Please don't thank me for my service???

[CQB27]

may

may be you guys have lost a little focus here, with all do respect,have you forgot what and whom your fighting for.seems a bit distant and cold to not want appreciation! and there again with little understanding of what it means to be a vet is is what we have to work with..I throw my hand up at my neighbors as they walk by some wave back and after so many times of not waving back i give them the finger..take it where and when you get it!

Nobody has lost focus, and nobody has forgotten what the fighting was like or who it was for. I will not speak for everybody, but I will say this for myself. I didn't fight for you or your family, or to defend anybody's notion of freedom. I fought because I took an oath, it was my job, and I fought for the men that fought for me. That's it, nothing more. It might sound harsh, but it's my truth. To be thanked for something I didn't do and to have to feign appreciation makes me feel dishonorable. I don't like it, and I long ago decided to stop feeling sorry because of the truth of it all.

I hope that sheds some light on the way I feel, and the way I think some others feel too. I think it's wonderful that you are thankful for the military and the service the armed forces have provided. Let that be enough, for us all.

 

[CQB27]

I'm really kinda lost on this. I spent 6 years in the army back in 83-89. But it was all peacetime. Never fired a shot nor had one fired at me. So my service is cheap compared to the men who spilled blood and lost brothers. Both older men and younger. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud that I stood cold nights guard facing east in Europe, keeping the Soviets at bay. But that's all over now and the former soviets have invaded freely...heck I even married one.

I did nothing to earn the deep, heartfelt respect and appreciation that blooded warriors have. I'm enough of a patriot and veteran to know that it's never done for kudos and thanks. It's because it is the right thing to do. It's a duty felt in the soul and it's an honor to stand tall for what you believe in and love. But I know I never earned the right to think for one second that I "get it".

You are wrong about your service being cheap compared to someone who spent time down range.

 

[righter13]

You are wrong about your service being cheap compared to someone who spent time down range.

Agreed. Signing on the line is what matters. You have no control over where you were sent.

 

[drewga11]

Nobody has lost focus, and nobody has forgotten what the fighting was like or who it was for. I will not speak for everybody, but I will say this for myself. I didn't fight for you or your family, or to defend anybody's notion of freedom. I fought because I took an oath, it was my job, and I fought for the men that fought for me. That's it, nothing more. It might sound harsh, but it's my truth. To be thanked for something I didn't do and to have to feign appreciation makes me feel dishonorable. I don't like it, and I long ago decided to stop feeling sorry because of the truth of it all.

I hope that sheds some light on the way I feel, and the way I think some others feel too. I think it's wonderful that you are thankful for the military and the service the armed forces have provided. Let that be enough, for us all.

This is pretty much in line with how I feel about it. I signed up because it was what I wanted to do, not because I thought I was defending freedom or it was some kind of duty I had to do.

I don't like the thanks because it seems like its become cliché and sounds rather hollow from most people. To me, it sounds like an automatic, unemotional, uncaring response when someone finds out I served and immediately says, "Oh, thanks for your service." While I know most people don't intend it that way, it's gotten to the point where it almost seems insulting now.

The only time that really got me was returning from Iraq and the first people we see after getting off the plane in DFW was a long line of Vietnam vets waiting to shake our hands and thank us for our service. It just didn't feel right that they were thanking us after what they went through in Vietnam. At that point, I wanted to turn around and get back on the plane because I didn't feel like we had done enough to deserve that.

 

[zipcode]

Lost me at it being reserved for folks w the DD214 part.

DD214 discharge

 

[wnchstrtnfldvlle]

It's a double edge sword for me. I guess I could explain it like this, when you do something so much, or hear something so much that it becomes routine then it has lost its impact. For example, awhile ago I told my wife that we were saying "I love you" too much. Crazy right. But when you say it that much it becomes routine. It's the same thing when someone thanks me for my service. If it comes across as routine then I just simply smile and say thanks. If it seems truly heartfelt and sincere then I may interact a lot more with that person, really connect and possibly swap stories.

The thing that I have been noticing a lot more lately and that bothers me so so so much more is the self-righteous, entitled attitudes coming from soldiers nowadays. If I have to see another post or thread or meme about how awesome we are, and how dare the world talk about anything other than our military I just might go John Q up in here. lol. On facebook mostly, but it comes from all walks of the military and it bothers me. No we shouldn't make what an NFL star makes. Taxpayers pay our salaries dip****s. Who cares if the media discusses the latest style trends. Not every single person who serves deserves a Medal of Honor. Whatever happened to selfless service, or quiet professionalism? It's almost as if they think regular citizens are a class below them. Frustrating to say the least.

 

[Bypass]

You have absolutely no game. That's when you go over to the table and tell them your buddies call you the Mule. And it's not because you're strong.

More like "Hey, my buddies call me horse fly and it is not because I am hung like a horse."

 

[zipcode]

It's a double edge sword for me. I guess I could explain it like this, when you do something so much, or hear something so much that it becomes routine then it has lost its impact. For example, awhile ago I told my wife that we were saying "I love you" too much. Crazy right. But when you say it that much it becomes routine. It's the same thing when someone thanks me for my service. If it comes across as routine then I just simply smile and say thanks. If it seems truly heartfelt and sincere then I may interact a lot more with that person, really connect and possibly swap stories.

The thing that I have been noticing a lot more lately and that bothers me so so so much more is the self-righteous, entitled attitudes coming from soldiers nowadays. If I have to see another post or thread or meme about how awesome we are, and how dare the world talk about anything other than our military I just might go John Q up in here. lol. On facebook mostly, but it comes from all walks of the military and it bothers me. No we shouldn't make what an NFL star makes. Taxpayers pay our salaries dip****s. Who cares if the media discusses the latest style trends. Not every single person who serves deserves a Medal of Honor. Whatever happened to selfless service, or quiet professionalism? It's almost as if they think regular citizens are a class below them. Frustrating to say the least.

When your out, no one knows you were in the service.
If you don't like being thanked, don't ware the hat.
I didn't want anyone to know I had been to VN. 35 years later I joined the VVA. Now I ware the hat and thank everyone else who does.

 

[Blue Marlin]

Awesome thread.

 

[JWC]

I am obviously late to this thread. I say "thank you" to the Vets I encounter because I am thankful not only for their service, but that they decided to serve. As one who did not have a choice on whether to serve or not, (no, Candada was not an option) it is gratifying to see those who have chosen to serve our country. I often wonder whether I would have served if I had a choice. I don't know, different times. So you younger Vets, or those presently serving, I am going to say to you "thank you". I hope you will try and understand why.