VIETNAM WAR
Casualties - US vs NVA/VC

Note: NVA casualty data was provided by North Vietnam in a press release to Agence France Presse (AFP) on April 3, 1995, on the 20th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

US casualty information was derived from the Combat Area Casualty File of 11/93, and The Adjutant General's Center (TAGCEN) file of 1981, available from the National Archives. Additional information was derived from the sources listed at the end of this document.

Entire War

Note 1: there were an additional 10,824 non-hostile deaths for a total of 58,202
Note 2: of the 304,704 WIA, 153,329 required hospitalization
Note 3: this number decreases as remains are recovered and identified
Note 4: 114 died in captivity
Note 5: Does not include 101,511 Hoi Chanh

Legend: KIA = Killed In Action WIA = Wounded In Action MIA = Missing In Action CIA = Captured In Action

 

 

1968 Tet Offensive

 

Casualties By Year

1961-1965

1966

Note 1: there were an additional 1,045 non-hostile deaths for a total of 6,053

1967

Note 1: there were an additional 1,680 non-hostile deaths for a total of 11,058

1968

Note 1: there were an additional 1,919 non-hostile deaths for a total of 16,511

1969

Note 1: there were an additional 2,113 non-hostile deaths for a total of 11,527

1970

Note 1: there were an additional 1,844 non-hostile deaths for a total of 6,065

1971

Note 1: there were an additional 968 non-hostile deaths for a total of 2,348

1972

Note 1: there were an additional 261 non-hostile deaths for a total of 561

Legend: KIA = Killed In Action WIA = Wounded In Action MIA = Missing In Action CIA = Captured In Action

 

Troop Levels

As of 1 January 1968

As of 1 January 1969

The figures for relative strengths assume the following: On January 1, 1969 there were 110 battalions in Vietnam (98 Infantry, 3 tank, and 9 artillery). An Infantry battalion had 656 infantrymen (4 companies per battalion with 164 men per company). An armor battalion had 204 tankers (3 companies per battalion with 68 tankers per company). An artillery battalion had approximately 300 men. Therefore, the number of actual "trigger pullers" added up to 67,600. Note that this was "authorized strength". Most battalions were not even close to their TO&E strength during the war, with many infantry companies operating with 80 men. This was true despite the fact that the parent divisions reported being at, or slightly over, authorized strength. There were a large number of REMFs in Vietnam.

 

 

U.S. Army KIA by Unit

Source: National Archives and Records Administration