Vietnam Veterans Benefits, Part I
The Vietnam War, also known as the Vietnam Conflict, began in 1954. It was fought between the communist regime of North Vietnam (the People’s Army of Vietnam) and the government of South Vietnam (Army of the Republic of Vietnam). North Vietnam was supported by its allies in South Vietnam (the Viet Cong), along with China and the Soviet Union. South Vietnam was backed by the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and South Korea. The war ended in 1975 with the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the North Vietnam army and Viet Cong.
Within the Veterans Administration, veterans who served in the armed forces during the Vietnam Conflict are called “Vietnam-era veterans.” For pension purposes, the VA defines the Vietnam-era as (1) the period from February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975 in the case of a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period, and (2) August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975 in all other cases. Read more
