Beginning service when the war was going on is considered Vietnam "Era." A veteran doesn't have to serve "in country" to meet "Era" status.
Only the VA can answer that question; it's their rules.
Anyone regardless of rank, branch of service, or jobspeciality, who served in country or in the waters off the coast and were awarded a Vietnam campaign ribbon indicating that they did so is a Vietnam veteran, regardless of the job they performed. The guy who was a chaplain's assistant, cook or clerk typist etc, who served there is a Vietnam veteran just as the combat veteran.
No particular individual defined the term. A veteran, in this sense, means someone who served in a particular conflict, Vietnam in this case.
Since the youngest age for legal enlistment was 17 at the time of the Vietnam War, one could postulate that the birth date of the "youngest" Vietnam Veteran could have been January 1st, 17 years previous to the last date on which US troops were in Vietnam. That day would have been the day the US Embassy was evacuated after Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army. However, there have always been men who enlisted by falsification of their age. This was more common in World War Two, but there are cases during Vietnam where a soldier managed to get through Basic Training and Advanced Individual training before being discovered. Also, the Mayaguez Incident is considered part of the Vietnam War, so you should also consider the US Marines and US Air Force personnel who served in that short conflict.
Beginning service when the war was going on is considered Vietnam "Era." A veteran doesn't have to serve "in country" to meet "Era" status.
Check with TODAYs VA. They change their rules (federal laws) frequently. They up-date them, change them, add to them, and delete them. During the Vietnam days, reserves (Army and Air National Guard & USAR/USNR/USMCR/etc) normally did not receive veteran status credit for active duty TRAINING days. They did receive vet status if they performed active duty for OTHER THAN TRAINING purposes. Examples: Reservists & Guardsmen of the Colorado/New Mexico/Iowa/and New York AIR National Guard are Vietnam Vets because they flew their National Guard F100 Super Sabre jets in Vietnam for one tour (they flew approximately 30,000 combat sorties). Kentucky & New Hampshire sent their Army National Guard 2/138th Field Artillery & 3/197th Field guns to Vietnam; these men are Vietnam veterans.
He is a Vietnam Era Veteran.
Only the VA can answer that question; it's their rules.
He/She is a Veitnam Era Veteran.
Anyone wearing a US military uniform and performing honorable service is a veteran
Anyone regardless of rank, branch of service, or jobspeciality, who served in country or in the waters off the coast and were awarded a Vietnam campaign ribbon indicating that they did so is a Vietnam veteran, regardless of the job they performed. The guy who was a chaplain's assistant, cook or clerk typist etc, who served there is a Vietnam veteran just as the combat veteran.
Bob is a member of the Rotary club and a Vietnam Veteran.
The cast of No Unwounded Soldiers - 2007 includes: Frank Attruia as Vietnam veteran Grace Bell as World War II veteran Edward Borucki as World War II veteran George LaBounty as Vietnam veteran Mary Lou Lauricella as Drama Therapist Lewis Mungo as Vietnam veteran Al Perrault as Vietnam veteran Janet Rilance as Sister of Vietnam veteran Robert Timmins as Iraq veteran
Unless you actually served in Viet Nam you are not a Viet Nam Veteran. You are considered a Veteran. I served from 1964-1967 and never was sent to Viet Nam, but was sent to Germany. I am a Veteran but not a Viet Nam Veteran.Additional infoVietnam vets are vets that served from 1964 to 1975 and received the Vietnam Service Metal (VSM ). The military had regulations covering who received the VSM. So since you did not serve during those dates, you would not be eligible for the VSM and therefore not considered a Vietnam Veteran. (If you had served anytime from 1964 to 1975 and had not received the VSM, you would be referred to as a Vietnam Era Veteran.
Veteran and non-veteran donations.
All of them!