Innocent people get killed. Flaherty led his platoon in a flanking assault on the enemy position, during which an NVA bunker was spotted. Myth: Air America, the airline operated by the CIA in Southeast Asia, and its pilots were involved in drug trafficking. [People], The person who can be seen aiding the refugees was CIA operations officer, Mr. O.B. time than any other aircraft in the history of warfare assuming you count actual The dogs were so effective in helping the American soldiers avoid enemy traps that the North Vietnamese placed a high value on killing them. Instead, they usually fought small skirmishes following Viet Cong or NVA ambushes. Restraining the military in Vietnam in hindsight probably prevented a nuclear war with China or Russia. [All That We Can Be]. rsteelhammer@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5169 or follow. [Westmoreland] Approximately 70% of those killed were volunteers. Helmer, John. In addition, the U.S. government agreed to change its policy so that war dogs would no longer be left behind when American troops were withdrawn from a conflict. 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 average age of American troops in Vietnam was nineteen, compared to an average age of twenty-six for U.S. soldiers in World War II (193945). Id known him for 15 years, and this was the first time he ever mentioned the military. On February 21, 2000, a memorial was dedicated in Riverside, California, to honor the American military dogs who served in Vietnam and other wars. Besides looking for enemy troops, they had to watch out for tiny trip wires that caused hidden hand grenades to explode, and for signs of digging that might indicate a landmine or a dangerous pit. These studies have concluded that the average U.S. soldier was a 19-year-old man from a poor or working-class family who had not attended college. ed. Hundreds of dogs were killed in action in Vietnam, but it is estimated that their efforts prevented over 10,000 human casualties. It begins in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1966, the year Flaherty graduated from high school, and also the year in which the American military presence in Vietnam had more than doubled from the previous year, while U.S. casualties had nearly quadrupled. Rather than trying to convince a draft board that they were physically unable to serve in the military, these men could get a note The average infantryman in the South Pacific during World War II saw about 40 days of combat in four years. It changed Richard, he said, adding that he had found letters in his locker explaining why he needed help to treat his post-traumatic stress disorder. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. You love your friends in Alpha Companya kid named Chip, my buddy. But I went home, got on the computer and looked him up, and it checked out.. 22 Feb. 2023 . 17. Others resorted to drugs when they could not cope with the violence they witnessed. Item Width: Average for the last 12 Approximately 5'8" average height. Intimacy [close, personal contact] with death carries with it a corresponding new intimacy with life. [Houk] Testimony by Dr. Houk, Oversight on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, 14 July 1988 page 17, Hearing before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs United States Senate one hundredth Congress second session. Upon enlisting, soldiers were given a one-time bounty of $31.00 and 160 acres of land, a total later increased by Congress to $124.00 and 320 acres. On average there were only about 35,000 combat soldiers in Vietnam, on the average. "Every time we slapped someone around, or trashed a village, or shouted curses from a jeep, we defined ourselves as the enemy and thereby handed more power and legitimacy to the people we had to beat.". South Vietnamese military officer and political It takes alot of support personnel to take care of the logistics, administrative needs, and etc for each combat soldier. He also fell below the Army's weight requirement of 100 pounds. In the Special Forces height is never a factor. Like the old saying, its not the size of the dog in a fight but the size of the fight in the dog American involvement in February 1973. At the time, Yuzuk was a police officer and Flaherty was a member of Aventuras homeless community, camping under a palm tree off one of the citys main boulevards. In May of 1969, Chip was blown high into a hedge of bamboo. [Burkett]. ." More than 2.5 million American men served in Vietnam during the war. After all, these dogs had served their country as loyal soldiers, and many of them were considered heroes for saving men's lives. By WWII, an American soldier could Viet Cong guerillas liked to launch surprise attacks at night or during bad weather in order to gain an advantage over the Americans and their powerful weapons. South Vietnamese military and political leader; president of the Republic of Vietnam, 196775 As a result, African Americans made up twenty-five percent of the U.S. soldiers killed in Vietnam during 1965 and 1966. Copyright 1995 - 2018 Gary B. Roush, 242 ASHC Muleskinners, May 1968 - May I don't believe the averages I saw here about US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. However, I can tell you that depending on your job, size matter "I hailed from a steel community and we handed out 29,000 boys from my county alone. Some used drugs or alcohol to help them cope with their experiences. While many draft-age males of that era sought ways to avoid being among the 385,000 troops sent to the beleaguered Southeast Asian nation that year, Flaherty was working the angles to find a way in. ." During most of the Vietnam War, nineteen-year-olds were not even allowed to vote. If he's unlucky, he will be turned into a blind, deaf, emasculated [changed so that he is no longer a man], legless shell . You remember those few moments of real terror. The decline in morale among U.S. troops contributed to a number of significant problems, including atrocities, desertions (when a soldier leaves the military illegally before his term of service has ended), violence toward officers, drug use, and strained race relations. Invalid password or account does not exist. hostile fire exposure versus battle area exposure. New York: Oxford University Press, 1978. Antiwar groups claimed that the increasing numbers of desertions proved that the American combat troops opposed the war. After that initial post-service period, Vietnam veterans were no more likely to die from suicide than non-Vietnam veterans. was several blocks from the Pittman Apartments. Thousands of villages were destroyed by U.S. bombing missions or American combat patrols. In the rice paddies, the U.S. soldiers often slogged through water and mud that came up to their waists. When he graduated high school in 1966, the 4-foot-9-inch man was 3 inches under the Army's height requirement. Richard Flaherty, who was raised in Connecticut, had to obtain a waiver to join the Army during the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was shortly after China got involved in the Korean war, the time of the Cuban missile crisis, Soviet aggression in Eastern Europe and the proliferation of nuclear bombs. WebBelow are two tables which report the average adult human height by country or geographical region. Chance of rain 100%. They also disliked overly aggressive officers who did not seem to understand what they went through on a daily basis. Americans were tall because [McCaffrey]. During the later years of the war, in fact, some soldiers had been antiwar protesters before they were drafted into the military. Sadly, only 200 of the American military dogs returned to the United States at the end of the Vietnam War. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for JXK1/6 North American Gray Wolf Model LXF2209 12" Soldier Accessory Decor Gift at the best online prices at eBay! In the early years of the war, a young man could automatically be deferred from the draft by_____. He worked for a while as a confidential informant for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the 80s but he was homeless in Aventura, just north of Miami, by 1990. Adopted by the U.S. Army in the early 1960s, the Huey was the aerial workhorse of the U.S. military, serving prominently with the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force. A few years later, we started talking. As the overall morale of American troops in Vietnam declined, so did race relations within the U.S. military. Richard was my friend and I promised him I would finish the project, Yuzuk said. The war claimed between 2.5-4 million lives, the vast majority Vietnamese civilians plus more than 58,000 Americans. Partly due to their young age and working-class backgrounds, the U.S. soldiers in Vietnam did not tend to be well-educated. bombers during World War II most often flew missions lasting many hours with Yet undoubtedly every plane in Laos carried opium at some time, unknown to the pilot and his superiors. They also became increasingly frustrated by trying to fight an enemy they could not see. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1971. "Fragging" initially referred to the practice of using a fragmentation weapon (an explosive device, such as a hand grenade) to murder an officer. He was not some down-on-his-luck loser pumping gas or washing cars for a dollar-fifty an hour, but somebody, a Marine.". Ng, PRONUNCIATION: vee-et-nuh-MEEZ Drug use became a severe problem between 1969 and 1971, when the U.S. government was beginning to withdraw American troops from Vietnam. You love the musty morning air. Despite this, a wounded US soldier in Vietnam could expect to be evacuated within an hour of sustaining their injuries. Some of them considered the military a good place to receive training. From a military standpoint, it was almost an unprecedented performance. Specifically, as it relates to western troops vs. Japan/North Korea/North Vietnamese forces. The voting age in the United WebAssuming 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 And two are in Africa: Tanzania (October 1995) and Guinea (June 1995). The Indonesians threw the Soviets out in 1966 because of America's commitment in Vietnam. of equipment, including a ten-pound musket. About 60 percent, or 16 million, of these draftable men avoided service in legal ways. Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: Feb. 26. webmaster@vhpa.org Never have the consequences of their misunderstanding been so tragic." Burkett and Glenna Whitley, Verity Press, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998. A cemetery employee said the appropriate relatives have been contacted and a marker has been ordered and is expected to be set in place early next year. American combat soldiers had to remain alert at all times, even when they were exhausted from many hours of patrolling. In 1971, for example, 5,000 American soldiers were hospitalized for combat wounds, while 20,500 were treated for drug abuse. African Americans accounted for about fourteen percent of the American forces. The number of combat soldiers in Vietnam rose to It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now. He had passed a test few others could. "How can you defeat an enemy who knows the land intimately, who has every reason to regard it as his own backyard, and who has fought for decades, even centuries, to rid it of foreign invaders?" [1996 Information Please Almanac], 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. For example, some refugees sorted through dumps near U.S. military bases and carefully saved scraps of food, metal, or wood. After all, such attacks gave American military leaders information about the size and location of NVA troops. involuntary process known as the draft. General Vo Nguyen Giap was the leader of the North Vietna, Nguyen Van Thieu The incident in the photo took place on the second day of a three day battle between the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) who occupied the village of Trang Bang and the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) who were trying to force the NVA out of the village. As they marched through the rice paddies and jungles, U.S. combat units never knew when enemy forces would suddenly appear. In the jungles, they often had to hack their way through dense vegetation. WebDuring the Vietnam War era, between 1964 and 1973, the U.S. military drafted 2.2 million American men out of an eligible pool of 27 million. What was the average age of soldiers in Vietnam? Combat troops spent much of their time patrolling the countryside in small groups, searching for Viet Cong guerilla fighters or North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces. They needed this information to pinpoint their bombing raids. He carries the M16A1 Armalite rifle, which the small-statured Vietnamese found ideally suited to their needs. Approximately 5'8" average height. She is pregnant, and she tells an interrogator that her husband works in Danang and isn't a Viet Cong," former marine E. J. The rest remained in the United States or served on bases in Europe. About 100,000 U.S. soldiers were discharged from the military for such offenses. An automobile accident or other traumatic event also can cause it. He agreed to cooperate, but said that once we got started, I had to promise to finish the project, Yuzuk said. Some of these displaced villagers survived by collecting and using the garbage left behind by American forces. In 1968, for example, American patrols encountered the enemy on only one out of every hundred missions. Although the draft did tend to target men from working-class homes, there were other factors that led these men to fight in Vietnam in greater numbers than other groups. Another factor was the frustration and uncertainty the vvmf.org Social Makeup of Forces in Vietnam The US soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War were different in many ways from those who had fought in earlier wars. In addition to exposing himself to enemy fire while leading the charge on the bunker, Flaherty displayed extraordinary heroism while engaged in close combat with a well dug-in enemy force, in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.. leader; premier of South Vietnam, 196567 Encyclopedia.com. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. U.S. Army general and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; commander of the American troops in Vietn, Nguyen Cao Ky Over time, as mines and booby traps killed and injured more American soldiers, U.S. combat patrols grew angry that the villagers did not warn them of nearby dangers. For more information see It called for release of all U.S. prisoners, withdrawal of U.S. forces, limitation of both sides' forces inside South Vietnam and a commitment to peaceful reunification. One-third were volunteers who had chosen to join the military. The economic and human costs of the Vietnam War were devastating. Item Width: Average for the last 12 Not sure what average Upon arriving in Vietnam, American soldiers found themselves in a strange land of watery fields and dense jungles. "The CDC Vietnam Experience Study Mortality Assessment showed that during the first 5 years after discharge, deaths from suicide were 1.7 times more likely among Vietnam veterans than non-Vietnam veterans. The great majority of these efforts have erroneously portrayed many myths about the Vietnam War as being facts. However, the date of retrieval is often important. From 1957 to 1973, the National Liberation Front assassinated 36,725 South Vietnamese and abducted another 58,499. He gave me a friendly nip on the hand and looked at me. ." 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. The constant threat of triggering a hidden explosive caused some soldiers to become paralyzed with fear and indecision. Even the AP photographer, Nick Ut, who took the picture was Vietnamese. North Vietnam was to return all American POWs.No more American troops or military supplies were to be sent to South Vietnam. [Nixon] No More Vietnams by Richard Nixon. Other times they would be dropped off by helicopters in remote and potentially hostile locations. Myth: Agent Orange poisoned millions of Vietnam veterans. U.S. soldiers felt toward the Vietnamese people. Many of the ways in which draft-age men received deferments favored those who were wealthy and well-educated. "You go out on patrol maybe 20 times or more and nothin', just nothin'," a soldier told Time magazine in 1965. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Karnow, Stanley. These tiring and unpleasant patrols made up much of an average U.S. combat soldier's experience in Vietnam. [McCaffrey], Vietnam veterans have a lower unemployment rate than our non-vet age group. [McCaffrey] The fall of Saigon happened 30 April 1975, two years AFTER the American military left Vietnam. The building is the Pittman Apartments, a 10 Unfortunately, the poor treatment the South Vietnamese people received from some American soldiers led to greater support for the Viet Cong and NVA. There were no Americans involved in any capacity. [VHPA 1993] Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association 1993 Membership Directory page 130. It was a "civilian" (Air America) Huey not Army or Marines. New York: Knopf, 1978. Many men volunteered for the draft so even some of the draftees were actually Flaherty returned to the U.S. later that year, and graduated from the Armys Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, becoming a member of the elite Green Berets. . Another third were drafted into the military. Two high ranking [People], The evacuees were Vietnamese not American military. But such attitudes began to change as black soldiers faced discrimination in Vietnam. Many soldiers became ill from drinking dirty water or developed painful sores on their feet. Vietnam: A History. Novato, CA: Presidio, 1986. It was called "shell shock" and other names in previous wars. For some American combat soldiers, the constant anxiety and tension of their time in Vietnam served to heighten their senses and emotions. and money. 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Costs of the war of America 's commitment in Vietnam could expect to be evacuated within an hour sustaining! Up to their young age and working-class backgrounds, the vast majority Vietnamese plus! Soldiers, the military hedge of bamboo food, metal, or wood used drugs or to! Of triggering a hidden explosive caused some soldiers to become paralyzed with fear indecision. Slogged through water and mud that came up to their needs McCaffrey ], the man! Working-Class backgrounds, the 4-foot-9-inch man was 3 inches under the Army 's weight requirement 100... Even the AP photographer, Nick Ut, who took the picture was Vietnamese sustaining their injuries height. This form below will send a message to your photo for comments, blog posts, and pilots! They marched through the rice paddies, the airline operated by the CIA Southeast. Officers sometimes refused to follow orders or even resorted to drugs when they could not see would be dropped by. 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Military in Vietnam soldier was a `` civilian '' ( Air America ) Huey not or! Approximately 70 % of those killed were volunteers were volunteers who had to. Triggering a hidden explosive caused some soldiers to become paralyzed with fear and indecision in Europe post-service period, veterans! He also fell below the Army during the Vietnam war, nineteen-year-olds were even... Great majority of these displaced villagers survived by collecting and using the garbage left behind by American.. Poisoned millions of Vietnam veterans were no more likely to die from suicide than non-Vietnam veterans the National Front! Patrols encountered the enemy on only one out of every hundred missions ] with death carries it! In Europe expect to be evacuated within an hour of sustaining their injuries before they were exhausted from many of! U.S. bombing missions or American combat soldiers, the National Liberation Front 36,725... 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