Posted on Nov 16, 2015
Do you think someone who has never been in a combat has the right to call themselves a veteran?
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Let me apologize in advance to the people who find this question insulting... I'm just wondering what other people who served viewpoint is.
I personally went many years before I broke down and got "Desert Storm" Veteran tags, and the "Veteran" identifier on my driver's license... I'm still not entirely convinced that I deserve the 101st patch on my right sleeve, for the most part all I did was fix helicopter engines in the sand.
I have a great friend that served in the Air Force, and never left CONUS.
I have a relative that served on Aircraft carriers before Vietnam.
Both proudly stand up when "Veteran's" are asked to at public gatherings, but I always feel strange standing up.
Legal definition of "veteran" aside (someone who served at least six months and received an honorable discharge). I'm wondering more about how those of us that served feel about the term.
When a civilian hears "Veteran" I get the impression that they think we all stormed the beaches at Normandy, and for the most part I was really bored, played Spades and Tetris on my Gameboy during Desert Storm.
Should someone who was in the military during the Vietnam conflict (but never in theater) be allowed "Vietnam Veteran" license plates?
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", TSgt Hunter Logan , CH (MAJ) William Beaver , COL Ted Mc
I personally went many years before I broke down and got "Desert Storm" Veteran tags, and the "Veteran" identifier on my driver's license... I'm still not entirely convinced that I deserve the 101st patch on my right sleeve, for the most part all I did was fix helicopter engines in the sand.
I have a great friend that served in the Air Force, and never left CONUS.
I have a relative that served on Aircraft carriers before Vietnam.
Both proudly stand up when "Veteran's" are asked to at public gatherings, but I always feel strange standing up.
Legal definition of "veteran" aside (someone who served at least six months and received an honorable discharge). I'm wondering more about how those of us that served feel about the term.
When a civilian hears "Veteran" I get the impression that they think we all stormed the beaches at Normandy, and for the most part I was really bored, played Spades and Tetris on my Gameboy during Desert Storm.
Should someone who was in the military during the Vietnam conflict (but never in theater) be allowed "Vietnam Veteran" license plates?
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", TSgt Hunter Logan , CH (MAJ) William Beaver , COL Ted Mc
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Responses: 358
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We all know that when serving in the military we don't get much choice on where to go.
Serving in the Navy onboard ship you don't see combat up close and personal but your ship can still engage the enemy in a variety of ways through actually firing missile at a target or being a support vessel, no matter what were in the fight.
I am sometimes irritated at people who question what makes a person who served a veteran and I think most people tend to think its all combat related.
If you served honorably and did your duty, whether it be 1 year or 30 plus years, you did something many people don't have the desire to do.
I think that all of us should be proud of our service and proud to be a veteran because we served with honor and to the best of our ability.
Serving in the Navy onboard ship you don't see combat up close and personal but your ship can still engage the enemy in a variety of ways through actually firing missile at a target or being a support vessel, no matter what were in the fight.
I am sometimes irritated at people who question what makes a person who served a veteran and I think most people tend to think its all combat related.
If you served honorably and did your duty, whether it be 1 year or 30 plus years, you did something many people don't have the desire to do.
I think that all of us should be proud of our service and proud to be a veteran because we served with honor and to the best of our ability.
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there is a difference in a Combat Veteran and a Veteran...
A Veteran is a person who has had long experience in a particular field such as a person who as served in the military. Ive been in just over 5 years and I am soon approaching my ETS date, but I have never been deployed. Now I doubt I will ever go out of my way to make sure people know im a veteran but still I am one, just not a combat veteran.
A Veteran is a person who has had long experience in a particular field such as a person who as served in the military. Ive been in just over 5 years and I am soon approaching my ETS date, but I have never been deployed. Now I doubt I will ever go out of my way to make sure people know im a veteran but still I am one, just not a combat veteran.
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SSG James J. Palmer IV AKA "JP4", TSgt Hunter Logan, CPT William Beaver, COL Ted Mc
There is no question in my mind they they are Veterans. They raised their hands. They served their country. They completed their military obligation. When a person joins the military, they have very little control over where they are assigned and where they serve. I joined the Marine Corps right out of High School. I joined the Marine Corps to go to Vietnam to fight for my country. When I finished Boot Camp to my surprise I was not assigned an MOS of 0311, but 3421 which is Disbursing aka Finance. I reported to Vietnam in 1970 and served my tour. I did not actively participate in combat, but I was still there and saw combat all around me in the hills. I watched air strikes during the day and fire fights at night. I never had to necessity to fire my weapon in combat. Therefore I never earned a Combat Action Ribbon. I have often wondered how I would have performed in combat. Part of me regrets not having that experience, while the other side says. God won't put no more on you than you can bear. Maybe I could not have endured combat. I will probably never know. With ISIS all around the door is not closed on that issue.
However, I did what was asked of me and I did not rush to combat, but I did not run to it either. I just did was I was asked to do. Anyone who honorably serves this country and did what was asked is a Veteran. You have to remember, most of us grew up watching war movies. They don't make war movies about Disbursing Clerks in Vietnam or some person sitting in the RAPCON (Radar Approach Control Facility) at Minot AFB, in North Dakota. We are under the impression that only combat is recognized as being a veteran. Nothing could be further from the truth.
There is no question in my mind they they are Veterans. They raised their hands. They served their country. They completed their military obligation. When a person joins the military, they have very little control over where they are assigned and where they serve. I joined the Marine Corps right out of High School. I joined the Marine Corps to go to Vietnam to fight for my country. When I finished Boot Camp to my surprise I was not assigned an MOS of 0311, but 3421 which is Disbursing aka Finance. I reported to Vietnam in 1970 and served my tour. I did not actively participate in combat, but I was still there and saw combat all around me in the hills. I watched air strikes during the day and fire fights at night. I never had to necessity to fire my weapon in combat. Therefore I never earned a Combat Action Ribbon. I have often wondered how I would have performed in combat. Part of me regrets not having that experience, while the other side says. God won't put no more on you than you can bear. Maybe I could not have endured combat. I will probably never know. With ISIS all around the door is not closed on that issue.
However, I did what was asked of me and I did not rush to combat, but I did not run to it either. I just did was I was asked to do. Anyone who honorably serves this country and did what was asked is a Veteran. You have to remember, most of us grew up watching war movies. They don't make war movies about Disbursing Clerks in Vietnam or some person sitting in the RAPCON (Radar Approach Control Facility) at Minot AFB, in North Dakota. We are under the impression that only combat is recognized as being a veteran. Nothing could be further from the truth.
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It is not just the difference of being in a Combat Theater, anyone that served during a time of peace is also as much a veteran as anyone else that served. My American Legion Post has a core of 15 members that attend meetings regularly and I am the only one of the group that had boots on the ground in Viet Nam or any other theater but we are all still brothers and take care of each other.
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I understand exactly how you feel. I went w/ 4ID 06/07, after the 6th month when we were authorized our combat patch I fought like hell not to put it on. I felt the same way you did. I was there doing my job, (15D btw). It wasn't until I was TOLD to wear it or life would get harder for me did I put it on, still thinking I didn't deserve it.
It wasn't til after we were home about a month that I realized I DID deserve it! After everything started kicking in after I finally decompressed. I definitely earned every bit of that patch & I'm proud of it! Hope this helps!
It wasn't til after we were home about a month that I realized I DID deserve it! After everything started kicking in after I finally decompressed. I definitely earned every bit of that patch & I'm proud of it! Hope this helps!
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The law is 180 days active after IDT. Army National Guard for 6 years and 2 years IRR will not get you any support. Does that make all National Guard folks non-veterans? Under the law it does unless they were deployed.
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Yes, absolutely a veteran, but NOT a war vet. Myself included. I was in during Desert Storm, but on a ship in a regular drydock overhaul during the war...
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