9,087,000 (Million) 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. Veterans represented 9.7% of their generation. 240 men were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War
1. The first man to die in Vietnam was James Davis, in 1958. He was with the 509th Radio Research Station. Davis Station in Saigon was named for him.
2. 58,148 were killed in Vietnam
3. 75,000 were severely disabled
4. 23,214 were 100% disabled
5. 5,283 lost limbs
6. 1,081 sustained multiple amputations
7. Of those killed, 61% were younger than 21
8. 11,465 of those killed were younger than 20 years old
9. Of those killed, 17,539 were married
10. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years
11. Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old
12. The oldest man killed was 62 years old
13. As of January 15, 2004, there are 1,875 Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War
14. 97% of Vietnam Veterans were honorably discharged
15. 91% of Vietnam Veterans say they are glad they served
16. 74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome
17. Vietnam veterans have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet age groups
18. Vietnam veterans’ personal income exceeds that of our non-veteran age group by more than 18 percent
19. 87% of Americans hold Vietnam Veterans in high esteem
20. There is no difference in drug usage between Vietnam Veterans and non-Vietnam veterans of the same age group (Source: Veterans Administration Study)
21. Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison – only one-half of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes
22. 85% of Vietnam Veterans made successful transitions to civilian life
23. Interesting Census Stats and “Been There” Wanabees: a. 1,713,823 of those who served in Vietnam were still alive as of August, 1995 (census figures). b. During that same Census count, the number of Americans falsely claiming to have served in-country was: 9,492,958.
24. As of the current Census taken during August, 2000, the surviving U.S. Vietnam Veteran population estimate is: 1,002,511. This is hard to believe, losing nearly 711,000 between ’95 and ’00. That’s 390 per day.
25. During this Census count, the number of Americans falsely claiming to have served in-country is: 13,853,027. By this census, FOUR OUT OF FIVE WHO CLAIM TO BE Vietnam vets are not.
25. The Department of Defense Vietnam War Service Index officially provided by The War Library originally reported with errors that 2,709,918 U.S.military personnel as having served in-country. Corrections and confirmations to this errored index resulted in the addition of 358 U.S. military personnel confirmed to have served in Vietnam but not originally listed by the Department of Defense. (All names are currently on file and accessible 24/7/365).