I agree with you. I think saying “thank you for your service” to guys like me who spent their years on active duty far away from the gunfire, killing and dying is ok and I,for one, always appreciate it.
But, for the guys that have walked through hell (really, really & truly, not the Brian Williams types) the statement “thank you for your service” statement, upon thoughtful reflection, really does just “not quite cut it”.
This is why many combat vets just don’t want to talk about “their service” at all.
But, for the guys that have walked through hell (really, really & truly, not the Brian Williams types) the statement “thank you for your service” statement, upon thoughtful reflection, really does just “not quite cut it”.
This is why many combat vets just don’t want to talk about “their service” at all.
I agree. When I got to my first unit in 83, it was suggested to us newbees to not ask the guys with combat patches about their time in Vietnam. Hell, that just made me more curious. It wasn’t until all the documentaries came out in the 80s that I realized what these guys (and a few gals) went through. At that point, I had a newfound respect and admiration for all of them.