The Age of the Youngest US Vietnam Veteran in 2018

Introduction

The Vietnam War, which lasted from November 1955 to April 1975, was one of the most significant conflicts in U.S. history. Many young men served during this period, often enlisting or being drafted at a young age. This article explores the age of the youngest U.S. Vietnam veterans as of 2018, drawing on personal accounts and historical data.

Determining the Age of Youngest Veterans

To determine the age of the youngest U.S. Vietnam veterans in 2018, we must first establish the typical age range of those who served in the Vietnam War. The majority of soldiers were drafted or enlisted in their late teens or early twenties.

Consider the youngest veterans, who might have been around 18 years old at the end of the war in 1975. We can calculate their age in 2018:

2018 - 1975 43 years A veteran who was 18 years old in 1975 would be: 18 43 61 years old in 2018

Therefore, the youngest U.S. Vietnam veteran would be approximately 61 years old in 2018.

Personal Accounts

One of the contributors to this piece turned 18 in 1973 and was among the last in the draft lottery. He is currently 67 and could potentially be a Vietnam veteran. However, it is important to note that he was not drafted and did not serve.

The last American troops were sent to Vietnam in the fall of 1972. The minimum age to be deployed to the combat zone was 18, meaning the youngest soldiers were likely born in 1954. They would have been turning 69 in 2022 (not 2018 as mentioned in the original text).

Comparing with Other Conflicts

For comparison, the youngest combat veterans of the Korean War were 18 in the first half of 1953, born in 1935, and would be 88 today. A few of these veterans are still alive, but many have passed away.

For World War II, the youngest combat veterans would have been 18 in mid-1945, born in 1927, and would be 96 today.

A Personal Story

I can answer this question based on a personal account from a friend, Tim McCourtney, who was one of the last U.S. Army troops to see combat in Vietnam during late 1972. Tim was 18 at the time and would have been 68 in 2023 (not 2018 as mentioned in the original text). Tim was a wise individual, both due to his experiences in Vietnam and his later career as a professional firefighter in New York.

Unfortunately, Tim passed away in a motorcycle accident in 1998, but his wisdom and experiences continue to be remembered by his friends and the communities he served.