Seems like the media always wants to bring up a person's military service in any story, if they have any.  I'm guessing it's because in America we are culturally inclined to feel that serving in the military somehow makes one different or special compared to those that haven't done so. To me it doesn't mean anything more than someone being an attorney or electrician or any other occupation but to others it helps define a person. So the media is catering to popular culture.