Vietnam Commemoration

[Sooner Rider]

Thank you Mike and Kevin for your posts and your service. I also am one of those that never set foot in Vietnam, but I am what I call a Vietnam area veteran. I say that because in 72 I served at Ubon in Thailand, which was about 30 miles from Laos and 45 miles from Cambodia. So, without a doubt, I was in the area and my work directly supported the F-4 Phantoms that flew into Vietnam everyday. But, even though I was really close, I have been told more than once, even from some on here, that they do not consider me a Vietnam vet because I was never in country. But, I bet they did appreciate those F-4's showing up when they needed them.

The thing I want to also say is if you were in the military during that time, you were always just a set of orders away from going to Vietnam.

RandyA

 

Hey Randy, I too was at Ubon from Nov 72-Nov 73. I was with the 8th Air Base Defense Sq. I worked primarily in the heavy weapons section and supported the off base "Delta Sector" bomb dump. Lived in the old "Tin Hooches" there on the main base. What a tour of duty that was.

 

As for the Nam Vet issue. Your DD214 should recognize your award of the Viet Nam Campaign and the Viet Nam Service Medals. They are awarded specifically for:

 

This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1) Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; 2) Served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. Only members of the Armed Forces of the United States who meet the criteria established for the AFEM (Vietnam) or Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service required are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces;

 

In country or not, You earned them my friend.