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Veteran Status Debate
Flopping Aces ^ | 06-03-11 | CJ

Posted on 06/04/2011 11:17:42 AM PDT by Starman417

Yesterday, the local morning conservative talk show host brought up a question about the status of veterans. He said that words mean things and he's right. The issue was the Stolen Valor Act (which I disagree with, believe it or not) and whether veterans that never served in Vietnam, but served in the military during the Vietnam War, can be called "Vietnam Veterans."

The host was trying to make the case that if someone serves in the military during a time of war, there is nothing wrong with calling themselves a "[insert campaign/war name] Veteran." I wholeheartedly disagree. I see his point of view, but military personnel don't think this way.

For example, I was in the Army during Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, but I'm only an Iraq Veteran. I never served in those other conflicts (well, I head to Afghanistan in a few weeks) and would NEVER call myself a Kosovo Veteran or a Bosnia Veteran. I would never call myself an Afghanistan Veteran before serving there!

The next point was that many veterans are beginning to use the term "Vietnam-Era or Desert Storm-Era Veteran." I'm confused by this. My father served in the Navy (32 years before retiring) during the Vietnam War and has NEVER called himself a Vietnam-Era Veteran. He's a Veteran!

The status of "Veteran" is already - or should already be - an honorable title. I don't understand why some veterans seem to want to inflate their status by saying that they served during a particular war. The way I see it is that these people aren't satisfied with their service and are trying to puff themselves up.

For the veterans out there, this is what I'd like to know. I think it confuses civilians who have no clue about military service. They hear Vietnam Veteran or Iraq Veteran and the assumption is that this Soldier or Marine or whatever served IN combat!

The host thinks it's okay for veterans to just call themselves veterans of a particular war just by virtue of serving during a time of conflict. Now, I can see his point. To some degree, everyone that serves in the military during wartime is to some degree helping the effort. We still have a stateside mission of training and equipping forward deployed units, but it's a completely different job entirely. You can't be a veteran of war when you've never been in potential life-threatening danger. And I think that just the act of serving in and of itself is an honorable endeavor worthy of respect from Americans whether that honorable service lasted a month or 32 years!!

(Excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net...


TOPICS: Government; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: combat; iraq; vietnam
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To: Starman417; unkus

Ground pounders vs REMFs...

That’s where the distinction is clearly set.

LOL!


21 posted on 06/04/2011 1:45:12 PM PDT by JDoutrider
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To: brivette

I served on a nuke sub during the vietnam war, does that make me a vietnam vet?


I served on a pig boat during that time. Does that make me a pig ?


22 posted on 06/04/2011 2:07:31 PM PDT by maine yankee
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To: brivette

Yes.


23 posted on 06/04/2011 2:21:26 PM PDT by Blue Ink
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To: Blue Ink

thank you.


24 posted on 06/04/2011 3:17:17 PM PDT by brivette
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To: Starman417

“The issue was the Stolen Valor Act (which I disagree with, believe it or not) ... “

What exactly do you not agree with? Do you believe that people who never were in the military and who go around purporting themselves to be Medal of Honor or Silver Star recipients are just “exercising their rights of free speech”? I don’t.


25 posted on 06/04/2011 3:56:14 PM PDT by RightWingConspirator (The original "Cash for Clunkers" program: the DNC Campaign fund)
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To: JDoutrider

Ground pounders vs REMFs...

That’s where the distinction is clearly set.

LOL!


You got it, brother.

I saw Navy people who lived better in VN than us Grunts lived back in the States.

REMFs is REMFs.


26 posted on 06/04/2011 6:04:49 PM PDT by unkus
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To: mosesdapoet

Thank you for your service.
I have a family member missing in action in Korea. He was post humously awarded the DSC for his actions on Hill 851, Sept of 1951.


27 posted on 06/04/2011 6:26:53 PM PDT by ruesrose (It's possible to be clueless without being blonde.)
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To: ruesrose

I concur, having served from 1970 to 1992 I consider myself an era veteran.


28 posted on 06/04/2011 6:27:30 PM PDT by usacon (I love the USA.)
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To: unkus

I was in a hospital. I’ve seen nearly every MOS in the military shot, burned, and blown apart. Even the so called REMFs.


29 posted on 06/04/2011 7:52:12 PM PDT by Brucifer (Proud member of the Double Secret Reloading Underground.)
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To: Brucifer

I was in a hospital. I’ve seen nearly every MOS in the military shot, burned, and blown apart. Even the so called REMFs.


I certainly appreciate that.


30 posted on 06/04/2011 8:47:36 PM PDT by unkus
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To: unkus

You’re welcome. It needs to be said from time to time.


31 posted on 06/05/2011 12:04:25 PM PDT by Brucifer (Proud member of the Double Secret Reloading Underground.)
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To: Brucifer

It needs to be said from time to time.


Yes it does and we need yo be reminded of that from time to time, too.


32 posted on 06/05/2011 12:24:34 PM PDT by unkus
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