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News-Sentinel.com Your Town. Your Voice.
Opening Arguments

A veteran campaigner

I wouldn't call this guy a liar, but he's certainly trying to create a false impression:

The national commander of the American Legion never served in Vietnam although he describes himself as a "Vietnam veteran," a newspaper reported Sunday.

Paul Morin, who was elected Aug. 31 to a one-year term as commander of the nation's largest veterans organization, spent his time in the Army from 1972 to 1974 at Fort Dix, N.J., The Boston Sunday Globe reported.

Neither the federal government nor the 2.7 million-member American Legion makes a formal distinction between veterans who served in Vietnam and those known as "Vietnam-era" veterans.

"I am a Vietnam veteran," Morin, of Chicopee, Mass., told the newspaper. His biography on the Legion's Web site also describes Morin as a "Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Army."

The Legion's top spokesman, Joe March, backed Morin's position. He said any current service member stationed in the United States at present could claim to be an Iraq war veteran.

Maybe the Legion and the federal government don't make a distinction between "Vietnam veteran" and "Vietnam-era veteran," but veterans do. Whenever they get together and one says, "I'm a Vietnam vet," the first question always is, "Where did you serve?" "New Jersey" is not an acceptable answer. It's interesting to note that before he sought the national commander's post, Morin did refer to himself as a "Vietnam-era veteran." Just another case of a politician saying whatever he thinks he needs to in order to get elected.

Posted in: Current Affairs

Comments

tim zank
Mon, 12/04/2006 - 1:36pm

That's a pretty cheesy way to get elected, I'm surprised most Vietnam Vets aren't calling for his head. Actually, ANY veteran ought to be offended by that.

Leo Morris
Mon, 12/04/2006 - 1:45pm

Bring me the head of Paul Morin.

Larry Morris
Mon, 12/04/2006 - 1:47pm

Yes, I bet most of us are (offended). My situation is a little complicated and sometimes I'm tempted to say I also was a Vietnam era vet, but I don't. I say I was in Korea

Bob G.
Mon, 12/04/2006 - 4:01pm

Mr Morin must have missed the first few minutes of PATTON where he addreses the 3rd Army troops and states:
When your grandson sits on your knee and asks what did YOU do in the war...you won't have to answer: Well, I shoveled S**T in Louisiana...!

There's a HUGE diference between vets from a specific war/conflict/battle AND those from that "era"...

And maybe Mr. Morin needs to ask some other VETS what those differences might be...

Hell, I never say I made it through the Vietnam "era"...(what's next, the "Iraqi Era"?).

There are VETERANS of WARS...and there are veterans of the armed services...two distinct aspects of the same servicemen and women who safeguard our freedoms every day. Mr. Morin just needs to take a remedial course in VETERANS 101...that's all.

B.G.

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