The numbers have ranged from 1900+ to over 2500. Some of the MIA's have been recovered by finding crash sites and returning the remains to the U.S. which is contributing some to the changes. Probably now there aren't many left due to horrible conditions, age, disease, etc.
Statistics still show over 1,500 US servicemen still MIA.
To my knowledge, the formal position of the governments of the United States and Vietnam state that there were no living American POWs or MIAs left within Vietnam when American soldiers left in 1973. This extended to 1975 when the official end of the war was declared.
In retrospect, after 36 years, and as a result of the Freedom of Information Act, archive retrieval, research documentation brought forward, and factual articles on the internet and elsewhere, a public review of the governmental position on the matter would likely conclude that indeed, there were known POWs and MIAs left behind.
In 1967, the average life span for a Vietnamese citizen was 43 years. Today, in 2011, its risen to around 74 years. A flat example : If a POW/MIA was 25 years old in 1967, he would be 69 years old today (44 years ago).
The only problem with this flat example is that it does not include variables, and in this case, the variables are overwhelming. Those of the West do not live well for extended periods in a jungle environment when contact and assistance from the West is not available.
Those MIA who made it to POW status plus other POW's were just that - Prisoners of War. The Vietnamese considered the prisoners as common criminals, susceptible to mob violence, and worthy of no more than a cell in a dank building. They were constantly tortured, deprived of food and water with no medical assistance in following or during times of disease or for treatment of war wounds.
Their health then would steadily decline, well below that of the Vietnamese, and subsequent deaths were not unexpected. This would have continued until wars end in 1975 when Vietnam became unified.
From 1975 forward, their quality of life would have steadily and logically increased, hopefully to a level at least equal to that of a Vietnamese citizen. Reasonably, the Vietnamese would have no gain in killing the remaining POWs, rather they would have everything to lose - their last few "Bargaining Chips".
All considered, I think the odd's would favor, and logic would dictate, that the remaining POWs would be sequestered in known and remote areas, under guard, but left to maintain their existence on par with that of a Vietnamese citizen farmer.
Of the 2485 POW/MIA's listed today as "Unknown Status", the odd's would heavily favor at least a few still living.
99.9% of the POWs being held in North Vietnam were downed US airmen. Australian airmen didn't normally conduct air strikes over North Vietnam. There have been no Australian POWs that most historians are aware of.
No one can say, because neither side wants to admit that there were US and allied POW's left behind.
Less than a thousand were released in 1973.
If any are they would be MIAs and would be near, at, or over the age of 70 by now.
Their may be but we don't know for sure and no one is admitting to it.
Unfortuantely you can't because at the end of the war the Vietnam Government denied there were any POWs. It was said by some that the Vietcong moved the POWs weekly from one rice patty to another. By the time the American Government withdrew their troops out of Vietnam it was difficult to get back in to find any POWs. It has been told that there were some vets who did try to find POWs (secret missions), but as I said before, the Vietcong moved any possible POWs often and none were ever found. I believe there were POWs. Marcy
US POWs (Prisoners of War) consisted primarily of US Airmen, aviators belonging to the USAF and USN air units. The bulk of these airmen had been shot down over North Vietnam during the air war (over the north). Since these airmen had been downed over the north, and since the targets were in the north, the POWs were held in the North (Vietnam)...scattered through out the nation. Any enemy POW camps in South Vietnam would not have been secure, and would have ultimately been raided by the alllies.
Possibly, informers (also called taddle-tails, rats, or snitches) were the most commonly encountered problem in prisons...military or civilian.
No hydrogen bombs were dropped on Vietnam. No nuclear weapons of any kind were used in Vietnam.
The nation (country) of Vietnam didn't exist during the Vietnam War. Nor was any nation called "Vietnam" fighting the US. There was a country called North Vietnam that defeated the Republic of South Vietnam in 1975. The US was allied to the RVN (Republic of South Vietnam).
The Vietnam government would have Americans believed that there were no POWs left behind, but indeed there were. Special American Missions (very risky) were sent over to free POWs, but the Vietcong moved them from one place to the other so quickly few were found and most after being tortured or starved probably died. If a few managed to survive they would have either been brain-washed or so use to the conditions in which they lived they stayed in Vietnam. There were a few POWs who made it and they had actually forgotten how to speak English. No one really knows who the last POW was. Both the American and Vietnam Governments cease to admit there are any POWs left. Marcy
Unfortuantely you can't because at the end of the war the Vietnam Government denied there were any POWs. It was said by some that the Vietcong moved the POWs weekly from one rice patty to another. By the time the American Government withdrew their troops out of Vietnam it was difficult to get back in to find any POWs. It has been told that there were some vets who did try to find POWs (secret missions), but as I said before, the Vietcong moved any possible POWs often and none were ever found. I believe there were POWs. Marcy
Yes they left ************************ behind get it
US POWs (Prisoners of War) consisted primarily of US Airmen, aviators belonging to the USAF and USN air units. The bulk of these airmen had been shot down over North Vietnam during the air war (over the north). Since these airmen had been downed over the north, and since the targets were in the north, the POWs were held in the North (Vietnam)...scattered through out the nation. Any enemy POW camps in South Vietnam would not have been secure, and would have ultimately been raided by the alllies.
Andrew Jackson
Yes they left ************************ behind get it
Only the water molecules are evaporated. Any solids are left behind.
No! You had to be "In country" or fly over on a mission or in the direct waters off the coast.
Only one or two men were televised during the war to US audiences. See: "Honor Bound: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia 1961-1973" by Stuart Rochester.
AnswerNo
Vietnam was one tough nation from the end of the Vietnam War until their combat experienced men began retiring out...the same as with any nation. So, whenever the last of their combat experienced men left, that was the beginning of their decline in power (again, the same as with any nation). Therefore, in the 21st century; no, Vietnam is not stronger.
At the end of the Vietnam War, Congress refused to support South Vietnam any longer.