What do Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans think about 'Thank you for your service?'
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- Опубліковано 7 лис 2019
- Before you tell a combat veteran "Thank you for your service" it's a good idea to listen to how they feel when people say this to them. Here are four very thoughtful veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and what they have to say about "Thank you for your service" might surprise you.
Find out more about MEATGRINDER the documentary film here: bit.ly/meatgrinder_doc
50 years after coming home from Vietnam, some unknown citizen paid for my meal just to say thanks. It felt good and was the best Veterans Day for me ever.
@@shelbyspeaks3287 bro he could of been drafted my uncle was drafted and years later after the war killed himself he didn’t sign up he had to go. Go after the politicians who created false flags to start the war dummy
@@shelbyspeaks3287 dawg you dont have to say that to him
No ones ever bought me a beer for my “service” lol. I’d be thrilled. I couldn’t buy a beer until I got back from my third deployment 😂
Just go to the local VFW and toss your coin on the table. You may get a beer that way.
I'm a afghan war veteran and when people say Thank you for your service it makes me uncomfortable and hostile. I hate it.
Thank you for having a conscious
“I’m glad you’re home!”.
I usually just say "we do what we do" smile and move on. I generally appreciate someone that takes the second to thank me, it's simply being nice, no need to read into it or think too hard about why they are saying it.
Exactly. These mother fuckers thinking way to deep into the nice gesture. Thats whats wrong with alot of these men. They take a simple ass gesture/thought and turn it into a god dam mathematical equation they will never figure out the formula too. What in the fuck. When they should just say, Thanks. Then move the fuck along.
Agree! It's just a common sense approach.
@@n2deep637 I do believe that this documentary made them out to sound like this though. So I wouldn't blast these guys too hard but they are thinking way too hard about something simple.
The point they're making is, people feel obligated to thank those who served, when, let's be totally honest, these guys didn't do anything to deserve thanks from a civilian. They acknowledge that. The only thanks they would ever appreciate, are from their fellow servicemen. These are the tiny fraction of service personnel who fought, in combat. They're not logistics personnel, or dental assistants or electronics engineers. All those jobs are important.
The point is - why thank them ? For what ? Go thank a cop. A firefighter. They'll do more for you on a daily basis than any individual who served - in combat or behind a desk - in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Do you even read between the lines chuck? These soldiers were sent on a war outside the country, They lost people and They dont think a thank you is the right Word for apprechiation, and i agree, i’d rather defend my country than attacking another.
I always feel like this, I am waiting to watch this. God Bless.
Thanks Tommy. Follow us on Facebook to see what we're up to. facebook.com/meatgrinder.documentary/
Yup my phones dead.
My grandad is a Vietnam vet 1967-1968 and he doesn’t like wearing his Vietnam vet hat I’ve only seen Im cry in two places, the wall in D.C and the Vietnam veterans memorial in Angel Fire, New Mexico. God bless all veterans
I grew up around alot of Vietnam veterans and saw how the war effected them in so many different ways. Whenever I find that someone served in a war. I show my thanks by being respectful and do my best to always be supportive in anyway I can.
For me as southamerican new that Irak and Afghanistan war was bullshiet. When i see this people understand that all war is bullshiet and the soldiers always pay the cost
To be honest I don't really like to do that myself .
We are bombarded by "magic words" that people just throw around because they are conditioned not to think.
We just tell them we appreciate it for serving.
im a " cold war " army vet . # only 1% of the u.s. population has served. # 2 i've had ppl thank me for my service but i take it in stride.#3 god bless all vets of all wars# regardless of the politics of it !
served usn short 3yrs but your right.we didnt say thank you to each other then an i came out in 88.these younger folks have my respect for service God Bless them as All Veterans
@@williamescolantejr5871 most of the troops i knew signed up for" 3 hots and a cot!!! the ppl i knew figured it was a better deal than the streets!!!!!
@@oldreliable40 recession still was going on when i sighned up hear you
Wow i say it alot but now i can really see how it would make Veterans feel Thank You for the intel i honestly didn't know this but now i can have a different approach because i truly am Grateful to the men and women in the military my son is Army just turned blue and going to Poland to help Ukraine if necessary. So now i won't say the generic thing but can just be a good listener to him and others that serve💪🇺🇸
I hate it when people say this to me. As a professional I always say thank you back and act politely, but in my head I'm screaming. I participated in an illegal war, invaded multiple countries, and toppled their governments. All I helped do was paint a bigger bullseye on our country, so you're welcome, I guess.
At the Veterans Day parade, I saw 2 Afgan-Iraq soldiers just watching. I invited them to march with us Vietnam Vets. They didn't. You guys need it for your own inner healing.
Being thanked for your military service is a lot better than being spit upon. As a Vietnam Vet we were shamed and humiliated by many for having served.
Which was the correct thing, wtf were you doing in Vietnam? Killed a bunch of people for what??
Yah I saw this one guy thrown in jail because he was walking around some town as a Vietnam vet.
The Sheriff ended up having a strange obsession with him after he escaped the local jail, a huge manhunt ended up with part of a town being destroyed and the vet killing the Sheriff and then coming in.
THANK YOU!
FOR SHARING YOUR thoughts
When I hear the thank you for your service, I'm appreciative and say something polite in return. They don't want to hear about my latest flashbacks & nightmares and I don't want to tell a stranger how I really feel.
I want to say it when I see the people in military uniforms around town but feel like just saying it then walking away feels disrespectful.
But then stopping and sort of forcing a conversation in the middle of a store or restaurant seems equally disrespectful.
I sort of wish I know more of an appropriate protocol for engaging military vets respectful but not overstepping boundaries.
Support the troops! Bring them home!!!
I’ve been saying for years that “thank you for your service” makes me cringe and feel very uncomfortable. Please don’t treat us as different. Just treat us with the same respect that you would command for yourself. We just want to be normal citizens now. That’s all we want. Normalcy. No disrespect intended, please just stop thanking us.
How is thanking you treating you differently?
@@gaila.9852a kid told me that recently, about the age pf one of my sons. He seen my license plate, thank me for my service. I instantly stood up and froze, I was gone for a split second. He seen the look on my face when I came back, he was puzzled confused. I said as politely as I could, it was nothing. But internally, I was hurt, mad, lost. That was a kid, adults say it and usually I don’t even acknowledge their presence.
All veterans want from others is to be genuine and take interest in them individually. Like the clips state it's a knee jerk reaction and a way for others to support the military without acknowledgeing what we all went through.
I think people want to ensure that these vets are not treated like the Vietnam vets were. The "thank you for your service" is perfunctory, A more heart-felt comment might be "I'm glad you made it back."
I’m going to use that. That is way more genuine coming from me.
I am an Iraq Veteran and I understand where you guys are coming from. Especially when he said "I didn't do this for you" reality is most of us join up for our own personal reason and very few of us are because of the traditional idea of sacrifice for country. OF course AFTER indoctrination we stand on that ideal, most of us... but as we look at the politics behind war, and the use of force and the US role around the world... we wonder heavily on why. I do thank Veterans for their service, because even if you didn't know what you were getting yourself into, you put it all on the line. For personal reasons, or patriotic reasons... you could've died and many did. Semper Fidelis brothers...
Home s just fucked
@@FuZiOnSEdits there are reasons and they are hidden from me and you together. My government used us and it was and continues to be a tragety. The world spins without our consent
@@FuZiOnSEdits Trump is pulling us out of Afghanistan. Legitimately
@@FuZiOnSEdits dude if I was you I'd be fucking outraged, I can promise you, if anyone invades the US for any reason, I'd be an insurgent 100%
@Selin C every citizen in a modern country is used for political purposes. You're tax dollars are used in ways I am sure you don't 100% agree with. You trade your life (days) and skills to create money which your Government takes and uses as they see fit. Dumb and Naive are not the same thing. At 18 I'd have loved to see your extensive understand of world events and the political underlays which create US Foreign Policy. Humans are humans and imperfect.
I’ve always think veterans for their service now I will try to have a conversation with them. Thought I was doing the right thing but I guess not
Naw you did the right thing. What we have here is a group of men who are into their thoughts and feelings like a pissed off confused house wife on their menstrual cycle. Keep thanking them for their service. They can take it with a solid thank you or move on. It dont really matter.
@@n2deep637 To be fair, these are dudes who actually served, telling you they don't need your thanks. Have you ever served in combat ?
@@jimreily7538 Yeah, he served in Call of Duty 4. He's also a veteran of dayz and h1z1.
@@jimreily7538 It doesn't matter if I served or not. My life has nothing to do with thanking a veteran for their service and them appreciating the fact we support them. Nor does me being in combat have anything to do with thanking a man for his service. What you have here is a group of men who enlisted and are pissed off about what they had to do on tour. It's what they signed up for. They need to get over themselves and move along. They need to donate their benefits to a veteran who will appreciate them.
@Ernest Hemingway You mean I should go half way across the world to fight village people so our goverment can extract oil from their soil while labelling it liberation of the people. Who is the real idiot here toy soldier ? Think about that. Perhaps theres a reason you don't like being thanked for your service.
I would say it's not necessarily about what you were doing but more the fact that you are willing to sign up to go do something that could have cost you everything. It's far more than I did and I understand the necessity of having people like our veterans and service members.
Maybe it's not so much about your service but the fact that you exist that I'm grateful for.
I feel like rolling my eyes... It's like they are just saying it because it is expected. I loved my job. I was a Warrant Officer and I had the best as well as the worst times of my life. I'm glad they are expressing gratitude, but it's so routine...
Even if they joined for other reasons they still served the country. I just don't get them.
I tell people to stop when they start to thank me. I tell them it’s weird and we don’t like it. It’s therapeutic.
I appreciate the respect given.
I went to Afghanistan Army 11B Infantry and i dont understand the war in afghanistan. Firefights everyday ieds often and waiting to be next or see who is next to die or get wounded pissed me off.
Bankers Wars, brother. Bankers wars.
In Iraq 2004-2005 felt the like that. As much as I want to believe that home made apple bullshit, sometime it seems like we just roll the dice on our young lives for the shits n' giggles.
@@longislandheatingrepair5383 By observing your spelling you don’t even qualify for an ASVAB waiver for enlistment. Probably don’t even have the balls either. So your opinion does not mean anything here by any veteran. You just showed you’re lack of education and gump to be any of any worth. You’re ignorance does show.
@@jezek7358 What do you think about Israel who is america's biggest ally killing innocent Palestinians? I remember when I was there and hearing about kids getting killed by Israeli airstrikes.
It is very awkward when I'm thanked for my service. What do you say?
"You're welcome?"
I have felt like this ever since i left Iraq in 2008. When thanked early after I kind of smiled, but now I dismiss it totally. I haven’t even spoke to anyone I deployed with in years. After a decade and a half I am just now seeking help, but only after years of drinking and jail
I insist on being thanked for my service. INSIST upon it. The conversation is over otherwise.
That first guy. Smh. You fought for your country and our freedom.
Some people are pessimistic
You don’t get to speak for him.
What freedom did you gain? lol
@@khanate2750 I've had freedom since I was born. We all have had freedom for centuries.
I usually respond with "thank you for your support" and move on. It is wierd and awkward, but at least they aren't spitting on us and calling us baby killers. We weren't forced to go anywhere. We signed up on our own free will, so I personally don't think people should be thanking us for anything. I would rather see people thanking the Vietnam guys rather than thanking us.
From a civilian perspective, I always feel the need to show appreciation to veterans because you guys did what the rest of us wouldn’t. Whether you joined at time of war or not, you made an extremely brave sacrifice and unfortunately it’s impossible to show all of the appreciation I have
How about saying "thank you for your service" to the Truck Driver ? They are more deserving of it !
I have a question for people in the military and I'm just curious is War really about protecting us and our freedom or are there other motives behind war
I would say: "I'm very sorry for what you have seen there.I truly hope your P.T.S.D is not eating you alive..." 😞
Some guy just thanked me for my service 5 minutes ago. Now I'm here watching this video because I still dont know how to respond or feel about it. After watching the vid I still dont know.
I was in the Air Force 1976_1980. The public still treated us like Vietnam veterans, mostly ignoring us, which was fine by me. A flight attendant moved me up to First Class once, that was it. The first time I was thanked was after 9-11 when people mistook my work as a federal special agent for being in the military and one guy said, “Thank you for your service.” I replied, “You’re welcome” and walked away.
Lol I tell the Vets Youre welcome for your service, always got a positive reaction so far #fuckyeaVETS
My dad served during the Gulf war and the man barely even talks about it. Any question I've ever asked he just looks so confused and irritated. I understand that now a bit better.
The modern veterans should be grateful for the people who treat them with respect and thanks .. I'm sure Vietnam vets would have preferred modern treatment to their homecoming experiences.. imagine instead of having ptsd and medical issues from doing what you chose to do you have the same type of ptsd and medical issues from a father or family member who beat the crap out of you for most of your childhood until you were 17.. then imagine being rescued from the situation and by the time you're 18 and ready to start doing something with your life such as joining the military you begin having grand mall seizures for the next 12 years which destroy your bones and joints.. doctors don't know the consequences of having this large amount of seizures because most die when a certain number of seizures occurs.. they can only tell you that you are going to have brain problems.. I gave up getting drunk and drug use years ago and am now left with the same type of struggle veterans seem to have.. feeling of uselessness and very low points where the will or desire to continue on becomes less and less every time the darkness comes knocking.. today is one of those nights where it's difficult for sure.. I do understand about having a conversation with a veteran rather than just saying thanks and running off
I get a little uncomfortable when people thank me mostly because I don't like the attention for something they paid me to do. I don't agree with saying we didn't do any good over there. Lots of bad people are no longer killing innocent victims. It's okay to be proud of your country and your service. I don't think I'm going to agree with much on this doc, but I'll still subscribe/watch and I'm glad they are able to express their opinion.
The 3rd person make a clear point there.
I understand what these vets are saying when I was in Libya in 2016
We all know that certain type of person. The ones that disrespect the cleaning lady, threaten overworked waitresses to get them fired, spit on everyone doing 12-hour shifts to support their family on minimum wage. And then go all reverend "thank you sir" to some rando they've never met because he's wearing an army jacket. It's not respect, they don't know what respect means. It's just a soulless little mantra they do to make themselves look good.
Man so we can’t thank em anymore
A comments section of substance.
Hardcore dose of reality here.
I find this a poor choice. When some thanks you you say thank you for your support. This is being said by people who don't understand conversation. You don't have to turn it on yourself when someone says something. They are trying to show support and you acknowledge that support for those who follow you. I have my own issues as do many who have walk that line and signed that paper but never make it a position where it is "oh poor me". Thank you for your service and thank you for your support. Done and done and we will make it
I promise yall this, getting thanked for your service is better than how the Vietnam vets got treated. Take your pick.
Good god different mind set from today's troops to us old veterans....wow
What is the difference if you don’t mind sharing?
I thank our veterans to show my appreciation for a job that I wasn’t able to do myself.
It's better to just say Respect ur work but dawq and keep ut movin
"WELCOME HOME!"
These are soldiers who have lost their way its sickening honestly
09-10 Iraq army e4..19k tanker iv never thought I can relate to anyone... I totally realate
Wow, that is deep. Now I feel more awkward though as I am one of those people that says it to Veterans or active duty Service Men if I do meet them. Hoping I didn't make anyone feel the way that these men do. Hmmm..
This is . . . odd. This is not what people are thinking when they thank you.
This is odd to me, as I got out in 2000, never been to a war zone, never exchanged fire....etc...."thank you for your service", I think, "what are you thanking me for?" And all of you guys who deployed are asking the same question; and now I get other vets thanking me...What I realized is this, thank you for your "service" not for the wars, not for fighting, not for a cause..,but for taking the oath, serving your time, no matter if what our government did was just or not, you did your job, it didn't go the way you dreamed, it never...never does, but you made it. What do I know...I'm just a pre 9/11 vet. Semper.
I usually just reply, “thank you for your cervix.”
Been told to "F*ck off" or "I didn't do it for you anymore" so much that I don't thank veterans for their service anymore. They did what I couldn't so f*ck me I guess.
I am really glad to know that these men realize their mistake of trusting a government. Good for you men, I am proud of your realization this. War is not fought for 'Freedom', war is fought so that wealthy psychopaths can gain profit, gain control, and gain power. Hopefully they'll help now in regaining our Freedom here in America, because it's pretty much GONE. --- Jason/Vermont, USA
UNITY IS THE ONLY SOLUTION
"Hopefully they'll help now in regaining our Freedom here in America, because it's pretty much GONE. --- Jason/Vermont, USA"
If you really feel this way, why are you still here reaping the rewards?
Just say "God bless you" , you thank them, for what ?
Navy vet here that suffers from PTSD... this is how I explained it to my therapist about the "thank you for your service" cliché ass statement 🤬
I find it extremely annoying as well. When a veteran reveals to a person that they were in the military they are communicating some information to the person that defines them. If someone tells me they went to Harvard I wouldn't say "thank you for going to Harvard." The natual response would be to ask them about their experience. "Thank you for your service" is about as empty as saying "Bless you" after a person sneezes. The only time I find it appropiate is when a person is wearing some type of item that identifies them as a veteran such as a hat, patch, etc. and this is because those people likely want to be recognized in that way.
Or maybe their just proud of the branch or unit they served in and where that hat or patch with pride.
Just say "God bless you" simple ! Military members is not something special kind anyway, they are like us, a human.
💞💞
An Aussie Afghan veteran here and I hold the same.opinions. I'm most likely going to discharge this year, have had enough after 9 years. I dare say the Afghanistan of 2020 was different from the Afghanistan from 2005-2012 though.
Why don't you like it when someone says thank you for your service?
@@emilygrace495 In all honesty, people can say what they want and at face value, I'll say thank you, but if people ask me honestly about the war and the politics, I'll give them an honest opinion. The people of Afghanistan deserve better than 20 years of constant war. I saw a lot of money being pumped into the conflict and the military industrial complex in full swing.
@@thedude9024 People say thank you because you served and fought for your country.
@@thedude9024 Thanks for being honest, Godbless Afghanistan and all good people around the world☺️
I just tell people that I only did it to bag foreign chicks.
Where'd you serve man ?
I was an 11B from 99-06. Deployed to Kosovo, Desert Spring, OIF, and OIF3
Few beers deep and I laughed me ass of at this. That would be my reply if I ever serve
Usually the troops who like the “thank you for your service” are the ones who were never in combat. Just saying. US Army 1988-2006 91B, 12B, 19D, 88M. 🇺🇸
U.S. Militia
This statement is ignorant, "Usually the troops who like the “thank you for your service” are the ones who were never in combat." Thanking someone for their service is for someone willing to wear the uniform in support of their country whether in Peacetime or war/conflict.
John In Alaska never been in combat have ya? I can tell. 🙄
@@u.s.militia7682
What makes you say that?
John In Alaska I know. You’re a pog. Period. You know it too. Admit it you never will.
John In Alaska well?……….
As a civilian, when I say thank you for your service...it is an acknowledgement that you have made a sacrifices in your life for the greater good of our nation. Sacrifices that I did not make but I still live under the blanket of protection our soldiers have provided. Regardless of right or wrong, whether you believed in the cause or not...it is just a way to let you know your sacrifices are appreciated.
It makes us very uncomfortable and scared. Some of us find that it’s very hard to speak in public. When we’re thanked it puts us on the spot because of the courtesy involved in answering you back. I’ve literally stumbled over my tongue, my face turn red and have hidden my face with my hands because I can’t find the words to say “you’re welcome”. I guess in a way I feel ashamed because of some things that happened overseas. We don’t mean any disrespect. We just want to be like the rest of the population. I’m sorry if I’m not explaining this right. I guess we don’t want to be spat on but at the same time we don’t want to be thanked. We just want to be you.
@@u.s.militia7682 that’s a great answer and makes perfect sense.
@@u.s.militia7682 No. It makes you uncomfortable. Most of us have progressed to a point we do not freeze up just because something says thank you. You will get there. I used to take a few seconds before responding too, but just say Thank You and move on. People are not trying to be disrespectful. Honestly I have never felt scared though.
wow, Woosh !
For the greater good of our nation? Are you serious? You have no idea where, the person to whom you say this words has been, or what he has done. Much less you know why your government send troops out there. Please stop with that nationalist attitude and start using your brain.
3:45 thats very deep... I never thought of it like that "you just continue believing what you wanna believe" like they do for themself to feel there is something noble about it, so its not to make the veteran feel good but them
That is not at all true.
@@gaila.9852 Afghanistan citizen is agree
Didn't come here to find so much truth, it's awkward. Burst my bubble for sure.
Forgive yourselves as I have forgiven you
It works for most vets cuz most vets didn't go into combat but pretend like they did
Fuck, bro, 1/6 HARD!!! 2007-2011
No thanks required. It was a privilege to serve my country. Like a republican Roman Legionnaire, I have a stake in the continuation of the greatest country that's ever existed. If I had died for my country, it wouldn't have been my own, but for my country's glory. Having said that, we should probably start focusing on the actual defense of our country and not every other one except ours...
How fighting for the problems of other countries is serving your country?
I don't get thanked for doing my job.
I normally just tell them it was a job
I’m sorry I don’t thank you for your combat experience. I thank you for serving in the military. I don’t ask what your involvements were, what your MOS is. I thank cooks and grunts alike. Doesn’t even matter if the person served during war time. It’s not the war I thank you for. I’m angry that once again our young men are sent to fight a BS war, but I still appreciate those who can still do join with the intent of serving their country rather then just exist in it.
Glad to do it. These opinions in this video are naive. Yes I said it. Combat veterans can be naive. I am one and I've long since dealt with the politics of OIF.
@grip side i agree💯%!
I just say welcome home. I dont support the fact you fought for oil but I am happy you made it home alive.
I cringe when thanked. have been told, by civilians, to put on a front for the masses to let them think the majority of veterans are proud to have served, cause media distorts the numbers, but that homeless guy, or crazy guy of the neighborhood was probably a vet. You know the one, the one you avoid eye contact with or never speak to neighborly, much less thanking them for their service. It is only to make the masses feel good about themselves and sell war.
@@bl8892 I think we do more than the "thank you for your service" broken records since we know what they went through and they just say it out of habit.
It's not that deep. Just say thanks and move on. It's people just trying to be polite and supportive. I don't know why some choose to look more into it.
I hate this entitled “you don’t know what else to say to me” mindset so much.
As an active duty serviceman who works with allies overseas I know how much our foreign partners wish they got ANY gratitude from their own people.
Take it from someone who isn’t “woke”, controversial, nor entitled: thank you for being gracious towards military members and the sacrifices many of us endure!
You are that guy huh
You're a puppet. I'm SURELY NOT gonna thank you for being a STUPID order follower. fight the REAL war on injustice IN YOUR OWN DAMNED COUNTRY!!
You're a moron. While we're over here arguing over bathrooms & teaching our children that they're racist & responsible for something that happened over 100 years ago China & Russia are laughing at us while running roughshot over us.
So quick question... have you deployed with whatever oversea ally group you're with? I deployed with C. Co. 120th 30HBCT from 09-10. In that time I learned that war is more than what we see in front of us. I've been back for over a decade and its still strange how people thank me for my service and I feel very similar to these guys in this video. It's not entitlement brother. It's an understanding of a task. Listen, whatever force you're fighting for I hope and pray that you arise victorious.
@@allrightsreserved7200
It's beautiful that you are allowed to exercise your 1st Amendment that is protected by the military today and in history by Patriots willing to fight and give their life for your freedoms that you now enjoy.
What is wrong with these Vets in the video and a lot of the ones in the comment section? Ya, it is a little awkward when they come up and thank you, but you should be flattered these people do you support you and appreciate you. I came in the Army in 1982 (26 year, First Sergeant Retired , Disabled Vet, Iraq 2004) , and almost my entire chain of command were Vietnam Veterans. I heard all their stories of how bad they were treated and had no support from their fellow countrymen. I’ll never forget my first platoon sergeant, his eyes would start to tear up when he talked about what he went through when he came back from ‘Nam. Severely wounded, had to be pushed around in wheel chair for over a year with one surgery after another. The comments he heard the most when ever he was out, (bound to his wheel chair) was something to the effect of “hope your suffering and in pain” or “to bad they didn’t finish the job”. How this Warrior kept his will power up is unbelievable. He not only endured numerous surgeries, but got himself back to walking, and then SOB could smoke the living shit out of us on 5-7 mile runs. He literally got himself back in shape to continue his military career and he could put a hurting us on youngsters.
We are fortunate that’s not how we’re treated today. Yes, Civilians don’t truly understand everything we’ve been through, the hardships we’ve endured, the evil horrible things we’ve seen done to people, the loss of our brothers and sisters, etc. But what they are trying to tell you is, “I may not have any idea what you guys go through, but we know you’ve made incredible sacrifices and given a lot, and for that , we appreciate you.” They know without the military and your selfless service, there are millions of evil men around this world that would bring this country to its knees and destroy everything that we care about and is important to you. It’s of course always awkward to walk up and talk to a stranger or vice versa. But just deal with it, thank them, and try to be a little sincere too when you do it. And last, a lot of those so called civilians that thank you, are also veterans also,. Especially if I know their still currently serving I appreciate their sacrifice (cause I know what their doing and going through) . Their still protecting this great country (and my family) and keeping us safe and secure . So I’m more than honored to pay for their large double pepperoni pizza or a pitcher of beer. Chill out gentlemen, your starting to sound like these SJW snowflakes that need their safe zone so they don’t feel uncomfortable anymore.
Someone's drinking the kool aid...
Your comment like the guy what is called _"Stolen Valor"_
As a simple citizen, when someone tells me they served in the military I look them in their eyes, thank them for their service and give them a strong hand shake. Happy 4th of July!
I’m not a fan of being “thanked”
But you still served your country
@@emilygrace495 yes I did, and I would do it agin in a second I did my service for unselfish resonant, which require no “thanks”. I’m just being honest
Nowadays, when someone says it is because they know why it means to service or one of their loved ones served. People don’t say just to say it.
Listen, I served in ROK army so I obviously saw lot less action than US military, but when civilians show respect for your service with one sentence, they mean it and there is nothing wrong with it. Real reason why these troops are confused with simple thank you is they are still confused with the reason of the war. What we can do better is not electing political morons to invade other countries for god knows why.
You will never understand. Eastern and western culture are so different to comprehend each other.
I can’t fault veterans for feeling this way. They are free to feel anyway they want about how they served in the military. But as a civilian and a patriot, I’ve thanked Vets for their service numerous times and at the very least isn’t it far better to be appreciated by the civilian community in this era then as if you guys were treated by the general public how the vets were treated when they came back from Vietnam? If you guys want to get the message out that you want to stop being thanked, that’s what should be done to respect your wishes, but I can only talk for myself when I say I thanked you guys for your bravery because I truly believed that you going over there made this country a little safer or preserves what we have.
It's not a zero sum choice. You don't have to choose between awkward thanks when they'd probably rather just go about their business, or spitting on them. Just treat them like a normal person. Have had people quite literally thank me for just treating them normally instead of doing the whole thank you lark.
As a Veteran myself , Thank you very for showing support to our vets. It does mean a lot to them (99% of them) to know their fellow countrymen are behind them.
Ed Rossman
First Sergeant (Retired)
US Army
Over the years I come to realize that thank you for you for your service means better you than me... People thank you for your service but then will not hire you for a job. While we spent our time serving they spent their time in college and climbing the ranks of their jobs, so it does in fact mean better you than me. I’m so tired of seeing these “hiring fairs” when these companies are looking for engineers or car salesman. I was a 13F, forward observer, basically the guy that runs around with the infantry, for the civilians. 8 years of my life that I cannot translated into civilian employment. I’m tired of getting the rejection letters that say something to the effect of “while your resume is impressive we have decided to go with someone more suited for the position”. The truth is thank you for your service is like saying bless you when someone sneezes. If you REALLY want to thank a veteran give them a job. We don’t want to be astronauts we just want to support ourselves and be able to stand on our own two feet. I apologize for my rant but this is the reality of veterans lives, people want to forget about us because they did not serve or because they are more preoccupied by what some celebrity couple broke up. Think about it. Thank you for your time.
I am a former 11B and had hard time transitioning that into civilian life. Your right about the "Thank You for your Service". You can literally be starving on the streets when some passes you by, but that is okay because they said "Thank You for your Service". I
Thanking someone active duty or Veteran for their service isn't always because, you served in combat. It's because, you were willing to wear that uniform to serve you country.
The "thank you for you service" cliche began in the late 90's after the US was finally able to re-examine it's guilt & vile treatment of Vietnam vets through film & academic letters. Those young men were largely draftees who knew it was do the tour or do 5 years in prison. US foreign policy being the cause of young men coming back from sh!tty countries well messed up, isn't it about time the US changed? Maybe develop a scheme where the entire US administration has to give a super-dooper MK-Ultra mushroom enema to the individual who is their immediate senior, & televise the event live on Pox News. Oh yeah! all those letter organisations like Rand, CIA, DEA, FBI get a bonus iboga truth trip thrown in. Entheogens show what is really inside a person, I think the results would be surprising? Thank you for your reading!
Until you forgive yourselves you wont be able to love others
I honestly see no need to compliment people who defended their little corporate owned nation/state human farm against another one!! I see no need to hate them either. But soldiers are not heroic for the most part and are more often actually tyrants. If soldiers are by nature heroes, than we should also thank the soldiers of the so called enemy too!! I listened to many soldiers stories and I, as with those in other walks of life from truckers to nurses, love to hear of their experiences so they can be learned from and to share my own tales. But calling people heroes for killing others on someone else's human farm??!!! Nope!!!
We thank you for your sacrifice and willingness to join the armed forces. It is not an easy job but someone has to do it. I don’t ever feel awkward, when a veteran tells me in conversation they were in the military I thank them for defending our liberty and way of life with a strong hand shake and sincerity in my eyes. Happy Fourth of July!🎉
Well that's what America gets for interfering in other country's affairs
If I wear a hat or other apparel denoting I'm a Vietnam vet I'm pleased when someone thanks me for my service. I thank any other vet if they're doing the same. If you don't want to be thanked by a stranger don't display that you are a vet. I've had the greatest experiences meeting my fellow vets.
Who else would I be quaranteened Canton
PAIN allows us to carry a chip on your shoulder. This is not sustainable.
The mark of a good soldier, they followed orders. Regardless of what they did. I have family that were killed by friendly fire. I am ok with it, because they followed orders. WWII - ammo dump being guarded by my great uncle (army) in the eastern theatre. The Germans were advancing. To keep them from gaining the ammo dump, Naval ships were ordered to shell the location, sacrificing the men guarding it. My grandfather (Navy) followed orders. The horrors of war are part of war. Having the bravery to even enlist deserves respect.
Alot of. Times i. Ask myself. Why. Why do people. Hurt others. And i have to. Hurt. Yhem. Back to. Keep from. Being. Hurt and. Body count why. After a while we wuit. Counting. Because. We don't care. Anymore. We just want it to end. Why. Hold. Back in. War. We sre the. Good. Guys. But we. Have to. Face. Lead. Ehat. Happened to all the. Planes. I thought that was. Our. Acr in the. Hole. Eay too many American Warrior's. Died. We sre not. Just a number. Go put. Yourself in our. Boots. Feel ehat we. Feel. Ehen you go yo. War you go in to. Win. Fast. Regardless. Make yhe. Rnemy shake with. Fear. America fights with. Bixing gloves while our. Enemy. Does. Everything to us
Blah blah blah blah. Another video telling everyone how they should act and what to say. When I was on base and they look at people as civilians and as outsiders. Made me realize stay away. They like me as much as that person in whatever foreign land they were in.
Holy Crap there are civilians everywhere haha.
This video was weird and I respect their point of view And all that... but I don't know if this represents the majority of guys who went over there. All of my friends who went over there and saw combat generally appreciate being thanked. Regardless of whether or not it was a "just war" (is any war just?), you dedicated up to 4 years of your life to protect American interests in the assholes and armpits of the Earth and furthermore you put yourself in danger to do so. You were not the politician who made the decision you were just a foot soldier and for volunteering to do that, You are brave.
I once asked a marine friend of mine if he would like to talk about his experiences over there and an hour later and lots of crying and screaming later, He just told me everything and finished by saying "there now you fucking know. Happy?"
So sometimes it's just easier to say "Hey I know you went through hell, and you may have lost some friends, but I sincerely appreciate you."
I used to be a medic. And after 911 especially people would thank me. I would smile and nod, just doing my job sir/ma'am. If you are a vet and struggling with things you saw or did, reach out. Lots of people will listen and value your service.