military dress/question

[Lorix2]

How can you tell if someone has just served and come home?

How do you tell if someone is a veteran?

As a server, I wait on some military personnel and never know what to say other than "thank you for all you do" because I don't know WHAT they do or rank they hold (if they've been in combat, leaving soon, etc..)

Can you help me understand some basic knowledge of this?

Thanks alot.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Well there isn't a way per se to see if a person is a veteran or has just came home from the wars.

Certain little things you could check if you can observe their uniforms:

A combat patch is actually the division crest on each shoulder for example my dh normally wears the eagle patch of the 101st on his right shoulder with the flag and now he also wears the 101st patch on his left shoulder. You receive the combat patch after being in combat for 30 days.

Another way to tell if they are either home from the sand box or on their way is by the color of their uniform. Until recently guys being deployed or recently home wore the desert uniform which is the brown/chocolate chip color.

Personally I just think saying thank you is enough and absolutely more than some people do. You should be able to tell by the haircut also. It's a bit more obvious to an extent.

Thank YOU for saying thank you. I love when people come to tell my dh how they appreciate him because I can only tell him so many times and he won't believe me.

 

[Lorix2]

that's what I needed, thank you lovemygoofy and glad you're DH is home with you. I'm sure you're very proud of him and rightfully so.

I actually tear up a little when I say "thank you" to them. I'm a pretty emotional person anyway and when I see the uniforms I think about the loved ones that cannot wear theirs anymore.

 

[BeatlePooh]

that's what I needed, thank you lovemygoofy and glad you're DH is home with you. I'm sure you're very proud of him and rightfully so.

I actually tear up a little when I say "thank you" to them. I'm a pretty emotional person anyway and when I see the uniforms I think about the loved ones that cannot wear theirs anymore.

I make sure to tell them all that "I really appreciate what you are doing."
At least that much.
It doesn't matter if they have been in combat or if they are a mess hall worker. They all serve and they are all important.
I love them all.