Posted on Feb 27, 2015
SPC Johnny Velazquez, PhD
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Vietnam
I have spoken with other vets regarding this topic, and they have indicated that in some States, they are addressed as such. I personally don't feel it's right, as I served in Germany from 62 to 65, and not in Country.

What is your take on this?
Posted in these groups: Vietnam service ribbon Vietnam War
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 1982
CPT Jack Durish
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To be fair, anyone who served in the military during the time of the Vietnam War had a chance of going there. Furthermore, anyone in uniform during that time was subject to the same abuse back home. You were just as likely to be called a "Baby Killer" and have pig's blood thrown on you regardless of where you were stationed or what your MOS was.

However, there is a distinction. Vietnam Era Vets are not Vietnam Vets. Those who served in Germany or Alabama weren't exposed to enemy fire or Agent Orange. Let's not blur the lines...
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
3 mo
SPC Matt Ovaska -
" Vietnam was just another conflict"?
When Some SOB'S Trying To Kill Me & I'm Doing The Same To Him,
It's A "WAR" ~ Call It What You May The Results Are Identical ~
~PEOPLE DIE In COMBAT~
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PO3 John Blackatone
PO3 John Blackatone
3 mo
I render a slow hand salute to all that served. In my mind, the acid test is if you earned the “Vietnam Campaign Medal”. One had to earn that before the the “Republic of Vietnam” medal. As a Vietnam veteran, I hold no ill feeling towards those that served in other capacities.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
1 mo
PO3 John Blackatone -
E X A C T L Y !!
BUT Those Us Whom WERE Around, Speaking Only For Myself,
Still To-This-Day, Shoulder Some Of The Guilt For NOT Having Been There;
Sort Of Like: "IF We'd Been There, Maybe We Could Have Helped Out" ~
Difficult To Explain, It's Just That Deep "In Our Guts Feeling"
"Maybe", But We'll Never Know For Sure. ~ USAF 06/29/61 - 06/10/65 ~.
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SPC George Kulman
SPC George Kulman
4 d
PO3 John Blackatone - Do you mean the AFEM (Vietnam) that I received for my service in Vietnam in 1962-1963?
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PO1 Joan (Tipka) (Plummer) Fisher
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No! Vietnam Vets Earned the exclusive right to call themselves that. It would be another slap in the face to them to call someone who served in Europe a Vietnam Vet. Only those who endured the hardships should be called that.
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SGT Robert Urbaniak
SGT Robert Urbaniak
3 mo
It was called the Vietnam War, and for those that were there it was a WAR.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
3 mo
Cpl Edward Allen -
I AGREE ~ Same Here
" there is just something special I carry in my heart for all of them, even though I should have gone. Out of respect for those who made it back, I refer to myself as a Vietnam Era Marine (Veteran). There's just a difference"!
`
THAT'S a "B I N G O " Right On Target
USAF 1961 - 1965 , Old Timer SOB ~~ Est: "6 YEARS Older Than Dirt"
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SGT Robert Urbaniak
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SGT Robert Urbaniak
SGT Robert Urbaniak
3 d
Hi Kay, since you were not in Vietnam ( boots on the ground ) your a Vietnam era veteran.
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SGT Infantryman (Airborne)
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Absolutely Not! Vietnam era vets weren't there and in no way are Vietnam Vets. I saw on Medals of America website, there is a Nam era medal for them. How silly is that? I couldn't wear that medal. It doesn't stand for anything, except you were in the military while the war was going on. Why you weren't there, I'll never understand.
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SPC Matt Ovaska
SPC Matt Ovaska
8 mo
the longest day was the day I finally boarded a jet in Cam Ranh Bay. I shed a tear of joy when we landed in Ft Lewis. It dried up when I got off that plane. You can label me with what ever makes you feel good. I made it back! Alive, without a purple heart. Sad because I lost brothers who didn't make it. Time to move on.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
3 mo
A1C James Plowden -
Cuban Crisis ! Little Rock AFB, (SAC) Jacksonville, Arkansas
Where Everyone Worked 12 Hour Shifts ~ No Days Off ~ Airmen Loading B-52's With Nukes, And Fighter Jets On The Alert Pads, While Too Damned Busy To Be Terrified.
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SGT Lorenzo Nieto
SGT Lorenzo Nieto
3 mo
I went first after I got out of a army hospital in Hawaii and reassigned they sent my brother from Korea crazy.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
1 mo
SGT Lorenzo Nieto -
OSAN AFB ~ South Korea 05/64 - 06/65
Days In Vietnam Combat? ~ ZERO.
And OSAN Was An Absolutely GREAT Duty Station.
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