Posted on Feb 27, 2015
Should Vietnam-era Vets be addressed as "Vietnam Vets"?
460K
10K
4.22K
1.2K
1.2K
0
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?
What is your take on this?
Posted in these groups: Vietnam War
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 1887
Posted 9 y ago
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...
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...
(927)
Comment
(0)
MSgt Rene Ramirez
4 mo
PO2 Joel Palmeiri - Everyone gets a trophy. I know of a husband and wife who whenever she got orders to Iraq her husband would take the orders for her. Even if it meant he would be doing back to back tours. He eventually died from a heart attack in the barracks after returning from multiple tires. So she should be called an Iraq vet? By your standers the answer is yes.
(2)
Reply
(0)
Sgt Dan Callaghan
3 mo
I'm a Viet Nam Era Veteran and make it a point to say that I'm a non-combat Veteran. But I am a Veteran who was exposed to Agent Orange stateside, at Eglin AFB, in Florida. Spent a lot of time fighting the BVA to prove my case, but after 12 years, finally won it. So I agree with your statement, that I shouldn't be addressed as a Viet Nam Veteran, but as you had stated, I remember being called a "Baby Killer", back in the day.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Brad Miller
2 mo
PO2 Joel Palmeiri - No, you didn't have any control over where you were sent. I had an uncle (now deceased) who was in the Navy, gun-mount captain on a DD, got a Bronze Star for some -- long story, very hairy -- stuff he did.
I also had a cousin who spent his whole tour in Germany.
Uncle -- VIETNAM vet. He was ACTUALLY THERE.
Cousin -- Vietnam ERA vet. He DIDN'T actually go there.
I also had a cousin who spent his whole tour in Germany.
Uncle -- VIETNAM vet. He was ACTUALLY THERE.
Cousin -- Vietnam ERA vet. He DIDN'T actually go there.
(1)
Reply
(0)
SSG David Angell
29 d
It's interesting. Viet Nam Era or Viet Nam Vet! What makes the difference. I was stationed in Okinawa, from 69 to 71, in the Air Force. Our unit was supporting South Korea, and our sister unit was supporting Viet Nam. Some of our members got TDY orders to South Korea. I went in Feb. 70. You would think it would be an easy TDY. It was until the base security personnel informed us that they found 5 parachutes on the flight line and various locations on base.
So if anyone thinks that Viet Nam was the only "war zone" during that time frame, they are mistaken. So when I hear Viet Nam, I consider myself a VIET NAM ERA VETERAN. How other people that served during that time frame see themselves as either as a Viet Nam Era Veteran, or as a Viet Nam Vet. Its up to them.
Personally I don't care either way.
So if anyone thinks that Viet Nam was the only "war zone" during that time frame, they are mistaken. So when I hear Viet Nam, I consider myself a VIET NAM ERA VETERAN. How other people that served during that time frame see themselves as either as a Viet Nam Era Veteran, or as a Viet Nam Vet. Its up to them.
Personally I don't care either way.
(1)
Reply
(0)
Posted 9 y ago
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.
(560)
Comment
(0)
PO1 Robert Ryan
3 mo
Sorry PFC Armstrong, I cannot agree with your comment. I was in the Army , spent 3 tours of duty in Vietnam as an 11B (2 tours) AND 95B (1 TOUR). I consider anyone who was in uniform during Vietnam as brother and sister veterans. But the men I served with in Vietnam are my veteran brothers in blood. We stood tall in a place hardly anyone knew about before 1965. And like other vets who didn't go withstood the comment's from our generation who actually hated us for bring in the armed forces. That makes us brother and sister veterans. But only the ones who served in country are entitled to the term Vietnam Vet. I don; t look at what your duty be it infantry, clerk, cook, supply or whatever yoiur duty was in Vietnam, your were in country, and subject to being killed as their was no front line, the enemy in Vietnam was all around us, I don; t distinguish what branch you served in either, those of us in country or in the territorial waters of Vietnam we are all bother and sister Vietnam Vets.
(6)
Reply
(0)
Posted 9 y ago
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.
(322)
Comment
(0)
CAPT Kevin M. McGuinness
4 mo
The appropriate medal for a Vietnam Era Veteran who did not serve in country is the National Defense Service medal. The so-called Vietnam Era Service Medal is actually is for those who served during the era whether in country or not.
(1)
Reply
(0)
PO2 Timothy Hinds
4 mo
I put my life on the line every day fighting the Cold War. I was a ASW crewman flying P-2’s. I was there when they flew our converted planes for VO-67. If you never heard of it look them up. I knew many of the casualties. I am sensitive to the term Vietnam Vet, mostly because I don’t want to mis represent my service. But I’m proud to be a Vietnam Era veteran. FYI, Veterans of WWII were WWII veterans. Many never served in combat but we don’t strip them the honor of serving in WWII. I have never heard them called WWII era veterans. The same was true of WWI, and Korean War. The main reason I make the distinction for myself is because of the baseless claim those who were there are the only Vietnam Vets. There were lots of support staff there too. They never served in combat either. And your comment about why everyone didn’t go there is preposterous.
(3)
Reply
(0)
Brad Miller
2 mo
PO2 Timothy Hinds - Combat, non-combat -- if you were IN COUNTRY, your life was at risk. I was young then, but I watched the news every night -- the bombings, the terrorist attacks, the rockets -- even "non-combat" personnel were at risk.
If you are in Alabama or Germany, drunks are your biggest threat, not some idealist with a bomb and an SMG.
If you are in Alabama or Germany, drunks are your biggest threat, not some idealist with a bomb and an SMG.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Read This Next