Iraq War Veteran Reveals Why He Hates “Thank You for Serv…
The Original Post
I was a soldier in the early 2000s. You can tell where I was deployed by that time frame. I was stationed in the Anbar Province in 2003. I was part of the 82nd Airborne Division.
I was pretty young when I joined up. I wanted to leave my narcissistic parents at all costs.
You can say I was deluded, but the independence gave me hope.
Nothing, and absolutely nothing would prepare for what I would see when I was deployed. Jesus, the things we did to civilians. No wonder why people from those countries feel absolutely angry with us.
I saw a fellow soldier, who I thought was my brother, rape a 14 year old. I saw her father crying and begging to not do it.
I saw other fellow mates kill civilians under the disguise that they were guerrilas…
I saw so much blood and things I know I will pay for them dearly too. Because you see, you do have to do them too if you don’t want to raise suspicion to upper ranks.
Everytime someone thanks me for my service, I hate it. And I hate them too. I hate that I’m reminded of all of this bullshit, all of this violence.
Edit: cleared some things.
What Reddit Said
Reddit responded with overwhelming empathy and understanding. Many users shared similar stories about family members who served in Vietnam and other conflicts. The comments revealed a pattern of veterans struggling with trauma and guilt from their service experiences.
However, most commenters appreciated OP’s brutal honesty about military realities. Several users noted that civilians rarely understand what actually happens during overseas deployments. The discussion highlighted the disconnect between public perception of military service and harsh battlefield realities.
The Verdict
The consensus was clear support for the veteran who hates thank you for service expressions. Reddit validated his feelings while recognizing the complex trauma behind his reaction. This represents a broader conversation about military experiences that challenge traditional narratives of heroism and honor in personal confessions.
Original post from r/TrueOffMyChest (4,426 upvotes, 474 comments)