Mattis reportedly said some time back about combat that he enjoyed shooting people and enjoyed fighting.
I have talked with family members that were in combat and that I respect. Never heard a real combat veteran say to me that he enjoyed fighting or shooting people.
For one thing, sustained combat usually means buddies will be injured or killed even if you are not.
I'm not sure what to make of the Mattis boast.
He was a Lt. Colonel in the Persian Gulf War, he sounds to me like one of those officers that hung back, let the senior NCOs lead the charge, then came strutting in during the mop-up like he was William The Conqueror. I’m sure the way he talked about his exploits at the officers’ club was a lot more impressive than what his troops saw. I can’t say for sure but talking like that, he sure comes off like it. I would also bet that “Mad Dog” is a nickname that he hung on himself after he made general, I’ve never seen a general/flag officer with the nickname “Turd Boy” or “Skank”, it’s always “Lightning” or “Killer” or something, frickin’ lame.
My parents were both born in 1944 and both came from big families. My father’s draft number didn’t come up but it did for FIVE of my uncles. (Dead serious, five of them and they all came back alive with all their limbs and just a few minor wounds.) None of them ever told me how fun it was to fight and shoot people. They always came off like it was an unpleasant chore that you swallowed hard and did for a greater good, no bragging, ring-knocking, or “I’m such a badass” talk about it.