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.
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.