9,087,000 military personnel served on active duty during the official Vietnam era from August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975
2,709,918 Americans served in uniform in Vietnam (Actual Vietnam Veterans).(The rest served their tours in Germany, Alaska, South America and the United States.)
Many protesters claiming to be Vietnam Veterans never served in Vietnam or any branch of the military.
North Vietnam admittedly invaded democratic South Vietnam to further Marxist-Leninist ideology, with instruction and aid from the entire communist bloc.
The American military did not lose a single significant battle in the Vietnam War.
The US lost 60,157 KIA and MIA
The Tet Offensive of 1968 was a military disaster for Hanoi.
- It resulted in the death of some 45,000 NVA troops and the destruction of most Viet Cong elements in South Vietnam.
The fall of Saigon happened 30 April 1975, two years AFTER the American military left Vietnam.
- The peace settlement was signed in Paris on 27 January 1973.
- It called for release of all U.S. prisoners, withdrawal of U.S. forces, limitation of both sides' forces inside South Vietnam and a commitment to peaceful reunification.
- South Vietnam fell only because a pusillanimous congress failed to honor our pledges of support when the North violated the terms of the treaty.
The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand stayed free of Communism.
- This can be argued a result of the U.S. commitment to Vietnam.
- This is one argument for the validity of the "Domino Theory"
Two-thirds of those who served during Vietnam were volunteers rather than draftees.
77 percent of those who died were volunteers.
Of those who died, 86 percent were Caucasian, 12.5 percent were African-American, and 1.2 percent were from other races.
Fully 91 percent of those who served in Vietnam combat stated that they were glad they had served their country.
74 percent said they had enjoyed their time in the military.
71 percent of those who expressed an opinion indicated that they would go to Vietnam again, even knowing the end result.