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.
My brother-in-law was a LRP (Lerp) in nam in the sixties. Though we don’t get along all that well (largely because of my sister), I have written him many times over the decades about his extraordinary military service. I think at least arguably that the Vietnam War was more terrifying for the average grunt because u most of the time didn’t get to see the enemy. Many times our guys were just feet from the enemy and could not see them until a flash bang went off in their face.
Before anybody jumps me, I’m not taking away one ounce of credit from any other vet in any war. They are all heroes!
I just thank my lucky stars that the closest I got in 71 was Keelung Port City on Taiwan aboard the USS Hector, AR 7.