Posted on May 29, 2024
SGT Nelson Stahl
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I would just like to see how other veterans feel about our government giving "veterans's benefits" to people who did not sever in our military. The bill I reference is Senate Bill 973 in the PA legislature, giving benefits to Korean solders who fought in the Korean army in Vietnam, who later became US citizens. I know there are similar bills in other states. While the benefit is small, I believe anyone who did not serve in our military should not be entailed to collect as if they had. I don't deny they may have helped our effort but they still did not serve our country.
Posted in these groups: Main benefits 1335181026 Benefits
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CPT Staff Officer
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Edited 3 mo ago
This is a very small population the bill is targeting and applies only to the state.
1) I'm curious the success anyone would have taking a Korean Army discharge paperwork and jumping through the state VA hoops with it to get said benefits.
2) I wonder how many are going to even bother trying.
3) The bill is more symbolic than anything.
4) The USA is the most powerful and richest nation in the history of civilization, and is propped up by the blood of those willing to be placed in harms way for its interests and those who step up to the task are becoming fewer and fewer among its own citizens. It's of nominal burden for the nation to extend a minimal gratitude to those who have stepped up in support of those interests and later became US Citizens.
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SGT Nelson Stahl
SGT Nelson Stahl
3 mo
As I said the benefit is small. My problem is them being recognized for something they didn't serve for. It is the symbolism of this bill I object to, not the cost or how many apply. We serve to defend our nation, these people did not and should not be recognized as having done so.
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SrA Cecelia Eareckson
SrA Cecelia Eareckson
3 mo
I don't see how you can think that no Korean soldiers were any help to our GI's.
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1SG Dean Mcbride (MPER) (CPHR)
1SG Dean Mcbride (MPER) (CPHR)
3 mo
CPT (Join to see) The USA is not the richist country in the world. Depending on what factors are used, various countries migrat to the top of the list. If measured by GDP, China has surpassed the US as the richest country in the world with a GDP of $35.29 trillion, as of 2024. China's economy is backed by a large manufacturing capacity as it is the largest manufacturing country in the world. On every scale you look at, the USA is never in the top five!
According to a forecast by Fathom Consulting, by 2100, Asian economies such as China and India are expected to lead the global economy with the highest GDP share. The report forecasts China to have a share of 22.68% and reach $101 trillion by 2100.
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CPT Staff Officer
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Edited 3 mo ago
Sooooooooooooo.................... my USAR position is directly tied to the Korean Peninsula. Every year I spend my annual training over there. I have even earned the Korean Defense Medal while in reserve status because I've been over there so many times.

My official title on my Unit Manning Report is: Combined Movement Transportation Command Surface Director. Which is a fancy title for an O4 billet that is in charge of tracking and coordinating movement of a subset logistical transportation assets.

I spend my time directly working with South Korean counterparts in the same building sharing the same equipment sitting in the same briefings to the same combined general command with both US and S Korean flag officers all to achieve the same objective.

The current US relationship South Korea cannot be overstated. It technically has never diminished since the Korean War.

When considering the diplomatic weight of this gesture at the state legislature level I think A LOT MORE should be considered given the reality of the world and the importance of the South Korean contribution to US interests and world power balance.
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SGT Nelson Stahl
SGT Nelson Stahl
3 mo
This is not about Koreans, this is about honoring people who did not serve in our military for service they did not preform. Why should anyone who did not wear the uniform be treated as if they had? Should we give Army metals to our steelworkers who made the guns?
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MSG Stan Hutchison
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I do not know when you served, but every US military person that served in the Vietnam War should know the contribution the ROK soldiers made to our war effort. A small token of respect and gratitude is well earned.
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