Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.
A little history most people will never know. Interesting Veterans Statistics off the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010. The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties.
The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth , Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.
There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall. 39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger. 8,283 were just 19 years old. The largest age group, 33,103 were 18 years old. 12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old. 5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old. One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock, was 15 years old. 997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam ..
1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam. 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. 31 sets of parents lost two of their sons.
54 soldiers attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia .I wonder why so many from one school.
8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded.
244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall.
Beallsville, Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons. West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.
The Marines of Morenci – They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest. And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci’s mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.
The Buddies of Midvale – LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam. In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F Kennedy’s assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths.
The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 – 2,415 casualties were incurred.
For most Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War created. To those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that these numbers created.
We are, until we too pass away, haunted.
I am now 76 years old. I was there January 9 1968 – January 9 1969. Vietnam is NOT on my do-over list.
I have a lot of my brothers on that wall,it haunts me everyday,to think I survived and that didn’t…have been living with it for 58yrs…
Hey Tiny, I’m still glad you made it home. The rest of us love you
I am a daughter of a black Vietnam soldier by the name of Cornelius Jones but that’s all I know I am unable to find anything on him? Why is there anyone that can help me?
I served 1967 68 wounded during that time semper Fi
need a list of names on the wall of soldiers .
https://www.virtualwall.org/iAlpha.htm
I’m 78 and served in Viet Nam in 1966-67. Agent Orange damage has rewarded me with quintuple bypass surgery, gallbladder removal, and prostate cancer. Luckily, I’m collecting 100% VA benefits, but I often wonder about the Vietnamese people and how they fared with agent orange. I would guess that the war is still trying to kill us. Agent orange use was a terrible idea. Probably no research done on side effects on humans before it’s use. Sad.
You guys were the research
when they stopped agent orange, we had higher sniper kia. so we had guys,drive d8 dozers clear land next to roads – 59th land clearing
Hello
I’m searching for any of my family members who are black Names Agustus Bradley,
O’Dell Bradley who Served.
Vietnam Vets are some heavy duty people thats for sure,
They have my utmost respect.
The Marines are like “if you ain’t throwin UP.”
“Ye ain’t throwin DOWN” kinda dudes. ❗️👍
Where can I obtain an entire list of those memorialized on the Viet Nam wall?
Get online, type in Vietnam Wall by State. You can click on a state then go to city, click on name. you will see their picture rank and Awards. You can click on status and it will tell you all about the person.
Vietnam War
https://www.virtualwall.org/iAlpha.htm
Karl J De Rooy
Iam now 81 years old
I was there 1968-1969
I have visited the wall
God bless them
I was lucky I came home
so did I
how many guys were killed on Hamburger Hill?
my father, Chuck Thetford served and received the purple heart, career 22 yr vet and my mother, Joyce Reed Thetford also served(era-vietnam vet) both were in the Army. I was always so proud to stand up and acknowledge that both my parents were willing to serve. 18 years later, two weeks after I turned 17 I had my parents sign so that I too could be sworn in to the Army also.
To this day, I am still proud to stand up and acknowledge both parents service, each are buried in veteran marked graves. my dad in Arlington and my mother in the state of Arizonia. God Bless America, always!!
I was there 12/21/67-12/21-68,
First Cav, 8th Engr. Went through TET and went to Khe Shan. RIP to those brave men and women who have all…welcome home to all who made it back
Whatever the actual numbers, the loss is staggering as was my personal loss. However, some numbers reported in this article cannot be true. According to the article, 39,996 who died were 22 or younger, and a total of 41,404 were 19 or younger. Both numbers can’t be true. The number of 19 or younger year deaths must be lower — not higher — than the number of 22 or younger deaths because the number of 22 or younger deaths would include all 19 or younger deaths.
I was 5 years to young to be served and I respect all of you and your service Dave
Why do you keep publishing 38,000 18 year olds being killed?
Someone please help me with the math. If 33,103 were 18, and 8,283 were 19, how can 39,996 be under 22?
I was there July 70-June 71 with 11th Marines and FO with M/3/1. Three guys went in the Marines from my town of 1200. I’m the only one who came back alive. I’m still looking for LLA. This is JPM.
You state that 1448 were killed on their last day in VietNam. Not do diminish anyone’s contribution, but over 58,000 died on their last day in VietNam.
I became a marine February, 1974, I did not serve in Vietnam. However while in a hanger on KMCAS, as I reached midway up a stairwell I saw a picture of a young marine. I thought to myself, I wonder what he had done? As a marine, knowing marine history, they do not put your picture on a wall for nothing! That picture haunted me for fifty years. I recently found out, that young marine was Dan Bullock, the youngest marine killed in Vietnam. Age 15 years.
Past Sunday, before memorial day 2024, our Philadelphia mayor Parker allowed the placement of George Floyd photographs to encircle city hall.
Ms Parker, George Floyd was a criminal, NOT A VETERAN. This is an American problem which has to be stopped. like many veterans I served in Marines Corps during Vietnam.
I’m offended by this display of George Floyd AROUND MEMORIAL DAY.
I’d like to know why on that Sunday you’re all memorializing Floyd whose never served except JAIL TIME. (8x, + 4 years in pen)
Of all the veterans to look up to, Floyd is not a person I’d want my son or daughter to look up to.
So, Ms Parker, you were wrong to allow this to happen at a time when we celebrate the ultimate sacrifice by our brave men and women in uniform.
Memorial Day is for VETERANS not CRIMINALS.
*************
Semper Fi to Marines and
God bless ALL military families who made sacrifices and service for USA. May God be with us who now suffer from Agent Orange, used in Vietnam.
Thanks for all your services.
Perfectly said!! USMC Vietnam veteran 1967
How can I learn how many Americans were KIA in Vietnam on July 24, 1969?
Your answer is 22. Find their names here: https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/search/results/?firstName=&lastName=&homeCity=&homeCounty=&homeState=&birthDateMonth=&birthDateDay=&birthDateYear=&serviceBranch=&serviceRank=&casualtyDateMonth=7&casualtyDateDay=24&casualtyDateYear=1969&casualtyProvince=
Geno Quiroz-
Numbers listed are inconsistent:
8283 (19 y/o) + 33103 (18 y/o) = 41386
You indicate 39996 under age 23.
Accurate information, please.
This is very hard for me, because I am going to do a movie project film of my dad best friend who he knows and I know his last name is McDonalds but I’m not sure if his first name is Joe or John McDonalds plus my dad also told me he had a nick name and it is: Toto the prince of fools.
But my dad was going to call me Toto Francise McGuire. But my mom won’t allow it and instead he calls me Thomas F McGuire Jr.
But in 2025 I’m going to change my name to Dame Thomas Franhise and why? Because I am against cock sucker Donald J Trump and I support the United Kingdom against the United States and I will disrespect the American flag of the nation anthem while I take a seat in the MLB NBA, NFL, NHL Games and I will not stand for the national anthem!!!
Your Truly
Dame Thomas Franchise