How do you react when a civilian offers to buy your meal?

2015-02-28T23:00:13-05:00

Response by Cpl Mark McMiller made Feb 28 at 2015 11:29 PM

2015-02-28T23:29:01-05:00

Grateful.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Feb 28 at 2015 11:57 PM

2015-02-28T23:57:49-05:00

Honestly, it was always a combination of bashfulness and humility. As you know, we serve/served, because we believe/believed what we were doing mattered. At the same time, while I appreciated the gesture, I felt unsure, as I never did anything for personal gain.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Mar 1 at 2015 12:00 AM

2015-03-01T00:00:50-05:00

I can say that I have not been on the receiving end except when restaurants do it a special on Veterans Day. However, if it did happen to me I would fell honored and grateful.

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Mar 1 at 2015 12:03 AM

2015-03-01T00:03:29-05:00

Never happened to me. But I'd ask them to join me.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Mar 1 at 2015 12:13 AM

2015-03-01T00:13:04-05:00

This has happened only one time. I was coming back from Afghanistan. When we got back to the airport stateside, we all went to one of the airport restaurants to eat some 'real' food. We were all starving, so we ordered a ton of food and were happily eating and just enjoying not having sand in our food. The waitress came over and told us that our bill had been paid by someone who wished remain anonymous. We tried really hard to find out who it was, but she did not tell us. So we stood up and loudly thanked everyone for their support and generosity. I still think about how much that must have cost that individual.

Response by SSG Keven Lahde made Mar 1 at 2015 12:14 AM

2015-03-01T00:14:39-05:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member SFC I usually thank them or say you don't have too. But most of the time you never get that chance cause they do it and leave right away or don't want to be recognized for it.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2015 5:06 AM

2015-03-01T05:06:27-05:00

They usually roll out before I get a chance to thank them. Then I leave the waitress/waiter a nice fat tip that is usually the cost of the meal.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2015 7:18 AM

2015-03-01T07:18:58-05:00

I try to resist politely but I'm usually outnumbered.

If I'm working my chef job and I see uniformed personnel in the restaurant, I'll comp their meal for them.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2015 7:53 AM

2015-03-01T07:53:42-05:00

I thank them - if afforded the opportunity.
Only once have I had the opportunity to have them join me for a post-meal conversation. I think the connection mattered very much to the very shy and unassuming elderly gentleman who had lost his oldest son in Vietnam many years before. He told me a bunch of things he wished he would have had a chance to say to that young PFC, 40 years earlier.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2015 8:13 AM

2015-03-01T08:13:06-05:00

Grateful, happen once before.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Mar 1 at 2015 8:42 AM

2015-03-01T08:42:51-05:00

Always try to find and thank them if I can. Personally I don't like when people do it because I don't feel that I am entitled to free food but I still appreciate the gesture and thank them with a smile.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2015 9:01 AM

2015-03-01T09:01:20-05:00

If they remain in the AO, I thank them sincerely.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2015 9:15 AM

2015-03-01T09:15:36-05:00

I say thanks, of course tell them it is not necessary and as CPT Ahmed Faried suggested, I have always asked them to join me, so that I can learn about them, and they about me (although as with many of the other experiences, I do not often get the chance).

What I do after though, is I will always seek out a veteran (in uniform or out, if I can identify them, especially WWI, Korea or Vietnam Vets) and I will buy them something -- coffee, maybe pay their bill at the newsstand stores...something.

I do not think I do this enough, but I want to be on the other end of this question. I want to buy for all veterans and then hopefully get to meet them and find out more about them. But then I'll also do the same sometimes for random civilians.

Maybe I am just atoning for my past transgressions...

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Mar 1 at 2015 12:22 PM

2015-03-01T12:22:25-05:00

I've had it happen several times.
If it's anonymous (more often than not), I ask the waitress to pass on my thanks. And then leave a big tip.

If it's not anonymous, I will thank them and let them know that I appreciate the sentiment. And then leave a big tip. I used to try to turn it down, but I failed 100% of the time, and it seemed to hurt feelings.

Since the prohibition of traveling in ACUs came out, it has happened a whole lot less (I don't like traveling in ASUs).

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2015 12:59 PM

2015-03-01T12:59:05-05:00

I've had this happen to me a few times but I've never had the opportunity to know who paid for my meal. Usually they insist on remaining anonymous or have left before the waitress has told me about it. I am always very grateful and humbled by their decision to pay for my meal and pass along my gratitude by leaving my waitress a very bountiful tip.

Response by CW5 Jim Steddum made Mar 1 at 2015 2:23 PM

2015-03-01T14:23:13-05:00

I recently had a meal paid by a person in head of me in a drive through. I was a bit stunned, so a returned the favor the next time I went to a drive through.