try and join the VFW by telling them that. without the beentheredonethat ribbon, ya ain't beentheredonethat.
An article about a lie with another lie in it. Cleland was not injured in combat. Just because a person is in a combat area does not mean all injuries in that area are combat injuries. If a person gets bit by a snake in a combat area is that a combat injury?
Viet Nam ERA Veteran. He is of the Era.... I guess he must be a liberal:)
Holy crap. This is big.
Max, you're a shill who will whore his words to suit the cause.
Take Kerry to task for "two tours" in Vietnam.
One of my late husbands was a Vietnam-era veteran. He would never have called himself a Vietnam vet, nor would I ever refer to him as one. There's a world of difference.
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.
try and join the VFW by telling them that. 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.
whats this remind you of?
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.
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.
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.
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.
I am a Vietnam ERA Veteran. So is Mr. Morin. It is appropriate for him to call himself a Vietnam ERA veteran.
I agree with the others from whatever party who question his calling himself a Vietnam Veteran. The "era" distinction is a long-standing (official, I think) way to point out the difference between those who served at that time and those who served on the ground in Vietnam.
I recall, though, that some troops in Italy during the Kosovo or Bosnia campaigns were awarded Bronze Stars for their efforts in that conflict. They never left Italy. They did things in support of the war from their own bases in Italy.
This calls into question those who call themselves WWII Vets but served only in England or Australia.
They weren't really on the ground, either.
I clearly was not in a job that provided direct support to the war in Vietnam. I was in Germany. Perhaps Morin's job did have him in direct support of that war. And perhaps that should qualify as being a "Viet Vet."
At least it does if Italy, England, and Australia qualify.