I served in the Army from 1985 to 1989, but I have a difficult time considering myself a veteran. I did not see combat, but was mobilized once.
Back in the 80s Central America was a hotbed of activity. In 1987 my unit went to Honduras for a few weeks to train. Our unit was mobilized in 1988 during what was supposed to be a border dispute between Nicaragua and Honduras. It wasn’t anything more than the Sandinista government (which the Reagan administration didn’t like) chasing after the Contra rebels (which everybody knew at the time was backed by the U.S. Government). Supposedly the Sandinista forces crossed the border into Honduras, with filmed evidence broadcast on the news, but it was an erroneous report and Honduras was indeed not being invaded as the scare tactic was implying.
But we were already in the air when it was all made clear the footage was valid, but several miles from where it was reported, and the Sandinista forces had stayed in Nicaragua. Rather than turn back in mid-air, it was decided to use it as an exercise in readiness and not waste resources.
And my unit went to Panama for a few weeks as well.
But no combat.
I chose to enter the service, it was a conscious decision. Many of today’s troops are also volunteers, but have chosen to be in the National Guard, which is supposed to stay within the confines of our country. They have been drafted (in a fashion) to see combat on foreign soil.
The conflict that is currently still going on in Afghanistan and other parts of the region is approaching the length of The Vietnam War, and an entire generation of service members are affected by this. So much is needed to serve those people who did see combat.
I got out of the Army over 20 years ago and never saw combat. So many more people did and don’t brag about it and need our help. You wonder why I don’t tout my status as a veteran? Because in the grand scheme of things, compared to these other men and women, I’m not.