How many U.S. citizens were drafted in Vietnam?

The military draft brought the war to the American home front. During the Vietnam War era, between 1964 and 1973, the U.S. military drafted 2.2 million American men out of an eligible pool of 27 million.


How many people dodged the draft in Vietnam?

According to a 1978 book by former members of President Gerald Ford's Clemency Board, 210,000 Americans were accused of draft offenses and 30,000 left the country. A recent estimate is that 60,000 to 100,000 left the U.S., mainly for Canada or Sweden.

Who was most likely to be drafted in the Vietnam War?

Men with lower numbers were called first and told to report to induction centers where they could be ordered into active duty and possibly sent to the Vietnam War. On December 1, 1969, the United States held its first draft lottery, which gave young men a random number corresponding to their birthdays.


How many people refused the draft in Vietnam?

Around 15 million were granted deferments, mostly for education and some for mental or physical problems. There were more than 300,000 draft evaders in total, of which 209,517 men illegally resisted the draft while some 100,000 deserted.

What percentage of draftees died in Vietnam?

limbs, 1,081 sustained multiple amputations. rate of 18.4% compared to 5.7% in WWII. POW: 766, of whom 114 died in captivity. Draftees accounted for 30.4% (17,725) of combat deaths in Vietnam.


Here’s How the Draft Actually Works in the U.S. | NowThis



What was the bloodiest day in the Vietnam War?

The deadliest day of the Vietnam War for the U.S. was 31 January at the start of the Tet Offensive when 246 Americans were killed in action.

How many Vietnam deaths 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.

Who Cannot be drafted?

WHO ARE EXEMPT FROM THE DRAFT?
  • The Vice-President of the United States, the Judges of the various Courts of the Untied States, the heads of the various executive departments of the Government, and the Governors of the several States.
  • The only son liable to military duty of a widow dependent upon his labor for support.


What was the oldest age drafted in Vietnam?

Before the lottery was implemented in the latter part of the Vietnam conflict, there was no system in place to determine order of call besides the fact that men between the ages of 18 and 26 were vulnerable to being drafted. Local boards called men classified 1-A, 18-1/2 through 25 years old, oldest first.

Were people forcefully drafted to fight in Vietnam?

The military draft brought the war to the American home front. During the Vietnam War era, between 1964 and 1973, the U.S. military drafted 2.2 million American men out of an eligible pool of 27 million.

What birthdays were called for the Vietnam draft?

A lottery drawing – the first since 1942 – was held on December 1, 1969, at Selective Service National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This event determined the order of call for induction during calendar year 1970; that is, for registrants born between January 1, 1944, and December 31, 1950.


How long did a drafted soldier have to serve in Vietnam?

Only 20-25% of draftees served in Vietnam. The rest were either stationed stateside or sent to Europe to free up volunteer soldiers to serve in Vietnam. Conscription was for 2 years. The first year was for Basic Training followed by Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) training at a branch School.

Who excluded from Vietnam draft?

College and graduate students who, almost by definition, were neither poor nor people of color, were given draft exemptions. However, poor and disadvantaged men not in college were drafted at higher rates and were consequently injured and killed at higher rates.

Who was the last draftee sent to Vietnam?

It also meant you might go to war and it meant you might not come back. Clyde Green, 60, is perhaps the last human link to those days. The Army ended the draft in 1973 and at least one other draftee is still on active duty.


Who gets drafted first for war?

The first men drafted would be those turning age 20 during the calendar year of the lottery.

How tall is too tall for the military?

The ideal height requirement for men in the military is between 60-80 inches / 152-203 cm. Anyone above or below this requirement is likely to get rejected.

What eliminates you from the draft?

“After someone is drafted, they can claim conscientious objector status, which is basically they say they have religious or moral convictions that do not allow them to serve in war,” Winkie says.


Can you be drafted at age 40?

Present - The U.S. currently operates under an all-volunteer armed forces policy. All male citizens between the ages of 18 and 26 are required to register for the draft and are liable for training and service until the age of 35.

What was the life expectancy of a soldier in Vietnam?

The US Army, as is (or maybe was, there are The current life expectancy for Vietnam in 2021 is 75.57 years, a 0.13% increase from 2020.; The life expectancy for Vietnam in 2020 was 75.47 years, a 0.13% increase from 2019.; The life expectancy for Vietnam in 2019 was 75.37 years, a 0.13% increase from 2018.

What state lost the most soldiers in Vietnam?

Here are the 10 states with the most Vietnam casualties:
  • California - 5,572.
  • New York - 4,117.
  • Texas - 3,414.
  • Pennsylvania - 3,142.
  • Ohio - 3,092.
  • Illinois - 2,930.
  • Michigan - 2,649.
  • Florida - 1,950.


What is the average age of a Vietnam vet today?

Nearly nine million Americans served during the Vietnam War Era, and as of the 2020 Census, they are the largest cohort of veterans in America, with an estimated 6.4 million living vets at a median age of 71.

Did the VFW reject Vietnam vets?

Some World War II veterans cite the fact that it takes, quite literally, an act of Congress to enable the Veterans of Foreign Wars to accept into its membership veterans of a specific conflict. They say many Vietnam veterans were not recognized because the VFW was not sanctioned to accept them.

How long was a tour in the Vietnam War?

A tour of duty in Vietnam for most ground forces lasted one year. Becoming “short” by having less than 100 days left in a tour of duty was a cause for celebration. It also required a countdown calendar on which each day was crossed off until only the “wake-up” – the last morning in Vietnam – remained.


What percentage of Vietnam vets saw combat?

Actually, the opposite is true; only a relatively small percentage were ever involved in combat. In fact, it is likely less than 30% of all who served there ever saw combat of any sort during their war.