Posted on 01/21/2019 11:23:54 PM PST by LouieFisk
By now you have all seen the images and read about the controversy surrounding the encounter at a rally in Washington, D.C. involving some high school students and a Native American – Nathan Phillips.
Nathan is a tribal elder and has often been put forth as a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran.
We have filed for his military records but the point of this article is that there are stories all over the place about what Phillips’ status is and to do this right takes time.
But in the media’s rush to get a story out — what “facts” rise to the surface and what did Phillips actually say about his military service?
As a good example, in this CNN newscast, Phillips states that he is a “Vietnam Times Veteran” while CNN runs the label below him quoting him as saying “I am a Vietnam Veteran…” which is not what he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at thisainthell.us ...
By that time, we were in a lottery draft. The Marines drafted approx. 43k during Vietnam.
Generally, if you got a draft notice, you were called up the following year.
If he was inducted in 1972 from a draft, it would have been the 1971 draft.
The 1971 draft was for those born in 1952 and was for a 1972 call-up.
If you were drafted (I was), active duty was for 2 years.
I’m guessing he wasn’t drafted.
I never heard anyone from my Fathers generation call themselves a WWII era vet.
Then there's Stewart on PBS:
"Lance Corporal John Stewart, U.S. Marine Corps
“I had come to Vietnam for the first time eight days before the fall. I was 18 years old, and like all MSG’s I fell under the State Department. They needed bodies that could help process evacuations..."
It is theoretically possible that Phillips was a 18 year old marine in Vietnam, outside of a combat unit. Not likely, but possible.
You were a WWII veteran even if you never left the United States.
If you did and you fought, you were a combat veteran.
Different rules for Vietnam and other wars, I guess.
If you weren't in country you can't claim to be a Vietnam or Iraq veteran.
Those guards that were there late are relatively few and known. They have an association.
Website:
fallofsaigon.org
I know you’ll enjoy them. I’m a book person and incredibly proud of my signed editions. :)
The writing must be dense. My Kindle feels heavier.
Don’t forget Chieftess “Running 2020” Warren
I've been promoting that same reversal for some time.
As for this Marine VN Vet, I call b.s.
Off topic. A problem I've had with medal/ribbons conferred is the National Defense Service Medal. I've read the criteria of serving during a declared "national emergency". The latest "national emergency" began on 9/11 to present.
However, us Cold War Sailors/Marines being constantly targeted by Soviet ships/subs/aircraft did no less than a REMF stationed in safe zones or in the States currently. I include Army and Air Force within range of enemy conventional forces. I believe Congress made a mistake with the NDSM.
I don't want another geedunk medal/ribbon, but believe Cold War combatants in direct line of fire should receive some kind of recognition. We served our national defense. What say you?
I was there too. I rode on subs that were playing tag with Soviets. (Just a strap-hanging frogman, not crew.) And I rode on a lot of ships in range of their ships. But we know what we did. When our cold war “fraternity” meets, we don’t need ribbons to know who we were or what we did.
Off topic, have you seen the film K-19 The Widowmaker? Great cold war at sea film. And the Russky’s who went into the reactor to save their boat were heroes, commies or not.
There were no USMC combat formations in VN after 1971, as I understand it. Army was different. Was your dad flying?
As Jay Silverheels. Apparently he was Italian, not Indian.
Chief Stolen Valor was a code talker in Blumenthal’s Recon Ranger Marines.
Maybe he’s a Vietnamese Veterinarian.
Jay Silverheels was a real Mohawk and a Canadian.
Your thinking of Iron Eyes Cody (born Espera Oscar de Corti)
“... Cody’s half-sister said that he was of Italian ancestry, but he denied it. After his death, it was revealed that he was of Sicilian parentage, and not Native American at all.....”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Eyes_Cody
Now Jay Silverheels
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Silverheels
Now I always thought Ed Ames was Indian, but no - He was Ukrainian from Massachusetts!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Ames
THANK you! I knew one of them was bogus.
Dad flew for the Air Force. Helicopters. Part of an advisory group. Not sure how those folks get accounted for.
He was Air Force 1961-1965.
He received "Vietnam Era" status and a small monthly bonus.
He never set foot in Vietnam
He told me it would be considered disgraceful for him to put on a "Vietnam Veteran" cap.
He'd never do it, as he doesn't think he earned that honor.
His brother did serve in Vietnam in the AF, but he spent the war fixing planes.
He could legit call himself a Vietnam Veteran, but he would never wear the cap either.
He considers it only for men who were in the field in some capacity.
Years ago I called my brother on Veteran’s day to say thank you.
“Well thanks, I guess. But I don’t consider myself a “vet” as I never served in combat.”
“Yeah - but you were still in the army.”
“I guess so. And I must say, we did a darn good job of keeping those V.C. from invading New Jersey!”
My brother in law joked that he served during the first Iraq war by defending Los Angeles as finance officer in the Army.
Yeah I read that in wiki this morning. Yesterday they were saying Ypsilanti.
He ain’t a tribal elder. He is an out and out leftist
And being a pipe carrier has a specific set of duties to be initiated. What he calls himself and what is true are different things
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