Have you ever been called something demeaning by a co-worker regarding your service?

Actually for me it was a LTC's wife at the PX, she asked me if I was old enough to be a Sergeant. I was polite, but in the back of my head all I kept thinking was funny you look old enough to be a four stars wife.

Not sure any of the options work. I've had it all questioned because my political opinions aren't lock-step with the far Right. I can shut down a civilian pretty quick on that one but other veterans are a little more difficult. I usually just walk away at that point. I don't have time to wallow in someone else's bitterness.

I get it all the time, it seems. Not just from coworkers, but friends and family.

A lot of my opinions and beliefs aren't shared by a lot of people in this area, and certainly don't seem to fit the preconceptions most people seem to have about soldiers. It's rather often I at least get an inquisitive look, if not outright mockery, when I express opinions that to others seems not to be very patriotic to people that know I served, and I'm proud to have done so.

I even had a buddy in the barracks start a fight with me because he wanted to know why he never saw me at church. "but we're both from the same area of Texas, raised in church, serving our country, speaking with a southern drawl. How could we NOT be exactly the same". Granted, alcohol was involved, but we're best friends, and even he's question my patriotism.

Some people don't understand that not everyone in the military is the same. Some people just WANT to hate everyone in the military. Honestly, as a young man, I had a lot of misconceptions about the government, and felt similarly. The last time I talked to my grandfather about the military, I expressed a dim view, and he seemed rather disappointed. He never got to see me in uniform.

I guess my point is: F*** those people. If they actually discriminate against you, call a lawyer. Otherwise, give them as much respect as they've shown you.

While I was serving myself and a group of friends were hanging out at a public pool in my friend's apartment complex. There was another party going on. We were playing cards and minding our business when a group of idiots came up to us and started trash talking us. (One of us had an Air Force t-shirt on). Apparently they had Marines in their family and were stating the the Air Force was a worthless branch and we were all a bunch of p*ssies. I personally didn't care because, well I didn't. I started getting ugly and a fistfight started. It didn't end well for either party, as well all got hurt. It wasn't a good night.

While I was in college, I had a coworker who thought all men in the military were rapists and murderers. She was a Grade-A Moron.

Never!

Not openly. There was a vibe at one place I worked that they were gun shy about hiring disabled vets….because, you know, we were all over there and a little <gesture indicating crazy>, oblivious to my service record apparently.

I had public engagements in a a couple assignments post 9/11. Some were patriotic with a backhanded condescension. Like they felt sorry for us, hapless victims of an unfair system and irretrievably broken. Dunno about you all but I am no victim. If you don’t have the stones to stand the line, say thank you and let some who does take over.

I was surprised when this older employee displayed so much vitriol. I can only attest it to something in their history and not mine.