Vietnam

A Tribute to our troops

The Vietnam War

was a military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1959 to 30 April 1975

"No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now. Rarely have so many people been so wrong about so much. Never have the consequences of their misunderstanding been so tragic."

The facts

91% of Vietnam Veterans say they are glad they served

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

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

97% were discharged under honorable conditions; the same percentage of honorable discharges as ten years prior to Vietnam

85% of Vietnam Veterans made a successful transition to civilian life.

87% of the American people hold Vietnam Vets in high esteem.

2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers

After that initial post-service period, Vietnam veterans were no more likely to die from suicide than non-Vietnam veterans. In fact, after the 5-year post-service period, the rate of suicides is less in the Vietnam veterans' group."

Myth: Most American soldiers were addicted to drugs, guilt-ridden about their role in the war, and deliberately used cruel and inhumane tactics.

Myth: Most Vietnam veterans were drafted.

Myth: The media have reported that suicides among Vietnam veterans range from 50,000 to 100,000 - 6 to 11 times the non-Vietnam veteran population.

Myth: The average age of an infantryman fighting in Vietnam was 19.

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Statistics from the Combat Area Casualty File (CACF) as of November 1993. The CACF is the basis for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall):

Combat Area Casualty File

Average age of 58,148 killed in Vietnam was 23.11 years. (Although 58,169 names are in the Nov. 93 database, only 58,148 have both event date and birth date. Event date is used instead of declared dead date for some of those who were listed as missing in action.

One man killed in Vietnam was only 16 years old

The oldest man killed was 62 years old

11,465 KIAs were less than 20 years old.

THE UNITED STATES DID NOT LOSE THE WAR IN VIETNAM, THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE DID after the U.S. Congress cut off funding. The South Vietnamese ran out of fuel, ammunition and other supplies because of a lack of support from Congress while the North Vietnamese were very well supplied by China and the Soviet Union.

Born Again American

Playing for Change

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