Question for Veterans.

JD Mandrell

JD Mandrell

Joined
Apr 20, 2001
Messages
18,423
I realize that all veterans have served their country, but are the phrases "I served my country" and "I fought for my country" considered the same?

My question stems from a conversation I heard recently, where a young woman that had been in the military, repeatedly told some friends that she had "fought for my country", but when someone at the table asked her where she served Iraq or Afghanistan, she replied "Germany". (She worked in supply)

I'm not knocking supply people, military forces couldn't go long without them, but I am curious if it is appropriate for non-combat personnel to say they "fought for"???
 
That's a tough one to answer. On the one hand I agree that 'served' and 'fought for' aren't the same. The VFW and American Legion make that distinction regarding membership, anyone who served during wartime is eligible to join the AL whereas one has to have been awarded certain campaign ribbons to join the VFW.

On the other hand if someone is in the military during wartime they don't really have a choice where they're stationed and those behind the lines are still supporting those who are actually in combat, so in a sense they are 'fighting for' in their own way.

I guess after all that I didn't really answer your question. Personally I wouldn't say I'd 'fought for' unless I was in a combat zone but that's me. I'm not sure how I'd look at someone that was in the rear and said 'fought for', I think a lot would depend upon how they acted...i.e. were they boastful about what they did or just used it as a phrase.
 
As a non combat veteran I never say that I fought for my country. I am proud to say that I served ( 4 yrs USAF - 1934 Comm Sqdn).
 
Was she in Germany circa 1940's? If not she didn't fight anything. Until she deploys she might want to consider just sticking with facts. I've been to Afghanistan and I use neither, I just state that I've deployed.
 
I only say I served. Had I fought, there probably wouldn't be anyone to tell. Nuclear weapons are funny that way.
 
I served in the Navy as a jet mech. While I didn't serve in combat per se, my dates of service qualify me to join the VFW. I don't tell people I fought, because my planes didn't, and I haven't joined the VFW because I can't tolerate cigarette smoke anymore.
 
I wear my CIB on my vest and I wear that every day. (pic)
l_83a1575a9d4047f9bc2d6875c48fc394.jpg


Most people don't know what it means and they don't get much out of me because they don't know to ask. Those who do know inherently have some kind of understanding of what earning that badge entails. Those people I would have more of a tendency to discuss things with. Those that don't understand won't understand. And yes, I'd say I fought for my country ;)
 
Joe-Bob, you sure about that? I'm pretty sure when I joined the VFW they didn't ask me about dates of service, I had to have campaign medals on my DD 214.

I personally would prefer the phrase "fought for my country" be the territory of people that deployed but whatever. When someone asks her her deployment dates and areas and she stammers and makes excuses, SHE knows what she should be saying.
 
I am a veteran and served under two different war time campaigns. I was forward deployed to staging areas close to the sand but never in it because that's what my job responsibilities were. I would never tell anyone I "fought for my country" because there are others doing much more than I ever have. Well, I've actually never said "I served my country" to anyone either. People that know me know that I served my country and people that don't know me... well... don't know me.

I know people are proud of their service, but to parade around telling people "I fought for my country" as if to say "you owe me something" is just plain pompus (sp?)
 
My dad was drafted in WWII. At his induction physical, the doctor said that he was letting him in but he bet he would never be able to stay in because of his stomach ulcers. He was at Camp Blanding, Florida for basic training. During a training exercise, he was in a foxhole in the sand when a tank caved it in on top of him. The combination of complications from this plus bleeding ulcers caused them to send him home.

Several years ago our small town erected a veteran's memorial on which families could have their veteran's names engraved for a reasonable fee. I offered to pay for his name, and he refused because, "I never went to fight."

If he were still around, I know how he would answer the OP's question.
 
I really don't bring it up. When someone asks, the conversation is like this:
person: were you in the military?
me: yes
person: where at?
me: Vietnam
person: you were in Vietnam?
me: yes
person: what did you do?
me: oh --- we blew people up.
person: oh
conversation almost always ends.
 
At least you got to blow people up... In Iraq we just got shot at, were'nt allowed to do much else :(
 
Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with someone saying "fought" as long as they were in the service during a shooting war/conflict.

While in Germany she was helping to "fight" the enemy in Iraq/Afghanistan by doing her job in supply.

I also believe that anyone who enlists/reinlists... whether in time of war or not, is essentially saying "I volunteer to stop a bullet and die in service to my country for X years should need be." even if they never have (the opportunity:confused:) to prove it.

Someone who says that they saw "combat" would be a different thing all together though.:mad:
 
I personally kept the Russians from swarming over the East German border in the mid-sixties....

I also fired numbers of blank rounds at the agressors....
 
Will Leavitt said:
Joe-Bob, you sure about that? I'm pretty sure when I joined the VFW they didn't ask me about dates of service, I had to have campaign medals on my DD 214.
Click to expand...

Correct. The American Legion looks at dates of service to determine eligibility, the VFW looks at campaign medals.
 
I served my Country - USAF '81 - '87, did not fight for my country. I hold anyone who actually fought in a higher regard. When you join the service you do what is asked of you and even when we are in a war not everyone fights.
 
BlackHills said:
Correct. The American Legion looks at dates of service to determine eligibility, the VFW looks at campaign medals.
Click to expand...

I lost my AL card but I still get the monthly newsletter. I stopped going when I quit drinking. It's soooo easy for a guy like me to wind up plastered at my local AL. Eventually as I get a little stronger in my sobriety, I'd like to start going to functions again. I'm guessing it wouldn't be too hard to get a replacement membership card. I must admit it is kinda weird being the youngest guy there.
 
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