Would I be considered a combat veteran just for being in the combat zones, without ever having to participate in combat?

Yes!! You were an INTEGRAL component that moved “The Big Wheel” of combat! YOU WERE IN THE THICK of it All! You are a combat vet, brother! Thank you for all you do.

If you wasvin the zone of combat then you're a soldier of combat

YES!! If not, only plots would ever be considered combat vets in the Air Force. The southeast Asia ribbon means the whole area it covers. Rockets and missiles go hundreds of miles. If you were in Italy, no. Any place where the SEA ribbon counts would do.

Yes

I served as a Marine in Beirut, Desert Shield/Storm and later as US Soldier in Afghanistan. I hated my assignment in Desert Shield/Storm. As an Amtrac’er AAV’s my Company was assigned to the 4th Marine Brigade our mission feint operations in the Northern Gulf to confuse Iraqi forces. Our mission was Successful in tying up the Republican Guard in the North wondering where thousands of Marines were going to land. The mission SUCKED all we did was these fake Assault landing operations pick up a move and do it again. Gen Schwarzkopf even pointed us out on his big map during a news brief as a job well done. I hated the mission and wanted to be in the sand with the rest of my Marines from 2nd AAV BN supporting the grunts by fire. But we all have our orders in War and play a part large or small.

The way I see it, if you served in a combat zone there was a chance you could've seen some type of combat, whether it be a mortar attack, an IED attack or an all out gun battle. The possibility was there even if you got lucky and didn't see any. So if you have a combat patch then yes, you're a combat veteran.

Yes you are a combat Soldier, why would you question that? You were there, you deployed there. Be proud you served and thank GOD you made it back safe. Do not let anybody tell you different.

The answer to that is yes. If you were in a combat theater regardless if you participated in combat or not, you are a combat veteran. Hope this helps.

If you have the ribbons associated with a foreign combat deployment...yes.
As of this time Korea is even considered a combat zone since they never signed a peace treaty only a truce.

Yes because you deployed and you did your job. I, on the other hand, was a Lance Missile Crewmember and part of V Corps. I did not deploy and stayed to protect the posts on roving patrols and at the gates. No combat patch on my right shoulder for me, certainly no ribbons, no medals, no combat experience whatsoever.