Feeling guilty when somebody thanks you for your service?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 13:02:52 -0400

Do you think it's wrong of me to feel bad when people tell me thank you for your service? I feel like I'm not doing anything for my country because I'm not risking my life being deployed or fighting. I go to work and sit around the motorpool and I don't want anyone thanking me for that. Does anyone else feel this way???

Response by MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2014 2:30 PM

MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 14:30:46 -0400

People are thanking you for agreeing to serve in defense of our country. If you are asked to leave the motorpool and defeat the enemies of the country....you will. This is what you are being thanked for. Only a small portion of our nation agrees to defend the country. It certainly is an honor to be trusted to defend this nation at a moments call.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Apr 26 at 2014 2:33 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 14:33:02 -0400

Don't feel bad for it wasn't for having a military invaders would run this country into oblivion.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2014 2:35 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 14:35:06 -0400

As others have said, they are thanking you for volunteering to fight for our country if the need arises. So far, for you, it hasn't come to that. But if it does, you voluntarily decided to put yourself in harms way. 98-99% of the country hasn't done that, and you have.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Apr 26 at 2014 3:33 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 15:33:44 -0400

SPC Ashley F....I hope you aren't making your response verbally to people it is bad for morale. Why did you enlist into the Army? If you truly feel this way I suggest you choose another profession the military isn't for everyone.

Very Respectfully,
Floyd

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Apr 26 at 2014 3:56 PM

SFC Stephen P. — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 15:56:32 -0400

I've been stateside the last 14 years; these wars happened without my direct participation. Since I rarely work at a major installation, I probably get more sentiments of gratitude than most members.

I don't think of myself as undeserving, but there are others more in need of it than me.

If you ever feel the thanks you receive were for something someone else did, accept it as a proxy and then pay it forward.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2014 4:17 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 16:17:30 -0400

SPC Ashley. Think again. If you are sitting in the motor pool or performing some other duty that would otherwise require someone else from the sharp end of the stick to pull the same duty then you are indirectly enabling us to deploy people at the sharp end of the stick: boots and weapons in the fight. Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Apr 26 at 2014 5:44 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 17:44:00 -0400

I hope it never happens but if we are every attacked by a conventional military force and they are on U.S. soil, some Americans will do either fight and maybe die in the process, or not fight and still die in the process.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Apr 27 at 2014 1:46 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 13:46:11 -0400

“A Soldier is someone who at one point in their life wrote a blank check made payable to their country for an amount up to, and including their life.” Author unknown. So when someone thanks me for serving my country I keep this quote in mind and respond by thanking them for recognizing my service. I actually had a young man stand up and in all sincerity salute me while thanking me for my service. I actually had no idea what to do or say to this person so I responded with my standard it was my privilege response and carried on. I never feel guilty when someone thanks me, I am just glad they remember us veterans.

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made May 5 at 2014 11:41 PM

SGT Craig Northacker — Mon, 05 May 2014 23:41:45 -0400

Ashley-you are there because that is your assignment. If you received orders to send you to an OP in northern Afghanistan, you would go and perform your duty. It takes an entire military to make things happen-you are in it and you volunteered to do that.

Often people thank you because they are trying to nice, and other times they are saying it for themselves.

You might feel frustrated for not being sent up front, but I hope that you do not continue to feel bad- that is beyond your control.

Response by CPT Joe Cox made Aug 9 at 2014 7:46 PM

CPT Joe Cox — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 19:46:49 -0400

I was about to pose a similar question! Don't get me wrong I am honored that folks thank me for my service, and I know that many of our brothers and sisters got a much different public response in the not so distant past..... Still, I feel like I get paid pretty well for what I do..... I often find myself avoiding conversations because I feel awkward always bein thanked.....

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 9 at 2014 8:25 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 20:25:49 -0400

You should be proud that you represent 1% of our population that have chosen to do this job. Its not easy sometimes when you know that some have given much more, but you should not feel guilty. Think of it as accepting the thanks on behalf of those who are no longer here to accept it for themselves. that's what I do.

Response by PO3 David Greeley made Nov 16 at 2017 8:24 AM

PO3 David Greeley — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 08:24:23 -0500

No. I have a hard time accepting a "thank you for your service," particularily if I sense the person is saying it to be politically correct. I served from 1977-1985 and although I was in some pretty intense situations I wasn't in a hostile action where I was put in harm's way before an enemy during my time in the Navy. There is a small percentage of people who are sincere when they say it. It usually comes from a parent whose son or daughter is currently serving or from another veteran.

As for me thanking a serviceperson for their service should be reserved for those who have been in harms way.