[Mr. Silverback]

I got the 73 years figure from the following "Dezinformatsia" item in the Federalist Chronicle, dated 7 September 05:

This week's "Non Compos Mentis" Award: "In the nearly 2-1/2 years of the [Iraq] war, the average death toll for U.S. troops has been 2.1 per day. If that pace continues, the U.S. death toll would reach 2,000 in late October. U.S. military deaths still remain far below the total and rate of the Vietnam War, in which 58,000 U.S. troops died." ---Reuters **"Also if this pace continues, the Iraq death toll will top Vietnam's in just
73 years." ---James Taranto

[Steve Van Doorn]

"58,000 U.S. troops died." ---Reuters **"Also if this pace continues, the Iraq death toll will top Vietnam's in just 73 years."

the drop off rate will be much higher then that after they hit 65 years old LOL :)