Vietnam Veterans
Who is a Vietnam veteran? The VAWatchdog definition, only one of many, is any veteran who participated with boots on the ground service or Blue - Brown Water Navy service.
There are also Vietnam era veterans...those who served honorably but did not participate in combat or close combat support.
There are differences in benefits as well as marked differences in our experiences. Most who served elsewhere were willing to go to Vietnam and simply followed orders to be stationed in other places.
Other definitions say that anyone who served in the era is a "Vietnam veteran". That may be correct. We all suffered the consequences of the war in one way or another.
2/503rd Vietnam Newsletter June 2012
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This "Report of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Vietnam Task Force", was commissioned by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in 1967. In June of 1971, small portions of the report were leaked to the press and widely distributed. However, the publications of the report that resulted from these leaks were incomplete and suffered from many quality issues.
VAWatchdog and Vietnam veteran Mike writes to say:
"Welcome Home, I always love to see these things so timely and rewarding."
He's referring, of course, to the politically correct bandwagon that every politician in America is scrambling to get onto. It was announced yesterday that all these good folks are welcoming home the Vietnam veteran. There has been about as much planning as the naming of a post office or declaring a short stretch of highway as a Purple Heart Trail.
Talk is cheap, particularly when it's another bloviating politician trying to keep his lucrative job. Rather than endless yammering about how much the Vietnam veteran is respected, how about clearing out 500,000 or so claims that are lingering in the vaults of VAROs everywhere? Instead of orations, how about some action?
This is a good lesson for those younger vets who are coming home today to no jobs, veterans courts, a VA health care system that is more dysfunctional by the day and endless waiting for a claim to be properly resolved.
Brothers and sisters, look at the Vietnam veteran. For you, it's only going to get worse.
The U.S. Senate yesterday declared March 30th as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, agreeing unanimously to a resolution introduced by Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.
On March 30, 1973, all U.S. troops withdrew from Vietnam under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. This March 30th, the Senate has encouraged Americans across the country to recognize Vietnam veterans for their sacrifice and demonstrate a warm welcome to these soldiers who returned from war to a politically divided country.
I am pleased that the Senate has agreed to set aside a day to give our Vietnam veterans a warm, long-overdue welcome home. I strongly encourage communities throughout North Carolina and across the country to observe this day with activities and events that honor these veterans for their service. Its time they receive the recognition they have earned and deserve. This day also provides our nation with an important teaching moment.
Never again should our men and women serving in the armed forces receive the same treatment as those returning from Vietnam, said Senator Richard Burr.
More links to all the parades and ceremonies honoring you today.
Too little. Too late.
It Can Be Done: Suing The Veterans Administration
Jeffrey A. Milman, Esq. Founding Partner at Hodes-Milman-Lieback
