This is not merely about John McCain, this is about ALL US Navy pilots and others who fought in the war zone from ships and aircraft but who did not “set foot” in the Republic of Vietnam. Plenty of other Naval Aviators plus Air Force pilots flying from bases in Thailand, etc. flew into deadly combat without setting foot in the RVN. Sounds like this is being driven by the potential herbicide exposure issue but it’s still an idiotic distinction when it throws A-4 and so many other combat pilots into the same category as the lying Tom Harkin who served in Japan during the Vietnam Era but did not serve in combat.
“Sounds like this is being driven by the potential herbicide”
It sounds like the VA is trying to distinguish the potentially exposed vets from those who weren’t, but they’re making the distinction with what looks like political motives. One of the biggest errors of the GWB presidency is his failure to de-louse the bureaucracy of the Clinton vermin.
I’ve always referred to myself as a “Viet Nam Era” Veteran because I never “served” in Viet Nam. But, in 1973 I was sitting on the tarmac in Saigon when the pilot announced the cease fire would take place at midnight that night. So, I guess that makes me a “Viet Nam” veteran. Then again, I never got off the plane so I never “set foot” in Viet Nam. I’m so confused.
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.