What it means when the US goes to war

[Schmedlap]

It never fails to irritate me when I tell someone that I have been to Iraq and they get that sad look and tell me they are sorry, like a relative just died. It doesn't happen every time. Some say thank-you. Some say Dude, what's it like? But enough of them tell me that they are sorry to make me avoid mentioning it around anyone I don't know.

Same here. A few weeks ago, I was at a social function full of people who are not like me. I had to wear a suit and pretend that I wanted to be there. I generally avoid telling people that I was in the military or that I served in Iraq for the very reasons that you cite. One woman asked what I was doing for work - I pointed out that I quit my job and became a full-time student and tried to focus the discussion more on the latter. She then asked what I did for work. I reluctantly disclosed that I was in the Army. At that point, I was debating whether to rifle through her purse for her nitroglycerin pills because she clutched her chest, nearly fell over, and exclaimed, "oh no! That's terrible! Did you have to go to Iraq?"

[Ken White]

I've never had a bad dream much less anything more severe. Multi-tour kid says he doesn't have PTSD, he gives it.

Genes. I'm firmly convinced some minds are hard wired for the job; most others can adapt to it to one degree or another and still others cannot even think about it without getting the vapors.

[J Wolfsberger]

Same here. A few weeks ago, I was at a social function full of people who are not like me. I had to wear a suit and pretend that I wanted to be there. I generally avoid telling people that I was in the military or that I served in Iraq for the very reasons that you cite. One woman asked what I was doing for work - I pointed out that I quit my job and became a full-time student and tried to focus the discussion more on the latter. She then asked what I did for work. I reluctantly disclosed that I was in the Army. At that point, I was debating whether to rifle through her purse for her nitroglycerin pills because she clutched her chest, nearly fell over, and exclaimed, "oh no! That's terrible! Did you have to go to Iraq?"

In the drinking establishments I have been known to frequent, soldiers, especially in uniform, don't buy many of their own drinks. And the conversations will generally be interrupted three or four times a night by people walking over to thank them for their service.

[jmm99]

in the wilds of Upper Michigan. People have a lot of different attitudes about wars, but they are not often directed against the guys and gals who fight them.