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I think that since the Korean War has never officially been declared over that everyone that has been there in the last 60 years or so; should be designated a Korean War vet and decorated accordingly as opposed to being designated & decorated as a Korean Defense Vet. What do you all think?
Posted in these groups: 
Korean War
Korean War
Edited 10 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 46
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Umm no. I have been to Korea a few times for short exercises ( not even enough to qualify for the Korean Defense Medal). With the exception of rare isolated instances there has not been anything that is close to what The Veterans of the actual War went through. You have a medal for Service already, don't water down the service of the actual combat Vets by giving everyone the medal they earned.
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Having served in the ROK and twice in Iraq the two AOs are not the same. Iraq is a wartime mentality and ROK is defensive operations, with it's own unique flavors, but the threat of hostilities is absent from most in Korea.
So No to modern day troops calling them Korean War vets, but the duty in many positions has high op-tempo and can have significant risk of harm.
Background, boots on ground all locations, and provided missile defense warning in country for ROK. nothing like seeing a real threat emerge with most people unaware.
So No to modern day troops calling them Korean War vets, but the duty in many positions has high op-tempo and can have significant risk of harm.
Background, boots on ground all locations, and provided missile defense warning in country for ROK. nothing like seeing a real threat emerge with most people unaware.
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No. I can bring my family to Korea, I would never even contemplate bringing them to Afghanistan. This is why War vets are War vets and Defense vets are Defense vets.
Defense Vet and proud.
Defense Vet and proud.
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SPC Larry Oswald
83-84 2nd inf div , 1 year hardship tour, family was not allowed to be with us. 2 tours at fire base 4p1, witch at the time was the only active live fire base in the entire military, as stated on a sign when entering the fire base, apparently you need to do some research.
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That's how the VFW sees it.....HOWEVER, my tours in Korea are nothing compared to the guys who actually had to beat back the North Koreans and Chinese. I may have been prepared to fight for every square inch of the penninsula, but those guys actually DID. Really no comparison.
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For Everybody on this thread that says the War in Korea is over: http://news.yahoo.com/war-never-ends-between-koreas-001106834.html
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Imjin Scout is a distinct 2ID soldier of the US Army. They conducted combat patrols inside the Korean DMZ between 1954 and 1999. There have been over 40,479 combat actions inside the DMZ. These incidents include patrol ambushes, attacks on UN guard posts, artillery and mortar barrages and barracks bombings. At least 1,239 U.S. personnel have been killed, 87 captured, tortured, and held prisoners with more than 2,300 Republic of Korea soldiers...
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Korea War Veterans are individuals who served during the Korean war. Their medals indicate service during a active war period when no ceasefire was imposed. (Examples: World War I&II, Vietnam, Desert Storm etc.) Korea Defense Veterans are individuals who served during a active ceasefire but engagements with enemy combatants continued. It also clarifies during the ceasefire servicemembers maintain a abnormally high degree of readiness. Hostilities (violations of the ceasefire) cause lives to American service members and their allies. (Examples of defense detachments: Germany (West Berlin), Berlin, Kosovo Defense etc.) The Korea Service Medal is considered a campaign medal. Under the law Congress issued a Campaign Medal called Korea Defense Service Medal. One's issued for the war, and the other is for the defense during the ceasefire agreement. Both medals give its wearer protective status and 5 points veteran's preference. The treaty was suppose to be completed 30 days after the ceasefire was signed in 1953. Korea War Veterans (Assoc.) were instrumental in passing the Korea Defense Service Medal. Other veteran associations were also involved in pushing for this bill's signing. The KDSM attest to the fact the war is only under a ceasefire. By merging the medals the messaging would be lost. The right message is sent with the current structure of these two medals.
Up until 2008, Korea tours were limited to 12 month tours:
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/washington/04gates.html#:~:text=His%20endorsement%20adds%20momentum%20to%20a%20policy%20shift,because%20South%20Korea%20is%20considered%20a%20combat%20zone.
I served from 1990-1991!
Up until 2008, Korea tours were limited to 12 month tours:
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/washington/04gates.html#:~:text=His%20endorsement%20adds%20momentum%20to%20a%20policy%20shift,because%20South%20Korea%20is%20considered%20a%20combat%20zone.
I served from 1990-1991!
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i agree. i served during the korean war overseas with the first cav div 8th regiment in Japan for 18 months. we wre trained to be combat ready in case we had to return to
korea. shouldnt i be classified as a korean war vet?
korea. shouldnt i be classified as a korean war vet?
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