How did the other 17,672 Americans die?

[whitehall]

Korean Vets got a raw deal all the way around. First the media decided to call it the "forgotton war" and then the DOD changed the number of Americans killed during the Korean conflict from 54,246 down to 36,574. What happened to the 17.672 Americans who used to be included? It should be noted that the 48 thousand Americans who died during VietNam (rightfully) included all Military deaths including non-combat related. The DOD (Under Bill Clinton) decided to include only the combat deaths on the Korean peninsula. In other words it seems that a Sailor killed on a flight deck of a Carrier would not be included. This is unfair but what is strange is that it seems that 17,672 Military personnel died between 1950 and 1953 from non combat related deaths. Doesn't it seem bit high? American Soldiers were forced to witness (at close range) the numerous Atomic bomb tests during that time. Could it be that a high percentage died from the effects of radiation?

 

[whitehall]

I didn't make up the numbers. The Korean Veterans Association posts the numbers on their web site based on the (new) DOD (Dept Defense) numbers. You can't blame Korean Vets for not complaining. They are all close to 80 years old these days. Why the hell did the DOD decide not to include the 17,672 heroes who died in the line of duty between 1950 and 1953?