It was just something you did, no special thanks needed, we were in a war. All of my friends served alott of them a couple of tours, my dad and uncles served, goes back a long time.
Most of them came back no worse for weare and sit at the end of the bar at the VFW swapping lies along with the rest of the old guys as my Grandfathers generation did.
If your family military service line goes back to the 1860's, I'm afraid I am going to have to shoot you Little Bill.