What is it to "serve"?

[thebaffler]

I read an article in today's Wall Street Journal about an enterprising young documentarian that turned his back on his former life as a Hollywood agent and headed over to Iraq in order to get the "real story" from soldiers and marines in country. Later in the day I recalled the story and did a quick Google search of the guy's name - Pat Dollard (http://patdollard.com). I skimmed the summary of his experiences and thoughts until I came upon a small phrase describing the Mr. Dollard's film that somehow rubbed me the wrong way: "as told by the Marines he served with". What follows is my initial email to the site, admittedly I was hot under the collar (directed to Mr. Dollard):

From your “about page”: “Pat Dollard as told by the Marines he served with.”

In what capacity did you “serve”, Pat? As an 11B? 21B? 18A? Or did you roll into country, cruise around a little bit, get some footage, and head back stateside to wrap it all up into a neat little package for Maxim Magazine and your vanity documentary? To “serve” is to place oneself in a position subservient to a greater thing. In my case and in the respective cases of my fellow soldiers, we’re serving the United States. You serve yourself. This may seem like a nuance or a simple matter of verbiage but to us it is how we define ourselves. I welcome your thoughts on this matter.

A few hours later the "webmaster" responded:

Greetings 1LT,

First off, it wasn’t Pat who used those words. It was I, Chad, his webmaster and firm supporter. And this response is entirely of my own accord.

Pat actually suggested to use the words “patrolled with and filmed”, but I told him to use “served’. Because thats exactly what he did. I don’t need to sign a contract with uncle sam in order to serve my country. No American does.

The guys who took down the terrorists on Flight 94 over Pennsylvania served their country, and they didn’t need to be in the military.

Here’s Pat, gettin blown up by IED’s, while volunteering to travel down the worst parts of Iraq for 7 months just so he can come back and paint you in a good light, unlike the MSM… and all you can do is badmouth him???

I ain’t a soldier. My brothers are. My father and grandfather were. I have plenty of respect for a soldier, and I would have been one if I was able.

But after reading this feedback, I would say that you are the self-serving one, so high up in your tower.

-Chad


SO - I am wondering if I am in the right or the wrong here. Does chronicling constitute service? Should I have rephrased? Am I correct in requesting a simple change in terminology? Is it even important to make this distinction? I'd welcome thoughts on this matter.