My husband is a Vietnam era vet, and felt pretty much ashamed he served based on the reaction from most people, which didn't really change until after 9/11. He wept when his boss gave him that thank you for your service card in 2004, and told me that even 30 years late, it was welcome.
He keeps his medals and stuff in a drawer. He talks about his service from time to time, mostly at family gatherings when he and his cousins can talk. They usually sit in the corner of a room, men in their 50's and 60's and talk amongst themselves, using acronyms that a non-service person wouldn't know.
Unlike some of the other vets he knows, he only has about a dozen pictures from his military service, mostly given to him by other people. My son in law is fascinated by a picture of him and a radio man crouched behind a wall, the body of a odd looking car nearby, literally shot to hell. All he has ever told anyone is it was him and Cpl Wilson, calling for evacuation. His eyes well with tears when he talks about it, and he gets what my brother says is "the thousand yard stare" for a moment, like he has temporarily gone back and is there again.
When you thank a Veteran for their service, imagine what they did. And be glad there are people willing to step up and do that, for us all.
All gave some, some gave all.
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