I served two years in the Navy (72-74) .. did not go to Vietnam, did not get shot at.
I served 20 years in the Army (75-94), 5 years airmobile/mechanized infantry, 15 years legal. With the exception of DESERT STORM, never even came close to being shot at.
I .. and every other active-duty, reserve, or National Guard servicemember .. go where we're sent, serve where we're told to serve. Much as I abhorred Al Gore, one thing that I never did was demean his military service. Likewise George W. Bush's service in the National Guard ... in the event of a conflict, his unit COULD have been activated and sent off to fight; he would have had no control over that. If he had then tried to dodge out of the unit, THAT would be something worth mentioning. Otherwise, he did his time as he was required to.
Except for the stupidity of Saddam Hussein, I would not have performed duties in anything REMOTELY resembling a combat zone.
So, I say again: "They also serve, who stand and wait."
I tried to find that quote but couldn't remember the exact wording. Most of the real heroes that I met were just grateful that others were able to serve and just considered them lucky that they didn't have to go through the nightmares that they went through.