Yes some do fabricate stuff. These are indeed some very sobering statistics. But no one spoke of the incident, nor was the media permitted to cover it as WE did not have missiles yet and did not want to alarm the public. "You didn't have to go fighting.". Ill never ware a baseball cap again ever! got rocketed big time because it was the start of the TET offensive. ) Vietnam veterans hold a silent march down Pennsylvania Avenue past the White House here on April 22, 1971. I have had cancer in the crease of my neck were a knot on a kerchief rubbed, and sores in my scalp were the canvas of the helmet sat on my head. Still have those dreams that creep in and keeps me awake for the rest of the night Did not know his name but I couldnt bring myself to walk by his A/O after this happened. The excess mortality, especially through motor vehicle accidents, suicide, homicide, and accidental poisonings, occurred mainly in the first 5 years after discharge from active duty and involved. "I didn't think it would be me.". I welcomed 2 Marines back home and they returned the gesture. I was a Medic with the 93rd Evac. Vietnam veterans are reaching a point in their lives where they may be retired, losing the past support systems of family and friends, susceptible to depression and prime candidates for. Can you provide more information on this? Dear Friends abd fellow vets, It would take nearly 20 years after the end of the war for America to get right with its Vietnam veterans. If you fought in Vietnam you were watching your . Some pilots, career men and members of elite units may have been much older. I never want to see another hurt person as long as I live. Subject: Fwd: ED SCHULTZNATIONAL TALK HOSTDISABLED VET DENIED JUSTICE! He and I just emailed each other on Jan. 2, 2011. I too have found the Veterans War Museum to be a bit odd at times. When I first went to Vietnam in Nov. 1967 about 90% of the unit were made up of Can you put dead flowers in food waste bin? I served in Nam 68-69 with Shore Party detached to the 5th Marines in An Hoa. and told our stories we had a good laugh, just laughed our asses off went to the god bless america,and our veterans. i was as directly involved in the fighting as anyone else in e-troop. They have since been removed and for now he's doing well. So long ago-time tames the memories and makes them Kind!!!! Sit in a barbers chair, and let another person cut my hair. He said the approval came right after his doctor wrote a letter saying his bile duct cancer was "more likely than not" caused by liver flukes from the uncooked fish he and his unit in Vietnam ate when they ran out of rations in the jungle. Born: 01/29/1945. God bless you guys for your sacrifice. Check out the VA web-site and your local Vet Center. I spent nearly thirty years as an officer and still teach them. Thus, a follow-up mo. DANang Its called Mekong Protocol. 2017 Report on Race and Ethnicity 624,000 during World War II and throughout the Korean Conflict 1,475,000 Vietnam Era 6,651,000 0 2 4 6 8 10 2017 2022 2027 2032 2037 Millions World War Two Conflict in Korea Vietnam Era Gulf War Era. After reading your article, were lucky to have him. This study was limited by the relatively short follow-up and the young age of the veterans. More than nine million Americans served from Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975. He would not comment on the findings, but said everyone who tested positive was notified. Can you send flowers anonymously through 1800flowers? Hey Mike: We Cold War vets that were stationed in-country, posted in HeilbronnGermany in the 1950s that were proudly servingas part ofthe Alpiners of the502nd ASA Group, gathering intel from those godless, heathen East Germans and Soviets, had their share of hardships too. Like our Vietnam Brothers, who followed a decade after us, there is a bond that can never be broken between us. HEROLD, W.Va. A half century after serving in Vietnam, hundreds of veterans have a new reason to believe they may be dying from a silent bullet test results show some men may have been infected by a slow-killing parasite while fighting in the jungles of Southeast Asia. Everytime there is a major airline crash in the news, we email it to each other and joke that would have been US if we kept flying. You must (with very few exceptions) have a high school diploma. Age 67. tell me what you think about the article I just wrote about former Senator Alan Simpson, at TucsonCitizen.com His comments about Agent Orange victims are going to keep me up nights! and not one guy in my group had ever said that they were spit upon!! Mike you write well and to get to core issues. He led his men on operations that lasted 30 days or more in some of Vietnams most inhospitable conditions, without shaving, bathing or changing clothing. A fellow soldier in the 134th assault helicopter company with me shot and killed himself just down the hall from where I slept while I was sleeping. The VA rejected 80 percent of the requests, but decisions often appeared to be haphazard or contradictory, depending on what desks they landed on, the AP found. He gets cremated and tossed into the ocean with no fanfare. This is an awsome blog, I am glad I have found it. Criteria for Eligibility According to the DVA 490,135 in country Vietnam Veterans died during the years 2000-2007 and that translates to approximately192 per day. They were not necessarily looking for a parade, but they were certainly looking for basic human support and help in readjusting to civilian life after this really brutal war.. All my Vet friends died from suicide, cancer, heart attack (drinking themselves to death). ps does not receiving a cib mean im not a combat vet? It was Bob Kerrey. Not everyone boosts about how there home comming was and there are those who would like to leave that chapter behind them. I took her to Punchbowl and then she understood. (Reuters Health) - Higher than average death rates among VietnamWar veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggest that combat trauma may still be affecting veterans' health even decades after the war, according to a new study. Although I have to plan most everything I do so as to avoid the things that still bother me..-I started looking up my VN buddies a few years ago,, so far Ive located 10 men that was in my CompanyTalk to them on a regular basis.Bad part is that out of the 10 men 7 of us have major mental and physical problems. How Many Veterans Are Enrolled In College? Garwood is sometimes identified as the last documented American prisoner of war from the Vietnam War. society. dont know about Yer pal, Ferraeri Bubba. MarDivPhoto on Oct 9, 2009 refers to the American War Museum website, and mike_brewer on Oct 12, 2009 refers to the Vietnam War Museum, both as the source of the number 850,000 living Vietnam veterans. It wasnt a bad idea at all, as Ive learned everything on the Kinah making aspect in this game. Like I always said .we died in Nam , just havent fallen over yet.Too bad all the imposters dont die just as quick or quicker. Base, then to NY. He was among those who got the call. Names were called, Vets were spit on, along with not being respected by our own did happen. Do you think there shouldnt be any baggage there? How long will flowers last in wet floral foam? 7512 Do you have any statistics on how many of the so called BWN vets are coming down with AO related presumptive diseases. So the last 14 years we are dying too fast, only the few will survive by 2025. Bill Ray/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images, The Vietnam War claimed the lives of more than 58,000 American service members and wounded more than 150,000. I was nearly arrested for trying to defend my honor and service against that idiot. See for yourself in 2000 there were 2.7 million Vietnam Veterans alive: http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/c2kbr-22.pdf Im 66 years old, going in to the hospital for the 4th time for more stents. I have heard to many times of other shipmates getting ischemic heart disease or diabetes I for one had a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery but no boots on the ground. Of the 50 blood samples submitted, more than 20 percent came back positive or bordering positive for liver fluke antibodies, said Sung-Tae Hong, the tropical medicine specialist who carried out the tests at Seoul National University in South Korea. I take ware hearing aids and to this day Im always vigilant when Im out always I have a few observations, but I will let you all go first. Of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam, less than 850,000 are estimated to be alive today, with the youngest American Vietnam veterans We returned home to an uncertain future with no skills needed in the civilian world, we would make our way the best we could in this Lets all prove the stats wrong. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. I have written letters for soldiers I personally witnessed in combat situations and almost all were evaluated and received long over-due compensation. Went looking for a new job,on foot walking many miles every day,but when they foung out that i was a vietnam veteran they would not hire me.Some would ask if I was a Drug addict 0r killed people etc. VA said not related to Agent Orange. Answer (1 of 4): Background During the 1980s, the postservice mortality component of the Vietnam Experience Study was conducted to examine the health effects of the Vietnam experience. Ischemic heart problems. Look upon myself as a well Ive been filing for years without luck despite having cardiac bypass surgery in my 40s and repeated stent implants, etc., etc., since then. Vietnam Veterans may be eligible for disability compensation benefits because of exposure to Agent Orange. This is a question as I have not been able to find the source of 13M+ falsely claiming to be RVN vets. Their is a ton of it online everywhere. If true, 390 VN vets die a day so in 2,190 days from today, I am a Marine Vietnam Vet (6/67-7/68) & a MarineDesert Shield/Storm Vet. Deborah Grassman, who has cared for 10,000 dying vets as a hospice nurse practitioner at the V.A. This is hard to believe, You can reach me at JasonGunn20@yahoo.com. It was apparently based on an estimate that 800,000 Vietnam-era veterans had died by 2000. Ages range from 97 to 55 years old (born between 1918 and 1960). Semper Fi. Starting to live with zest at 60 aint so bad. A group of amputee Vietnam veterans talk together at a hospital in San Francisco, California, 1967. What seeds should I start indoors in February. The reporting found that about 700 veterans with cholangiocarcinoma have been seen by the VA in the past 15 years. "It was surprising," he said, stressing the preliminary results could include false positives and that the research is ongoing. We could not understand getting letters from school kids, says Langenus, also a veteran of Desert Storm. OK I also am wary of statistics thrown out on the web, being a former Marine and a Viet Nam Vet I looked up the numbers from one of the sources indicated.. found that the Naval Health Institute who crunches no. Seventeen year-old James Calvin Ward was one of them. I always say welcome home to a vietnam vet. FAQ: What Are My Benefits As A 100 Disabled Veteran? but sofar nothing how many are reallyleft? The Vietnam veterans, we couldnt believe it. It got too overwhelming for me, there were so MANY. They cannot deny your ISD. And approximately 164,000 Americans who served at sea in Vietnam waters are alive today. They quickly filed paperwork with the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, for disability payments. I came back from nam in January of 70.Got out September remember being called a baby killer,monster etc ,was not spit on ,but had I been would have given back a proper response.When I came back was wearing my medals and CIB etc. I guess its a compliment to us allthat all these wannabees are prentnding to be vets but I still get pizzed at them when I figure them out after a few beers in a bar or whatever. Lost a friend after a going away party when he took one last flight the day after the party. Less than half of them submitted claims for service-related benefits, mostly because they were not aware of a possible connection to Vietnam. Age: 75. Three weeks ago I suffered by 4th stroke, each attributed to ISD. Its better than nothing. best regards. Heres the rub. "I was in a state of shock," he said. According to an estimate by the New York Times, there were 8.4 million Vietnam veterans who were still alive in the year 2000.Of those, 1.1 million had passed away.It was also estimated that there will be a total of 138,000 Vietnam veterans who will pass away every year from this point forward.Editorial note from the administrator of the website: For me, the estimate from two years ago of 610 thousand seems to make the most sense. american legion of purple hearts. Sorry about the delay here in answering. i just found out that they will not cover navy personal that didnt go ashore & do have agent orange in there blood . How old did you have to be to be drafted in Vietnam? http://501medmen.bizhosting.com Still, it seems to me that Vietnam veterans who were junior enlisted men or junior officers have died in larger than average numbers already compared to their non-veteran peers, and are likely to continue to do so. I was married for 30 years, then divorced now for 10. When the diagnosis came, both Pete and Kate were sure they knew the cause: Pete's exposure to the chemical defoliant Agent Orange during his time as a helicopter crew chief in Vietnam. Best wishes, I just watched a VN movie about the Hanoi Hilton.. Its better than them walking away and not even recognizing you. My English teaching assistant at the U of A, in 1971, called me a baby killer, and spat on the ground. As of the year 2015, around 1,600 of those individuals were still considered unaccounted for. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), which is part of the United States Department of Defense, reports that there were a total of 687 American prisoners of war who survived the Vietnam War. THERS IS ONLY ONE KIND OF COMBAT VET..ONEWHOWAS IN COMBAT. Protestors demonstrate for full benefits for all US veterans, including Vietnam War veterans in July, 1974. One tactic employed was the use of booby traps, and to this day, there are several tunnels and ambushes that have been preserved. I get to testify and present them with the story of a 20 y/o medic carrying dead and wounded around for 14 months in country. we went to the 1st sargent and he said ok. i went out for 7 or 8 mo. However, the unit is most well-known for its exploits during the Vietnam War, which took place between 1955 and 1975. I knew how to get more than enough for everything I needed. No one can do a C & P exam in that short of time. In war, there are no unwounded soldiers My room mate was nick named Budda in the 134th. Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? I may be crazy but Im not stupid. You must be at least 17 years old (17-year-old applicants require parental consent). Astonishing! Why are my bok choy leaves turning yellow? (Reuters Health) - Higher than average death rates among Vietnam War veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggest that combat trauma may still be affecting veterans' health even decades after the war, according to a new study. I work with veterans all the time and thought you might find it interesting (if you didnt know already) that any Vietman Vet who served in country and who develops Parkinsons Disease, Lou Gehrigs disease, or a number of other illnesses is assumed tohave been exposed to Agent Orange and AUTOMATICALLY qualfies for Service Connected Disability. Endemic in the rivers of Vietnam, the worms can easily be wiped out with a handful of pills early on, but left untreated they can live for decades without making their hosts sick. After all these past years, Ive never left country,took me years to live again. Ive been trying for 17 years now. Thats 390 per day. I was spat on in Chicago in Lincoln Park in 1969. According the them there was a giant wall that stopped all aerial spraying and river flow from the rivers into the Gulf of Tonkin where we got our drinking, cooking and bathing water just like the Aussie sailors in the Gulf the Aussie government through scientific studies found that drinking the water from the Navy desalination processors actually concentrated the dioxins rather than filter them out. How do you say let's keep in touch professionally? Pete, be sure to ask your DAV guy if he thinks you have exhausted the Reconsideration process. Says here, 2047. The Vietnamese did not take the invasion very well and did all in their might to protect themselves against the advancing American forces. Im a former member of the 173rd Abn Bde-First (Army) in VNam from The Rock i just learned, they are going to give me 40% for a couple things. Lincoln, Nebraska is where I call home. Celebrations aside, the government also failed to make good on its promises to those who served. By June, Wowwk had been wounded twicethe second time seriouslyand was sent back to the United States for treatment at Bostons Chelsea Naval Hospital. Combat Medic With the internet and sites like this, Im hoping to hear from someone I served with Needless to say neither of us flew again after that, he is 100% PTSD . Pu u Owaina in Hawaiian. I dont have any but ONE Viet Vet friend still alive, he and I served in Marines 1st marine Airwing, 1967 at Da Nang Air Base and left the day befor TET offensive started Jan 1, 1968. I heard a pop and at that time guys used to mess with pin flairs so when I was awaken by a popping sound I thought it was a pin flair going off. In Country, that empty feeling was with me for years, until I worked for the Dept. (Reuters Health) - Higher than average death rates among Vietnam War veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggest that combat trauma may still be affecting veterans' health even decades after the war, according to a new study. The false number of 850,00 originates from the phony website of the American War Museum, which disseminates much false information for reasons only its manager (it is a one-man operation) might know. 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