Vietnam Reflections
 
 
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The Point April 2010
-The Point-
Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
Chapter 172
17 N. Liberty Street
Phone 1-777-7001 Cumberland, Maryland 21502-2316 FAX 1-301-777-7041
1-800-482-VETS Email vva172@atlanticbbn.net
The First Chapter in the State of Maryland – The Gold Standard
April 2010
2010 Chapter Election Results
The votes are in and the outcome is Official these are your Chapter Officers and Board of Directors for 2010-2011
President. Bobby Cook unopposed
First Vice President .Steve Parsons unopposed
Second Vice President…RogerKrueger 44 votes Carl Garlitz 34 votes
Secretary…Bill Lange unopposed
Treasurer…Stan Kline unopposed
Board of Directors 6 positions
Chip Sours------------------66 “votes”
Joe Brennan-----------------63
Bob Peck---------------------62
Chip Bosley------------------58
Rodger Long----------------55
Jim Williams----------------55
Dave Shaulis----------------53 not elected
A total of 84 members showed up to cast their votes. All in all things went pretty smooth. Hopefully we can all continue to work as a team and move forward with the Chapter.
Spending Our Money
Editorial Opinion
It seems in these times of tight money and fiscal imbalances that the State of Maryland is a disaster that is waiting to happen, or maybe not even waiting anymore. We the veteran community knows all about the shortcomings of our government at both state and National levels. But for the time being let’s talk about the problems right here in Maryland.
First of all I would like the people in Annapolis to take a close look at the geographical shape of Maryland. There isn’t anyplace in this state that you are not within an hours drive of the State line. In the western end of the state from Hagerstown to Garrett County it is just a matter of a few minutes. Here in Cumberland it is about a 50 foot walk to West Virginia.
A few years ago Maryland doubled the tax on cigarettes. They theory was that it would the funds raised for treatment and therapy for those who have smoking related health issues. So a pack of cigarettes just about doubled in price and a carton went up about $15. So what happened to all of that money to be raised from this new tax? Most of it did not materialize, why, you say? That’s right everybody went across the state line to WV. or PA. or VA. or DC. or Del or our neighbor to the north PA. That’s right the tax money is not being raised in Maryland but we sure made our neighbors happy. Now before you start quoting health stats to me I am not a smoker, never smoked tobacco cigarettes in my life. So as a non-smoker this doesn’t affect me. But, go across the river on Maryland State payday and watch the government employees and a few government cars and trucks lining up at the drive in window to bur their smokes.
Now I do go camping and I have been known to drink a beer at the end of a hard day or even at the end of a day that wasn’t that hard. Now the brain trust in Annapolis actually the DNR has passed a rule, not a law where there were hearings on the proposal they just waved the their bureaucratic wand and parted the red tape. Let it be known that from henceforth and forever there will be no beer wine or liquor in the state owned forest or parks lest yee be smited be a dude in an ill fitting DI hat. And the burden of a heavy fine be laid upon your goat skin. Now how this works in Rocky Gap is you can reserve a single pavilion where beer will be allowed and they can keep a close eye on you and your band of Storm Troopers. The question I have is how will this affect the floundering rocky Gap Golf Lodge and Resort built with taxpayer’s money?
Well that’s different, special exemption for the Gap, and same thing for the golf course that cuts through the park. While I’m on the subject how is it that you can drive a golf cart while drinking a beer. Not only can you do it but at the Gap they have a rolling bar that will follow you around the course and sell you beverages just in case yours aren’t fresh; at least in the past they have, I think I may have just cost somebody a dream job.
So what else you got? Hit you with another one you say, okay you asked for it. There is a proposal to raise the taxes on alcoholic beverages in Maryland across the board. So a ten dollar bottle of firewater will then cost about $18. Now where did I say those state lines were? Close right. I think some liquor stores here in Allegany County may be in trouble, along with the bars and restaurants. This somehow is for our own good we must be out of control, big brother will take care of us.
More? Haven you driven east lately? If not make sure you go before you go. The rest stops between here and Baltimore are still closed and will be until next winter. The state has decided that the old ones weren’t good enough so they are spending $21 million to freshen them up.
Hell I used the old ones for years they were fine. They were clean and safe what else do you want. I don’t want to hang around in them. You go in heed natures call and leave. We don’t need flat screen TV’s to tell us about Maryland we’re already there. In all likelihood most of those traveling are going to another state where they can smoke and drink and not pay out the wahzoo Back to the rest stops for just a minute --- three years to build two rest stops. Who the hell is doing it the kids from Vo-Tech?
When is enough, enough. When do we get a break from big city stupidity? You wonder why they can’t straighten out the V.A. just take a look what they have done here in Maryland.
Now on the local level sacrilege of sacrileges they are openly discussing consolidating Fort Hill and our beloved Allegany High School will it never stop? I think some of our elected officials and a few department heads could use a long term visit to Gitmo.
Of course that’s just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Steve Parsons
April 2010
And Now Some Fun With Numbers
This information has been floating around the Chapter for a few months now, and since a lot of questions have been asked about I have decided to pass it on. I am not even sure who gave it to me, but from what I can find out the numbers are accurate and not really all that much fun.
“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 approximated to be 54 years old.” If you are reading this you are among the last third of all Vietnam Veterans who served in country to be alive.
Based on available numbers Vietnam Veterans are dying at the rate of 390 per day. At this rate there will only be a handful of us left by 2015.
These statistics were taken from a variety of sources to include; The VFW Magazine, The Public Information Office, and The HQ CP Forward Observer-1st Recon, April 12,1997.
Statistics for individuals in uniform and in country…VIETNAM VETERANS
1. 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam era 9August 5, 1954 – May 7, 1975
2. 8,744,000 GI’s were on active duty during the war (August 5, 1964 – March 28, 1973.
3. 2,709,918 Americans served in Vietnam. This number represents 9.7% of their generation.
4. 3,403,100 (including 514,300 offshore) personnel served in the broader Southeast Asia Theater.
5. 2,594,000 served within the boarders of South Vietnam 1965 – 1973. another 50,000 men served in Vietnam between 1960 and 1964.
6. 7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam.
7. Peak troop strength in Vietnam : 543,482 (April 30, 1968).
Casualties
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. Non-hostile deaths: 10,800
3. Total: 58,202 (includes men formerly classified as MIA and Mayaguez causalities). Men who have subsequently died of wounds account for the changing total.
4. 8 nurses died – 1 was kia
5. 61% of the men killed were 21 or younger.
6. 11,465 of those were younger than 20 years old.
7. Of those killed 17,539 were married.
8. Average age of men killed: 23.1 years.
9. Enlisted: 50,274 – 22.37 years old.
10. Officers: 6,598 – 28.43 years old.
11. Warrants: 1,276 – 24.73.
12. E1, 525 – 20.34
13. 11B MOS: 18,465 – 22.55 years
14. Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16
15. The oldest man killed was 62 years old.
16. 2,709,918 Americans served in Vietnam 58,202 were kia for a percentage of .0214%.
17. 303,704 were wounded, 153,329 were hospitalized.
18. 150,375 were injured requiring no hospitalization
19. 75,000 were severely disabled. 23,214 were 100% disabled. 5,283lost limbs. 1,081 sustained multiple amputations.
20. Amputation or crippling wounds to the lower extremities were 300% than WWII and 70% higher than Korea.
21. Multiple amputations occurred at the rate of 18.4% compared to 5.7% in WWII.
22. POW’s: 766 (114 died in captivity).
23. As of January 15, 2004, there are 1,875 Americans are still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
Draftees vs. Volunteers
1. 25% of the total forces in country were draftees
2. 66% of U.S. armed forces were drafted during WWII.
3. Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of combat deaths in Vietnam.
4. Reservists killed: 5,977
5. National Guard 6,140 served; 101 DIED.
6. Total draftees (1965 – 1973) 1,728,344.
7. Actually served in Vietnam: 38%.
8. Marine Corps draft, 42,633.
9. Last man drafted; June 30, 1973.
Race and Background
1. 88.4% of the men who actually served in Vietnam were Caucasian: 10.6% (275,000 were black: 1% belonged to other races.
2. 86.3% of the men who died in Vietnam were Caucasian (includes Hispanics) ; 12.5% were Black; 1.2% belonged to other races.
3. 170,000 Hispanics served in Vietnam; 3,070 ( 5.2% of total) died there.
4. 70% of enlisted men killed were of North-west European descent.
5. 86.8% of the men who were killed as a result of hostile action were Caucasian; 12.1% (5,711) were Black; 1.1% were other races.
6. 14.6% (1,530) of non-combat deaths were among Blacks.
7. 34% of Blacks who enlisted volunteered for combat arms.
8. Overall Blacks suffered 12,5% of the Deaths in Vietnam at a time when the percentage of Blacks of military age was 13.5% of the total population.
9. Religion of dead; Protestant – 64.4%; Catholic – 28.9%, other or none 6.7%.
Socio Economic Status
1. Vietnam Veterans have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet age groups
2. Vietnam Veterans personal income exceeds that of our non-veteran age group by more than 18%.
3. 76% of the men sent to Vietnam were from lower middle/working class backgrounds.
4. Three-fourths had incomes above the poverty level, 50% were from middle income backgrounds.
5. Some 23% of Vietnam vets had fathers with professional, managerial or technical occupations.
6. 79% of the men who served in Vietnam had a high school education or better when they entered military service. 63% of Korean vets and only 45% of WWII vets had completed high school.
7. Deaths by region per 100,000 of population: south- 31%, West – 29.9%, Midwest – 28.4%, Northeast – 23.5%.
Drug Usage and Crime
1. There is no difference in drug usage between Vietnam Veterans and non-Vietnam Veterans of the same age group. (Source Veterans Administration study.)
2. Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison – only one half of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes.
3. 85% of Vietnam Veterans made successful transitions to civilian life.
Winning and Losing.
1. 97% of Vietnam era Veterans was honorably discharged.
2. 91% of actual Vietnam War Veterans and 90% of those who saw heavy combat are proud to have served their country.
3. 74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome.
4. 87% of the public now holds Vietnam Veterans in high esteem.
INTERESTING CENSUS STATISTICS & THOSE WHO CLAIM THO HAVE BEEN THERE.
1. 1,713,823 of those who served in Vietnam were still alive as of August 1995 (census figures.)
2. During the same census count, the number of Americans claiming to have served in Vietnam was 9,492,958.
3. As of the current census taken during August 2000 the surviving population estimate is 1,002,958. This is hard to believe, losing nearly 711,000 between 1995 and 2000. That’s 390 per day.
4. During the 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 Veterans ARE NOT!
5. The Department of Defense Vietnam War service Index officially provided by The War Library originally reported with the errors that 2,709,918 U.S military personnel as having served in country.
6. Corrections and confirmations to this erred index resulted in the addition of 358 U.S. military personnel confirmed to have served in Vietnam ,but not originally listed to have served in Vietnam by the DOD. All names are currently on file and accessible. 24/7/365
7. Isolated atrocities committed by American Soldiers produced torrents of outrage from anti-war critics and the news media while the Communist atrocities were so common that they received hardly any mention at all.
8. The United States sought to minimize and prevent attacks on civilians while North Vietnam made attacks on civilians a centerpiece of its strategy.
9. American who deliberately killed civilians received prison sentences while communists who did so received commendations.
10. From 1957 to 1973, the National Liberation Front assassinated 36,725 Vietnamese and abducted another 58,499. the death squads focused on leaders at the village level and on anyone who improved the lives of the peasants such as medical personnel, social workers, and school teachers – Nixon Presidential Papers.
So There!
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Color Guard Summary
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 172, Color Guard experienced a very busy year in 2010 participating in several different events in the surrounding area.
There are approximately 30 active members who have participated in 14 parades, 14 Chapter members funerals. They have also assisted the local VSO’s within the Tri-State area with an additional 9 funerals. They performed the following functions; Roundtable, Color Presentations, Flag Folding Presentations and Field Burial Presentations at local schools and organizations throughout a 60 mile radius. They are always proud to support the 911 motorcycle ride to the Pentagon with the final destination of Ground Zero in New York City.
The Color Guard also participates in the Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies at Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery as well as ceremonies at local elementary and middle schools.
We are proud to have participated in more than 80 events this past year and will continue to bring VVA 172 to the forefront of the surrounding area to remind our community that the price veterans have aid for their freedom.
Submitted by Bob Peck
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