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. And his death led the military to change its rules about juveniles in combat.
What was the youngest age to fight in Vietnam?
The minimum age for enlistment was seventeen years but with parental consent, though a number of young men and even women lied about their ages in order to sign up. Facing an army that had little or no respect for the rules of war, a good number of the teen soldiers were easily intimidated.
Did 15 year olds fight 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 minimum age to draft it in Vietnam?
Lottery for Call of Order
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.
Can a 17 year old be deployed?
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).
Who was the youngest soldier killed in Vietnam?
Dan Bullock
Dan Bullock (December 21, 1953 – June 7, 1969) was a United States Marine and the youngest U.S. serviceman killed in action during the Vietnam War, dying at the age of 15.
| Dan Bullock | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 21, 1953 Goldsboro, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | June 7, 1969 (aged 15) An Hoa Combat Base, Quảng Nam Province, South Vietnam |
Who is the youngest Vietnam veteran still alive?
List of the 4 Youngest Vietnam Veterans
- Oliver Stone. Age: 75. Born: 09/15/1946. Hometown: New York City.
- Tom Selleck. Age: 77. Born: 01/29/1945. Hometown: Detroit, Michigan.
- Bob Kerrey. Age: 78. Born: 08/27/1943. Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska.
- Jorge Otero Barreto. Age: 84. Born: 04/07/1937. Hometown: Vega Baja, Puerto Rico.
Who was the youngest person to go to war?
Momčilo Gavrić
| Momčilo Gavrić | |
|---|---|
| Awards | Albanian Medal |
| Spouse(s) | Kosara Gavrić |
Who was the youngest person to fight in World war 2?
Calvin Leon Graham
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.
Can you be drafted at 17?
The Selective Service Act of 1948, enacted in June of that year, created a new and separate system, the basis for the modern system. All men 18 years and older had to register with the Selective Service. All men between the ages of 18 to 25 were eligible to be drafted for a service requirement of 21 months.
Can you be drafted at 16?
All men from the ages of 18 to 64 years will now be eligible for the draft, according to a decision made by congressional committees on December 16, now including men with families who might have previously been exempt because of old age or boys fresh out of school.
What birthdays were picked for the Vietnam draft?
On December 1, 1969, the Selective Service System of the United States conducted two lotteries to determine the order of call to military service in the Vietnam War in the year 1970, for men born from January 1, 1944 to December 31, 1950.
Can 17-year-olds fight in war?
In the United States 17-year-olds may join the armed forces with the written agreement of parents. As of 2015 approximately 16,000 17-year-olds were being enlisted annually.
Can 16 year olds be deployed?
Although members of the armed forces cannot legally be deployed on the frontline until they turn 18, once they become adults they continue to serve based on a commitment they made as a minor with no opportunity to reassess this commitment as an adult. This appears to be a legal anomaly.
Can you enlist at 17 while in high school?
Here’s how it works: You enlist while you’re still a junior (you must be 17 years old to enlist and have permission from a parent or guardian), finish that year and attend Basic Combat Training during the summer between your junior and senior years.
How many soldiers died on their first day in Vietnam?
997 soldiers
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. Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.
Who served the longest in Vietnam?
He earned 38 military decorations during his career, and has been called the most decorated U.S. soldier of the Vietnam War.
| Jorge Otero Barreto | |
|---|---|
| Years of service | 1959–1970 |
| Rank | Sergeant First Class |
| Unit | 101st Airborne 25th Infantry 82nd Airborne 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War ( WIA ) |
Who was the last man killed in Vietnam?
Charles McMahon (May 10, 1953 – April 29, 1975) and Darwin Lee Judge (February 16, 1956 – April 29, 1975) were the last two United States servicemen killed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The two men, both U.S. Marines, were killed in a rocket attack one day before the Fall of Saigon.
What age are Vietnam vets?
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 populaƟon females (47.7M) outnumber males by 20.5M.
What unit lost the most soldiers in Vietnam?
US units with most casualties per conflict
| Unit | Conflict | WIA |
|---|---|---|
| Harlem Hellfighters | World War I | |
| 3rd Infantry Division | World War II | 18,766 |
| 1st Marine Division | Korean War | 25,864 |
| 1st Cavalry Division | Vietnam War | 26,592 |
What percentage of soldiers fired their weapons in Vietnam?
90 to 95 percent
The Army then changed its combat training to desensitize soldiers to the humanity of the enemy. The new training was effective, and as a result, 55 percent of the infantrymen in the Korean War fired their weapons, and 90 to 95 percent fired them in Vietnam.
