Proportionate Mortality Study of US Army and US Marine Corps Veterans of the Vietnam War

The patterns of mortality among 24 235 US Army & Marine Corps Vietnam veterans were compared with that of 26 685 non-Vietnam veterans using standardized proportional mortality ratios. Statistically significant excess deaths were observed among Army Vietnam veterans for motor vehicle accidents, non-motor vehicle accidents, & accidental poisonings. Suicides were not elevated among Vietnam veterans. (31 refs)