Please Don’t Thank Me for My Service

New York Times ^ | FEB. 21, 2015 | MATT RICHTEL

[jonascord]

HUNTER GARTH was in a gunfight for his life — and about to lose.

He and seven other Marines were huddled in a mud hut, their only refuge after they walked into an ambush in Trek Nawa, a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan. Down to his last 15 bullets, one buddy already terribly wounded, Mr. Garth pulled off his helmet, smoked a cheap Afghan cigarette, and “came to terms with what was happening.”

“I’m going to die here with my best friends,” he recalled thinking.

I didn’t know any of this — nor the remarkable story of his survival that day — when I met him two months ago in Colorado while reporting for an article about the marijuana industry, for which Mr. Garth and his company provide security. But I did know he was a vet and so I did what seemed natural: I thanked him for his service.

“No problem,” he said.

It wasn’t true. There was a problem.

[Secret Agent Man]

I think you’ve determined an excellent way to handle the thank yous.

[jonascord]

The trick was to land at Travis at 0500, you were on a bus to SFO by 0530, and after a stop at Treasure Island Navy Station, we were at SFO by 0645. there were flights out to every corner of the US. The airport was empty, 1,000+ passengers, by 0730.

I was told, later, that the protestors from SF never got to SFO until 1030 at the earliest.

[Captain Rhino]

“And I thank YOU for your support!”

Great idea...and Semper Fi! (USMC 1967-1990)

[imardmd1]

The newsman truly showed his gratitude by taking the time to hear and accurately summarize the vet’s real felt experience without embroidering it.

[skeptoid]

Click the link just under the title.

It takes you to the complete article.

[right way right]

I learned to care enough to just spend some time with a veteran that I befriended at my church.
Your actions will thank them in time, by not asking them questions.

My friend passed away, and it was only at the memorial service I heard the harsh reality of his service. He was the deal deal.

[ErnBatavia]

Almost exactly my same story....0141 who never left CamPen. Two years of clerking, guard duty and mess duty....mostly the latter two.

For the record, we ALL hated our servitude and wanted our asses out ASAP, and were really pissed that 1968 was a friggin leap year, adding an extra day to our sentence.

Re-enlistment was maybe two percent, until you got to the lifers....who had so much time invested in their anticipated Nineteen/and/six.

A couple of years after my active service, my little apartment got burgled, including every bit of my uniform stuff -- I didn't even give it a second thought to run down to the Reserve Center (Dodger Stadium basement in the late 1960's) to axe about replacing the stuff.

[82nd Bragger]

But, for the guys that have walked through hell (really, really & truly, not the Brian Williams types) the statement “thank you for your service” statement, upon thoughtful reflection, really does just “not quite cut it”.

This is why many combat vets just don’t want to talk about “their service” at all.

I agree. When I got to my first unit in 83, it was suggested to us newbees to not ask the guys with combat patches about their time in Vietnam. Hell, that just made me more curious. It wasn’t until all the documentaries came out in the 80s that I realized what these guys (and a few gals) went through. At that point, I had a newfound respect and admiration for all of them.

[doorgunner69]

"I sometimes wear one of my many “USMC” ball caps out in public, not so much to garner thanks, but in hopes of meeting ANY other veteran and chew the fat."

Sort of why I finally got a "Vietnam Veteran" license plate. Though I admit a secondary goal was to tweak aging hippies/liberals still around that hated the war.

[Rocky]

OK, so treating the soldiers badly, as happened during Vietnam, is wrong. Thanking them is wrong. Ignoring them is wrong.

Sorry, I’ve run out of options.

[yldstrk]

I am a veteran. I had a cushy peacetime job. I thank vets for their service when I see them. I socialize with veterans. I admire veterans.

This particular soldier may have a huge chip on his shoulder, but that is his problem. He is the one who enlisted. He volunteered. Don’t resent what happens if you sign up for it.

[elcid1970]

I wore my brand new Vietnam Vet cap into Whole Foods just to provoke the grey haired ponytails.

All I got was the checkout girl saying, “Oh, you get military discount.”

To those who didn’t wind up in country: thank you for your service & keeping our stuff mission ready.

[Yaelle]

I have said it sincerely several times but the soldier never appears to like it.

I’ve never been in a situation where I could easily anonymously pay for their lunch.

So I guess I say nothing, do nothing. I’ll thank them and pray for them in my head. The last thing I want is for them to feel I’m not truly appreciative.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

I retired 5 years ago. Without the uniform no one is likely to thank me. It did happen when I was in uniform and I was never comfortable with it.

I didn’t serve for thanks.

[backwoods-engineer]

By the way, the late GySgt Carlos Hathcock USMC was our Marksmanship Instructor while we were at The Basic School. What a Marine!

What a rare privilege.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I think most folks are very sincere when they thank our military for their service.

[murron]

Just because a few object to it, I’m not going to stop saying it. My son is a veteran and I know he appreciates the sentiment.

[Rodamala]

I have a Democrat friend that once upon a time was the youngest elected official in NJ (councilman in his town). He is actually a fairly moderate Democrat, but tolerable, a funny guy that doesn't take himself too seriously...

...but my point is that after going through some emotionally and financially rough times taking care of his elderly parents, he is constantly "paying it back" for the help he was provided during his rough patch.

Aside from volunteering playing Santa Claus and visiting kids in the hospital, one of the things he does at Christmastime is that he goes to the local Wal*Mart's service desk and anonymously pays off a service member's layaway balance. I am not sure how he does it, it has something to do with service members using military ID... he is a pretty engaging guy (he was a politician and in sales to boot, afterall) and probably charms the service desk worker into giving up the list.

Not to pimp his website, but he does a weekly podcast with couple buddies where they just talk about whatever, sports, pop culture, their personal lives, just everyday stuff... it's a good show and I am glad he has found his niche doing "new media" type stuff.

I listen to it on Tune-in, if anyone is interested check out http://www.notanotherpodcastusa.com/.

[doorgunner69]

All I got was the checkout girl saying, “Oh, you get military discount.”

I still bristle when a checker says I get a senior discount. At 67, I ain't that damn old!

[CodeToad]

Considering the lamestream media lies so much in their articles, making stuff up like this wouldn’t surprise me at all.

It think this is just more liberal propaganda trying to get people to stop thanking people for military service, a liberal attempt to downplay military service.

I have heard many a liberal complain that people who served where thanked so why weren’t they thanked for their jobs that they do. Jealous little kids.