I served in the US Marine Corps from March 1967 to January 1, 1991. Heck of a ride.
The most memorable experience I had, was, after serving in Viet Nam for 2 years, I came home to Treasure Island in San Francisco, CA. They gave us a new dress uniform because everything I had was rotten and molded. I was proud of my service wearing this uniform with pride. Three of us decided to go out for our first dinner in the US and took a cab to Ernies in San Francisco. As soon as we got out of the cab we were surrounded by young men and women who shouted and screamed at us. They threw drinks at us and soiled our uniforms. They called us baby killers and murderers. They spit on us. We had no idea what was going on and what started this overt attack and expression of hate. We got another cab and returned to the little base and had dinner in the mess hall. I did not get that first non-military meal until I returned home five days later. I guess that I will never forget that, ever.
Over the years, I have seen and learned, (MY OPINION), is that there is a large, and, I mean large, segment of our society, that despises the military and considers it a necessary evil. That, the military is only here to protect those who despise it and don't want to serve anyway.
I really do not want to be thanked for my service. I did it because it was the right thing for me to do.