What was it like to be a soldier in Vietnam War?

Vietnam War soldiers endured many hardships and faced many problems. Combatants on both sides faced physical challenges posed by the climate, terrain and wildlife of the country. They also struggled with logistical problems and the complex political situation in Vietnam.

What were the odds of a soldier dying in Vietnam?

One out of every 10 Americans who served in Vietnam was a casualty. 58,148 were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.7 million who served. Although the percent that died is similar to other wars, amputations or crippling wounds were 300 percent higher than in World War II.

What did soldiers in Vietnam do for fun?

Reading paperback books, and playing cards was common (Gambling). Fishing in rivers was popular, some GI’s hunted deer and other small game (no fishing/hunting license REQUIRED!).

What did Vietnam soldiers suffer from?

Recent studies have found a high prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Vietnam War veterans. Even decades after the war, there are still approximately a quarter of a million Vietnam Veterans that are suffering from PTSD symptoms.

Why was fighting in Vietnam so difficult?

Explanation: Firstly most of the war was fought as a guerrilla war. This is a type of war which conventional forces such as the US army in Vietnam, find notoriously difficult to fight. The Americans, laden down with conventional weapons and uniform were not equipped to fight in the paddy fields and jungles.

Who was the youngest soldier killed in Vietnam?

Bullock
On June 7, 1969, Bullock was killed by small arms fire while on night watch at An Hoa combat base. He was 15 years old and had been in-country nearly one month. He was the youngest American service member to be killed in the Vietnam War.

What was daily life like for soldiers in the Vietnam War?

The Life of a GI in Vietnam was very boring when not in combat, or on patrol. Depending on what group or specialty the soldier was, he had different jobs to carry out after his “main day’s work” was finished. Grunts: Eating and sleeping were the main focuses of GI’s in the field.

How many American soldiers died in the Vietnam War?

In the course of the Vietnam War, 58,220 American soldiers died or were missing and presumed dead. Of these, over two-thirds died between 1967 and 1969. In the war as a whole, 444,000 Communist soldiers and 225,000 American-allied soldiers were killed.

How many American deaths in Vietnam?

A total of 58,209 Americans died in the Vietnam War. Of these, 47,424 are listed as combat deaths, and 10,785 are listed as being killed in other circumstances. In addition, 2,489 Americans are listed as missing. The Vietnam War ranks fourth among U.S. wars in most Americans killed.

What age were most soldiers during the Vietnam War?

The average age of American troops in Vietnam was nineteen, compared to an average age of twenty-six for U.S. soldiers in World War II (1939-45). During most of the Vietnam War, nineteen-year-olds were not even allowed to vote. The voting age in the United States changed from twenty-one to eighteen in 1971.