Scout wrote:

Speaking of B-days...
My wife and I were sitting in a restaurant last night. At the table next to
us sat a lone man who claimed it was his 51st birthday. Next to him sat a
couple in their 80's, he being a WWII vet. My wife and I listened with
amazement while the 51 year old man lectured the old folks about what things
were like during WWII, how war has changed, and what life was like back
then, 15 years before the younger was born.
Finally the wife asked the younger, "did you serve in the military?"

snip

one meal, to which his only answer was, "yeah, what an asshole."
We laughed all the way home.
Scout

When I wore a uniform, it was only the older folks who lived through
WWII that treated me with respect--aside from a brief period during
the Gulf War when everyone jumped on the bandwagon to praise
the military. Oh, and a few airline stewardesses would bring me
into empty seats in first class--that was nice.

Most people treat military members like dirt when I was on active
duty--although I think that has improved in recent years.