If you were in the service, do you consider yourself a "Vet"?

fuzzybuddy said:
I was in the U.S. Navy from 1968-72. I was stationed in Chicago, D.C., NYC, and Cuba (Well, before the prison.) I was never in any peril, whatsoever.
When people thank me for my service, I tell them, " Save it for those, who put their lives on the line". It's not false modesty, those guys did give all they could.
If you were in the service, do you consider yourself a "Vet"?
Click to expand...


I'm sorry but you are a Vet. You could have been called to a war zone if a war occurred while you were serving. My Husband was in the Navy from 1965 until 1969. He was on a land base and never went to Viet Nam yet I consider him a Vet too. Thank You for your service fuzzybuddy.
 

  • Like
Reactions: MaB
My husband served 12 years in the USNavy's submarine service. He never went to war BUT they were always ready! It annoys me that only "war time" vets get benefits. During peace time, the military was always trained and ready to do their duty - they were just, by chance, lucky enough not to HAVE to. So, yes - he is certainly a Veteran!

As we settle into our retirement soon, we both look forward to doing some volunteer work with local Veterans groups. I know they can use any help we can give.
 

The VA supplies benefits on a scale based on service, disability, etc. I am on a lower priority level, but I did get my hearing aids from them.
 
I've been encouraged by friends to pursue a claim for hearing loss, which is legitimately connected to my service.

It's not severe, which is why I haven't given much thought to the matter. But, like everything else with my body...it's just not getting better.
 
I am a wartime vet. U S Navy from 1959 to 1967.


My time in the Navy & reaching ADJ1 E-6 left me with a wealth of training that served me well after getting out. I recently accessed the Veterans Admin web site to request a copy of my DD214 since it was lost in the many moves we did. That web site referred me to this gov. site
https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records


Along with very efficient service [rare for a gov. office] I received my copy and a reference to this site for what they said is a lot of benefits I might be able to use.


eBenefits.VBACO@va.gov




I haven't accessed that site, my only reason for wanting proof of active military service was my bride might need proof for tax deductions when I am not longer verticle. Just another precaution and thinking ahead for when I'm doing that horizontal under the dirt thing
 
Hey Trade,

We were issued the semi-auto .30 cal M-1 Garand for basic training in October, 1960...it was not a ladies' gun for sure!

I won the Marksman medal, but not the Sharpshooter.

After Basic, I never fired a shot during my 2-year tour of duty. I was a Communications Center Technician, in the 57th Signal Company, 304th Signal Battalion, 8th US Army, in Seoul, Korea.

Easy duty, but necessary for supporting our Occupation Forces in South Korea.

At Ease.....
HiDesertHal
 
I consider myself a Korean War Vet having served 1953-54 even though I was a non combatant. I was never fired upon but was in a number of situations where I could have been shot, wounded or killed.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I was in the U.S. Navy from 1968-72. I was stationed in Chicago, D.C., NYC, and Cuba (Well, before the prison.) I was never in any peril, whatsoever.
When people thank me for my service, I tell them, " Save it for those, who put their lives on the line". It's not false modesty, those guys did give all they could.
If you were in the service, do you consider yourself a "Vet"?
Click to expand...

You are still a vet and I still thank you for your service because you DID do a service to us and your fellow brothers and sisters who served with you in whatever your function was. So thank you. To all here that are veterans.
 
I am technically a Vietnam vet, even though I never saw Vietnam. I served aboard a diesel sub from '64 to '66 and on one patrol we just touched the boundary of the combat zone. Our skipper did it on purpose so we could wear the ribbon. I never felt right about it. The only veteran benefits I ever took were a GI loan on our house and some schooling. When I applied for Social Security, the lady said I get a little bit extra for my service time. I misplaced my DD-214 card many years ago.

Don
 
Thread Title said:
If you were in the service, do you consider yourself a "Vet"?
Click to expand...

tnthomas said:
All persons who served in the armed forces are veterans. If they served in a combat zone then they are combat veterans.
Click to expand...

Just a re-post, if you served in the armed forces of the United States of America, then you are a veteran.

You don't have to have a whole chest full of ribbons and your legs blown off, you served your country. salute.gif
 
You should apply. I was rated 40% disability when I applied 25 years ago and furnished with hearing aids. Now rated at 70% and receiving a Cochlear Implant.
 
I receive the 10% discount at Lowe's. Seldom mentioned my service back when military people were judged sub-human by some groups. I'm a lefty and recall firing on the range in boot camp and the hot M-14 shells bouncing off of my neck after every shot. A few burned my skin giving me my only war wound. Last Veterans Day I gave a presentation at my grandson's school about my mom's service during WWII in the WAVES, and my service during the Vietnam Conflict.

If you haven't requested copies of your service records I recommend you do so. There is information in them you have forgotten as well as names of your old buddies. My mother's included letters of recommendation from a priest and her former boss, two photos, info about serving at Pearl Harbor, and personal history.
 
Yea, I was left handed(still am!) and had hot shells grazing my right cheek.

I got the sharpshooter's badge, missed Expert by 4 points, too bad, was dealing with a bad head & chest cold.

That head & chest cold got flushed out good by the visit to the gas warfare range, and the gas chamber.

CS gas is a great remedy for head & chest colds, they should bottle some up and sell it at CVS Pharmacy.
 
Let me clarify what I meant about being a "Vet". Did I put in 4 long years in the U.S. Navy? Damn Right. So, I am a Veteran. When somebody thanks me for my "service", what I did in comparison to those, who gave up their lives, and well being, I don't know. I was never in any peril. I believe the adulation and respect should be on them first.
 
Not to worry fuzzybuddy. Those who gave their lives will also receive as much gratitude as can possibly be put into words. But protecting our freedom and countrymen takes teamwork from many and thus "service". You're being thanked for your service as part of the total team effort. Without all the servicemen, like you, we wouldn't have freedom or a country.
 
Trade said:
I don't have a military ID card. I'm not retired like you. I was just in for one four year enlistment. But apparently Lowes will issue me a 10% discount card if I show them proof of service like my DD214.
.
Click to expand...

I get my 10% military discount at Lowe's just by telling them my telephone number. I lost my DD214, but I carry a photostatic copy of my Honorable Discharge in my wallet.

Hal
 
fuzzybuddy said:
When people thank me for my service, I tell them, " Save it for those, who put their lives on the line".
Click to expand...

Even though I did manage to get to the far east in 1964, I'm with you when it comes to thanking veterans.
Although it is not their fault civilians can't distinguish between those who saw combat and those that didn't.

DSCF1015.jpg

Just like all people are not created equal
having a job like I did does not entitle me
to the same level of honor as those who saw combat.
 
I felt uncomfortable joining the VFW with the "W" being the point of contention. The guy who was sponsoring me set the tone with this: "Look you served a full three year hitch between '61 and '64 and you got an honorable discharge...right?" I replied; "Yes". "OK", he says, "The Berlin Wall went up, the Cuban missile crises took place, and Kennedy was shot. All this occurred during your term..that right?" Again, I agreed. "Well, there you go" he says, "Any one of those events could have triggered military action."

So, it was his view that potential equated with reality in that I was prepared to perform in combat. As a combat engineer, I knew any "performance" would involve combat. Perhaps not the same as a grunt on recon, but certainly more risky than sitting on a naval cruiser in Cam Ranh Bay off Vietnam. Anyway, I decided to join.

This was the guard house entry to Hessen Homburg Kaserne in Hanau, Germany:
bf8779170a59b90d39de3ac8812fa6e3--homburg-director.jpg I was there in 1961 at 17 years old. It was a great time to be there. One buck got you four German marks which meant you could start out with $5.00, get hammered on 13% German beer, and have a schnitzel dinner before stumbling back to the barracks.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top