American Legion Chief Falsely Claims HE's a "Vietnam Vet"!

[Gimpy]

Your brother is definately "one of us"!----Give him our thanks for his service!

I feel the same way you do regarding the American Legion. I gave up my membership many years ago for reasons similar to this latest bit of horsehockey coming from their 'leadership'.

I also don't want to ever denigrate or diminish another persons military service, no matter WHERE they served. But, from all indicatiions it looks like this guy was certainly attempting to 'upgrade' his status from 'Vietnam Era Veteran" to a "Vietnam Veteran' that served 'in country' like many of us.

My old grandpappy used ta say, "Son, in order to be called a 'gunfighter', you at LEAST gotta show up for the 'gunfight'!"

I don't believe there were many 'gunfights' at LZ Ft. Dix, do you ?

[Packo]

Thanks all....I have always said he's a Vietnam Vet...now I just have to convince him. I am so lucky to have so many "brothers"!

Pack

[Seascamp]

Spook ships were sitting ducks, more so than the spook listing posts in Saigon. As it were; no significant defense armor or armament, low profile without Capital Warship escort and usually being shadowed by a Soviet ?fishing trawler? that resembled a porcupine with all the antenna ?quills? sticking up at all angles and soaking up all the bit streaming goin on.

In terms of attention, a thick-hided WW II retread Destroyer slamming it out with NVA shore batteries n? bunker systems got a lot less notice from the Soviets in the area than did the spook ships that got the same level of attention as the Carrier Battle groups at Yankee or Dixie station.
One can?t help but make the assumption that attention = target priority. You brother is an unnecessarily humble man, Packo. My best salute to that brave CT Sailor.

Scamp

[Robert Ryan]

Wow sad state of affaris for the American Legion. If he would just said I was in the Service during the Vietnam War but did not serve there I would have more respect for him. Too much blood and too much death was seen by us to allow this to go without some sort of punishment for him.

[Packo]

Scamp,

I've seen slides of Russian Ships right close along side following them. No nets on the trawlers....just tons of antenna. You are most correct, they were all by themselves with no escort. Bill told me their fire power was: 2 x .50 Machine Guns, (Mawduce's), some WW11 M-1's, and a Thompson. He said they didn't hold out much hope of surviving any attack and after the Liberty and Pueblo, being rescued either. Your words to him are kind. I'm gonna show him these posts and get him to realize what he did.

Pack

[Seascamp]

And Packo, got some of the same pics of the 'porcupines'. Ay yi yi, rude and very agressive bunch, them supposed fishermen.

For the life of me, I can?t understand why anyone would want to pretend their way into this perpetual, hateful, harmful and hurtful blood feud that been going on for three plus decades. Our last Presidential election was yet another episode in setting off the hemorrhaging and for no good purpose other than seeing how much new blood the compress can soak up, one more time.

Evidently there must be some cultural advantage to putting on the VN Vet jersey; toeing the line, and doing the forever eye-dagger deal with the perennial name givers, advantage takers and usurious money makers. Hopefully our new crop of Vets will not be so abused and taken advantage of by the opportunists, pretenders, greed freaks and the rest of the frizz-brained mob running through the village looking for some supposed monster to grab some leverage and tree bark from.

Scamp

[VIETNAM 1968]

For what it is worth--I just joined the Vietnam Veterans of America last month--After almost thirty-eight years. The main reason that I waited so long to do so was because of the things I had repeatedly heard concerning Veterans, WHO NEVER LEFT THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES, being admitted to the VFW. And people that had never even served in ANY MILITARY BRANCH being admitted to the American Legion. I even heard about ASSOCIATE MEMBERS being admitted to the VVA when THEY HAD NEVER SERVED IN VIETNAM AT ALL or NAVY PERSONNEL THAT NEVER SERVED ON BOARD A SHIP IN VIETNAMESE WATERS. To me, that was disgraceful and I did not want to be a part of any organization that permitted such behavior. Now I learn that the National Commander of the American Legion is claiming to be a Vietnam Veteran without ever serving in Vietnam, or the waters around Vietnam!

Part of my decision to join the VVA was the result of help that I received from you guys, on this great Forum, when I first expressed my concern of my REMF Status in Vietnam. You guys made me realize that I had nothing to be ashamed of just because I did not experience much hostile fire while completing my Tour in Nam. I never wanted to represent myself as anything that I WAS NOT to you Guys and Girls. Bless you all.

To all of my Vietnam Veteran Brothers and Sisters I again wish you all a huge:


WELCOME HOME


VIETNAM 1968

[MontanaKid]

super scout: The American Legion merely requires active duty service during designated period of war. It does.nt require service in any particular place.


I am a member of "Forgotten Warriors" American Legion Post 101, Missoula, Montana. And yes, I do object to the national commander calling himself a Vietnam Vet. He Should know better.

[Advisor]

Is a man/woman who was stationed at Ft. Dix, never leaving the country, anytime between 1941-1945 a WWII vet?

[Jerry D]

Packo,your brother's service in the Navy off the coast was most definitely a Vietnam Veteran