Facts About the War

  • 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the official Vietnam era from August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975.
  • 2,709,918 Americans served in uniform in Vietnam.
  • Vietnam Veterans represented 9.7% of their generation.
  • 240 men were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War.
  • 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.
  • 58,148 were killed in Vietnam.
  • 75,000 were severely disabled.
  • 23,214 were 100% disabled.
  • 5,283 lost limbs.
  • 1,081 sustained multiple amputations.
  • Of those killed, 61% were younger than 21.
  • 11,465 of those killed were younger than 20 years old.
  • Of those killed, 17,539 were married.
  • Average age of men killed: 23.1 years.
  • Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old.
  • The oldest man killed was 62 years old.
  • As of January 15, 2004, there are 1,875 Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
  • 97% of Vietnam Veterans were honorably discharged.
  • 91% of Vietnam Veterans say they are glad they served.
  • 74% say they would serve again, even knowing the outcome.
  • Vietnam veterans have a lower unemployment rate than the same non-vet age groups.
  • Vietnam veterans' personal income exceeds that of their non-veteran age group by more than 18 percent.
  • 87% of Americans hold Vietnam Veterans in high esteem.
  • There is no difference in drug usage between Vietnam Veterans and non-Vietnam Veterans of the same age group (Source: Veterans Administration Study).
  • Vietnam Veterans are less likely to be in prison - only one-half of one percent of Vietnam Veterans have been jailed for crimes.
  • 85% of Vietnam Veterans made successful transitions to civilian life.