[goodnesswins]

The only two guys I knew who died in Vietnam were both accidental deaths....drowning and misfired gun in barracks. Seems to be a major risk, if not THE major risk - accidental death.

[toddst]

Seems to be a major risk, if not THE major risk - accidental death.

Operations in a combat zone always result on non-combat deaths. Many are the result of carelessness (your examples.) Beyond that, training with equipment intended to break things and kill people is inherently dangerous. Last number I saw was two deaths per week as average during peacetime training operations.