Vietnam-era Radiomen life expectancy was 5 seconds
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- At the height of the Vietnam War, up-and-coming commo guys who wanted to learn the art of radio operation would walk into a classroom and see a huge number five written on the chalkboard.
Inevitably, someone's curiosity would win out and they'd ask what the big number meant. The instructor would then calmly tell them, "that's your life expectancy, in seconds, in a firefight. So, listen up and you might learn something that'll keep you alive."
That number wasn't some outrageous scare tactic. During the Vietnam War, the odds were tremendously stacked against radio operations - and that 5-second life expectancy was, for some, a grim reality.
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Check out this video about why Vietnam War troops carried the Ace of Spades: ua-cam.com/video/DDa-Q3aF0Sg/v-deo.html
You are such a great narrator, this is one of your best videos by far, absolutely outstanding.
do a video on the Gun Trucks of Nam!
In 1975 as a 4yearold i told my parents that in a previous life i was a radioman in the Army killed in Vietnam. Weird huh?
Keep coming with war history I love it...
He was Morgan Freeman
I was a comm tech that was deployed as an operator and I called my antenna the "shoot me stick"
Oh no!
Ouch
I now see why.
Thank you for your service from the UK 🤘🤘
@@dafyddhir4940 fpr what service?
They never skipped leg day apparently
Only effeminate men skip leg day.
Every day is leg day in the Corps, brether.
They may lost the war but they never skip leg days
*C/O hands you funny looking backpack*
*Touches funny looking backpack*
*dies*
Rite😂
My first military enlistment was in the Corps.
I was trained in MOS 2533, Radio Telegraph Operator and was assigned to H&S 1-3-3 but only spent a few months in Viet Nam. Was in a few fire fights, very few close calls and was too young to understand how big the bull's eye was on my back. I never used and refused to set up the tall whip antenna and usually bent over the tape antenna to make it shorter. I was with the Company or Platoon Commanders or their secondaries who not always an officer or the XO.
I humped the PRC-10 for operations and control or the PRC-47 used for air support and needed two people but I never had that luxury or someone to help carry the battery. It was 100lbs plus my pack gear, water, and weapon gear.
I was too young to know the difference and was to arrogant to not keep up !!
LOL Boy did I sweat and I drank lots of water.
Thanks for the video; think your information very accurate about us ROs.
Michael Galle Thank you for your service!
Michael Galle
Thank god I wasn't selected as a platoon runner. They gave us a survey to pick which role in Infantry you are interested in and I chose RTO because I thought they were cool. Little did I know how much shit they have to do and carry. Been in for only 8 months btw
@@0zone247 but you said in your profile you were a Combat Medic.... not a Radio Op.
Thank you for your service. My grandfather arrived in Vietnam just in time for the Tet Offensive at Khe Shan. I’m not entirely sure what he did he died from Agent Orange exposure when I was a kid but I see some pictures of him wearing a radio and others where he’s got the M79 grenade launcher. Could he have switched roles?
Thank you for your service, Marine.
I was an RTO radio operator infantryman in Iraq and when my uncle a Vietnam veteran found out he told me the 5 second life expectancy stories
Gotta love family
bullshit
@@viktorreznov8678 my uncle was being honest so no it wasn't bullshit
Brian Rasor thank you for your service
How's it being a modern day radio operator?
That was about as long as a flame thrower operator in WW II on DDay.
*Omaha beach* not the other beaches though
@@Trooper-tr6zi German Snipers were to target flame thrower and BAR operator's.
@@SuperWagner23 okkk but I'm not denying that though
They targeted german flamethrowes already in ww2.
@@hnorrstrom no shit
I can confirm that our ambush tactic was to kill the radiomen first, sometimes they are more important than the officers, as it would buy us some time away from US’ firepower. And yea, the antenna was like a “shoot me” signal to everyone
As a Vietnamese, I would salute to soldiers of both side. The war was a nightmare, and soldiers from both side must have had big balls to suffer one of the worst war ever. But I hope that the American veterans would one day come back to Vietnam and shake hand with us. We welcome you.
Nguyên Hưng Đặng Ngọc my uncle was airlifted behind (“enemy”) lines with an attachment of green berets to protect him while he transmitted secret messages. Without having ever visited, I practically grew up fighting the America War from imagination fed on war propaganda. Until the war came to a screeching halt, I believed the puppet SV government would prevail with America’s eternal blessings. I literally grew up with this war which didn’t end until I was almost old enough to fight in it. Even after the fall of Saigon I believed victory was achievable. But the only true victory was the one that ended that senseless ordeal. It shames me that so many innocents were wasted on this terrible destruction. I would love to visit Vietnam one day to break bread, and walk the paths where so many of my brothers and your fellow countrymen lost their lives.
@@NorthSouthEast we welcome everyone who want to come and ease the pain of war :)) Yea it's a pity that 60000 Americans and 2m Vietnamese died in the war, and the war should have never happened in the first place. Maybe this might surprise you, but Ho Chi Minh, the first president of Vietnam, wrote to Truman twice in 1946 and asks for friendship with the US, as we fought the Japanese alongside with the US's OSS group in the WW2. Too bad that Truman never response and instead he supported the French to invade us once again during 46-54.
Nguyên Hưng Đặng Ngọc that makes it one of the most destructive political blunders in world history. I’m coming to visit I promise.
Sean s they fought to unite there country and end foreign domination. They did not fight to be half a nation but to be whole. Unlike South Korea. In addition, Vietnam doesn’t have nuclear weapons poised at their population, nor do they require foreign troops to defend their independence. They are not a pawn in the geopolitical strategies of military powers. If you can’t appreciate these basic facts I really cannot help you.
@@seansurtz5528 Let me make it clear. Firstly, the economic aspect. This might surprise you, but the economic situation of SV is worse than you thought. The economy could barely produce anything itself and was highly reliable on the US. The proof is, when US and its allies military left in 1973 after the Paris Peace Accord, the economy of SV began to fall drastically. When the US was there, 1m men of the ARVN was paid by the US to fight for them. Also, the government was paid by the USAID program. Also, prosperity was only what you see in cities, while in the rural areas and also many other surburbs in Saigon, poverty was clearly seen. Meanwhile, NV is supported by the Communist block, that is true, but the nation's economy could function quite independently, as it continued to grow despite US's bombardment.
Although it took a longer time to develop, but now we are one the fastest-growing economy in Asia, just after China. And most importantly, WE CAN MAKE OUR OWN DECISION, we aren't being told by any foreign forces what to do. That's what we fought for.
Secondly, we didn't oppose the South. You have to understand, in the VN War, US' main enemies were the NVA and VC. NVA is the army of the North, while VC is the communist guerrilla force of the southern people. Those people had fought alongside with the Northern communists since 45 against the French. This might surprise you, but many leaders of NVN was Southern people, like Le Duan, the president.
Just so you know, we are now not that "Communist" anymore. Our economy is open for capitalism. We also have McDonalds', KFC, or anything that you see in your country. Come visit us, and learn more about us man :))
**Gets off the plane in Khe Sahn** **counts to 5** **still alive*
*Reaches 5. Gets nailed in the chest from a Cong sniper hiding in the trees. Spotting the radio operator antenna.*
those spawn camping noobs
Yoyo Yeah “@“
Lol
Golden HQ reached the country of Vietnam not landed yet counts to 5 still alive for days to come
it counts the time when you are in heavy fighting. Some even don't get to live for 1 second during ambush I think.
Not just soldiers who fought in Vietnam, soldiers in Korean War had it worse. Heavier equipment, and colder conditions. Korea War really is the ‘forgotten war’
Life expentancy for modern soldiers isn't much better, in an all out war. Me and others in Finnish infantry were told it's 20-90 seconds for us.
@@TheSpekkel1 thata a lie, we aint had a war since IRAQ
They didn't see as much Combat though
All soldier's go to heaven, because they have all ready done their time in hell
expect drill sergeants they liven in heaven and go to hell for holiday/work and to give the devil shit
thanks for all who serve in the forces home and abroad from England to across the pound
dj shenanigan even the Nazis?
@@arthurmorgan6640 after what they did it's hell again mostly for the SS soldiers for the werchmacht, luftwaffe and kriegsmarine they would have gone to heaven provided any of them did not commit war crimes
@@arthurmorgan6640 nazis were forced to fight
My dad was a radio operator in the Marine corp in 1968. That’s as much as he ever told me.
My dad was in the Army during WW2 (European theater). He didn't talk about it much either.
Yep, I guess it brings bad memories
@@toxixbob8375 My grandfather was in Vietnam back then. Didn't talk much, but he showed me photo albums.
my dad was also in Vietnam. all I know is he was in the Marines. he didn't ever talk about it even once
@@Homeskillet-mk6bj Hey, weird question but did you have Kik by any chance
My great grandfather was a radioman in Vietnam, served in 65 and 66, he survived the war.
swagaroo the Germans didn’t use poison gas in Paris
@@kobe781 my mum lied to me than
If he survived that long and others did too them some must have died before they arrived to average 5 seconds.
@@bremCZ no wait yeah I think it was that war my grandfather was in the Australian Navy at the end of the war to tell all of the Japanese in hiding on islands
@@fortniterobloxpro6774 Japan was on our side in WW1.
I had cousins in the 🇻🇳 Nam... One was a radio operator... and LIVED to come home... The other was a Corpsman (medic)
He wasn't able to come home He was captured and never seen again.. RIP all our Vietnam Vets.
You are not Forgotten
I just can’t even imagine what that would be like, no matter how hard I try... wow.
Actually nice to see someone not talk down veterans from Vietnam
Rexhellfire 1 We just talk down the government that lied to get us into that war. We sure do terrorize the entire world though.
The war was the problem, not the brave men who died in Vietnam.
Rexhellfire 1 no one talks down on the veterans only the war itself
Mas actually, the general public demonized veterans as cold blooded killers in the 60s and 70s
Paulson Huynh yes this is true Mas, in the 60s and 70s this was happening but some people still have the same mind set today
Wow! Another great story about our troops. Vietnam Nam veteran ‘70/71. Ammo all the way.
is nam hell?
Um sir? We’re they in the trees sir?
You’re a hero.
Respect you, sir
God bless you sir. It is truly sad what liberals did to our vets when they came home from that war.
My grandpa was a radio operator I don't know how hes still here now, He nearly got killed by a bomb shell because he was asleep and his friend pulled him out of the way just in time. The man is nearly 80 and still kickin' and is happy as could be. I love him even more afer I watched this.
My grandpops was a radio operator. For some reason he also had a grenade launcher. He's still alive and a great man, tells funy jokes
My grandpa was a radioman!!! He never talked about his service but he served for 21 years and then worked at the post office for 23 years after. Thank you for this video this really made my day. I miss him so much.
My dad was a radioman back in Vietnam. He made it home safe though. 2 tours of hell and back.
Lost him though this Jan 2. RIP.
Radiomen were one of the most needed units no matter the weight they were the ones who called air strikes so they were protected needed to be kept alive
My uncle Timothy Vicalvi was a Vietnam war Marine radioman. Ambushed in 67, a satchel bomb landed at his feet and evaporated him. In the book, We All Remember, his commander said the VC deliberately targeted him first.
I knew your uncle Timothy he was our radio man. I served with him. He killed so many prostitutes, what a Savage hell of a guy though
Damn, sad to hear man.
@@samsonknight4316 Atleast he went down as the badass he is I guess
I was a radio operator with an infantry unit in Vietnam. We carried PRC-25's. I got mortared and shot, so yes we were a prime target.
Hearing the stories of RTO’s in Vietnam is what got me to enlist as an RTO shortly after 9/11/01.
Thank you for your service.
Wow, we might have chewed some of the same ground..... I went in radio a but earlier than that...... Graduated boot 14 Sept 2001........
Vietnam was a wasted effort. The middle East kind of looks the same too LOL.
But I'm an American and I believe every American needs to serve this great country in their life time
Will Yu It's the truth but the Americans just don't take it. Like do they even take history or go to college?
Congratulations, before this only people that knew you, knew that you were an idiot. Know the whole world knows
Much love to my uncle, Richard Wayne Smith. Radio man in 101st Airborne, Camp Evans, 1960-70. Died of cancer (agent orange related) in 2010.
I remember. There was a distinction between draftees and enlisted in basic, both in serial #s and attitude. Many of the "enlisted" were guys who were being processed for the draft, were told if they signed up for one additional year, they would be sent to school. So, many signed up for a radioman MOS. I volunteered for the draft - got razzed in basic. Finally, I said it. The radioman MOS meant you were sent out at night to check the broken commo line, were the guy first shot on patrol by the VC because you had the radio and then the Lt. would be shot after you, and you were the guy who went up on the telephone pole. Very sad.
if you were smarter you would have to be a 36 k i had a195 gt i was a 31v
Radios don't have comm wire. I think you confused wiremen with radiomen.
My grandpa told me about how he and his 4 bandmates enlisted on a buddy plan. Soon after they were all shipped to different parts of Vietnam, taking what must've looked like the same hills as the ones before. Eventually they set my grandpa in a tower overlooking a large trail frequently used by the VC. He'd call in air strikes, mortar strikes, and use his own M79 and small arms against shadows and lights running through the forest.
While on a ruck he caught a glimpse of a familiar face, one of his bandmates passing through their FOB, and so he brought him up to the tower so they could catch up over a few beers. Soon after sitting down for awhile a VC soldier fired and rpg, hitting the tower in the "leg" and ricocheting off.
After everything quieted down my grandfather and him said their goodbyes with his friend jokingly telling him hes staying the hell away from radiomen from now on, and that hes crazy to sit like a duck in a tower all day. (Although he did get to be a driver for an officer wich had killer perks)
My grandfather said that was the first and last time since going to Vietnam that he's seen any of his bandmates.
Never forget the sacrifice of our fallen heroes 💜🇺🇸🇦🇺
Senior RTO division artillery 4th Inf div 1969-70. Hell of a senior trip
RTO was always at the PL or CO's hip and they were constantly moving around to control the fight. Better chances of getting hit moving around, then down on the ground like the rest of the troops. In the IA Drang battle in 1965, CPT Tony Nadal lost both his RTO's as a machine gun swept them as they were advancing during an attack.
Was Cpt Nadal hit?
My grandpa served in the Korean War and Vietnam war but died of natural causes when I was four
I feel for Vietnam vets. They were sent into a war with a substandard rifle giving then only two fire choices. The 3 round burst mechanism is a life and ammo saver. The Full option is a waste of ammunition and an accuracy killer. The spray and pray you hit something is substandard was of execution direct action.
Look at it this way most times spray and pray was the only way to shoot as you just did not know where they where and you did do a lot of praying G d I was one prayer used a lot
@@hopatease1 That is because the powers that be thought you could fight a line company war against guerilla warfare tactics. Army Special Forces had great success because they became the VC and NVA. They went out and hunted them. They terrorized the VC.
The idea of full-auto was to allow the rifleman the ability to achieve fire superiority to allow teams to bound and sweep the objective. I found that the 20 rnd magazine was just not enough if using the m-16 on full auto. If they would have made a belt fed version or provided the Stoner 63 to the Infantry it would have been better.
@@Flintlock1972 Loved the M 14 and did not like the 16 when we got it but after 20 years it got better ( still like the 14 better )
@@hopatease1 I never had the M14 but I do own an M1A, semi-auto version of the M14. I do like the rifle very much.
Vietnam radio man- total bad ass
2019 guy with cellphone - total selfie pro!
😂🤣😂
-How old are you radio soldier?!
-6 se...
*shoots radio soldier*
-not on my watch
im 62 in good health
*CALL IN THE NAPALM, JOHNSON*
@Xbus6 Gaming dude, climate change. Please don't burn down everything, safe some for later
Cheeseburger Freedom Man napalm sticks to kids
Smell that?... Napalm.. I love the smell of napalm in the morning. . it smells like... VICTORY!.. 💪✌😉😎👍
Repeat
Ah yes, United States terrorists. Be proud.
I'm 73 now but served with the 80 deuce in Phu Bai in 1969 as a 05B RTO. Luckily I was rotated home after only one month there. My hat is off to those comm guys that made it back after a full tour. Even more respect for those that didn't come home!!! HOOAH!!!!
Speedrunning the Vietnam War I see
On ultra hardcore mode
My Grandma’s cousin was drafted at 18 in the U.S. Army. He was radio operator and was killed by a Vietnamese sniper
“Unencumbered Brethren,” The rest of the fireteam still had to carry their own weapon systems, gear, and equipment, as well as lots of ammunition because running out in a firefight is the worst thing that could happen and you can easily burn through it when faced in a suppressive fire situation. So unencumbered isn’t really fair
Less encumbered
Jess Payne She says unencumbered
@@PIERCESTORM I know I was just saying what she should have said. Sorry merry Christmas.
I understand where you're coming from, but trust anytime I didn't have to haul a radio I felt unencumbered...... As a radio guy I even ended up having to be an a-gunner for a 240 so yeah..... It's a bit different being a radio operator.......
Jess Payne Merry Christmas I didn’t get any notif
My grandpa was a radio operation... he is still alive and well, however the war shook him up great and now he turns to eating to forget the memories.
My grandfather was a radio operator for the army in the late 60s over there
Who Could Win in a Fight Between Captain America and Iron Man ?
Captain Vietnam
Mp eYe Mp Captain Starvation beats Captain Vietnam
Who can win the battle between Ironman and a radio operator
You mean Dr Manhattan?
Mister Manhattan?
@@jowidubolali5417 5 seconds
I respect and appreciate the sacrifice and honor of our veterans, but respectfully, I don't believe they always fight for their country. I believe that's their intent, but it's not the reality. We never should have fought in Vietnam, especially not to the degree we did. It was senseless. I love our troops and respect the value of their lives enough to say it was wrong to send them to a pointless conflict. We never should have sent them. They would have led more productive and meaningful lives at home, as fathers, brothers, sons, and leaders.
It was senseless due to the failure to build a visble state in South Vietnam. Otherwise, the intervention might have paid off.
They are always fighting for their country. The problem comes when people suggest that the US military is fighting for freedom. The US military is fighting for the interests of the state. It might be for political points or resources, but it has never really been about freedom, apart from the War of Independence.
@@Hazzelnot94 Americans helped to free South Korea, saved a good part of Vietnamese people who were getting murdered by communism, France, Italy, Egypt, all of these countries were saved by America
@@prestongarvey7244 My friend, you are looking at things from a very narrow scope. The underlying reason for America even getting involved in these countries were that of power projection. And even the methodology of some of these involvements does not resemble that of a liberator.
The US gets involved only when they have something to gain or interests to protect. Thats how all states work. The difference is that other states tend not to pretend otherwise.
@@Hazzelnot94 it aas about freedom of it's allies at the time. Hell if nothing was done during the Korean war, the whole south could probably still bowing to Kim jung un as of today. Of course there is always propaganda at home...gotta try to keep the populace on your side. Also, both vietnam and korea were like proxy war with Russia who were already the U.S.'s enemy. Display of power? Probably also.
Yea my grandpa was a radio man in Vietnam. His first day out of boot camp they were laughing at him saying "get ready to die today."
God must have protected me for 7 months as an infantry platoon radio operator in 1968 Vietnam. I proudly did my duty as a conscript with total respect for my country & mates.
My grand uncle was a tunnel rat and lead scout in Vietnam, idk what his life expectation was but I know it wasn’t long if he was a tunnel rat but he made it through, came out extremely mentally messed up but he survived.
That isn’t how life expectancies work
I served in the 8th Infantry Division during the Cold War (1980's) one of the many duties I had was to drive a jeep for my units Communication Electronics Security Officer (CESO) who was a Captain. My unit was 3-8 Cavalry Squadron which was the main Recon unit for the whole 8th ID. One day we were driving along in the German country side and he said to me you know if the SHTF our unit is supposed to loose 95% of its men in the first 24 hours of war. I was about 19 or 20 at the time, Well we had about 400 soldiers so you guys figure it out. I also worked in the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) when we were playing War. We had many Radios in the TOC I know because it troubleshot them when they broke down and got them transmitting and receiving again. So when the SHTF I would have been working in one of the first targets the Warsaw Pact forces would have tried to knock out.
Well whatever our soldiers life expectancy was, the Vietnamese is over 10 times worse.
US KIA in battle: 55,000 casualties
Vietnamese KIA in battle: 1,100,000 casualties
And people say that North Vietnam "won". No, they didn't win, they just lasted till the us pulled out
@@user-nb8yt2il2r Of course they won. It's not because you suffer greater casulalties that means you've lost. In that case we could said that the soviet union hasn't won WW2 or the USA has lost its independance war (approx. 70 000 deads on US side for 31 000 on british side).
One of the most riveting nights in my life was spent drinking beer and listening to a US Army medic talk about his time in Vietnam. To take with good grace that a red cross was viewed by the enemy as identifying him as a priority target with the remark "well they never signed the Geneva convention so they didn't have to obey that". He started talking about the weapons he carried and that he did shoot back.
The difference in listening to a true veteran talk about combat and the wannabes is staggering
Got an Uncle who did a tour as part of his Nasho, respect for what he and the other Nam Vets had to endure, even when I was too young to put it together I could always see behind his eyes the emotions I felt when I'd listen to "Khe Sanh" and "I Was Only 19", though they where written about Vietnam I think they belong to all Vets.
Today i went to visit my grandfathers brother probably for the last time.he is 96 and not in good health .both fought in greece at ww2. Reading all these comments about veterans gives u the chills.rip granpa.
"Depending on your source..." WHAT IS YOUR SOURCE?
Different soldiers I guess
I mean, this channel is rather unreliable.
Your mom
I so glad my grandfather was stationed in Germany in the 60's.
Alright but why didn’t everyone in the squad wear fake antennas
TheLewisma hope this is a joke
My grandfather was a forward observer/radio operator during the 60s and he said his assigned life expectancy was between 60 and 90 seconds when there were troops in contact
yehuda ertel crazy!! Did he tell you any stories of his radio days?
Reminds me of the medics in ww2 with the big ass + on their helmet
It was mainly an issue in the Pacific where the Japanese didn't respect western conventions of war. In Europe it wasn't really an issue because the Germans more or less respected the Geneva convention when fighting the Allies (with the exception of the USSR who was not a signatory).
No they had to remove those because it gave the enemy an easy target it made it safer for the medics
In the pacidic theater they scratched off the cross and tossed their bands. It was Japanese tactic to destroy the medic first, then the officers, then the enlisted
a few years ago I told my mom I was shocked when we were losing 30 people a month in Iraq. She (the wife of an airforce pilot in the 60s) said she remembered when we were losing 30 or more troops in a day during Vietnam.
patrick c welp you don't have to be shocked when you have a 25kg box with a big antenna
The British radioman in Northern Ireland probably had the same lifespan as they were the number 1 priority for the IRA during the troubles
Tcc definitely not downplaying the Troubles because it was a terrible time but the life expectancy of British soldiers wasn’t the same as US soldiers in Vietnam. In roughy 28 years only 705 British soldiers were killed in Northern Ireland, whereas in roughly 10 years around 58,000 Americans were killed in Vietnam.
My uncle was kia 04-02-66, from what I have been told by family members he was a radio operator. Sure wish I could have known him. That was 3 days before my first Birthday. RIP Uncle Al.
Taking nothing away from my Brothers from the Vietnam war. At least they had a Man-pack tray that fit the Alice Pack. Poor Suckers like me in the 25th ID that had to carry the 1st Generation SINGAR had to carry everything because the tray did not work with the SINGAR then add in the KY-57 VINSON for Crypto and 9 BA-5590s for a three day mission. Damn my LCE weight 55 lbs combat load because I also needed the PRC-127 for my sections communications. Add more batteries and also the Company Mortars were in my platoon so I carried 4 60mm rounds 2 AT-4s. JRTC FEB 1993 Fort Chaffee Arkansas my ruck weighed in at 150 lbs and my LCE was 55 lbs and I weighed in at 165lbs, I never skipped leg day. The benefit of having to carry the ruck I never got left out without a Poncho or a Poncho Liner. Light Infantry Oxymoron if I have ever heard of one. I am signal now and I have my "Peers" ask me why am I so broke? Well, child after 27 years in the Army and half my life was Combat Arms I really do not know? I really miss those days. Infantry Soldiers form bonds that no other branch form. Welcome to the suck where all are welcome and treated equally.
My grandfather was a radio operator in Vietnam war, man I couldn’t what he’d been through only 17 or 18 years old.
Looking good Shannon,
Tough gig to follow the Commo Guy. Thanks
My Uncle Sammy was a RTO in the Battle of Chu Moor. He was awarded the Bronze Star and wounded April 1968.
I've never been more in love.
Except for that time in Danang 1967 but I can't talk about it.
Will McFadden I’m sure it’s not that classified anymore
Will McFadden whacha done in danang? ;)
Thank you for your service
Congratulations on being 70 yrs old minimum, and still on UA-cam!
@@DanceySteveYNWA ;)
My grandpa was marine in Vietnam he made me promise before he died that I’d never join any governing branches he said the things he saw and way he was treated when he got back to America was terrible, these were young men being drafted and had no choice
GOD protect our BROTHERS and SISTERS in arms!
God protection people so kill others and invade their land?
Americans americaning it up
Wars aren't fight anymore like they were in Vietnam.
just like war on oil... wait
Protect people that used Agent Orange to kill Innocent people, that caused miscarriages under innocent children. Makes sense.
my dad had that title in Vietnam. He was a radio guy. He's passed away now I miss him so much God bless those veterans. he didn't die in the war though he made it out.
And now people need safe spaces
a fish Why not? We have a president who had his daddy get a foot doctor to write a note about fictitious heel spurs. In short he is a coward draft dodger.
ya just don get i rather be drafted then bein called fat
Yoyo Yeah Are you having a stroke?
@@williamschutz4982 Just find it funny how liberals back then were against the draft but now hate the prez for dodging it. I mean aren't you glad he didn't kill innocent vietnamese people for capitalistic imperialism?
pussies
I trained as ECN-361 Artillery Signaller (Australian Army). Learnt on the PRC77 as well. Once when I was deployed we were at a firing range doing a zeroing shoot and the snipers told us the first person they shoot is the radio operator because then it all goes to shit. After that my army nickname was sniperbait.
Kaepernick kneeled through out this whole video.
If he did, then he is honoring these vets by exercising the very rights these vets fought to preserve for him. There is no better way to honor our vets than to exercise the freedoms they fought and often died to protect for us. Politics is what pollutes these acts of honor.
Back in the 90's I carried the 77 set for almost 6yrs
That 10ft antenna was a turd if your boss decided he wanted you to use it instead of the more generic battle whip. He then wondered why you were either taking a wet week to carefully maneuver through the bush or kept getting tangled up in foliage
My uncle was a radio operator in Vietnam
My grandpa was a radio operator in Vietnam, he served one year and made it home alive. He won a medal for bravery under fire.
Medal for a toy of robber, didn't u know that?
I had family who was a radioman in Vietnam, he had a bullet wound in his arm but lived to die an old drunk god bless the dude.
Glad I'm a commo guy now and not back then.. Our boys went through hell. Rest well brothers.
Praise the lord and pass the Ammunition.
*And we’ll all stay free.*
My grandpa was a radio operator and he is still alive
Can someone please explain to me how this calculation is made? I’ve heard these stats made before and have never understood them. When does the clock start? Also wouldn’t a single operator survivor completely change the average?
My grandfather was in Veitnam as a radio operator with the Green Berets and was there for over a year and never got shot, while he was in firefights almost every week
I carried that radio without the Nester and was trained as an operator, but never served in battle. I tell you, as a skinny 19 years old that thing got heavy fast! and we often carried an extra set of batteries too. ... I can't imagine how it was to use it, and the responsibility you guys had in battle :(
Shout out to all my light Infantry RTOs 🤙 ♠️
2531 USMC 93 to 97, 2nd Landing support battalion, HQ company. Spent most of my time deployed with the 26th MEU 26th MSSG Comm platoon. We were still using the PRC 77 and KY57. We where called battery powered Gunts or bullet catcher's. We had to carry the radio system extra batteries and a long range antenna. Plus all of our field gear.
Rah brother. 1st FSSG, CSSG-18, Numerous deployments out of San Diego and Pearl Harbor.
Cant remembe all the MAU'S and other deployed units but I remember all the ships. 6 I deployed with.
the worst was LSD-USS Monticello, Best was the LHA-Tarawa right out of sea trials,
learned to love, to hate, the prick 77.
Battery operated grunt havent heard that in decades
My neighbor's son just finished radio operator school in the Marine Corps & is currently in Okinawa waiting to be allowed Liberty.
he finished in MCCES with me then! i was data, but transmissions graduated alongside us. rip this young devil, okie sucks
@@PawnchGame Okinawa is amazing as a civilian.
Damn Okinawa is trash for marines
hope hes leftovers back to you carried by some of his friends
@@PawnchGame You know a guy from Memphis name Ryder?
My father was a radio operator in Vietnam. He always said he never fired one shot but he killed hundreds with his radio. He always said don’t believe anyone that says we lost that war, he said we slaughtered those people. My dad was a real life bad ass and I’m sure proud of him. I miss him every single day.
Life expectancy from when? being born? deployed? after engaging?
@@magicalpotatoez5975 The nva are some smart motherfuckers, they monitered the birthrates and occupations of radiomen from the U.S in ww2 so that when their grand communistic desires unfolded they would be able to plant assassins in major hospitals all over the U.S in 1945 so that they could slaughter them at birth.
That is exactly right, my great grandmother witnessed the mass murder of the newborns. She was a midwife, and during the labour of the mothers, she was appointed the task of securing the blast shields around the babies the moment they came out. She was lucky to make it even a single day, she now teaches bomb disposal personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. Semper Fi.
After engagement most probably.
Wives can be quite deadly.
Of course this is exaggerated, not to say it wasn't a difficult role.
5 seconds before being killed.
I feel, after all these years, that I am here today add to this . Early '70 just in country a grunt assigned 101 AB 1/501 Wounded on patrol in the first month. After a recovery time, sent back to the same unit and given the prc77 to take over as rto with no training It was a long tough year made it home.
To blame soldiers for a war is not only ignorant, but heartless and cruel. They didn't choose to fight this war, our government forced these young men to tote guns into a fight we logistically could not win.
But to call our soldiers the heroes of this war is simply incorrect, a display of blatant nationalism. The United States were the invading force, in a war it did not belong in land that did not want its help, and would ultimately fail due to its own arrogance, normalized underestimation of the enemy, and widespread incompetence of leadership. So many lives lost for no reason.
Oh thank you Andrew, I'm so glad a putz with a Star Warz creature for his picture is here telling people exactly what they are allowed to think.
@@SamBrickell I'm just putting in my word on a war nobody wanted.
Then consider me a nationalist.
What's this? An American seeing beyond their blinding nationalism? 😮
@@JustCoNa Not all of us are fools.
If you think having a mere antenna on your back gives you away, oh man imagine being in a set trench
I carried a PRC25 for a bit in the 80s in a Canadian Infantry regiment. Hated it and the batteries and so on. Now, I would like to have a working 77 or 25 for a ham radio as they work on the 6m ham band. Would be a novelty to make one work. Never did get good reliable comms when humping it. :)
eBay is your best friend and gotta love 6m
W7ZAR
I finally picked one up not too long ago. Had it shipped from Poland. Lot of radio stuff being surplus from there now. Only problem I have is there is no one on the 6m band.
DudeInWalmart that’s why you get a PRC320 HF rig
I would love to get my hands on an AN/PRC-47 with the "FSK" ...
My buddy was a radio man rounds did not break him but the weight did. Now at 70 he cannot stand up straight due to a slip disc carrying that radio all the time.
Yup that’s the life expectancy of a Radioman role in Rising Storm 2 😭
That's the life expectancy of any role I play in rs2
That's the life expectancy of a noob transport pilot
My grandpa was a radio operator and he is still kicking
14 NVA soldiers disliked this
Andrew Slatsky its actually the opposite they love to kill radiobois
Who would win? The worlds most powerful military with the most lavishly equipped and well fed soldiers or one malnourished farmer boi?
Well it wasn’t one malnourished farmer it was like 70 million. Ehh, the US could have won, but they’d have to relentlessly carpet bomb or nuke and kill literally everyone so there wouldn’t be a point.
Roadkill 67 uh I don’t think drafted college students are well trained or lavishly equipped back then
Andrew Slatsky nah we didn’t even have to nuke them we could’ve just put a bunker buster up uncle Ho’s ass
What started as a scare tactic for green troops going through Comm School sure has taken on legs. If anyone would bother to do some actual research, the casualty numbers in no way back this myth up. As a 2531, I do salute my fellow RTOs and do agree with the final point that you guys were hard chargers in Vietnam.
I still don't get why so many Veterans of America's recent wars are called heroes. For what exactly?
People like you are proof that history should be a required course throughout hs
@@alexwholland yup and that's exactly what's mandatory where I live and something I had the pleasure of having.
I'm just not brainwashed into thinking that everything the US does is good and righteous, as it clearly isn't
@@jakob9614 as it was briefly said in the video, solders generally didn't have the option of not going to war. Aswell, at the time communist infiltration was a common fear around the world that swayed people's views on political matters in ways that we generally can comprehend in today's society. Most of what is done with military power is done solely from the actions of a select few with great power
Its because what they are prepared to sacrifice so the reason for them being called heroes has no relation to the ultimate goal of the war as decided by politicians.
@@asdaasda7837 Welp so ISIS suicide Bombers are even greater heroes by that logic? Good shit.
My grandpa was a radio operator in the navy on a ship on the coast of vietnam and he was forced to hear as these radio operators had died right there in his ear.
With all the advantages USA had they still lost and there Veterans suffered so much without any reconciliation until recently so this is a shout out for a pathetic war that no one should have fought in
Can we get a shout out to the Korean War too?
At least the Korean War was successful, South Korea is a prosperous nation.
@@ricardososa7534 if China hadn't been involved North would be the same, although Kim Jong Un is trying his best
Ricardo Sosa true
my grandfather was a radio man, his contract ended before he was deployed to veitnam and decided to resign. he was part of the 11th air assault and i probably wouldnt be writing this if he decided to go back
Same as mine when I play Call of Duty
Are you playing on Veteran?
A true hero
Thank you for your service
Lmao
My brother is a radio operator with the Indian army infantry battalion ..he said that the enemy always wanted to kill him first in order to destroy communications followed by the officer in charge...it's a dangerous one but still glad to see a video in youtube about their life.