Please Don’t Thank Me for My Service

[n2doc]

By MATT RICHTEL

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. I could see it from the way he looked down. And I could see it on the faces of some of the other vets who work with Mr. Garth when I thanked them too. What gives, I asked? Who doesn’t want to be thanked for their military service?

Many people, it turns out. Mike Freedman, a Green Beret, calls it the “thank you for your service phenomenon.” To some recent vets — by no stretch all of them — the thanks comes across as shallow, disconnected, a reflexive offering from people who, while meaning well, have no clue what soldiers did over there or what motivated them to go, and who would never have gone themselves nor sent their own sons and daughters.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/sunday-review/please-dont-thank-me-for-my-service.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

[MADem]

1. I always thought "Thank you for your service" was code for "Better you than me."

This article takes a slightly different tack:

“Thank you for your service,” he said, is almost the equivalent of “I haven’t thought about any of this.”

I'll quibble a bit, and say oh yeah, they HAVE thought about it--and they didn't wanna go...so thank YOU for going, so I didn't have to!

Yes, I am cynical. I'm probably not wrong, either.

[Evan Yessirreebob]

2. This should be shouted from rooftops across the country

I've long considered it nothing short of tawdry to "thank" a man or woman for their "service" when I've no fucking idea what they actually experienced!

[Herself]

3. why I feel the same way.

Soldiers are not left on the battle field. America waits to do that when they return to the US.

Homeless folks include Veterans, and rabid Americans are programmed to hate the takers, and Veteran homeless are nary a thought to be included.

Unemployed folks include Veterans, but same as above. Those that have jobs are programmed to hate the lazy unemployed. Nary a thought of Veterans

People on food stamps, medicaid, those lazy welfare queens and kings. Same as above. Nary a thought of Veterans, disabled, elderly, and the sick.

Soldiers have a responsibility to take out the enemy, spare the lives of the citizens of the country they are in, and protect their fellow soldiers.

American haters just find it easier to shoot everyone down that isn't just like them. It doesn't matter that they harm more Veterans in this country than terrorists ever killed or wounded.

The elite and well connected psychology is to keep Americans hating and fighting each other while they reduce you all to slaves and rob this country blind. Americans are too lazy to think for themselves or even vote.

Don't thank me for my service either. It makes me want to puke, and it might mess up your shoes!

[Danascot]

4. Well said

nt