50 years after coming home from Vietnam, some unknown citizen paid for my meal just to say thanks. It felt good and was the best Veterans Day for me ever.

Being thanked for your military service is a lot better than being spit upon. As a Vietnam Vet we were shamed and humiliated by many for having served.

No ones ever bought me a beer for my “service” lol. I’d be thrilled. I couldn’t buy a beer until I got back from my third deployment 😂

I hate it when people say this to me. As a professional I always say thank you back and act politely, but in my head I'm screaming. I participated in an illegal war, invaded multiple countries, and toppled their governments. All I helped do was paint a bigger bullseye on our country, so you're welcome, I guess.

I'm a afghan war veteran and when people say Thank you for your service it makes me uncomfortable and hostile. I hate it.

I usually just say "we do what we do" smile and move on. I generally appreciate someone that takes the second to thank me, it's simply being nice, no need to read into it or think too hard about why they are saying it.

“I’m glad you’re home!”.

I grew up around alot of Vietnam veterans and saw how the war effected them in so many different ways. Whenever I find that someone served in a war. I show my thanks by being respectful and do my best to always be supportive in anyway I can.

My grandad is a Vietnam vet 1967-1968 and he doesn’t like wearing his Vietnam vet hat I’ve only seen Im cry in two places, the wall in D.C and the Vietnam veterans memorial in Angel Fire, New Mexico. God bless all veterans

I always feel like this, I am waiting to watch this. God Bless.

im a " cold war " army vet . # only 1% of the u.s. population has served. # 2 i've had ppl thank me for my service but i take it in stride.#3 god bless all vets of all wars# regardless of the politics of it !

At the Veterans Day parade, I saw 2 Afgan-Iraq soldiers just watching. I invited them to march with us Vietnam Vets. They didn't. You guys need it for your own inner healing.

We are bombarded by "magic words" that people just throw around because they are conditioned not to think.

Wow i say it alot but now i can really see how it would make Veterans feel Thank You for the intel i honestly didn't know this but now i can have a different approach because i truly am Grateful to the men and women in the military my son is Army just turned blue and going to Poland to help Ukraine if necessary. So now i won't say the generic thing but can just be a good listener to him and others that serve💪🇺🇸

I am an Iraq Veteran and I understand where you guys are coming from. Especially when he said "I didn't do this for you" reality is most of us join up for our own personal reason and very few of us are because of the traditional idea of sacrifice for country. OF course AFTER indoctrination we stand on that ideal, most of us... but as we look at the politics behind war, and the use of force and the US role around the world... we wonder heavily on why. I do thank Veterans for their service, because even if you didn't know what you were getting yourself into, you put it all on the line. For personal reasons, or patriotic reasons... you could've died and many did. Semper Fidelis brothers...

When I hear the thank you for your service, I'm appreciative and say something polite in return. They don't want to hear about my latest flashbacks & nightmares and I don't want to tell a stranger how I really feel.

All veterans want from others is to be genuine and take interest in them individually. Like the clips state it's a knee jerk reaction and a way for others to support the military without acknowledgeing what we all went through.

Support the troops! Bring them home!!!

I would say it's not necessarily about what you were doing but more the fact that you are willing to sign up to go do something that could have cost you everything. It's far more than I did and I understand the necessity of having people like our veterans and service members. Maybe it's not so much about your service but the fact that you exist that I'm grateful for.

THANK YOU! FOR SHARING YOUR thoughts

I insist on being thanked for my service. INSIST upon it. The conversation is over otherwise.

I promise yall this, getting thanked for your service is better than how the Vietnam vets got treated. Take your pick.

I think people want to ensure that these vets are not treated like the Vietnam vets were. The "thank you for your service" is perfunctory, A more heart-felt comment might be "I'm glad you made it back."

I feel like rolling my eyes... It's like they are just saying it because it is expected. I loved my job. I was a Warrant Officer and I had the best as well as the worst times of my life. I'm glad they are expressing gratitude, but it's so routine...

I’ve been saying for years that “thank you for your service” makes me cringe and feel very uncomfortable. Please don’t treat us as different. Just treat us with the same respect that you would command for yourself. We just want to be normal citizens now. That’s all we want. Normalcy. No disrespect intended, please just stop thanking us.

I’ve always think veterans for their service now I will try to have a conversation with them. Thought I was doing the right thing but I guess not

I went to Afghanistan Army 11B Infantry and i dont understand the war in afghanistan. Firefights everyday ieds often and waiting to be next or see who is next to die or get wounded pissed me off.

I tell people to stop when they start to thank me. I tell them it’s weird and we don’t like it. It’s therapeutic.

I have felt like this ever since i left Iraq in 2008. When thanked early after I kind of smiled, but now I dismiss it totally. I haven’t even spoke to anyone I deployed with in years. After a decade and a half I am just now seeking help, but only after years of drinking and jail

That first guy. Smh. You fought for your country and our freedom.

It is very awkward when I'm thanked for my service. What do you say? "You're welcome?"

The modern veterans should be grateful for the people who treat them with respect and thanks .. I'm sure Vietnam vets would have preferred modern treatment to their homecoming experiences.. imagine instead of having ptsd and medical issues from doing what you chose to do you have the same type of ptsd and medical issues from a father or family member who beat the crap out of you for most of your childhood until you were 17.. then imagine being rescued from the situation and by the time you're 18 and ready to start doing something with your life such as joining the military you begin having grand mall seizures for the next 12 years which destroy your bones and joints.. doctors don't know the consequences of having this large amount of seizures because most die when a certain number of seizures occurs.. they can only tell you that you are going to have brain problems.. I gave up getting drunk and drug use years ago and am now left with the same type of struggle veterans seem to have.. feeling of uselessness and very low points where the will or desire to continue on becomes less and less every time the darkness comes knocking.. today is one of those nights where it's difficult for sure.. I do understand about having a conversation with a veteran rather than just saying thanks and running off

I get a little uncomfortable when people thank me mostly because I don't like the attention for something they paid me to do. I don't agree with saying we didn't do any good over there. Lots of bad people are no longer killing innocent victims. It's okay to be proud of your country and your service. I don't think I'm going to agree with much on this doc, but I'll still subscribe/watch and I'm glad they are able to express their opinion.

We all know that certain type of person. The ones that disrespect the cleaning lady, threaten overworked waitresses to get them fired, spit on everyone doing 12-hour shifts to support their family on minimum wage. And then go all reverend "thank you sir" to some rando they've never met because he's wearing an army jacket. It's not respect, they don't know what respect means. It's just a soulless little mantra they do to make themselves look good.

The 3rd person make a clear point there.

I usually respond with "thank you for your support" and move on. It is wierd and awkward, but at least they aren't spitting on us and calling us baby killers. We weren't forced to go anywhere. We signed up on our own free will, so I personally don't think people should be thanking us for anything. I would rather see people thanking the Vietnam guys rather than thanking us.

I appreciate the respect given.

A comments section of substance. Hardcore dose of reality here.

I thank our veterans to show my appreciation for a job that I wasn’t able to do myself.

I was in the Air Force 1976_1980. The public still treated us like Vietnam veterans, mostly ignoring us, which was fine by me. A flight attendant moved me up to First Class once, that was it. The first time I was thanked was after 9-11 when people mistook my work as a federal special agent for being in the military and one guy said, “Thank you for your service.” I replied, “You’re welcome” and walked away.

Lol I tell the Vets Youre welcome for your service, always got a positive reaction so far #fuckyeaVETS

I have a question for people in the military and I'm just curious is War really about protecting us and our freedom or are there other motives behind war

I find this a poor choice. When some thanks you you say thank you for your support. This is being said by people who don't understand conversation. You don't have to turn it on yourself when someone says something. They are trying to show support and you acknowledge that support for those who follow you. I have my own issues as do many who have walk that line and signed that paper but never make it a position where it is "oh poor me". Thank you for your service and thank you for your support. Done and done and we will make it

My dad served during the Gulf war and the man barely even talks about it. Any question I've ever asked he just looks so confused and irritated. I understand that now a bit better.

"WELCOME HOME!"

I understand what these vets are saying when I was in Libya in 2016

Some guy just thanked me for my service 5 minutes ago. Now I'm here watching this video because I still dont know how to respond or feel about it. After watching the vid I still dont know.

Good god different mind set from today's troops to us old veterans....wow

As a civilian, when I say thank you for your service...it is an acknowledgement that you have made a sacrifices in your life for the greater good of our nation. Sacrifices that I did not make but I still live under the blanket of protection our soldiers have provided. Regardless of right or wrong, whether you believed in the cause or not...it is just a way to let you know your sacrifices are appreciated.

Man so we can’t thank em anymore

These are soldiers who have lost their way its sickening honestly

09-10 Iraq army e4..19k tanker iv never thought I can relate to anyone... I totally realate

Fuck, bro, 1/6 HARD!!! 2007-2011

It's better to just say Respect ur work but dawq and keep ut movin

Been told to "F*ck off" or "I didn't do it for you anymore" so much that I don't thank veterans for their service anymore. They did what I couldn't so f*ck me I guess.

Wow, that is deep. Now I feel more awkward though as I am one of those people that says it to Veterans or active duty Service Men if I do meet them. Hoping I didn't make anyone feel the way that these men do. Hmmm..

This is odd to me, as I got out in 2000, never been to a war zone, never exchanged fire....etc...."thank you for your service", I think, "what are you thanking me for?" And all of you guys who deployed are asking the same question; and now I get other vets thanking me...What I realized is this, thank you for your "service" not for the wars, not for fighting, not for a cause..,but for taking the oath, serving your time, no matter if what our government did was just or not, you did your job, it didn't go the way you dreamed, it never...never does, but you made it. What do I know...I'm just a pre 9/11 vet. Semper.

This is . . . odd. This is not what people are thinking when they thank you.

Navy vet here that suffers from PTSD... this is how I explained it to my therapist about the "thank you for your service" cliché ass statement 🤬

3:45 thats very deep... I never thought of it like that "you just continue believing what you wanna believe" like they do for themself to feel there is something noble about it, so its not to make the veteran feel good but them

I usually just reply, “thank you for your cervix.”

I am really glad to know that these men realize their mistake of trusting a government. Good for you men, I am proud of your realization this. War is not fought for 'Freedom', war is fought so that wealthy psychopaths can gain profit, gain control, and gain power. Hopefully they'll help now in regaining our Freedom here in America, because it's pretty much GONE. --- Jason/Vermont, USA

Just say "God bless you" , you thank them, for what ?

I find it extremely annoying as well. When a veteran reveals to a person that they were in the military they are communicating some information to the person that defines them. If someone tells me they went to Harvard I wouldn't say "thank you for going to Harvard." The natual response would be to ask them about their experience. "Thank you for your service" is about as empty as saying "Bless you" after a person sneezes. The only time I find it appropiate is when a person is wearing some type of item that identifies them as a veteran such as a hat, patch, etc. and this is because those people likely want to be recognized in that way.

I just tell people that I only did it to bag foreign chicks.

I just say welcome home. I dont support the fact you fought for oil but I am happy you made it home alive.

💞💞

What is wrong with these Vets in the video and a lot of the ones in the comment section? Ya, it is a little awkward when they come up and thank you, but you should be flattered these people do you support you and appreciate you. I came in the Army in 1982 (26 year, First Sergeant Retired , Disabled Vet, Iraq 2004) , and almost my entire chain of command were Vietnam Veterans. I heard all their stories of how bad they were treated and had no support from their fellow countrymen. I’ll never forget my first platoon sergeant, his eyes would start to tear up when he talked about what he went through when he came back from ‘Nam. Severely wounded, had to be pushed around in wheel chair for over a year with one surgery after another. The comments he heard the most when ever he was out, (bound to his wheel chair) was something to the effect of “hope your suffering and in pain” or “to bad they didn’t finish the job”. How this Warrior kept his will power up is unbelievable. He not only endured numerous surgeries, but got himself back to walking, and then SOB could smoke the living shit out of us on 5-7 mile runs. He literally got himself back in shape to continue his military career and he could put a hurting us on youngsters. We are fortunate that’s not how we’re treated today. Yes, Civilians don’t truly understand everything we’ve been through, the hardships we’ve endured, the evil horrible things we’ve seen done to people, the loss of our brothers and sisters, etc. But what they are trying to tell you is, “I may not have any idea what you guys go through, but we know you’ve made incredible sacrifices and given a lot, and for that , we appreciate you.” They know without the military and your selfless service, there are millions of evil men around this world that would bring this country to its knees and destroy everything that we care about and is important to you. It’s of course always awkward to walk up and talk to a stranger or vice versa. But just deal with it, thank them, and try to be a little sincere too when you do it. And last, a lot of those so called civilians that thank you, are also veterans also,. Especially if I know their still currently serving I appreciate their sacrifice (cause I know what their doing and going through) . Their still protecting this great country (and my family) and keeping us safe and secure . So I’m more than honored to pay for their large double pepperoni pizza or a pitcher of beer. Chill out gentlemen, your starting to sound like these SJW snowflakes that need their safe zone so they don’t feel uncomfortable anymore.

Listen, I served in ROK army so I obviously saw lot less action than US military, but when civilians show respect for your service with one sentence, they mean it and there is nothing wrong with it. Real reason why these troops are confused with simple thank you is they are still confused with the reason of the war. What we can do better is not electing political morons to invade other countries for god knows why.

Usually the troops who like the “thank you for your service” are the ones who were never in combat. Just saying. US Army 1988-2006 91B, 12B, 19D, 88M. 🇺🇸

Forgive yourselves as I have forgiven you

An Aussie Afghan veteran here and I hold the same.opinions. I'm most likely going to discharge this year, have had enough after 9 years. I dare say the Afghanistan of 2020 was different from the Afghanistan from 2005-2012 though.

No thanks required. It was a privilege to serve my country. Like a republican Roman Legionnaire, I have a stake in the continuation of the greatest country that's ever existed. If I had died for my country, it wouldn't have been my own, but for my country's glory. Having said that, we should probably start focusing on the actual defense of our country and not every other one except ours...

Didn't come here to find so much truth, it's awkward. Burst my bubble for sure.

I can’t fault veterans for feeling this way. They are free to feel anyway they want about how they served in the military. But as a civilian and a patriot, I’ve thanked Vets for their service numerous times and at the very least isn’t it far better to be appreciated by the civilian community in this era then as if you guys were treated by the general public how the vets were treated when they came back from Vietnam? If you guys want to get the message out that you want to stop being thanked, that’s what should be done to respect your wishes, but I can only talk for myself when I say I thanked you guys for your bravery because I truly believed that you going over there made this country a little safer or preserves what we have.

It works for most vets cuz most vets didn't go into combat but pretend like they did

I don't get thanked for doing my job.

I cringe when thanked. have been told, by civilians, to put on a front for the masses to let them think the majority of veterans are proud to have served, cause media distorts the numbers, but that homeless guy, or crazy guy of the neighborhood was probably a vet. You know the one, the one you avoid eye contact with or never speak to neighborly, much less thanking them for their service. It is only to make the masses feel good about themselves and sell war.

I normally just tell them it was a job

The "thank you for you service" cliche began in the late 90's after the US was finally able to re-examine it's guilt & vile treatment of Vietnam vets through film & academic letters. Those young men were largely draftees who knew it was do the tour or do 5 years in prison. US foreign policy being the cause of young men coming back from sh!tty countries well messed up, isn't it about time the US changed? Maybe develop a scheme where the entire US administration has to give a super-dooper MK-Ultra mushroom enema to the individual who is their immediate senior, & televise the event live on Pox News. Oh yeah! all those letter organisations like Rand, CIA, DEA, FBI get a bonus iboga truth trip thrown in. Entheogens show what is really inside a person, I think the results would be surprising? Thank you for your reading!

I’m sorry I don’t thank you for your combat experience. I thank you for serving in the military. I don’t ask what your involvements were, what your MOS is. I thank cooks and grunts alike. Doesn’t even matter if the person served during war time. It’s not the war I thank you for. I’m angry that once again our young men are sent to fight a BS war, but I still appreciate those who can still do join with the intent of serving their country rather then just exist in it.

Over the years I come to realize that thank you for you for your service means better you than me... People thank you for your service but then will not hire you for a job. While we spent our time serving they spent their time in college and climbing the ranks of their jobs, so it does in fact mean better you than me. I’m so tired of seeing these “hiring fairs” when these companies are looking for engineers or car salesman. I was a 13F, forward observer, basically the guy that runs around with the infantry, for the civilians. 8 years of my life that I cannot translated into civilian employment. I’m tired of getting the rejection letters that say something to the effect of “while your resume is impressive we have decided to go with someone more suited for the position”. The truth is thank you for your service is like saying bless you when someone sneezes. If you REALLY want to thank a veteran give them a job. We don’t want to be astronauts we just want to support ourselves and be able to stand on our own two feet. I apologize for my rant but this is the reality of veterans lives, people want to forget about us because they did not serve or because they are more preoccupied by what some celebrity couple broke up. Think about it. Thank you for your time.

It's not that deep. Just say thanks and move on. It's people just trying to be polite and supportive. I don't know why some choose to look more into it.

As a simple citizen, when someone tells me they served in the military I look them in their eyes, thank them for their service and give them a strong hand shake. Happy 4th of July!

Well that's what America gets for interfering in other country's affairs

Thanking someone active duty or Veteran for their service isn't always because, you served in combat. It's because, you were willing to wear that uniform to serve you country.

If I wear a hat or other apparel denoting I'm a Vietnam vet I'm pleased when someone thanks me for my service. I thank any other vet if they're doing the same. If you don't want to be thanked by a stranger don't display that you are a vet. I've had the greatest experiences meeting my fellow vets.

Until you forgive yourselves you wont be able to love others

I hate this entitled “you don’t know what else to say to me” mindset so much. As an active duty serviceman who works with allies overseas I know how much our foreign partners wish they got ANY gratitude from their own people. Take it from someone who isn’t “woke”, controversial, nor entitled: thank you for being gracious towards military members and the sacrifices many of us endure!

I honestly see no need to compliment people who defended their little corporate owned nation/state human farm against another one!! I see no need to hate them either. But soldiers are not heroic for the most part and are more often actually tyrants. If soldiers are by nature heroes, than we should also thank the soldiers of the so called enemy too!! I listened to many soldiers stories and I, as with those in other walks of life from truckers to nurses, love to hear of their experiences so they can be learned from and to share my own tales. But calling people heroes for killing others on someone else's human farm??!!! Nope!!!

Alot of. Times i. Ask myself. Why. Why do people. Hurt others. And i have to. Hurt. Yhem. Back to. Keep from. Being. Hurt and. Body count why. After a while we wuit. Counting. Because. We don't care. Anymore. We just want it to end. Why. Hold. Back in. War. We sre the. Good. Guys. But we. Have to. Face. Lead. Ehat. Happened to all the. Planes. I thought that was. Our. Acr in the. Hole. Eay too many American Warrior's. Died. We sre not. Just a number. Go put. Yourself in our. Boots. Feel ehat we. Feel. Ehen you go yo. War you go in to. Win. Fast. Regardless. Make yhe. Rnemy shake with. Fear. America fights with. Bixing gloves while our. Enemy. Does. Everything to us

I’m not a fan of being “thanked”

PAIN allows us to carry a chip on your shoulder. This is not sustainable.

Nowadays, when someone says it is because they know why it means to service or one of their loved ones served. People don’t say just to say it.

You are victims, each one. Service? Yup! Weapons to rich men. Your country must be thankful and respectful and take care of you as kings and queens. But no, used as resources, things 😡

Who else would I be quaranteened Canton

The mark of a good soldier, they followed orders. Regardless of what they did. I have family that were killed by friendly fire. I am ok with it, because they followed orders. WWII - ammo dump being guarded by my great uncle (army) in the eastern theatre. The Germans were advancing. To keep them from gaining the ammo dump, Naval ships were ordered to shell the location, sacrificing the men guarding it. My grandfather (Navy) followed orders. The horrors of war are part of war. Having the bravery to even enlist deserves respect.

Blah blah blah blah. Another video telling everyone how they should act and what to say. When I was on base and they look at people as civilians and as outsiders. Made me realize stay away. They like me as much as that person in whatever foreign land they were in. Holy Crap there are civilians everywhere haha.

Deal with your own issues. Civilians know it's a shit show. I thank them and ask them to support Trump's pledge to withdraw from the Middle East. It's not political Tulsi sees it too.

We thank you for your sacrifice and willingness to join the armed forces. It is not an easy job but someone has to do it. I don’t ever feel awkward, when a veteran tells me in conversation they were in the military I thank them for defending our liberty and way of life with a strong hand shake and sincerity in my eyes. Happy Fourth of July!🎉