Posted on 12/03/2006 2:59:56 PM PST by T-Bird45
The national commander of the American Legion never served in Vietnam although he describes himself as a "Vietnam veteran," a newspaper reported Sunday.
Paul A. Morin, who was elected Aug. 31 to a one-year term as commander of the nation's largest veterans organization, spent his time in the Army from 1972 to 1974 at Fort Dix, N.J., The Boston Sunday Globe reported.
Neither the federal government nor the 2.7 million-member American Legion makes a formal distinction between veterans who served in Vietnam and those known as "Vietnam-era" veterans.
"I am a Vietnam veteran," Morin, of Chicopee in western Massachusetts, told the newspaper. His biography on the Legion's Web site also describes Morin as a "Vietnam veteran of the US Army."
The Legion's top spokesman, Joe March, backed Morin's position. He said any current service member stationed in the United States at present could claim to be an Iraq war veteran.
But former Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia said Morin's claim may undercut the credibility of veterans groups that fight for Congressional funding of veterans' programs.
"For the national commander of the American Legion, who never even served in the Vietnam theater, to call himself a Vietnam veteran is a lie," said Cleland, who lost both legs and an arm during combat in Vietnam, and who has been a Legion member since 1969.
Thomas G. Kelley, the Massachusetts secretary of veterans affairs and also a Vietnam veteran, said Morin is misleading people.
"When someone says he is a Vietnam veteran, it means he served in the theater of the war," Kelley said.
Before his national campaign, Morin was a ranking member of the Legion's state office and was described on its Web site as a Vietnam-era veteran who was stationed in New Jersey.
Morin is the superintendent of the Soldier's Home, a state-run facility in Holyoke for needy veterans. He took an unpaid leave to serve as leader of the American Legion.
Morin did not return two calls from The Associated Press seeking additional comment Sunday. March, the Legion's spokesman, also did not return a call Sunday.
Bottom line for me is, this guy has a credibility problem. He'll have to resign. I'm not a member of the American Legion but I wouldn't stand for it if I was.
A little lie (if there is such a thing) kept Pete Dawkins from being a Senator from NJ, possibly. As I remember, his campaign brochure claimed he had two tours in Vietnam. He acually had one. The press found out and he was done.
There ya go.
My brother was an Era vet. He received $450 and I received $600 from Michigan in the mid 70s.
There are many who mislead the general public regarding their military service during the Vietnam years. I served 18 months on Okinawa (6/67-12/68)in the military police corps. Every marine that was Viet bound stopped at the "Rock" coming and going. It was also used for R&R. I was involved in inumerable barroom and back alley brawls, several full scale riots, (civilian anti American and civil rights race riots) one in particular the day MLK was killed. Twelve hour shifts seven days a week during Tet. After that, we would get 24 hours off after so many days. I was shot at and missed, sh-t at and hit. Stayed drunk or stoned most of the time. When I came home in 1970 I was refused membership in VFW because I didn't serve in a combat zone. I carried that resentment for 30 years until
the epiphany. This guy never left the states, but at least he served..
"Vietnam era veteran" would have been accurate and entirely acceptable.
That's accurate, but misleading.
Signed
JoshHiggins, who cut his finger on a poptop during the superbowl.
without the beentheredonethat ribbon, ya ain't beentheredonethat.
This VietNam Veteran and VietNam Era Veteran distinction is misleading and divisive.
The Cold war was cooking and it definitely got hotter in some places than others.
The units I served in Guantanamo Bay Cuba, afforded me and my buddies the privilege of being shot at, lost buddies in minefields, as well being on the frontline conducting night ambushes, river patrols,helicopter rides day and night and much more etc..etc.
I lost 21 buddies in Nam, I'm willing to match my service in a line company as a grunt rifleman in Cuba in 64',65' and 66', with any REMF from Nam, or anyone else during that Era.
I don't need a parade, a medal, pity,or anything else.
Flames up...
Just another reason to not like Max ~ he has no moral legitimacy.
No it's not. It is about lying.
Yep.A true bonafide democrat war veteran.
About whether Morin is lying or not, right?
You are absloutely correct, and I am dead wrong on what I said. My deepest apologies!!! Shows how memory goes with age.
We all agreed that we wouldn't get any recognition for being there under REAL guns and at intensely high risk from authentic soldiers in a modern army equipped with atom bombs ~ being a "trip wire" is tough duty, but somebody's got to do it, and I know what I did even if it doesn't matter to anyone else on Earth.
.
About whether Morin is lying and the lie in the article that Cleland was injured in combat.
The real answer is: Charlie Rangell should apologize.
I know the Cleland thing has been hashed over forever, here and other places, but this article is about the Cdr of a National Veterans oranization lying or not - - I thought.
Shall we say that a Vietnam Veteran is not a Vietnam era Veteran?
When Cleland's name is brought up the thread becomes about Cleland.
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