To The Reader’s Forum:

My name is Dan Colwell. I am a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. Yes, I said war! I served in the Army in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division as a grunt (infantryman) from November 1968 to November 1969. For a long time now I make a special effort to reach out to all veterans and active duty military to thank them for their service. When he or she is a Vietnam veteran I share a special “Welcome home” which often includes a hug. Sometimes wwe recognize each other from possibly a hat, lapel pin, t-shirt, decal, bumper sticker or license plate, or maybe just a couple of words overheard in a conversation.

Recently, a car pulled into a parking space next to me with a Vietnam Veteran New York state license plate with campaign ribbon. As he stepped out of his vehicle I asked him what unit he was with and when he was in Vietnam so that I could extend my thank you and welcome home. After untying his tongue he admitted he never served in Vietnam but was a veteran. He shared that he had taken his discharge papers (dd214) to the DMV to purchase a veteran license plate. They gave this gentleman, who had never served in Vietnam, this license plate because his dates of service were during the Vietnam War (1961 to 1975).

I called the DMV to confirm what he had told me and found out that anyone who served between those years can purchase a Vietnam veteran license plate with campaign ribbon without any proof of serving in Vietnam! As a man who fought and lost friends during that war this is a slap in the face, not only to me but all the other men and women who served in Vietnam — especially the 58,220 that returned home in a flag-draped coffin.

My question to New York state lawmakers, including Gov. Cuomo, is what are you thinking?

I called state Senator Cathy Young’s office to express my feelings. I hope you will do the same! The Jamestown number is 664-4603 or Olean is 372-4901. The New York state DMV special plate number is 518-402-4838.

P.S. I guess there are a lot of Sidney Blumenthals out there! When we arrived home from Vietnam it was like having the plague; a lot of people just didn’t want to be around us. Now, a lot of people pretend they were us!

Dan Colwell

Ashville