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How old are Vietnam veterans now?

Author

Noah Mitchell

Published Jan 06, 2026

▶ Vietnam Veteran ages range from 55 to 97 years old. In order to make equitable comparisons, these Veterans are compared with the civilian populaƟon of the same age group.

How many Vietnam veterans are still alive 2021?

"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 60 years old."

How old is the youngest Vietnam veteran still alive?

List of the 4 Youngest Vietnam Veterans

  1. Oliver Stone. Age: 75. Born: 09/15/1946. Hometown: New York City.
  2. Tom Selleck. Age: 77. Born: 01/29/1945. Hometown: Detroit, Michigan. ...
  3. Bob Kerrey. Age: 78. Born: 08/27/1943. Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska. ...
  4. Jorge Otero Barreto. Age: 84. Born: 04/07/1937. Hometown: Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. ...

What percent of Vietnam vets are still alive?

After extensive research of various mortality indexes and sources The American War Library estimates that approximately one-third of those who did serve in Vietnam (approximately 850,000) are alive today [18 Aug 2007].

At what rate are Vietnam veterans dying?

Considering the kind of information available about the death rate of WWII and Korean War Veterans, publicized information indicates that in the last 14 years Vietnam veterans are dying at the rate of 390 deaths each day.

45 related questions found

What unit saw the most combat in Vietnam?

# 1: The 23rd Infantry Division

The amount of top awards earned by Soldiers of the 23rd are numerous for their heroic actions in Vietnam. The Americal Division (23rd Infantry Division) was formed from elements of Task Force Oregon in Chu Lai, Southern First Corps, Republic of South Vietnam on 26 September 1967.

Did 17 year olds fight in Vietnam?

James Ward was one of at least 18 juvenile soldiers killed at Vietnam—five were 16, like him, 11 others were 17, and one was 15 and had forged his birth certificate to join. And his death led the military to change its rules about juveniles in combat.

Who is the most decorated soldier of the Vietnam War?

His name is Staff Sergeant Joe Ronnie Hooper, and not only was he a hero in the Vietnam War; he is also the most decorated soldier in American international combat, even eclipsing both York and Murphy. Joe Ronnie Hooper was born on August 8th, 1938 in Piedmont, South Carolina.

How many Vietnam veterans are dying each day?

More than 8 million people served in uniform during Vietnam and those who are alive are typically in their 60s and 70s. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day.

What state has the most Vietnam vets?

Today, the state with highest number of Vietnam veterans is California, with 596,130, followed by Florida with 519,224. Maine and Montana have the highest number of Vietnam veterans per 100,000 people, with 3,211 and 3,203 respectively.

What birthdays were picked for the Vietnam draft?

On December 1, 1969, the Selective Service System of the United States conducted two lotteries to determine the order of call to military service in the Vietnam War in the year 1970, for men born from January 1, 1944 to December 31, 1950.

How old were draftees in Vietnam?

Lottery for Call of Order

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.

What is Lieutenant Calley doing now?

Lt. William L. Calley, Jr. Calley was convicted on 22 counts of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison.

How many American soldiers stayed in Vietnam?

Approximately 2,700,000 American men and women served in Vietnam.

What was the life expectancy of a helicopter pilot in Vietnam?

“They were short of gunners on helicopters, because the life expectancy was somewhere between 13 and 30 days,” he said. “I had no experience behind a . 60 caliber machine gun.”

How long was a tour in Vietnam?

A tour of duty in Vietnam for most ground forces lasted one year. Becoming “short” by having less than 100 days left in a tour of duty was a cause for celebration. It also required a countdown calendar on which each day was crossed off until only the “wake-up” – the last morning in Vietnam – remained.

How many soldiers died on their first day in Vietnam?

997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam. 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam. 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.

What unit was Audie Murphy in?

Following basic training, Murphy was assigned to the 15th Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division in North Africa. First entering combat in July 1943, during the invasion of Sicily, he proved himself to be a proficient marksman and a highly skilled soldier.