What a strange idea. When does a veteran become a veteran and what is the criteria?

Colin.

Here is the criteria in America:

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Veteran - Is someone who:

* has served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days and was discharged/released

with other than a dishonorable discharge, or

* was discharged/released from active duty because of a service-connected disability, or

* was a member of a reserve component or national guard unit under an order to active

duty, serving on active duty for any length of time during a period of war or in a

campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge is authorized and was

discharged/released from active duty with other than a dishonorable discharge.

Other Veteran - Is a veteran:

* of the Vietnam Era who served in Indo-China or Korea, or the waters adjacent there.

* of the Vietnam Era who is neither a Recently Separated Vietnam Era Veteran nor a Special

Veteran.

Other Eligible Person - A spouse of a veteran who:

* died of a service connected disability;

* is listed as missing, captured, or detained in the line of duty for 90 days or more;

* has a total disability permanent in nature resulting from a service connected disability.

----------------

Can anyone list criteria for English Veterans?

Marion, I assume the USA goes up to the present day (ie. Iraq)?

In the UK we have the GSM, General Service Medal, awarded to those who took part in individual campaigns. I hold the GSM Dohfar which means I was involved in the 1970-71 Oman campaign and at age 68 and after 25 years with the Royal Air Force consider myself a veteran. This is obviously not so!

Colin.

Oh yes, it refers to ALL wars in the United States. This was just taken off an older site.

BTW, I emailed the Parliament to find out what the criteria is in the United Kingdom. Will let you know when I receive an answer.

Marion, I assume the USA goes up to the present day (ie. Iraq)?

In the UK we have the GSM, General Service Medal, awarded to those who took part in individual campaigns. I hold the GSM Dohfar which means I was involved in the 1970-71 Oman campaign and at age 68 and after 25 years with the Royal Air Force consider myself a veteran. This is obviously not so!

 

Colin.

 

Colin, you are without doubt a veteran and should be proud of the fact (i'm sure you are). I hope you have applied to the MOD for yours.

I would also assume that you can DEFINITELY claim the status of veteran. I can't imagine why you wouldn't be Colin!

If you read the criteria I do'nt qualify. I joined the RAF in 1955, but that is not the point. Why do we need a badge - another cost which should have gone to pensions, old age, war and war widows etc. I have written to the government on this subject. Anyway my gongs mean more to me than a lapel badge!

Colin.

Colin, i'm sorry if i've hit a bit of a nerve with this one but i still think it's good idea.

Well I certainly can see both sides of the story. Sometimes things seem wasteful in the overview, so I can understand where Colin is coming from too. What I've heard from so many of the veterans since I began this project is, who the hell needs yet another medal? But... It is not for me to say.

I appreciate hearing both sides and treasure the opinions of both my friends, Bader and Colin.

Thanks Marion, enough said...next topic please

You got it kid!

I second that, thanks to you both.

Colin.

Colin ; I say---Wear it. It's a way for your country to say , "Well Done"

There should be a Medal that America could give to every Brit & Scot back in WWII' for what they did. Against a superior army ( only in size) with massive armament, they should have taken you like THAT, except for one thing. They mistook your quiet way as defeatism. They forgot your upper lip. Here is a conclusion of Churchill's speech to the House of Commons At outbreak of WWII.

Closing remarks

We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy?

I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.

You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory; victory at all costs; victory in spite of all terror; victory, however long and hard the road may be. For without victory, there is no survival.

Let that be realized: no survival for the British Empire; no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal.

But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, "Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength."

To me, an American, this man was the greatest human being of the 20th century. No; of our time. Without him, there would not have been a "D-DAY"

So go ahead and wear your badge; A lot of brave people paid for it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwtwo/chu...ill_audio.shtml