Kidding, or what?

[2006gold]

Just back from a festival. Was going to wear the Aussie outback hat, but because it was cloudy I decided on my running through the jungle ball cap with my wings and other gedunk. Pressed hands with many other veterans, those wearing colors and some not, but one guy got my goat. Came up to me claiming he flew P-3's for 17 years in the Navy and asked me where I had earned my wings. P-3's also as a sensor operator and radio, I answered. He then wanted to know if I was an acoustic or non-acoustic sensor operator. What? Yes those are the classifications, but NO ONE who's been there would ever call them that. You were jez, julie, or radar/mad. This guy had no idea what jez or julie tactics were, and only understood the radar part of the radar/mad. He obviously had learned what the knew from some book somewhere. Finally, told him he'd never, ever set foot on a P-3 or he would know these things.

This is the second time I've encountered someone pretending to be something they're not. First guy said he was with a squadron named VE-1 during Vietnam. Got curious and looked it up. Turns out that squadron only existed at the end of WWII and was decommissioned shortly thereafter.

[rhino 2]

Some people after hearing all the war story's over the years, Really thought they were there, [By Proxy]
I'm sure John Wayne probably did....

[bongobobny]

Most of us Vietnam vets don't talk about our service, much less brag about it. It took years and years to finally reach a point where I'm not ashamed of serving there! Yes, I too have met some people that claim they served there but didn't! Maybe it is a guilt thing that makes them want to pretend they did...

[eighty80]

Most of us Vietnam vets don't talk about our service, much less brag about it. It took years and years to finally reach a point where I'm not ashamed of serving there! Yes, I too have met some people that claim they served there but didn't! Maybe it is a guilt thing that makes them want to pretend they did...

X1..!!!

[Shimpy]

It doesn't take long for someone who has experience and knowledge to see thru the BS.

[Geezzer Glide]

Well I am a Vietnam Combat Vet and most of the Combat Vets I know (including myself) have very little to say about their time served other than they did serve. For many of us it has taken years to try and forget about the bad memories from combat. We don't tell war stories. We want to forget them.
If someone is bragging about them odds are that 98% of the time they never ever saw combat if they were in the service at all.
The only thing that I make sure I will never forget is the memory of my friends that did not make it back home with me.
That is all I have to say on the issue.
Dan

[2006gold]

Well I am a Vietnam Combat Vet and most of the Combat Vets I know (including myself) have very little to say about their time served other than they did serve. For many of us it has taken years to try and forget about the bad memories from combat. We don't tell war stories. We want to forget them.
If someone is bragging about them odds are that 98% of the time they never ever saw combat if they were in the service at all.
The only thing that I make sure I will never forget is the memory of my friends that did not make it back home with me.
That is all I have to say on the issue.
Dan

I have the Vietnam service medal as a result of one mission out of there, but if anyone asks I'm a Vietnam ERA Vet, not a Vietnam Vet. I would never, ever compare my military service to that of those who were in country full time.

[rmrc51]

I have the Vietnam service medal as a result of one mission out of there, but if anyone asks I'm a Vietnam ERA Vet, not a Vietnam Vet. I would never, ever compare my military service to that of those who were in country full time.

Ditto!! I also served during the Vietnam era (US Coast Guard), but I'd 'never' consider myself a Vietnam veteran! I refer to myself as a ColdWar vet. To me, anyone that falsely claims they were there does a dis-service to those who did their time in-country and should be clearly exposed for the lairs they are!

[tom w]

enlisted in sept. 1975 as soon as I could due to my age. came home in 78 and joined the active reserves. I tried to join the local am-vets. they wouldn't let me in because of when I served. in the 1980s I was on active duty several times in the states. some times as much as 4-6 month at a time . got injured in the line of duty and I am a sevice connected disabled vet. Now the v.f.w. , am-vets , American legion they all want my membership dues. I served like all of us "where they told us to go and did what we were told to do."
combat vets have my admiration and respect. I just didn't get that expereance. I was involved for 13 + years total . in my opinion no veteran should be ashamed of where or how they served. I am very proud to have been there. even if I wasn't in combat.