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
You were a little closer to the action than Da Nang Dick Blumenthal. Joking aside, I was a peace time sailor who was awarded a Navy Lebanon Expeditionary Medal when the embassy was blown up. I never got shot at. Instead of working 12 on and 12 off, I had to work a few extra hours per shift and no port visits for months. I was never in any danger, but people that were boots on the ground and overhead were..