A few years ago my dad retired from Wright Patterson AFB. My dad was in the Marines in Vietnam. In the 80's he worked at Naval Avionics in Indianapolis then transferred when Raytheon took over. All of my uncles were in the army, navy, etc blah blah blah. I was not in the military. But I've owned and worn a couple military-type Tshirts since my teens (I'm 38). right before dad retired I got a black Airborne eagle tshirt. I've worn it numerous times without giving one thought to anything other than it's homage.
I was recently checking out at the Kohl's (near the Fort) and the lady ringing us up said "OH! Mr. Airborne, huh?". I said, "No, ma'am I got this shirt at WPAFB where my dad retired..." and before I could even finish the sentence she starts screaming something about stolen valor and how I should be ashamed of myself and how dare I this and that. I looked at my wife and she could see I was about to go nuclear so she asked me to go out to the car and I complied. My wife said the cashier was later apologizing and actually wanted to follow her out to our car to apologize to me but my wife politely declined.
there a few men and women on INGO who served and whose opinions I really do value.
was I in the wrong? is it disrespectful to wear military tshirts (out in public) if I didn't serve?
I was recently checking out at the Kohl's (near the Fort) and the lady ringing us up said "OH! Mr. Airborne, huh?". I said, "No, ma'am I got this shirt at WPAFB where my dad retired..." and before I could even finish the sentence she starts screaming something about stolen valor and how I should be ashamed of myself and how dare I this and that. I looked at my wife and she could see I was about to go nuclear so she asked me to go out to the car and I complied. My wife said the cashier was later apologizing and actually wanted to follow her out to our car to apologize to me but my wife politely declined.
there a few men and women on INGO who served and whose opinions I really do value.
was I in the wrong? is it disrespectful to wear military tshirts (out in public) if I didn't serve?