Posted on Jul 19, 2017
Do military "nicknames" from civilians bother you?
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An American Legion friend of mine gets very upset when a non-vet civilian refers to a veteran by a service nickname, i.e. swabbie, squid, grunt, weekend warrior, puddle-jumper, fly-boy, etc. He tells them in no uncertain terms they have not earned the right to call veterans or service members anything but what they are. That the nicknames are a sign of military comradeship among the services.
Vietnam War
Military service
Civilians
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 44
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It's like picking on your little brother....it's ok for me, but if someone else does it there will be hell to pay.
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aside from the being called baby killer etc, I haven't been called by any any other nicknames by a non vet civilian. they had no clue. here's an example. I got out of the field on 2 july 69, got home on 4 july. no time to wind down. get home and part of my welcome home is cherry bombs being set off, and they looked at me weirdly as I ducked behind the nearest tree and was looking for my rifle. not funny at the time but they just didn't know. I still give my brother hell about that when I get the chance.
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PO2 Richard C.
Welcome home, brother. I suspect you didn't hear that much except from family, and that was no guarantee. My brother was anti-war but at least wasn't blatant about it around me. It's really only "funny" now because of the time separation. I'm willing to bet you still have a momentary twinge of a reaction in the right situation. Gotta love Uncle Sam's sense of timing back then.
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They haven't earned the right, we earned it for them.
It's hard to endure people exercising their free speech rights when it is used against the way we feel. That just makes the Constitution and it's amendments that much more cool, because if you are not under any service restraints at the time you get to voice your opinion of civilians!!!!!!!
It's hard to endure people exercising their free speech rights when it is used against the way we feel. That just makes the Constitution and it's amendments that much more cool, because if you are not under any service restraints at the time you get to voice your opinion of civilians!!!!!!!
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"American Legion friend of mine gets very upset when a non-vet civilian refers to a veteran by a service nickname"
Your friend has an opinion and its as valid as anyones else... but Id say his "outrage" is misplaced and unneeded.
Plenty of things to be upset about , no need to take offense at something like this.
Your friend has an opinion and its as valid as anyones else... but Id say his "outrage" is misplaced and unneeded.
Plenty of things to be upset about , no need to take offense at something like this.
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I'm proud of nicknames like grunt or Devil Dog so it doesn't bother me. If they are meaning it in a derogatory way it would. But then, anything they call me in a derogatory way would probably bother me.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
Grunt was a badge of honor in the USMC I served in, but a civilian would not understand that. Semper Fi.
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Not at all - primarily because I refuse to associate with those who would use those terms. I didn't like it when I was active either. As a 1SG, I wouldn't allow subordinates to call me 'Top' or call Lieutenants 'LT".
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