Yes, assuming they've fought more than one actual fire.

 

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And people who ride motorcycles. I mean there you are bravely injecting badassery and moist panties into the lives of Americans and at any second your selfless sacrifice could be ended by a speeding minivan...

 

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woySeSNBL3o

 

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I suppose I'm a veteran drinker by this definition...


vet·er·an (vtr-n, vtrn)
n.
1. A person who is long experienced or practiced in an activity or capacity: a veteran of political campaigns.
2. A person who has served in the armed forces: "Privilege, a token income . . . were allowed for veterans of both world wars" (Mavis Gallant).
3. An old soldier who has seen long service.
adj.
1. Having had long experience or practice: a veteran actor.
2. Of or relating to former members of the armed forces: veteran benefits.
[Latin veternus, from vetus, veter-, old; see wet-2 in Indo-European roots.]

 

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You say that like they might as well have not even been there.

Think of how many walls were taken down, comm centers destroyed, heavy equipment (tanks/apvs/aircraft/etc) disabled, enemies killed by those ranged fighters. How many of their comrades did they save by pounding the enemy from afar?

Yes there are differences between a grunt and a sailor. But we all put our lives in the hands of the military when we signed up. Some people just choose to use their abilities differently.

I spent 9 years in the Navy, 7 of it assigned to the USS West Virginia (SSBN 736B), a ballistic missile sub. I saw no actual combat. I am still a veteran. All the people I served with, from cook to corpsman to captain are veterans. Everyone that has been in the armed services are veterans.

 

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Don't listen to me, I wouldn't even survive basic training.

 

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In the old days being in the service only, didn't make you a veteran, at least not the kind with benefits.

My Dad was in the Marines in the 1930's, but it was his time in the merchant marines (during WWII) that counted to get him veteran status and into a VA home.

It was only because so many Merchant seamen were killed (it turned out to be more dangerous than the regular marines) that I think, made them get that status.

His first wife got some Congressman to get him a transfer or whatever, which by the way he never wanted.

 

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People who think armchair "patriots" stuffing potato chips down their throats and mouthing off about war without having been to it are ignorant slobs, but won't tell them that because they don't want to talk about it or even waste their time.

Someone who hasn't served: "Hurr durr lets nuke X country and go to war... because America! MARGE IM OUTA PORK RINDS, AND IM STUCK IN THE RECLINER"

 

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By ikkoikki's definition, I would not be a veteran either, simply because my 9 years in the Navy were not spent under fire or in a combat situation. My brother spent 22-ish years in the Army and was involved in *both* Iraqi wars/conflicts. He was an advanced combat scout (his MOS), was a Bradley commander, was fired at by Husseini troops (the elite guard because he was actually behind enemy lines) and returned fire, has had his vehicle blown out from under him, twice, and lost part of a finger during some shelling activity. There is no doubt in my mind that my brother has earned his veteran status.


Now, if you ask my brother if I qualify as a veteran, having spent 6 years in the Navy working in AIMD on a carrier (never under fire) and 3 years working as an instructor safe on a shore station, he would still say I'm a veteran and I earned that right just as much as he did. If you served in the armed forces, and did your job, no matter what it was, you are considered a veteran. If you haven't served, then shut your hole until you do so.





Edit: spelling correction

 

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Yes we get it you're a special snowflake because you served. Now move on.

 

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