PVT Andrew Burd 1263619 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I had a fellow vet tell me tonight &quot;my wife and kids deal with me enough as it is, I don&#39;t need to air my laundry to others&quot;<br /><br />I&#39;m on the fence on this... It&#39;s 100% his/your/my right to keep things to ourselves, and that should always be respected, but if I dissect the statement...<br /><br />&quot;put up with me enough&quot; ...doesn&#39;t this seem like someone who&#39;s carrying too much?<br /><br />and why is it &quot;laundry&quot;? 2016-01-27T22:27:08-05:00 PVT Andrew Burd 1263619

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I had a fellow vet tell me tonight &quot;my wife and kids deal with me enough as it is, I don&#39;t need to air my laundry to others&quot;<br /><br />I&#39;m on the fence on this... It&#39;s 100% his/your/my right to keep things to ourselves, and that should always be respected, but if I dissect the statement...<br /><br />&quot;put up with me enough&quot; ...doesn&#39;t this seem like someone who&#39;s carrying too much?<br /><br />and why is it &quot;laundry&quot;?

2016-01-27T22:27:08-05:00 2016-01-27T22:27:08-05:00 CSM Carl Cunningham 1263621

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I don&#39;t. They just don&#39;t get it. Especially family.

2016-01-27T22:28:36-05:00 2016-01-27T22:28:36-05:00 Sgt Joe LaBranche 1263634

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I have never spoken to a non-combat veteran about my experiences in Vietnam. I believe if they weren't there, they don't know and would not understand.

2016-01-27T22:32:36-05:00 2016-01-27T22:32:36-05:00 PVT Andrew Burd 1263637

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I feel like using the term "laundry" is too close to "dirty laundry" which is almost always in reference to misdealing or something someone is ashamed of. ..which could possibly be the case.. thoughts anyone?

2016-01-27T22:33:21-05:00 2016-01-27T22:33:21-05:00 PO1 John Miller 1263641

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I learned my lesson about trying to share my experiences with civilians when I was told &quot;I&#39;m tired of hearing you talk about when you were in the Navy!!!&quot; I wasn&#39;t bragging, I was simply talking about my experiences, the same my potato (I mean civilian) co-workers were doing. The only difference is my experiences were all Navy related.

2016-01-27T22:35:14-05:00 2016-01-27T22:35:14-05:00 SPC Private RallyPoint Member 1263743

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I believe it comes down to the individual for every person's experience may be different. I am very fortunate have multiple family members have served. With that I believe sometimes it's best to share your experience's regardless of if they are positive or negative. However with civilians it's a different aspect. Though they may mean well, but many won't understand because they "can't understand". You can say you understand but unless you've lived it you can never truly understand (if that makes any sense). However I do believe in sharing your experiences with others in the military. You may not realize the importance but it allows those emotions not to stay boiled up inside. Yet your experience shared to younger soldiers will have a dramatic effect especially. Some may not listen and understand the importance until later. But those who do may learn from your success or mistakes or mishaps. They may find themselves in a situation and remember something they have learned from you and apply it or avoid it. One such secondhand experience I myself had was when I was a brand new medic going through training. They brought a former Captain from the 101st to talk about his experience deployed. Without getting into too much detail his medic always carried a Ranger Medic handbook with him and pushed to out perform his grunt brothers. While deployed the Captain was injured by an IED yet knew he was going to fine when he saw his medic taking care of him. Whether he truly felt he was fine or if he just saying it the love he had for his medic was true. Because of his medic's fast reaction he was able to save his limb. I'm not saying the flight medics or the Docs had nothing to do with it as well but it but his medic definitely had an impact. That story always stuck with me and is the reason I always carry a Ranger Medic handbook in my aid bag at all times. It also inspired me to out perform my grunt brothers and to excell at being the best medic I can be. So when ever another veteran tells me something I shut up and listen. Because I would rather of listened and not used his advice then not of and had needed it. That's just my thought process at my level.

2016-01-27T23:39:07-05:00 2016-01-27T23:39:07-05:00 LCDR Private RallyPoint Member 1264093

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I found out the hard way that what "we" see as just stories...some civilians see as "bragging". A part of me...a HUGE part actually...could care less what they think about it. If they "feel bad" when around a vet, that's their issue. However, I feel we do ourselves a disservice any time we come off as "braggarts".

2016-01-28T08:36:19-05:00 2016-01-28T08:36:19-05:00 PO1 William "Chip" Nagel 1265330

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>When I first retired, sharing would have probably been a bad idea since I worked in the Intelligence Field. Now days not a problem. Most of the Places I worked don't exist anymore and what I did was old school, old technology, Folk enjoy listening to my Sea Stories and they were most definitely very Radical, Gives them a whole new perspective on History.

2016-01-28T15:46:14-05:00 2016-01-28T15:46:14-05:00 MAJ Ken Landgren 1265986

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I don't like talking to civilians because they don't care, have no clue, and cant describe the worlds imperial problems.

2016-01-28T20:20:29-05:00 2016-01-28T20:20:29-05:00 SGT Ronald Bacon 1266197

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My family knows what they need to know about my military service but I do not share everything as they dont need to know and it would not benefit anyone. When friends ask I tell them enough to get the question answered without leaving them thinking more or less happened that really did. Someone off the street gets in a conversation and my military past comes up I tell them 3 things I deployed twice, I served in the National Guard and I am no longer in. Outside of those I dont share.

2016-01-28T22:37:14-05:00 2016-01-28T22:37:14-05:00 A1C Private RallyPoint Member 1266431

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This is a real subject. When I talk to young men who have been in the service recently and they thank me for my service I tell them "No, Thank You. I served under Reagan and played golf and skied." A few have talked about things they have experienced and I tell them I can't say I know what that feels like, but I can tell you what it feels like to be the son of a Vietnam veteran. My Dad did not talk about anything and it caused a strain on our family because the family could not understand what he was dealing with. His demons lead him to alcoholism and he became abusive which lead to the divorce. I lost my dad for almost 14 years. He was one of the lucky ones who was able to beat his demons and he was able to reconnect with his kids and now grandchildren. I would tell anyone who is having problems to find a friend, priest, fellow vet, etc. You never need to tell the details, just understand the people around you love you and they just want to help. To this day I don't know what my dad experienced during the war and I most likely never will. When I talk to these young men I speak to them from the 6 year old who lost his dad.

2016-01-29T00:47:55-05:00 2016-01-29T00:47:55-05:00 2016-01-27T22:27:08-05:00