Myth: Common belief is that most Vietnam veterans were drafted.
Fact: 2/3 of the men who served in Vietnam were volunteers. 2/3 of the men who served in World War II were drafted. Approximately 70% of those killed in Vietnam were volunteers.
9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the official Vietnam era from August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975.
2,709,918 Americans served in uniform in Vietnam.
Vietnam Veterans represented 9.7% of their generation.
240 men were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War.
So many variables not covered in stats. My dad served in Vietnam in ’67 68. He never talked about it to me. But he had a lot a demons he carried with him and was unable to really be at peace. God bless all who answered the call to serve our country! Semper Fi!
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I often wondered when they say 2,709,918 people served in Vietnam, are they county the individual people or the tours? If an individual served three tours does that count as three people who served in Vietnam or does it count as one? My guess is that it counts as three. If so then I wonder just how many individuals really served in country.
Of the 2,709,918 who served in Vietnam I was 3 of them I had 3 tours and the Vietnam evacuation (Operation Frequent Wind). Like Ron asked were they counting individuals or tours?
I was half way through my tour when the lottery for my age group came up. My lottery number was way up on the 200’s. They were drafting to like 180 something. I would of never been drafted. Went on an Honor Flight last year and enjoyed it. People ask occasionally if I would go on a Vietnam tour. My answer? I go there severel times a day and almost every night. My brothers we are/were the best our generation had to give. For that we can be proud. Semper Fi. E4H5053! Over and out.
Hey Cpl. I have been ask the same question “Would I do it again?” I usually answer ” I don’t know.” The true answer is a 2 part answer.1) Under the same conditions the answer would be “Yes”. 2) Knowing what I know now the answer would be “Hell No” Nick 0311
I agree Nick. Knowing what I now know about the war there is no way I would go. Agent Orange ,PTS, plus all of the crap we got when we came home, NO way would I put myself through that again. Maybe if they let us win!? Paul S.
NICK. SAME HERE. FROM WHAT I KNOW NOW I WOULD HAVE RUN TO CANADA OR IRELAND WHERE I AM FROM. I WILL NEVER TRUST A POLITICAN EVER. THEY SCREWED US ALL AND ARE STILL DOING IT TODAY. BEING A MARINE WAS THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT VIETNAM. THAT AND THE GUYS I SERVED WITH.
NICK WELL SAID. SEMPER FI.
BRENDAN. 1ST MAW DANANG VIETNAM 1966 TO 1968.
Hey Nick, I wonder if Vets from any other Wars get ask that question? The first time I was ask that question was right after the Iraq War started. Another Vet ask me, “If they ask you to go, would you go?” Without hesitating a bit I said “Hell Yes!” Then he ask if i would do Vietnam over . My reply was “Only if they let us win.” SEMPER FI! Bill 0331
I am curious about the draftee statistic. Served in Vietnam is not the same as served in combat in Vietnam. I would like to know how many draftees were in the 0300 mos. In my platoon in Jan 1966 about 80 of the 110 men who started were draftees and most of them, including me, went to the 0300 mos. Seemed like two yrs was not enough to merit schooling so the majority of draftees went infantry. I was 0311.
Hey James, There is a guy in our Vets group drafted into the Marines and was a Combat Engineer. i do agree though, that most probably became “Grunts” Bill 0331
I was a drafted and went to radio school. I was a 2531 field radio operator. I went over with an artillery unit. While there I was a radio operator in a forward observer team. Called in the 105 rounds while attached to an infantry unit. I think everyone on the FO teams were draftees.
I was a drafted and went to radio school. I was a 2531 field radio operator. I went over with an artillery unit. While there I was a radio operator in a forward observer team. Called in the 105 rounds while attached to an infantry unit. I think everyone on the FO teams were draftees.
In 1950/51, we had the every 10th man draftees. I under stood that there were only 10,000. In my platoon, we had maybe 5 or 6. On completion of boot camp, 7 of us were sent to schools or state side postings the rest were basic 0311 and off to Pendleton.