Posted on Nov 12, 2023
How do you respond when someone says "Thank you for your service"?
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I've never asked this question, and I've never seen anyone else ask it, but I'm curious. What do you say when someone thanks you for your service?
My Military ID is right next to my driver's license and debit card in my wallet, so it's visible if I have to show my driver's license for something or if I'm taking my debit card out to use. Very often, someone who sees it will ask what branch I was in. Then they will thank me for my service. My usual answer is "Thank you for your support." But I'm curious about how others respond to that.
My Military ID is right next to my driver's license and debit card in my wallet, so it's visible if I have to show my driver's license for something or if I'm taking my debit card out to use. Very often, someone who sees it will ask what branch I was in. Then they will thank me for my service. My usual answer is "Thank you for your support." But I'm curious about how others respond to that.
Posted in these groups: 
Appreciation
Appreciation
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 432
LCDR Jerry Maurer
Nelson Ormsby - As a Vietnam Era Veteran, I'm surprised more people aren't offended by your comment, "I never thank any veteran, much less one of the unpleasantness in Greater Southeast Asia". Is that better, LTC Kevin?
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Nelson Ormsby
LCDR Jerry Maurer perhaps my fractured syntax working against effective communication? My point was I welcome all veterans home, including those who served in Southeast Asia. In my experience, celebrating the homecoming is a “conversation starter”, whereas thanking someone for their service comes off to my ear as merely pro forma (hence my reference to the the “thanks” representing little more than cheap grace). When my current generation of 19 Deltas thanked for their service they are very polite, with responses including “it’s an honor to serve”. But as one of my favorite and sadly now late SSG’s once said to me with a wink, “what they are really saying in thanks is ‘I’m glad my Son or Daughter gets to go to college instead”. Which raises one of the unintended consequences of all the all-volunteer force: the link between citizenship and service now largely broken, and the resultant civilian-military divide grows ever-wider, as the one percenters defend all the tree-hugging civilians like me. I hope with that clarification you are less offended. If not, give me another swing at the ball and maybe I’ll make contact?
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PO3 Edward Riddle
Nelson Ormsby - I'm glad there are not more people out there that think like you as I am one of those who served in the unpleasantness in Viet Nam 5/68-4/69 and I enjoy being thanked for my service, which was Honorable!!!
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PO1 Helena Janice Ritz
LCDR Jerry Maurer - I especially go out of my way to thank Vietnam era veterans whenever I notice one. I welcome them home and say "Thank you for your dedicated service." I've never had anyone not say thank you back. Never.
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PO3 Gregory Hott
I had uncles in Vietnam Army and Navy all came home. I also had Uncles and great Uncle in WWII. Army all! One was in Philippines, fought Bataan wounded death march died as Japanese POW October 1944 on Hell ship! His older brother fought under MacArthur up New Guinea and finished war in Philippines. Great Uncle fought Europe from fall 1944 to end and an uncle fought Europe till end and occupier of Japan. I served during Vietnam but never in country. A Vietnam combat Veteran 66-67 asked me once "IF I WAS ORDERED INTO NAM WOULD I HAVE GONE-YES" He made me feel better about myself.
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PO3 Edward Riddle
GySgt Gary Cordeiro - I'm going to steal " and my Family" from you Brother Gary. I have already been telling those that thank me for my Service that "I did it for you". Thank You Bro and Welcome Home!!!
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MSgt (Join to see) Thank you for your support.
Most of us do not serve for the "thank you for your service" aspect.
This country's treatment of veterans (and to some extent service members) has come a long way since WWII and Vietnam. But there will always be a mix of people who see service members as some random selection from the spectrum of "baby killing stooge of the military industrial complex to the unquestionable heroes of the republic. We all know Soldiers and Veterans who run that spectrum and earn the derision or praise.
At the end of the day, we aren't special. Veterans day used to be about remembering why the military exists and what is could prevent in the future and not a way to pat each other on the back. And much like Memorial Day, it has become diluted by commercialization. Discount hounds, "thank me for my service" types, and the civil military gap widening for every WTFArmy or reported sexual assault moment has lowered the perception of professionalism that used to accompany service.
So every time someone thanks me for my service, I thank them for their support, no matter how performative.
Most of us do not serve for the "thank you for your service" aspect.
This country's treatment of veterans (and to some extent service members) has come a long way since WWII and Vietnam. But there will always be a mix of people who see service members as some random selection from the spectrum of "baby killing stooge of the military industrial complex to the unquestionable heroes of the republic. We all know Soldiers and Veterans who run that spectrum and earn the derision or praise.
At the end of the day, we aren't special. Veterans day used to be about remembering why the military exists and what is could prevent in the future and not a way to pat each other on the back. And much like Memorial Day, it has become diluted by commercialization. Discount hounds, "thank me for my service" types, and the civil military gap widening for every WTFArmy or reported sexual assault moment has lowered the perception of professionalism that used to accompany service.
So every time someone thanks me for my service, I thank them for their support, no matter how performative.
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PO1 Helena Janice Ritz
SGT John Overby - You're right. I was blacklisted and never made CPO because of it. Oh well. I still served with Honor.
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TSgt Ed Turner
My common response is, "It was boring, and we should all be grateful", which often elicits a grin. I didn't serve in combat arms, and don't feel entirely comfortable accepting honorifics meant for such persons. But the people offering the thanks deserve acknowledgement of their intention to honor others.
I'm old enough to remember news stories of veterans buying hairpieces so that their haircuts didn't mark them as military or recent military. The Vietnam veterans were treated horribly, and the appreciation that is now voiced was partly inspired by that embarrassment.
I'm old enough to remember news stories of veterans buying hairpieces so that their haircuts didn't mark them as military or recent military. The Vietnam veterans were treated horribly, and the appreciation that is now voiced was partly inspired by that embarrassment.
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I say thank you while shaking their hand. I've heard alot of Vets complain about this but at the end of the day someone went out of their way to be nice. The least I can say is thank you
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
CPO James Barnhart - How was my response unfriendly? Or were you responding to Baney?
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
SSG Michael Baney - You should be proud of your service. You did it and that sense of accomplishment shouldn't be hidden or packed away. I definitely don't agree with confronting folks when they thank you for your service. They are just trying to do something nice and they don't know any better. Turning it into a negative does nobody any favors. Being thanked for your service is awkward but way better than the reception Vietnam era vets received for their service.
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Thanks, I appreciate it.
It always makes me feel momentarily weird. But I do realize some people just want to make sure they say something. While others do it out of some weird feeling of obligation to say something. I just try not to make it even more weird when its the latter.
It always makes me feel momentarily weird. But I do realize some people just want to make sure they say something. While others do it out of some weird feeling of obligation to say something. I just try not to make it even more weird when its the latter.
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Amn Roger Omberg
Most times the conversations i have had with military vets are like gold, I cherish the time spent with any Veteran, because their experience is new, & challenging, i just learned something, WOW! My DAD was a WW1 veteran, purple heart, a GERMAN hand grenade went off behind my dad, in action, broke both ankles, shrapnel in left shoulder. He was very quiet, didn't speak much, was a hell of a man, & when someone says thanks for your service I always think of HIM! Brings tears to my eyes.
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SA Sacheen Weston
SFC Marc W. Looks like a general comment, meant for everyone, as he responded to you in a different comment.
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I just say thank you normally. If I know them, I point out that the Army let me play with tanks and assorted other heavy equipment, shoot big guns and blow stuff up. One of the best jobs I ever had.
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I was in a Costco store several years ago I was wearing a Navy ball cap when this young girl maybe 8 years old walk up to me. She stood there for a few seconds and when I turned towards her, she said "Thank you for your service." It brought a tear to my eye, and I was at a loss for words, but I did say "You are welcome"
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I am polite and say you are welcome. I come from the time when almost all served, except those with defense jobs, sick, lame and deviants, so it is not a big deal to me.
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1LT (Join to see)
Welcome home brother. I'm sorry how you were treated. Vietnam vets made our welcome home much better. That is due to the lessons learned and heard loud and clear from how you were treated.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
PO3 Michelle Tremblay - built airplanes, helos, ships and boats, weapons, ammunition, farmers, etc. LBJ had guns AND butter policy at the time.
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SGT John Overby
PO3 Michelle Tremblay - Just that defense workers of DOD. Yes, they were quasi-military but probably didn't pack a weapon. Not considered a veteran of a military service.
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I say "it was my privilege to serve, no thanks necessary"
I used to stop at this little diner for breakfast when I was on my way to my ADOS job. A couple times a week someone would want to pay for my breakfast because I was in uniform. I asked the waitress to tell anyone who offered that I would accept a cup of coffee but thats all. I get it. People wanted to do something to show support, but it gets old after the first couple times. One day it happened again so I picked a guy wearing dickies with a factory logo over the pocket and bought his breakfast. The waitress was confused when I said it was because he was in uniform. She said, "but thats what he wears to work". I smiled and grabbed the front of my uniform and said this is what I wear to work.
I used to stop at this little diner for breakfast when I was on my way to my ADOS job. A couple times a week someone would want to pay for my breakfast because I was in uniform. I asked the waitress to tell anyone who offered that I would accept a cup of coffee but thats all. I get it. People wanted to do something to show support, but it gets old after the first couple times. One day it happened again so I picked a guy wearing dickies with a factory logo over the pocket and bought his breakfast. The waitress was confused when I said it was because he was in uniform. She said, "but thats what he wears to work". I smiled and grabbed the front of my uniform and said this is what I wear to work.
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I read about a guy that replied, "you're worth it" whenever someone thanked him for his service. I have done this a few times. What I have trouble with is thanking other veterans for their service but I still do.
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