I thanked a WWII Vet today for his service. He was shocked.

[LiberalLoner]

I got the feeling no one else had noticed his hat denoting his service. Or maybe they noticed but just didn't care. He was so shocked that I thanked him, that he thanked ME for thanking him.

It made me sad to think that we all go about our busy days and hardly anyone has the time or energy to notice and thank a hero not long for this world.

[Robb]

1. Well, good wars and all that.

To be twice lucky, to have both lived through a war and have been in one that no one dare speak ill of.

[LiberalLoner]

2. I do thank all vets for their service when I see those hats. "Good" or "Bad" war I am grateful and

indebted. And having been in one indifferent war myself (Desert Storm) I appreciate the sacrifices involved.

[JuniperLea]

7. Thank you for your service, LiberalLoner...

I do it all the time too. There's a vet who volunteers at Dog Beach (I'm there every weekend) and he's the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet. He has a lot of health issues related to his service in Vietnam. But there he is, still serving people... and their dogs.

When someone volunteers for military service, they volunteer for whatever might come their way. They don't get to choose their battles, or their wars. When their Commander in Chief sends them out on duty, they go. That is when thanks are absolutely in order... putting yourself in harms way on behalf of the American people. It hasn't been "fighting for our freedoms" for a very long time... that was wars ago. But that doesn't negate the service to our country.

[arcadian]

14. Blowing innocent civilians up on foreign soil for corporations.

If they are doing that on my behalf, I'd rather they just didn't serve altogether. Go mow lawns or something if you are short on cash.

[JuniperLea]

15. You couldn't possibly have taken that post any more incorrectly...

Clearly any attempt to explain would be futile.

[Robb]

8. Indeed, we agree here.

Just lamenting the usual fate of vets of unpopular or unknown wars. :patriot:

[aquart]

3. Hat?

[SoxFan]

13. Probably a service-related ballcap

My dad has a few, one from the supply ship he served on, another from the Marine Corps unit he was attached to as a naval gunfire officer.

[aquart]

4. Hat?

[FarCenter]

5. The "thank you for your service" custom only started after the Gulf War

Or maybe later? I don't recall it before the '90s.

[monmouth]

6. My friend "Stan" is a WWII vet, he was a medic and wears his hat

proudly. He happened to go to DC with other Vets this past year and was so glad when I told him I wanted details about the trip. Older people have wonderful ways of telling stories and he is one of them. He loves to tell how he was a medic in the military then went on to manage hotels all over the east coast. He's in his 90s and very charming.

[Sherman A1]

9. I have run into some great WWII Vets through the years

one on LST 325 when it toured here in St. Louis who told stories of sailing on these Landing Ships another at the D-Day Museum in NOLA last year. He was absolutely charming telling us all about driving the landing craft and his naval service.

[Oregone]

10. Do they not get paid or something?

Service vs employment?

[Robb]

11. Do go on.

[arcadian]

12. Toward a more jingoistic society.