To all those that served and sacraficed for our country.
Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another - Vietnam Veterans of America "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 54 years old." So, if you're alive and reading this, how does it feel to be among the last 1/3rd of all the U.S. Vets who served in Vietnam?...don't know about you guys, but kind of gives me the chills, Considering this is the kind of information I'm used to reading about WWII and Korean War vets.
So the last 14 years we are dying too fast, only the few will survive by 2015...if any; if true 390 Vietnam vets die a day. So in 2190 days from today, lucky to be a Vietnam veteran alive in only 6 years.
These statistics were taken from a variety of sources to include: The VFW Magazine, the Public Information Office, and the HQ CP Forward Observer - 1st Recon April 12, 1997.
The VA has added three NEW Agent Orange Presumptionss which now qualify for certain benefits. Presumptions include the following. AL Amyloidosis, Bladder cancer, Chronic B-cell Leukemias, Chloracne, Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Hodgkin's Disease, Hypothyroidism, Ischemic Heart Disease, Multiple Myeloma, Non-Hodgkins's Lymphoma, Parkinsonism, Parkinson's Disease, Peripheral Neuropathy-Early-Onset, Porphyria Cutanea Tarda, Prostate Cancer, Respiratory Cancers, Soft Tissue Sarcomas.
I would like to welcome you to the D-Troop website. It's intended to keep all our D-Troop pals in constant touch. Many of us served and operated as a well-oiled machine during the Vietnam War, and our hearts were all touched by some of the bravest and most courageous soldiers of the time. After many years with absolutely NO contact with my Army pals, in 1988, I decided to create this site. We have a great bunch of guys keeping in contact with one another. Many have also donated their photos, stories, documentation, memories, and much more over the years and I hope the trend continues. It remains to be a truly cohesive group of good guys that recognize the extreme role we played in Vietnam. By visiting the pages of the site, you'll realize we were a bunch of young kids with dedication and loyalty to our fellow soldier and most of all... our country. We will never forget our friends... all those that we fought along side. Even more so for ALL the brave young soldiers that made the ultimate sacrifice.
1Since February 2004, there has been a substantial gravitation to the site. We now have nearly 350 names and contact information for pilots, gunners, "blues", admin, maintenance and others, which now provide an avenue for many of our friends to keep in touch.
2John Steinbeck speaks of flying in Vietnam...
Only a handful of people have won both the Nobel and Pulitzer prizes in literature. One of them was iconic American novelist John Steinbeck. His incredible body of work stretched from Tortilla Flat to Of Mice and Men, from Grapes of Wrath to Cannery Row to East Of Eden. He had a gift for the language that few, before or since have possessed. Not widely known is the fact that in 1966-67, a year before his death, he went to Vietnam...
3I have the state of Arizona Purple Heart license plates on my car. See the note left on my windshield.