Umm ... I think it is pretty much the *DEFINITION* of "valorous" to win medals for heroism in combat. No?
That doesn't mean we have to *LIKE* him. Or *AGREE* with him on anything! That other poster was belittling his service. That's just wrong.
The question here is whether serving in the military qualifies a person to hold positions demanding important decision making and analysis. The answer is of course not. I served with guys that were damn good grunts but I wouldn’t trust them to drive my car stateside. I don’t think Cheney distinguished himself by avoiding the service but I think Chney distinguished himself as SecDef and VP. The man has a very shapr intellect and analytical skills. I’m sure he regrets his decisions back then and that was one of the reasons he kept on keeping on as SECDEF and VP even though his heart was ready to explode any moment.