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

[Stretch]

USS Liberty, was thrashed; many men, most of the crew, died and were injured from bullet wounds from a hostile force. These men from the Liberty, were not in the Combat Zone. Does this register as a drive by shootings?

The USS Forestall and USS Enterprise blew up in a fire ball, of domino explosions on the flight deck. These ships were on Combat Ops.. Many men died and were severely injured. Were these people considered Domestic Accidents, because they did not have "Boots on the Ground"? One of the Enterprise survivors, who scrapped up bodies, was transfered to my shop on a cross-deck. He looked like he was in the same state of shock that I was in. The stories he told were horrible.

I watched many men die in the Combat Zone; in the US, and around the world. Are these deaths considered Domestic?

Many pilots shot down; like Lt. Creed, had "Boots on the Ground" temporarily, are they considered AO presumptive? Lt. Creed was posthumously awarded the grade of Lt. Commander and pronounced dead after 7 years of MIA status.

Many others died, in the combat zone, but within the 'Gulf of Tonkin' and not with a 'Boot on the Ground'. Should these mens name be taken of 'The Wall'? I witnessed Seaman A.C. Crain die, in an hero effort, trying to save a pilot that launch ejected in night flight ops. His name is not on 'The Wall', but should be. It was written in the record that he fell overboard and was lost at sea on a day that we were not in the combat zone. This drives me and has driven me MAD, because it could have/should have been me. We were the only two in a position to do something.

The VA, DoD, and CIA covering up situations like this needs to stop. Anyone caught altering, discarding, deliberately misconstruing, or falsifying medical records, ships events, or SMR needs to be investigated. There is already a law about this, but it needs to be enforced.

I think before another General is awarded the position of the Sec. of the VA, he should be forced to work on the flight deck of an AirCraft Carrier, and I don't mean the crows nest either, for a period of 2 years before confirmation. Sure I am mad as hell; this because the BEAN-COUNTERS, who have never been in service, determine who was injured, who was not injured, and who will continue to live.

[stillhere]

So back to my original question in my case would I benefit from filing for combat status? Or is this even anything that you actually do. I would appreciate the feedback.

Stillhere

[chongo]

Stillhere

Are you bitching or bragging?

[rentalguy1]

What if your dd-214 doesn't reflect anything because "it never happened?" Just throwing it out there...

[john999]

According to what I have read AO is an instrumentality of war. That helps in concurrent receipt cases.

[LLoyd USMC]

Back in 1967 when I got my disability the VA had a "war time" rate at least that is what I think it was called or "combat rate" any way my SSO thought IT was a big deal to get that...Im not sure what it meant or what it was for

LLoyd