UPDATE: Welcome Michael Yon sycophants! So much for moving on, huh? Kind of weird digging into posts a year old.
I originally wrote this for my blog, but then decided that perhaps it's information that I can better encourage debate on here.
Yesterday, the local morning conservative talk show host brought up a question about the status of veterans. He said that words mean things and he's right. The issue was the Stolen Valor Act (which I disagree with, believe it or not) and whether veterans that never served in Vietnam, but served in the military during the Vietnam War, can be called “Vietnam Veterans.”
The host was trying to make the case that if someone serves in the military during a time of war, there is nothing wrong with calling themselves a “[insert campaign/war name] Veteran.” I wholeheartedly disagree. I see his point of view, but military personnel don't think this way.
For example, I was in the Army during Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, but I'm only an Iraq Veteran. I never served in those other conflicts (well, I head to Afghanistan in a few weeks) and would NEVER call myself a Kosovo Veteran or a Bosnia Veteran. I would never call myself an Afghanistan Veteran before serving there!
The next point was that many veterans are beginning to use the term “Vietnam-Era or Desert Storm-Era Veteran.” I'm confused by this. My father served in the Navy (32 years before retiring) during the Vietnam War and has NEVER called himself a Vietnam-Era Veteran. He's a Veteran!
The status of “Veteran” is already – or should already be – an honorable title. I don't understand why some veterans seem to want to inflate their status by saying that they served during a particular war. The way I see it is that these people aren't satisfied with their service and are trying to puff themselves up.
For the veterans out there, this is what I'd like to know. I think it confuses civilians who have no clue about military service. They hear Vietnam Veteran or Iraq Veteran and the assumption is that this Soldier or Marine or whatever served IN combat!
The host thinks it's okay for veterans to just call themselves veterans of a particular war just by virtue of serving during a time of conflict. Now, I can see his point. To some degree, everyone that serves in the military during wartime is to some degree helping the effort. We still have a stateside mission of training and equipping forward deployed units, but it's a completely different job entirely. You can't be a veteran of war when you've never been in potential life-threatening danger. And I think that just the act of serving in and of itself is an honorable endeavor worthy of respect from Americans whether that honorable service lasted a month or 32 years!!
Not everyone gets to serve in combat. Sometimes it's by choice and sometimes it's just the cards that are dealt. Just ask my wife how frustrated I've been that I haven't deployed since I returned from the Iraq War in late 2003! While others have 3, 4, and 5 deployments, I've been resting on ONE! It drives me nuts, but I kept getting slotted in positions that weren't deployable.
When I got home from Iraq, I was PCS'd (moved for civilians out there) to Fort Irwin to head up the Task Force IED to train deploying troops on how to recognize, identify, and react to IEDs. The position was a non-deployable position that I was in for about two years. I was chosen for the position based on my experiences with them in Iraq. After that, I was transferred to a unit in D.C. with a very specialized mission. I did have a chance to deploy to an interrogation billet, but that jackwagon John McCain ruined my deployment when he made changes to the definition of an “interrogator” and I was immediately considered “unqualified” despite my extensive training and experience. This, of course, was a response to the Abu Ghraib situation and qualified interrogators must have gone through the military interrogation school. I went through a defense-contracted interrogation course that basically taught the same thing, but wasn't good enough even though I was a highly successful interrogator in Iraq, capturing 8 of the top 55 in the deck of cards! After that assignment, I was assigned as a First Sergeant at a strategic unit in Huntsville, AL – another non-deployable slot.
So, I couldn't help it for the past six years. When it was time to move on, I ensured I would get deployed and chose a unit I knew was slated to head to Afghanistan. I want to do my part and I don't feel comfortable personally resting on my one deployment while so many others have sacrificed so much more.
There are instances where that happens, but the jobs that I filled during the past six years were just as important. It was a vital piece of the overall mission that SOMEONE has to do and there is nothing dishonorable or wrong with that. Why would any veteran want to call themselves a Vietnam Veteran, Desert Storm Veteran, Iraq Veteran, or Afghanistan Veteran when they didn't actually fight in those wars unless they were trying to mislead people? Why do some of our veterans feel the need to identify themselves as an “era” veteran? Have we really diminished the service of our great Americans that much that the mere act of serving and being a “Veteran” is no longer enough?
I don't think so.
@Thomas Konieczko: Thank you for your kind responses to me. My DD214 doesnt list VSM, only Indochina service. The lady at VA said it isn’t the same, so I guess as long as my sticker says ERA then none of these old guys will think I am trying to be glory grabbing. I am happy with my service record. (I was MI-ASA) .My discharge says Honorable. Peace! Maureen
@Maureen Gilbert: I wouldn’t worry about it. the VA does make it confusing. I too am considered a Vet of the Viet Nam Era further complicated because of a medical issue (blood clots and Phlebitis) that put an early end to my flying status. This led to a Honorable discharge under medical conditions after almost 4 years of service… So I am now listed as a disabled Vet of the Viet Nam Era… which I try to keep to myself because most civilians think that I must have seen some major s..t. Basically I was a Aircrew (HSL-37) stationed in Hawaii.. The most trouble I ever got into was in the P.I. on liberty. It is especially hard because my brother was in fact a real Viet Nam Vet (’65-67) (101st Airborne L.R.P) who earned the Silver Star. Came back with malaria, Hepatitis and died this year from complications the VA now says was the result of being sprayed with agent orange. He was one of the best.
@Allen Richards: Mr. Richards, I would like to express my condolences to you for the loss of your brother. That has to be hard no matter what the reason. Knowing it was AO must just add to your grief. Thank you for your service (and your response to my post). Because my tour was probably more of a cake walk than so many American men (and women) had, I want to make sure I am not pumping up my own service record. I was 17 when I enlisted, and was a proud little soldier girl….and even now at 55 I identify strongly and fondly to the military. I know my military record pales in comparison to so many…I just want to show my pride in having been part of something. Maureen
Maureen, what months were you in Thailand, because if you were in after April 30, 1975 your not a Vietnam vet or Era. You had to be in Thailand before that date.
@Thomas Konieczko: Hi Thomas…The VA has my status as ERA,( that is what the lady in records told me when I inquired)I enlisted in 1974. I arrived in Thailand March of 1975. I was stationed there until a month before the base officially closed in June1976, where I was shipped for 2 monthsTDY at Clark AFB, then returned to finish out my enlistment working in the NSA building on Ft. Meade. I guess I just made it, but my whole point of questioning my status in the first place was so I didn’t claim anything that was not true. My friend and co-worker was a medic in Vietnam in the 60’s. He has some interesting stories to tell when asked. My experience is very pale in comparison to the brave combat veterans of our military. I guess I shouldn’t be calling myself anything but lucky that I wasn’t born a guy or things would have been very different I think. Thank you to all military men and women on this Memorial day, and every day I live a free life!
Maureen, I just found out from my friends why you didn’t receive the VSM because of the time frame. You had to serve In-Country or Thailand, Cambodia or Laos from July 3, 1965 to March 28, 1973 and you didn’t, but you are a Vietnam Era Vet because the war ended in April of 1975.
@Thomas Konieczko: Thomas…thank you for your responses to me on this website! It has been enlightening to me, and I will be sure not to refer to myself as a Vietnam Vet, but rather an era vet. It has been a pleasure corresponding with you! Maureen
Hey Guys! Of course I enlisted in the USAF because I would rather not go to Viet-Nam, SORRY. We were 7 boys that grew up in Sunset Park Brooklyn and all joined diferent branches. 2 USAF, 4 ARMY, 1 Navy. Only 1 of my ARMY buddies came back home. Now I served during 1967 – 1971, I was stationed in Ramey AFB, PR for my last 2 years as an Enlistment Seargent (Recruiting). I would have gladly served anywhere I was needed and my thinking changed when I was allready in the service. Viet-Nam would not have been an issue any more for me. I am just PROUD to have served, wish I could have done more. Some of my marketting says “Viet Nam Era Vet”, If I am reading you guys correctly, I should change that, right?. I definitely don’t want to take away any glory from my buddies that died there or from any other veteran. I am sorry If it has offended anyone. Papa.
PB my story sort of follows yours, I was just a year earlier. The key, that has been told to me by several is that we served. Unlike the 99.3% who haven’t.
Now, I’ve got to go and remind people what Memorial Day is all about.
@Papabear: Papa Bear, an ERA vet (to my understanding) is any one who was in befor April 1975, no matter where we served….(according to my informant at the VA)…..Maureen
@UpChuck.Liberals: UpChuck, well said…I hope you have a good Memorial Day weekend….Maureen
We had an Awsome Memorial Day here in SI, NY. The weather was great and the parade was very exciting and the people were very responsive and cheerful. Made me feel very proud of my country and having served. Happy Memorial Day! Everyone…. This is a great Blog, like it
@Maureen
Gilbert:
Maureen, were you at devens in the fall of 74/spring of 75? I was in 05d school with you. It’s Mike metevelis.I would love to re-connect with you. Asa7477@yahoo.com.
@Thomas Konieczko:
@Maureen Gilbert: I went to Thailand in 1965 and lived in a plywood hut at Takli for one year. My job as a fuel specialist was to be on standby on the flightline all day till the bombers returned. At lunch they brought us what looked like leftover WW-2 raions in a tin can. I guess we got water I don’t remember. I ame back with infectious hepatitis like amny og the troops did and now I have t-1 diabetes and celiac disease and 2 other auto-immune diseases. When I was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes in 1971 I had 13 yrs in the USAF.
They figured this was a good time to give me severance pay, but I won that battle at lackland and got my 30%.
When I went to the VA and told them this story, they asked how much insulin I took. When I told them I took
20 units per day. They said I was 20% disabled-so all the time I worked at the Charleston Naval Shipyard they deducted the 20% from my retirment of 187.00 which was my pay from being an E-6. I want to discuss this more later, but the bottom line is that if you were anywhere but Viet-Nam you are a half-assed veteran because you WEREN’T exposed to agent orange.
Charlie
@Charles E Owens: Hi Mr Owens. Thank you for setting me straight on my veteran status. Since I am niether slow nor fast, I guess I am half ast. I am sorry for what happened to you. Thank you for your service.
CJ
I don’t know how come I miss your POST WHICH BEGAN JUNE 3, 2011, TO NOW SEPTEMBER 4, 2012,
and what do I see here? a group of BRAVES WHO SERVED, BRAVES WHO SURVIVED, BRAVES WHO WORK IN THE BACKGROUND ALSO SERVING, AND THEY SURE SHOULD NOT FEEL SHY IF SOMEONE SALUTE THEM,
THIS POST IS LOADED WITH BRAVES, THE ONES WHO ALL SERVE TO PROTECT THEIR BELOVED AMERICA, SOME ARE DISABLE FROM THEIR TIME, MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL, THERE WAS NON STOP WAR SINCE WW ll,
june 3 2011, @ MATA, WE WHERE EXCHANGING GMAILS TRYING TO KNOW WHERE OLD TROOPER
HAD GONE, WITHOUT LEAVING A NOTE ON MAY 11 2011, WE HAD LOST A COLONEL SO BRAVE ALSO
WITH 30 YEARS OF SERVICE, WAITING FOR HIS RETIREMENT PAPERS,
HOW COME YOU ALL DON’T COME ON OTHER OF THE POSTS, HOW COME WE FIND YOU ONLY HERE,
WE WANT TO READ YOUR OPINIONS ON OTHER POSTS, WHY? BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE VALOR IN YOUR SOUL, AND YOU ALL ARE A PRECIOUS TREASURE TO YOUR BELOVED AMERICA,
and your thoughts on AMERICA HAVE WEIGHT FOR THE CITIZENS, THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO BE REVEAL TO ANY ONE HERE WHO TAKE THEIR FREEDOM LIGHTLY,
BEST TO YOU ALL WE CARE FOR YOU HERE,
Maureen, don’t ever say you are sorry to these so called Rambo’s, you did your job like the millions of others that supported these ingrats, if it weren’t for us half assed veterans more of the In Country vets would have come home in body bags. The Vietnam vets in my VVA Chapter just laugh when they hear comments like the one Owens makes. They can say all they want, but the Government says we are all VIETNAM ERA VETS , In Country or not. I used to have alot respect for the guys that were in Vietnam not any more. You know it took 17 guys to support 1 combat troop, and then they say we didn’t do anything. Call your mommy when you need an air strike or need supplies brought in, see how that works out for you. Maureen don’t let them bother you there’s one thing they cannot take away from you, you are a Veteran just like they are.
EAGLE ll
hi, nice to find you here, I see the great work you’re doing,
last time I read you there was problem with the server, and you thought I was in the act,
hope you have realize by now, what happen, without me in the event.
I just wanted you to know this.
best to you,
Mr. Owens according to the new definition of a Vietnam Vet you do not quailfy only guys that saw combat are the only true Vietnam Vets. Guys in Vietnam not combat vets, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos the Navy off shore and guys that flew over Vietnam on bombing runs are considered Era Vets along with the support troops who were stationed anywhere in the world. Us guys that were stationed on Guam were also effected by Agent Orange, agent purple and rainbow, and have trouble getting any compension, at least you got something. We drank water that tasted like crap and worked in areas that were sprayed with Agent Orange to kill the weeds around the Flight Line and in the bomb dumps, so don’t cry me a river. Any way welcome home Era Veteran.
Thomas KONIECZSKO
HI,
I think that Charles Owen [Charlie] gave a comment for you at another CJ POST,
IT’S; UPDATE; OBAMA SUE TO SUPPRESS MILITARY VOTE, NUMBER OF COMMENT IS 79,
CHECK IT UP OKAY, I think he mistaken the post , read his comment too, you will understand more of him.
best to you
after reading all the comments, I SEE ANOTHER DIVIDE AND SINCE IT’S ON OBAMA’S TIME, HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING NOT CLEAR THAT AS A COMMANDER IN CHIEF,
THERE WAS HELL IN COMBAT ZONES, AND i CANNOT BLAME THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES WHO
SAW THEIR BROTHER FALL, TO CLAIM THAT MEDAL, AS PROUD SURVIVORS, THEY THINK OF THE NEXT SOLDIER WHO FELL WHEN THEY LOOK AT THAT MEDAL, THEY HAVE ENDURE UNDER THE ENEMY ATTACKS, I’M ALSO THINKING OF THE PRISONER, THE ONE SPECIALLY WHICH EAGLE ll mention the story
of ULTIMATE COURAGE, WHO DID NOT COLLECT HIS MEDALS,I SAY THEY DESRVE IT FULLY AND THAT SPECIAL EXTRA IS FOR THEM THE MEANING OF WHY THEY SURVIVE, AND THE ONLY TREASURE MANY POSESS BECAUSE MANY ARE WOUNDED, IT KEEP THEM FROM LOWERING THEIR HEAD IN FRONT OF THEIR LIFELONG SUFFERING,
AND THE OTHER WHO DID NOT COLLECT ARE THE BRAVES NONE THE LEAST, FOR HAVING DONE THEIR MANY DUTY AND SURVIVING AS A WHOLE HUMAN ABLE TO FONCTION EVERY DAY NORMALY, BUT SOME ALSO WOUNDED BY ALL THAT CRAP THEY WHERE SURROUNDED WITH
ARE FOREVER OUR GIANTS BRAVES AND LIKE THE OTHER ALL ARE OUR TREASURE TO LOOK UP TOO WITH RESPECT AND REVERENCE, THEY ARE ALL THE MIGHTY VETS FOR THE PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT ADDED EXTRA TO ASK OR SILENTLY HONOR,
LET THEM HAVE THE EXTRA LETTER IF THEY CHOOSE, BECAUSE THEY EARNED IT AND THEY KNOW IT AND THE OTHER KNOW IT TOO. BUT PUT THEM MARCHING TOGETHER OR COMING BACK FROM HELL, THEY ALL ARE THE MIGHTY AMERICANS WHO SERVED FOR THE CITIZENS FREEDOM,
LOVE YOU ALL AND AMERICA HAS A SPECIAL MEANING FOR YOU ALL WHICH THE CITIZENS WILL NOT UNDERSTAND NEVER, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT GO OVER THERE,
BEST TO YOU ALL AND GOD GIVE YOU THE BLESSING YOU ALL DESERVE.
@Thomas Konieczko: Hi Thomas…nice to hear from you again! I didn’t take offense at Mr. Owen.
He has an opinion like everyone else.
My son just graduated from BCT in Ft Leonardwood! Now I am bragging, but I am so proud of him! He is going to logistics school in Ft Lee Va, then to Ft Benning Ga for some Airborne Ranger stuff.
I hope we talk some more sometime! Mo
Maureen Gilbert
hi,
congratulation for your SON’S GRADUATION, YES IT’S SOME OF THE THING WE LIKE TO BRAGG AND YOU DESERVE TO BRAGG.
BEST TO YOU AND YOU ARE SOME SPECIAL BRAVE ALSO,
WITH ALL MY RESPECT,
BEST TO YOU
SOMETHING IS COOKING,
CANADA HAS RECALLED THE AMBASSADOR FROM IRAN,
THAT IS TELLING,
Congrats Maureen on your sons graduation from BCT we need more kids like your son. My buddies daughter is at Fort Leonardwood right now and she is suppose to graduate the 8th or 9th of November.
FOX NEWS IS REPLAYING THE 9/11 ATTACK
@Thomas Konieczko: Thank you Thomas! I am so proud of him…he will benefit greatly from some military life, I believe…it is his first job, and of course, first time away from home. 2 months in man-camp has already made a huge difference in him for the better! I travelled to see him graduate, and it was a wonderful experience. I watched you tube videos of Ranger school, which makes BCT look like the cub scouts. I hope he makes it, but any way I look at it he has a great opportunity and a JOB! Mo
CHUCK NORIS AT FOX WITH HUCKABEE NOW
I served during 8 wars/conflicts. I fought actively in country in one. I am a veteran.
Jeb
so glad to have you here,
welcome to FLOPPING ACES,
you must have a guardian angel to have come back.
best to you
@Jeb: Jeb, thank you for your service!
CJ
hi, glad you check back on us,
so many news on what you are going through,
we worry and pray, waiting for your comment.
bye
All you Yon followers…do you want to know the REAL truth about Matt Burden’s military records, contrary to what Michael Yon posted? And do you want to know how Michael Yon flat out LIES about CJ Grisham and others to further his personal vendetta?
Before you jump on Yon’s CrazyWagon, you might want to ask yourself why he keeps doing these attacks on CJ Grisham, going as far back as a year ago in this post that he put up on FB, and in the case of the Youserved show transcript of which he posted a tiny snippet, he went back 3.5 YEARS. That’s some kind of dedicated stalker behavior Yon has there.
LL
hi,
I don’t think you will find to many supporters of YON in here, after what he did to CJ,
which was very bad and selfishly disregard the warriors and disturb them to make his news,
there was a very interesting POST here about it, from I think 20011, just try to find it under military on top.
bye
Like I said in my post, it scares me that these people vote because they’ll believe anything. “Hey, a guy in Thailand with internet access said it, so it MUST be true!” Even when you show them proof it’s a total LIE, they can’t even wrap their feeble minds around it. Sad. Just sad.
I wish to thank everyone who has posted. I served during Desert Storm but never went overseas. My unit left for deployment 3 days before I got there. I have often wondered if I am considered a desert storm or gulf war vet. It never felt right to say that. Now I have my answer – I am a disabled vet. And just as proud to have served. If called to I would have gone into combat but I never was. Thanks again to all that served and for the info
Hi all, I identify myself as a Vietnam Era vet because I am a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America and I don’t want anyone to think that I am actually saying I served in country. To me that honor belongs exclusively to those who were actually served time in theater. A number of years ago my wife bought me a Vietnam Veteran hat. I refused to wear it because I am NOT a Vietnam Vet. But I DID do my duty during the Vietnam War. I too am proud of my service, but I don’t want anyone thinking I am misrepresenting myself as something that I’m not.
Aaln, I to belong to the VVA and they tell you that everyone that served during the Vietnam era no matter were you where is a Vietnam Vet, it’s a bunch of crap. I’ve had a couple of run in’s with them and they tend to lean toward the In Country Vet, I have suggested that they put Era in the center of the Vietnam Veterans of America patch, but they said no way. I to do not wear anything that says I am a Vietnam vet I have a tee shirt that I got from Medals of America that says Vietnam Era Veteran on it and I wear it all the time. When I wear my VVA Chapter jacket and I see a guy wearing a Vietnam Vet hat I tend to move away from him, but sometimes I get caught and they always say the magic words “when were you there” and when I say I wasn’t in Nam all they say is oh just Era and walk away. We have had In Country Vets leave our Chapter because of the Associates and Era vets that we have, they actually get mad that we our in the group, I wonder if they know how to read because all they have to do is read the application and they would see the qualifications to join no one is putting a gun to their heads if you don’t like the terms don’t join, they have hundreds of groups for them to join. We are treated like scum by the In Country Vets just because we weren’t in Nam not our fault we went were we were sent, they just can’t put that in their heads. I just hope the Vets that are getting out now are not treated like us it’s terrible how a person that served in the Military can treat another Vet so bad because he wasn’t in a war zone. Like I always say it takes a whole Country to have a War not just the Ground Pounders. If it wasn’t for the support troops the troops in the war zone would have had nothing we brought them everthing from ammo to toliet paper and what do we get for it nothing but put downs. Just my 2 cents.
Tom, I know how you feel. I sometimes get the same response when I run into an in-country vet. But, they’re entitled to their opinion I guess. I certainly appreciate and respect their sacrifices and their willingness to be there, but I agree that they couldn’t have done what they did without the support people. I was aboard a Fast Combat Support Ship (DETROIT AOE 4) and we escorted the SARATOGA over there in 1972. We were supposed to go all the way up to the gunline, but got turned around in the Indian Ocean. So we never made it to “the zone”, so we don’t qualify for the service ribbon. But I’m still proud of my service. The SARATOGA couldn’t have dropped those bombs and mines or fired any missiles if we didn’t give them to her. They also wouldn’t have had enough gas or food to get there…..so yeah, I did my part. No they weren’t shooting at me and there was little chance of an attack, but we still performed our duty and finished the mission that we were assigned to support the war effort. And while we were running around unrepping the ships in the area, there was another ship taking our spot in the Atlantic rotation….so they did their duty to support the effort. I’ve often wondered if all those guys who wear the Korean War Vet and WWII Vet hats were all boots on the ground or were some of them like us, not boots on the ground but indispensible to the war efforts…..? And by the way, thank you for your service.
Hi Aaln…my mother was a Master Sgt in the Marine Corp during the Korean conflict
and although she never was in Korea, she has the distiction of being a Korean War vet…she is buried in Bushnell National Cemetary and her gravestone even recognizes her as one. Thank you for your service also….
Aaln, the WW II vets and Korean vets are all called Veterans of their wars, if they where in the war zone or a cook at a base in the States there all called vets. We are the only veterans that have an Era attached to our war that’s because the In Country guys cried and cried and got their way. I used to be like you and gave a lot of credit to the guys that served in Nam, but for the past few years I couldn’t care less about them. When they start showing us some respect for what we did to support them I’ll show them some respect again until then they can shove it. There’s a saying ” Let not one Generation of Veterans abandon another “, the In Country Vets abandoned us along time ago they should be very happy about that. Wecome Home !
Thomas Konieczko
I think they where abandon also and it’s hard for them
to forget the hell they went through,
they should be understood by you all who support them
instead of giving them the negative look,
they insisted to have a special extra, so be it, it is a cheap way to give them only that,
they did not ask for the moon, or for money, and even if they would have a bit of extra it’s still
so cheap for what they gave, after all the civilians never gave them what they deserve,
they let them arrived back to a country of selfish citizens who turned against them because they believe
those antiwar activist making them look like monster, they put all the poison talk on those soldiers coming back alived from hell, they lived but their heart where broken for life, never to mend,
we must all keep that in mind and salute them with due respect, as you also get from some smart citizens who know and read of that WAR A GENERATION TOO LATE where ever it was, YOU ALL ARE THE BRAVEST OF AMERICA WITH MY TOTAL RESPECT FOR YOU ALL, TOGETHER YOU MUST STAY,
FOR THE MEMORIES OF THOSE WHO DIED FROM ATROCIOUS DEATH IN THERE,
and think of this, who else can they cry to beside you who supported them all the war time,
you all are only who they have left to cry on your shoulder,
this is right, because they expect you to understand more than anyone else
Like I said I have no respect for the In Country Vets that treat us Era vets like crap to me they don’t deserve it. When we came home we got spit on and got called baby killers just because we had a uniform on just like they did, but we had to take it and we were suppose to kiss there butts because it happened to them, no way. We are called every name in the book, but the one that hurts the most is being called a Wannabe. I have In Country friends in my VVA Chapter that I respect because they treat us Era vets as brothers that means a lot to us. We did are jobs with a lot of pride and for them to treat us like dirt is not right. This is just my feelings and like I said when we get respect I’ll give them respect.
Thomas Konieczko
I can understand your feeling, is it coming from all of them
or just a few big mouths,
it’s the same as any group, there are always trouble maker big mouths,
if so, why stopping on those only and pick on all the rest, maybe you would find some who
don’t use the same values, you even might like them,
all is left is their pride, it is very AMERICAN, IS IN IT,
the negative resentment is not healthy, get rid of it,
bye
Amen brother we are vets period
Like I said there are some good guys, but it’s that 1 % that messes it up for all the other Vietnam Vets. I just found out a few months ago that when I was Vice President of our VVA Chapter here that the President who was a combat vet in Vietnam who I thought was a pretty cool guy told us that he could not stand being around guys that weren’t in Nam to this day I will not talk to him. Read the application to the VVA and it says if you served any where in the world during the Vietnam Conflict you are a Vietnam Vet so if you don’t like being around no body’s like us then don’t join up, go join an all In Country Organization you’ll have more fun with all your In Country buddies.
Tom Konieczesko
I think you put your finger on the maker of trouble, he use his title
to spread his personal intent, and incite the other,
he started a war among warrior,
what a coward he is
@Aaln: Hi, Aaln- Do you know there’s hats available online that you can wear with the word “Vietnam Era Veteran”?
By the way, you are not misrepresenting yourself as define by the VA. A “Vietnam Veteran” it’s define on the word itself, anyone can tell this difference. I consider myself a “Vietnam Era Veteran” and proud of it! To all “Viet Nam Era Veterans” don’t let these in-country Nam vet’s fool you. it sounded like to me, all they wanted is to take all the credit’s for themself.
Thank you for your service!
Anymore comments?