I have no idea why it bothers me so much, but it really does. It is usually just a passing phrase when people find out that I was deployed to Iraq, "Oh, you went to Iraq? Well thank you for your service." I never know what to say, what can you say to that. I don't want ot say "You're welcome" because I didn't do it for them. I didn't serve for anyone but myself. I didn't do anything special that warrants a thank you, I just did my job. Did I love it? No. Would I do it again? Probably not.
I just had an interview today where the interviewer thanked me for my service and asked?at I did "over there." It's such a curiuosity about what happens 'over there.' Do they really want to hear that it sucked over there? That it was nasty over there. That I didn't just have to worry about the enemy, that I was scared of my fellow soldiers. That I felt way too vulnerable being there as a female. That I was sexually harassed all the time? That I was scared to take showers because scuzzy guys would come in there? That there were rockets and mortars raining down on the base at all hours of the night.
It wasn't as bad as it could have been, I could have been in a tent with showers every week, this I know.
I also know that I don't want to be thanked for it.
