Apparently the longest-serving American in the Vietnam War was Robert Lewis Howard, who started his first tour in 1965 with the 101st Airborne Division, and went on to serve with the Special Forces and Military Assistance Command Vietnam/Studies and Observation Group (MACV/SOG), doing a record five tours of duty and
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How long did a soldier serve in Vietnam?
The majority of service members deployed to South Vietnam were volunteers, even though hundreds of thousands of men opted to join the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard (for three or four year terms of enlistment) before they could be drafted, serve for two years, and have no choice over their military occupational
Did any American soldiers stay in Vietnam after the war?
It’s estimated that tens of thousands of veterans have returned to Vietnam since the 1990s, mostly for short visits to the places where they once served. Decades after the fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) many former soldiers still wonder why they were fighting.
Who has served the longest in the military?
| John William Vessey Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Service/branch | Minnesota Army National Guard United States Army |
| Years of service | 1939–1985 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | Field Artillery Branch |
How many black soldiers served in Vietnam?
300,000 African-Americans
By lowering the education standards of the draft, an estimated 40% of the 246,000 draftees of Project 100,000 were Black. A total of 300,000 African-Americans served in Vietnam.
How long did Vietnam draftees serve?
two years
The draft was far from ideal as a source of military manpower. Because draftees served only for two years, it was not worthwhile putting them through long training programs. The technical specialties had to be filled with volunteers.
What did the Vietnamese call American soldiers?
American soldiers referred to the Viet Cong as Victor Charlie or V-C. “Victor” and “Charlie” are both letters in the NATO phonetic alphabet. “Charlie” referred to communist forces in general, both Viet Cong and North Vietnamese.
Who was on the last chopper out of Vietnam?
Washington| At 7.53am on April 30, 1975, a helicopter carrying Major James Kean and 10 Marine Security Guards departed from Saigon for the USS Okinawa. It was the last US helicopter out of Vietnam, in a mission known as Operation Frequent Wind to evacuate all remaining “at-risk” Americans from the Vietnam War.
What was the bloodiest battle in Vietnam?
The 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh was the longest, deadliest and most controversial of the Vietnam War, pitting the U.S. Marines and their allies against the North Vietnamese Army.
Who is the oldest active duty soldier?
Norman Marous at the time of his retirement, was the oldest, longest-serving noncommissioned officer in the United States Air Force, with 41-1/2 years of service.
Norman Marous.
| Chief Master Sergeant Norman Marous | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1943 (age 77–78) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Air Force |
Can I join the military at 45 years old?
Can I join the Army at 45 years old? Unfortunately, no. Under Federal law, the oldest a recruit can be to enter any branch of the military is 42 years old.
Who served the longest in the Marine Corps?
| Archibald Henderson | |
|---|---|
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1806–1859 |
| Rank | Colonel (Brevet Brigadier General) |
| Commands held | Commandant of the Marine Corps |
How many white soldiers died in the Vietnam War?
Of the 4953 Navy and Air Force casualties, both officer and enlisted, 4, 736 or 96% were white. Officer casualties of all branches were overwhelmingly white. Of the 7877 officer casualties, 7595 or 96.4% were white, 147 or 1.8% were black; 24 or .
What army division has the most casualties in Vietnam?
This article displays the highest percentage of casualties of American units, uncluding those that were totally wiped out as a efective force.
US units with most casualties per conflict.
| Unit | 1st Cavalry Division |
|---|---|
| Conflict | Vietnam War |
| Deployment | Aug 1965 – Aug 1972 |
| Total | 32,036 |
How many draftees died in Vietnam?
(66% of U.S. armed forces members were drafted during WWII). Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of combat deaths in Vietnam. Reservists killed: 5,977 National Guard: 6,140 served: 101 died. Total draftees (1965 – 73): 1,728,344.
How long was a tour of duty in Vietnam War?
All US military personnel serving in Vietnam during the Vietnam War were eligible for one R&R during their tour of duty (13 months for marines, 12 months for soldiers, sailors, airmen).
What ages were drafted in Vietnam?
Before the lottery was implemented in the latter part of the Vietnam conflict, there was no system in place to determine order of call besides the fact that men between the ages of 18 and 26 were vulnerable to being drafted. Local boards called men classified 1-A, 18-1/2 through 25 years old, oldest first.
When was the last person drafted for Vietnam?
The last draft call was on December 7, 1972, and the authority to induct expired on June 30, 1973.
What does Dinky Dau mean?
crazy
Dien-Cai-Dao: (Pronounced “dinky-dow”). Vietnamese for “crazy”. They say all Americans are a little dinky-dow and all Australians are beaucoup dinky-dow.
What is a hooch in Vietnam?
Hooch or hootch, Korean War and Vietnam War slang for a thatched hut or improvised living space (e.g., inside a sand-bagged bunker or improved “foxhole”)
What is Viet Cong slang for?
NLF Acronym for “National Liberation Front” (the communist guerrilla forces in South Vietnam). Also known as “Viet Cong.” NVA Acronym for “North Vietnamese Army” (officially called the People’s Army of Viet-Nam or PAVN).
