Posted on 12/03/2006 2:59:56 PM PST by T-Bird45
My husband and his brother were drafted and served at the same time during Vietnam. Due to them being the only 2 sons in the family. One was sent to Vietnam, the other to Germany. My husband was stationed in Germany. He states that he is a Vietnam era Vet and his brother who was in theater is a Vietnam vet.
The American Legion is comprised of military veterans, and family of veterans, as an organization.
The VFW is an organization of actual Veterans of Foreign Wars.
I am eligiable for membership in the American Legion, but not in the VFW,since none of my time in service meets the criteria of serving in a "Foreign War".
There is no actual "story" here.
Just another way for the MSM to piss on all veterans.
Please pass along my thanks for their service.
I'd be curious what they've said about their conscripted service since those days?
I'm going to beat you to McNamara's bricks. I also think there will be a lot of Vet's in line.
Bring your lawn chair,there's going to be along pee line at both locations.
If John Kerry had dropped a grenade he would be President today.God forbid....
If John Kerry had dropped a grenade he would be President today.God forbid....
Depends. Are they running for political office now as a democrat?
...and I know a WO that bit Cris Noel on the ass!!....on a bet of course..*W*
The Colonel who swore me into the Marine Corps has always said I am a Vietnam vet. I have always disagreed with him, saying that I am a Vietnam era vet. As far as I'm concerned, only those who served in country are real Vietnam vets. However, I am an Afghanistan veteran, having served in country and having flown on over 60 combat missions so far.
I was in the USAF 1960-1963, with most of that time overseas. I signed on as a civilian with the DoD in 1964. In 1965 I got transferred to Japan, and in 1966, I went TDY to Vietnam. During my first month there, I was still in the inactive USAFR, but unfortunately, I didn't let my reserve unit at Selfridge AFB, MI, what I had done. Now, my lack of a paper trail means that I am not officially eligible for the Vietnam Service Medal, even though I was in-country long enough. And without that slug on my 214, I can't join the VFW. I went again the following year, but by then was discharged from the reserves. I am a member of Vietnam Veterans of America.
The Colonel who swore me into the Marine Corps has always said I am a Vietnam vet. I have always disagreed with him, saying that I am a Vietnam era vet. As far as I'm concerned, only those who served in country are real Vietnam vets. However, I am an Afghanistan veteran, having served in country and having flown on over 60 combat missions so far.
Bull scat. Does that also make him an Afghanistan veteran? If some is on AD in this day and age and does all his time stateside, he is a veteran, period. Don't try to attach a country to if you were never there. I'm not an Iraqi vet and I never will be. But I am an Afghanistan veteran and have the campaign medal and air medals to back it up.
As I recall, the only requirement to join the American Legion is you must have served at least one of active duty during a time of war. The specific dates are on their web site. No need to have been in a combat zone. AmVets is even easier...one day of AD, period. The VFW makes it harder, but I do have an issue with them allowing anyone who served a tour there eating kimchee and visiting all those ally establishments during what is really a time of peace. I personally would be too embarrassed to join the VFW if my only qualification was spending a year in South Korea living the good life.
AMEN----any individual who served in WW2 is a WW2 veteran whether they were overseas or in the USA---at least they served!!!(back then almost every civilian served as well with being rationed or in defense work)---all the smartassed libs and rotten RATS will try anthing to divide service men and woman---the man served during the Viet Nam War period---PERIOD----I thought Cleland lost his limbs because he was stupid with a grenade??---if so, why do the RATS continuously trot him out for display?
On the Cleland issue,
1) it was AP that introduced it, for political reasons of their own. What they are trying to say, in their snide way, is that the American Legion should shut up and stop being mean to Democrats.
2) It was Cleland himself, and the left-wing press, that presented him as a hero wounded in combat. I'd feel sorry for the guy if he didn't allow himself to be used by a bunch of slimy Marxists. But if a politician repeatedly claims to be a war hero, then it becomes a legitimate topic for discussion.
Cleland isn't running for office at the moment, so we could leave it lie. But AP doesn't want to leave it lie.
1) it was AP that introduced it, for political reasons of their own. What they are trying to say, in their snide way, is that the American Legion should shut up and stop being mean to Democrats.
2) It was Cleland himself, and the left-wing press, that presented him as a hero wounded in combat. I'd feel sorry for the guy if he didn't allow himself to be used by a bunch of slimy Marxists. But if a politician repeatedly claims to be a war hero, then it becomes a legitimate topic for discussion.
Cleland isn't running for office at the moment, so we could leave it lie. But AP doesn't want to leave it lie.
+1,000 -- absolutely on target!
Good for you. That is the same way I feel. I believe there is a distinction but also a connection between those who served in WWI and WWII compared to those who served in Vietnam. I would say that the majority of those in the service during the two World Wars served in combat areas. It was a small portion of our military personnel who actually served in Vietnam. I certainly do not put myself in the same realm as those who had to deal with that terrible situation. They deserve to be set apart from those of us who did not actually set foot in Vietnam. Thank you for your service. I support what our country and our military are trying to accomplish over there. May God watch over you and all who serve our country in it's military actions.
That's where a lot of the confusion comes in: The DD 214 doesn't say, specifically, where you served, only when, so us "-era vets" can get by with the deceit.
When I was at the license bureau (Colorado) with my DD214,they were all set to issue me "Vietnam Veteran" plates until I insisted on the "Honorably Discharged Veteran" plates. The clerk was a little confused about the distinction.
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