ok a bit about deployments.... just because your son was deployed in a relatively safe place it doesnt mean he did not experience the things he talks about. many times people get deployed to where there "base" is then they are assigned other places. where ever the military is needed in that country where the base is located. your son could have spent sometime in a highly dangerous roads, routes, other towns then the base was located in. I have a relative who was located at a Base where they all met and got their assignments then hummers, jeeps and so on transported them to the locations where they were most needed that day or that week or that month.

Also the military have special places where they allow conversations, calls, video, skyping with friends and family. these places are on purpose in safe locations where family and friends are not suddenly going to witness the horrors that the military have to deal with. they keep the areas where the one on deployment is doing their videoing and conversing with family devoid of the violence. its hard enough on family and friends to have a loved one deployed they dont need to witness the violence that the deployed is helping to control.

my point is maybe your son does know and has had to kill. to answer your question my opinion is no he is not saying all this for attention and such. if he's done time in the military branches of any kind its very likely he saw and went through what he did.