In no way am I implying that the soldier featured in the above article is less than a hero or that his family is exaggerating his service record. I am replying to a comment made by a fellow FReeper. I am relating a personal experience that has *nothing* to do with the above stated soldier. If this offends you... get over it.
Carry on! ;-)
Those must have been very brief “tours”, or tours split between Iraq and Afghanistan and counted as two tours.... Something doesn’t add up...
I met a fellow military wife who proudly told me her husband served over 30 tours in 12 years... I was surprised and more than a bit confused.
Turned out she was counting every school and two-week field problem. Did a good job of painting herself as a victim.
Isn't a tour defined as more than 6 months in a combat zone? My DH served in Kosovo and Kuwait and doesn't count them as tours. (No combat stripe... no tour.)
The amount of tours is possible because before the 173rd he was in a Ranger Batt. and they have less than 6 month combat tours... of which are often more dangerous.