"War" veteran or not?

What the VA calls "Gulf War Era" veteran and being a Gulf War Veteran are distinguished by that Southwest Asia Campaign Medal.

It doesn't matter to me though, I respect any and all who stood up and served, peace time, war time, doesn't matter. People who served but didn't deploy should still be proud of their service for what it is. Thank you for yours, Marine.

I thank you all for your responses.

My Father was a Marine in The Vietnam Era. Since he did not go to Vietnam (his brother was already over there), he rarely even considers himself a Veteran. On the other hand, I myself was in Kuwait during Enduring Freedom, guarding the Southern No-Fly Zone of Iraq, I never saw combat, but I am in the same boat, I am considered an OEF veteran.

Anyone in the military service during a time of conflict is a veteran of that war era and only the luck of the draw on orders determines who goes to a combat zone and who does not. Some volunteer and others have an MOS that makes it more likely they will have to go into combat, but regardless, even cooks, and administrative types died in Vietnam as a result of hostile action. If the war had continued at the pace it was when I entered country, many more than two million would have served and the Wall would have more names on it.

I would say just a Vet. Combat Veteran is a different class. If you go and serve in the theater then to me by definition that is what you would be. However I was classed the same but with one word difference even though I was there. Gulf War Era.

In the 1990s during our Somalia event, there were military assistance groups that went over, in theater for 6 month rotation and didn't get squat due to TDY papers. That's how the DoD gets over. Deployment, TDY, overseas tour...call it what ever...there is no equity. Personally, if you go over there, to Africa, Middle East, SW Asia, old Yugoslavia...you are there, you did your job and came home. Coming home is the prize. Now get a job, raise a family and stay busy.

You are definitely a veteran, but not having served there, I wouldn't call you a 'Gulf War Vet'

I wouldn't consider the many Soldiers who are serving with me without deployment patches as being veterans of OIF or OEF. None of them would either.

Good question. There is a fine line here. I believe that we are all veterans. We all stepped up to the plate when others didn't; but the proper veteran titles should be reserved for those who have been face to face with combat. We have all been impacted by war in some way. Whether it's family, a personal friend, or one of our brothers and sisters in arms.

I agree with referring to oneself as just "vet" if someone does not actually go on a tour to a warzone.

Sgt Packy Flickinger I am in pretty much the same boat. Vietnam-Era but as I have stated here on more than occasion, it matters not unless you are claiming combat status. Myself, I was a Meteorologist in the Air Force and would never equate that combat but did work in the command post at Ramstein AB, Germany during the Cold War. I was in 74-85.

Again I do not take it personally and I don't worry about it.