The Rat Trap

[QUOTE=Yragyrag;4017690]I'm a retired Marine (1989).

I see you say you retired "[I]from the military[/I]". That's what most people say when they're not particularly proud of their service. In another post, you outed yourself as a squid.

While I agree with your last three paragraphs, [B][i]THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE[/i][/B] anyway!

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmGuy0jievs[/URL][/QUOTE]Ha. Most Marines I know would have said "I'm a former Marine. Retired".

And no. Not embarrassed about my service. It's just a part of my life that's behind me. The things I learned served me well in the civilian world though.

Thank [b]you [/b]for your service. [b]Sincerely[/b]. It only matters when a vet says it to me.

Now can I go back to making fun of jarheads? :)

[QUOTE=RogerOver;4018246]Ha. Most Marines I know would have said "I'm a former Marine. Retired".

And no. Not embarrassed about my service. It's just a part of my life that's behind me. The things I learned served me well in the civilian world though.

Thank [b]you [/b]for your service. [b]Sincerely[/b]. It only matters when a vet says it to me.

Now can I go back to making fun of jarheads? :)[/QUOTE]Never, never, never refer to myself as a "former Marine", and certainly not an "Ex-Marine".

Marines are Marines -- for life. Our title is earned, not given. And once we earn it, it is never taken or otherwise goes away.

Semper Fi!

[QUOTE=PurrFecttSwags;4017769]Really sad to hear some of you say you dislike when being told thank you for your service. [/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=PurrFecttSwags;4017797]How many purple hearts do any of you have? [/QUOTE]You're proud of the service of your relatives -- we get it -- as you should be.

I believe everyone who served is proud of having done so, but being privately proud, and publically recognized are two different things. I bet even A2, who didn't seem to always enjoy his service, is still glad he served and wouldn't change a thing.

And it also has nothing to do with how many medals you have. We each signed a contract with Uncle Sam. That alone placed each of us as eligible to make the ultimate sacrifice. Everyone can't serve on the front line, and those serving behind the scenes are just as valuable as everyone else.

Acceptance of "[I]Thank you for your service[/I]" accolades from others is an individual choice, and there are good reasons why.

1. Many Vietnam vets hate it because they should have gotten it back then, but didn't. Instead, they got spat on, and called baby killers. So after going through those ordeals, today's "thank you's" ring hollow and hypocritical to them.

2. Many vets just feel that they were "[I]just doing their job[/I]". For example, I was often the subject of accolades that included promotions, awards, and acceptance for special programs. Often times I saw myself recognized for things that other and more-deserving individuals never got. But regardless, I often felt uncomfortable with any special recognition, because I always felt like I was just doing my job. Without trying to put words in his mouth, even RogerOver stated that he apparently thought of his time as "[I]a contract with the government[/I]" -- he had fulfilled his end, and they fulfilled theirs; no need for anything more.

3. And then there are probably others who feel, for whatever reason, they either didn't measure up or do anything special to rate a special "thank you".

And there are probably other good reasons that I've missed, but the point is that "acceptance" of your thank-you's is our personal choice - - WE served, so WE get to decide, but no matter our choice on that subject, rest assured we are ALL proud of our service.

I'm a Vietnam vet and also a retired vet, USAF 21 yrs. I was stationed at Ton Son Nhut AB with the 7th AF just outside of Saigon, RVN (Ho Chi Minh City today). I was a computer programmer in a unit that reported the air war to higher HQ. When I returned to a new assignment back in the states, I never experienced any of the hate that many other Vietnam vets did upon their return, probably because I was at a major military base. The "Thank you for your service" phrase that is so popular today was unheard of back then. I've always thought that the Vietnam War was unpopular because the general public didn't have anything to identify with as to why we were over there. There was no attack on our soil. Everyone just went about their daily business. Today, because of the attacks on our soil on September 11,2001, it's a different story. Our military men and women are treated very differently than they were during the Vietnam era. When I'm told "Thank you for your service", I just say "Thank You".

[QUOTE=RoadWarrior2K;4018598]I'm a Vietnam vet and also a retired vet, USAF 21 yrs. I was stationed at Ton Son Nhut AB with the 7th AF just outside of Saigon, RVN (Ho Chi Minh City today). I was a computer programmer in a unit that reported the air war to higher HQ. When I returned to a new assignment back in the states, I never experienced any of the hate that many other Vietnam vets did upon their return, probably because I was at a major military base. The "Thank you for your service" phrase that is so popular today was unheard of back then. I've always thought that the Vietnam War was unpopular because the general public didn't have anything to identify with as to why we were over there. There was no attack on our soil. Everyone just went about their daily business. Today, because of the attacks on our soil on September 11,2001, it's a different story. Our military men and women are treated very differently than they were during the Vietnam era. When I'm told "Thank you for your service", I just say "Thank You".[/QUOTE]What to thank all vets for their service regardless of the branch they served it. Alot of you have valid points related to this subject but the main thing is they served their country. ARMY CSM E9 30 yrs RETIRED.

[QUOTE=PurrFecttSwags;4018186]You are a squid not Airforce. I never said my grandpa carried the bomb. He only explained to my grandmother during his travels what his missions. I actually have all his postcards he wrote her during the war. How they smuggled rum from Puerto Rico along with other things. Go back to your pineapple under the see, I think sponge Bob queer pants is waiting for you.

Swags.[/QUOTE]Your grandfather wasn't in the Air Force during WWII either. The Air Force wasn't formed until 1947.

[QUOTE=RoadWarrior2K;4018598]I'm a Vietnam vet and also a retired vet, USAF 21 yrs. I was stationed at Ton Son Nhut AB with the 7th AF just outside of Saigon, RVN (Ho Chi Minh City today). I was a computer programmer in a unit that reported the air war to higher HQ. When I returned to a new assignment back in the states, I never experienced any of the hate that many other Vietnam vets did upon their return, probably because I was at a major military base. The "Thank you for your service" phrase that is so popular today was unheard of back then. I've always thought that the Vietnam War was unpopular because the general public didn't have anything to identify with as to why we were over there. There was no attack on our soil. Everyone just went about their daily business. Today, because of the attacks on our soil on September 11,2001, it's a different story. Our military men and women are treated very differently than they were during the Vietnam era. When I'm told "Thank you for your service", I just say "Thank You".[/QUOTE]9-11 created a personal touch with Americans that changed the way they view the military, and even where we drop them in for fighting. We don't seem to question as much since everything is lumped under "war on terror".

Interesting that If you're turning 18, you live in a country that's been in major conflicts your entire life.

[QUOTE=RogerOver;4018862]Your grandfather wasn't in the Air Force during WWII either. The Air Force wasn't formed until 1947.[/QUOTE]There are lots of people who don't understand the "Air Force" had no role in WWII and was then known as The US Army Air Forces until 1947.

Just saying.

A2.

[QUOTE=Admin2;4019023]There are lots of people who don't understand the "Air Force" had no role in WWII and was then known as The US Army Air Forces until 1947.

Just saying.

A2.[/QUOTE]I figured that's what she meant, but with every post getting nuttier and nuttier, I didn't want to assume.

This chick is [B]simply bat-shit crazy[/B]. If she wants to be super proud of her family heritage, she may want to actually learn some history so she's not spouting the equivalent of tall-tales told to her when she was a young-un.

The real bummer? She's probably a voter. LOL.