Statistics show that at least five men killed in Vietnam were sixteen years old, and at least 12 were seventeen years old. 61% of those killed were younger than twenty one and 11,465 of those killed were younger than twenty years of age.

Besides, How old are the youngest Vietnam vets?

“Of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam, Less than 850,000 are estimated to be alive today, with the youngest American Vietnam veteran’s age approximated to be 60 years old.”

Keeping this in mind, What was the minimum age to fight in Vietnam? Ages of Servicemen

WAR DURATION TYPICAL AGES
Vietnam War 1965-1973
18-60
Gulf War 1991 18-60
Afghanistan War 2002 18-60
Iraq War 2003- 18-60

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How old did you have to be to fight in Vietnam?

“For years our citizens between the ages of 18 and 21 have, in time of peril, been summoned to fight for America,” Eisenhower said.

Could 17 year olds go to Vietnam?

White, caused controversy and led the military to prevent minors from being in combat in Vietnam. … Now those enlisting to the Army must be of the age 18 or at the age of 17 they must have written consent from parents but can’t be in combat until the age of 18.

What’s the average age of a Vietnam vet?

EsÆŸmated 6.4M Vietnam Era Veterans. Ages range from 97 to 55 years old (born between 1918 and 1960). Median age is 68 years. An overwhelming majority of Vietnam Veterans are male (6.2M) while in the civilian populaÆŸon females (47.7M) outnumber males by 20.5M.

Did 17 year olds serve in Vietnam?

During that year, 1,928 soldiers died in the Vietnam War. Seventeen year-old James Calvin Ward was one of them. … James Ward was one of at least 18 juvenile soldiers killed at Vietnam—five were 16, like him, 11 others were 17, and one was 15 and had forged his birth certificate to join.

Who was the youngest US soldier killed in Vietnam?

On June 7, 1969, Bullock was killed by small arms fire while on night watch at An Hoa combat base. He was 15 years old and had been in-country nearly one month. He was the youngest American service member to be killed in the Vietnam War.

Did 17 year olds fight in ww2?

United States. In World War II, the US only allowed men and women 18 years or older to be drafted or enlisted into the armed forces, although 17-year-olds were allowed to enlist with parental consent, and women were not allowed in armed conflict.

How old was the average soldier in Vietnam?

The average age of a soldier in Vietnam was 19, and he was likely to be unmarried—a significant difference from a soldier in World War II. Approximately 25% were draftees.

When did the draft age changed to 18?

On November 11, 1942, Congress approves lowering the draft age to 18 and raising the upper limit to age 37. In September 1940, Congress, by wide margins in both houses, passed the Burke-Wadsworth Act, and the first peacetime draft was imposed in the history of the United States.

What was the average age of a soldier killed in Vietnam?

The Statistics in the Combat Area Casualty File (CACF 11/93) show an average age of death much higher than that of news reports. The average age of the 58,148 killed in Vietnam was 23.11 years (Although 58,169 names are in the Nov.

Can you get deployed in the Army at 17?

Before you visit your local recruiter, be sure you meet the minimum qualifications for serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. … You must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien. You must be at least 17 years old (17-year-old applicants require parental consent). You must (with very few exceptions) have a high school diploma.

Who was the youngest American soldier killed in Vietnam?

On June 7, 1969, Bullock was killed by small arms fire while on night watch at An Hoa combat base. He was 15 years old and had been in-country nearly one month. He was the youngest American service member to be killed in the Vietnam War.

What was the average age of soldiers in Vietnam?

Fact: Assuming KIAs accurately represented age groups serving in Vietnam, the average age of an infantryman (MOS 11B) serving in Vietnam to be 19 years old is a myth, it is actually 22. None of the enlisted grades have an average age of less than 20. The average man who fought in World War II was 26 years of age.

Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast?

Why are Vietnam vets dying so fast? (Reuters Health) – Higher than average death rates among Vietnam War veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggest that combat trauma may still be affecting veterans’ health even decades after the war, according to a new study.

What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat?

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 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam.

What was the average age of a soldier killed in Vietnam?

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 2015, there are 1,636 Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

Who was the youngest person to go to war?

Calvin Graham


Calvin Leon Graham
Years of service 1942–1943 1948–1951
Rank Seaman First Class – USN Corporal – USMC
Unit USS South Dakota
Battles/wars World War II Battle of Santa Cruz Naval Battle of Guadalcanal

How old were American soldiers in Vietnam?

The average age of American troops in Vietnam was nineteen, compared to an average age of twenty-six for U.S. soldiers in World War II (1939–45). During most of the Vietnam War, nineteen-year-olds were not even allowed to vote.

What was the life expectancy of a helicopter pilot in Vietnam?

Of those, 5,086 were destroyed, resulting in the deaths of approximately 5,000 pilots and crewmembers. The life expectancy of a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam was between 13 and 30 days.

Who was the youngest soldier in World War 2?

Calvin Leon Graham (April 3, 1930 – November 6, 1992) was the youngest U.S. serviceman to serve and fight during World War II. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the United States Navy from Houston, Texas on August 15, 1942, at the age of 12.

How many ww2 soldiers were underage?

In fact, none of these men who served their country underage existed to the military. No one under the age of seventeen legally joined the armed forces of the United States during World War Two. There is no record of their underage service.

How old did you have to be to be drafted in ww2?

On September 16, 1940, the United States instituted the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, which required all men between the ages of 21 and 45 to register for the draft. This was the first peacetime draft in United States’ history.