We are all affected by our own actions and those of others around us. It's a combination of both decisions that we make and pure fortune that we are still here. We cannot always dictate the actions of others and that's where the fortune comes in. Most people do survive to old age though, so that chance always favours us. Of course, you may be in a subset of people or in a scenario where the odds change, such as serving in combat as you mentioned.
I haven't served and yet I've put myself at risk many times and been put at risk by others. I've lost people to disease, suicide and murder. I am very aware with each birthday that I've reached an age that people in my life never got to see and for that alone I'm both thankful and sad. I haven't always embraced life but I do feel privileged on account of those who might have embraced it more but never got the chance to
