Va Defination Of Combat Vet?

[stillhere]

This is mainly just a curiosity of mine. As many of my fellow Vietnam vets knows, when we landed in the land of the devil back in the 60's quite a few of us served in support units. I served in Red Beach and as luck had it did not even make it to my duty station for over 4 weeks serving in Long Bein 99th Replacement doing guard duty,KP and the like. Anyhow once I did get sent up to my unit I did not work in my MOS due to there were already 3 position filled and one did not open for 4 months. During those 4 months I just sat around going to the PX, Beach and the USO. Yeah right! Actually I pulled perimeter patrol duty (so I could drink during the day) and when I wasn't doing that I pulled tower guard duty. Even after I did finally get to work in my MOS on the flight line I was always armed with a 45 side arm.

Does that mean I should be looked at as a combat vet? or is it just for the 11B infantry badge guys.

Take care one and all and have a Great Thanksgiving!

Stillhere

[71M10]

This might help.

I recently looked into combat Vet / Period of war issue for a person I know who served in Grenada which apparently does not qualify him for NSC pension for veterans that served during a time of war.

§ 3.2 Periods of war.

top

This section sets forth the beginning and ending dates of each war period beginning with the Indian wars. Note that the term

period of war

in reference to pension entitlement under 38 U.S.C. 1521, 1541 and 1542 means all of the war periods listed in this section except the Indian wars and the Spanish-American War. See §3.3(a)(3) and (:)(4)(i).

(a)

Indian wars.

January 1, 1817, through December 31, 1898, inclusive. Service must have been rendered with the United States military forces against Indian tribes or nations.

(B)

Spanish-American War.

April 21, 1898, through July 4, 1902, inclusive. If the veteran served with the United States military forces engaged in hostilities in the Moro Province, the ending date is July 15, 1903. The Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer Rebellion are included.

©

World War I.

April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918, inclusive. If the veteran served with the United States military forces in Russia, the ending date is April 1, 1920. Service after November 11, 1918 and before July 2, 1921 is considered World War I service if the veteran served in the active military, naval, or air service after April 5, 1917 and before November 12, 1918.

(d)

World War II.

December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946, inclusive. If the veteran was in service on December 31, 1946, continuous service before July 26, 1947, is considered World War II service.

(e)

Korean conflict.

June 27, 1950, through January 31, 1955, inclusive.

(f)

Vietnam era.

The period beginning on February 28, 1961, and ending on May 7, 1975, inclusive, in the case of a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period. The period beginning on August 5, 1964, and ending on May 7, 1975, inclusive, in all other cases.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 101(29))

(g)

Future dates.

The period beginning on the date of any future declaration of war by the Congress and ending on a date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of the Congress.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 101)

(h)

Mexican border period.

May 9, 1916, through April 5, 1917, in the case of a veteran who during such period served in Mexico, on the borders thereof, or in the waters adjacent thereto.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 101(30))

(i)

Persian Gulf War.

August 2, 1990, through date to be prescribed by Presidential proclamation or law.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 101(33))

[26 FR 1563, Feb. 24, 1961, as amended at 32 FR 13223, Sept. 19, 1967; 36 FR 8445, May 6, 1971; 37 FR 6676, Apr. 1, 1972; 40 FR 27030, June 26, 1975; 44 FR 45931, Aug. 6, 1979; 56 FR 57986, Nov. 15, 1991; 62 FR 35422, July 1, 1997]

<H5 dir=ltr> </H5>As far as "combat Veteran" three other things come to mind that would verify that status.

1. Purple Heart or Citation with the V device

2. CIB or the new CAB

3. Campaign Medal

I do not know all advantages of a "combat veteran" status has with the VA. I know that the CIB,CAB, Purple Heart or Citation with Valor simplify the verification of stressors for PTSD.

I am sure there are more.....anyone?

Best regards,

Tyler

[Berta]

"The phrase 'engaged in combat with the enemy' requires

that the veteran have personally participated in events

constituting an actual fight or encounter with a military foe

or hostile unit or instrumentality." VAOPGCPREC 12-99 (Oct.

18, 1999) (cited at 65 Fed. Reg. 6256 (Feb. 8, 2000)

[stillhere]

hey Berta,

I twice took enemy fire that I remmember once in tower #4 and once doing a run to Freedom Hill. Took a round in the driver door panel of a duece and a half (I was driving!) Anyhow I got combat pay when I was there as we all did just wondered how and what benefit is there for the insignia of comabt vet?

Take care, Stillhere

[Stretch]

This is a link to 38 USC 1154 and 1154. There have been many hadit post in the past.

http://www.hadit.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8281&hl=1154

[stillhere]

Thanks Stretch I did a search for this on hadit under Vietnam combat vet, and definition of and not much came up. Anyhow your post of the info was pretty much what I was looking for so thank you again.

Stillhere

[Stretch]

Allen helped me with this. His post, of this, was what I needed. The word I used for Hadit search was....1154...

http://www.hadit.com/forums/index.php?show...499&hl=1154