Xenophobic? Me? No I don't think so. I can truly say that I am not afraid to wear my awards. I just don’t see any real reason to.

My reluctance to wearing my medals with civilian clothes may stem from a desire not to brag or show off. I see no reason to do that.

At the special times that the VA says that it is supposedly OK, I will be with others who also served. We know what we did. We don't need to shout it out.

Don't take this wrong, but when a civilian sees me decked out in my finery, do I want him to come up to me and say thanks? No. That's not why I served.

And yes, after 33 years in the Corps, several conflicts, I have a lot of medals. Close to half of them are "I been there" medals. Some were awarded for superior performance and a couple for doing stupid things in dangerous circumstances. But - Can the average civilian recognize the significance of the different awards? NO.

The only time that I would feel comfortable wearing my awards, would be at a gathering of other servicemen. When everyone is wearing their stuff.

Would I wear my “gongs” to watch a parade? No. Would I wear them at a Marine Corps Birthday Ball with my full PC? Yes.

Again, I’m not cutting down the average civilian (well maybe I am) but they haven’t been there, and they don’t understand.