Pottery Chatroom Board

Nancy -
As a Vet, I would say to those who don't want the attention ( & I understand where they are coming from and respect their feeling), don't advertise the fact that you are a Vet - no hats, shirts, bumper stickers, etc saying such. In conversations, don't mention the fact - acknowledge (if brought up) with as little fanfare as possible. If you know a Vet or current military, IMHO say "Thank you" - their reaction will cue any further acknowledgement. Some VietNam era guys did not want to discuss their service at all because of their feelings for what the war caused here in the U.S. - hatred, animosity, distrust of authority. Many still won't - my BH's cousin is former Marine & he will only talk about Nam with me & one other cousin who served.
I personally wasn't in the jungles and rice paddies (only for a brief encounter) and didn't see the really dirty fighting side of the war. I was, however, on the support side & saw the politics involved & how downright dirty that was. That is a side that will never fully be exposed and there isn't enough time nor bandwidth space for me to go into details. Unfortunately, I get on my soapbox when in one of my moods & will talk for hours about what I saw & heard through my radio in Southeast Asia.