I’m a Vietnam vet. I spent a very short time in Saigon just passing through. I never will understand why there are Vietnam vets and Vietnam ERA vets. I certainly understand the difference between combat vets and RE guys. But they all served during a time of war and all got the national defense medal.
I knew lots of WWII guys who never left the states. They were all WWII vets as far as I was concerned.
During the Vietnam era I went through Basic and AIT on active duty and then served six years in the Army Guard and Army Reserve principally in an Infantry Support Battalion. I was a Mess Sergeant and rose to Staff Sergeant.
I considered those that had served in combat areas as having bona fide credentials I did not have. I look at my son’s six years in active duty Army from 2002 to 2008 with service in Korea, Afghanistan, Qatar, and other sand-box areas. His uniform looks a lot more interesting than mine and I respect its merit and his.
Thanks for your service.