The Vietnam Special Operations Black Wall Fort Bragg, NC
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Source: U.S. Government (VA Web Site Stats)
Photos By: Gary Thomas
Photos By: Gary Thomas
- Vietnam Vets: 9.7% of their generation
- 9,087,000 Military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam Era. Aug. 5, 1964 - May 7, 1975.
- 8,744,000 GIs Were on active duty during the war. Aug. 5, 1964 - March 28, 1973
- 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.)
- 2,594,000 Personnel served within the borders of South Vietnam. Jan. 1, 1965 - Mar. 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.
- 7,484 Women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam.
- Peak troop strength in Vietnam: 543,482 (April 30, 1969)
- Hostile deaths: 47,378
- Non-hostile deaths: 10,800
- Total: 58,202 (Includes men formorley classified as MIA and Mayaguez Casualties.) Men who have subsequently died of wounds account for the changing total.
- 8 Nurses died - 1 was KIA
- Married men killed: 17,539
- 61% of the men killed were 21 or younger..
- Highest state death rate: West Virginia - 84.1 (National Average 58.9 for every 100,000 males in 1970.
- Wounded: 303,704 --- 153,329 Hospitalized + 150,375 Injured requiring no hospital care
- Severely disabled: 75,000-----23,214 100% Disabled; 5,283 Lost limb; 1,081 Sustained multiple amputations.
- Amputation or crippling wounds to the lower extremities were 300% higher than in WW II and 70% higher than Korea. Multiple amputations occurred at the rate of 18.4% compared to 5.7% in WW II.
- Missing in action: 2,338.
- POWs: 766 (114 Died in captivity.)
- 25% (648,500) Of total forces in country were draftees.
- Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of combat deaths in Vietnam.
- Reservist killed: 5,977
- National Guard: 6,140 Served; 101 Died
- Total draftees (1965-73): 1,728,344.
- Actually served in Vietnam 38%.
- Marine Corps Draft: 42,633
- Last man drafted June 30, 1973.
- 76% Of the men sent to Vietnam were from lower middle/working class backgrounds
- Three fourths had family incomes above the poverty level; 50% were from middle income backgrounds..
- Some 23% Of Vietnam Vets had fathers with proffessional, managerial, or technical occupations.
- 79% Of the men who served Vietnam had a high school education or better when they entered the military service. (63% Of Korean War Vets and only 45% of WW II Vets had completed high school upon separation).
- Deaths by region per 100,000 of population: South-31;
West-29.9; Midwest-28.4; Northeast-23.5.
- 88.4% Of the men who actually served in Vietnam were Caucasian; 10.6% (275,000) were Black; 1% belonged to other races.
- 86.3% Of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasian (Includes Hispanics); 12.5% (7,241) Were Black; 1.2% Belonged to other races.
- 170,000 Hispanics served in Vietnam; 3,070 (5.2% Of total) died there.
- 70% Of enlisted men killed were of Northwest European Descent.
- 86.8% Of the men who were killed as a result of hostile action were Caucasian; 12.1% (5,711) Were Black; 1.1% Belonged to other races.
- 14.6% (1,530) Of Non-Combat deaths were among Blacks.
- 34% OF Blacks who enlisted volunteered for the combat arms.
- Overall , Blacks suffered 12.5% of the deaths in Vietnam at a time when the % of Blacks of military age was 13.5% of the total population.
- Religion of dead; Protestant -- 64.4%; Catholic -- 28.9%; Other/None 6.7%
- 82% Of Veterans who saw heavy combat strongly believe the war was lost because of lack of political will.
- Nearly 75% Of the public agrees it was a failure of political will not of arms.
- 97% Of Vietnam Era Veterans were honorably discharged.
- 91% Of actual Vietnam War Veterans and 90% of those who saw heavy combat are proud to have served their country.
- 66% Of Vietnam Vets say they would serve again if called upon.
- 87% Of the public now holds Vietnam Veterans in high esteem.
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All B/W Photos On This Page By: Gary Thomas
Twan with his sister and friends.
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