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phillycat
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 Posted: 11/11/04 - 09:46 Post subject: What Defines a Veteran
Here is the story. I know someone who served stateside during Vietnam. He served for a very short period of time, saw no action and was discharged due to an injury he suffered as a result of a football game on the base. This individual takes every opportunity to use his veteran status to make a point and often leads people to believe that he fought in the Vietnam was. I am just curious as to what people feel about this...I feel that he is doing a disservice to those who really did fight and risk their lives.
Please don't take this question the wrong way. I understand what the true definition of a veteran is, and my father was a veteran, so I am not trying to be anti-veteran or anti-US.
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Pug
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 09:54 Post subject:
I think that if this man is misrepresenting the manner in which he did serve (and he did serve), then he is doing a disservice to and disrespects those who were sent overseas and fought in combat.
That said, he is harming nobody (I imagine). He knows the truth, as would any veteren he might speak to, I'm guessing.
I wonder, though, what he had to deal with as an American Soldier during the Vietnam War after being discharged. There were protests and a negative image of our soldiers, and because he served (even if he wasn't sent overseas) he would still likely have been identified with the Vietnam War even if he didn't fight.
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Cappy
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 09:55 Post subject:
Anyone who has served in the military is a veteran.
Be it stateside, or a war zone
I'd say your friend should tell everyone that while he did serve he served stateside.
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runaroundsue
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 10:02 Post subject:
I'm with Cappy. Anyone that served is a veteran. They take a risk of action when they sign the dotted line. The person referenced is misleading, but a veteran. Special acknowledgement for those that served during wartime. I think of my Uncle Paul today rather than my husband....because of the time served. It's very easy to tell those veterans that served under duress, they will be very emotional today. My Uncle ended up in a French hospital when he returned to France for the 50th anniversary of landing on Omaha.
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phillycat
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 10:05 Post subject:
| Cappy wrote: | Anyone who has served in the military is a veteran.
Be it stateside, or a war zone
I'd say your friend should tell everyone that while he did serve he served stateside. |
First, let me say that this person is in no way a friend of mine.
Second, I understand your definition...but what do you think about him doing this. He often uses his status to gain sympathy for other causes.
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elkid
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 10:07 Post subject:
If you served in the military, in any capacity, you are a vet.
| phillycat wrote: | | what do you think about him doing this. He often uses his status to gain sympathy for other causes. |
I think he's a scumbag.
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Running Brewer
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 10:12 Post subject:
| Phillycat wrote: | | This individual takes every opportunity to use his veteran status to make a point and often leads people to believe that he fought in the Vietnam was. I am just curious as to what people feel about this...I feel that he is doing a disservice to those who really did fight and risk their lives. |
I would tend to agree with you that he is doing a disservice. I have always felt that those people who have to go around bragging and pointing out their status (in what ever it may be) are trying to make people believe that they are what they say they are.
My dad is a Vietnam vet and my step dad served in the National Guard and was called in for the Riots in Detroit in '67. Neither of them feel the need to brag about what they did. Don't get me wrong, they are proud of their service to their country, but they don't feel they have to point it out to people every chance they get.
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Cappy
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 10:18 Post subject:
| phillycat wrote: |
First, let me say that this person is in no way a friend of mine.
Second, I understand your definition...but what do you think about him doing this. He often uses his status to gain sympathy for other causes. |
My apologies for the friend reference.
As for him using it to get sympathy, that is wrong
My father is a Vietnam Vet, while he didn't earn a CIB, he was in country for 12 months, serving in a armored infantry battalion. Even though he was a truck driver, he still qualified and can wear the Vietnam medal. He barely mentions his service, but he is proud that he did
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Sahara
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 10:24 Post subject:
I agree that with all here that yes, of course he's a veteran.
I agree that the misrepresentation is wrong. Period.
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phillycat
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 10:33 Post subject:
| Cappy wrote: |
My apologies for the friend reference.
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No problem. Just wanted to make that REALLY clear!
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Gogirlgo
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 10:40 Post subject:
What your acquaintance is doing is using the letter of the law to infer the spirit of the law, and that's wrong, to me. But he's a vet.
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BamBam
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 11:35 Post subject:
My dad is a vet. He served in the Army during the Korean Conflict, but served at the Tully AFB in Greenland. He has never gone out of his way to "brag" about being a vet as he feels his service pales in comparision to his brothers who served (1) in the Korean Conflict in country and (2) others who both served during WWII (1) in the Pacific Fleet and the other in the OSS in France.
My brother also is served in the Army during the early 80's and has never used the vet status to brag or gain advantage.
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robp
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Posted: 11/11/04 - 11:46 Post subject:
| BamBam wrote: | My dad is a vet. He served in the Army during the Korean Conflict, but served at the Tully AFB in Greenland. He has never gone out of his way to "brag" about being a vet as he feels his service pales in comparision to his brothers who served (1) in the Korean Conflict in country and (2) others who both served during WWII (1) in the Pacific Fleet and the other in the OSS in France.
My brother also is served in the Army during the early 80's and has never used the vet status to brag or gain advantage. |
My dad served in Korea for two years. He didn't see actual combat and has rarely even mentioned the time he spent there. And I guarantee he's never used his vet status to brag or gain advantage.
Phillycat, the guy is a vet. And I agree with the others, he's using his status as a vet in a misleading way.
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