Posted on 06/30/2008 9:54:41 AM PDT by Right Winged American
Five years and a half being tortured in a Vietnamese prison is more than enough credential to call John McCain a Vietnam Veteran Hero.
“herbicide exposure”
Determining Vietnam Veterans status regarding “herbicide exposure” is all the above workding says. It doesn’t seem to state at all that for other matters a person must have been in the RoV.
“Sounds about right though for the disgusting bureaucrats that make up the VA. I hate dealing with them.”
This sounds like something concocted by a dyed in the wool liberal member of the AFGE or FEA/GEA union.
Thank you for your service and prayers for your current battle!
I too cannot support McCain to be President but this reclassification infuriates me.
This man was an active participant in the Vietnam war. He served as a POW for five and a half years.
How the Sam Hell do you refer to him as a Vietnam Era Veteran.
That classification should be reserved for folks who served stateside, or on a base outside of Vietnam. Those who served on the ground in Vietnam, in the air over Vietnam, or came under fire are Vietnam Veterans.
I would even go so far as to state that those who served on a flight deck, deserve that rating even if they never stepped foot in Vietnam. They served under very hazardous conditions.
End of story.
I’m not defending McCain alone here, although I am more than happy to do it. He deserves it. We’re talking about a fairly significant number of men who are being classified in a manner that makes it look as if they did not serve honorably in the theater of war. And that is fricken unacceptable.
There has to be another solution to this matter. Separate out people in another manner. Do not steal the honor and respect these men deserve for serving in Vietnam, at great risk of life and limb.
G D it! This is an major insult to men who spent part of their youth in extreme danger on behalf of this nation. It is unacceptable and unforgivable.
Wesley Clark belittles John McCain's service record: SICKENING
Great graphic. Succinctly nails it.
The Agent Orange program is designed to cover those veterans who were exposed or might have been exposed to Agent Orange herbicides. It stands to reasons that those aboard ships at sea and those who flew over North Vietnam were probably exposed to hostile fire, but not to herbicides.
John McCain and others in similar circumstances would be eligible for the Anti-Aircraft Fire Program which was undoubtedly far more hazarous to one’s health than Agent Orange.
Or are you just disappointed that it wasn't from the AP or the New York Times. Or perhaps by Dem oppo researchers?
John McCain is one of us. This applies to him. And me. And every other swinging Richard who served in that 'War' who didn't stand on land for one second. Or landed on a helo or plane.
Did you know that if you bingoed or got shot up enough to land in-country you could claim AO exposure. If you flew a Spad off a carrier or a Sandy from Ubon, you're not a 'Vietnam WAR veterann'.
Nuts.
I believe the govt is capable of any absurdity you can imagine.
If he could do it over and had a choice, I’m sure John McCain would rather eat a family size box of Agent Orange every day, than repeat what he experienced during the war. But they want to redefine veteran to exclude him.
ping
Considering the amount of cancer that Agent Orange generates, he's better off taking the torture.
My father, US Army infantry, (RIP) died at 60 from this crap and the goddamned VA denied his claims.
It’s not just Navy pilots though.
There are Airforce pilots who flew those B-52 Arc Light missions flying out of Anderson AFB Guam, Kadena AB Okinawa, and U Tapao Royal Thai Air Base who will be affected.
Not to mention the CSAR teams who rescued downed pilots while flying out of Nakhon Phanom Airport and Korat AB in Thailand.
I think you should say “you’re” instead of “your” in that first line.
Hanoi is not in the country once known a the Republic of Vietnam.
That is the implication.
How come there weren’t any World War II Era veterans????
you are right, but I just copied the image.
. Criteria: a. Awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving in Vietnam and contiguous waters or airspace thereover, after 3 July 1965 through 28 March 1973. Members of the Armed Forces of the United States in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia, or the airspace thereover, during the same period and serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam are also eligible for this award. To be eligible for award of the medal, individual must- -
(1) Be attached to or regularly serve for one or more days with an organization participating in or directly supporting military operations; or
(2) Be attached to or regularly serve for one or more days aboard a naval vessel directly supporting military operations; or
(3) Actually participate as a crewmember in one or more aerial flights into airspace above Vietnam and contiguous waters directly supporting military operations; or
(4) Serve on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days in Vietnam or contiguous areas, except that the time limit may be waived for personnel participating in actual combat operations.
b. Individuals qualified for the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in Vietnam between 1 July 1958 and 3 July 1965 shall remain qualified for the medal. Upon request, the individual may be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal in lieu of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. In such instances, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal will be deleted from the list of authorized medals in the individual’s personnel records. No person shall be entitled to both awards for Vietnam Service.
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/VIETNAM%20SERVICE%20MEDAL1.html
What is DOD going to do? Recall millions of Vietnam Campaign ribbons, and create a new “Vietnam Era Campaign” ribbon? Force certain folks to switch to the “Armed Forces Expeditionary medal?
http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/ArmedForcesExpeditionaryMedal.htm
Wasn't there a Sailor (a junior enlisted man,I think) who fell overboard in the Gulf who was picked up by a North Vietnamese fisherman who spent a good piece of time at the Hanoi Hilton?
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