Veterans

mrmpa

(4,033 posts) Wed Jun 7, 2017, 02:07 PM Jun 2017

Question on behalf of my better half..........

he served in the Marine Corps from 1968-'72. He was assigned as a Fleet Marine & served aboard 2 ships. One ship was in the China Sea & shelled Vietnam.

Though he was not on the ground in Vietnam, is he eligible for a Combat Ribbon? He calls himself a Vietnam Era Vet, but some Vets he has met at the VA say he is indeed a "Vietnam Vet", is he?

We are trying to straighten out his ribbons, when he was discharged a Second Lieutenant filled out his papers & we are pretty sure he is missing some awards.

Thanks.

7 replies

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Question on behalf of my better half.......... (Original Post) mrmpa Jun 2017 OP

I would say so. "One ship was in the China Sea & shelled Vietnam." He was part of that war. The Wielding Truth Jun 2017 #1

USMC Combat Action Ribbon Criteria douglas9 Jun 2017 #2

Yes The River Jun 2017 #3

There lies the problem......... mrmpa Jun 2017 #5

The nearest "Federal Building" will have a Veterans Administration floor. denbot Jun 2017 #4

He was at the VA today...... mrmpa Jun 2017 #6

He might be able to look up his regiments history. denbot Jun 2017 #7

The Wielding Truth

(11,423 posts)

1. I would say so. "One ship was in the China Sea & shelled Vietnam." He was part of that war.

Reply to mrmpa (Original post)

Wed Jun 7, 2017, 02:13 PM

Jun 2017

So that makes him a Vietnam War Vet.

douglas9

(4,491 posts)

2. USMC Combat Action Ribbon Criteria

Reply to mrmpa (Original post)

Thu Jun 8, 2017, 11:29 AM

Jun 2017

http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?506-USMC-Combat-Action-Ribbon-Criteria

http://www.amervets.com/201areq.htm

The River

(2,615 posts)

3. Yes

Reply to mrmpa (Original post)

Thu Jun 8, 2017, 03:45 PM

Jun 2017

The waters off of Vietnam (Gulf of Tonkin not China Sea) were a part of the
combat zone. If his ship was shelling the coast he participated in combat. He is a Vietnam Vet not Vietnam Era. He should have a ribbon/medal that looks like my avatar.

His DD 214 should list all the awards he is eligible to wear.
Lots of web sites sell replacement medals/ribbons

mrmpa

(4,033 posts)

5. There lies the problem.........

Reply to The River (Reply #3)

Fri Jun 9, 2017, 11:09 AM

Jun 2017

a 2nd Lieutenant filled out his discharge forms & did not list ribbons & awards we believe should have been noted.

denbot

(9,914 posts)

4. The nearest "Federal Building" will have a Veterans Administration floor.

Reply to mrmpa (Original post)

Thu Jun 8, 2017, 09:55 PM

Jun 2017

You can fill out forms there to have medals or ribbons noted on your DD-214.

Years ago I called the Naval Records Office in D.C., and told a clerk my name, ship, and when I was on it. It took a while but one call seemed to have worked faster then filling out a records correction request to add a campaign ribbon to my DD-214

mrmpa

(4,033 posts)

6. He was at the VA today......

Reply to denbot (Reply #4)

Fri Jun 9, 2017, 11:11 AM

Jun 2017

to get new hearing aids. I asked him to check with someone as to how he could get his personnel records, because he has forgotten the names of the ships he was assigned to.

We got a contact to follow up with.

denbot

(9,914 posts)

7. He might be able to look up his regiments history.

Reply to mrmpa (Reply #6)

Fri Jun 9, 2017, 01:38 PM

Jun 2017

It will note where and when a unit was deployed.

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