"LIFE Magazine June 1969" Topic

The Faces of the American Dead in Vietnam: One Week's Toll

link

Wow, putting names and faces to the statistics of war is poignant, gut wrenching, tragic beyond words. Such a loss of so many boys, and they are for the most part so young, with so many dreams, ambition, and potential is unspeakable. I can only imagine the anguish and profound sadness felt by their families and friends.

Interesting the demographics of the fallen, also didn't see anyone above the rank of captain, several Lts.

No Navy or Airforce, but I might have missed that.

Had 3 relatives (uncles, father's other son) over there, named after one.

There actually was a least one Naval personnel, and there was also a Lt. Colonel as the highest rank I saw. Ages ranged from 18 to 35.

I clearly remember when that issue came to my parents house. I received my invitation for my physical just a few weeks later. By April 1970 I got an all expense paid trip to Vietnam. Thank you to all the troops and their families who have supported our Federal government in our history. H

Yes, I remember seeing that issue … Just made even clearer how tragic the War in SE Asia had become. Likened to if you even have see The Wall or the Travelling version. The Draft made this horror just that much worse. Had there been no Draft there would have been few in the Anti-War movement.

Most in the USA couldn't find Vietnam on a map. Let alone care about those people on the other side of the World. That were no direct threat … E.g. Unlike recently with radical, fundamentalist, fanatical, islamo-fascist, jihadi/terrorists living in the 15th Century. That were attacking us in our own streets.

Our elected and appointed leadership let us all down. During the Vietnam War … And it seems that is a trend that continues …

I've never seen these photos before. I knew one of them for sure and maybe two others. RIP, brothers.

LT

Legion 4:
When draft reform was instituted in 1969, ie: you got a number, no deferment, low number you are going, student activity in the "anti-war" protests dropped off to nothing.

Once a college student understood that their number was high enough not to go, didn't care about going to anti-war protests. There's dedication to your cause.

Wrote a grad paper on Northeastern University (Boston) in the 1960's, largest ROTC program in the country AND largest SDS (Students for Democratic Society) organization in the country. A number of huge clashes on that campus during the 60's, but all of the sudden, draft reform takes place and involvement in the protests vanishes.

I never saw that cover. In June of '69, I had just finished my 'Viet Nam Training and Orientation'.
We got issued our jungle fatigues and the first thing we did was roll our sleeves up. It looked cool. A sergeant came in and immediately reprimanded us $%!&birds and made us roll them back down.
So we all got on a commercial airplane hired by the government to fly us there. I got seated next to a newly minted 2nd looie and we started up a simple conversation. We stopped over in Juneau Alaska for an hour or so to stretch our legs and get souvenirs.
Back on the plane, my Lt showed his score: a magnetic chess set that he could take in the field and maybe get a couple of sergeants interested in playing. Great idea I said, but won't the magnets in your backpack mess up your magnetic compass? I mean, right when you need it the most, it'll just point to your back!
You're right, he sighed. After a short requiem for the chess set, we resumed our chit-chatting. (This is, by the way, how I saved an entire infantry platoon before I even got to Viet Nam!)
I was the more experienced, having 18 months in the service and had already been 'in the field' in Germany. He, of course had basic training and then 6 months of officer's school. Oh, and by the way, this day was my birthday! I turned 18 in the air between Juneau Alaska and Yokota Japan. My 18th birthday only lasted 19 hours. Shortest birthday I ever had.
We landed at Yokota Airbase to be greeted by rioters and tear gas clouds. The pilot said we will remain onboard during refueling.
Finally landed at Cam Ranh Bay, Viet Nam. Getting off of the airplane I got hit by an enormous blast of hot, wet air, and my life would be changed forever.

I read somewhere this was misunderstood by many to be the death toll from the notorious 'Hamburger Hill' battle. Or maybe that was another issue. The date was 13–20 May 1969, so it tallies though.

It was in fact the death toll for the entire country over on week. Still a lot of death and tragedy.

How many guys named Nguyen, or some such Indochinese name, died in the same week and are totally forgotten?

I do not mean just the criminals of the NVA or VC (St Peter can deal with them, if he really still exists, I am counting on it though), I also mean the army everyone now forgets, the ARVN, always dismissed because of an incompetent and crooked officer corps, but who could fight when properly supported.

I had no idea the wall in DC would be so poignant. My first impression was the trio of statues where one has his ammo belt wrongly draped inside out, around his neck. But then I went to the wall and saw many a very late middle aged guy leaving some memento.

I could not "game" this war personally, but love modelling Marines in Hue. NVA?…naw, I did five and showed them, but that is it. I don't do Waffen SS either, however "cool" they do actually look.

Oddball +1

That is similar to what I had read, etc. And yes it reinforces that once the Draft was no longer a threat. The only people who gave a rat's about the poor paddy farmers, etc., in a 3d World Asian tropical failing state were Fonda, Baez, etc.

Of course I've mentioned this before, the crutches, walker and cane I got from the VA, in the 2000s, were made in Vietnam. I'm sure the Vietnam Vets that get those issued to them there see the ultimate irony.

Brass1 and d88mm + 1 … and again thank you for your service.

I read somewhere this was misunderstood by many to be the death toll from the notorious 'Hamburger Hill' battle. Or maybe that was another issue.

Hamburger Hill – link

"Amazingly" the US and PAVN casualty number vary greatly. But that is not really a surprise. In either case …

When I got to the 101 in '80. I was assigned as a Rifle Plt Ldr in B Co. 3/187 Inf. Hamburger Hill was part of that unit's history/linage. And many at that time were Vets of Vietnam in the Bn. Including the 101, 1st CAV, etc.

On occasion, my somewhat less than PC, grisly, realist, etc., attitude, etc. It was instilled in me and others from those Vets in ROTC, Infantry School at Benning, etc., and the Infantry units I served in. They were good teachers and sometimes just some damn mean . They more than earned that right.

I would say if you can't be objective and dispassionate then you should not play games about this or any other conflict.

Or – perhaps only play solo or with like minded people.

Otherwise, it is going to spoil the enjoyment of everyone and ruin the game/simulation.

No side in the American war kept their hands clean. War is always brutal, and this was perhaps the most brutal in the 20th century.

Every face makes me very sad!

Russ Dunaway. Active USMC. 1967-1973

No side in the American war kept their hands clean. War is always brutal, and this was perhaps the most brutal in the 20th century.

If anyone is looking for clean hands you are going to have a hard time in finding many/any in the many wars of the 20th Century.

The war in SE Asia may not be the most brutal, but certainly it near the top of the list. IMO, Look at the savage WWII battles, many in the PTO. As well as the Eastern Front between the Germans and Russians. E.g. the USSR's push to/battle of Berlin, etc. We discuss some of this here – TMP link

Russ … Thank you for your service …