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Viet Vet Designation?
sarcap1
Member Posts: 4 ✭✭
I volunteered for the AF in 1963. Following basic I was assigned to AF Security Police Tech.Training. My first orders after tech school was to Pakistan. Medical problems prevented my going. I was then assigned to a SAC bomb wing in the Security police unitl After arriving I encountered other medical problems that resulted in my being assigned as a medic to the flight surgeon's office. Two years after this assignment I received orders to to to Nam. Again medical problems prevented me from being sent and I received a medical exam that said I was unfit for further service and I received an honorable discharge-medically related. Since then I have had difficulty in stating that I was a "Viet vet but the VA has designated my status as a Viet vet. Basically my position was in support of B-52 Nukes and KC-135 tankers. Our units flew "Chrome Domes" (Nuke armed B-52's)24/7 for the entire time I was on my home base. This was 1963 thru 1966. Some of our units were involved in the Cambodia and Laos action before it became public knowledge. Each time I visit the VA hospital I feel inferior to those veterans were in-country and suffered serious injuries or disability. In my later years I have experienced emotional problems equating my years of service with those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I am proud of my service to this great country and many of those listed on the Vietnam wall were friends, some from my unit who were sent to "Nam."
I would like to resolve this emotional conflict but know that only my peers who were actually incountry can help. I would be interested in hearing how my peers view my level of service and whether I should not be reluctant in stating that I am a Vietnam vet.[8]
I would like to resolve this emotional conflict but know that only my peers who were actually incountry can help. I would be interested in hearing how my peers view my level of service and whether I should not be reluctant in stating that I am a Vietnam vet.[8]
Comments
All gave some, some gave all.
and some are still giving![V]
VietNam Era Veteran is honorable and admirable. You can be proud of it, and you are a brother. That's plenty in my book. Crisp salute.
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
I spent a year in the jungles of that country in an Infantry unit.... The 4th Infantry Division in the Central Highlands. Nearly got killed a bunch of times and killed some enemy in the process.
I will never forget my time there. It changed me, but I still dont know how.
You should be proud of your service to the USA no matter where you were stationed. Your still a brother veteran to me.
However, you need to let it go. There are plenty of Navy guys who floated around on ships off-shore, and then got shore leave to visit the city and PX. Because they set foot in Vietnam they get a medal and they're vets. I knew some Army officers who cobbled up "fact finding" trips to Nam, just so they could cherry pick a Nam medal. They never got their shoes (never mind boots) dirty. [xx(]
What I am saying is, it is a lot more honest to be truthful about it all, and play with the cards that were dealt. I personally know several Navy guys who got a Nam medal because they visited the PX, and I know several ex-Army officers who cherry picked a Nam medal. There are no bragging rights in any of that, and I have no respect for it.
respect for all of you that were in the mud there.
I do feel that I must come to the defense of my fellow sailors stationed off the coast though. Comments make it sound like the
sailors were just there to use the px when good men were killed
during flight ops and other operations along the coast. I can't imagine the carnage many of you experienced, and thank God that I can't. I'm just saying that
some gave it all without ever touching the ground. Salute!!
Guy see's my Bike and asks where was I at over there. Well I was in from 74-94. There are a lot of overtheres in that period of time. So I asked him where. He says VN. Should have seen the look on his face when I said I was too young for that.
If I'm right only 2 guys from my platoon in Bootcamp got sent over. By the time I was done with schools it was Oct 74 by then not very many Marines got sent over. Most were coming home by then.
Was on a Poker run this last weekend. It ended at a Bar. Since I've stopped drinking I was hanging around out side waiting for the results.
Guy see's my Bike and asks where was I at over there. Well I was in from 74-94. There are a lot of overtheres in that period of time. So I asked him where. He says VN. Should have seen the look on his face when I said I was too young for that.
If I'm right only 2 guys from my platoon in Bootcamp got sent over. By the time I was done with schools it was Oct 74 by then not very many Marines got sent over. Most were coming home by then.
My recollection is troop withdrawal for USMC started in late 71 or early 72. If you hadn't finished the tour you went to Laos, Thailand, Phillipines or Japan before rotating back to CONUS.
August 23, 1972 - The last U.S. combat troops depart Vietnam
November 30, 1972 - American troop withdrawal from Vietnam is completed, although there are still 16,000 Army advisors and administrators remaining to assist South Vietnam's military forces.
January 27, 1973 - The last American soldier to die in combat in Vietnam, Lt. Col. William B. Nolde.
March 29, 1973 - The last remaining American troops withdraw from Vietnam.
April 30, 1975 - At 8:35 a.m., the last Americans, ten Marines from the embassy, depart Saigon.
I served in both the Brown water and deep water Navy,Spent from Oct of 69 to Oct 70 with PBR division 594 up around the Cambodian boarder at several ATSB .Did 202 missions as the bow gunner between twin 50's. Survived that and ended upon a carrier the in the Indian Ocean on an old angel deck converted WWII flattop CVS 14 .Doing anti sub warfare games. Sweet duty after the Brown Water tour onteh small canales up along the Cambodian boarder.
My brother was on the on the Bonny Dick an attack carrier in the Gulf of Tonkin in 68-69. Spent most of his time in After Steering ,below the waterline in a small watertight compartment .That was his general Quarters station during flight ops when they were launching fighters and fighter bombers going over to Nam.
Any of you Blue water sailors who did line duty in the Gulf on flat tops, tin cans , or supply ships ,oilers or what ever sure as hell are VIETNAM VETERANS both by character of service and by formal recognition of the US navy .You earned both the Vietnam Service and Vietnam campaign medals.
Been a long time ago now but from my perspective having seen both the Brown and Blue water Navy those men serving in the Gulf had it just as rough as many "In country" vets back in the Rear with the Beer and the Gear had it.Not every one serving in Nam was in a Leg ,Track ,rr Force Recon unit. Some never left the AC of a hootch or the bar at the Officers club in Saigon. .Good for them!
Bottom line for me is that all of us ,both the men and the women who put on the uniform back in those very uncertain and trying years can stand tall and be very proud we stepped up when others chose to step back .
Believe it or not we are still to close to that time for many to realize just how much the young men and women that served really sacrificed. Just wearing the uniform back then was an act of courage.
Some day history will record correctly what it meant to stand tall in a uniform of teh USA in those years.
Until then I'm damn proud to be part of the crew that served .............where ever that was.
I'm going to go look at guns now !!:)