VIETNAM WARRIORS:

A STATISTICAL PROFILE

IN UNIFORM AND IN COUNTRY

* Vietnam Vets: 9.7% of their generation. 9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam era (Aug 5, 1964-May 7, 1975). 8,744,000 GIs were on active duty during the war (Aug 5, 1964-March 28, 1973).

* 3,403,100 (including 514,300 offshore) personnel served in the Southeast Asia Theater ( Vietnam , Laos , Cambodia , flight crews based in Thailand , and sailors in adjacent South China Sea waters).

* 2,594,000 personnel served within the borders of South Vietnam (Jan 1, 1965-March 28, 1973).

* Another 50,000 served between 1960 and 1964.

* Of the 2.6 million, between 1-1.6 million (40-60%) either fought in combat, provided close support or were at least fairly regularly exposed to enemy attack.

* 7,484 women (6,250/83.5% were nurses) served.

* Peak troop strength in Vietnam : 543,482 ( 30 April 69 ).

CASUALTIES

* Hostile deaths: 47,378. * Non-hostile deaths: 10,800.

* Total: 58,202 (includes formerly classified as MIA and Mayaguez casualties), subsequently died of wounds account for the hanging total.

* 8 nurses died-1 was KIA.

* Married men killed: 17,539.

* 61% of the men killed were 21 or younger.

* Highest state death rate: West Virginia- 84.1 (national average 58.9 for every 100,000 males in 1970).

* Wounded: 303,704-153,329 hospitalized + 150,375 injured requiring no hospital care.

* Severely disabled: 75,000-23,214 100% disabled; 5,283 lost limbs; 1,081 sustained multiple amputations.

* Amputation or crippling wounds to the lower extremities were 300% higher than in WWII and 70% higher than Korea .

* Multiple amputations at the rate of 18.4% compared to 5.7% in WWII.

* Missing in Action: 2,338.

* POWs:766 (114 died in captivity).

DRAFTEES VS. VOLUNTEERS

* 25% (648,500) of total forces in country were draftees. (66% of US armed forces were drafted during WWII).

* Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) combat deaths.

* 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 draftee: June 30, 1973 .

RACE AND ETHNIC BACKGROUND

* 88.4% of those who served were Caucasian.

* 10.6% were black. * 1% belonged to other races.

* 86.3% of the men who died were Caucasian (includes Hispanics)

* 12.5% (7,241) were black * 1.2% other races.

* 170,000 Hispanics served in Vietnam ; 3,070 (5.2% of total) died there.

* 70% of enlisted men killed were of Northwest European descent.

* 86.8% of men killed as a result of hostile action were Caucasian

* 12.1% (5,711) were black * 1.1% other races.

* 14.6% (1,530) of non-combat deaths were blacks.

* 34% of blacks who enlisted volunteered for combat arms.

* Overall, blacks suffered 12.5% of the deaths 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%.

SOCIETY-ECONOMIC STATUS

* 76% of the men sent to Vietnam were from lower middle and working class backgrounds.

* 75% 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% who served had a high school education or better. (63% of Korean War and only 45% of WWII vets had completed high school upon separation).

DEATHS BY REGION PER 100,000 OF POPULATION:

* South-31 * West-29

* Midwest-28.4 * Northeast-23.5

WINNING AND LOSING

* 82% of vets who saw heavy combat strongly believe the war was lost because of lack of political will.

* Nearly 75% of the public agrees it was a failure of political will, not arms.

HONORABLE SERVICE

* 97% of Vietnam-era veterans were honorably discharged.

* 91% of actual Vietnam War veterans and 90% who saw heavy combat are proud to have served their country.

* 66% say they would serve again if called upon.

* 87% of the public now holds Vietnam vets in high esteem.

REMINISCENCES OF THE 1ST TLCB REUNION

SEPTEMBER 1998 - DAYTON , OHIO

Of course the second love of my life was there, the wife being my first love...The F-4 that Col. Robin Olds flew out of Ubon was there and also loaded to the gills. I spent about 45 minutes there...Must have launched that aircraft three or four times. As I stood behind the right wing thoughts of the past flashed through my head. I was totally caught up in my thoughts imagining I was back in Thailand .

Call me a sentimental fool, but I quickly choked up, and tears filled my eyes thinking of those years past and the love affair I had with both my Phantom's. God, how sweet it was.

The Memorial was really the pinnacle of the Reunion , as we remembered our fallen Comrades, and the men who never came home. The C.A.P. Honor Guard did us proud as they brought forth the colors. The whole group was called to attention, and those in uniforms rendered a sharp salute. Some scriptures and words from the Chaplain, which really sank in. Then the Chaplain sang a solo song. I could hear what sounded like a C-141 taking off during the ceremony. The mood was a somber one and I'm sure by now all eye's were swelling with tears. My personal feelings were that of being proud, and strong feelings of sorrow and grief as some of the Brother's came forward to say words for the Brother's that lost their lives in service many of whom were personal friends. These are the things I came away with, and they will be with me always.

Thank ever so much to all of you who shared these special moments with my wife and myself, and we deeply cherish our new friendships made while there. God bless you all.

This is Truly A Brotherhood, and this is what will keep us strong through thick and thin...

Sincerely,
Rodney & Maffei Bell

I have read what the others have written about last weekend and find it hard to improve on or add to their description. It was a great time from start to finish. When I walked in the lounge it was like walking back in time, listening to all the stories. There were no strangers in the room.

It was great to finally be able to put faces with names. And if an award were to be given for enthusiasm it would have to go to Don Brown! I don't know how many times he shook everybody's hand and said how glad he was that he was there. I only recall one other feeling I experienced that would compare to this weekend. That would have to be when I was a kid and would come downstairs on Christmas morning and see all my presents under the tree. It was like all my wishes had come true. That's the feeling I had this weekend. Thanks guys for the biggest present ever.

Paul Lee
23rd TASS, O-2 Fixer-upper
NKP & Ubon Class of 69
Udorn VFW Post # 10249
VVA, ACA

REMINISCENCES OF THE 2ND TLCB REUNION

AUGUST 1999 - WASHINGTON , D.C.

WOW!

It's 0345 out here on the left coast and I just finished 217 e-ms, and even though I must get up in an hour and a half, I don't want to go to sleep as that will pretty much put an end to the weekend.

I want to thank you all for making this weekend one of the highlights of my life. Fri was interesting as the faces were put with the names I knew so well. What was truly amazing was the way the handshakes, "great to finally meets you" and general chat developed into true friendships within minutes. The "Brotherhood" became so much more than the title of our group, it became a reality.

I have always considered myself fortunate to have served in SEA with the finest folks this country has ever produced and this weekend proved that belief to be true. The men and women gathered in DC made me very proud to be a part of this Brotherhood.
One bonus I had not really considered in the excitement of actually going to the "Call To The Wall" was the families. The wives and children added immeasurably to the gathering (even though Josh did ding me for 10 bucks) and the weekend would not have been complete without you.

I arrived at the Doubletree to meet up with, essentially, an e-mail list and left with over 100 new and real friends. LIFE JUST DON'T GET A WHOLE BUNCH BETTER.

So, to all of you who were there, as well as those not attending, THANK YOU. My life is better today than it was early Fri morning. To bastardize the RAVEN salutation "NEVER MORE'', I raise my glass and salute you, THE BROTHERHOOD, EVER MORE.

Now to bed and the official end to one of the greatest weekends of my life.

Thanks,
Larry Hughes

I'm so proud to be a part of this fine organization, and to be able to know you all. It is an honor and a privilege, and I will treasure it always...I was elated to see all the ones from last years reunion, and to see ones that I've waited over a year to meet. It was like finding lost family members.

The name reading at the Wall was also a complete success, and went off real good. Several of the Brothers took part in the name reading, in the heat of the DC day from about 1 pm to 3 pm as we read the names of 1,429 Brothers who died while serving their country in Thailand-Laos-and Cambodia . Thank you John Sweet for all the hours of hard work preparing the names which were to be read there.

After the name reading several of us walked the grounds of the memorial, and as we stood by the three soldiers statue, we posed for pictures. We stood there sweating in the heat in our jungle fatigues when about that time a man walked up to me with a strange look on his face stood there without uttering a word, grabbed my hand an shook it. I thought it was a Brother as I looked for a name tag. All he said over and over was, "thank you, thank you, thank you, for what you did"... I was completely beside myself, as tears came into my eyes. That was the first time since I came home from Thailand that anyone had ever told me that.

The wreath Laying was a totally overwhelming experience. As Jimmie Butler and Dick Anderson placed it there where the nine Udorn Airmen were from AFTN, we all rendered a smart salute to our Fallen Brothers, and Chaplain Herbert said a fine prayer. The whole wall, tourist as well, were locked upon us as we said words of remembrance for our Brothers, and tears flowed. It was so quiet and reverent you could hear a pin drop. Words cannot describe the feelings we all felt at that moment in time...

The flags on the wreath you see in the photo were donated by our Brother Jim Geddes. A very special touch, and we sincerely thank him for those.

Also just a few panels down on 26W, Ron Bogotá placed a very nice tribute to some Brothers who were involved with "Bat Cat". A very nice photo in a frame and some unit patches, and some words from Brother Ron, for the Fallen Brothers there. As I looked around the Wall with tears in my eyes it was as if time had stood still, and the world was watching, and feeling the tremendous pain that we were feeling. I really don't think that there was a dry eye on the whole walkway.

The Memorial on the hill was indeed very special. All were in attendance and formed up close to the podium, as we started the National Anthem. I hope that my singing didn't hurt anyone's ears, as it was hard to keep my voice together. There were special words from Chaplain Herbert for our Brothers, and scriptures were read, and many of our members came up to the podium and honored their friends who didn't make it back, with some fine words of tribute. The candles were all lit and they were so beautiful in the DC night, as was the Washington monument, as it's reflection was crossing the lake nearby.

I'd like to say a special thank you to all the Sisters who helped out during the reunion in the hotel with all the registration, and selling of memorabilia... And at the Memorial, a special thank you to Peggy Lewis, Leigh Hotujek, Phyllis Pruiksma, Matie Benoit, and Grace Freeman for helping with the distribution of the programs and candles. And to Dave Cook’s wife Pi-Hsiang, who worked so hard the whole time we were there seeing to our every need...Thank you so much to all of you!! Of course we cannot forget the Sons and Daughters of the TLCB members who also assisted there in many ways. It was a complete and total team effort by all...

I would say at this point that it was indeed an overwhelming success, and that I feel some long needed healing took place there for our Brothers, and Sisters. I will be reflecting on this reunion for quite some time, and I can surely say that it will only get better in the years to come as we grow, and our family becomes larger.
For now Brothers and Sisters, Maffei and myself bid thee farewell, and may the goodness, and spirit of our Father in heaven be with all of you, and keep you safe until we meet again.

God Bless You,
Rodney Bell

Hi all,

As I'm sure it is for many others, I am still riding a crest of happiness about the reunion that we just completed at noon . There will be many words said, and the pictures will certainly speak even louder--and there must have been thousands taken! For now I'll be brief.
One appreciative brother made a remark to me in the lobby of the hotel, as we were leaving, that really sums it up. The thing that made this reunion great (and makes TLCB great) is how we treat each other. The mutual respect and open affection was reflected in the harmonious give-and-take of the reunion. The character of our brothers and sisters propels our organization. This tone of joy in being in each other's company was rampant from the beginning of the board meeting on Friday, through the many impromptu events in the evenings, the membership meeting Saturday morning, the deeply-moving events at The Wall Saturday afternoon and night, thru the personal and uplifting talk by ex-POW Tom Hanton, until the conclusion of Darrel Whitcomb's exciting (and -very- interactive) presentation on the Ho Chi Minh Trail--and the farewells--at noon today.

More later............lot's to do!

Bill Tilton

Greetings All,

Josh and I arrived home about 30 minutes ago, drained (physically and emotionally) after a truly awesome 4 days in DC with the most wonderful group of people. I knew this was a very special group......but after this weekend I can tell you all that what we have here is a very special gift......I am in awe of what happened and as soon as I can put it into words (if that is even possible) I'll send a more detailed account of the events that transpired. What a turn out!!!

You were all there with us - we could feel your presence! If there is any way at all that you can make it next year it will be worth the effort. I know what it was like last year to miss Dayton and after the experience this weekend I know I don't ever want to miss another one if I can help it!! (Josh is already making plans to attend from now on, too!)

A very special thank you to the reunion committee for all of their efforts! And to all of the others, especially the spouses and children, who pitched in to help and participated in all of the events - my (TLCB) hat is off to you!

Cheers!
Leigh Coleman Hotujec

Saturday night...... How we rode in silence to the Wall. I don't know about you other first timers to the Wall but I was nervous as Hell while we formed up. The procession down the ramp and the way all the visitors that were there stopped in their tracks, its as though they knew they were witnessing something special and not often seen. I cried like I have not in years. I found the name I was looking for and to see it there enabled me to close a wound that had remained open for a long time.

I kept saying to myself and Marilyn " I'm here, I'm actually here. I made it." It is truly a healing place.

Standing on the hill overlooking the Wall with the Washington Monument behind us during the ceremony made me feel proud and sad at the same time. Why did they have to die? As I asked the question I also already knew the answer. We and our children are here and still free because of them. Whew....emotional again. The return to the Hotel and the love and respect that permeated the lounge, standing tall with my Brothers as we took pictures. Dragging a giggling Leigh to the men's room to see the Hanoi Jane urinal sticker that John Sweet placed there (we wanted to let Leigh take a shot but logistics would not permit.)

Sunday....The talk by Tom Hanton was inspirational and impressive. Here was a man that most people only read about talking to and thanking us!! Darrel's presentation on the trail gave me a clue that I had not ever had before...each day I launched out the jets loaded up and really didn't have a clue as to what part I had played in the master plan. Now I know. Darrel.....Thank You. Finally having to say goodbye, not an easy thing to do ever.......but this time it was especially difficult.

The knowledge that these Men had been there and done that made me feel a pride I cannot put into words. Hearing Amos Parker's infectious laugh, Larry Hughes and his Call sign CD (I know and can appreciate the work he put into it), Watching Dick Anderson get emotional as each new Brother arrived. Dave Cook, Bob Pruksima and John Sweet with their dedication to getting it all right. Rodney Bell's melodic Elvis voice (which Marilyn loves BTW). Bill Tilton and Jimmie Butler with their quiet dignity of men who have shown the courage that lies inside. It made me truly realize how lucky I am to belong to a group such as this. I could name every one of you that were there but I don't want you guys deleting it because the message is too long.

Yes...all in all it was a very special weekend.

Fraternally,
Rich "Shadow" Verde and Marilyn Foy

I HAD THE BEST TIME IN DC. I saw my old pal from Tech school and Ubon, Lachowski, at the reunion. I made new acquaintances and renewed old ones. It truly is like seeing my BROTHERS for the first time in many years. These people are truly like family. I do believe DC had more than double the turnout as Dayton .

Emotions ran high whenever we all got together and the trip to the wall was over whelming for most if not all. Amazing great people. This thing is just getting bigger and better. I did not hear any words spoken in anger, no insults or snobbery just plain together one for all and all for one. I could go on and on but you just had to be there. Each time I have attended, that is Dayton and now DC, I have learned more about what the hell we were all doing over there. We really get into some interesting history of the Secret War in SEA.

To all who attended I await our next meeting. To all who couldn't make it we await you, we missed you.

Rick & Boonlue (aew)

"THE HEALING WALL...."

I had always heard, a visit to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC is an experience with the power to heal - power to heal and to make peace with the ghosts of the past. I must admit, I had some doubts. But thirty long years after my discharge from the Air Force, I finally mustered the courage and determination to go there and find out for myself. The occasion was a reunion of Vietnam veterans who had served in what would later become known as "The Secret War", the little known part of the Vietnam War that was waged outside the borders of South Vietnam in Thailand , Laos and Cambodia .

We boarded the chartered busses for the highlight of our reunion - the placing of a memorial wreath at The Wall. It was in remembrance of the lives and service of all those who had made that ultimate sacrifice in the "Secret War" in Thailand , Laos and Cambodia . On the bus, the lively chatter that had gone on at the restaurant continued during the ride, at least initially. But I noticed the mood of the group palpably changed and became more somber as we neared The Vietnam Memorial Park. The conversation finally fell mostly silent, as each man engaged in a wrestling match with his own personal ghosts of the past. Before the busses had pulled up to park, I found myself choking back the tears, attempting to swallow the huge lump in my throat, as old memories rose up from the deep recesses of my mind, looming terribly immediate and real in my consciousness.

The wreath we were placing would occupy a position before the panel bearing the names of the airmen who died in a fiery crash of an F-4 Phantom jet at the Udorn Air Base. Disabled by enemy ground fire on a reconnaissance run over Northern Laos, the pilot of the aircraft, in an heroic effort, had managed to urge his badly damaged jet back to its home base at Udorn. At the last moment, the aircraft lost all hydraulics, and the pilot and his "GIB" (guy in back) were forced to eject. Under full power, the jet came screaming in low over the hooches that were used as housing for the troops on base, clipping rooftops along the way and raining burning JP4 jet fuel down over the streets below. The plane finally careened off the runway and plowed into a nearby building. Nine souls perished in the ensuing explosion and fireball.

For many of our group, this would be our first visit to The Wall to confront those and other ghosts from that war. But on this, the occasion of our reunion, we would at least have each other to lean on - safety in numbers, you know. Upon disembarking, we gathered on the walk leading to The Wall and were led in a prayer by the Air Force chaplain who was to preside over the ceremony. Then, as the evening sun sank inexorably toward the horizon came the moment that many of us had both anticipated and yes, in a way, dreaded for so long. It was time now to take those last few steps, to stand before The Wall and there, upon that sacred altar, unburden ourselves and perhaps divest the sorrow borne within all these long years since the war.

We followed along behind the bearers and the Chaplain, as the wreath on its stand was carried with tender loving care to the position it would occupy before the panel bearing the names of those who lost their lives in the fatal crash at Udorn. The walkway was somewhat crowded that evening, as I understand it always is. But with no words spoken, other visitors to The Wall cleared way and stood back, respectfully watching in silence as our procession approached. As I glanced up and saw the faces of the crowd, I was almost shocked by the looks of empathy and sadness in the eyes of the onlookers. Most of them I saw were too young to have been involved in the war themselves. It gave me food for thought. These certainly were not the looks of indifference, hatred and disrespect so many of us had faced on our return from Southeast Asia . Had the passage of time really made so much difference? Could time really heal all wounds?

The wreath was placed and dedicated, followed by a long moment of complete silence. No one uttered a sound, as we paid respect to our fallen Brothers in Arms. It was as if the world had stopped for that moment in time, in awe of the sacrifice of these men whom we had come here to honor. Everyone, even the small children present, knew that what was going on here was sacred. Finally, each man came forward to stand before the wreath and think his private thoughts and leave a note tucked into the flowers to the men who died in the Secret War and to all the others whose names grace that hallowed wall.

Afterward, there were hugs and tears, then we broke into smaller groups to tour the park or to take wall rubbings and to further reminisce on things long past. I’ll never forget the emotion that swept over me, as Suzi, my daughter, knelt at panel 45W and took a rubbing for me there. It was the name of Tech Sergeant Paul E Yonkie, the flight engineer on the C-141 medevac who was killed in the July, '68 sapper attack on the Udorn Air Base. My heart was fairly bursting with love and pride for my little girl. A grown woman now, here she was taking a name of a man who had been my contemporary, but a man who had died years before she was born. "Could it really have been that long ago?" I thought to myself, "My God! Where had the time gone?" But for all the years gone by, there still was no peace. Still, something was missing...

And then it happened. A small group of us had been standing before the bronze statue of the three soldiers that overlooks the field where The Wall stands. We were dressed in the fatigue uniforms we had worn in Southeast Asia . Suddenly, a man approached, perhaps in his mid thirties. Taking each of our hands in turn, he vigorously shook them, all the while saying, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for serving!" Taken completely by surprise, we were totally speechless. All we could think to say was. "You’re welcome!" It was so unexpected – unexpected and so very different from the attitudes that had greeted us on our return from the war. I don’t think that man could possibly have realized the impact those few simple words would have. For those words, which cost the speaker so little to utter, were worth far more than gold to us. They were after all, exactly what had been missing all this time!

For a very long time in America , it seemed all anyone wanted to do was forget that war. But finally, on that warm August evening thirty-plus years after my return home, there before The Healing Wall it was demonstrated to me at last, there are those who do truly care, remember, and genuinely appreciate our sacrifice. The events of that evening were indeed healing balm for me and my compatriots. But I found the healing would come not so much from The Wall itself, but from the love and caring of those who conceived it and worked so hard to bring it into existence, and from the caring of the thousands who come there every day to pay homage. That stranger and those in the crowd at The Wall had given us all on a personal level, something we had been longing for all these years – something to fill that empty space in our hearts. It was the only thing we ever really wanted in return for our service - the honor and appreciation of a grateful nation. We found it there that evening, expressed in the eyes of those onlookers at The Wall and in a simple, sincere "Thank-you" from a stranger. Though the painful memories will always remain, perhaps now at last we can really begin to close the wounds left by that war and find true healing.

On Sunday, after breakfast we were treated to an inspiring, uplifting talk by Tom Hanton, former POW in the Hanoi Hilton, followed by a very interesting, professionally done talk on the war for The Ho Chi Minh Trail by Darrell Whitcomb. Jimmie Butler, Jim Henthorn and others contributed their personal experiences to the talk, adding to the feeling of camaraderie and reinforcing the idea that we all had a job to do, and ALL were important to the air war as it was fought from Thailand .
About 1030 hours, my family and I reluctantly said our good-byes and hit the road for home with a warm, wistful feeling inside. I'm already looking forward to next year's reunion, and I wish now I had not allowed the opportunity to attend the Dayton reunion to pass me by. For those who might be wavering on the decision whether to come or not, by all means do! It's an experience you will neither regret nor forget.

Good night Brothers. God bless you all.

Bob Wheatley

Det 4, 6922 Security Wing

Ramasun Station / Udorn

Dec 1967 - Oct 1968

WHAT IS A VET?

He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in

Saudi Arabia

sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.

He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.

She - or he - is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang .

He is the POW who went away one person and came back another - or didn't come back AT ALL.

He is the Quantico drill instructor that has never seen combat - but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other's backs.

He is the parade - riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.

He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.

He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.

He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being, a person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.

So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.