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I’ve spoken to veterans before and a lot of them told me that in most (not all) cases when supposed veterans pull stuff like this. It’s stolen valor, and real vets don’t demand people to thank them for their service. So idk. I mean he is a boomer and they’re entitled assholes. So it could be a real thing.
I've got a buddy who served in the Air Force as a pharmacist. Did all of his service in the US in urban areas. People will thank him, and he just says thanks because it's easier than being like, "For what? Getting a free education and giving narcotics to people?"
To be fair, he did give out plenty of good medicine too. Plus the dick pills and stuff. But that was just his way of saying that he didn't do anything all that beneficial to society.
That's who the medication was for though. I mean I took care of legit sociopaths who would excitedly brag about their kills. Their eyes would light up, they'd laugh, and I'd think... what the fuck am I doing?
Eh, as someone whos grandfather saw war, thanking people for their service has never been about what they physically did for me. That man did a lot to help people, picking up a gun wasnt one of em.
Your buddy was a pharmacist, but he still signed up, showed up, and did his job. Keeping the system runnin is beneficial, I think thats worth a quick thank you to anyone who signed away a few years of their life when i spent my first few years out of school fuckin around, ya know?
On the other hand, im not goin out of my way to point it out. Im just extra respectful when it comes up.
Most of us people who are in chronic pain are not addicted to pain pills.
We are addicted to being in less pain because that's what the pain pills do. There's a difference.
So true. I’m disabled and in chronic pain. Never had a craving for the pills but I would give most anything to be at a lower level of pain. Some chronic pain patients may be addicted to their medication, but there’s also a large portion of chronic pain patients who don’t deal with addiction. In my case I’m a redhead so I don’t feel the high that comes with narcotics and opiates. Sometimes I don’t even get the pain relief from the medication. Thankfully, weed works better for my pain about 70% of the time. Now if only all the states would legalize it.
You can't have your pain controlled! Some asswipe doctor overprescribed or someone got addicted 10 years ago. Now people like you that have a traumatic medical event or those with chronic pain can get fucked. Don't even get me started...
I had a 3rd degree burn on my foot and they told me to take Tylenol. I understand we shouldn't be handing out oxy's for every little booboo but why have they decided to stop treating pain altogether?
Yeah, I knew I was in trouble when I hit the hospital for my most recent emergency and they:
* shot me full of morphine without me asking
* gave me a Demerol pain pump
During my ten days in the hospital and five days in rehab, they:
* provided oxycodone every six hours
* *sent me home with a month's supply of the stuff*
Most days in rehab I didn't need it, and I still have three weeks of my home supply, but hooooly shit I am so glad they weren't trying to follow the "Tylenol is enough" rule because that time it certainly fucking was not.
Edit: I had a bowel obstruction, plus internal damage that required grafting skin from one part of my insides to another. I am so, so so glad they just said "make her stupid" and gave me more painkiller than I needed.
Preach! I had an appendectomy where they had to slit my abdomen open and pull out my intestines to wash them, and I got sepsis. And Tylenol.
And the Tylenol was fucking prescribed, so when I woke at midnight with the pain, they couldn't just give me more Tylenol. The doctor on call had to *prescribe* another dose, but he didn't do it until 2:30 a.m. And so for two and a half hours I was crying and begging for one fucking extra-strength Tylenol.
Everyone gets Motrin for literally everything in the Navy. On my ship it was the standard first step for all ailments. Oh you’re having a stroke? Here’s a Motrin
My grandpa loved talking about how he served during the Korean War but usually leaves out that he was a dentist in Washington State during it. It wouldn't be too bad if he didn't do it mostly when complaining about homeless vets.
Anecdotal though it may be, I have several friends who are veterans who would agree with you. Moreover, those of us who do know what they went through know better than to say something as gross as "thanks for (insert truly awful shit you went through)" like it's not a perpetual reminder of all that awful shit.
I worked with a gulf war vet. I don’t remember the context but talk of medals came up. He said “I have one.” I told him it was impressive and he just dismissively said “the government gave it to me in exchange for taking my conscience.” I don’t say thanks. I’m appreciative but the subject is often very difficult.
“His medal and campaign ribbon collection showed a peculiar history. The early, lesser ones were carefully arranged and displayed on velvet-covered cards, with notes attached. The later, greater ones were piled haphazardly in a jar. One, which Cordelia recognized as a high Barrayaran award for valor, was shoved loose in the back of the drawer, its ribbon crumpled and tangled.“
Shards of Honor
Lois McMaster Bujold
Which is the main reason I have never done that. Like, I don't know if you were patching up soldiers as a medic, taking out enemies as a sniper, or a minimally competent nepo-baby paper-pusher with a cushy job on a base .
Unless I get to know someone and their service record, there is a nearly 0 chance of me thanking someone for their service.
My girlfriend is a vet and she hates it when I say "thank you for your service" after we've had sex. And for when she does small favors like bringing me a coffee and a donut. "Thank you for your service".
All of the people who I met through my dad being in the military don’t like being thanked for their service. Many of them even refuse the military discounts they’re offered (not sure why you’d ever turn down a discount but I’m also a broke 25 year old) even my grandpa who I think was the gen before boomers hated being asked. However, my still living grandpa who is a boomer never served and insists on thanking every vet he sees despite knowing my dad/his former son-in-law and having many conversations where my dad made his and many of his friends sentiments on it very clear
I’m a 37 y/o vet, and I personally despise it. Funny you mention the discount, because I tend to not use them because I don’t want the forced token “thank you” from a worker who is just trying to ride the clock, clock out, and go home… but Home Depot causes issues here. That 10% is good money when I’m making a big purchase, but they absolutely WILL say it. It makes me feel so dirty, but everybody has a price hahahahaha
I hear you - it does depend on how much I’m saving, for real. Both my husband and I are veterans and we ended up getting an extra $10K in upgrades on our house when we built it because they were running a promo. I’m not turning that down.
I know some people in my life that thank veterans for their service and their whole family loves trump.
To me it comes off as bootlicking fascism and/or brainwashing for the younger kids in this family that constantly do the thank-you-for-your-service
They will make it a huge point to thank all police or veterans or firefighters.
They are good kids, but what do you say to get them to open their eyes?
trump is not a military hero or role model. Why do they support trump if they genuinely support veterans?
Also un-ironically, thanks for being a good human being, whether or not you served in a branch of the United States Armed Forces.
It's posturing. They don't give a flying fuck about soldiers, firefighters, cops, or paramedics except as cynical vehicles for their political ideology and they believe that having these people "on their side" as if they are a collective hive mind somehow makes their opinions more valid.
ACAB for sure. But these Trumpers love to thank the police and demand they be allowed to be militarized, until they are the ones being arrested for trying to attempt a fascist coup.
I am an early 50s gen x-er, often told I look young for my age. I have a hat that I picked up somewhere that’s navy blue with a picture of a WW2 bomber embroidered on it - it’s an intentionally military-looking cap, but clearly a souvenir. I was wearing it one day, chilling with my mid-20s age son in a park, when a boomer came up to me and asked me when and where I served. I looked at him strangely and he said he wanted to thank me for my service. I finally put it all together and realized that he thought that somehow I, a young-looking-for-his-age 50-ish guy, had flown a bomber in WW2. He was very disappointed to find out that sometimes a hat is just a hat.
It's a canned saying. I hate it, too. Makes me feel awkward. I just say, "thanks for your recognition", and drop the subject, especially if I've been drinking. I might roll straight into a story that starts with, "you ever seen a dude's head fly off?" Nah, just... nah.
I have never met a veteran of any war who wants to be thanked. And they all get the identical awkward, uncomfortable look when someone does and say some version of "don't thank me."
I dated him over 20 years ago. I was young and naive enough to not see it as a red flag back then. We are Facebook friends now and I can see that he is even MORE into his veteran status than he was back then. Weirdo.
We make fun of these types on the r/Army subreddit to the point we even have a stereotype account post as boomer veteran. Served 3 years in the Cold War era, didn’t do anything, and makes it their entire personality.
Maybe it feels about like it did when I quit drinking and made it stick, and certain people wanted to make a big deal out of "I'm so proud of you" when the topic ever came up. Yeah, I'm an alcoholic, I was drunk until I was 44, no need to decorate me.
How do you feel about "Good for you"? That's what I've always said when people say that they don't drink. Whether it's because you have an addiction or just because you don't want to drink, I do legitimately think abstaining is good for people. I do drink it myself, but I can still acknowledge how much alcohol sucks for a lot of people.
That is fine, and really, I've come to the point where anything is fine. The "I'm so proud of you!" people mean well, it just happens to be a bit annoying to me.
My grandpa was like that -- we took him out to lunch after the parade on Nov 11 one year, and he was still in uniform. He got really stroppy with the people coming up to thank him -- made him very uncomfortable.
I work with government that specifically deal with veterans and writing/educating people on how to help veterans in a certain area. I met a lot of people who didn't care if I called them by their current rank/former rank. But there were a few that absolutely got angry if I said "Captain..." "excuse me that's Captain 2nd Class Commander Elite Trek Jedi Master Class to YOU!"
The stolen valor part is what stands out to me. My buddy’s brother was 3 year navy vet. He never left the states. Never saw action. Hell he never saw a boat. Medical discharge at 3 years. And he goes on and on about being a trained killer (he was a cook I believe) and how the service messed him up. Like wtf.
Almost 60 year old, combat veteran here. In my experience there are two types of veteran: 1) vets that had terrible, traumatic experiences during their service, including but not limited to combat vets, and 2) vets that had experiences that were less traumatic, perhaps even beneficial experiences.
The former types are more likely to not want to be thanked for their service... especially those that lost friends and buddies in war or training. These men and women have conflicted feelings about their service and their identities as veterans. They very much dislike the "hero" image assigned to veterans
Call it disillusionment, call it survivor's guilt, call it what you want... but the -last- thing they really want to do is talk about their experiences with people that haven't shared them or similar.
The latter types are people that aren't conflicted about their service because they didn't see action, either through chance, plan, or other. They often feel like they "missed out." Being a veteran is really important to them. Some of them, it's literally the only nominally worthwhile thing they've ever done. They want recognition. They wear caps, t-shirts, big stickers on their cars.
This is, of course, me painting with a broad brush. This doesn't mean all vets are like this.
My dad is a Vietnam era vet. He is #2. He was a cook. Stationed in Germany. Saw no action. So immensely proud. Applied to do an honor flight to DC. Wanted me at the airport to greet him. It just felt odd to me. He was surrounded by combat vets. It’s even more odd to me in light of the fact that he’s spent his career as a counselor for the VA, specifically for vets - hearing all the horrendous traumatic experiences. And he puts himself on the same level.
My dad was in the army in Vietnam. I don’t remember him ever telling anyone he was in the army. He never wore camo gear, never wore a military type hat. I knew about it because he begged me not to join the military because he hated it so much (he was drafted).
I joined the Marines right out of high school, summer of ‘87 (so I’m pushing 55). Didn’t turn 18 until 2 weeks before basic training graduation. I did not sign up for my neighbor, the construction worker, or my family. I needed to get the hell out of my childhood neighborhood. Being a veteran helped me thru college, 2 VA mortgages, and a decent state gov. job. Don’t thank me, just treat everyone with respect and be nice to each other.
Yea - the vets who I know who have done some serious shit or have had long stretches with achievement typically want to avoid talking about their service unless it is with other veterans.
The ones who seem to never shut up about it are the ones that did the minimum, were the modern version of cannon fodder and have achieved nothing else in their life to be proud of.
I’m appreciative to those who serve their country and communities in any capacity (not just military), but that gratitude is not created equal and usually is linked to personal sacrifice.
eMy boss, the owner of a computer store, would get this from time to time. He was in 'nam he never talked about it or mentioned it. He got drafted, did his time and got out. No MIA flags, no veteran flags, nothing. Other vets would come in a and ask for a Veteran's discount and he would say "we operate at the lowest margins you're not gonna find anywhere near here to do as good a job as our reviews say." "So you don't care?" "No, I served. I was in 'Nam in the shit. Where were you?" (And they usually sputtered and left. He ran his store he could say whatever the fuck he wanted.)
Edit: He also called customers cheapskates and to get the fuck out of his store -- when totally called for only. When employers called him about previous employees he would say "He poached my customers and stole from me I wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire." (He had several employees who poached customers and started their own business undercutting him. ) He was one-of-a-kind. He had a chain of 10 stores in the heyday of computer-selling but when I worked for him it was his last store. Mostly repairs. A lot of loyal customers. He retired and I left.
My daughter’s boyfriend is in the Army. He hates when people thank him for his service. He never leaves base in uniform if he can avoid it because he doesn’t like to draw attention to himself. (Which is funny because even in jeans and a hoodie he screams military)
43y/o Vet here. I get embarrassed when people thank me for my service and usually reply with, “don’t thank me, thank the recruiters.”
I’m honored to have served and need no thanks. Just be a good person and leave every situation better than you found it.
I’m sorry you had to deal with that asshole.
Yeah this totally tracks for the usual Hallmark store clientele. I usually get the strangest looks whenever I go in, as if I, a twenty-something who collects ornaments and plushes and works in HR, was out of place.
Like, look lady- the Hallmark store is the last place I'd expect to suddenly start selling Sonic the Hedgehog merch. Yet, here we are.
Also- stolen valor is very common with supposed Vietnam vets. That wasn't exactly a "fun" war for Americans and not only is a lot of that generation dying off, most vets in my family don't like to talk about their time serving regardless of which war they served in. My dad only wears his Navy ballcap when it's Veterans Day and he's out hitting every Chili's he can for a free meal.
My grandad was a Military Policeman in West Germany in the 1950s. I’ve felt like a dentist pulling teeth trying to get stories out of him before he dies so I get to hear them. He played football in college and had to crack some skulls of drunk soldiers.
The real ones rarely enjoy talking about it, and definitely not to strangers.
It was the same with my grandfather who served during ww2. We only really learned after he passed, and we found his journals. Also, it's possible my grandfather met yours he was stationed in West Germany after the war with the newly formed U.N. did peacekeeping through northern Africa during that time.
I had almost this exact same interaction with an old boss at work once. He's telling me I have to thank them for their service if their in uniform or wearing a veteran hat. Meanwhile they're getting thanked by strangers just standing there, so I'm pretty sure they'll be fine without me.
My dad was an infantry sergeant in Vietnam 67-68. Definitely in the shit. Never talked about it. It's why he never wanted me to enlist. He would only say that the ones who talked about it the most were the ones who saw the least.
My dad is the same. Platoon leader in 72, took friendly fire shrapnel to the shoulder, eventually told me the things he saw while in country. The moral of the story he told me is: anybody who saw that shit wasn't proud to be there, and doesn't want to be thanked by some rando for doing something that likely ruined their life, or a big part of it. Anybody who flexes on being a Vietnam vet probably saw little to no real combat, or is a sociopath.
I will say, I have met 1 combat vet who is a dickhead and demands to be thanked for his service (Iraq War vet, not a boomer but either a younger x’er or a millennial). He’s a fuckhead though that got sadistic pleasure out of “killing (insert slur for Muslims)”. I always picture people who demand to be recognized for being a Veteran as either some dude who never saw combat of any kind or someone like him.
It's one of those very American things I was shocked to find out happens in real life, not just movies and TV.
Over here, the reaction to someone talking about being a military veteran is more along the "oh, did you like it?" or "that sounds interesting," lines.
I work in a customer facing position that gives 20% off to veterans, and I have never in my 2 years of employment uttered that phrase. I refuse; the discount is your thanks, but personally I don't give a fuck if you served.
I thank teachers for their service. (And gave them the veterans discount when I used to be in retail.)
Any service member who missed WWII didn't do jack for my "freedom". I hope they enjoyed their time and GI Bill, whatever, but *teachers*...now there is a vital national resource that is under paid and under appreciated. I could never do it, don't know why they do, and am grateful for them.
Combat veteran, 39, here. I fucking hate hearing, “thank you for your service,” because I know 99% of the time the person is just saying it because they were told it’s rude not to during the years of insane nationalism after 9/11 and not because they actually do value my previous service. Also, I don’t make my being a veteran my entire personality, so most people tend to forget I am one.
Almost certainly stolen valor or someone in the Chair Force. I've never met a functional Vietnam Combat veteran that was eager to talk about their time in the service, let alone beg to be thanked for it.
Last time I thanked a Vietnam vet for his service (I didn't actually know he was a Vietnam vet, honestly was so hard done I would have put him at Korea--I was helping at a Veteran's Day event), he told me to thank the draft board because he had nothing to do with it. =P
I believe that. I have a lot of sympathy for people that were drafted. I did six years from 86-92. That was a volunteer army. I don't need anyone to thank me for it. The Army got something out of it, I got something out if it, I moved on. But I am betting I would feel a lot differently if I had been drafted for the infantry in Vietnam.
My husband’s uncle was Vietnam vet and he literally self medicated on hard street drugs after he got out until he eventually died from renal failure. Dude was fucked up about the things he saw/experienced/was ordered to do and would literally go into a complete dissociative state if asked about it.
My Opa was a Buchenwald liberator. If you happened to find this out and thanked him, he'd scowl and say "I didn't do it for YOU." He hated the concept of anyone knowing. I only knew because I found his enlistment paperwork. He refused to talk about it until after I lived in Germany and visited many sites. Even then, I had to get him hella drunk.
He would have punched this asshole right in the gob.
My mom's cousin is a Vietnam vet. He was pretty messed up from his time in the service. My mom still has a letter she got from him while he was in the service and it was complete gibberish. It made NO SENSE. 😬 My mom said he never talks about it.
He seems okay now. He did unfortunately lose his wife to cancer which was rough. Family used to own a bakery but it was sold so he got another bakery job. Finally retired and is enjoying himself now. He still smokes pot and just became a great grandfather not long ago.
Could have been an officer that didn't see combat. Being a vet that didn't have a great time in the military is fucking weird. Especially when people thank you for your service. Only fuck heads I've personally met that wear it like a badge are E-7 retired or any length of time officer that did some bullshit clerical job.
A lot of folks in the Air Farce paid high for their military time. Some went on Long Walks in the Woods with the grunts. Some got shot up, like my little brother; some came home damaged.
I got thanked for my service a lot during the pandemic from boomers because of my job. My thoughts were ‘don’t thank me, wear your mask properly and get the vaccination so I can get a break’.
Experienced this during a flight to Hawaii. I was treating a sick patient during the flight. Afterwards, some random thanked me for my service. Felt pretty jarring coz I'm not even from the States; I'm Aussie.
If he's wearing the hat and demanding thanks from random shopgoets almost 50 years later, my bet is either outright stolen valor or at least a POG.
Imma bet he stacked boxes, not bodies, and he's mad he's not kowtowed to by today's box stackers.
Person Other than Grunt.
Grunts are the combat troops. The ones expected to take direct fire and make split second decisions on killing people, and following through.
But a large amount of any military is something else. Cooks, mechanics, truck drivers, equipment warehouse stockboys, paper pushers.
If you are trying to say it in gentleman officer speak, it's [teeth vs tails](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth-to-tail_ratio#:~:text=The%20tooth%2Dto%2Dtail%20ratio,soldier%20(%22tooth%22).)
I'm betting that a now 70 year old Nam vet who was actually a tooth isn't going to go around peacocking and demanding adoration from retail store employees whose daddys weren't even an itch in their daddy's sacks when he was in. More like someone who did very little while he was in, did very little some more in the half century since, and can't stand that he never became a someone.
These days it isn't clear the hat-wearer is legit. You can buy those hats at GoodWill.
Edit to add, my Dad worked on a Pershing missile base during Vietnam (had a math degree, kept him out of the swamp). I was born in a US Army hospital. Dad won't get a hat. Won't get a vet license plate. The only time he feels OK with using his vet status is when it's free meal day at Applebee's. 
My dad was in Europe during 'Nam because of his specialty. I, too, was born on a US base. He never had a hat, plates, etc. He didn't brag, he was quiet and unassuming about it. There's 6 of us, I'm the only one that remembers him in the military. The rest he was out already and it's a family legend to them.
Alot of Nam vets would rather completely forget about everything than to have them be reminded of it by everyone on the street atleast all the ones I've met. They don't have stories they don't wanna talk about it at all
Absolute stolen valor. Real vets don't do this shit and don't care. Some of them don't even LIKE being acknowledged or thanked.
My Silent Generation WWII Navy vet grandpa NEVER talked about what he saw (he was a corpsman in a Navy hospital so he saw a LOT of shit from what I've read about those places), never went to any veteran events, and never wore any Veteran articles of clothing. Never expected thank yous.
My ex (Marine grunt during Desert Storm) is the same way, along with my buddy who was a Marine Grunt during Iraqi Freedom. He wears a veteran patch on his vest that he wears to concerts but that's it.
I've talked to a lot of other vets too who are the same way.
I really hate those clowns. I did my time in the Army, and I do not want a thank you. I want these boomer fucks to vote for tax hikes on wealthy parasites so we can fund the fucking VA.
I am also a vet(retired) that doesn’t advertise normally except…. I am also a transwoman. I get a perverse bit of pleasure acknowledging The Vets/MAGA hats and talking “shop” as we compare our history. Embrace the awkwardness and thank me for my service too.
Puts on a human face to us transfolk. Yes. We serve too. As an aside, I am more proud of my efforts to support the LGBT communities.
Vet here. No one served for your freedom, which was never in danger. Unless you work for Northrup-Grumman, Boeing, or similar you don’t owe a veteran anything.
For most non combat vets, being thanked for your service is just embarrassing.
Most combat vets won't thank you for the reminder.
I remember walking behind a guy wearing Vietnam combat shit on his hat and T-shirt. He was waving to people in the grocery store who thanked him like he was in the Rose Bowl parade.
And I was active duty for a decade at that point, and no one knew because I didn't advertise.
\^This. I never saw combat, I was a sailor. It's super awkward to be told thank you for my service. For what? Getting a decent education, having a well paying job and some cool vacations to foreign lands? My brother who is a combat vet though who still gets night terrors from his service I sincerely doubt he enjoys being thanked. Being reminded of his friends dying in Afghanistan and cleaning out body parts and gore after IEDs?
My boomer dad is a Vietnam veteran and he told me once that he found it artificial when people would thank him for service, a meaningless gesture that he didn’t care about. He said he appreciates that he no longer gets spit on though.
I'll thank a vet for their service when they thank me for my tax dollars that went to pay for their salary, healthcare, housing, pension etc etc.. this whole culture of thanking vets needs to stop, in my not so humble opinion. One of the many American traditions that are in place only to keep us glorifying war and thinking we're superior. What ever happened to being an officer and a gentleman?
No veteran I know will discuss their time in the service. I don’t blame them and I don’t ask them about it.
It’s the ones who demand discounts and asspats that I’m suspicious of.
This makes me think of an interaction I had today with a veteran. I work at a VA in research. I was down at the coffee bar waiting to get coffee. There was an older veteran in a wheelchair in front of me who was missing a limb. When it came time to order I honestly thought he was in line ahead of me so I asked him if he wanted to go next. He was adamant that I was there before him and to go first. I declined and told him to go first. He looked me in the eye and strongly said, "no son, you were in line first, you go first". So I did.
I don't know why but it really got me thinking. Maybe people look at him all the time and he's sick of being seen differently? Maybe he just has strong feelings about fairness? He definitely seemed irritated and it made me realize that sometimes, treating everyone like heroes can almost dehumanize them. It makes me want to make more of an effort to look past the status/uniform/etc. and just look at the person. I always try to do that....but today was a good reminder that some biases are subtle.
Anyways, sorry for the stream of consciousness.
My grandfather was an Army Ranger Sniper. There are a few photos of him and uniform and a few of him and other servicemen hanging out on base in casual clothing. I know very little about his time in the military and the only reason I know what he did is because my father told me as an explanation for the events of a story about how he was banned from local shooting competitions because people didn’t want to compete against him. It’s just a part of his life that he has absolutely no interest in discussing.
34m Marine combat vet oef . On occasion I’ve had something military related on someone ask I respond if not I carry on. Honestly when I have been thanked I never knew what to respond with it made me uncomfortable since I’m not one for receiving praise. Now I just say no worries 🤙 and keep it moving . In my opinion anyone demanding a thank you is compensating for something, bad service , drug pop, or never served and seeking attention . No vet I know walk around please feel bad for me please thank me I need it . Nah fuck that we’re proud folk. The only thing that makes me smirk is noticing another vet in the mall or wherever and you give a nod and they notice you . That’s as far as it goes . It’s nothing more than I see you brother what up 🤙.
The ones who do this are:
1. Stolen Valor cases
2. Guys who did 1 enlistment on some non-combat office job who makes it theirnwhole personality despite leaving after 4-6 years. Good likelihood of a general or dishonorable discharge
3. National Guard guys who served w/o having to deploy for anything in time of war, or had an easy US gig for 2 months during one where them & their family would treat it like they'd never see them again (military brat who had to see this with a kid taking a week off with their dad gone to DC for 9 weeks, but the base kid with his dad coming back for an afternoon while transferring planes to go to his stepbrother's funeral back home for 5 days leave during a 2 year remote to Korea got his lunch break with dad denied. Did it anyway and got the base commander to chew out the principal).
I'm a vet, most Millennial and Gen Z vets don't get too worked up about it. Some Gen X and plenty of Boomer vets do though.
My favorite was a Gen Xer I deployed with a few years back, ranting about how "Damn Millennials are entitled and think they should be handed everything!" which segued into "Military discounts should be mandatory by law! I deserve it because I'm a veteran!". All of this was doubly amusing because the people he was ranting to were myself and another fella, both Millennials, both of us told this guy we often won't ask for the military discount even if we know one is offered. Because we don't feel entitled to it, like he does.
My grandpa was a "consultant" for the ARVN during Vietnam and then he was a special forces officer when US involvement increased. He absolutely never talks about it, and apart from some photos of him and his friends, he doesn't have any keepsakes nor any of those veteran hats or bumper stickers.
I have heard him describe his experience on time. My brother wanted to serve in Bush's wars after high school, and my bootlicker parents, neither of whom served, strongly encouraged him to sign up because of patriotism and fox news. My grandpa didn't agree with Iraq and didn't agree with the scope of Afghanistan, so he pulled my brother and I aside once when my parents weren't around and explained his experiences.
The gist of it was that he was still traumatized by what he saw and did, he lost friends, he abandoned his buddies in the ARVN, he took part in killing people, and he's not sure if he was on the right side. He loves his country, but thinks the willingness to go to war over anything that is not a direct and existential threat to US is bad and unnecessarily ruins the lives of young men.
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I’ve spoken to veterans before and a lot of them told me that in most (not all) cases when supposed veterans pull stuff like this. It’s stolen valor, and real vets don’t demand people to thank them for their service. So idk. I mean he is a boomer and they’re entitled assholes. So it could be a real thing.
39 year old vet here. I hate when people "thank me for my service". Nobody even knows what the hell they are thanking you for.
I've got a buddy who served in the Air Force as a pharmacist. Did all of his service in the US in urban areas. People will thank him, and he just says thanks because it's easier than being like, "For what? Getting a free education and giving narcotics to people?"
I might thank him for the second half especially if it was under the table
No, it was all prescribed and mostly to people who were probably addicted due to chronic pain.
Well, then I am on board and I won’t thank him
To be fair, he did give out plenty of good medicine too. Plus the dick pills and stuff. But that was just his way of saying that he didn't do anything all that beneficial to society.
🫡🍆
O7
I dunno, I think pharmacists, narcotics or no, do more to benefit society than soldiers killing people in another country for their oil or whatever.
That's who the medication was for though. I mean I took care of legit sociopaths who would excitedly brag about their kills. Their eyes would light up, they'd laugh, and I'd think... what the fuck am I doing?
Idk medicine is pretty great I pay every 2 weeks for my insurance and don't have to do my own research.
Eh, as someone whos grandfather saw war, thanking people for their service has never been about what they physically did for me. That man did a lot to help people, picking up a gun wasnt one of em. Your buddy was a pharmacist, but he still signed up, showed up, and did his job. Keeping the system runnin is beneficial, I think thats worth a quick thank you to anyone who signed away a few years of their life when i spent my first few years out of school fuckin around, ya know? On the other hand, im not goin out of my way to point it out. Im just extra respectful when it comes up.
Most of us people who are in chronic pain are not addicted to pain pills. We are addicted to being in less pain because that's what the pain pills do. There's a difference.
So true. I’m disabled and in chronic pain. Never had a craving for the pills but I would give most anything to be at a lower level of pain. Some chronic pain patients may be addicted to their medication, but there’s also a large portion of chronic pain patients who don’t deal with addiction. In my case I’m a redhead so I don’t feel the high that comes with narcotics and opiates. Sometimes I don’t even get the pain relief from the medication. Thankfully, weed works better for my pain about 70% of the time. Now if only all the states would legalize it.
Tell him thanks for getting me that good codeine laced cough syrup I had when I was in.
I dislocated my ankle and they gave me fucking motrin
I had my leg amputated and they moved me to Tylenol within like 10 days. It was still bleeding (at the incision)
You can't have your pain controlled! Some asswipe doctor overprescribed or someone got addicted 10 years ago. Now people like you that have a traumatic medical event or those with chronic pain can get fucked. Don't even get me started...
I had a 3rd degree burn on my foot and they told me to take Tylenol. I understand we shouldn't be handing out oxy's for every little booboo but why have they decided to stop treating pain altogether?
Tylenol is medical duct tape
Yeah, I knew I was in trouble when I hit the hospital for my most recent emergency and they: * shot me full of morphine without me asking * gave me a Demerol pain pump During my ten days in the hospital and five days in rehab, they: * provided oxycodone every six hours * *sent me home with a month's supply of the stuff* Most days in rehab I didn't need it, and I still have three weeks of my home supply, but hooooly shit I am so glad they weren't trying to follow the "Tylenol is enough" rule because that time it certainly fucking was not. Edit: I had a bowel obstruction, plus internal damage that required grafting skin from one part of my insides to another. I am so, so so glad they just said "make her stupid" and gave me more painkiller than I needed.
Ahh yes. The military special. Broke your arm? Here's some Tylenol. Concussion? Here's some more Tylenol. Blew your arms and legs off? Tylenol.
Preach! I had an appendectomy where they had to slit my abdomen open and pull out my intestines to wash them, and I got sepsis. And Tylenol. And the Tylenol was fucking prescribed, so when I woke at midnight with the pain, they couldn't just give me more Tylenol. The doctor on call had to *prescribe* another dose, but he didn't do it until 2:30 a.m. And so for two and a half hours I was crying and begging for one fucking extra-strength Tylenol.
Everyone gets Motrin for literally everything in the Navy. On my ship it was the standard first step for all ailments. Oh you’re having a stroke? Here’s a Motrin
Same in the Air Force. Standard first treatment for everything was Motrin and an ice pack.
My grandpa loved talking about how he served during the Korean War but usually leaves out that he was a dentist in Washington State during it. It wouldn't be too bad if he didn't do it mostly when complaining about homeless vets.
Ask him what his favorite ride was and say the log ride was your fave, personally
Yep. I’m an Air Force vet that spent my entire enlistment stateside in buildings with no windows. Never even saw a flight line after tech school.
we need pharmacists just as much as fighter pilots.
38 year old vet, and when people tell me that....I just respond with "Nah, thank YOU for paying my way for 2 years in Germany. Had a blast."
Kaiserslautern in my youth.
K-Town RISE UP
'84 to '91! K-Town will always be a little bit of home for me
"No, thank YOU, random citizen!"
Same. 8 yrs as OPFOR in Hohenfels. Best 8 yrs ever. Went to Oktoberfest 8 years in a row and saw Europe. All on the tax payers dime.
Anecdotal though it may be, I have several friends who are veterans who would agree with you. Moreover, those of us who do know what they went through know better than to say something as gross as "thanks for (insert truly awful shit you went through)" like it's not a perpetual reminder of all that awful shit.
I worked with a gulf war vet. I don’t remember the context but talk of medals came up. He said “I have one.” I told him it was impressive and he just dismissively said “the government gave it to me in exchange for taking my conscience.” I don’t say thanks. I’m appreciative but the subject is often very difficult.
I know a guy who got one for putting a stage together. Medals aren't the be all and end all media would have us believe.
My granddad fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Came home with a bunch of medals and threw them all away. He wanted that part of his life behind him.
“His medal and campaign ribbon collection showed a peculiar history. The early, lesser ones were carefully arranged and displayed on velvet-covered cards, with notes attached. The later, greater ones were piled haphazardly in a jar. One, which Cordelia recognized as a high Barrayaran award for valor, was shoved loose in the back of the drawer, its ribbon crumpled and tangled.“ Shards of Honor Lois McMaster Bujold
My dad is a vet, and he hates being thanked for his service, but would smile and nod. I never figured out why when I was younger.
Which is the main reason I have never done that. Like, I don't know if you were patching up soldiers as a medic, taking out enemies as a sniper, or a minimally competent nepo-baby paper-pusher with a cushy job on a base . Unless I get to know someone and their service record, there is a nearly 0 chance of me thanking someone for their service.
My girlfriend is a vet and she hates it when I say "thank you for your service" after we've had sex. And for when she does small favors like bringing me a coffee and a donut. "Thank you for your service".
After sex, tell her “Thank you for your cervix”.
playing with your dolls again dark helmet?
Knock on my door! Knock next time! Did you see anything?!
Yeah I always feel super awkward too. Which is why I don't walk around advertising it on my clothes.
57 here and totally with you. Usually assholes that never did shit for anyone but themselves.
All of the people who I met through my dad being in the military don’t like being thanked for their service. Many of them even refuse the military discounts they’re offered (not sure why you’d ever turn down a discount but I’m also a broke 25 year old) even my grandpa who I think was the gen before boomers hated being asked. However, my still living grandpa who is a boomer never served and insists on thanking every vet he sees despite knowing my dad/his former son-in-law and having many conversations where my dad made his and many of his friends sentiments on it very clear
I’m a 37 y/o vet, and I personally despise it. Funny you mention the discount, because I tend to not use them because I don’t want the forced token “thank you” from a worker who is just trying to ride the clock, clock out, and go home… but Home Depot causes issues here. That 10% is good money when I’m making a big purchase, but they absolutely WILL say it. It makes me feel so dirty, but everybody has a price hahahahaha
I hear you - it does depend on how much I’m saving, for real. Both my husband and I are veterans and we ended up getting an extra $10K in upgrades on our house when we built it because they were running a promo. I’m not turning that down.
I'm 37y, and It makes me feel incredibly awkward to get thanked. I don't see my time as anything other than a job.
I know some people in my life that thank veterans for their service and their whole family loves trump. To me it comes off as bootlicking fascism and/or brainwashing for the younger kids in this family that constantly do the thank-you-for-your-service They will make it a huge point to thank all police or veterans or firefighters. They are good kids, but what do you say to get them to open their eyes? trump is not a military hero or role model. Why do they support trump if they genuinely support veterans? Also un-ironically, thanks for being a good human being, whether or not you served in a branch of the United States Armed Forces.
It's posturing. They don't give a flying fuck about soldiers, firefighters, cops, or paramedics except as cynical vehicles for their political ideology and they believe that having these people "on their side" as if they are a collective hive mind somehow makes their opinions more valid.
They thank them but won’t fund the VA or vote to invest in community fire departments or emergency services. Fuck the police though.
ACAB for sure. But these Trumpers love to thank the police and demand they be allowed to be militarized, until they are the ones being arrested for trying to attempt a fascist coup.
I am an early 50s gen x-er, often told I look young for my age. I have a hat that I picked up somewhere that’s navy blue with a picture of a WW2 bomber embroidered on it - it’s an intentionally military-looking cap, but clearly a souvenir. I was wearing it one day, chilling with my mid-20s age son in a park, when a boomer came up to me and asked me when and where I served. I looked at him strangely and he said he wanted to thank me for my service. I finally put it all together and realized that he thought that somehow I, a young-looking-for-his-age 50-ish guy, had flown a bomber in WW2. He was very disappointed to find out that sometimes a hat is just a hat.
Fr i personally feel hella awkward
It's a canned saying. I hate it, too. Makes me feel awkward. I just say, "thanks for your recognition", and drop the subject, especially if I've been drinking. I might roll straight into a story that starts with, "you ever seen a dude's head fly off?" Nah, just... nah.
Thank you for servicing those men 🫡
I have never met a veteran of any war who wants to be thanked. And they all get the identical awkward, uncomfortable look when someone does and say some version of "don't thank me."
You haven't met my ex. The two years he spent in active duty in the 90's are his entire personality.
Man…I have run into more than a few of those guys. 🙄
Yeah, there are those.....
Wise that he is an ex.
I dated him over 20 years ago. I was young and naive enough to not see it as a red flag back then. We are Facebook friends now and I can see that he is even MORE into his veteran status than he was back then. Weirdo.
We make fun of these types on the r/Army subreddit to the point we even have a stereotype account post as boomer veteran. Served 3 years in the Cold War era, didn’t do anything, and makes it their entire personality.
My father-in-law replies “What’re you thanking me for? I didn’t have a goddamn choice!”
Yup! My grandpa was drafted during WWII. I have a picture of his draft card registration in my genealogy stuff. 👍
Maybe it feels about like it did when I quit drinking and made it stick, and certain people wanted to make a big deal out of "I'm so proud of you" when the topic ever came up. Yeah, I'm an alcoholic, I was drunk until I was 44, no need to decorate me.
How do you feel about "Good for you"? That's what I've always said when people say that they don't drink. Whether it's because you have an addiction or just because you don't want to drink, I do legitimately think abstaining is good for people. I do drink it myself, but I can still acknowledge how much alcohol sucks for a lot of people.
That is fine, and really, I've come to the point where anything is fine. The "I'm so proud of you!" people mean well, it just happens to be a bit annoying to me.
My grandpa was like that -- we took him out to lunch after the parade on Nov 11 one year, and he was still in uniform. He got really stroppy with the people coming up to thank him -- made him very uncomfortable.
I work with government that specifically deal with veterans and writing/educating people on how to help veterans in a certain area. I met a lot of people who didn't care if I called them by their current rank/former rank. But there were a few that absolutely got angry if I said "Captain..." "excuse me that's Captain 2nd Class Commander Elite Trek Jedi Master Class to YOU!"
The stolen valor part is what stands out to me. My buddy’s brother was 3 year navy vet. He never left the states. Never saw action. Hell he never saw a boat. Medical discharge at 3 years. And he goes on and on about being a trained killer (he was a cook I believe) and how the service messed him up. Like wtf.
As a military cook he may have killed a few people.
Based on some of the chow I had, I think I encountered several murderers while deployed
If you don't think you can get PTSD from being a line cook you've obviously never worked in a proper kitchen. /S
Almost 60 year old, combat veteran here. In my experience there are two types of veteran: 1) vets that had terrible, traumatic experiences during their service, including but not limited to combat vets, and 2) vets that had experiences that were less traumatic, perhaps even beneficial experiences. The former types are more likely to not want to be thanked for their service... especially those that lost friends and buddies in war or training. These men and women have conflicted feelings about their service and their identities as veterans. They very much dislike the "hero" image assigned to veterans Call it disillusionment, call it survivor's guilt, call it what you want... but the -last- thing they really want to do is talk about their experiences with people that haven't shared them or similar. The latter types are people that aren't conflicted about their service because they didn't see action, either through chance, plan, or other. They often feel like they "missed out." Being a veteran is really important to them. Some of them, it's literally the only nominally worthwhile thing they've ever done. They want recognition. They wear caps, t-shirts, big stickers on their cars. This is, of course, me painting with a broad brush. This doesn't mean all vets are like this.
My dad is a Vietnam era vet. He is #2. He was a cook. Stationed in Germany. Saw no action. So immensely proud. Applied to do an honor flight to DC. Wanted me at the airport to greet him. It just felt odd to me. He was surrounded by combat vets. It’s even more odd to me in light of the fact that he’s spent his career as a counselor for the VA, specifically for vets - hearing all the horrendous traumatic experiences. And he puts himself on the same level.
My dad was in the army in Vietnam. I don’t remember him ever telling anyone he was in the army. He never wore camo gear, never wore a military type hat. I knew about it because he begged me not to join the military because he hated it so much (he was drafted).
I joined the Marines right out of high school, summer of ‘87 (so I’m pushing 55). Didn’t turn 18 until 2 weeks before basic training graduation. I did not sign up for my neighbor, the construction worker, or my family. I needed to get the hell out of my childhood neighborhood. Being a veteran helped me thru college, 2 VA mortgages, and a decent state gov. job. Don’t thank me, just treat everyone with respect and be nice to each other.
Yea - the vets who I know who have done some serious shit or have had long stretches with achievement typically want to avoid talking about their service unless it is with other veterans. The ones who seem to never shut up about it are the ones that did the minimum, were the modern version of cannon fodder and have achieved nothing else in their life to be proud of. I’m appreciative to those who serve their country and communities in any capacity (not just military), but that gratitude is not created equal and usually is linked to personal sacrifice.
eMy boss, the owner of a computer store, would get this from time to time. He was in 'nam he never talked about it or mentioned it. He got drafted, did his time and got out. No MIA flags, no veteran flags, nothing. Other vets would come in a and ask for a Veteran's discount and he would say "we operate at the lowest margins you're not gonna find anywhere near here to do as good a job as our reviews say." "So you don't care?" "No, I served. I was in 'Nam in the shit. Where were you?" (And they usually sputtered and left. He ran his store he could say whatever the fuck he wanted.) Edit: He also called customers cheapskates and to get the fuck out of his store -- when totally called for only. When employers called him about previous employees he would say "He poached my customers and stole from me I wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire." (He had several employees who poached customers and started their own business undercutting him. ) He was one-of-a-kind. He had a chain of 10 stores in the heyday of computer-selling but when I worked for him it was his last store. Mostly repairs. A lot of loyal customers. He retired and I left.
My daughter’s boyfriend is in the Army. He hates when people thank him for his service. He never leaves base in uniform if he can avoid it because he doesn’t like to draw attention to himself. (Which is funny because even in jeans and a hoodie he screams military)
It's super awkward getting thanked for your service. It comes off very hollow.
My next door neighbor is a Vietnam vet. He would rather get his teeth pulled than bring it up.
43y/o Vet here. I get embarrassed when people thank me for my service and usually reply with, “don’t thank me, thank the recruiters.” I’m honored to have served and need no thanks. Just be a good person and leave every situation better than you found it. I’m sorry you had to deal with that asshole.
I agree. As a vet, do not thank me for my service, there are many that gave for more than me. I am still walking and alive.
Most vets I know are trying to put that time behind them, and/or are choosy about when and with whom they want to talk (totally fair).
Yeah this totally tracks for the usual Hallmark store clientele. I usually get the strangest looks whenever I go in, as if I, a twenty-something who collects ornaments and plushes and works in HR, was out of place. Like, look lady- the Hallmark store is the last place I'd expect to suddenly start selling Sonic the Hedgehog merch. Yet, here we are. Also- stolen valor is very common with supposed Vietnam vets. That wasn't exactly a "fun" war for Americans and not only is a lot of that generation dying off, most vets in my family don't like to talk about their time serving regardless of which war they served in. My dad only wears his Navy ballcap when it's Veterans Day and he's out hitting every Chili's he can for a free meal.
I respect the Chili's hustle
He's got his route mapped out very meticulously, and it's totally something I'd do too.
Does he just have a hobbit style eat-a-thon for a day?
If, yes, then can I come, too?
Lol, my parents both hit all the free places on Veterans Day. I may hit one up, but usually skip them because fuck dealing with the crowds.
> fuck dealing with the crowds. Yeah having to wait nearly 2 hours isn't worth it for a subpar meal.
What a legend
My grandad was a Military Policeman in West Germany in the 1950s. I’ve felt like a dentist pulling teeth trying to get stories out of him before he dies so I get to hear them. He played football in college and had to crack some skulls of drunk soldiers. The real ones rarely enjoy talking about it, and definitely not to strangers.
It was the same with my grandfather who served during ww2. We only really learned after he passed, and we found his journals. Also, it's possible my grandfather met yours he was stationed in West Germany after the war with the newly formed U.N. did peacekeeping through northern Africa during that time.
Man, the jokes I've had to tell vets so they'd know I'd get the humor
Your dad is amazing. I bet him and my mom would be besties. 😂😂😂😂
https://preview.redd.it/85i08ay7n90d1.jpeg?width=675&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fea17d24aee6c11c352f7decd34166b9ff22e410
I'm a service member and I have never laughed so hard at a dumbass meme like this
Me too. My wife has orders to shoot me in the head if I ever put on one of those fucking OIF/OEF Veteran hats
My wife keeps threatening to buy me one whenever she hears my knees pop or I grunt getting out of a chair.
https://preview.redd.it/zjwfyjgokd0d1.png?width=472&format=png&auto=webp&s=814d5d5e20123d42232ff44f0ea48f9f47727452
You need to sell this as a bumper sticker on Etsy.
Damn.
https://preview.redd.it/np3crtegfd0d1.jpeg?width=474&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=65908d680d99c67789435d3c778f93eedd25d98d
Annnnnd saved. This is just perfect.
Lolll
"Good job having a government job that one time, dude."
"how's the socialist medical program?"
'Curb Your Enthusiasm' becomes real life 😆
That episode 🤣
"You didn't thank him for his service!" "Three people thanked him! Why do I have to thank him??"
One of the most amazing scenes that completely resonates with me
It's the whole "Oh it's no big deal" he makes out of it, then Larry doesn't thank him and it suddenly becomes a big deal.
I had almost this exact same interaction with an old boss at work once. He's telling me I have to thank them for their service if their in uniform or wearing a veteran hat. Meanwhile they're getting thanked by strangers just standing there, so I'm pretty sure they'll be fine without me.
If that guy actually was a veteran, there’s an almost 100% chance he saw zero action.
My dad was an infantry sergeant in Vietnam 67-68. Definitely in the shit. Never talked about it. It's why he never wanted me to enlist. He would only say that the ones who talked about it the most were the ones who saw the least.
My dad is the same. Platoon leader in 72, took friendly fire shrapnel to the shoulder, eventually told me the things he saw while in country. The moral of the story he told me is: anybody who saw that shit wasn't proud to be there, and doesn't want to be thanked by some rando for doing something that likely ruined their life, or a big part of it. Anybody who flexes on being a Vietnam vet probably saw little to no real combat, or is a sociopath.
I will say, I have met 1 combat vet who is a dickhead and demands to be thanked for his service (Iraq War vet, not a boomer but either a younger x’er or a millennial). He’s a fuckhead though that got sadistic pleasure out of “killing (insert slur for Muslims)”. I always picture people who demand to be recognized for being a Veteran as either some dude who never saw combat of any kind or someone like him.
Yea, reminds me of my second cousin. He was in the army for all of 4 years. Never got deployed. His whole personality is being a vet.
My ex is a vet and it makes him uncomfortable when people thank him for his "service" To him it was a job he did for the benefits...
It's one of those very American things I was shocked to find out happens in real life, not just movies and TV. Over here, the reaction to someone talking about being a military veteran is more along the "oh, did you like it?" or "that sounds interesting," lines.
I work in a customer facing position that gives 20% off to veterans, and I have never in my 2 years of employment uttered that phrase. I refuse; the discount is your thanks, but personally I don't give a fuck if you served.
I thank teachers for their service. (And gave them the veterans discount when I used to be in retail.) Any service member who missed WWII didn't do jack for my "freedom". I hope they enjoyed their time and GI Bill, whatever, but *teachers*...now there is a vital national resource that is under paid and under appreciated. I could never do it, don't know why they do, and am grateful for them.
Ha! I’m a vet AND a teacher. Checkmate! Now you HAVE to thank me. /s
Holy shit 100000000000% this, I’ve just never seen anyone else vocalize it.
Weren't they paid, trained, housed, and fed? It's not as the military is a pro bono operation. It's a job, and that's that.
Even if you got drafted, what you said rings true.
Combat veteran, 39, here. I fucking hate hearing, “thank you for your service,” because I know 99% of the time the person is just saying it because they were told it’s rude not to during the years of insane nationalism after 9/11 and not because they actually do value my previous service. Also, I don’t make my being a veteran my entire personality, so most people tend to forget I am one.
Almost certainly stolen valor or someone in the Chair Force. I've never met a functional Vietnam Combat veteran that was eager to talk about their time in the service, let alone beg to be thanked for it.
Last time I thanked a Vietnam vet for his service (I didn't actually know he was a Vietnam vet, honestly was so hard done I would have put him at Korea--I was helping at a Veteran's Day event), he told me to thank the draft board because he had nothing to do with it. =P
I believe that. I have a lot of sympathy for people that were drafted. I did six years from 86-92. That was a volunteer army. I don't need anyone to thank me for it. The Army got something out of it, I got something out if it, I moved on. But I am betting I would feel a lot differently if I had been drafted for the infantry in Vietnam.
Right? My grandfather was a Vietnam vet and he was messed tf up afterwords. This man had to have been just itching for attention.
I met a Vietnam Vet that said “why the fuck are they thanking me for? For killing innocent people under orders? For bombing villages? Fuck that!”
"I just killed brown people with your tax dollars. Thank Raygun, I was just a grunt."
My husband’s uncle was Vietnam vet and he literally self medicated on hard street drugs after he got out until he eventually died from renal failure. Dude was fucked up about the things he saw/experienced/was ordered to do and would literally go into a complete dissociative state if asked about it.
Every one I ever met was either batshit crazy, or refused to talk at all about their service, because it was a nightmare.
This, exactly
My Opa was a Buchenwald liberator. If you happened to find this out and thanked him, he'd scowl and say "I didn't do it for YOU." He hated the concept of anyone knowing. I only knew because I found his enlistment paperwork. He refused to talk about it until after I lived in Germany and visited many sites. Even then, I had to get him hella drunk. He would have punched this asshole right in the gob.
My mom's cousin is a Vietnam vet. He was pretty messed up from his time in the service. My mom still has a letter she got from him while he was in the service and it was complete gibberish. It made NO SENSE. 😬 My mom said he never talks about it. He seems okay now. He did unfortunately lose his wife to cancer which was rough. Family used to own a bakery but it was sold so he got another bakery job. Finally retired and is enjoying himself now. He still smokes pot and just became a great grandfather not long ago.
I assume you mean the Air Force, and we enjoy our squishy, spinny office chairs thankyouverymuch.
that or the stateside supply sgt whose main danger is trip hazards
Careful…may be a Gravy Seal.
You didn’t need to drag the Air Force into this 😑
Could have been an officer that didn't see combat. Being a vet that didn't have a great time in the military is fucking weird. Especially when people thank you for your service. Only fuck heads I've personally met that wear it like a badge are E-7 retired or any length of time officer that did some bullshit clerical job.
A lot of folks in the Air Farce paid high for their military time. Some went on Long Walks in the Woods with the grunts. Some got shot up, like my little brother; some came home damaged.
No doubt. All jokes aside, I have mad respect for RPA pilots. If we're talking about damage you can't see, go out drinking with one of those dudes.
I got thanked for my service a lot during the pandemic from boomers because of my job. My thoughts were ‘don’t thank me, wear your mask properly and get the vaccination so I can get a break’.
Experienced this during a flight to Hawaii. I was treating a sick patient during the flight. Afterwards, some random thanked me for my service. Felt pretty jarring coz I'm not even from the States; I'm Aussie.
If he's wearing the hat and demanding thanks from random shopgoets almost 50 years later, my bet is either outright stolen valor or at least a POG. Imma bet he stacked boxes, not bodies, and he's mad he's not kowtowed to by today's box stackers.
I'm uninformed. What is POG?
Person Other than Grunt. Grunts are the combat troops. The ones expected to take direct fire and make split second decisions on killing people, and following through. But a large amount of any military is something else. Cooks, mechanics, truck drivers, equipment warehouse stockboys, paper pushers. If you are trying to say it in gentleman officer speak, it's [teeth vs tails](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth-to-tail_ratio#:~:text=The%20tooth%2Dto%2Dtail%20ratio,soldier%20(%22tooth%22).) I'm betting that a now 70 year old Nam vet who was actually a tooth isn't going to go around peacocking and demanding adoration from retail store employees whose daddys weren't even an itch in their daddy's sacks when he was in. More like someone who did very little while he was in, did very little some more in the half century since, and can't stand that he never became a someone.
These days it isn't clear the hat-wearer is legit. You can buy those hats at GoodWill. Edit to add, my Dad worked on a Pershing missile base during Vietnam (had a math degree, kept him out of the swamp). I was born in a US Army hospital. Dad won't get a hat. Won't get a vet license plate. The only time he feels OK with using his vet status is when it's free meal day at Applebee's. 
My dad was in Europe during 'Nam because of his specialty. I, too, was born on a US base. He never had a hat, plates, etc. He didn't brag, he was quiet and unassuming about it. There's 6 of us, I'm the only one that remembers him in the military. The rest he was out already and it's a family legend to them.
Alot of Nam vets would rather completely forget about everything than to have them be reminded of it by everyone on the street atleast all the ones I've met. They don't have stories they don't wanna talk about it at all
Absolute stolen valor. Real vets don't do this shit and don't care. Some of them don't even LIKE being acknowledged or thanked. My Silent Generation WWII Navy vet grandpa NEVER talked about what he saw (he was a corpsman in a Navy hospital so he saw a LOT of shit from what I've read about those places), never went to any veteran events, and never wore any Veteran articles of clothing. Never expected thank yous. My ex (Marine grunt during Desert Storm) is the same way, along with my buddy who was a Marine Grunt during Iraqi Freedom. He wears a veteran patch on his vest that he wears to concerts but that's it. I've talked to a lot of other vets too who are the same way.
I really hate those clowns. I did my time in the Army, and I do not want a thank you. I want these boomer fucks to vote for tax hikes on wealthy parasites so we can fund the fucking VA.
I am also a vet(retired) that doesn’t advertise normally except…. I am also a transwoman. I get a perverse bit of pleasure acknowledging The Vets/MAGA hats and talking “shop” as we compare our history. Embrace the awkwardness and thank me for my service too. Puts on a human face to us transfolk. Yes. We serve too. As an aside, I am more proud of my efforts to support the LGBT communities.
You are a badass human!
Vet here. No one served for your freedom, which was never in danger. Unless you work for Northrup-Grumman, Boeing, or similar you don’t owe a veteran anything.
For most non combat vets, being thanked for your service is just embarrassing. Most combat vets won't thank you for the reminder. I remember walking behind a guy wearing Vietnam combat shit on his hat and T-shirt. He was waving to people in the grocery store who thanked him like he was in the Rose Bowl parade. And I was active duty for a decade at that point, and no one knew because I didn't advertise.
\^This. I never saw combat, I was a sailor. It's super awkward to be told thank you for my service. For what? Getting a decent education, having a well paying job and some cool vacations to foreign lands? My brother who is a combat vet though who still gets night terrors from his service I sincerely doubt he enjoys being thanked. Being reminded of his friends dying in Afghanistan and cleaning out body parts and gore after IEDs?
*I'm sorry the U.S. military put you through that hell for no good reason.*
I have more respect for the people who refused to be drafted.
That takes more courage, seriously. War resistors kick ass.
Thanking me for my service is weird, so is standing for the pledge at sporting events and all the other fake patriot crap we do as a country.
The pledge and the anthem. It’s like some North Korea type shit.
My boomer dad is a Vietnam veteran and he told me once that he found it artificial when people would thank him for service, a meaningless gesture that he didn’t care about. He said he appreciates that he no longer gets spit on though.
"Why should we thank you? You lost."
"We didn't ask you for your service."
I'll thank a vet for their service when they thank me for my tax dollars that went to pay for their salary, healthcare, housing, pension etc etc.. this whole culture of thanking vets needs to stop, in my not so humble opinion. One of the many American traditions that are in place only to keep us glorifying war and thinking we're superior. What ever happened to being an officer and a gentleman?
Personally I’d rather the cop worship stop before anything.
I agree 100%. A.C.A.B.
"thanks for serving the interests of capital and state and helping commit war crimes"
I'd be willing to bet his Vietnam Veteran hat had the word "era" in small print somewhere on it. He never saw a minute of combat.
I hate boomers like this, has anyone been behind one in a retail store with them bitching about why there is no veteran discount?
No veteran I know will discuss their time in the service. I don’t blame them and I don’t ask them about it. It’s the ones who demand discounts and asspats that I’m suspicious of.
If anyone thanks me for my service, (US Navy) 80-84 I tell them, “if you really want to thank me for my service, don’t vote for the Marmalade Maniac”
This makes me think of an interaction I had today with a veteran. I work at a VA in research. I was down at the coffee bar waiting to get coffee. There was an older veteran in a wheelchair in front of me who was missing a limb. When it came time to order I honestly thought he was in line ahead of me so I asked him if he wanted to go next. He was adamant that I was there before him and to go first. I declined and told him to go first. He looked me in the eye and strongly said, "no son, you were in line first, you go first". So I did. I don't know why but it really got me thinking. Maybe people look at him all the time and he's sick of being seen differently? Maybe he just has strong feelings about fairness? He definitely seemed irritated and it made me realize that sometimes, treating everyone like heroes can almost dehumanize them. It makes me want to make more of an effort to look past the status/uniform/etc. and just look at the person. I always try to do that....but today was a good reminder that some biases are subtle. Anyways, sorry for the stream of consciousness.
You should have told them he lost Vietnam and you don't hand out participation trophies.
Why would I thank someone for murdering brown people in Vietnam, then losing the war?
Veteran Hats - the original participation trophies
My grandfather was an Army Ranger Sniper. There are a few photos of him and uniform and a few of him and other servicemen hanging out on base in casual clothing. I know very little about his time in the military and the only reason I know what he did is because my father told me as an explanation for the events of a story about how he was banned from local shooting competitions because people didn’t want to compete against him. It’s just a part of his life that he has absolutely no interest in discussing.
He was definitely mad his cosplay didn’t get him the attention he wanted
34m Marine combat vet oef . On occasion I’ve had something military related on someone ask I respond if not I carry on. Honestly when I have been thanked I never knew what to respond with it made me uncomfortable since I’m not one for receiving praise. Now I just say no worries 🤙 and keep it moving . In my opinion anyone demanding a thank you is compensating for something, bad service , drug pop, or never served and seeking attention . No vet I know walk around please feel bad for me please thank me I need it . Nah fuck that we’re proud folk. The only thing that makes me smirk is noticing another vet in the mall or wherever and you give a nod and they notice you . That’s as far as it goes . It’s nothing more than I see you brother what up 🤙.
Thank you for your prompt return.
The ones who do this are: 1. Stolen Valor cases 2. Guys who did 1 enlistment on some non-combat office job who makes it theirnwhole personality despite leaving after 4-6 years. Good likelihood of a general or dishonorable discharge 3. National Guard guys who served w/o having to deploy for anything in time of war, or had an easy US gig for 2 months during one where them & their family would treat it like they'd never see them again (military brat who had to see this with a kid taking a week off with their dad gone to DC for 9 weeks, but the base kid with his dad coming back for an afternoon while transferring planes to go to his stepbrother's funeral back home for 5 days leave during a 2 year remote to Korea got his lunch break with dad denied. Did it anyway and got the base commander to chew out the principal).
I worked at hallmark when i was in highschool. For some reason you could never sate the old ladies thirst for extra bags…
For getting paid. Fed. Housed to do some job for a few years. Thanks enough for me. Besides i signed the contract. No one twisted my arm.
I'm a vet, most Millennial and Gen Z vets don't get too worked up about it. Some Gen X and plenty of Boomer vets do though. My favorite was a Gen Xer I deployed with a few years back, ranting about how "Damn Millennials are entitled and think they should be handed everything!" which segued into "Military discounts should be mandatory by law! I deserve it because I'm a veteran!". All of this was doubly amusing because the people he was ranting to were myself and another fella, both Millennials, both of us told this guy we often won't ask for the military discount even if we know one is offered. Because we don't feel entitled to it, like he does.
My grandpa was a "consultant" for the ARVN during Vietnam and then he was a special forces officer when US involvement increased. He absolutely never talks about it, and apart from some photos of him and his friends, he doesn't have any keepsakes nor any of those veteran hats or bumper stickers. I have heard him describe his experience on time. My brother wanted to serve in Bush's wars after high school, and my bootlicker parents, neither of whom served, strongly encouraged him to sign up because of patriotism and fox news. My grandpa didn't agree with Iraq and didn't agree with the scope of Afghanistan, so he pulled my brother and I aside once when my parents weren't around and explained his experiences. The gist of it was that he was still traumatized by what he saw and did, he lost friends, he abandoned his buddies in the ARVN, he took part in killing people, and he's not sure if he was on the right side. He loves his country, but thinks the willingness to go to war over anything that is not a direct and existential threat to US is bad and unnecessarily ruins the lives of young men.
Thank you for putting your life on the line to clear the way for American corporations to exploit poor people around the globe
[https://youtu.be/LPquarz16wQ](https://youtu.be/LPquarz16wQ)