I served 12 years in the British army, 2 Para to be precise. We're not "heroes". Yes we fought and yes people died but that doesn't make anything any of us do "heroic". If you do believe that then you never saw combat. Ask a combat veteran how "heroic" he feels, for me personally, I couldn't sleep properly for 2 years after leaving. The only hero in our house is my wife, without her i'd have been a wreck. People don't owe us anything. If they want to make jokes then they make jokes. Do what I do, joke with them.