he held both records in his lifetime).