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
Posted in these groups: 
Military service
Purple Heart
Military service Purple Heart
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 358
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Of course we do. As long as you serve for a consecutive 180 days and discharged honorably is a veteran....just because you didn't go to war....didn't see combat doesn't make you any less of a Veteran than those who saw combat.
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Yes. Most people who have been sent to combat did not send themselves, but they did either volunteer for service or answer the call when their country called on them to serve. So, serving honorably is earning the status of veteran. I do think that we should also hold the status of Combat Veteran as something above and beyond the status of Veteran - so, yes, a person who has not been to combat is a veteran, but they are not a combat veteran.
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No issued with me, I signed the line, raised my right hand, even the state I live see's me as a veteran(24 yrs in MIARNG).
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SSG Thomas Barry
The biggest problem is between combat vets and non' combat vets i feel they don't really accept or respect maybe not out right but outs there
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SGT (Join to see)
SGT Rick Colburn - I agree. I was hoping the simple, yet ridiculously sarcastic nature of the question would be obvious.
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Soldiers die in training, they give their lives to the military with the understanding that their role is to fight when called upon. I have personally lost brothers in the motor pool and on the ground performing their mission. They are all veteran's, some die in battle some die preparing for battle but all are willing. Combat veterans can serve on a flight deck never to face an enemy, some provide supplies to support the fight, some belly crawl in the rocks taking fire, some provide intelligence from operations. Take any of these mission critical soldiers out of the fight and the mission fails. Respect is due for all soldiers covering the fight, because when you call for air support to clean out the threat you had better pray that everyone else does their job. Their should always be a special love and understanding for the forward combat troops that take fire, but all are veterans and deserve equal love and respect.
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There is a difference in being a combat veteran and a veteran. I have Sergents who do not have combat deployments but honestly, there probably better than the ones I had when I was down range. The only person that worries about these things are the people who have nothing better to do. I tell my team leaders all the time, every time I went to Iraq it was different. So I have some experience in THAT part of a war. Don't hold yourself as you just served 4 years and did nothing. Your contribution means something, you trained someone. Someone is better off knowing you and you had the backbone to enlist.
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I served 8 years and that included Desert Shield/Storm. I did my job as an infantryman but it does not compare to those who endured Vietnam or the action after I left the service. I was awarded the CIB but have trouble believing it stands up to others. I identify more with the EIB I earned through hard work. I am a proud veteran, and combat veteran.
Please also remember that wearing the combat patch means you are forever part of that team. Doing your job, whatever it was, served a function that allowed your unit to succeed.
Please also remember that wearing the combat patch means you are forever part of that team. Doing your job, whatever it was, served a function that allowed your unit to succeed.
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I served with a Marine who is a Purple Heart recipient by being wounded while sleeping in a rear area tent in Vietnam.
Anyone who serves in a combat area like Vietnam is a veteran even though they never walked in the bush. Charlie was very good at bringing combat to any area and we had to be aware of this until we were out of the country.
Anyone who serves in a combat area like Vietnam is a veteran even though they never walked in the bush. Charlie was very good at bringing combat to any area and we had to be aware of this until we were out of the country.
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I served for 10 years, on aircraft carriers. Was in Storm and Shield, according to that eval, I have 43 "combat" days on record. Most would say I'm a combat vet, I'm not convinced because "we" were nevery shot at and "I" never shot at the enemy. But let's clarify the question/answer.
Your a vet if you served for 6 months and were honorably discharged.
Your a "combat vet" if you shot, or were shot at the enemy. But that's just my opinion.
Your a vet if you served for 6 months and were honorably discharged.
Your a "combat vet" if you shot, or were shot at the enemy. But that's just my opinion.
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If you served honorably, you are a veteran. Many served that never saw combat. Does that make their service less? No!
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