Well said sweep, but I tend to disagree. What you, and the rest of the veterans have done, whether or not you saw combat, is important to the ultimate mission. I missed out on actual combat, as you did. However, it is through no fault of my own. I did everything that I could to go to Gulf 1 including to transfer to a combat armor unit. Although I did not get deployed into any of the combat zones during my terms of service, I did do an important job. Each time I wished I was actually in the fighting and equally glad that I wasn't. I did my job to the best of my ability in order to make their jobs easier and safer. I did not have any bullets flying by, nor pull the trigger on any enemy soldiers. But I did contribute. You did the same. You took part in an important way. If you weren't doing your job, either it would not have gotten done or someone else would have had to do it.
What it all comes down to, and I believe that hydguy is referring to is that you and I, as well as all the veterans, volunteered to put ourselves on the line to protect others. For some, the outcome meant a greater personal risk than for others. However, when we volunteered we all understood that the time may come that we face the ultimate risk. Your not seeing actual combat does not make you any less of a soldier than one that actually saw combat. It does however, make you fortunate in not having to face that risk that you were willing to take. We all took the oath. We all (excluding some Nam era draftees) volunteered. Sweep, you are a veteran and a volunteer. You may not have the patch on the right sleeve, but you are still, in my opinion, a hero. As are all that have sworn the oath. This is the one instance that I believe intent over rides action. Is the man who is stopped from running into a burning building by a big LEO any less of a hero than one that manages to get into the building and save a child? I don't think so. Orders that you swore to follow kept you from seeing combat. Not personal choice to avoid it. I agree with Hydguy in thanking all of you, and thank Hydguy for giving me a chance to do what I could.