Authors‎ > ‎Ron Pickett‎ > ‎

Sobering Statistics for the Vietnam War

posted Apr 14, 2016, 8:25 AM by Ron Pickett   [ updated Nov 3, 2017, 3:18 PM by Bruce Rowe ]

In case you haven't been paying attention these past few decades after you returned from Vietnam, the clock has been ticking. The following are some statistics that are at once depressing, yet in a larger sense, should give you a HUGE SENSE OF PRIDE. 


"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 veteran's age approximately 60 years old." 


So, if you're alive and reading this, how does it feel to be among the last 1/3rd of all the U.S. Vets who served in VietNam? I don't know about you guys, but it kinda gives me the chills, Considering this is the kind of information I'm used to reading about WWII and Korean War vets... 


So the last 14 years we are dying too fast, only the few will survive by 2025...if any. If true, 390 VN vets die a day. So in 2190 days...from today, lucky to be a Vietnam veteran alive... in only 6-10 years.














2,594,000 personnel served within the borders of South Vietnam (Jan. 1, 1965 - March 28, 1973). Another 50,000 men served in Vietnam between 1960 and 1964. 








Agent Orange is taking a huge toll on Vietnam Veterans with most deaths somehow related to Agent Orange exposure. No one officially dies of Agent Orange, they die from the exposure which causes ischemic Heart Disease and failure, Lung Cancer, Kidney failure or COPD related disorders. 






Hostile deaths: 47,378 

Non-hostile deaths: 10,800 



8 nurses died -- 1 was KIA. 


61% of the men killed were 21 or younger. 


11,465 of those killed were younger than 20 years old. 


Of those killed, 17,539 were married. 


Average age of men killed: 23.1 years 

Total Deaths: 23.11 years 

Enlisted: 50,274; 22.37 years 

Officers: 6,598; 28.43 years 

Warrants: 1,276; 24.73 years 

E1: 525; 20.34 years 

Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old. 

The oldest man killed was 62 years old. 












Missing in Action: 2,338 


POWs: 766 (114 died in captivity) 


As of January 15, 2014, there are 1,875 Americans still unaccounted for, from the Vietnam War. 








Reservists killed: 5,977 


National Guard: 6,140 served: 101 died. 


Total draftees (1965 - 73): 1,728,344. 




Last man drafted: June 30, 1973. 








12.5% (7,241) were black;


1.2% belonged to other races. 










34% of blacks who enlisted volunteered for the combat arms. 



























(Source: Veterans Administration Study) 




85% of Vietnam Veterans made successful transitions to civilian life. 










97% of Vietnam-era veterans were honorably discharged.





