| Some interesting numbers courtesy of CAPT Scott Beaton... These are the results of a new survey from THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL FUND Wash DC. It plays with preconceptions we may have about who Vietnam Veterans really are. VIETNAM WARRIORS A STATISTICAL PROFILE IN UNIFORM AND IN COUNTRY 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-March 28, 1973). Another 50,000 served in Vietnam between 1960 and 1964. Og 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). CASUALTIES Hostile deaths: 47,378. Non-hostile deaths: 10,800. Total: 58,202 (includes formerly classified as MIA and Mayaquez casualties), subsequently died of wounds account for the hanging 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 100,00 males in 1970). Wounded: 303,704-153,329 hospitalized,+ 150,375 injured requiring no hospital care. Severly disabled: 75,000-23,214 100% disabled; 5,283 lost limbs; 1,081 sustained multible amputations. Amputations or crippling wounds to the lower extremities were 300% higher than in WWII and 70% higher than in Korea. Multible amputations occured at the rate of 18.4% compared to 5.7% in WWII. Missing in Action: 2,338. POWs: 766 (114 died in captivity). DRAFTEES VS. VOLUNTEERS 25% (648,500) of total forces in country were drafees. (66% of US armed forces members were drafted during WWII). Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of combat deaths in Vietnam. Reservists killed: 5, 977. |
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