Why does it matter if someone has seen combat? Does it make their contribution any less important? Also, people are different - some don't talk about it, some do. I have friends who I served with who very clearly saw intense combat - some never talk about it, some talk about it drunk, and some just won't shut up about it. I have a CAR and as I previously joked about, a NAM with a V - anyone with knowledge of the Navy/Marines knows the significance of those awards. I have no problem talking about them or having earned them - maybe not in great detail, but I think saying that people who talk about it are frauds or making it up is pretty silly.
It really is a double edged sword guys - some people use their military service as a means to justify themselves as some how better or more worthy of praise than civilians; but on the flip side, everyone that has served, regardless of what their occupation is deserving of respect for their contribution in my opinion. You really need to find a happy medium.
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