In March 1968 I was laying in bed around 9:00 PM listening to President Johnson explain to America that he was activating 25,000 National Guard and reserve troops for Vietnam. The next day my unit was activated, it was the 141st Truck Company, Orange, New Jersey. On May 20, 1968, we deployed…to Anniston, Alabama.
I remained on active duty until August 1969. With 100% legitimacy, I can say I am a Vietnam era veteran. While 90% of my fellow guardsman in the 141st did go to Vietnam, I was not among them.
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Please don’t let me misspeak on the Senate floor
Back in 1968-69 we joked that Alabama was only a step above Vietnam, but certainly not sufficiently so to claim combat veteran status.
Since 1969, I do not recall misspeaking that I was in Vietnam or a Vietnam veteran, but then again I have never run for political office either.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
I’m not running for political office either, but I know the difference between being a Vietnam-era veteran and being a Vietnam veteran; I actually did a tour in-country (’71 -’72). Anyone who was actually there would no better than to ‘misspeak’ on the subject.
Aren’t we supposed to be holding our ‘leaders’ to a higher standard? It can’t be THAT hard to tell the factual truth (as opposed to the other kind) about your service.
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