Right on!

You got it, Jake! They also serve, who type and clean, but moreover, with out them, we'd have had to do it instead of flying in harms way resupplying, inserting, extracting and med-evacing the real war veterans, the Ground Pounders!

Viet Nam Veteran Classifications

Government definitation:

Vietnam Era Veteran:
(1) Served in the military, ground, naval or air service of the U.S. on active duty for a period of time more than 180 days, and was discharged or released therefrom with other than a dishonorable discharge, if any part of such active duty occurred:
I) in the Republic of Vietnam between 2/28/61 and 5/7/75; or
II) between 8/5/64 and 5/7/75 in all other cases; or

(2) Was discharged or released from active duty for a service connected disabliity if any part of such active duty was performed:
I) in the Republic of Vietnam between 2/28/61 and 5/7/75; or
II) between 8/5/64 and 5/7/75 in all other cases.

I found the previous definitation over and over but nowhere in my research did I find anything that documented the government making a distinction between a Viet Nam Era Veteran and a Viet Nam Veteran. That greatly surprised me because I was always under the impression that a Viet Nam Era Veteran was anyone who served anywhere in the Armed Forces during the period between 8/5/64 and 5/7/75. I also thought that to be a Viet Nam Veteran, you had to be "boots on the ground" in Viet Nam or aboard a U.S. Naval vessel off the shores of Viet Nam supporting the war effort during that same period. Imagine my surprise.

As far as a "Viet Nam Combat Veteran", this is the first place I've seen that label used. I can only assume ya'll are refering to a Viet Nam Vetern who qualifies for the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR).

The CAR was instituted in 1969, retroactive to 01Mar61 and later, by order of President Clinton, to 7Dec41. The principal eligibility criterion is that the individual must have participated in a bona fide ground or surface combat fire fight or action during which he was under enemy fire and his performance while under fire was satisfactory. Air combat does not qualify for the CAR. (It doesn't make sense to me but that's what it said. I didn't make that up.)

As for the Presidental Unit Citation (PUC), The 1st Marine Air Wing in Viet Nam was awarded the PUC and the citation reads "and all subordinate units". That means that anyone who served in Viet Nam in a unit whose parent unit was 1st MAW, rates the PUC.

I served with 1st LAAM Bn from 31Aug65 until 22Aug66 at Da Nang, on Monkey Mtn. Because 1st LAAM Bn was attached to 1st Maw, we rate the PUC.

I know this thread is rather old but I just surfed in and noticed some confusion over these issues. I hope I haven't bored ya'll.

Semper Fi