Urban (and rural, and suburban) Myths

Here are a few things nearly always stated to be factual - things that "everyone knows." Unfortunately for those who so smugly say them, they are also completely wrong.

In Vietnam, a disproportionate number of those who served in country – and thus of those Killed in Action – were black.

A smaller percentage of those who served in Vietnam were black – 10.6 percent – than the percent of black Americans of military age in the general population – 13.5%. Of those killed by hostile action, 12.1% were black. That reflects the fact that blacks were slightly more likely to be in combat military occupational specialties like infantry and artillery, but is still less than their representation in the American population.

Most of the combat troops in Vietnam were drawn from the poor and poorly educated in American society.

Half of those who served in Vietnam were from middle class, 75% from lower middle/working class or higher backgrounds. About one fourth had a parent who was in a professional, managerial, or technical occupation. Nearly 80% of those who served in Vietnam had a high school diploma, compared to only 63% who served in Korea and 45% in WWII.

Vietnam veterans are broadly afflicted by post-traumatic stress disorder, and as a result are less successful in life than their non-veteran peers.

Vietnam veterans have a lower unemployment rate than their age group in the rest of the population. Their personal income is 18% higher than that of their non-veteran peers. There is no difference in the rate of drug use by veterans and non-veterans. Vietnam veterans are less likely to be in prison – only one half of one percent have been incarcerated for crimes.

You met a guy at the club or bar yesterday who was a Vietnam vet – who served “in country.” Naturally, you bought him a drink. Was he for real?

The chances are four in five that your new-found friend was lying. According to the Department of Defense, about 2.7 million soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen served in Vietnam. Many have been lost to us in the years since. However, according to answers given on the 2000 census, 13.9 million claim to have served in-country in Vietnam.