During the Vietnam era I personally never heard those words spoken, at least not to me. Those words were simply not part of the lexicon. Most of us came home to a country in social and political turmoil. As soldiers coming home we were viewed as part of the problem; no handshakes, no parades, no job offers (the rumor was we all had drug or alcohol problems) and certainly no “thank you for your service.” Most of us weren’t deployed as a unit but as a single sole flying into a country we knew nothing about or cared to know anything about. We were drafted or enlisted, we were idealistic or scared to death. For me it was the latter. When we came home those of us who survived flew home as a single sole and were met with hostility. Word was passed along to put on civilian clothes and not wear your fatigues or class A uniform after getting off the plane. Just dump everything in the bins provided near the bathroom in the terminal. After a year in the jungle, your hair grew long enough that you were hardly recognizable as a serviceman. Most of us kept quiet about our experience and when asked it seemed to be always followed by - did you kill anyone and how many. I just ignored the question. I allow myself to relive my experience every Veterans Day and Memorial Day. I cry a lot for the friends I lost. It hurts.
When I hear those words today I do feel some pride. I feel a stronger belief and sense of purpose in what I was a part of all those years ago. Yes, thank you for your service is a small token but it needs to be said. Fellow Vets, Thank you for your service.This is a solemn day. Our family, neighbors and our friends in this activity are still at risk in an endless war.
There are several providers on reserve and at least one that I know who was recently called up. May God protect her. (Don't ask: I will not risk her identity.)
More than a few hobbyists and providers have served. The often said, "Thank you for your service." is too easy to say. You deserve much more than that in terms of a welcome back, education, and health care and a warm embrace.
If you know someone who is disabled by service, caring for an injured family member or in grieving, this is a good time to acknowledge their pain and to promise to do a chore for them.: weeding, painting, cleaning out a garage, respite from caregiving duties. Sometimes, something other than a visit to a cemetery, is best.
... the words "thank you for your service" still need to be said. Many veterans don't hear them enough.
Awhile ago I noticed a patch on a man's jacket that indicated service during the Vietnam War. I asked him if he'd served, and he said he had. I thanked him for his service to our country. He started tearing up and said that no one had ever thanked him. While that seems incredible now, when we give our veterans the respect they're due, people younger than 50 or so may not remember how badly the soldiers who served in that conflict were treated when they returned home. So the actions are important, but so are the words.
If anyone is searching for a way to follow your advice but doesn't know someone in that situation, just a reminder that there's a large VA hospital in Minneapolis. There's many opportunities to help there as a volunteer--no experience or special skills needed for some roles. A background check may be needed in some cases.
During the Vietnam era I personally never heard those words spoken, at least not to me. Those words were simply not part of the lexicon. Most of us came home to a country in social and political turmoil. As soldiers coming home we were viewed as part of the problem; no handshakes, no parades, no job offers (the rumor was we all had drug or alcohol problems) and certainly no “thank you for your service.” Most of us weren’t deployed as a unit but as a single sole flying into a country we knew nothing about or cared to know anything about. We were drafted or enlisted, we were idealistic or scared to death. For me it was the latter. When we came home those of us who survived flew home as a single sole and were met with hostility. Word was passed along to put on civilian clothes and not wear your fatigues or class A uniform after getting off the plane. Just dump everything in the bins provided near the bathroom in the terminal. After a year in the jungle, your hair grew long enough that you were hardly recognizable as a serviceman. Most of us kept quiet about our experience and when asked it seemed to be always followed by - did you kill anyone and how many. I just ignored the question. I allow myself to relive my experience every Veterans Day and Memorial Day. I cry a lot for the friends I lost. It hurts.
When I hear those words today I do feel some pride. I feel a stronger belief and sense of purpose in what I was a part of all those years ago. Yes, thank you for your service is a small token but it needs to be said.
Fellow Vets, Thank you for your service.
By all means, veterans should be thanked for their service that is made at considerable risk and disruption to their families and careers. But, it is sad to hear politicians and non-politicians place flags and make nice words while they allow the benefits that veterans need to go unfunded, as veterans are illegally let go from jobs because of deployment as service connected conditions are both under covered by the VA and at the same time result in punitive premiums as preexisting conditions in new health care bills.
Thank you personally sir, and all the others in our society and in the little community on this board, for your service from the bottom of my heart. Although I disagreed with and protested that war, I never dishonored those who volunteered or were drafted to fight in it.
This is a time of easy thank yous. My point was that a sincere reaching out either as a VA volunteer or to those who live among us, or even an act of anonymous kindness like picking up the tab for a person in uniform at a restaurant are all a small fraction of what we owe.
Thank you Bob for your service!!!!!!
Bob I also served in the Marines in Viet Nam and I would say your perspective nailed it. You put it in words eloquently. People in the military are doing a job where they mite end up giving your life for God and country, remember freedom is not free our veterans have paid for it. So let's respect them. Yet on the flip side when I returned I did my share of protesting against the war to hopefully stop the gcarnage that war brings. So I've seen things from both sides. Either way we should never disrespect returning vets for doing there job. They were merely taking orders, they didn't have anything to do with starting it. PEACE BROTHER
I remember years ago after the first Iraqi war I was living in Dallas-Ft. Worth at the time and when the soldiers returned from that war, there was a big parade in downtown Dallas for them. They also made part of the parade for any Vietnam veterans who wanted to participate so they also finally got some of the thanks they deserved. I do think they appreciated it, perhaps even more than the Gulf War vets, but I don't know if anything can truly make up for what happened when they first came back.