This is from the latest issue of VFW Magazine, which cited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation as their source.
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Contrary to popular belief, only 25% of the total forces that served in Vietnam were draftees; in fact, this was a MUCH LOWER percentage than in WWII, when 66% of the personnel were draftees. To be fair, many of those people volunteered in anticipation of being drafted, but at the end of the day, a super-majority of those that served in Vietnam were TECHNICALLY volunteers.
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There were a total of 58,275 KIAs. Of these, 47,238 were the result of hostile action, and 10,747 were non-hostile.
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The KIAs were nearly all-male. Only 59 females were killed; 8 female nurses were killed, 1 of those was the result of hostile action.
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303,704 were wounded; amputation or crippling wounds to the lower extremities were 300% higher than in WWII, and 70% higher than in Korea (WOW!!!); I wonder if this reflects the tactics of the enemy
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5,771 reservists and 95 national guardsmen were killed; being in the Guard, though not a 100% guarantee of avoiding the war, was comparatively safer than being on either active duty, or in the reserves
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88.4% of personnel that served were Caucasian (including Hispanics), 10.6% were Black, and 1% were from other races
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86.1% of KIAs were Caucasian, 12.4% were Black, and 1.5% were either other races or non-reported
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12.1% of deaths from hostile action were Black; 14.1% of non-combat deaths were Black
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76% of those that served in Vietnam were from middle or working class backgrounds; 75% were from backgrounds that were above the poverty level
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61% of KIAs were aged 21 or younger
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Average age of Vietnam War GI: 22
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79% of Vietnam Vets were HS grads or above, compared to only 63% of Korea Vets, and only 45% of WWII Vets
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91% of Vietnam Vets and 90% of those that saw heavy combat said that they were proud to have served
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66% of Vietnam Vets said that they would serve again if called.
DISCUSS!!!