The USMC says otherwise:
Drudge posted a photo of Long fresh out of boot camp before he had earned any awards other than the "Fire Watch Medal" aka the "National Defense Service Medal"--the one they give you for graduating boot camp.
Re ‘combat veteran’
Believe I recall several FR sandbox vets saying they’d seen no devices on the guy’s Corps photos to indicate he’d ever been in conflict.
The USMC says otherwise:
Drudge posted a photo of Long fresh out of boot camp before he had earned any awards other than the "Fire Watch Medal" aka the "National Defense Service Medal"--the one they give you for graduating boot camp.
He had a combat action ribbon.