Cool/uncool thing happened at work today

[mcantar18c]

So I picked up a second job at a brewery/taphouse a couple days a week, really just for fun (I haven't even asked them what they're paying me). Today was my first day.

Guy came in with his girl, wearing a velcro flag hat with a multicam/airforce bronze flag and a 550 cord bracelet. After pouring him his beer, I asked him if he was military (thinking I'd cover his first beer or something... company doesn't officially do .mil discounts). He said no and I said ok, and then I went to go tend to another customer or something. Then later on he asked why I thought he might be, and I just kinda shrugged and said he looked the part with the hat and bracelet and all. Then he asked if I was, and I told him "Not anymore." He thanked me for my service, we shook hands, and I figured that was that.
Well, he left this when they left:

56333
Note reads:
"Being viewed as someone who served their country is not a respect I have earned. You have.
Thank you for your service. Enjoy the hat."

I find it really cool that this guy was willing to do this, and that there's people out there who actually give a shit. I also feel like an asshole.
Next time he comes in, his drinks will be on me.

Also, I saw a guy with his family wearing a black Beretta jersey and some kind of shooting organization hat (forgot which, maybe IPSC)... anybody here?

[GilpinGuy]

You were certainly not an asshole based on what you wrote here for this situation. You handled it well, and the guy seemed to see what you were implying - even if you didn't mean it to be in a negative way. [Beer]

[Mazin]

Thats a class act!

Don't feel like an ass bro, there are a select few people out there that is truly humbled and have a true understanding and appreciation Of all our Armed Forces that serve our country. I remember a while back talking with a soldier that was tired of people continually thanking him for his service, in his opinion it was a job like any other job. It made me think, the only way I could ever really show my appreciation was to do little things like pick up a meal or hook up a fellow member that served on a deal or even just thank the individual. The fact he left the hat is to show nothing but true gratitude and pride to give it to someone he respected.

I say Enjoy the hat and Thank You!

[Bailey Guns]

Sounds like it was pretty cool all the way around.

[TEAMRICO]

Shit man, I got misty eyed for sec reading that.

[TheGrey]

How cool! You weren't out of line at all, and it sounds like your job is going to put you into contact with all sorts of like-minded people. :)

[DFBrews]

Which one are you at Mason?

[BigBear]

...Not everyone can serve...

Man, very cool McC. Ginsue, that's where I struggle, not everyone can serve. I come from a .mil family but due to a car wreck in HS I was never able to sign on the line. But to toot my own horn (Ha) I won several positions on auditions for .mil bands ranging from the USAF Falcs to USAA Pershings Own. Just could never sign the line...

I have the utmost respect for all over soldiers and Marines.

Not everyone can serve in the military. BUT everyone CAN serve in some capacity by helping with little things (buying a drink, etc) to serve the ones who served us. So rest easy McC. You done good.

[68Charger]

Not everyone should serve. But, appreciating the contributions, sacrifices and experienced dangers of those who did is something everyone should do.


Man, very cool McC. Ginsue, that's where I struggle, not everyone can serve. I come from a .mil family but due to a car wreck in HS I was never able to sign on the line. But to toot my own horn (Ha) I won several positions on auditions for .mil bands ranging from the USAF Falcs to USAA Pershings Own. Just could never sign the line...

I have the utmost respect for all over soldiers and Marines.

Not everyone can serve in the military. BUT everyone CAN serve in some capacity by helping with little things (buying a drink, etc) to serve the ones who served us. So rest easy McC. You done good.

I fall more under the "not everyone should serve" category... not because I think I'm better or it's beneath me, it's more like I don't think it would have gone well for me at the time... at least not until I turned 40 did I think I had the right mindset (and then It was obviously too late)
I have the utmost respect for those that have served, and like others I regret that I did not... but it was not the path I chose.

And MC, I think you did nothing wrong- he left you the hat because he thought you deserved it more than him.

[ray1970]

I'm embarrassed to admit that in my 20 years of service I never deployed. Hell, I can't even lay claim to being a REMF. Minus a remote tour to Korea, I stayed stateside my entire career. During DS1, I tried hard to deploy. Back then I was all "Gung-Ho G.I. Joe". My repeated requests to deploy were all met with the same response: "You're too valuable here to let you deploy." Maybe I should have felt proud of my contributions but I simply felt cheated. Since they wouldn't deploy me I tried to make up for it in other ways. I did my job the best I could. I joined an OPFOR team to help those who would be deploying think like the bad guys so they could better protect themselves. I "played cop" by volunteering as an AF Security Forces augmentee. During my seven months in that duty I learned the job well, I became "wrap certified" to work with/train the K9's and was eventually allowed to "QC" to ride patrol without a career field cop alongside. When the second Gulf War began, shortly before I retired, I was informed that I was medically disqualified from deploying. While I know my contributions were important, I still feel inferior to those who deployed and were literally in harms way. If I was still active today I'd be quite the oddity as someone who'd never deployed. Perhaps my time in uniform, yet never deploying, helps me know firsthand the genuine appreciation felt by those who've not served. Not everyone can serve. Not everyone should serve. But, appreciating the contributions, sacrifices and experienced dangers of those who did is something everyone should do.

I'm no expert but I would guess an overwhelming number of those who served never went directly in harms way. Every job has its part in keeping the whole thing working and functioning like it should. Even those who haven't directly put life and limb on the line have made sacrifices to serve.

I appreciate your service, Thomas.
[Beer]

[Limited GM]

Sounds like it was pretty cool all the way around.


Agreed.

[Aloha_Shooter]

I'm embarrassed to admit that in my 20 years of service I never deployed. Hell, I can't even lay claim to being a REMF. Minus a remote tour to Korea, I stayed stateside my entire career. During DS1, I tried hard to deploy. Back then I was all "Gung-Ho G.I. Joe". My repeated requests to deploy were all met with the same response: "You're too valuable here to let you deploy." Maybe I should have felt proud of my contributions but I simply felt cheated. Since they wouldn't deploy me I tried to make up for it in other ways. I did my job the best I could. I joined an OPFOR team to help those who would be deploying think like the bad guys so they could better protect themselves. I "played cop" by volunteering as an AF Security Forces augmentee. During my seven months in that duty I learned the job well, I became "wrap certified" to work with/train the K9's and was eventually allowed to "QC" to ride patrol without a career field cop alongside. When the second Gulf War began, shortly before I retired, I was informed that I was medically disqualified from deploying. While I know my contributions were important, I still feel inferior to those who deployed and were literally in harms way. If I was still active today I'd be quite the oddity as someone who'd never deployed. Perhaps my time in uniform, yet never deploying, helps me know firsthand the genuine appreciation felt by those who've not served. Not everyone can serve. Not everyone should serve. But, appreciating the contributions, sacrifices and experienced dangers of those who did is something everyone should do.

I know what you mean. I tried to volunteer during DS1 but was deemed more valuable where I was stateside. I tried again via MFR and my squadron commander wrote back that no meant no and he didn't want to hear anymore about it. When OIF kicked off, I made sure everyone in my division got weapons qualified and scheduled to supplement the base cops when they were home stateside (our job involved deployments overseas but not in connection with OIF). I tried again to volunteer when a short term deployment came up but was rejected as I already had PCS orders for Korea. I tried to argue that I'd get home with a month or two to prepare for the PCS but was told to focus on getting my selected captains ready for the deployment. Like you, I know what I did was important but still feel somewhat lacking in never having been in harms way.

[mcantar18c]

Which one are you at Mason?
Hall, in Parker.

[Doc45]

As the very proud dad of an Army E6 I think you're just fine. I wear ball caps all the time. A couple have flags, one has a "punisher" patch which was gifted to me by a friend's son (dad was a SEAL, his son is). I also have a sweatshirt, hat and t-shirts with my son's last unit on them from his most recent deployment. The few times I've been asked if it was because of my service I clearly state "no, it's because of my son's and a friend's son". Always asked to thank them as well as for the families support of them.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Very interesting and cool story. [Beer]
I spend probably more time than I should in our local microbrew type places. Seems you and he both were cooler than ~50% of the folks I see while people watching. Self included! ;)

[sniper7]

If you feel terrible about it, I'll happily add that hat to my collection...I'm a hat whore!

i think what they guy did was awesome, think of it as a thanks for your service. At least the guy didn't pull the stolen valor act, been enough of that lately.

[newracer]

I don't think you were an asshole at all and obviously he didn't either.

[brutal]

Hall, in Parker.

Where is this?, because Google is fucked.

The address shows next to the UPS store SE corner Parker & Main.

[mcantar18c]

Pretty much. SE corner of Parker and Main, in the same lot as McDonalds. There's also a gun store a few storefronts down.

[hollohas]

You asked a fair question and that guy is a stand up guy as well. It certainly doesn't sound like you were being confrontational. What a great interaction. Hope he comes back so the two of you can chat.

I have a hat VERY similar to that. It was thrown in as a free gift with an online order from some retailer. It fits well so I wanted to wear it. Rather than walk around with an empty velcro space (which looks stupid), I put an OD American Flag patch on it as the Flag seemed like the best option to avoid trying to look like some fake operator and the OD matched the hat. I didn't serve but I do love America and don't mind advertising that. The Flag is a symbol we all share.

If a vet asked me if I served based on my appearance while wearing the hat, I would make it immediately clear that I did not...however I'm not such a stand up guy because I wouldn't give up my hat...it just fits too good and a good hat is hard to come by ;).

[JohnnyEgo]

Got to say that guy had quite possibly the best response I've ever heard of with the hat. I'd like to buy him a beer.
I have a mixed view of my own service. I'm proud of it, and I was kept busy overseas with a few harrowing moments in my time, but nothing like the new post 9/11 generation of service. I don't hesitate to talk about my service and I enjoy swapping sea stories and intrafamilial insults with fellow vets, but I feel uncomfortable asking for things like veterans discounts, and I am often surprised when they are offered to me as a result of my credit union card. I think that if something similar happened to me as happened to you, I'd probably consider that one of the best rewards I've had for my service.

[SamuraiCO]

Definitely cool. Second regret I have for myself I never served and always wanted to.