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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

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Comments

Dave B. - April 20, 2020

Paul 0311 68-69, not exactly sure what you meant by “…no good reason for us to be there”, but I can guess. I’ve met some South Vietnamese refugees over the years. It’s not unusual to hear “thank you for my freedom” when they learn that I was there. Those people know why. If you don’t know any refugees you may want to look up some of their stories. It may change your perception. Semper Fi. Dave 0141 III MAF Camp Horn 67-68.

Bobby Yarbrough - April 20, 2020

Got a new anitdote for those that call me baby killer. ” yes and that is why I am here today.” I’ve never killed a baby or child nor anything that resembles one. but in combat sometimes you just can’t tell. Or at least in Nam.

Richard Alajajian - April 20, 2020

Once a Marine always a Marine. I retired in 90. Still wear Marine shirts, covers and other memorabilia carrying the EGA. Life member of VFW, AL, MCL and other Marine type organizations. Love the brotherhood. Hate the Posers. VN 1969-1970 3/26th Mar, back in 1971 with FLC (if memory serves me) till med-i-vac’d in May of that year. Lots more but hey Semper Fi brothers. Stay the course.

Sgt. Robert L Sisson - April 20, 2020

That is BULL SHIT. I served under Staff Sgt. Stromberg he was in WWII. KOREA and Vietnam. He had 27 years in the CORP and was one of the best people I ever served under. Because he always stood up for us he retired as a STAFF SGT. I will never forget him. At Christmas and Thanksgiving he would go through the Barracks and round up guys to go to his house for supper. I know because when I came back from Vietnam I was one of those guys.SGT

Harry - April 20, 2020

Already added my thoughts, nothing more to add. Thanx for asking! Harry

John - April 20, 2020

I was in the Marine Corps from 1970 till 1973. I served in Hawaii with the 1st Marine Brigade, Provisional Service Battalion, H&S Co. Truck Platoon in Kanehoe Bay. Never called myself a Viet Nam era veteran. I’m proud of my service. I still call my self a Marine. I always wear a Marine Corps cover. I earned it.

Paul Gill - April 20, 2020

Ironically some guys who were in Korea and Berlin during the period after World War II and Korea are eligible for VFW membership but are not eligible for membership in The American Legion since they were not in during the right time period. The VFW goes by area served (considered war zones) whereas the AL goes by the time period of service.

tuck - April 20, 2020

Im proud to call myself a marine period.

Ronald Jacob USMC (1970-1984) - April 20, 2020

My contribution/experience to the discussion. Served on Okinawa as a radio tech at 3rd Fumble Stumble & Regroup, Elect Maint Co. Was deployed to support giving Amtracs to the RVN Marines (Operation Enhance Plus), spent approximately 10 days (1-10 Nov 72 ?) in country, based at MACV Saigon, then flew out of Tohn Son Nhut (sic) back to Okinawa. If someone shot at me, I never knew it. Two weeks later VC/NVA rocketed Tohn Son Nhut. Received the Vietnam Service Medal, but not the Campaign. While I am considered a Vietnam vet, I have never claimed to be a combat vet out respect for my brothers and sisters who have been under fire. After my time in the Corps, I went in to the Drug & Alcohol field with the Army. For my last 10 years (2007-2017) before my retirement, I worked at an Army Installation with their Soldier & Family Assistance Center supporting their Warrior Transition Unit (I believe the Corps calls them WTB). What was humbling was the respect shown me by these Wounded Warriors, many of them missing limbs/suffering TBI/PTSD when they found I had served, however briefly, in country. I thank Sgt Grit for it’s contributions to my wardrobe, the many T-shirts and covers that differentiate between the VSM and the Vietnam Campaign Medal that I can wear without misrepresenting my service. Semper Fi.

Keith settlements cpl - April 20, 2020

0311 Keith settlemire ran into some posers myself their easy to spot i just really get powder off some of the time I call them other times i,’ll just stare at them and shake my head in disbelief. 1/7 alpha 2-1

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