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US servicemen in the US Army received $90.00 a month as a basic trainee soldier (boot camp) PVT (E-1). Upon graduating from boot camp, the GI might get promoted to PVT (E-2). Upon landing in Vietnam, he normally was promoted to PFC (E-3-Private First Class). An E-3 in, as an example in 1969, would draw approximately $65.00 overseas pay, $30.00 combat pay (or the opposite), and his basic rank pay (pay-grade) of $200.00. Total pay might come out to $300.00 or so, monthly. However, gas in the US was only 13 cents a gallon, cigarettes 60 cents a pack, a new car was $3,000.

The $300.00 a month was TAX FREE, as is most Combat Zone pay, even today. Some serviceman were financially smart; since everything was free in the army...Clothing (uniforms), medical & dental, food, cigarettes were free (C rations and SP packs) fuel, transportation (riding tanks, helicopters,etc.), free ammunition and parts for broken guns, and we got paid for it...their money accrued with 10% TAX FREE interest (called the "soldiers savings", which was voluntary), the smart servicemen returned home with today's equivalent of about $25,000, ALL PROFIT, with no overhead bills (for 3 tours, for the army only, the first tour was one year, and then in 6 month increments, so 3 tours was only 2 years).

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13y ago

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More answers

In '68, a drafted E1 made $109.50 per month plus $65 combat pay.

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13y ago
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yes, like a lot.

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16y ago
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vietnam vet

Lvl 1
2y ago
$65 a month addition

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Q: Were soldiers fighting in Vietnam paid?
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