Don't degrade your contribution. Cooks are as necessary as an Infantryman. They can't fight if they don't eat. Even Cooks were subject to wounds at Firebases, Charlie didn't care what our MOS was, he just saw an OD Green Uniform.
As far as understanding, some just want to feel important. They like to brag to others what a hero they are and some even use thier false tours to run for public office and actually win. B.G. Burkett wrote a good book, Stolen Honor, exposing many who claimed Veteran status and used it to further their careers. It was even discovered that many who tesitified at sKerry's so called "Winter Soldier" investigation were just as phony as this guy.