Is there a disconnect between the Korean & Vietnam Veterans & the Gulf/OIF/OEF Veterans?

Like many others have said, the disconnect is probably more of a generational gap than anything else. Let's face it, age differences matter in a social setting and that is pretty much what VSO's are. Older people are generally more comfortable interacting with people their age, the same way younger people are. With age differences come differences in attitudes, perceptions, values, political views, etc. ect., which all confound the apparent disconnect.

Sp4 Byron Skinner. Why should their be a connection between Veterans of different wars? That we fought in combat is a rather small part of our lives. If you dwell on your wartime experiences you will go crazy. I go to a Regimental Reunion every year sone 1999 (11th. Armored Calvary Regiment) this year will be the 50th. Anniversary of the Regiment going to Vietnam. I was in the Army's last amphibious landing at Vung Tau when the Regiment's 1st. Squadron went over the beach. Although there was no resistance, the guys (myself) in the first landing craft had a combat load of ammunition. At Reunions we talk very little about the war, we are all friends now and between 1,000 and 2,000 show up at reunions, many with their families. The little conservation there is is usually about guys who have went on to Fiddlers Green the past year and now humorous incidents that took place. Rank and all that has disappeared long ago. At every reunion some of the young troopers from the Regiment come and they are treated like grand children. What happened in war stays there, I doubt if any of you are all that interested in Vietnam, there are few if any areas common of mutual interest. But any of you interested from August 22-28th and you find your self in San Antonio Texas come by the Grand Hyatt on 600 E. Market St and say hi, there is plant of beer and we welcome all of you who have served and are currently serving. This year besides vein out 50th. we are also spotlighting and honoring out Medics from the 37. Medical Co. Any of you at Brook come on over and see some guys who owe their lives to a combat Medic. You work is important.

May sound or seem weird but honestly I get along better with Vietnam and Korean War Vets than i do Gulf war vets. That might be because I went to more of their Veteran meetings than I did Gulf war Veteran meetings. Also at the time the Gulf War Veterans really did not go to Veteran Club meetings. I have noticed there are more Gulf war Vets coming around and showing face if you will. As for OIF and OEF Veterans. It is the same as when the Gulf war Vets were first getting out of the military. They may feel they have nothing in common with Gulf war/ Vietnam/Korean war vets. The disconnect Lies with the Commanders of the Veteran organizations getting the Newer Veterans active. When I Retired, the location that I moved to had a great Vietnam Veterans post commander that kept everybody engaged and working together on projects. On the other side however, there are the Vietnam Veterans and Korean war Veterans that want to do things the old school way if you will and wont listen to the younger vets, which causes a lot of the disconnect. Let a lione the Generational gaps

Most definitely there is a disconnect. It primarily shows itself when you start discussing VA services and services from other organizations. The veterans from the older campaigns feel slighted and have no problem letting everyone know that they feel left out. Even references to Gulf War veterans will bring out hostility. The gap as you describe it is years of internalizing the frustration of a country that has minimized their contribution. I make it a point to ensure I recognize them when ever they are encountered. Unfortunately it is a slow process but the most effective thing we can do is recognize them and then discuss the common hardships we had and the bonds we hold dear with ours brothers by combat.

Due to human beliefs systems there are always disconnects amount veterans of wars/conflicts because each group has a tendency to find identity by first recognizing their accomplishments which can include diminishing the accomplishments of others.

Absolutely. That is why they call it the forgotten war. They still want to call it a police action. As a regular, enlisted marine I many times want to say something but I guess it is just best to keep my mouth shut. But one thing I want to point out is that I volunteered and I swore to defend this country at all costs. I never got shoot at but I was ready if it came to that. I was a Marine from April 1951 to May 1954. Right at the peak of the war. Other vets of post Korea act as their war was the only war at times. In my day it was an honor to enlist and just about everyone did. I don't see that now or in the more recent past. I guess they would not have liked $75.00 a month and buy your own clothes. Jim Hainen, Sgt. 1189639.

I don't think as a whole that there's a disconnect if you follow the timeline of events, every generation followed in the boots of the last, rather the jargon FNG's! The biggest difference is the 24hr news cycle and the diminished capacity of what passes as journalism! My own experience is always take it for face value what is offered,no expectation nor pressure to be something else!

At least in th existing veterans organizations there is although the VN vet is closer to the Gulf vet than the Korean vet is to Gulf. America's attitude towards VN and the existing attitude towards the Gulf vet are similar in that they are a minority now-a-days. Many more people than back then do not see veterans today as an "honored" class of citizen. Being a veteran now is not recognized as a positive to employment in many businesses nor is their experience and training. The current administration has demonized and used the veteran in their hope to get gun regulation and laws as possible loose cannons, psychological time bombs, etc. not to mention those who look down on vets and those who never served who don't understand what a vet is. That being said, there is distance between the two classes of veterans and the commonality shared by all vets isn't enough to overcome the distance in all cases.
Those with health issues and where the two generations intermingle the Gulf vet really does appreciate a fellow vet from ANY generation. I mentioned once before that the old Veteran organizations failed in the 70's and 80's to attract the VN vets and welcome them. It's only NOW as the VN vet s getting older that they have more in common with the Korean vet and more by default than design have they occupied the old vet orgs. Just as the riff between the younger VN vet had with the older WWII and Korean vet, the same exist between the younger Gulf vet. I'm at a loss to suggest "how" to get and work together to represent veterans as a whole. There are numerous, but still to few organizations that have bridged the chasm but they are the exception more than the rule.

I am a Vet of Desert Storm/Desert Shield. I feel more of a connection to vets from Vietnam then from OIF/OEF. That's where the disconnect is. I see all kinds of help offered for OIF and OEF but not Storm. Desert Storm and Vietnam Vets are both discovering disabilities that happened during the wars but are just coming out years later. 3 years ago when I went to the VA to see about Gulf War Syndrome I was told that it doesn't exist. I have since taken care of that, but the treatment Storm Vets got and still get is similar to the way our Vietnam Vets were and some still are treated.

I am a vet of both. I believe there will never b a healing,it is just too late. Anytime the military is mentioned on TV it is in connection with Vietnam Nam. I have only one time in many years a mention of Korea. We of the Korean era are not looking for hero status just recognize us as having been there done that. Vietnam Nam was a pure media circus. Disconnect absolutely! 0-4