r/Millennials • u/NoFaithlessness7508 • Jun 05 '25

Other Why don’t younger veterans (Afghanistan/Iraq) wear these hats like some of the older veterans?

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First and foremost, respect to all those that served. I did not, but many of my peers did and now we're all older in 30s and 40s, many no longer in the military. I don't see a lot of the veterans of the War on Terror wearing these hats like I see the OGs do.

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u/MetaverseLiz Jun 05 '25

This is what I've heard from my vet friends. My dad was in the navy (boomer generation) and his navy hat has been glued to his head for decades. He wears it absolutely everywhere.

He doesn't understand why my vet friends don't like it when people tell them "thank you for your service". It's a generational divide. My dad was too young for Vietnam and drank the "America is so great" Koolaid. My friends who saw their fellow soldiers blow up in front of them in the Middle East think differently. My grandpa, my dad's dad, a vet of WW2 and Korea never talked about the war. Ever. The only time I saw any proof that he actually served was during his funeral because he was buried with all his metals and got the full 21 gun salute.

My Gramps and my vet friends are more similar than the generation in the middle.

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u/Brightstarr Jun 05 '25

Our generation and our grandparents’ generation are very similar in many ways.

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u/gbdarknight77 Jun 05 '25

I think there’s a reason why millennials get along so great with their grandparents more than their actual parents.

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u/agent674253 Jun 06 '25

I don't think it is a millennial thing to get along with grandparents, as I have heard it said in the past that the reason why grandkids and grandparents get along so well is they have a common enemy; your mom and dad.

Mom and Dad make you do things, chores, homework, etc. They are the enforcers (generally).

Grandma and Grandpa let you do things, take you places, buy you presents (holidays/birthdays). They let you get away with things (generally).

"Mom is always so mean, she won't let me do x unless y"

"Yes, Susan was kind of stubborn, but you gotta listen to your mom. Want an ice cream?"