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Posted by PARKER
on 9/30/2009, 7:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Wanabe Vietnam Vets"
205.188.116.134
Well, Mr. Peterson... I would have to disagree with you, if I'm understanding your response; it is a bit confusing, afterall. Either you were stationed "in country"... or, you weren't. If "not"... you would qualify as a "Viet Nam Era, Veteran"... nothing more. Only those actually having served "in country" have the right to claim "Viet Nam Veteran" status. Hell, I served at a Hawk Missile site for 18 mos., in Korea (10/'66 - 04/'68)(and, do proudly assert that not one damn Viet Cong ever made it north of Kunsan City, during my 'watch'): certainly, a 'Viet Nam Era' Veteran, BUT NOT HARDLY, "a Veteran of active duty, serving "IN" Viet Nam, during that same period". THERE IS A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE, PAL. SO, no... not an "over-reaction", at all. I share Robert's disgust with "pretentious posers, fakes, and frauds". If you actually served in the military, at all, congrats. Nothing to be ashamed of simply because you weren't stationed "in country". The vast majority of us were stationed elsewhere. Many others were 'in country' in supportive rolls... never saw a lick of combat. They still qualify, however, as Viet Nam Vets. CLEAR?
Now then, if you look elsewhere on this site you will see a reference to one Sgt. Robert Dale Herreid, US Army, Special Forces, Viet Nam. MIA - KIA, body never recovered... never returned. Bobby Herreid was not a "poser"... he was the real deal. I grew up with Bobby and he was one of my best friends, at Mooseheart, Ill., an orphanage near Aurora, ILL. Bobby was a great kid, friend, student, athlete... loved and admired by all who knew him. He served his country well, and bravely. That kid will always be a genuine "hero", in my eyes, and it remains a damn shame that his remains were abandoned there on the side of that mountain, back in '68. RIP, Bobby... you deserved so much better than that.
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