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March 30, 2019 Grunt.com Admin

What is a Vietnam Vet

I have just recently discovered the Grit newsletter so I guess you can say I am kind of the “New Guy” I served 1 tour with Lima 3/1 never even thought of extending after being witness to some extendys getting wasted after coming back. In my opinion if I made it for one tour there was no way I was going to push my luck,considering the fact that there was really no good reason for us to be there.Thats not why I am writing. Over the years I have run into Vets wearing Vietnam Vet hats and other items claiming to be Nam vets but,when I approach them to find out where and when and who they served with some will tell me “Oh I didn’t actually go to Vietnam ” but,”I served during the war” Does that make him a Vietnam Vet? or the so called Vietnam Era Vet? With that said why does a person that did not leave the states during WW-2 considered a WW-2 Vet yet, if you served during any other period you are an “Era” vet. Sometimes I hesitate to ask someone about their service for fear of what they might say.One time I saw a guy with a 1st Mar. Div hat and was excited to speak with him. When I told I was with 1st Marines in 68 He just turned and walked away and said he was to busy to talk.I followed him and started asking him more questions he all he said was he was “Around Da Nang” “Who with!” I ask. no answer and he just kept walking away. I later saw him inside the store without the hat on he pretended like he did not see me but I just had to ask. “You are a fake aren’t you?” No answer. I just walked away and let it go. My anger management group therapy helped in that situation. A few years prior the Cops would have to be called. Thanks for letting me vent Marines Paul 0311 68-69

Filed in: Marine Corps Stories
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Comments

Nick - April 20, 2020

Dave if that makes you fell better stay with it. Maybe we just should have stayed and finished the job. We did kick ass and I’m proud of that but the protesters also kicked butt and cost us a victory. Nick

TOM M HILDENBRAND - April 20, 2020

PAUL, I WAS WITH INDIA 3/1 FROM JAN. ’69- JAN. ’70. WE MAY HAVE PASSED EACH OTHER ON HILL 37 OR 55 ? I HAD A FRIEND WHO I WAS WITH AT PENDLETON WHO ENDED UP WITH LIMA CO. I CAN’T REMEMBER HIS NAME OR WHERE HE WAS FROM, BUT WE FLEW OVER TOGETHER . WHAT MONTH DID YOU LEAVE NAM IN ’69 ? I’M LIKE YOU, IF I MADE IT THROUGH ONE TOUR I’VE SEEN AND DONE ENOUGH ! TOO MANY CLOSE CALLS IN MY TOUR ! TAKE CARE MY BROTHER ! SEMPER FI

Paul - April 20, 2020

Wow Bill 0331! I could not have said it better! Thanks

aardq, 1967-1970 - April 20, 2020

I have to strongly disagree with Tom Smith that the VN era term is BS. 60s era is also wrong, since many asrved 60-65 before there was Viet Nam, and when they enlisted the danger was all but non-extant. As said above, we all signed an IOU to Uncle Sam, up to and including our lives. We are proud of that fact, and proud of out service, but we do not want to be posers, or to make false claims to be a VN Vet. I served 67-70, and never got out of San Diego County, but I did serve during time of war, and it was only luck that kept me in this country, as opposed to going in country.

BRENDAN MC CARRON 1st MAW DANANG 66 68 TET VET - April 20, 2020

PAUL YOU HIT A NERVE ON THIS QUESTION. SOME COMMENTS GOOD SOME EXCUSES SOME JUST DOWN RIGHT SUCKED. A VEITNAM VET IS A GUY WHO SERVED DURING THE VIETNAN WAR IN COUNTRY DURING ACTIVE COMBAT. GOT ROCKETED SHOT AT AND SUFFERED DEPRESSION AND FEAR OF DEATH EVERY SINGLE DAY 365 DAYS A YEAR PLUS 30. SOME DIED SOME SURVIVED TO HAVE PTSD AND SOME OTHERS JUST GAVEUP AND KILLED THEMSELVES. NO EXCUSES NO WANT TO BE’S. IN COUNTRY DURING THE WAR AND SUFFERING. MY DEFINITION OF A VIETNAM WAR VET. THANKS FOR RAISING THE ISSUE. ALL THE REST WHO SAY DIFFERENT ARE PHONIES PERIOD. RESPONCES WELCOME BUT BACK THEM UP WITH PLACE AND TIMES AND OUTFIT OTHERWISE SHUTUP A.H. AND GO GET A LIFE. JOIN THE W.A.C.S.

Tom Smith - April 20, 2020

“Vietnam Era” is the biggest bunch of BS ever contrived. More appropriate to say “60’s Era”…if you must say anything! I served as aGrunt from 6/68 – 7/69. Nobody bak home wanted to go. Now, it seems, everyone was there! I don’t know how I missed them all!! LOL

Bob - April 20, 2020

I am a member of the Marine Corps League Detachment in my hometown. I have had the pleasure of meeting several retired Marines with between 20 and 25 years of honorable active duty service that retired with the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. There is even a post above from a Marine as who, after his name, identified himself as a GySgt USMC (ret) 1969-1994.

Bill 0331 - April 20, 2020

Dave B I’m happy that you can find some good from that war, I can’t. I’m still pretty bitter about the whole thing.! Nearly 59,000 and still climbing every day. We will never know the actual count of American deaths from Agent Orange or suicides. That 59,000 has probably more then doubled by now.All because of political bullshit lies.

Sgt Larry Musser 64-68 - April 20, 2020

I was in DaNang with Ammo Co from Nov 65 – Aug 67. When somebody says they were in DaNang, just asked them if they know were Dog Patch was.

Al Gagnon - April 20, 2020

This is for all the Marines that served during the Vietnam Era. I served stateside from 1961 to 1965, my M.O.S. 6413/5711, the Marine Corps sends you where they need you, so if you didn’t go to Nam, it doesn’t make you any less a Marine, all of us joined to serve our country and die for it. I wear my Marine Corps Cover most of the time, all it says on it is MARINES, I feel that I earned the right to wear it proudly. HOORAH!!!!

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