As in previous years, the just past Veterans Day week saw this year’s cresting of TYFYS expressions. You know, the Thank you for your service ones.

Most speakers, I am sure, say it with sincerity, since they are patriotic folks who want to express a sentiment of gratitude. But they’re not saying it for me, the way I see it, they’re recognizing service and showing some humility, which is good for them. For a small minority, it is alternatively a plea for absolution (“I didn’t serve, blah, blah . . .”, “I was a doofus antiwar protester in airports” . . . .) or simply a part of a bizarre national ritual. As time has passed, my former first unspoken reactions have decreased in frequency regarding how nice it would have been to have heard someone say it fifty years ago.

One other thing — it is exceedingly rare for me to say this phrase to current uniformed members of the younger generation. I just can’t do it to them. Some in my age group may take it as odd when in my company they say such things to those in uniform and for this vet to not to join in. Especially so, since we live in a community with a significant military presence of true bad asses — the 3rd Infantry Division’s Rock of the Marne guys and the 1st Ranger Battalion, who along with the Marines just to our north at MCAS Beaufort and MCRD Parris Island were America’s SECOPS OGs.

But nope, I won’t fall into the TYFYS trap.

Not one of my cousins, siblings, or grandchildren served. A few in-laws did as well as many of my high school classmates did as draftees. None of my college classmate friends did, while a few of them went to Canada to dodge serving.

I doubt that most of today’s youth consider the idea of service in the armed forces is an option for them. Unless they’re poor or some local juvie court judge orders some salvageable miscreant to join up or serve hard time.

For sure, the concept of self-sacrifice has recently taken on jarring new meanings when one contemplates POTUS 44 as one’s commander-in-chief or being sent into harm’s way by PresBid who continues extoling the glorious martyrdom of Beau the Fightingest-ever Army Lawyer. Just pondering Biden’s Gold Star Family makes me gaseously lightheaded with barely-controlled derision.

In any event, our all-volunteer, professional Spartan class military system just can’t be good over the long term for all concerned. But that idea is likely just me falling back into either my old wiseacre or crazy-shit-talking modes.

So, here’s to our country — divided along many fault lines, including the unseen, deep, and widening chasm between the civilian population and the very small cadre of mercenaries, whom the beltway sacrifices with spectacular cynicism. Then, we leave. Thank God for the USAF and its aging C-17’s. Our most recent departing act, as should have been expected, was played out by an anonymous drone operator sitting in the Nevada desert who destroyed a family sitting in their car. Righteous. Oops. Here’s some money. Adios. Again.

In any event, here’s what I do: When passing through the local 3rd Infantry Division’s fort gates, I tell the young MPs, “Stay safe.” When seeing young troops with their duffels in airport terminals, I buy ’em a drink and/or a meal. Upon parting, if they’re headed abroad or waiting for a flight in an international terminal, I softly tell them “Come home whole.” If I catch them arriving in an international terminal, it’s “Welcome home.”

-Marlow

PS: I’m finally over the rage at the BS we put up with in the 70s from our fellow civilian countrymen.

PPS: IIRC I previously shared the story about taking my squadron’s married E’s down to the federal building to sign up for food stamps just before a WESTPAC deployment in the mid/late 70s save for one thing — finding out during that visit that my family had qualified for them as I was the father of two back in the early 70s.

PPPS: I loved my service — my performance and experiences are my own and I cherish them. Somehow to this day in the absence of compulsory universal service to our country I feel lesser when proffered TYFYS. I am never rude, but just nod and say, “My pleasure”, “You’re welcome”, or “It was my honor”. Maybe I should consider asking them how they will serve their community. Might get a good response from time to time.

PPPPS Go Navy. Beat Army.

Copyright 2021 My Aisle Seat
www.vicsocotra.com