Stolen valor

[caryc]

My brother in law was in special forces in the Navy. Oh wait, I think it was special Services LOL. ( For those of you non navy types special services is when you're a seagoing rate but get rotated to shore duty they send you to special services. It usually means handing out basketballs at the rec center!)

I was actually on shore duty over there. Actually it was NavSuppAct. Naval support activity in Danang. First I worked at the pier at Tien Shaw ramp where the LST's came in to offload supplies. I worked on a Mic6 boat that had been converted to a repair boat for fixing small craft in the area.

Then they towed the dry dock over from the Philippines and I went to work on that.

 

[Bigbore5]

I am a veteran of a US Army Military Intelligence Unit. I am also the Father to two Sons.

My youngest is training for Rescue Diver now with the Coast Guard. He said he felt the need to serve out of respect he feels for his brother.

My first Son, Ryan, chose to follow my path. He served with a direct action capable Intelligence Unit. He was killed in action in the middle east.

When I think back about my service, I don't feel glory. We received Presidential Unit Citations, medals, awards, etc. But I remember the friends that I lost. I remember how truly necessary I felt the work we did was. I remember my Son, who was and is a hero.

These fake people are not stealing anything. They tell their obviously fake bullshit. If you look at a real war veteran, if he does talk about it, you will see the loss in their eyes. I did it because the job had to be done. My Son died doing the job he felt had to be done. My remaining Son is risking himself doing a job he feels must be done.

Those liars will remain the pathetic nothing they already know themselves to be.

 

[turd]

Sorry to hear about the son you lost, and please accept my thanks for yours and your other son's service.

 

[mudflat mike]

In 1969 they were gonna draft me and I didn't want to go to Viet Nam, so I joined the Navy. 1st assignment after storekeeper "A" school was NavSupPac Bien Thuy, about 30 miles south of Siagon on a river boat base. So much for my attempt to outsmart the government. I always say "no wonder I was so busy in country, I was the only supply guy driving trucks around, everybody else I've met was sniping or running around the tree tops with a K Bar in thier teeth!"
I'm now 100% disabled, agent orange, the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[g5m]

Bigbore5, I am truly sorry about your loss. The military has my respect. And, after serving with it I'll say I love the Coast Guard! Yeah, I know, it kind of sounds squirrelly but that's the way I feel about it.

A friend wrote a book about his time with the Coast Guard titled, "Wind, Fire and Ice". About service on an icebrweaker. Interesting book and mirrors my time in., except my cruise was better with a better Captain and XO. More and different ports. It gave a lifetime's worth of true stories.

 

[Watertender]

Big Bore I am sorry for the loss of your son. My only child was killed by a texting driver. This morning at 6am I was in a local diner and saw 2 men wearing Veteran hats. I thanked them for their service and asked what branches they served in. They were both Air Force. One was a runway pavement specialist and the other was a sheet metal repairmen. I went to my truck and got them both Air Force coins and quietly paid for their breakfast. I am more than pleased to do something like that because they were honestly proud of their service. No big bull crap story of daring rescues and sniping in the jungle. Just Americans who served...

 

[g5m]

Watertender, I am very sorry for your loss, too. Losing a child is a very nasty and difficult thing.

 

[roarindan51]

I was a 63K20 in the army. enlisted (not drafted) in 1970.no combat experience. I am now a Free Mason,
while attending a meeting at a lodge close to my lodge I saw a member of that lodge, about my age; with a red, white and blue lapel pin. i asked what that represented, and he told me "Silver star". Few days later I wondered what he did to receive that medal. I found a site that listed all the recipients. I don't remember his name, but I was told it at the time. He is not listed!!!. don't have the google fu to navigate the govt. sites. Any ideas about how I can discretely find him ???

 

[KMLMBA]

I was born on Fort. Bragg, NC (soon to be renamed by our woke government) in 1950. Grew ups in Germany, the son of a career soldier. My father retired in 1974 as the CSM of US Army Special Forces.) My older brother was KIA in Viet Nam 11-6-1965. He is on Panel 3E Line 25, position 1. I graduated from HS in 1968, and joined the Army October 25th, 1968, as a WOFT Candidate. After Basic Training I failed my flight physical (vision) and had my 6 year contract reduced to 2 years. (The draft was still in effect in 1968, so I while I remained RA and NOT US, I only had a 2 year requirement.)
I attended basic at Ft. Polk, AIT at Ft. Jackson (71H) and the USAAG School in Ft, Benjamin Harrison, IN. I only had one permanent party posting, HHD 160th Sig Grp, Viet Nam...1968-1970. I ETS'd as a Sp/5 E5, July 5, 1970, after 19 months and 12 days of service. I earned my GI Bill Benefits and used all 45 months of them. In 2006, my son joined the Army and after his Basic & AIT, was assigned to the 1st Cav, at Fort Hood, TX. Imagine my concern when he went to IRAQ in the same outfit my older brother went to Viet Nam in. However, while my older brother was 11B, my son was in Military Intelligence.

The question is "Did you serve honorably?" and not "How did you serve?" The Military assigns you where they want and need you. There are 4 non combat troops supporting every 1 combat troop in the field in the US Army. ALL service is honorable, but as Vet Nam Vets say, "ALL gave some, but some gave all."

Those exposed as having "Stolen Valor" should be prosecuted for fraud, but in our country today, the woke mob will most likely place them on pedestals.

To my fellow Viet Nam Vets and Army Nurses, "Welcome Home."

 

[purebred]

I joined the Army, Basic at Fort Lewis Washington in 1970, went to Fort Dix New Jersey for AIT training. From there sent to Germany, Mannheim for almost three years. Seen a bunch of buddies just coming from Nam and seeing the after results of their traumatic tours there. Not good. Last five years I spent at good old Fort Riley Kansas where I made two reforgers back to Germany. Wished now I would have went the distance of 12 more years but went into the operating engineers instead. Viet Nam was a black hole in our history but the men and women who served there are what truly makes America great. GOD bless Veterans and America.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I have never heard anybody claim to have FROZEN and SWEATED their arsh off while working the windy arsh Flight Line on SAC B-47s at Forbes AFB Topeka KS.
I guess there is no glory in doing that In 1960 we couldn't even spell Viat Niem

 

[caryc]

I have never heard anybody claim to have FROZEN and SWEATED their arsh off while working the windy arsh Flight Line on SAC B-47s at Forbes AFB Topeka KS.
I guess there is no glory in doing that In 1960 we couldn't even spell Viat Niem

I would also guess that it was no picnic being in the flight deck crew on a carrier. There is enough glory for each veteran wherever they served.

How about the poor little E3 working below decks in the boiler room or evaporator rooms on those ships. It's not cool when the heat down there causes a bad case of burning heat rash. All one wanted to do is have that work day over so he could get out of there and take a shower and get all that burning sweat off of him. Navy ships have air conditioning now but not when I was in the service. It takes a lot of people to run that ship so the fly boys could get all the glory.
Jim, I've news for you...you still can't spell Viet Nam.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Yep
I don't know how they get anyone to work the flight deck. I have been there on nice days and can't imagine what it is like when cold, dark and wet. It is also one of the most dangerous jobs.

 

[dannyd]

Yep
I don't know how they get anyone to work the flight deck. I have been there on nice days and can't imagine what it is like when cold, dark and wet. It is also one of the most dangerous jobs.

It was truly the greatest place to work especially at night; Loved every minute of it, but the North Atlantic was definitely a challenge at times.

 

[JiminMaine]

I would also guess that it was no picnic being in the flight deck crew on a carrier. There is enough glory for each veteran wherever they served.

How about the poor little E3 working below decks in the boiler room or evaporator rooms on those ships. It's not cool when the heat down there causes a bad case of burning heat rash. All one wanted to do is have that work day over so he could get out of there and take a shower and get all that burning sweat off of him. Navy ships have air conditioning now but not when I was in the service. It takes a lot of people to run that ship so the fly boys could get all the glory.
Jim, I've news for you...you still can't spell Viet Nam.

I served on the USS Independence CVA/CV-62 for six years in the 1970s. As an IC man (fresh air SNIPE) I had equipment everywhere on the ship. I had equipment on the mast and sticking out the bottom and everywhere in between. I spent a lot of hours both in the main machinery rooms (engine rooms) and on the flightdeck. I wasn't usually on the flightdeck during flight OPS. Neither was a fun place to work. 1200 PSI steam, 120 degrees,100% humidity does not make for a nice working environment.

There were about 5000 other people that made it possible for those 200 or so pilots to be able to do their job.

I enlisted in 1969 right out of high school to beat the draft. I did six years, got out, worked as a County Mountie for a years and then re-enlisted. I retired after 21+ years in 1991. The farthest west the Navy ever sent me was Glakes, the farthest east Deigo Garcia via the Suez Canal.

I am a Viet Nam ERA vet, but not a Viet Nam vet.

 

[vito]

As a veteran and retired Army officer, I volunteer with a local hospice agency. I visit fellow veterans who are on hospice services, meaning that they are not expected to live more than 6 months. In theory, since I am a fellow veteran the patient will feel more comfortable with me than with a non-veteran reminiscing or just discussing his military experiences, and sometimes this is actually true. One patient that I visited a few times (he didn't last anything near 6 months from when he was in hospice care) had worked in the bowels of a destroyer during the Korean War. He related to me how his job involved enduring tremendous heat servicing the boilers, and that the action seen by his ship in firing upon North Korean forces on the mainland was to him just hearing and feeling the firing of the 5-inch guns on the deck. He told me that while he was officially a "Korean War veteran" he never felt like he really took part in anything other than working on those boilers. I assured him that his service was as critical as anyone in that war, and that his ship could not have performed their mission without sailors like him doing the necessary work to keep the ship functioning. Whether or not my conversations with him during my few visits before he died were helpful or not I really don't know.

 

[Baxter6551]

I’m a “Vietnam Era” vet and I always identify with the “Era” having Served from 8/74 to 8/77. I am considered by my state to be a “wartime veteran” and received educational benefits which I took advantage of to earn an associates degree. I always thank fellow veterans for their service when I spot them via their hats or license plates. I hope I am not thanking any stolen valor people but I’m pretty good at spotting them. Thank you Vito and the others here for your service. Tenbore and others in that situation that’s really a disgrace and should be corrected.

 

[Ka6otm]

I’m a “Vietnam Era” vet and I always identify with the “Era” having Served from 8/74 to 8/77. I am considered by my state to be a “wartime veteran” and received educational benefits which I took advantage of to earn an associates degree. I always thank fellow veterans for their service when I spot them via their hats or license plates. I hope I am not thanking any stolen valor people but I’m pretty good at spotting them. Thank you Vito and the others here for your service. Tenbore and others in that situation that’s really a disgrace and should be corrected.

How can you be a Vietnam Era Vet when we left Vietnam March 29, 1973 and you weren't in the service until almost a year and a half later? Just curious.

 

[cowboycopus]

How can you be a Vietnam Era Vet when we left Vietnam March 29, 1973 and you weren't in the service until almost a year and a half later? Just curious.

He did not make the rules.

 

[Johnny-Baseball]

How can you be a Vietnam Era Vet when we left Vietnam March 29, 1973 and you weren't in the service until almost a year and a half later? Just curious.

Read the history books.

Two of the last military casualties of the Viet Nam war were Marines who died on April 29,1975 as a result of North Vietnam artillery/mortar attacks on Tan Son Knut airbase. I'm sure their parents and next of kin would argue that the war was still being waged in April 1975.

The last US personnel were airlifted/barged out of Viet Nam in April/May, 1975. The very last were Marines whose task was to provide security while the Embassy was being evacuated. Those Marines later reported that their helo received small arms fire during the evacuation flight. Who piloted the aircraft and captained the barges, you ask? Well, the aircraft belonged to the Marines, US Navy, the CIA's Air America and the Viet Nam military. American aircrews included active-duty US military (Navy and Marines) plus military operating under the cover of being Department of State operatives (including the CIA's Air America). The internet is full of pictures of Americans and Vietnamese hopping on helicopters atop the US embassy, and of Marines preventing Vietnamese from entering the Embassy compound, with Saigon all the while under fire.

So go ahead and spread your belief that "we left Vietnam on March 29, 1973." But when you do, be sure to add, "But I'm ignoring accounts in history books and news media which report otherwise."

From 1969-73 I was in the USAF and assigned to what today is the USAF 16th Air Force Cyber Command, serving in a classified counterintelligence role (including 12-month tours on Mindanao in the Philippines (1970-71) ["What?" you say. The US had no military bases on Mindanao. True, which means our presence as a clandestine operation was successful.] and in far northern Thailand (1972-73) in the heart of the Thai/Burma/Laos/China area described by the Opium trade as the "Golden Triangle." By definition then, I am a Viet Nam era veteran even though I do not describe myself as a "Viet Nam veteran."

That said, I fully support using the term "Viet Nam era vet" to describe all of those who served in our military though May 1975, and "Viet Nam vets" to describe those who were in country, in any capacity (including Marines who guarded our embassy).

We served. The high command determined where we served and what we did.