When We Say ‘Combat Veteran,’ What Do We Really Mean?

My description to family and friends,”Some fool shot at me and I shot back!”

Leaves me out.

CW5 Jack Cardwell Combat Veteran? Nope I wouldn't call Myself that but I am a Past Commander of the VFW. I'm a Message Handler for the Intelligence Community. I Handled the Messages for a lot of Neat Operations, Blind Man's Bluff, Rescue of Alpha Foxtrot 586, Achile Lauro, Prairie Fire/El Dorado Canyon, Iran-Contra, Debrief of Sgt Clayton Lonetree. Had a Lot of Fun in Desert Storm doing Donuts in the Middle of the Persian Gulf and Made a Repeat Performance for Desert Strike, Parked 20 Miles off Bushehr Iran, That was Different and Had Someone try and Blow Me Up in London in Retaliation for El Dorado Canyon but I Am No Combat Veteran.