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Veterans

TahitiNut

(71,611 posts)

23. Absolutely! There are a LOT of "comic book veterans."

Reply to ThoughtCriminal (Reply #22)

Sun Jan 6, 2013, 01:20 PM

Jan 2013

In the 80s, we saw more than four times as many people CLAIMING to be Viet Nam veterans as actually served in Viet Nam. It was stunning to me. I'd spent the 70s trying to 'overcome' being recognized as a Viet Nam vet ... keeping my head down, so to speak. Hell, we weren't welcome at the American Legion or VFW ... seen as "losers." The VFW has changed, being an organization that requires significant foreign WAR service. (The Legion has no such requirement.) The VFW has been comprised of a majority of Viet Nam vets for some time ... and are diligent in requiring a DD214 to verify service.

So, in a way, I know what it's like to be "in the closet." I "came out" in the mid-80s, mostly as a reaction to the hoo-rah bullshit of the Reagan administration.

We're still overrun with FAUX Viet Nam veterans. There are only about 750,000 of us still alive. Do the math.

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Did you expect or demand to be "worshipped" for your service? [View all] pinboy3niner Jan 2013 OP

Not in the slightest. I do think we have a few folks here who like to troll and divide on the topic MADem Jan 2013 #1

"We didn't ask to be worshiped, we simply hoped to not get shit upon .." Scuba Jan 2013 #2

Amen, brother, and well said pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #4

True progressives or not, I'll wager they don't know a single servicemember on a personal level. MADem Jan 2013 #7

2 decades active/reserves - and never once expected that DrDan Jan 2013 #3

I hate getting "thanks for your service" it always seems so fake. Katashi_itto Jan 2013 #5

"Thank YOU for your support" usually enables an easy transition to another topic. MADem Jan 2013 #9

I wanted ONE thing. TahitiNut Jan 2013 #6

I hear you, brother pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #8

No. Demo_Chris Jan 2013 #10

It wasn't voluntary and it wasn't worthy of thanks or adoration tularetom Jan 2013 #11

NO 4Q2u2 Jan 2013 #12

it has a lot to do with guilt RedstDem Jan 2013 #13

You're asking the wrong people. TahitiNut Jan 2013 #17

I agree, youre right RedstDem Jan 2013 #18

When duty calls and says you must... msedano Jan 2013 #14

recommended for the use of "horsepuckiest" tavalon Jan 2013 #15

Never sarisataka Jan 2013 #16

Online debating RW Vets during the Iraq invasion/occupation ThoughtCriminal Jan 2013 #19

I noticed that with a lot of the "pro-war" republican veterans Victor_c3 Jan 2013 #21

And some that do claim combat experience are likely phonies ThoughtCriminal Jan 2013 #22

Absolutely! There are a LOT of "comic book veterans." TahitiNut Jan 2013 #23

Wow, I had no idea that there weren't more "real" Vietnam vets out there Victor_c3 Jan 2013 #24

none of the vets I know do...and they HATE it... w8liftinglady Jan 2013 #20

Gratitude and admiration are not what's needed ... JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2013 #25

I think the info is there - one has to spend some time finding it - it is not spoon-fed DrDan Jan 2013 #26

Hopefully, Google is better now than it was 45 years ago. JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2013 #27

and where were you in Germany? I was in A.F. at Sembach for 3 years DrDan Jan 2013 #29

Mohringen JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2013 #30

never visited either of those - but sure did enjoy trips to Stuttgart DrDan Jan 2013 #31

Maybe the AF base was called "Echterdingen" JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2013 #32

My brother in law doesn't like all that hero worship shit or Thanks for your Service. glowing Jan 2013 #28