Any Vietnam vets? Got a question.

Wes

Wes

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2007
Location
Ridgeway, SC
So i ran into a portly gentleman at Lowe’s this morning. I parked in the veteran parking spot and he parked nearby in the handicapped spot. His truck is plastered with Vietnam service stickers, and he’s wearing a Vietnam service hat. He strikes up a conversation with me immediately. I thanked him for his Vietnam service and he continued to make small talk about the military. Then he tells me he was stationed in Alaska and never went to Vietnam. Said that if you were stationed outside the lower 48 you were allowed to wear the Vietnam service ribbon because you could have been “called up at any time”. Basically just like serving in Vietnam. My blood pressure went up thinking this guy was bullshitting about his service. Especially about Vietnam. He was with his wife, I’ve got work to do, and I wasn’t in the mood to show my ass first thing at the local Lowe’s. I just walked away but it’s been bugging me. I was curious if this was true. If not, I’m going to blow him up next time I see him. Faking some shit like that deserves embarrassment. If I’m wrong then so be it. Just seems fishy. My uncle was stationed in Germany during Vietnam. Never claimed he was in war at all because he wasn’t. The guy went on to tell me he was a sniper and a bunch of other mess that I couldn’t pay attention to because I was getting mad.
 
My father fought and essentially died in Vietnam (he made it home physically, but never regained any semblance of normalcy once home....later they called it "Vietnam syndrome")

He told me stories....the kind of stories that make "Full metal Jacket" seem like a Disney movie.

For anyone to even attempt to lay claim to "Vietnam Vet" for serving anywhere during that conflict without having set foot on that soil or delivering supplies/providing air or water support is a disgrace

Wes said:
My uncle was stationed in Germany during Vietnam. Never claimed he was in war at all because he wasn’t
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This!

My best friend was stationed in Germany during the first Iraq war. He would sooner denounce being in the Army at ALL than ever lay claim to being an "Iraq veteran" because that would spit in the face of every Vet that is suffering from that anthrax vaccine they made them all get.
 
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I have a friend who served during the Vietnam war but was stationed in Germany. He's a good guy and does not say he served in Vietnam but when the topic comes around be it on social media or around friends, he does not clarify and if people maybe get the idea he did but don't say anything he doesn't correct them. Even that bothers me but since he hasn't gone over the line that I spoke of, I don't say anything.
I wish he would clarify and give the proper credit to those who were engaged, I am sure anyone would still thank him for his service.
 
If not stolen valor its at least questionably acquired valor.
 
Thinking back on the conversation, he didn’t start explaining himself until I told him I had just retired from the military. He was just rolling with letting me think he served in Vietnam. Once I said I was also in that’s where he started backpedaling about being authorized to wear all of that shit. Definitely sounds fishy. Can’t believe someone hasn’t called him out in this small town. I’m sure nobody questions it. I’m gonna be on him next time though. He had this terrible northern accent that made it so much worse too.
 
Wes said:
So i ran into a portly gentleman at Lowe’s this morning. I parked in the veteran parking spot and he parked nearby in the handicapped spot. His truck is plastered with Vietnam service stickers, and he’s wearing a Vietnam service hat. He strikes up a conversation with me immediately. I thanked him for his Vietnam service and he continued to make small talk about the military. Then he tells me he was stationed in Alaska and never went to Vietnam. Said that if you were stationed outside the lower 48 you were allowed to wear the Vietnam service ribbon because you could have been “called up at any time”. Basically just like serving in Vietnam. My blood pressure went up thinking this guy was bullshitting about his service. Especially about Vietnam. He was with his wife, I’ve got work to do, and I wasn’t in the mood to show my ass first thing at the local Lowe’s. I just walked away but it’s been bugging me. I was curious if this was true. If not, I’m going to blow him up next time I see him. Faking some shit like that deserves embarrassment. If I’m wrong then so be it. Just seems fishy. My uncle was stationed in Germany during Vietnam. Never claimed he was in war at all because he wasn’t. The guy went on to tell me he was a sniper and a bunch of other mess that I couldn’t pay attention to because I was getting mad.
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I have a good buddy that was in 101st rangers “rakkasans” during nam I can ask him if he knows about this! Stolen valor has almost got me arrested few times over last 10 years! But I’d imagine that’s some bs tho bc during nam my old man was a sailor an said any man that could be used in country we used...
 
My dad, A combat wounded Vietnam vet, runs into this shit all the time. He experienced the real deal, and can tell when people were bullshitting about their service.

Actually he recently found this article about a man he served with and one of the battles he fought in:
 
Ive got 2 folks "in my life" who were Vietnam vets.
Neither will wear a hat about it. One wont talk about it even if asked.

Right or wrong Im always a tad skeptical initially of the guys who wear the hats and vests
 
Ron said:
Ive got 2 folks "in my life" who were Vietnam vets.
Neither will wear a hat about it. One wont talk about it even if asked.

Right or wrong Im always a tad skeptical initially of the guys who wear the hats and vests
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This was my dad and my first FIL.....they honestly just wanted to be whole again and live out life.
Both died in their 50 to 60 years. Both linked to Vietnam.....The WALL needs a new section.
All my family did the service WW2 ,Nam, and some recent activities..several generations.
They may use a service parking spot, or discount but non seek public awareness.

Just the pure mentality of Service vs. Reward or Duty vs. Recognition speaks volumes to who or what a person is on the inside.



It wasn't til I was in my twenties I learned why my dad came home when he did.
He was awarded two bronze stars and a recognition for valor. Reading the description then researching the battle for AnLoc (sp) was all I needed to know.
I never asked another question to Any Combat Vet.
 
my stepfather was my stepfather was in Vietnam and really won't speak about it. He was in the jungles where the bad s*** happened.

I'm really surprised at all the people that have had parents in Germany. My father was stationed in Germany running a Persian missile launcher. It had a nuclear warhead and they were more concerned about the Russians. All that being said, he was drafted.
 
I once ran into 2 guys in Myrtle Beach at The Bowery that were out on the town in their Blues claiming to be Marines. Not knowing any better I bought them drinks and thanked them over small talk. They worked the bar then the strip, came back to start their routine over again getting free drinks. By then there were some other Marines who called them out, pointed out their uniforms were fake and they wouldn’t be out dressed like that. Those dudes got a real, real bad beating that the cops were not in a hurry to break up and I didn’t see anyone go to jail that night...

Also, I am asked regularly if I am ex-military. Not sure if it’s the hair cut or how I carry myself or what, but I’m real quick to clarify I have not served any in way but am grateful all who have.
 
Wes said:
Thinking back on the conversation, he didn’t start explaining himself until I told him I had just retired from the military. He was just rolling with letting me think he served in Vietnam. Once I said I was also in that’s where he started backpedaling about being authorized to wear all of that shit. Definitely sounds fishy. Can’t believe someone hasn’t called him out in this small town. I’m sure nobody questions it. I’m gonna be on him next time though. He had this terrible northern accent that made it so much worse too.
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Record that shit! Don’t get any charges tho... I’ve been so close to beating the fuck out of young punks claiming they were marines in VA/TN I’ve been in tears from anger, some folks don’t realize the shit these combat vets have gone through or the families and to say you were something you weren’t is one thing but to claim to be involved in war like that or any conflict is past the point of no return! I’m glad stolen valor is a felony now!
 
My dad is similar. He was USCG from '71-77. He never stepped foot in Vietnam but did rescue a shit ton of Navy and Marine vessels that became disabled or to transfer injured very near the coast. He doesn't claim to be a vet, but technically, he is.
 
77GreenMachine said:
Also, I am asked regularly if I am ex-military. Not sure if it’s the hair cut or how I carry myself or what, but I’m real quick to clarify I have not served any in way but am grateful all who have.
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Same thing here.
Let me hit you with this one. One of our "officers" in the 26NC also does WW2 as a soldier in a Waffen SS unit that was on RnR when France was invaded. Now he is a real good guy so don't be talking personal junk about him. When you do reenacting,you gotta have good guys and bad guys but damn,you have men still living that fought/killed the men you are portraying. It just seems a tad bit...I know I couldn't do it.
My dad was in the navy early in the Vietnam conflict and he did 2 cruises in the pacific with stops in country..The refrigerated freighter he was on supplied ships while on cruise but also hauled agent orange in barrels. They were assaulted by a couple of small boats one night but they were picked up on radar before they close enough to fire on the Regulus and were elliminated. His battle station was on one of the twin bofers on the fan tail. He felt very small and alone sitting there in the dark. I never heard him say he was a Vietnam vet. He did pull some money monthly from exposer to the agent orange and then 2 years after his passing, I recieved a check and the ability to get some "free"schooling.This was all part of the settlements that have been handed down.
I believe Don (Granny) was also in the Navy at the same time as my dad and was part of the brown water fleet. Don could have eaten supplies that my dad had helped drop off.
 
I respect all that have served and all that will serve in our military. I do not have any respect for anyone that portrays to have been involved in a war or conflict and was never in theater. I was in during Desert Storm but never got deployed and have never even crossed my mind to claim to be a Desert Storm veteran.
 
I will echo what others have said.

My uncle was in the jungle sleeping in the Vietnam mud. My dad said he was a completely different person when he came back. Only recently has my uncle told my dad anything about what happened over there. I have never heard him mention it. He doesn’t wear the Vietnam hats or anything else, he really seems to just want to forget about it. I too am sometimes skeptical of the guys displaying all of the patches and hats, just because what I have seen with my uncle and how he really doesn’t want anyone to even acknowledge his time there, probably because of how horrific it was.
 
Damn POGs always trying to church up shit...... No, but really I’ve ran into a few fakes while in college. I let them talk themselves up most the time. They get quiet as hell after I let them know I was an 11B. They are faking it till they make it. I generally do thank Veterans that wear the hats. I used to always volunteer for the welcome home stuff we did for Vietnam Vets. But everyone wants to be a hero now days. I don’t get why anyone would feel the need to embellish what they did when serving their country. I try not to mention it most the time because people look at you weird, or I could just be ugly.
 
iwaxmyjimmy said:
Damn POGs always trying to church up shit...... No, but really I’ve ran into a few fakes while in college. I let them talk themselves up most the time. They get quiet as hell after I let them know I was an 11B. They are faking it till they make it. I generally do thank Veterans that wear the hats. I used to always volunteer for the welcome home stuff we did for Vietnam Vets. But everyone wants to be a hero now days. I don’t get why anyone would feel the need to embellish what they did when serving their country. I try not to mention it most the time because people look at you weird, or I could just be ugly.
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I’m not sure why guys want to embellish. If you served, be proud of what you did. No need to lie. For some reason everyone who embellishes was a “sniper”. That’s when I say “sweet, so you drew and took pictures for a living”. 99.9% of sniping is reconnaissance and overwatch for others. You snoop around and take pictures, upload them, label them, and send them back to whoever. Most missions you never take a shot. Bunch of drawing, pictures, walking, and dicking with commo equipment. Every now and then it gets sexy.
 
Wes said:
For some reason everyone who embellishes was a “sniper”
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I've run across this far more than I ever thought I would. And ESPECIALLY the "I was a sniper" Why the hell is that? If they were in the army/marines they were a "sniper". And if they never served, they "were" a Seal :shaking: (embellishments that is)

Wes said:
Most missions you never take a shot. Bunch of drawing, pictures, walking, and dicking with commo equipment.
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[off topic]
What kind of drawing? (I find this topic rather fascinating) I assume diagrams A-la football plays sketched on whiteboard by coach to players?
 
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