Complex sentence: Blumenthal explained that he meant to say he served "during" Vietnam, not "in" Vietnam, and he stressed that "there were no special favors, no privileges involved" in his securing a slot in the Marine Reserves.
Split into simpler sentences: Blumenthal explained that he meant to say he served "during" Vietnam, not "in" Vietnam. And he stressed that "there were no special favors, no privileges involved" in his securing a slot in the Marine Reserves.