25% (648,500) of total forces in
country were draftees. (66% of U.S.
armed forces members were drafted
during WWII).
Draftees accounted for 30.4%
(17,725) of combat deaths in
Vietnam.
Reservists killed: 5,977
National Guard: 6,140 served: 101
died.
Total draftees (1965 - 73):
1,728,344.
Actually served in Vietnam: 38%
Marine Corps Draft: 42,633.
Last man drafted: June 30, 1973.
88.4% of the men who actually served
in Vietnam were Caucasian; 10.6%
(275,000) were black; 1% belonged to
other races.
86.3% of the men who died in Vietnam
were Caucasian (includes Hispanics).
12.5% (7,241) were black; 1.2%
belonged to other races. |
170,000 Hispanics served in Vietnam;
3,070 (5.2% of total) died there.
86.8% of the men who were killed as
a result of hostile action were
Caucasian; 12.1% (5,711) were
black; 1.1% belonged to other
races.
14.6% (1,530) of non-combat deaths
were among blacks.
34% of blacks who enlisted volunteered for the combat arms.
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.
Religion of Dead: Protestant --
64.4%; Catholic -- 28.9%; other/none
-- 6.7%
Vietnam veterans have a lower
unemployment rate than the same
non-vet age groups.
Vietnam veterans' personal income
exceeds that of our non-veteran age
group by more than 18 percent. |
70% of
enlisted men killed were of
northwest European descent.
76% of the men sent to Vietnam were
from lower middle/working class
backgrounds.
Three-fourths had family incomes
above the poverty level; 50% were
from middle income backgrounds.
Some 23% of Vietnam vets had fathers
with professional, managerial or
technical occupations.
79% of the men who served in Vietnam
had a high school education or
better when they entered the
military service.
63% of Korean War vets and only 45%
of WWII vets had completed high
school upon separation.
Deaths by region per 100,000 of
population: South -- 31%, West
--29.9%; Midwest -- 28.4%; Northeast
-- 23.5%.
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