Vietnam War Facts

[David]

58,148 Americans were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.59 million who served.

The average age of those killed in Vietnam was 23.11 years.

50,274 were enlisted, average age 22.37.

The average infantryman in the South Pacific during World War II saw about 40 days of combat in four years. The average infantryman in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in one year, thanks to the mobility of the helicopter.

After Vietnam the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand managed to stay free of communism. The Indonesians expelled the Soviets in 1966.

During the Vietnam War the national debt increased by $146 billion (1967-1973). Adjusted for inflation, the debt in 1992 dollars was $500 billion.

6,598 were officers, average age 28.43.

91 percent of Vietnam veterans say they are glad they served.

74 percent said they would serve again even knowing the outcome.

1,276 were warrant officers (NCOs), average age 24.73 years.

11,465 were less than 20 years old.

From 1957 to 1973 the National Liberation Front assassinated 36,725 South Vietnamese and abducted 58,499. Death squads focused on leaders that included schoolteachers and minor officials.

The number of North Vietnamese killed was approximately 500,000 to 600,000. Casualties: 15 million.

One out of every 10 Americans who served in Vietnam was a casualty. Although the percentage who died is similar to other wars, amputations or crippling wounds were 300 percent higher than in World War II. 75,000 Vietnam veterans are severely disabled.

The Tet '68 offensive was a major defeat for the VC and the NVA.

Two-thirds of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers, two-thirds who served in World War II were draftees.

8 nurses died-1 was killed in action.

Vietnam Veterans represented 9.7% of their generation.

The suicide rate of Vietnam veterans has always been well within the 1.7% norm of the general population.

Non-hostile deaths: 10,800

Missing in action: 2,338

Men under the age of 21 killed: 61%

3,403,100 (including 514,300 offshore) personnel served in the Southeast Asia Theater (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, flight crews based in Thailand, and sailors in adjacent South China sea waters).

240 men were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam era.

POWs: 766 (114 died in captivity).

Wounded in action: 303,704

7,484 American women served in Vietnam. 6,250 were nurses.

9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the official Vietnam era (Aug.5, 1964-May 7, 1975).

Hostile deaths: 47,378

Severely disabled: 75,000--23,214 100% disabled; 5,283 lost limbs; 1,081 sustained multiple amputations.

Married men killed: 17,539

Average age of men killed: 22.8 years.

Highest political office attained by a Vietnam veteran to date: Vice President Al Gore.

Most successful Vietnam veteran/businessman to date: Frederick Smith of Federal Express.

79% of the men who served in Vietnam had a high school education or better when they entered the military service.

Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old.

The oldest man killed was 62 years old.

11,465 KIAs were less than 20 years old.

Vietnam Veterans represent 9.7% of their generation

8,744,000 GIs were on active duty during the war (Aug. 5, 1964 ? March 28, 1973)

2,594,000 personnel served within the borders of South Vietnam (Jan. 1, 1965 ? March 28, 1973)

Another 50,000 men served in Vietnam between 1960 and 1964

Of the 2.6 million, between 1 ? 1.6 million (40-60%) either fought in combat, provided close support or were at least fairly regularly exposed to enemy attack.

Peak troop strength in Vietnam: 543,482 (April 30, 1969)

Total draftees (1965-1973): 1,728,344

Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of combat deaths in Vietnam

National Guard: 6,140 served; 101 died

Last man drafted: June 30, 1973

97% of Vietnam veterans were honorably discharged

91% of actual Vietnam War era veterans and 90% of those who saw heavy combat are proud to have served their country

66% of Vietnam veterans say they would serve again if called upon

[Jerry D]

So on June 30 1973 the day after I turned 11 yrs old the last man was drafted thats a good fact to remember for a Bar Bet

[Andy]

I've thought about one thing for years. 304,000 WIA's. Do they count the Purple Hearts and subtract KIA's? If so the numbers would be way off due to some people having more than one Heart. PLEASE, no political comments.

Stay healthy,
Andy

[1CAVCCO15MED]

Not even counting the guys who didn't get hurt enough to get a Purple Heart or weren't put in for one due to lazy HQ people.

[Stick]

Where do these stats come from? Do they include those that the government won't even include as serving like those in Operation Raven in Laos, or are those troops just wiped off the slate and no longer exist?

[DMZ-LT]

I was severely hurt and several people were soaked in a tragic accident in a steam and cream outside Quang Tri in 1970 but I don't think it was reported. I had no idea it was so loaded :cl:

[SuperScout]

Thanks for posting these very relevant facts about us! This should put to rest some of the standard yet misinformed notions that we are a generation of drug-crazed, unemployed, homeless baby-killers. May the fleas from a thousand mangy Syrian camels infest the croutch of Oliver Stone.

[spectreguns]

Originally posted by SuperScout Thanks for posting these very relevant facts about us! This should put to rest some of the standard yet misinformed notions that we are a generation of drug-crazed, unemployed, homeless baby-killers. May the fleas from a thousand mangy Syrian camels infest the croutch of Oliver Stone.

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That would be redundant. They already infested the guy's cerebral cortex.

[David]

The Vietnam War has been the subject of thousands of newspaper and magazine articles, hundreds of books, and scores of movies and television documentaries. The great majority of these efforts have erroneously portrayed many myths about the Vietnam War as being facts. (Nixon Library)

Isolated atrocities committed by American soldiers produced torrents of outrage from antiwar critics and the news media while Communist atrocities were so common that they received hardly any attention at all. The United States sought to minimize and prevent attacks on civilians while North Vietnam made attacks on civilians a centerpiece of its strategy. Americans who deliberately killed civilians received prison sentences while Communists who did so received commendations. From 1957 to 1973, the National Liberation Front assassinated 36,725 South Vietnamese and abducted another 58,499. The death squads focused on leaders at the village level and on anyone who improved the lives of the peasants such as medical personnel, social workers, and schoolteachers. (Nixon Library)

Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison - only 1/2 of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes. (Westmoreland papers)

85% of Vietnam Veterans made a successful transition to civilian life.(McCaffrey Papers)

Vietnam veterans' personal income exceeds that of the same non-veteran age group by more than 18 percent. (McCaffrey Papers)

Vietnam veterans have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet age group. (McCaffrey Papers)
87% of the American people hold Vietnam Vets in high esteem.(McCaffrey Papers)

[David]

The statistics come from various sources including but not limited to: the McCaffrey Papers, the Westmoreland papers, the Combat Area Casualty File (the basis for the information listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, i.e. The Wall), Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Databases, and the Nixon Library.