There is a demand to know how to operate in an NBC contaminated area as well as construct field expedient firing aids. Infantrymen also carried a sidearm. SS America, renamed USS West Point, could carry nearly eight thousand troops and its speed meant it could sail without escorts, capable of outrunning German U-boats. The infantrymen would have just enough time to wet down, lather up using GI soap, and rinse off. Through it all, he carried all of the gear he needed to survive in the field, protect himself from the elements, and defend himself from the enemy. You have to earn it, so hard work during your education and training is extremely important. (and yes, you cant ask them, so it would have to be derived from the AA-reports and survivors). American troops disembarked in ports in England and Scotland, Iceland, and North Africa, and as the war went on, directly on the continent in Marseille and Toulon in the Mediterranean, and Cherbourg and other Channel ports. I know this is a standard cliche, but it is so true, All gave some. As I carried a PRC25 radio for over seven-months in the > Nam, I was curious to find out what I did RIGHT to surv >, One MOS I figured was a sure short timer was POL{Fuel} Truck Driver. Marching through rain and mud, or in snow, soaked the feet, making them susceptible to blisters and trench foot. AnswerIt depended on the position they had. I got shot on a mission with 45 days left. I knew some of this, but certainly not all. Out of the 3,000,000 men and women in our armed forces and reserves, we have lost 4,500 in this 9 year war. 101st Airborne Division. U.S. Army Infantryman overwhelming have positive things to say about the military career choice. Two of my classmates were killed within 2 weeks incountry and three wounded I know of. You just do the best job you can and if you got hit, so be it! US Army. Although a partially discharged clip could be ejected from the rifle it was common practice not to do so. Mail though censored was read and written. For the most part, the members of the squad had no idea of the overall strategic situation or even the local tactical situation. But it was my jobso I tried not to think about it much. All Rights Reserved. The 10 Most Dangerous Jobs in the US Military | Military.com For example, infantry units directed to disrupt German lines in Les Vosges in January 1945 had no idea they were preventing the reinforcement of troops involved in the Battle of the Bulge. Remember he wanted to reenlist for one more year in Vietnam. He said when they were ambushed they took defensive positions, returned fire, called for assistance when needed, and retreated when necessary. Ive always considered myself damn lucky to make it out alive. I was trained as a RTO in 1970 at Fort Ord then went to Fort Gordon for teletype school, my MOS was 05C20 when I finished. 10 1/2 months in the bush. Each company, usually commanded by a Captain, contained three rifle platoons, and each of those was comprised of three squads of twelve men each (a company also included a light weapons platoon). Those who arrived during actual combat received a warmer welcome than those arriving while the squad was resting. Sanitation facilities were a box filled with sand in each car. I for one commend you for your courage and thank you for your service to your country. They saw burned-out tanks and other vehicles, bombed-out villages and towns, civilian refugees with all of their remaining belonging in carts or on their backs. I think convoy truck drivers had one of the most dangerous job. Helicopters, F4 fighters. This is excellent! There is a higher demand for MOS 11B, and reports indicate the position makes up 15-17% of the U.S. Army. The 11X program challenges new recruits with the option of becoming MOS 11B or MOS 11C. I applaud the courage and difficult and all so dangerous job of Roger Herforth when he served as an RTO for the Hawk Recon Platoon of the 101st airborne division in Vietnam.. Related Article Army Combat Engineer (MOS 12B): Career Details. Most Dangerous Military Jobs - Hardest Job in the Military | FRG He used. As a Huey door gunner, when we left the ground on a mission, I always thought that this mission would be my last! We were expecting, an attack. Really? I think what is missing is the fact that the life expectancy of those firing at us was much shorter than those that they were firing at. Men of the 47th Infantry Regiment pass through Remagen on their way to the Ludendorf Bridge, March 1945. Infantrymen were trained to keep the rifle cleaned and well-oiled at all times, and since their lives depended on their weapon most were diligent about following this directive. I wasnt aware that they kept life expectancy statistics. It was an HONOR and a privilege to serve with these brave men for my 11 month tour. Every mission, I had the same thought. Since infantrymen spent a lot of time on or digging in the ground, most rotated out of combat for rest and recreation as a grimy, gritty, and unshaven lot, unconcerned with their non-parade ground appearance. While all rifle companies had assigned medics, they were not always in the company of squads on patrol or deployed in forwarding positions. Fortunately, it was recorded on Spotify and can be listened to here: Your email address will not be published. So I guess i lasted longer than I was supposed to. Army Infantryman 11B are riflemen, while Indirect Fire Infantrymen 11C carry mortar weapons systems. Also, it would mean the killed RTOs died within seconds of the fight (it doesnt distinguish between ambush or regular fight, eg. 1: physical position (in the field / column) 58,148 were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.7 million who served. My good friend who was a RTO was killed. The overwhelming majority of the combat infantrymen deployed during the Second World War carried as their primary weapon the Garand M1 rifle. I was an Infantry Scout Dog handler. Les Scates U.S. Army (Ret.) In combat they treated the wounded in the field, wearing helmets which were clearly marked with a Red Cross. The system made the success of American infantry operations almost wholly dependent on the ability of the squad leaders to direct their men in the field. Each battalion contained a heavy weapons company with machine guns and mortars, and three rifle companies of infantrymen. Vehicles of the US First Infantry division stalled on a Belgian road in late 1944. Their experience as front-line combat infantry was invaluable in training new recruits in what they could expect when it became their turn at the front. Regardless, several civilian jobs are comparable such as: Soldiers should consider enrolling in the Army PaYS program following retirement. What was the average life expectancy of a soldier in ww2? I was sitting on the ground one day trying to dry out my gear and better configure my ruck when my squad leader came walking over to me and said, Gow, youve got the radio. As he turned and walked away! The BAR man carried a weapon which weighed over 20 pounds loaded, and he carried another 20 pounds in ammunition. There were two different groups that flew aeromedical evacuations. Digging in was an exercise which added to sore backs blistered hands as the entrenching tool chipped away frozen ground. Impressed with this secrecy and their implied importance, many of the soldiers discovered that civilians in Boston knew of the camp, its purpose, and the fact that the soldiers being temporarily held there were on their way to Europe. It had a crew of 4 (forward gunner, the coxswain (steering and driving) and the two aft gunners. Transportation was provided, and troops were not allowed to wear unit insignia outside the camp, nor discuss their unit or the camp with civilians. Color Vision discrimination for MOS 11B is red/green. Then we learned, appx: 1 mile to our North was, an American AMMO storage area. I was once told a story by a World War II veteran who . Units would send a thorough report of their KIA and WIA, battle action coordinates, estimated enemy troop strength, enemy unit KIA/captured and any known direction heading. Different type units, different locations, different opinions on dangers. Most infantrymen did not carry additional ammunition for the .45, which was considered a defensive weapon of last resort, and those that did typically carried only one or two preloaded magazines. happened. Instead, they were soon engulfed in the biggest battle of US Army history. I remember we were always short of replacements throughout 1968 because of the high Kia & wounded rate we suffered at that time ! No high security clearance is required to become an Army Infantryman. Welcome Home Roger. The Life Expectancy of Roman Soldiers. There is no guarantee that recruits going through 11X Infantry Enlistment Option will become MOS 11B. Sleep was not a luxury but a necessity. He also carried an equipment bag, ammunition bandolier, backpack, entrenching tool, grenades, rations, canteen, spare socks, a blanket, a half shelter (to sleep under), and whatever personal items he wished. The Army considered its use as an embarkation point a secret, and so warned the young soldiers when they arrived. One out of every 10 Americans who served in Vietnam was a casualty. For the most part, when they went home after the war they regathered themselves and used their GI Bill rights to get educations, buy houses, and create the baby boom and the suburbs. Additionally, soldiers might record operational information on maps. At age 55, World War 2 Veterans were estimated to live 21.4 and 26.1 life-years, 1.4 and 0.3 more life-years for Korean Conflict Veterans, and 3 and 1.5 more life-years for Vietnam Era Veterans for male and female, respectively. The men couldnt eat them anyway, so they made excellent trade items with the candy-starved French. The one number that is really important is 56,220 and we all know what that number represents. Prayers for all. Over 600 Navy FMF Hospital Corpsmen were killed in Vietnam. As an Infantryman, you may be listed as an MOS 11X. life expectancy of an infantry soldier in vietnam The combat infantryman, and for the most part their immediate superiors at the front, had little information about the overall situation of the war. American parachute infantry advance in the Huertgen Forest in February, 1945. There must have been a real mathematician to come up with those calculations. Operation Military Kids was founded to be a resource for teens and young adults who are interested in joining the military, but don't know where to begin. The 276th was not going into combat as a division, but as a task force, meaning that it was used to plug gaps in the line in response to fluid conditions during the German attack in Belgium. Infantrymen frequently found that their unit was transferred to the command of another division, a means of reinforcing units which had been engaged with the Germans and weakened as a result, or which needed additional men for a counteroffensive.
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