Does it bother you to hear "Thank you for your service!"?

I look at it is if I am accepting thanks on behalf of every one who served, especially those who are no longer around to hear it. It warms the cockles of my old heart to hear that, especially when it comes from a young kid or teen who was obviously taught something worthwhile by someone, or from a revered older veteran.

nobody understands unless you serve Vietnam veterans deserve better I've always thank other service members for their service cuz I appreciate your sacrifice for their duty and honor and for the love of our country

Doesn't bother me at all because they do so with the utmost sincerity. They don't know what we as service men and women have done or gone through. It's the only thing that they know to say.......which my normal reply is "HOOOOOOYAH!!!!" and then Thank you.

I'll scroll through the other comments, but this one pretty much says it. Sure is better than someone spitting at you as was done in the 60s & 70s. I'm certainly not offended when someone says this to me.

I agree...

Where I live there is a large percentage of the population that has served. We normally don't say anything to each other, just smile and nod in recognition. The one time that really got to me, I was at lunch with some from my unit, in uniform, and a group of WWII vets came up to us and said it. You'd have thought we were all raw recruits the way we jumped up when we looked up and saw them. We were able to speak to them for a bit before they had to leave, but it was one of the times it meant the most to me to hear it.

Thanks for sharing that, MSgt Sharon Mallory-Robinson. I'll bet that encounter did have a special meaning for you and your colleagues.

CW5 Montgomery, it did. I worked with a joint unit at that time, so we had everyone except Marines with us. Our Marine of One, as we called him, wasn't with us that day. I have always enjoyed talking to the Vets who came before me, I have learned a great deal from them.

Thanks Capt Jack. You just gave me my future response....my future response will bakery's be "It IS and will ALWAYS BE an honor to serve". Thanks sir!

That's the approach.

Whenever I am thanked me for my service, I always respond by saying " thank you for your support "

When I tell people I enlisted and they thank me, I don't feel like "you're welcome" is quite right so I have been unsure how best to respond. Now I have a great response (that I'll alter to fit my level of experience).

And I thank you for yours, 1LT L S!

Agreed. If someone thanks you, just accept their gratitude.

I usually respond with thank You for thanking Me !

I served two tours in Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces and returned to Fort Bragg. There we were told to drive to and from base and not to stop at any stores in between. The soldier even at Fort Bragg with thousands of military was looked down upon. To answer the question, I never heard thank you during the Vietnam-Era so now it is a pleasure to hear people say the words, "Thank you for your service". We need that.

SIR AKA MY BROTHER IN ARMS DAVID THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE !!!!!!!!!!WELCOME HOME SIR SGT AT ARMS AMERICAN LEGION POST 217 COLLEGE PARK MD

1LT LS, thank you for your service !!!!!!it is indeed outstanding for you to thank all vets for their service Brother in arms Mark

Did that once where I worked. Was a couple who naturalized from Germany, both of their children ended up serving, one Air Force and one in the Army.

Wow, I take the opportunity to promote the service and ask if anyone they knew served also. I encourage others to stand for what only 5% of the populace has 'a calling' to do. Because not everyone has what it takes to be a military member and fewer still to have what it takes to become a United States Marine.

I share proudly the time I served during peace and how my brothers and sisters in Beirut, Lebanon and aboard the USS Cole as well as those who served in combat before and after me weren't as fortunate. Stories I have heard and things I have learned that they can immediately apply to their own life. And then I thank them for recognizing my service to God and Country and send them off with the charge, "Please continue to share your gratitude everyday with those who served. If you see a vet in need please do whatever you can." I served for many reasons, among them is to protect the freedom of speech and expression that comes from the freedom to keep and bear arms, I call particular attention to those who would rather express negativity to these rights and our veterans.

To LCpl Holowecki: Well stated! If someone inquires what I did during my time in, I remind them that there are a lot of jobs in the service and not everybody who joins the military winds up in a combat or shooting situation, although that's what is indeed possible.

exactly I had one uncle served in battle of the bulge, another one with big red one from the beginning to the end, and 3 more in the navy pacific theater, another cousin in Vietnam air cav, as a young corpsman in the naval hospital I had meet many ww2 vets, Korean vets and Vietnam vets, they all had stories to tell, I even served with Vietnam vets and their stories helped shape me

OUT STANDING MY brother Aaron thank you for your service Salute

Thank you very much for serving CPL Aaron Henry. You are very much appreciated.

Capt Schwager, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I struck up a conversation with a gentleman one morning at a breakfast buffet, when he told me thank you. During that conversation, I found out that he was a Marine in Vietnam. As we were concluding our conversation he asked me to, when I see a Vietnam vet, not only tell him thank you but even today. . . Years after, tell him "Welcome home." That'll mean more than any thank you, because many of them had no choice in whether to serve or not during Vietnam, Korea, and WWII.

When I was a young troop, my Drill Instructors were Vietnam vets as were most of the SNCO's training me. I heard their war stories.

To be drafted by your gov't and then sent into combat with an ROE that puts your life in jeopardy and basically ties your hands from being able to take the fight to the enemy (i.e., orders not to shoot unless you are shot at first; being ordered to give up ground that you fought and gave blood and lives to gain, etc.)... I mean, what does that tell you about how much (read how LITTLE!) your own gov't thinks of you/values your life?!! And as if that weren't bad enough... to come home to demonstrators spitting on you and calling you baby killers?!!

I can see where it would make one very bitter and it pains me to think our country did our Vietnam vets that way. And when they developed illnesses from being exposed to things like Agent Orange, the VA didn't take the kind of care of them that they deserved.

NOBODY deserves to be treated like we treated our Vietnam Vets. I'm glad they finally got their war memorial and the recognition they deserve. I ALWAYS make a point to thank them for their service, and it's appreciated.

... and thanks for your story MSgt Samuel Thornton. Will also make a point to tell them "Welcome Home."

When I recognize a Vietnam era Veteran I alway walk up shake their hand, look them in the face and say, WELCOME HOME, Brother.... It usually turns into a hug.. an I have NO problem hugging a family member.

Awsome insight SSG Jose G. True, very true...

I wear with pride my Navy Ball Cap stating that I was Korea and Vietnam. I do frequently get thanked and my response was "And You" Then I start talking about them.

Almost identical to my actions.

MCPO Roger Collins - Master Chief Collins, I observed along time ago that You is more important than I and try to work at it all of the time. BTW, Thanks for you comment.
Army

My pleasure, though it's been 19 yrs since I retired I'd do it all over again given the opportunity.

Emotionally I have what it takes, physically this old carcass is only good for wit and wisdom.

@MSgt Stephan Hall Semper Fi, Brother and thank you! I know what you are talking about, though I am still a young 32, my body is going downhill fast. Garth Brooks said it best "I'm much too young to feel this damn old."

Comment on this response...MSG Schaffer, I'm in, where do we re-enlist???