View Full Version : Question about combat pay in Vietnam
Sparrowhawk
04-09-04, 11:42 AM
For the past week I have had two secretaries working on editing my book, so that when I meet with the Marines I served with in our platton reunion they will have an opportunity to suggest inclusion, or omissions to the book.
One question that has come up, is combat pay.
As I want to include in the book, what we received extra for being in combat in Vietnam, 1967-1968?
Anyone?
Cook
Sgt0811
04-09-04, 02:21 PM
If I remember correctly when I was in Nam we got $50.00 a month extra. That was in 1965.
:marine:
USMC-FO
04-09-04, 02:25 PM
$50.00 is my recollection too. Hard to believe isn't it ?
MillRatUSMC
04-09-04, 03:22 PM
Combat Pay - Added $50 to $65 (per month) to the U.S. military serving in Vietnam.
Why does the number $65 stick to my mind...was more pay per pay grade.
Than there's was jump pay for those airborne qualified.
I think there was pay for those scuba qualified.
I was thinking along the lines of "Hostile Duty Pay" or is that something that somewhere in my old mind...
$65.00 x 13 = $845.00
$50 x 13 = $650.00
A lot of difference between $65 to $50...
Now a question,;
Was there extra pay for different MOS's such as engineers, who did the mine sweeping...crew chiefs, gunners on helicopters...etc, etc...
Dang SparrowHawk it too early in the day for these hard questions...
Semper Fidelis
Ricardo
yellowwing
04-09-04, 03:35 PM
Just did some research. In '68, a brand new Shelby Cobra GT500 would set you back $4,300 ($4,400 for the convertible). Don't worry that it only got 9 mpg. Gas prices were only $0.37 a gallon!
mardet65
04-09-04, 04:10 PM
I served with the Marine Detachment aboard USS Enterprise ('65-'67) off the coast of North and South Vietnam and we received combat pay of $65.00 per month.
USMC-FO
04-09-04, 06:06 PM
Damn MarDet...you got a real beni...
The other part of all this is that we're all old farts !!
Osotogary
04-09-04, 07:02 PM
Yellowwing,
Was that about the same time that Jim Hall came out with the automatic, air foil, Chapparrel in formula one racing? I believe that some folks put those big Ford engines into Sunbeam Alpines for drag racing.
Sparrowhawk
04-09-04, 07:32 PM
for some reason, I was thinking $35.00, and if you were married they paid you more?
Perhaps machine gunners didn't get full pay on account of the Corps charging us, for shooting up all that extra ammo?
I remember the pay as $ 65.00 per month .
jinelson
04-12-04, 12:24 PM
I remember $65.00 per month also.
albert torcini
04-12-04, 01:32 PM
I SERVED IN VIET NAM FROM APR.65 TO APR.66. COMBAT PAY WAS 65.00 EXTRA. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.BACK THEN YOU HAD TO QUALIFY FOR IT.YOU HAD TO BE UNDER ENEMY FIRE 6 DAYS OUT OF 30 TO QUALIFY.
reddog4950
04-20-04, 01:22 PM
Combat pay was $65.00 plus I have gotten Jump pay and Scuba pay in addition, which if my memory still is correct it was $35.00 for each other combat skill you recevied. They were cheap back then lol.
Beck3531
02-21-09, 01:52 AM
$50 and a can of mosquito spray.
Don't remember how much. But didn't we get both overseas pay and combat pay?
DocGreek
02-21-09, 09:12 AM
Just HOW do you men remember what your pay was, 40 years ago?? I, was a little distracted, at the time, and didn't....and still DON'T give a SH!T!! They could have KEPT the pay.....just bring back the LIVES of those fine young MEN, I put in body bags!!!!! NO...I'll NEVER FORGET....and I'll NEVER FORGIVE!!!!.....DOC
montana
02-21-09, 06:53 PM
life was a lot cheeper back then Doc.
bootlace15
02-21-09, 09:13 PM
I'm with Doc......Who gives a flying ****?????????
bootlace15 out
SgtThrasher
02-21-09, 11:11 PM
1968-1969 @ Khe Sanh,Ca lu,Dong Ha,Quang Tri combat pay was $65 big ones.:iwo:
davblay
02-21-09, 11:18 PM
I agree with you other Marines, I remember 65 dollars and I believe 18 dollars for overseas pay, or some crap like that. So about 88 moreot a month, if you counted your pay. My brother, The Gunny agrees with me on this as well, best as we can remember, he was there 68-69, I was there 69-70.
Dave
hrscowboy
02-22-09, 12:00 AM
Yelp I got 65.00 a month while there...
Riven37
02-22-09, 04:54 AM
Combat Pay - Added $50 to $65 (per month) to the U.S. military serving in Vietnam.
You're all right.
redman1
02-22-09, 05:39 AM
Just HOW do you men remember what your pay was, 40 years ago?? I, was a little distracted, at the time, and didn't....and still DON'T give a SH!T!! They could have KEPT the pay.....just bring back the LIVES of those fine young MEN, I put in body bags!!!!! NO...I'll NEVER FORGET....and I'll NEVER FORGIVE!!!!.....DOC
As usual I agree with Doc!!
Didn't see the amount of combat that Doc did but I'll never forget or forgive either.
Hell I don't even remember what my base pay was back in the states how could I remember what combat pay was. I sent all my money home to my wife anyway except for beer, liquor, and cigs when we could get them.
It still ****es me off to think of how much a human life was worth back then and today.
Most of the time I wish I hadn't made it back because seemed like the good ones died. So these days I try to be the best person I can be and everyday be a good influence and give back to my neighbors.
The best complement I ever get is from my wife when she comes home and says: Honey it sure is hard to tell the truth all the time and when she has to make hard decisions she says to herself what would Buddy do?
As long as I get her respect, my customers and you fellow Marines that's all that matters.
Sorry about going on and on but sometime it really gets to me.
Semper Fi Redman1
tractorrat
02-24-09, 10:54 PM
nope
tractorrat
02-24-09, 11:03 PM
I remember that you had to be in-country to get it .... being on float off the coast got you nothing extra, but there were navy personnel getting combat pay
redman1
02-24-09, 11:06 PM
There was a carrier off the Gulf of Tonkin which we could see from the beach did they not get combat pay?
Semper Fi Redman1
Zebra29er
03-08-09, 02:34 PM
I remember $65.00 per month also.
Zebra29er
03-08-09, 02:47 PM
Just HOW do you men remember what your pay was, 40 years ago?? I, was a little distracted, at the time, and didn't....and still DON'T give a SH!T!! They could have KEPT the pay.....just bring back the LIVES of those fine young MEN, I put in body bags!!!!! NO...I'll NEVER FORGET....and I'll NEVER FORGIVE!!!!.....DOC
Doc; I asked the ole-lady she got all my money nohow .
ggyoung
03-08-09, 03:48 PM
$65.00 a month in country or off the coast of Vietnam.
FistFu68
03-08-09, 04:39 PM
:evilgrin: AFTER MY 65TH PURPLE HEART I REQUESTED A RAISE :evilgrin: :iwo:
:evilgrin: AFTER MY 65TH PURPLE HEART I REQUESTED A RAISE :evilgrin: :iwo:
Who do you think you are? John Kerry! Three PHs will get you a senate seat! (at least in Mass.)
FistFu68
03-08-09, 04:56 PM
:evilgrin: THEY FORGOT 2 PUT THEM ON MY DD-214 BUT IN REALITY I KNOW I WAS WOUNDED AT LEAST 87 TIMES,I GOT MORE LEAD IN MY AZZ THAN THE POTOMAC RIVER AND I WASN'T EVEN A CORPSMAN :D :iwo:
Marine1955
03-08-09, 06:08 PM
Just did some research. In '68, a brand new Shelby Cobra GT500 would set you back $4,300 ($4,400 for the convertible). Don't worry that it only got 9 mpg. Gas prices were only $0.37 a gallon!
saw one here in s.w. ks. they only wanted 90,000 dollars what a differents in time.i almost shiz my pants
Marine1955
03-08-09, 06:19 PM
:evilgrin: THEY FORGOT 2 PUT THEM ON MY DD-214 BUT IN REALITY I KNOW I WAS WOUNDED AT LEAST 87 TIMES,I GOT MORE LEAD IN MY AZZ THAN THE POTOMAC RIVER AND I WASN'T EVEN A CORPSMAN :D :iwo:
did you not know that when they said get down, that means lay down and cover up on the ground and not to jump up and start dancing.. i bet when you go to an airport you set every alarm off . Semper Fi man hope your Ok now
ggyoung
03-08-09, 06:24 PM
Go try to buy a 1971-72 "Cuda Himmi Convertible" Saw one on auction go for just about 2 mill. I had a 68 GTX they are way up there.
DocGreek
03-08-09, 06:38 PM
HEY JACK!! When I get my DD215, you can have all four of my Pueple Farts!! They make good Christmas ornaments!! NO, maybe I'll get some Grunts, and Doc's, from my Group therapy, to witness me throwing them off the St. Petersberg Pier!! We'll get the local TV azzholes, to take pictures!! CAN'T WAIT!!......DOC
advanced
03-19-09, 07:55 AM
In 68-69 as a Cpl E-4 my pay was something like $340 per month. At An Hoa we had an air force detachment come in for a week or two to build up the airstrip. Those guys also received hazzard duty pay for being with us. We asked how come we didn't get it and they said that for us being where we was was "Normal" duty. What a *****.
Those guys also brought steaks, whiskey and all kinds of goodies. They weren't stupid, they knew to share with us.
AlwaysWillBe
04-11-09, 09:19 AM
Hmmm...
I recall combat pay as $65 / mo and
flight pay as an additional $50 / mo.
:beer:
Tom Pemberton
04-23-09, 06:07 PM
$50.00 Per month!
Meanmarine
05-03-09, 09:18 AM
Combat pay was $65 in 1970.
$65.00 as I recall in 66'-'67. I was in country for several months and was not recieving combat pay. I was finaly able to get permission to leave the field and go to Da Nang where our finace records were. After a long wait at the finance center my pay clerk came up to the counter and stated "Your not recieving combat pay because we have no proof your in country". To which I replied "Well, I wouldn't want you to take my word for it that I'm here".
Seems my unit had failed to make the necessary unit diary entry. Took several more weeks but I finally got combat pay retro-active to the start of the tour.
crazyluke
05-07-13, 03:39 AM
I was an E5 corpsman July'69-July'70 Quang Tri Province. I distinctly recall that my total monthy pay was $550. If $65 of that was combat pay, where did the other $35 come from??
A Navy slush fund, to compensate us poor squid bastards not bobbing around the Gulf of Tonkin while simultaneously smoking dope and lobbing 16 inchers into North Vietnam? (Dave claimed that was the drill on the New Jersey).
I know the $550/mo is right. I came home with beaucoup cash. But the difference between base E5 money and the $550...not so sure.
Can anybody help???
There was also $30.00 overseas pay along with $65.00
combat pay.
crazyluke
05-07-13, 06:28 AM
Thanks, Chuck. I knew there were TWO pays just not how it worked. I'm in Burlington, Vt, PC Capital of New England. Should I apply for at least combat pay for just living here??? Overseas pay too? People's DEMOCRATIC Republic of Burlington.
chulaivet1966
05-07-13, 11:21 AM
Combat Pay - Added $50 to $65 (per month) to the U.S. military serving in Vietnam. Why does the number $65 stick to my mind...was more pay per pay grade.
:)...no shvt on the 'pay grade' observation.
I recall 65.00 a month quite clearly.
I'm glad I lived through it or I'd have never gotten that extra $845 buckaroos.
Carry on....
(every time I see the word Sparrowhawk I think of Jimmy Howard and other Brothers....oh the memories)
Three meals of C's and $65. Flight pay while at CampPen but don't recall $$.
sempidr
05-08-13, 08:10 PM
Since we are trying to keep this thread alive- - - - -
No one in Viet Nam received combat pay. Everyone was receiving "Hazardous Duty" pay. You can only receive "Combat Pay" in a war. Viet Nam was a Police Action, therefore, enlisted received $65 per month, "Hazardous Duty" pay.
Sempi
Been there, done that.
sempidr
05-08-13, 08:26 PM
Forgot to mention. Veterans in Korea did not receive "Combat Pay", either. Again, because Korea was a "Police Action", they received "Hazardous Duty" pay.
Some MOSs did get extra pay, only if you did 6 years active. I received an extra $75 per month P-2 Proficiency Pay as a 2816, Crypto Tech.
Sempi
Your splitting hairs... samey same...
advanced
05-09-13, 08:28 AM
Whatever it was, I was always told it was combat and overseas pay. Of course this makes me wonder if there was anything else the MC told be that wasn't true. Just saying.
The MC NEVER lies... LOL they just dont tell you EVERYTHING...
FistFu68
05-09-13, 12:56 PM
I was getting an X-Tra $55.00 a month as My Jump pay did not make any Combat Jumps in the Nam! Butt the Dollar came in handy for the Beau Cou Boom Boom all Night Long :D :iwo:
The DUKE
05-09-13, 11:30 PM
SOB,
I bought that car bro,
soon as I got back I took all my
pay I had been sticking in my
private acct,
not the pay the old lady
got for a montly stipend, shhhhhh?
and bought that freaking car ,
it was so hot man,
the chillins today with their
rice burners and baloney tipped
megaphone mufflers, shiiiiiit!
they have no clue what real
horsepower is or was
and they never will,
that era has definitely passed.
Wow what a rush of memories
flooding in from that one post,
Im almost getting teary eyed.
Not to mention,
my old lady was ****ed as all get out,
she wanted me to plop that stash on
a trailer to live in, like what am I a redneck?????
montana
11-15-19, 11:01 AM
Was a grunt, named Whitmore. Was with us for 4 or five months.. never got paid a dime, paper work got messed up somewhere. He was KIA boobytrap..
I had a daughter borne while I was in boot camp. Did the paperwork. No pay went and filled out the paperwork again.. nothing.. over in Nam fill out the paperwork two more times. Never did get any money for my baby girl