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 6 mo ago
Responses: 157
Thank you. However, I feel for the most part their statement was hollow as I started during Vietnam and finished with Desert Storm. With hostility was my greetings of the time. Today if I say I served during Vietnam, I am still treated with hostility or disdain in their voice. I had a Statute in my front yard which was upended and thrown to the ground about a year or so. It was a Soldier carrying a wounded soldier. It had a Dog tag around its neck. That was my Brother's Tag. My Brother was Infantry: C company 2nd 502 101st Airmobile Vietnam. I was attached as a Reservist to HHC 6th 502 101st Inf. Reg-Berlin year 1986. However I also served during Vietnam on Active Duty not in country. My last Active Duty MOS during Desert Shield and Desert Storm was Combat Medical Specialist 91A E5 and AD for Desert Storm was 91B E6. I was proud of my brother's service and as he stood in for me during Vietnam, I took a stand for him through his remaining life as his readjustment to America never occurred until a few days before he died in 2015. That is why the statute was placed in honor my Brother. I found his Dog Tag bent over and stomped on where the statue was originally placed in my front yard. And that is why it is hard for me to accept someone saying "Thank you for your service." With respect I will say thanks in return but I feel hollow inside when I say it.
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp
There will always be dishonorable pukes in this world, and they are the ones who will sneak in at night ".....to kill and destroy". They will never face you in a fair fight. And that kind of low-life coward has been around since the dawn of civilization, and the words that I put in quotes, earlier, were spoken 2,000 years ago. Only Jesus was too polite to call them "low-life worthless Pukes".
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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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You know, I really hate that. Most times I hear it is at a couple of big box stores when I use my military discount, some of those folks are sincere but for most its just a platitude that say because they are required to. But for all instances I usually say thank you and continue to march on with my day.
That said, I just went on a KDVA Return to Korea trip and that had over 50 Korea vets travel to Korea (Cold War and Korean War). I felt quite honored by the way we were treated by all we encountered while we were there. I could not say thank you enough.
That said, I just went on a KDVA Return to Korea trip and that had over 50 Korea vets travel to Korea (Cold War and Korean War). I felt quite honored by the way we were treated by all we encountered while we were there. I could not say thank you enough.
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I had a friend say "Thank you for your support." and that stuck with me. That's what I've been saying from then on.
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I am a civilian and told a Veteran, "Thank you for your service. I hope you hear it often and you never tire of hearing it." His response blew me away.
'Thank you for being worth fighting for."
'Thank you for being worth fighting for."
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