If the citizens of this nation want to be thankful that I pursued a personal passion to be an American fighting man while enjoying most of it, and while also being paid tax dollars to do so, then that is ok. I am glad there are those who had the passion to be doctors, nurses, CNA in nursing homes, paramedics, police officers, lineman, plumbers, steel workers, the list goes on. I get weird when people thank me, because I have just as much thanks for all the others. I was a volunteer. You don't have to thank me and if you do I just see it as a mutual respect for whatever you do too.
