What Things Were Difficult to Communicate to Family and Friends About Your Military Service? Login & Share to Win!

The horror of war was difficult to explain. Equally tough were when you were asked about things you did and could not talk about.

Our families can't understand the bond that exists between the veteran and his service buddies.

It was hard to tell my family what I did in Vet nam as I did not think they would believe me

On the negative side, how miserable Army basic training was. :-( On the positive side, the thrill, excitement, & adrenaline rush of jumping out of airplanes! :-)

What true Brothership is and why it is very prevalent in the Corps. The love that we have for our Flag and what it represents; including why we defend the treatment of the actual flag itself. Plus, stay off the GRASS! hehehe

I was as "RA" in favor of kickig ass in Vietnam in a sea of "US's" who were not in favor of Vietnam. We argued a lot. It seemed to me that they were unpatriotic. I didn't consider their opposition was based on self-preservation and that was very stupid on my part.

After being in countries where finding food, water and safe shelter are major daily concerns for people; you tend to not get upset about some of the little luxury things that break or go wrong.

that we aren't civilians and will work until the mission is complete.

Basic training. No matter how I explained it, no one really understood how grueling it was. Even friends and family who joined after I got home told me they didn’t understand what I told them until they went through it themselves.
But what was the hardest to explain was how much I loved my country after serving. And how much the flag meant to me. Today’s lack of respect for our country by not only kids, but celebrities and athletes breaks my heart in a way no civilian can understand.

The killing of people I did not know

The difficulty in writing home as often as they would have liked due to training cycles in Germany in the late 1960s. We spent 8 - 9 months out of the year out in the field training and tank gunnery, letters home were last on my list of things to do, maint., sleep and chow ranked way above that.