The phrase "war vet" is a short way to refer to a war veteran. It means a person who has served in a war, usually as a member of the military, and has experienced the hardships and dangers of war. Full definition
That is what 80 year war vets say, not children! (MomsTeam.com)
What's the Fuss: 1980s TV action gets a reboot with this new version of The A-Team, which shifts the Vietnam vet back story to a group of Iraq War vets who become mercenaries for hire. (movieweb.com)