life expectancy of an infantry soldier in combatwarren community center gym

As we were, steadily building up, our area for protection. both tours. Others were encampments such as Camp Myles Standish, outside of Boston, Massachusetts. This meant that rations in the field were often frozen, as was the water in the canteens carried by the men, adding another eight pounds to their load, but entirely useless. Some Brothers said why spend another year in this hellhole???? I too never understood survivor quilt, Enjoyed your article. Transportation was provided, and troops were not allowed to wear unit insignia outside the camp, nor discuss their unit or the camp with civilians. of what was usually 5 or 6 going in and many times the leads would find traps, punji pits or the VC waiting. The infantry rotated troops to and out of the front, either as it receded while the Germans withdrew to new defensive positions or as replacement troops took over, giving the squads an opportunity to rest, shower, obtain fresh clothing and recover from combat. Ambushed on October 4th,1967. Infantrymen must protect the country against any threat by land. . The infantrymans first encounter with the French or Italians usually took place near these camps. The Thompson .45 caliber submachine gun was sometimes carried by a non-com to give a squad more firepower in the field, but it was not deployed as heavily as films and television depict due to its poor penetrating power and its weight. U.S. Army Infantrymen MOS 11B have many duties and responsibilities. [1] However, this claim is as much an indictment of US Army personnel practices and miscalculations as it is an indicator of tank crew losses. Ernest, Im glad that your first tour with the VN airborne was rewarding. Army Infantrymen (MOS 11B) are the main land combat force, known as Eleven Bravo. These personnel are responsible for defending the country through real-life combat. An infantryman was trained to fire a full eight-round clip in battle before reloading the weapon. The one that should be there is the combat medic. While traveling through the boonies the first few men were usually always shot first. They were a great bunch. Army Infantrymen are experts in both weaponry and machinery, so there is a need to maintain and store combat weapons of all types. In our spare time we did medevacs and medcaps for the local communities and when required inserted SEALs . I would suspect that stating with any accuracy the life span of a grunt like me, or any other MOS, would be pretty much pure speculation. Rest and recovery could be at the level of any of the units of command, or as little as the squad level. Many of the skills you learn while in the U.S. Army are universal to just about every type of job. Cleaning tools and oil were kept in the buttstock. After every officer in our company was either killed or had serious wounds, our 1st Sgt , David McNerney took over the company and without his leadership, and knowledge of war, and unbelievable courage, our company would probably have been wiped out. Both my tours were in the Delta (IV Corps) where the only ground troops were regular ARVNs and RUFF/PUFFS. American troops disembarked in ports in England and Scotland, Iceland, and North Africa, and as the war went on, directly on the continent in Marseille and Toulon in the Mediterranean, and Cherbourg and other Channel ports. Two points: 1) at least in Army units, Medevacs (dust offs) flew unarmed aircraft. Michael Doolittle..I was with 1/8 inf, 1st Brigade, and that day, March 22nd was also our darkest day. Axes were useful, but not all men in the squad needed to carry one. Some of my men didnt. When in close proximity to the enemy smoking at night was forbidden, as were cooking fires or open flames. Army Infantrymen are the main land combat force and are considered a backbone of the U.S. Army. You can follow the pay table below to figure out what you can expect to make based on U.S. Army rank for Infantryman MOS 11B: The U.S. Army has several benefits included with a monthly salary: It is also worth noting that you could earn up to $41,000 in cash bonuses for enlisting under certain Military Occupational Specialties. I was an RTO for 9-1/2 months for Hawk Recon 2/327 101AB from dec, 1969 to sept 70. Rules may have changed, I was in the Delta region. A Civil War soldier would find that modern axiom very familiar. During combat, soldiers need to request, observe, and adjust direct supporting fire. I was a medic on one for two yrs and the only weapon I was issue was a six-shot .38. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? American infantry from the 28th Infantry division march on the Champs Elysees in Paris. We were in2dBn 503d . Instead, they were soon engulfed in the biggest battle of US Army history. Sanitation facilities were a box filled with sand in each car. The US Army Combat Lifesaver Course is an official medical training course conducted by the US Army. You of course had the radio plus xtra batteries & handsets plus your rucksack with 7 to 8 canteens , 20 mags ( I used to carry 17 rounds in the mags instead of 20 ) because the springs would force the round into the chamber causing jams . Toothbrushes and tooth powder were included in ration packs, and the teeth could be brushed using water in canteens, except for during the colder periods of the winter of 1944-45 when the canteens froze solid. Tired, footsore soldiers experienced difficulty keeping up with the rest of their unit, and traveling alone was far more dangerous than within the unit itself, for both the straggler and the rest of the unit. 5 (April 1944) What the Soldier Thinks, no. Two of my classmates were killed within 2 weeks incountry and three wounded I know of. Of the American combat troops which served on the continent of Europe during the Second World War about 15% were frontline infantry. It means, IF (!) One went back to headquarters to notify them of the death, the other remained at the grave so that the body could be identified. The average life expectancy of a front-line soldier in eastern Ukraine is four hours, a Marine said. Assigned to HHC 1/77 Armor, 1st, BDE 5th Inf. Wow I was 31.8 Gun shot Carried model 1200 Winchester shot gun WIA May 68 Article was great. For the most part, when they went home after the war they regathered themselves and used their GI Bill rights to get educations, buy houses, and create the baby boom and the suburbs. I applaud your courage as I know an RTOs job is essential, difficult (carrying the weight of his radio transmitter, his rifle, his ammo, and his rucksack), and dangerous as the enemy surely wanted to knock out any communications for support. Military-friendly employers are known for being large corporations that seek experienced and trained veterans for the skills they attain while in the U.S. Army. I applaud the courage and difficult and all so dangerous job of Roger Herforth when he served as an RTO for the Hawk Recon Platoon of the 101st airborne division in Vietnam.. So was the need to stay nourished, and despite the idea of eating unappetizing rations cold, due to the necessity of avoiding using cooking fires, it was better than nothing. American parachute infantry advance in the Huertgen Forest in February, 1945. And us the living that served, who suffer from PTSD ,that figure or percent-aged would be about the greatest of all. Related Article: Army Height And Weight Standards. Some wounded received convalescent leave far behind the lines. There were instances when some men used grenades to try to blast the frozen soil, a practice which was quickly stopped by the sergeants. Our home base was Quang Tri fire Base, But I spent about 6 months out at Mai Loc with the rig. There are a number of civilian job opportunities for an Army Infantryman (11B) following discharge from the U.S. Military. I always was told that the life expectancy of a LT was 14 seconds in INITIAL combat versus 9 seconds for an RTO. Each company, usually commanded by a Captain, contained three rifle platoons, and each of those was comprised of three squads of twelve men each (a company also included a light weapons platoon). The job training for 11B requires 14 weeks of One Station Unit Training (OSUT) which is a combination of time spent in the classroom and in the field. Troops were moved to the front to prepare for another offensive in the autumn of 1944, and then redeployed in response to the surprise German counteroffensive. rice farmer who was still working with is ox like nothing ever No combat assignments for another year of service in Vietnam or get out in about a month. You were a Great RTO. Staying alive was kinda of important. Hi, the whole thing is going nicely here and ofcourse every one Thanks. I never thought of it that way before but have many times since. Appx: 6 months in, all of the 543d TC joined forces with the 572d TC. The trailer for that video can be seen by googling the title, and it might still be sold on Amazon. Treatment of wounds using sulfa drugs and powder and the growing use of penicillin to prevent and treat infections were on his side. I look over to Les Scates U.S. Army (Ret.) It was just north of Saigon. I am proud to have fought alongside of them. The M1 was a semi-automatic rifle, allowing its operator to fire an entire eight-round clip simply by squeezing the trigger for each shot, without having to operate the bolt manually to chamber the next round. The Republic of Vietnam lost 1,018 aircraft and helicopters from January 1964 to September 1973. by John A. Haymond 2/7/2023. I personally believe and agree with previous posts that when its your time, not much you can do. S-91: Survey of Combat Troops in England S-100: Attitudes of Combat Infantrymen S-101: Attitudes of Combat Infantry Officers S-106: Post-War Army Plans (Officers and EM) What the Soldier Thinks, no. There is a demand to know how to operate in an NBC contaminated area as well as construct field expedient firing aids. Bad apples were dealt with first at the squad level, and if that didnt correct the perceived deficiency the problem was presented to more senior personnel by the squad sergeant. Additionally, soldiers might record operational information on maps. Absent an opportunity to prove themselves, these arriving infantrymen found the squad wary of them, and sometimes almost hostile. I was a REMF but Ive heard of 05Cs that were stuck out in the boonies on a firebase. The Infantry makes up approximately 15% of the Armys total force. One result of combat is dealing with prisoners of war, with Army Infantrymen being the first means to process POWs. We observed the rules of the Geneva Convention while the bad guys had no interest in doing so. Then he said youre on a FB, the enemy always knows your location, can pretty much attack at will, and you really dont have the capability to retreat. There were two different groups that flew aeromedical evacuations. Combat lifesaver course. Also, Infantry like the culture of the military job as well as management opportunities. Amen I was a machine gunner for 7 months 503rd infantry 173rd airborne and you hit the nail right on the head. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in ww2? We did interdictions, blocks and other fun things on the river. A wounded American soldier is loaded into a halftrack converted to serve as an ambulance in Germany in early 1945. Some very close calls but I am alive at age 74. As I made it back to the road I remember seeing the These included cold beer, which was provided by American brewers, mandated by war regulations. A regiment contained an artillery company, an anti-tank company, and three battalions of infantry. Some reported not having the ability to shower for as long as several weeks. 30 Apr 2023 00:05:29 Thanks for posting! If you have other information let me know. I agree with all of the comments, however I would add Tunnel Rats to the group I was one and saw many of my friends die in those tunnels I was very fortunate or very lucky and was never a lead but was at the tail end. I carried the PRC-25 Radio most of that time. My shit got weak and a sniper popped three rounds in my young ass. Back in 1965, I was a door gunner on Medevac recovery operations. Not much different than his unit. Great information. For the infantryman, the war was limited to how it affected his squad, and the need to protect and defend it. My good friend who was a RTO was killed. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I was stationed on 2 FSBs (8 & 175mm guns) west of Tay Ninh on the Cambodian boarder in the Ho Chi Minh trail and was wounded but nothing as bad as he was. The special military bonus is reserved for particular in-demand, or highly-dangerous positions. In the case of a night attack, the men could not exit the bags quickly, and most infantrymen quit sleeping in them, preferring to stay on top of the bag and cover themselves with their overcoat or blanket. Cameron Rogers from 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, plots points on a map during the fire . Over 600 Navy FMF Hospital Corpsmen were killed in Vietnam. The fact that PDoggbiker cant find any decent calculation/explanation, tells us a lot. US Army. I spent my year in Vietnam with the 1/22nd infantry part of the 4th division. They were located, next to us, in/on Long Bhin Post. The lowest rated category on Indeed for Army Infantryman is work-life balance which makes sense as having a family while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces is far from easy. I for one commend you for your courage and thank you for your service to your country. Both are trained in OSUT (One Station Unit Training) companies, meaning trainees stay in the same company for basic combat training (BCT) and advanced individual training (AIT). A typical Patrol Boat River (PBR) was about 31 feet long and had twin 50s forward an M 60 midships and a 50 aft. Some were in action later the same day. Love this analysis. Lt lost a finger, same time. Comments were more interesting than the article it self. U.S. Army Infantryman overwhelming have positive things to say about the military career choice. My bud, Price took over as RTO. As I carried a PRC25 radio for over seven-months in the > Nam, I was curious to find out what I did RIGHT to surv >, One MOS I figured was a sure short timer was POL{Fuel} Truck Driver. Four platoons in a rifle company. Also , it I might add that the, Government big wigs, have a quota [percentage]of a lot of the Military equipment etc that had a certain amount of time to function until it was disable, blow up, wrecked, junk, etc. I will always think/say, we had absolutely no reason for being in that place. means: 1 gets killed the 1st second, another one after 9 seconds avg. Each battalion contained a heavy weapons company with machine guns and mortars, and three rifle companies of infantrymen. I carried the PRC-25 for most of a year. The basic unit for any infantryman in the United States Army was his squad. As a result, Army Infantrymen 11B are trained to conduct mobilization in a variety of settings on land. As it was, less than 40 did not need evacuation. Related Article 5 Best Combat Jobs In The US Navy. During some periods of intense combat more than a month could go by without clean clothes or a shower. This is excellent! Commanders like him were few and far between many were afraid of their own shadow and were only there to get their ticket punched. Pararescue U.S. Air Force pararescuemen and a simulated 'survivor' watch as an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter comes in for a landing. I was also told that the Radio did put a target on my back. From Cam Rahn, we kept flying north to, a Landing Zone near QUANG TRI. Cruz quite a lot. The article was interesting. To an, open area. When you assist in reconnaissance operations you can expect to employ, fire, and recover anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, locate and neutralize mines, operate, mount/dismount, zero, and engage targets using night vision sight. While waiting for their orders for deployment the food was at least usually hot and plentiful, opportunities to fraternize with the welcoming French were frequent, and the mail arrived regularly bringing news from home. Welcome home brothers and sisters. In addition to handling and processing POWs, an Army Infantryman might also need to evaluate terrain and select weapon emplacement. Here are ten examples of what life was like for the combat infantryman of the Second World War. This Battle changed his life and his future, had it not been for his actions, every man on this FSB Gold would have died. Remember he wanted to reenlist for one more year in Vietnam. Education: Army members can earn full-tuition, merit-based scholarships, allowances for books and fees, plus annual stipend for living expenses. On the march, they saw first-hand the horrors of the war they were fighting, dead and maimed bodies of Allies and the enemy, many of them scarcely recognizable as human. And yes, please God, bless America. three, he believes he is doing what his country wants him to dojust like you So you better damn well treat him with the compassion you want for you!! I would carry when on ambush. Total fantasy. The needs of the Army will dictate which MOS youre assigned. Infantry soldiers are trained at Fort Benning, Georgia. Life was seemingly grand for Napoleon's army, but reality told a far different story. Be glad you served with a soldiers soldier like LTC Herbert. Nor was treating wounded their only duty, they were responsible for the overall health of the men in their company, treating them for dysentery, routine illnesses such as colds and flu, blisters, sprains and broken bones, and other miseries encountered by the men. During training, you will spend close to a week on vehicle platform training. As a member of a fire team, you can expect to test your skills handling day and night shooting with several Army stables including M4 rifles, M230 machine guns, and M249 automatic weapons. All they learned from their officers was that it was time to travel on foot. Stops on the march of more than a few minutes were to be used to grab any sleep they could. Related Article Marine Corps Scout Sniper (MOS 0317): Career Details. Operation Military Kids was founded to be a resource for teens and young adults who are interested in joining the military, but don't know where to begin. Fifteen percent of all American beer production was set aside for the American military, and it was brought near to the front for resting troops to consume. So I guess i lasted longer than I was supposed to. LUCK pure LUCK. Officers and sergeants frequently carried the M1 carbine, which used the same ammunition as the M1 rifle but was lighter and easier to handle in the field. KICK ASS AS NEEDED!!! Required fields are marked *. Originally I went to the 543d TC. They were great patriots fighting for their families and their homeland. C Co, 1st-12th 66-67. If a battle ensued, a triumphant army would lose 5% of its men but a defeated army would usually lose around 15% of its force. All of these tasks for MOS 11B are not possible without excellent communication skills as well as an advanced understanding of terrain, methods of warfare, and combat strategies. He encountered the open fields and farmlands of France, the dense woods of the Ardennes, the mountainous terrain in Italy, Les Voges, and Alsace, in all weather conditions. We were like sitting Ducks. I served in A Company 3/22 of the 3rd Brigade 4th Infantry 12/66, then Hq Co 2/12 of the 3rd Brigade 25th Inf until the night of the TET offensive end of January 1968 and returned home July 18 1968. He also carried a weapon. Both served in A 2/18 1st Infantry Division For some reason, the written word of this article was somehow deleted and lost. I was a 2LT on Hamburger Hill and had 4 RTOs over a 7 day period (excluding the times I ended up carrying my own radio). Infantrymen are renowned for being great at handling high-stress situations and are often natural-born leaders. Some embarkation ports were near major military installations, such as Norfolk, Virginia. After consolidating the division and its equipment infantrymen were moved to the front, which by December 1944 was nearing the Siegfried Line, defensive fortifications protecting Germany from invasion from the west. ASVAB Scores For Air Force Jobs: All 130+ For 2022, How To Choose The Right Military Branch For You, Marine Machine Gunner (MOS 0331): Job Description And Summary, strength requirement and physical profile, Correctable vision must be 20/20 in one eye, Air Force Combat Controller (CCT) (1C2X1): Career Details, Marine Corps Infantry Assault (MOS 0351): Career Details, Army Combat Engineer (MOS 12B): Career Details, Marine Corps Tow Gunner (MOS 0352): Career Details, Marine Corps Scout Sniper (MOS 0317): Career Details, https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/browse-career-and-job-categories/combat/infantryman-11b.html, https://www.indeed.com/cmp/U.S.-Army/reviews?fjobtitle=Infantryman, Gas Turbine Systems Technician (GSM and GSE): Career Details, Good Conduct Medal & Ribbon Explained For All 5 Branches, Sea Service Ribbon: All 5 Military Branches Explained, Overseas Service Ribbon Explained For All 6 Military Branches. RIght there and the NVA we were usually up against knew this. It was a lull before the storm, since more and more infantrymen were needed at the front. It was up to the squad leaders to keep them fighting in brutal weather, without asking why. We had one RTO killed because he was too close to a 2ND Lt, same thing happened to another RTO. We can all hold our heads high and be proud of our service. AnswerIt depended on the position they had. I was with HHC and 1st Platoon C Company in 70-71. We had 5 kias and roughly 50 wounded in our company so about one in three got hit. As a Huey door gunner, when we left the ground on a mission, I always thought that this mission would be my last! HOOAH!!! See my calculation below in the comments bogus indeed. However, it was the discretion of the individual crewmen if they wanted to carry personal weapons or not. Alsace had for more than a century been a region disputed between the French and the Germans, and many of the residents there were more supportive of the latter than the former. I DISAGREETHE ENEMY WOULD SHOOT THE GUY NEXT TO THE RTO-KNOWING HE WAS THE COMMANDER. The name came from the labels painted on the sides of the cars, which in French read 40 Hommes chevaux 8 meaning 40 men or 8 horses. Copyright 2023 www.OperationMilitaryKids.org. The Army considered its use as an embarkation point a secret, and so warned the young soldiers when they arrived. Good article. The U.S. Army features the same base pay regardless of job within the military. Welcome home!! According to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) there are now officially 58, 318 names on the wall. Sept 69 to Sept 70. Occasionally the men were transferred piecemeal. When the reserves moved up the troops which had been in combat were withdrawn, and what luxuries the Army could offer were enjoyed. John Doever I know this is a standard cliche, but it is so true, All gave some. 1st Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion 327th Infantry. We were probably not too far away on that day. Some were constantly exposed to combat, some not so often. Each rifle squad had one man assigned to carry a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) while the rest of them carried rifles, usually the Garand M1 rifle. Our patrols were typically about 14 hours 24/7 We operated of old LSTs and large barges. Very interesting I carried theM 60 for 5 months that gun would cut down anything.

Romantic Restaurants In San Jose With A View, Articles L