How would someone who served during a war describe their time on it later?

Question

This is for a short story where someone talks about something that happened back home while they were serving time. Right now it says "When I was on my tour" but I'm not sure that someone who really served would say that.

Answer 1

First, most veterans who've seen combat are not eager to talk about their experiences with non-veterans or civilians.  There tend to be a lot of questions like "so did you kill anyone?" or "how many did you kill?' or "was it worth it?".  Most combat vets aren't so eager to relieve the experience and most feel that civilians just can't relate to their experience.

Second, the stuff that civilians tend to focus on is not necessarily what combat vets would focus on.  Someone who's seen combat might talk about they turned around a corner and it was just a kid.  Or how rounds were coming in and they couldn't get their body armor on.  Or hot it was.  And what civilians don't get is when a combat vet is talking about that stuff, there is a whole world going on inside that person's head that they're reliving and experiencing and the words coming out are about 2% of what that former soldier or marine has going on for them at that moment.

Third, I heard a joke from an NCO who said the difference between a fairy tale and a combat story is a fairy tell begins with "once upon a time" and a combat story begins with "this once happened to me, I s**t you not!".  The point being that around non-combat veterans, detailed stories tend to be taken skeptically.   Which is why a lot of guys (or gals) back from combat might describe their time in terms of:

--proud of what they did

--really respect the people they served with

--and that it was really hot and hard but other people had it harder, they were lucky and now they're just glad to make it home in one piece (ie: very little detail on what happened to them and what they saw).

"When I was on my tour" doesn't fit.  It might just as easily start with a question "So what was it like in Najaf?" and the reason for the question is the soldier is trying to answer it themself, trying to figure out what to say, they're asking themself the same question.  Generally speaking, there will be nicknames for towns or cities as well as the opposition (Haji's or Jihadi's).

Answer 2

As a rule of thumb, those who saw the most action are usually those who are most tight lipped about it.  "When I was in..."  Or A tour (or a cruise, in the Navy and Marines) is a term of service.  I've not heard many vets use it the way you have, but you might say "during my cruise..."  More recently, I think the term that's most universal is "deployed."  More importanly, though, the name of specific places and events hold an almost mythical sway for vets.  Khe Sanh, 73 Easting, Nassariyah, the Graveyard, Tet, Hue....

Hope I've helped some.

Answer 3

It depends on the war. A lot of Vietnam vets don't like to talk about it.

Answer 4

And why would I not say that?  The world didn't stand still while I was doing my tour in the jungles.  My family and friends back home didn't fail to go on with their lives even though I wasn't there.  What do you think I should say?  And since you weren't there with me, what makes you think you have any business telling me what to say or think about my time in the war zone?

Answer 5

if its Vietnam they might say, "when I was in-country".

If its not Vietnam give us more info

Answer 6

It depends on the war

Answer 7

Currently in the Army, we say several things:

"When I was down range..." ('Down range' comes from rifle qualification ranges.  The targets we shoot are located 'down range')

"When I was deployed..."

"When I was in The Box..." (Iraq specific, short for sandbox)

"When I was in The Stan..." (Afghanistan specific)