But Morin disagrees with that definition. He says he's a Vietnam veteran. He was in the Army from 1972-74. He served at Fort Dix, N.J.
The Boston Globe broke the story over the weekend, the Associated Press reports:
Neither the federal government nor the 2.7 million-member American Legion makes a formal distinction between veterans who served in Vietnam and those known as "Vietnam-era" veterans.
"I am a Vietnam veteran," Morin, of Chicopee in western Massachusetts, told the newspaper. His biography on the Legion's Web site also describes Morin as a "Vietnam veteran of the US Army."
The Legion's top spokesman, Joe March, backed Morin's position. He said any current service member stationed in the United States at present could claim to be an Iraq war veteran.
15 comments:
Ron, forgive me if I am taking your last comment wrong. Although possibly not considered as heroic a duty, we do need people to run things here while we fight wars there. New soldiers need to be trained, supply chains maintained, etc. He may not have been in anywhere near as much danger, but his job was important. Without guys like him here doing their job the guys that do get sent overseas can't do their job. He did the job the Army needed him to do at the time. To belittle him because his duties did not carry him into battle is, in my opinion, rude.
How does the Am Leg feel about stateside vets filing for PTSD disability?
it's like vietnam. Vietnam had so many myths about it that it makes my stomach turn. Did you know almost as many died in the Korean War as did in Vietnam. The differnce is the Korean war was about 4 years and Vietnman was about 15 years. There were advisors in Vietnam in 1959 and American soldiers left Vietnam in 1975. So during those 15+ years in Vietnam we had about 200,000 dead and wounded American soldiers. There were about 3 million who served in Vietnam. The Vietnam vets are the biggest group of braggart, sniveling, cry baby veterans. Now that we have Iraq we have a new group to replace them since most vietnam vets are getting real old. So for the next 20 years expect to see lots of lame movies showing American soldiers in Iraq in intense fire fights. Fire fights that are mythical in proportions. There's going to be so much stupid propaganda for the next 20 years we might as well not turn on the news or read the paper. That is unless you like wasting your mind on useless nonsense.
Lighten up, Francis.
Or Dan, rather.
HA!
Ron wasn't being rude to that guy or belittling him.
Ron simply pointed out a deception the man was perpetuating.
And since the man is in a position of prominance, the National Commander of the American Legion, it should be made known that he was claiming to be something he is not.
That's all.
AT EASE!
I was drafted in 1971.
My draft number was 35.
I knew where I was going.
I had an older brother and a
younger brother in Viet Nam....
actually one in country and the other on a ship on the coast.
Since the days of saving private Ryan, only two family members can be in a war zone at the same time.
I went to Germany.
I always considered myself a Vietnam era veteran, NOT a Vietnam veteran.
My brothers and I didn't have a rich daddy, a path to the ARNG, or married deferments. We served somewhat proudly, Not all of us are crazy.
But that was thirty years ago.
I was holed up in a small liberal arts college with 50's rules ....the ivory tower may have been stuffy, but outside it was real drafty.
See how fast Iraq ends if the draft is reinstated.
Gee Anon 3:53.....you said some pretty strong things in your comments.
To paraphrase Glen Campbell: That's pretty big talk for a one-eyed fat man...or words to that effect.
It's sort of like my brother-in-law: I know he's a lazy no good sob, but only I can say that because I lived it.
"The Vietnam vets are the biggest group of braggart, sniveling, cry baby veterans."
What criteria do you have to back that statement up? What is your documentation? Are you a veteran?
If you weren't there, then you have no credibility in making a statement such as that.
Let me try this again (my comment wouldn't post a minute ago)...
Thank you for kindly pointing out my lapse in sanity jj. You are right... I was being silly.
Sorry about that Ron.
It's stories like this that remind me of the wise words of Rush Limbaugh: "Words mean things."
"Lighten up, Francis." JJ your age is showing. Love that movie.
Wow, Dan.
An apology?
On CHATTER?
I don't think that's allowed.
Or at least we've never seen one.
I'm putting you in for a promotion!
Gimme a break.
I am therefore proud to say my son continues in the long family line of military service. I was a kindergartner during the Viet Nam war and my son is a middle schooler during Iraq. Hoo-ah!
busplunge. The movie line your refer to is True Grit. And it wasn't Campbell who said that line it was Robert Duvall. Just thought I'd set the record straight so you couldn't claim it was a botched joke or taken out of context.
I can't believe you botched that one, busplunge.
That quote's not even obscure.
The entire exchange between John Wayne and Robert Duvall is classic.
Rooster Cogburn: "Ned, I mean to kill you in two minutes or take you to Fort Smith to hang at Judge Parker's convenience. Which'll it be?"
Lucky Ned Pepper "I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man."
Cogburn "Fill your hand you sonafabitch!"
Did I miss something? I thought "Lighten up, Francis" is from the movie Stripes.
But more importantly, JJ is leaving to join the Army? Are you crazy???
I think Hi I'm Glen Campbell was quoted as saying that to the cops when they caught him knee walking drunk driving down a Phoenix freeway. Remember that gawdawful mug shot? Or was that Diana Ross.
By the time I get to Phoenix...
Post a Comment