When was the first US soldier killed in Vietnam?

Answer 1

President Johnson called the death of James Davis, SP4, US Army "the first American to fall in defense of our freedom in Vietnam." Perhaps the DoD and the CIA had failed to inform him of deaths before Davis died on 22 December 1961. Perhaps the deaths of Advisers or Field Agents in 1954 until then were still classified.

Answer 2

It will take some heavy research to find out "how many" US servicemen died in the FIRST battle of the war. However, the first LARGE Death Rate occurred in the battle for the Ia Drang in 1965, more than 300 GI's perished there in 3 days of fighting. Only the first part of that battle is depicted in the recent film, "We Were Soldiers Once...", strarring Mel Gibson.

Answer 3

Look at the website: Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall; those casualties are listed by date.

Answer 4

58,000 men