[x]

If he entered the Marines at 18 US combat in Vietnam had already ended - or would have ended by the time he finished his training.

So the possibilities are that he lied about being a Vietnam Veteran, or that he lied about his age back then, or that he was one of a small group of embassy guards (unlikely) or that he was a Vietnam era veteran, who never actually got to Vietnam, and either reporters don't hear the "era" or he doesn't tell them.

[gunsequalfreedom]

Thanks. I had since found a link that explained they were looking for his records. The website documented what he had said and it was never a direct quote that he was a Marine in Vietnam. The website had a similar thought to yours, that reporters heard something different.

What happened to editors telling reporters to get confirmation he is a Marine before reporting it?

[an amused spectator]

He’s VERY careful to say “Vietnam times”.

EVERY

FRICKEN

TIME