American Legion Chief Falsely Claims HE's a "Vietnam Vet"!

[Bill Farnie]

I've been following this story and this guy just doesn't get it. If he doesn't think that there's a difference between a VN Vet & a VN Era Vet then ask him where his Vietnam Service Medal is. End of story.

Quit the AL years ago.

[Keith_Hixson]

I personally don't like the term "Vietnam Era". It links those who served with Vietnam and can in itself be misleading. I was drafted in 1967 and served to 1969. I never went to Nam. Don't know why but I didn't. Spent all my time at Ft Devens, Mass., except for Basic at Ft Lewis. To me there is a tremendous difference between those who actually came under fire and those of us who stayed home and supported on the home front. An interesting story.
Well, I think he must be drinking too much Massachusettes Political water.

Keith

[splummer]

Vietnam Era is ok. My vietnam buddy 'Wayne, had a brother who called himself a V Era Vet in the 70's. [Didn't go to Nam and felt bad about it.] He Went to Iraq at age 52 and got a purple heart with the fighting 69th NY National guard. I'm proud of my buddies brother. I think the A. Legion comander should be ashamed of himself and resign. I also think that no Vietnam era Vet should ever feel bad about not going to Nam. We all just went where ever uncle Sam sent us.

[b3196]

Steve
We should be glad Keith didn't go.....Hell, he's crazy enough now.
Bob K

[splummer]

Your right, Keith wouldn't be normal, like you and I.

[MontanaKid]

To answer Advisor, the distiction between Vietnam and WWII is scale and geography. The Vietnam War was conducted on the ground, of shore of, or in the air over one place, Vietnam.

World War II was a global war. It was fought on the ground in two major theatres and in all the world's oceans. But we even had ships torpedoed within sight of our shores. And though ineffectual, the Japanese succeeded in some limited shelling of our West Coast, as well as sending incendiary and bomb-laden balloons to the Pacific Northwest, in a vain effort to set our forests on fire.

My brother (rest his soul) could call himself a Vietnam Era vet, but never would have thought to call himself a Vietnam vet. He served 1973-76 on the USS Saratoga, in the Med fleet.