In 68-76 I ‘supported’ the Viet Nam war with long range ALS commo. I didn’t ‘deploy’. I was Permanently Changed of Station (PCS). I’ve never once tried to imply or weasel word that I served in a combat zone - EVER. 6 yrs 11 months overseas out of a stint of 8 years and 3 months.
Just saying 24 years in the National Guard would have been good enough for me.
Yeah served in Thailand air bases here, during tail end of US/Viet collapse and withdrawal, but never felt comfortable claiming to be a “Vietnam-era vet”
Because it implied facing what the troops in combat really faced in and over Vietnam.
Also Supported Desert Storm from the Pentagon but never claimed to be a veteran of Desert Storm