Quantum Windbag
Gold Member
- May 9, 2010
- 58,308
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I believe that your husband's 'take' is the correct one.I didnt know where else to turn for this menial yet so annoying argument that comes up between my husband and father every Veterans Day. My father served in the Air Force from 1951-55 during the Korean war. Although he never went to Korea and saw action, he served in England and Africa. My husband served in the Army in 1966-67 and did see action in Vietnam.
My father wears a hat that says Korean War Veteran and my husband says he cant call himself that because he never was in that country nor saw any action; making my father simply a veterannot a Korean War one. My husband says since he Was in Vietnam and fought that he can call himself a Vietnam Veteran.
Please, please, PLEASE, help me with this!!
Thank you!
If your father holds (or is eligible for) the Korean Service Medal...
...meeting the criteria of the US Dept of Defense as summarized in...
Korean Service Medal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
...then he may rightfully call himself a Korean War Veteran.
Otherwise, he must settle for Korean War -ERA Veteran...
To distinguish himself from those who meet the criteria for the Korean Service Medal.
I am fairly certain that this is the legal definition as set down by the US Dept of Defense.
I am entirely certain that this is the ethical thing to do, according to commonly-accepted principles for such categorization, amongst Veterans themselves.
I looked that the VFW website to see how they define it.
If you have received a campaign medal for overseas service; have served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea; or have ever received hostile fire or imminent danger pay, then you're eligible to join our ranks.
VFW Member Eligibility