Maggie’s When someone says "thank you for your service" what crosses your mind.

[hermosabeach]

A buddy was in Gulf war one and is now in law enforcement.

He has flashbacks whenever someone says "thank you for your service"

He says he always thinks about rubbing one out in a porta potty in Kuwait to a very used and abused magazine when he hears the phrase.


What runs through your mind?

 

[hermosabeach]

 

[mi650]

I think "Holy shit, am I really that fucking old?!?!"

40 years ago, I was finished with AIT, hanging around Ft. Gordon for a couple weeks waiting to go to jump school.

 

[68ss396]

Nothing man, I carried cargo for the Navy to the middle east and other rail heads in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The only first hand experience I had that I hated was carrying the broken and destroyed HMMWV back that you knew someone was hurt or killed in by how badly tore up they were. Some of that equipment was so mangled they just used the tank recovery vehicles to drag them on the ship. They would never run again.

But overall I was never near a front line or see the realities of war so there is nothing to think about when they say it.

 

[jrassy]

Better than being called a baby killer

 

[Edsel]

Better than being called a baby killer

That brings back some pretty visceral memories...

 

[LMTMWS]

I did it for the adventure of it. That's what goes through my mind, and I joined just to be SF because growing up I read about MACVSOG and wanted to do cool guy stuff. I didn't do it to serve anyone. That's the truth of it. It makes me feel a little embarrassed.

 

[Milf Dots]

I did it for the adventure of it. That's what goes through my mind, and I joined just to be SF because growing up I read about MACVSOG and wanted to do cool guy stuff. I didn't do it to serve anyone. That's the truth of it. It makes me feel a little embarrassed.

"The path to selflessness starts with a bulldozer of selfishness, then lots of hawt women" - Johnny Wayne Galt, Jr.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

When someone says "thank you for your service" what crosses your mind.​

Yes I was that stupid at that age, and supported the agenda of the MIC. Things changed once I learned to think for myself.

 

[diggler1833]

I did it for the adventure of it. That's what goes through my mind, and I joined just to be SF because growing up I read about MACVSOG and wanted to do cool guy stuff. I didn't do it to serve anyone. That's the truth of it. It makes me feel a little embarrassed.

You aren't alone man.

It bothers me to be thanked. I hate it. Wanting to be, posing to be, or even thinking about trying to be some sort of inspiration or guardian of the people was never on my mind. I never daydreamed about being able to wear my service-connected ball cap to the buffet so I can have random strangers appreciate me and maybe get a free meal out of it.

I joined for selfish reasons. I stayed for selfish reasons. And by the time I got into my second half of my career had completely abandoned those reasons. Then it became a fight for the young men, as I felt like it was my job to try to shield them from as much B.S. as humanly possible (Obama era wokism started). I wasn't alone, but we failed, and I left a disgruntled man who on paper had a successful career... But didn't feel like it. Not to mention that I had the body of a 69 year old at 39. My peer group who came in and retired with me will pretty much echo this. There are many like you.

 

[LuckyLuke80]

I did it for the adventure of it. That's what goes through my mind, and I joined just to be SF because growing up I read about MACVSOG and wanted to do cool guy stuff. I didn't do it to serve anyone. That's the truth of it. It makes me feel a little embarrassed.

Don’t be embarrassed by that. You are honest, and seriously, more guys join for selfish reasons than any other. That is why Uncle Sam offers free college, signing bonuses, and other such perks. Your reason for joining is more noble in my eyes than someone signing up so they get college for free.

 

[Jmccracken1214]

A buddy was in Gulf war one and is now in law enforcement.

He has flashbacks whenever someone says "thank you for your service"

He says he always thinks about rubbing one out in a porta potty in Kuwait to a very used and abused magazine when he hears the phrase.


What runs through your mind?

I was in kuwait for a few weeks for afghanistan in 2012... i think everyone has done that.. but let me tell you...

a fucking portajon when the heat index is 135-140... worst place ever.

It actually feels good to go back out in the 140 lol

 

[Ranchhand]

I think of lots and lots of formations.
Also cleaning rifles over and over.
Libbo briefs and more formations.
KILL!

 

[ironpony52]

First is I did not serve..........for some reason people think I did, They will usually reply you carry yourself as if you have.

 

[earthquake]

 

[TheHorta]

I tell them I’m a man, and men don’t have a Cervix.

 

[Ronws]

One time in a waiting room, someone saw the boots I was wearing and asked me where I served. I did not but evidently my brand and style of boots were reminiscent of that. That and the short hair and looking like a cop could lend someone to think I had been there.

My friend, Lee, served 3 active combat tours in the Vietnam War. No one thanked him for his service. He took the ship ride back to the world and walked off the plank with his papers in the Port of Los Angeles.

He was a volunteer. He joined at 17 with his father's permission. Before that, he was in the Belgian Fishing Fleet. Though born in Oklahoma, he was raised in Great Britian and finished regular school at 15.

Anyway, he never asked for thanks. He had a job to do and did it, reducing enemy numbers and stations in a the relatively efficient method of remote ordnance detonation.

So, though I did not serve, when I hear the phrase, "thank you for your service," I think it is fine and it is important for some people to express thanks. And I know from real veterans that they what they did regardless of whether it was popular or not.