Posted on Jan 21, 2015
Does it bother you to hear "Thank you for your service!"?
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All active duty stand down(but don't walk away, this will effect you later) Veterans does it ever bother you to hear that? "Thank you for your service" I apologize but it mmmm...bugs me something awful, telling me " your done go sit down and grow feeble " needs changed to something that endures like we do something like "YO JOE!" or another saying meaning get outta my way theres work to do and I ain't done yet! Forgive if I wasted your time, just wondering.
Thank You
Service
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 619
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I think it bothers some people with combat time to hear it from people who have not served because they don't really understand what they are thanking them for, and that it isn't really appropriate to thank them in some ways because it sort of belittles what they've been through. Thanking someone for an experience where they've lost brothers right next to them feels like "thanx for the coffee". I understand this too and it's not anger at the person saying it, but it's dismay that they don't really understand what it is that they're saying. On the other hand, I'm glad to hear it because it's so overdue for our Vietnam vets who came back to being spit on by the people of the country that asked them to go. It's a very different thing to soldiers of different generations. For Vietnam vets it's an apology for not recognizing their contributions earlier, for WWI or WWII or even Korean vets it's just an nice recognition, but for our newer vets, many of whom are still being told that their efforts are a waste and that their losses and sacrifices are a waste, and that their lost brothers in arms were a waste it's an insult and an arrogant tip of the hat from someone who presumes to support them but doesn't really understand. The current political climate in our country produces a faction of people who are willing to publicly recognize our soldiers, but not value what they've suffered, endured, and fought for because they don't recognize the value of what our current soldiers fought for and believed in. Many people don't recognize that the modern American soldier is a giver and a builder and fights for love more than hate. The modern American soldier is a man who risks his life and spills his blood to make a better world for other people, not for government and corporate entities. The actual people of the middle east and the brothers next to him are the people he fights for, not the government and the people who make money off wars. When the value of his efforts are robbed from him with one hand, and the other hand says "Thank You" it's hypocritical, and he knows it. "Thank You for Service" means something when it comes from someone else who's been in the trenches, but it's presumptuous and arrogant from someone who has not served.
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I think it is a wonderful thing. When are brothers and sisters came back the or spit on and called names. Now they are even getting the depreciation they deserve. All of our troups should be thanked.
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Yes, it does bother me. Being "young" to the military, I really haven't done anything that I feel the need to be thanked for. It bothers me, but I always politely respond with a "thank you".
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Certainly doesn't bother me, but not necessary...I considered it a privilege to serve. Now, if some one said "thank you for your service" to my father (35 B-24 missions; now 94 years old) or father-in-law (25 A-26 missions; now 90 years old) they'd respond "what the hell for?"
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It's interesting to me that it does bother me a bit. I joined up for the job and the paycheck, and while I'm happy to have served my country, I didn't suffer much and was never shot at. Somehow accepting thanks for being in submarines seems like someone thanking me for being an American. It's just something I did without ideology or patriotism. That sense has all come lately, now that I'm on the north end of middle age.
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SPC Ken Hall
PO Heckman, any of you subbers are crazy as larks to have volunteered, (and yes, I say the same thing to my pastor who was a CPO in the Sub Service), but I joke with you just as I do my Marine/Air Force and Even Coast Guard brothers/sisters. I was never in a combat situation, not by choice because I volunteered Gulf I but was told that they would not break the integrity of a scheduled unit. I have since had several Vietnam brothers and Vietnam era to present brothers and sisters who reminded me that I served where I was sent and did what I was supposed to do, thus my membership in this particular band of brothers was guaranteed. I have been asked a few times about service and my response was the above, at which point I receive the same thank you, and it is uncomfortable.
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Does not bother me at all. Can people show appreciation and gratitude in different ways? Sure but a simple thank you is also fine. We have to remember they may only see one Soldier over a period of time even if they are the 10th person that day that told us. If you don't like it then don't complain when a celebrity does not want to sign and autograph or take a picture. They also have forgotten that they may be asked 100 times a day but many of those asking will only see them once in their life. I see a correlation there
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Not at all. But just like anything else; it's all about perception and how the message is received.
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So vets do some vets don't I think it is up to the individual. Personaly it doesn't bother me and and I just say thank you
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This article is about two veterans from Afghanistan who don't like and their reason. It is a very good read. Yes it is a review about a book but still shows the insight of their psyche.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/sunday-review/please-dont-thank-me-for-my-service.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/sunday-review/please-dont-thank-me-for-my-service.html?_r=0
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SPC Mark Beard
i READ THE STORY while i agree I disagree for if the thank you comes from your heart and you mean it in giving respect and honor there is nothing wrong with it also is a ice breaker a meet and greet I love doing it and shall not stop its part of being a brother and friend and goes with never leave anyone behind !!!!!!!
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SGT Jim Z.
I understand where your disagreement comes from but they do not want to hear it and that is their opinion. I was just sharing it since it was associated with the topic. I will say I hear it more around certain holidays and then the rest of the year and when I do hear it unless I deem it sincere will not answer them because it is my choice.
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SGT (Join to see)
I stop every vet, fire fighter,and police officer and tell them thank you for your service and to be safe out there. I've yet had one to tell me they don't like that and they always thank me and shake my hand. Just before they put the handcuffs on. :-)
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CPL James Zielinski
Very good read. I've met a lot of vets who feel this way, I understand why they do. I don't mind when I hear it, but it doesn't mean much from most people. I see different perspectives on it. I didn't fight in active combat in a war zone, and I feel like those who did had a very different experience from what I did. I can't judge how they accept it. I am glad to hear it said to Vietnam Vets. I've seen 'nam vets break down and cry from it when it's sincere, because it's so long overdue. But I see the new vets point too, back and forth, back and forth, Irag Afghanistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, life is falling apart, friends are dying, wife left you... "hey thanx man, too bad you guys lost" from someone with no skin in it. I can see why some guys have to just walk away. It's insincere.
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Not if it's sincere in tone & appropriate to the situation. I dont feel the need to be thanked, I did it for my reasons.
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