Addition info. re Vietnam

Additional information about the USA and Vietnam1965 1968Addition info. re Vietnam

Additional info. re VietnamTroop escalation under LBJBy late March 65: US marines engaged in combatEnd of 65: 184K US military personnel in NamEnd of 66: 450KEarly 68: over 500K

Additional info re. Vietnam64-73: 11.7M Americans served in the armed forces2.1M were sent to Vietnam1.6M saw combatHowever, 26.8M US men came of draft age during the war the majority therefore avoided the military altogether. That said, c. 300K men were drafted each year between 65 and 68. Around 80% of US soldiers in Nam were from poor, working-class backgrounds. In 65, 24% of US combat deaths were black this dropped to 13% in 68. Most students received deferments until mid-68. Average soldier age was 19 (27 in WW2 and Korea).

Additional info. re VietnamUS Casualties (killed, wounded and missing)2.5K in 65 (relatively low in that year but rose alarmingly after that)33K by end of 66 (cumulative total)80K by end of 67130K by end of 68 (at the peak of US involvement)

Total (from Aug 64 to Jan 73): 47K battlefield deaths, plus 11K war-related deaths and 270K wounded.

51% of these 58K deaths were caused by small-arms fire.

(Korea comparison re US forces: 34K battlefield deaths, plus 21K other deaths and 103K wounded in 3 years from 1950-53).

Additional info. re VietnamOther casualtiesBy early 68, 220K enemy soldiers killed, compared to 13.5K US deaths (16 times the amount).64-73: 415K civilians were killed.However, North Vietnam had growing population (19M in 65). 200K young men came of fighting age in each year during the war. NVA had a reserve army of 500K. NV also helped by substantial military aid from USSR and China (c. $2 billion from 65 to 68).

Other issues re. US troopsAfter 1967 most US troops were not full combat troops but young men drafted into the armed forces43 per cent of US troops died in first 3 months of their tour1970 71 over 700 cases of fraggingDrug usage 1971 5,000 men treated in hospital for combat wounds and 20,000 for drug abuseDesertion 1966 73 503,000 cases of desertion