Posted on Mar 17, 2021
SPC William Sloan
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I served in desert shield/storm as an army cook for a tank battalion. I never had to participate in any combat myself but was in the combat zones. Would I be considered a combat veteran just for being in the combat zones?
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SSG Samuel Kermon
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You were there. 'Nuff said. Thank you for your service, and serving chow. Not glamorous but essential to military operations.
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SGT Frank-John Limiero
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Regulations say yes but as a war fighter I say no.
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COL John Power
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Of course. Why is this even a question?
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SPC Robert Hendrickson
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if your unit was stationed within the zone(s) of the combat hotspots, without a doubt yes. even tho your bullet(s) did not fire to hit the ENEMY, if in doubt ask Human Resources unit or HQ's, to be sure..
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PO1 John F. Johnson
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Whatever the regs say for the award it what you go by. Any other answer is absolute hogwash.
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SFC Terry Bryant
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Yes yes and yes. Being a cook in a COMBAT ZONE does not shield you from mortars or even stray enemy fire. You should have also got the designation though blanket awards for being overseas during an active war. So don't necessarily think yourself not worthy of thee distinction of being a combat Veteran. There are a lot of KIA cooks, supply and other non combat jobs in the Military that would agree. Case in point: One of my very good friends in Iraq who was a vehicle mechanic...one of the vehicles he was in got mortared by one of many mortars that came over the line on a daily basis. He never set foot outside the wire. Hope this clears things up for you. Oh and don't listen to the guys who step foot outside the wire every day and let them convince you to the contrary.
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SGT Infantryman
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The answer to your question might be best answered by reminding yourself which Combat Patch / Shoulder Sleeve Insignia Former Wartime Service / Combat Service Identification Badge / Shoulder Sleeve Insignia Military Operations in Hostile Conditions / Whatever they are going to call it in another 10 years are you authorized to wear.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
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SPC William Sloan All Things are Relative! I'm a Member of the Past Commanders Club of the Kansas VFW. Desert Storm, Desert Strike Veteran. Served on the Nuclear Cruiser USS Arkansas CGN-41 TAD during Desert Storm, Ship's Company for Desert Strike. The Mighty Ark had More Weapons that Carter's had Little Blue Pills. No One in their Sane Mind ever Fired on Pig Boat!
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
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SPC William Sloan Also, Additional Perspective. It wasn't in a "War Zone" when Someone tried to "Take Me Out" in Retaliation for Prairie Fire/El Dorado Canyon. It was in London, UK with a Bomb. The Oxford St Bombing. Unfortunately for Them I'm Still Upright, Sucking Air and Taking Nourishment. Friends Made Sure I got to Watch the Asshole that Put a Price on My Head Die! I Don't Play with Saints.
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SSG Bill McCoy
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Simple answer? If you drew what we used to call "combat pay," or what I think is now called just, "hazard pay," (I could be wrong) .. then yes - you'd legally (ethically?) be a combat veteran. Morally? Only you and your buddies would know. Put it this way, a lot of guys who served in Vietnam were killed there and never knew it - they died years later, and still are. AGENT ORANGE. To me, they are ALL combat veterans.
Keep it simple though. Anyone, boots on the ground (or aircraft over hostile territory; or ships in harm's way) in my time, is a "Vietnam Veteran." Those who were not, are "Vietnam ERA Veterans." It's only a distinction and neither was/is more important than the other.
In your case, you are an Iraq (or Afghan) Veteran; NOT an Iraq/Afghan ERA Veteran.
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1LT Rich Voss
1LT Rich Voss
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I call myself a "Cold War Vet" because I was on the other side of the world keeping West Germany and Western Europe "safer". Same time as Viet Nam, had multiple sets of orders. Always changed to something else without any intervention from me. But I'm not a combat vet. Closest we got was when Czechoslovakia was invaded from the "East" in August of 1968. No ribbon for that ! And like you, I lost more than enough friends in Viet Nam and other parts of SE Asia, and some are suffering to this day from Agent Orange effects. Heartbreaking.
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SSG Bill McCoy
SSG Bill McCoy
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1LT Rich Voss - Roger that, sir! Friends I knew served in Germany as well and their service was absolutely as important as ANYONE other service member, Nam or not.
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SSG Edward Tilton
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I would assume that 80% of “Vietnam Vets” did the same jobs they did in the states. I recall traffic jams that went on for miles full of trucks with stuff that had nothing to do with the war. I had an abject fear of crowds and avoided clusters and cluster fucks whenever I could.
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SMSgt Bob W.
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Are you almost pregnant? A veteran of the Gulf War or the Viet Name Conflict--YES. Combat Veteran--NO. Many veterans who worn the "ribbon" were not in the theater of operation; however, they supported the conflict/war from a location outside the combat zone.
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SSG Eric Blue
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Maybe I'm wrong for saying this, but you're a combat veteran if you've deployed to a combat zone (not a staging area). All because you did the job you signed on for and NOT the first job of a soldier (shoot, move, and communicate) does not lessen the fact that you were in a combat zone. During my 1st deployment, my FECC was an 18-member section. Only one of us faced combat. ME! The other 17 were safe at almost all times on the FOB or CAMP. But they still did their jobs in a combat zone. Hence, combat veterans.
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MAJ Byron Oyler
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I am not and I even took care of Taliban and Al Quida wounded under armed guard. I leave the title of combat vet to those that saw combat.
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1SG James Kelly
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Talked me into it you silver tonged little devil.

:)
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CPL Motor Transport Operator
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In whose eyes? In the eyes of those with common sense? Yes. Sadly if you don't have it on your DD214...then you are not in the eys of VA or the Army.
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