“If you served in Vietnam during time of war and you would be a Vietnam Veteran.
If you served in the military during that war but were not stationed in Vietnam, you would be a Vietnam era veteran”
That is exactly the way service organizations including The American Legion, the VFW, and AMVETS view it. You cannot join any of those organizations if your DD 214 (which a member presents for verification) doesn’t state that. The exception is the VFW where you must have served overseas and issued an overseas campaign ribbon issued during that era.
I am a member and have been an officer in the Legion and the VFW because I served in time of a declared conflict (Korea) and met those requirements .
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.